Fanfare Please!!

Yes, folks! This FINISH definitely deserves a fanfare, because it's been quite a while in coming. Are you sitting down ... I've FINISHED my red and green quilt!!!! TA DA!! Now, some of you who've only been popping in for a while are wondering if I've finally lost my last marble (nope! They're in a container in the sewing room!!) but those of you who've been visiting for a while will know that for longer than I've been blogging, I've been working on a red and green quilt featuring nine Bronwyn Hayes stitchery designs, done in redwork, for one of the lounge chairs. And after much ado and many interruptions - it's finished! YAY me!! Here it is ...


I had a little bit of trouble finding somewhere to hang it to take a good photo. I intended to hang it on the washing line, but we have gale force winds here today and I thought I might be picking it up in Brisbane if I tried!! So pinning it to the spare room curtain was the best solution I could come up with. It gives a pretty good idea of how it looks. I'm really pleased with how it's come up. I love the red and green combo (it's NOT just for Christmas!!) and I love Bronwyn's stitcheries, so really, I couldn't go too far wrong by putting them together! The top centre stitchery is my favourite, as I dream of one day having a sewing nook in my garden like this one. Although, with two rather boisterous dogs in the yard, I'm not likely to find a lot of peace, quiet and tranquility! Just lots of jumps, licks, drool and slimy tennis balls dropped on my foot!! Eeeeeew!! So, taking my mind of slimy tennis balls ... here's a photo of the quilt on the lounge chair it will now live on ...


Oh look! There's Ruby, resting on a cushion! Tee! Hee! Hee! She's one of my fave Rosalie Quinlan patterns!! This quilt was originally going to drape over the couch, but it really didn't show off the stitcheries very well, so I'll shift the green floral and check quilt that WAS on this chair and put it on the other single chair in the corner, this one will stay where it is and as for the couch ... guess I'll have to add another quilt to my "To Do" list!! SIGH! So many quilts/bears/stitcheries/dolls and so little time!!!

The other great thing about finishing this quilt is that it's another of my five projects for Peg's "Finish Five Before The End Of July" challenge! YAY!!! Two down, three to go and I'm fast running out of July!! I have to say, I'm not overly confident that I'll get the five projects finished by the end of July, but at least I've made progress and that's something. It's all that naughty Granny Loz's fault for calling me a chicken!! I don't know whether to THANK her or BLAME her!! Tee! Hee! Hee!

And because I have soooooooo much "free" time .....????? I've signed up for a swap. I've GOT to be a little crazy - but that's why you love me, right? RIGHT??!!??!! It's being organised by Helen at Hugs From Helen and it will involve seven wonderfully talented designers, seven FREE (yes, you read right!!) patterns and a swap! It's called the Stitchers' Angel swap and I've added the tag and a direct link on the left sidebar so you can check it out.

There are two ways of taking part. Firstly you can visit Helen every week from Monday August 18 to view and print a free pattern. Secondly, you can join the swap by filling out and emailing the form on the page the link takes you to. You are then allocated a Secret Stitching Angel and will be given a Stitcher for you to spoil. Over the seven weeks you need to hand make at least three projects to surprise your stitcher with (not necessarily using the free patterns) and you will receive at least three lovely surprises in your letter box in return. Now, everyone out there in blogland is always showing off yummy stuff they get in their mail box and since usually all I get is junk mail and bills, I thought pretty stitching gifts would be a nice change!! If you're like me and have lots of "free" time (HA!) and you'd like to join in the fun, head to Helen's blog, add the badge to your blog and spread the word. Lynette Anderson is one of the seven designers, so that shows just how high the standard of free patterns will be!!

However, I think that means I REALLY need to finish some other projects before August 18, so I shall sign off and head back to my stitching!! Hope you're all having a great weekend and crossing things of your "To Do" list, too. Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Baby Elephant Walk!

That's what I've been humming to myself today as I finished off the latest block of Lynette Anderson's free Noah's Ark BOM, because, oddly enough, this month's pair of animals is Mr and Mrs L. E. Fant. Confused? Take a peek!


Aren't they cute! I've added a few little 'extras' as I can't seem to resist! I'm sure Lynette doesn't mind! Granny Loz gave me the idea of giving Mrs L. E. Fant pretty painted toenails - she thought about it, I did it!! Tee! Hee! Hee! And I also gave her a flower behind here ear (Mrs Fant, not Granny Loz!!) - after all, we ALL know the true secret to timeless glamour is ACCESSORISING!! And Mr L. E. Fant looked a little bare, so I popped a pretty blue blanket on him so he didn't feel left out in the cold! That now makes five finished blocks towards my finished Noah's Ark Quilt - what a shame I can't count any of these in my Five Before The End Of July challenge!! But if you haven't joined the fun and would like to, just click on the cool Noah's Ark icon to the left and it will take you straight to the downloadable patterns. Here are my blocks so far ...


I'm pretty happy with how they're coming up and enjoying working with the darker, murkier country colours for a little change from the softer shabby chic colours I tend to use at the moment on most projects. A change is as good as a holiday, so they say ... although ... I think I'd prefer the holiday - somewhere warm!! Today has been another NASTY day here in Toowoomba. The temperature didn't even make it to 10 and the horrible westerly winds have been blowing off the snow at speeds of 35km/h!!! BRRRRRRR!! I'm starting to feel like a penguin - and perhaps look like one when I walk, since I have so many layers on to keep warm!!! Now THERE'S a mental picture for you!! Tee! Hee! Hee! The only consolation is that the warmest room in the house is the lounge room (still mid-transition from harem back to country haven!) where the gas heater is. So ... Gosh! Darn! I'll just have to go back in there and stitch!! Tee! Hee! Hee! I've just traced a stitchery for a friend's birthday pressie, so guess where I'll be tonight, especially since my beloved Geek Boy has a work staff meeting until after 8pm. What a shame none of the projects I've chosen for my Finish Five Challenge need hand sewing done - they're all waiting for machine stitching, which is probably why they're on the waiting list!!!

And tying in with the whole Noah's Ark theme, I thought I'd show you how I started my week! When I arrived at work on Monday, it was cold, overcast and icky, but as I got out of the car look what greeted me ...


I hope you can see it. I don't think the photo really captured it as clearly as it looked in real life. What a cool way to start the week - with a reminder of God's promises!!

Before I go back to my hibernation in the lounge room, I've added another great blog to my sidebar for you to pop in and visit. It's Natalie Ross In Stitches. I've been popping into Nat's blog for a while now, but have to say I kept forgetting to add her to my sidebar - you know how it is ... "Next time I'm playing with layout I must remember ..." and then I promptly forget!! Oops! Anyway, Nat popped in here for a visit yesterday, which is what finally prompted my memory! She designs the most gorgeous stitcheries - fun and funky fairies, flowers and all sorts of goodies - plus her blog is fun to read! Pop on over to say g'day and give her a bear hug!

And on that note (A flat minor, I think! Tee! Hee! Hee!) I'm off to make myself a hot chocolate and sit in the lounge room to stitch - just as soon as I melt the icicles on my nose and fingers from sitting in the office, which is the coldest room in the house!!!! If I have too many hot chocolates, though, I really WILL be doing the BABY ELEPHANT WALK!! (Note to self: get some 99% fat free hot choc!!) Wherever you are, I hope you've got a warm spot to curl up in and if you're like Carin in the USA and having heat waves - send our heat back! Tee! Hee! Hee! Til next time, Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Party Pooped!!

I've had a very laaaaaazy day today after several days of frantic party preparations, then some serious partying!! Today was declared a rest day and my beloved Geek Boy and I have lazed around in the temporary harem - AKA our lounge room! - reading, resting and recuperating ready for a new week.

Yesterday dawned overcast, blowy, cold and threatening to rain ... just the perfect sort of weather for my dancing buddies, Lynda and Deb, and I to lock ourselves away to celebrate friendship, sisterhood and Deb's birthday. As I told you in previous posts, I've been scurrying around to transform our lounge room into a harem hide-away, celebrating the fact that our little tribe became friends through attending the same belly dancing class. All doorways were draped in gauzy gold curtains, the lounge chairs were covered with satin sheets or fur blankets (not real fur of course, as that would be barbaric!!) and a spare mattress was transformed with piles of satin cushions into a lounging platform fit for the birthday girl Harem Queen. Lamps were draped in silky scarves, dozens of scented candles were lit and the coffee table was transformed into a banquet table fit for a sultan - except this was strictly a 'Girls Only' shindig!


It's a little dark - due to the only light coming from candles and lamps! - but it gives you a little idea of how our harem looked.

And in keeping with our harem theme, we all donned some of our harem pants, flowing skirts and Kuchi tribal jewellery.


Here we are - three tribal goddesses!! GB stayed around just long enough to take this photo for us then he was outta here quicker than you could say, "Ali Barber and the forty thieves!" Tee! Hee! Hee!

And here's our Birthday Girl ... Queen Deb!


She decided that the mountain of cushions was quite comfy!! In fact, we all ended up sitting on the floor on cushions around our feast, chatting, drinking copious amounts of tea and coffee and enjoying our party nibbles. Here's Lynda and Deb ...


What could be better than hanging out with friends, enjoying hot drinks and a heater on a cold day and grazing on yummy party food? PRESENTS!! Now, a few posts back, I showed you a pile of 'raw materials' and challenged you to guess what it would become. Well, it was to be Deb's birthday present and Carin guessed it - a Goth Bear! Tee! Hee! Hee! She was a combined gift from Lynda and I to Deb, with the bear and her outfit being my responsibility, while Lynda designed and made her jewellery. Here she is ...


Isn't she a cutie - and the bear's not bad either! Tee! Hee! Hee! Deb got to choose the name for her new little friend and she has been christened 'Majenta'. Here's a closer photo of the furry cutie ...



All in all, we had a wonderful day. With three busy schedules (two of which involve children, too!) it's hard for the tree of us to get together for more than a couple of hours at a time, so when Deb told us that all she wanted to do for her birthday was for the three of us to hang out, Lynda and I decided to make it a memorable day and Deb's verdict? "Thank you for a magical day!!" Aw shucks!! BLUSH! You're welcome!! It made me realise yet again just how very fortunate I am to have these two wonderful, witty, wacky women in my life - thanks girls!! And a big thank you to all of you bloggy buddies out there who wished Deb a Happy Birthday and wished us a fun party - you are all lovely and your well-wishes were passed on to Deb!

So ... in the wake of our extended party, today was a quiet one, which involved lots of lounging and reading, but not much sewing. However, I did manage to download and trace the latest installment in Lynette Anderson's free Noah's Ark BOM and shall spend some time stitching tonight whilst watching "Dr Who" and "CSI". If you haven't taken advantage of Lynette's free BOM, or haven't yet seen it (where have you been hiding! There's comments all over Blogland about it! Tee! Hee! Hee!) you can click on the cool tag to the left of my blog. Lynette very kindly made this cute icon available for all bloggers who wanted to link back to her site to make it easier to take a shortcut to her pattern. Check it out if you haven't already - it's heaps of fun!

For now, though, I'm off to have some boiled eggs for dinner and see what adventures Dr Who gets himself into this week! Til next time, Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Cleaning and Cooking Chaos!!

Why is it that some things seem like a really good idea in theory, but much more trouble in reality?!?! If I ever work that one out, I may just keep myself out of some of the trouble I get myself into! But probably not! Tee! Hee! Hee! Today has been a frenzy of cleaning and cooking in preparations for the Harem Party that will take place here in our lounge room for Deb, my dancing buddy's, birthday.

Now the idea was to transform the lounge room into a simple version of a harem - easy right? WRONG! First ... I had to re-locate a large population of very disgruntled bears and dolls. They are currently enjoying (???) an enforced holiday in the spare room, where the regular residents are almost as disgruntled to have been inundated with uninvited guests.


You can see that the bed is now a LITTLE crowded! Reminds me of that children's song ... "There were four in the bed and the little one said, 'Roll over, Roll over!' So they all rolled over and one fell out!" Hope that doesn't happen to my critters! But wait ... there's more ...! At the end of the bed we find ...


Yep, more 'stuff' from the lounge room! Goodness knows how I'm going to manage to get everything back into it's right spots on Sunday!!!

