Scorcher Scotches Stitching!

OK ... I know I'm a summer gal and I keep telling you all that I LOVE hot weather, but today we had a SCORCHER here on top of our 'hill' that was rather out of character ... 38 degrees Celsius!! Now ... I know that's usually not too far from my comfort zone, but it was also super humid and sticky ... that's the part that I didn't enjoy ... no pleasing some people is there?! :0) I also know it's cooler than the 40+ temps my blogging buddy Chookyblue has been coping with ... but it sure was sticky and sweaty today!!

Now since I'm on holidays for another week (YAY!) I had big plans to get LOTS of sewing done. There's just a small problem ... my sewing room is about the hottest room in the house. SIGH!! It's on the side of the house that doesn't usually get a breeze and the front of it faces west, so it's rather like a sauna after 3pm. My solution was to dive in there this morning to do some appliqué prep ... before collapsing in front of the fan with an icy drink this afternoon ... icy WATER, I promise! :0)

The project I've been working on is a new sample of a pattern I released a couple of years ago ...

Moon dance. The original in the photo was for my brother's oldest son when he was born. I had fun with the mischievous little bedtime bears who were out playing amongst moon and stars instead of sleeping. The two little ones at the bottom are holding a blanket ready to catch their brother in case he slips. :0)

So when a new range of fabric arrived at my Home-Away-From-Home last week, I knew it was time to make this new sample ...

The range is called "Terra Australis" and some of the fabrics feature Aussie icons ... kangaroos, banksias, wattle leaves ... and lovely bright, cheerful colours ... perfect for "Moon Dance". One of the best things about this range is that there are a mix of 'girl version' fabrics and 'boy version' fabrics ... something for everyone. :0) The orange, navy, denim blue and light aqua are from the 'boy' fabrics, while the 'girl' fabrics include light aqua, teal, zesty green and fuchsia. As you can see above, I've stuck with the 'boy' fabrics. First step ... piecing the background ...

I'm not usually an orange fan, but am having fun working with a different colour-way. Those bottom rows were joined earlier in the week and today was all about appliqué prep ...

I managed to get everything traced, ironed on, cut out, placed and ironed in place ... and then it just got too hot in the sewing room. But I have plans for tomorrow ... taking my appliqué, my sewing pouch, a supply of cold drinks and perhaps a DVD or two ... and heading to visit where my folks are house-sitting ... cos they have air-conditioning! Tee! Hee! Hee! It's something we really only go looking for on about three or four days each year ... otherwise we enjoy the heat. I know ... we're a bit odd! :0)

Hope you're all managing to find some time to create ... and keep cool if you're 'enjoying' our Aussie summer. :0) OPAM gals ... have you updated your sidebar lists and emailed your final December tally to Sweet Peg or me? CHOP! CHOP!! Get moving! :0) The end of the month is almost here ... which of course also marks the end of the YEAR! WHEW! I wonder where most of it went?! :0) It must be time to start writing out our "To Do" lists for 2014 ready for OPAM 2014 to start again at the end of January ... stay tuned for the announcement to hit my blog and that of my Sweet Partner-In-Crime, Sweet Peg. I'm SOOOOOOO happy that Sweet Peg is co-hosting OPAM with me again next year ... we make a pretty good team, I think! :0)

Right ... off to hit the shower before sprawling in front of the fan to sleep. Til next time ...

SWEATY BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS