Happy Halloween

This is as close to candy corn as I will get this year.


Evidently it's not allowed to be imported because of a contamination scare.


We don't really celebrate Halloween in Oz, although retailers try to and there are costume parties. Hope all who celebrate have a safe and happy time!

Mugz on Monday

I do love my Christmas trees.

I know it's early, but if you don't buy it when you see it, they'll be gone.

Christmas is a good attitude of heart to carry year-round anyway.

Bloggers' Quilt Festival: Fall 2011

This is my entry for Amy's Bloggers' Quilt Festival. My title for this quiltlet is 'Fantasy Picnic.' It was made for a guild challenge the theme of which was "Food for Thought." I roughly followed a design by Aneela Hooey. I have never done collage work before and I must tell you it was a lot of fun! I used fusible web to tack before machine quilting. I just love how it turned out and will be giving it to one of my daughters for Christmas. It measures 8 inches square. Be sure and click over to Amy's to see the other quilts that have been entered. Have fun!

Christmas Block

I'm organising a block raffle for the guild meeting in November. Participants are to bring in a 12 inch block that is pieced or appliqued using traditional Christmas colours. The blocks are sorted into groups of 3 to 5 blocks (depending on numbers and styles) and then one of those blockmakers wins the group. So it's not a swap where everyone wins, it's a raffle with about 20% odds (which is pretty good).
This is my contribution. You may remember this pattern from a few years ago. Nanette at Freda's Hive designed it and her tutorial can be found here.
I made a few of these houses and the pattern is smaller than 12 inches. I've added fabrics on three sides and the block will need trimmed back. I'm debating whether I should trim it or leave that to the winner. It really is hard to get the same size block off different quilters and she may appreciate the extra fabric for tweaking. What do you think?
I'm making up another block as well if time permits. I sure love the Christmas fabrics.
Better go. Got the day job tomorrow.

Stash Report?

I see this from time to time on blogs.

Not sure that it's helpful for me to try to do that.

It sure would by horrifying if I really knew

how many metres of fabric I had.

I've only got about 35 years left of an average lifespan.

This is nearly half my stash.

I'm sure it's breeding.

No matter what I use or giveaway,

there's another to take it's place.

Ever see the Star Trek episode

"The Trouble with Tribbles?"

I am making progress on my SSCS.

And there's a little sewing I can show you later in the week.

Mugz on Monday

I found two Christmas mugs this year. I love this one.

It's also very shiny.

Interesting reflections, but the stars do shine!

I'll show you the other one next Monday.

Periodic Table of Sewing Elements

Something to look at since I can't show you what I'm sewing.

Off to guild today.
Scientific Seamstress.

Potholders Revisited

I made some potholders for my dear mother-in-law which I blogged about here. I recently recieved this one back for repairs. She swears she doesn't know what happened to it. I'm happy to see it this way, because then I know she's using it.

A rough-as-guts quick repair and it's back in business.
She's in a new kitchen now, so I may have to make her a new set.
One can never have too many potholders after all.

Auditioning Fabric

I've been auditioning fabric and this one didn't make the cut.

He can sing and dance all right...

He just didn't have the right tone...

PS Can't show you the project, it's a secret.

Perth Royal Show 2011 Other

This is an agricultural show after all... here is an amzing variety of eggs. The ones in the lower left do indeed have a green tinge... Dr Seuss really knew his stuff!

A large variety of grains grown here in Western Australia.

Textile art.Delightful soft toys...
A close-up of this play pillow...

The rest of my photos are too blurry to publish.

That's it until next time!

Perth Royal Show 2011 Quilts

Too much light reflecting on the glass for most of the photos, but here are a few.

Perth Royal Show 2011 Cakes

One of the first things we did was check to see who got first in the meringues. For many years my mother-in-law always took out the top spot. A few years ago my brother-in-law started putting his meringues in as well. Quite often of late he takes out the top spot with Mum second. This has a created a good-natured rivalry in the family. I must tell you that the recipe is closely guarded so don't ask. I don't even have it...

Just a few photos of the amazing cakes.

Too amazing to eat...

Perth Royal Show 2011

It's that time of year again!

Mr Fixit and I are off to the Perth Royal Show. The rides and stalls are only a quarter of the site.

We last went in 2009 and I blogged about it here and here.

We are going by ourselves again.

Sunny and a breezy 25C.

Time to find the sunscreen!

The fireworks are around 8pm.

We won't stay that late.

Have a good weekend!