It was then time to drag the 'Darlek' (my ancient, large, clumsy, barrel-shaped vacuum!) out of the cupboard and 'Exterminate!' the dust and dirt before dressing the room in it's harem finery.

So ... the room was a clean, blank canvas and it was time to decorate. I won't show you too much and spoil the surprise, but I will show you some of my mood lighting.


Oooooh! Pretty lamp! Bit different to the plain cane shade you usually see!!


And what's a birthday party without candles? DARK!! Tee! Hee! Hee! I crack myself up!! Hmmm, early night tonight perhaps!! I'm not sure my point and click camera really does the pretty light justice, but you get a bit of an idea.

I had also taken a photo of my progress in making a cheese ball, but it showed too much of my messy kitchen that looks like the Tasmanian Devil, Taz, has been through it, so I left it out!!! I did have a little taste of the cheese ball mix before putting it in the fridge to harden and have to say it was pretty yummy!!! Party food is fun, especially the savoury variety!!

So, now you know what I've been up to today and why next time I think I'll just shout Deb a cup of coffee somewhere instead of having bright and creative ideas!!! I'm sure the three of us will have a blast, though, so stay tuned for reports from the harem party soon!! Til next time, Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Patchwork & Party Preparations!

That's what's been keeping me busy the last few days! I've been slaving over a hot rotary cutter and cutting mat to prepare my squares to make my long-planned shaggy quilt, which has been rekindled thanks to seeing Peg's lovely version. I now have all of my squares (and probably a few extras!!) cut out, and all of the backing squares but had to make a trip to the patchwork shop before I could cut the wadding squares. That was one of yesterday's numerous errands and I'm now ready to go - tomorrow perhaps! Tee! Hee! Hee!



Here are my nice neat square piles!! Doesn't it look like I've been industrious?! Thank you for all your kind comments on my flannel fabrics for this quilt - it's always nice to have extra opinions and feedback for a new project! And I also had an SOS from Jo Jo at Home Sweet Home - she BEGGED me for a copy of the wonderful instructions Peg sent me for putting a shaggy quilt together!! Now, I hate to see a grown woman beg - it's just not natural! Tee! Hee! Hee! So I quickly emailed a copy to her! WOW! I wonder if Peg realised how many of us she was going to inspire to make a shaggy quilt when she posted photos of her quilt?! How cool is that!

Jo Jo, however, has been a bit smarter in her approach to making a shaggy quilt than I have. In my usual fashion, when I bought the fabric two years ago, I started cutting 7" squares without looking into the why's, how's and wherefore's of making a shaggy and consequently, have 'wasted' a lot of my fabric. Now, the 'leftovers' will undoubtedly be used for another quilt - to be made at a much later date!! - but with some fabrics, it would've been nice to have more of them. Oh well, we'll see how we go! Jo, on the other hand is going to use a pack of charm squares!! DOH!!! Why didn't I find that shortcut!! She doesn't have to cut any squares, they've all been done for her! It will be fun to see how her quilt turns out - isn't it fun sharing on blogs!!

Now, the other thing that has kept me busy recently are the preparations for a friend's birthday party. It will be held in our lounge room and although there will be only three of us there (our belly dancing Trio - me, Lynda and Deb), I'm hoping it will be very special. The invitations have gone out ...


This is the front of the card my beloved and clever Geek Boy made for me with some fantastic pics I found. I just loooooooove old sepia postcards! And doesn't she look glamorous, that old style Hollywood glamorous! Then on the inside ...


More fab vintage postcards!! I don't know if you can read it from the photo, but inside is a little poem.

"Come spend a day in our harem, let your cares slip away.
Do nothing but enjoy ease and leisure, eat, drink and chat all day.
There'll be exotic treats for your pleasure, and friends with whom to share,
So come dressed in harem jewels and finery, then relax without a care.
We'll meet at the Meares' oasis at 10:30 next Saturday morn,
To celebrate sisterhood, friendship and the day our Queen Deb was born."

Lynda and I have been cooking up lots of surprises for Deb's special day - though Carin has already guessed part of it, you clever craft detective, you!! But I can't say too much or it will spoil the surprise, but I promise to take photos and update you after the party. In the meantime, I'm off to brew birthday magic and dust off my harem finery! Til next time, Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS