Home for a quick visit..

I am away working in Melbourne at the moment, so time when I do get home on the weekends time is very precious. Do I sew, so I make jewellery, or do I just try and catch up on some rest and with friends?
Here I am just touching base with my jewels. Won't be too long now, and I can get right into this creating business.

Moda Bake Shop Love Pin Win!

There are not many competitions that I enter. Basically I don't consider myself a lucky person, so I think mostly I am wasting my time. However, this is one competition I thought would be well worth wasting some time over! A combination of Pinterest and Modabakeshop, what could be better really??? Well, yes there are other great combinations out there, Gin and Tonic is the first one that springs to mind!
So, here is my first Pin to Win entry.

I love this quilt because it is open to so many colour/theme combinations, it looks to be quick and simple and a lot of fun. I can see great potential here to play with colour, especially with changing the white as a solid. Best of all, it would be a great scrap muncher!

Way tooo Long

It has been way to long since I have blogged. It really is very simple. If i don't write, there is nothing to read, end of blog. Many things have happened, there has been a lot of water under the bridge, I have been away, but now it is time to regroup and get on with it!
First, time to show off the finished quilt top for my 15 year old son, a 'London' quilt. London because that was his favourite place on a recent trip overseas, because he was born on the day Diana died, and because he was named after his English Grandfather.
I really hope he likes it, you just never know with 15 year old teenage boys!
Here is the photo.
I used Elizabeth Hartman's Avalon Pattern, a favourite of mine.

Looking forward...

The Mulgrave Maker's market is well worth the effort. Perhaps not just yet for me saleswise, but in terms of a wonderful market to visit, this market is fabulous. The quality of the produce, and the other Makers was outstanding. Really a lovely day out.

So, now on to my next one, the Art of Elegance Fair in Maryborough on Sunday May 13. This looks like being one of those memorable days out surrounded by beautiful things. I am very busy creating for this market, as well as preparing for my bittersweet trip to take part in Samenloop voor Hoop in June.
Following is some of my specially made offerings for the Fair.

Friday night! Bring on Phryne! Have a lovely weekend.

Off to the Mulgrave Maker's Market

Oh the dilemma. Undercover, hire a gazebo, wait it out and see? What to do?! Markets can be so tough, and very dependant on the weather. All the right conditions make for happy market shoppers, and then puts them in the mood to buy. I really hope that it all comes together this Sunday, as I head off to my very first 'big' market. It is quite an effort especially when you work full time. Chin up and let's be positive, hopefulyy the day will go well, the sun will shine and the planets align!!
Have a lovely week end, what ever you are doing!

Happy Easter! A little belated..

Easter has been somewhat of a non-event here, as I worked for all of it. The upside is that I now have some time off, which is just lovely, and very much needed.
I did manage to get a quilt finished that has been waiting around for some time. This is one for my niece for Christmas, so it was a little late! However, it has turned out well, and she tells me she loves it.

I have also made some gorgeous jewellery, but until our internet speeds improve, I don't think I can upload anymore photos!

New Designs...

I have been very busy also with some new jewlery designs, utilising some Etsy finds, as well as some pieces that have been in my Stash for some time. There is a lot more to come!
I have also decided to attend the 'Art of Elegance Fair' in Maryborough on Mothers Day which sounds a wonderful event, and hopefully will be worthwhile.

Some of the pieces are the start of a series, and are in my Etsy shop and others I will keep for the Fair.

Avalon..

What a week last week, such a rush to get this stunning quilt finished, and I could not be happier with the result. (I am having trouble concentrating writing this as I am watching the indomitable John Clarke and Brian Doyle to the take on the Speaker at the end of the 7.30 report. Laugh...)
Back to normal programming, this quilt was a wedding gift for a lovely lady at work who married again, and it has been a joy to watch her happiness.
I have used Spotlight's Prima homespun, and their Bamboo batting. It quilted like a dream. The fabric itself is a mix of Kaffee Fasset and a range that Michelle Marvig did for Benartex  some 3 years ago. As well as some chocolate lollipop scaps that Lisa forgot she had gifted to me!

Busy Time..

In 2 weeks I haven't blogged, so it looks as if I haven't been doing much at all. That couldn't be further from the truth, it's just been go, go go! I seem to have commited myself to do several quilts as gifts for various people, for various reasons. The one pictured below is for a lovely new baby girl, who's Grandmother was a very dear friend of ours. As Sue is no longer with us, I feel that the one thing that I can do for her is to make a quilt for her Grandies when they come along.

It's turned out very well. Welcome to the world baby Isabelle, and I hope you enjoy your quilt.

So, that's one down. Then I decided that as one of my lovely ladies on staff was getting married she would require a quilt as well. I am very enamoured with Elizabeth Hartman's 'Avalon' pattern, so I have used that. The quilt is pieced, pinned and ready for quilting, so photos will appear when the light is helpful. It is rather lovely.

Over this long week end just passed I have also done a market with my jewelry. I always like to have some new designs to take out, as I think it adds an element of freshness, and when you do build up a banl of loyal followers, they are always looking to see what is 'next' or 'new' for you. so that kept me busy too. i took a couple of general photos of my stall, hoping to use them on my Facebook page.

So, it's been a busy, and productive time here in the glorious weather that we are having at the moment.

First Swoon Block

Here it is, my first Swoon Block. It took an age to cut out, and I am not happy with some of the puckering, I must have inadvertently stretched some of the bias edges as I was sewing. I must been more careful with the next ones. It looks as if I won;t have enough fabric to so the whole 9 blocks, so this may end up being a 4 block table topper. It is going to be a gift for a very special person.

What I have been up to

Well, I have bben queit, my sister reminded me last week end that I had not blogged for a week, and somehow another week slipped by without anything being wriiten! There has been a lot happening in the background however, culminating in a market in Hall's Gap today. The weather was glorious, perfect market weather.

Below are some of my creations are newly made this week, and sadly did not go home with anyone else today,

There is still more to come, and thankfully the ideas are well and truly flowing. It will be nice to do some sewing and get some other projects finished.

Happy Australia Day!

It's been a quiet few days on the creating front, I have been a bit off colour, and have had some time off work. Of course the first thing that desserts you when you feel like this is your creative mojo.

Things are starting to look up, which is always good, and after a good sleep in today, I managed to get some things done.
First I finished the quilt top for my niece that is her Christmas present.

I am very happy with it, the fabrics are Kona white, and Happy Mochie Yum Yum, it's such a colourful and gorgeous range. The block is from my favourite book 99 Modern Blocks. Now all that remains is to take it to patchwork on Tuesday night  so that the lovely ladies can help me pin it ready for quilting.
Once I knew that I was going to finish today, I decided to see if Spotlight was open today. It was! So I decided to contribute to their budget for the day. I boight some lovely fabric for a top/tunic that just caught my eye and I loved it. However, all I could hear was my mother's voice saying that you can't wear that colour, it will look terrible. I decided in the end that I am old enough to decide which voices in my head to listen to, and to follow my instinct, they have never led me to far astray when I have taken the time to listen!
So this is what I purchased. The Vogue pattern i have had for some time, waiting for just the right fabric.

Isn't it gorgeous!

School holiday creating..

Over the last few days I have had the pleasure of my youngest son Harry's company. He arrived on Friday, just in time to help me celebrate my birthday, along with my wonderful and gorgeous sister, favourite brother-in-law and their lovely family.
Once the week end festivities were over, we have occuppied ourselves with some crafty business.
First off was a trip to Spotlight to stock up on a few essentials, and purchase a much needed item. My cutting board was very, very tired, and the blade kept getting stuck. My lovely step daughter and her handsome lad surprised me with a Spotlight gift voucher for my birthday, enabling me to buy the cutting board of my dreams! Thank you Mel!

What a difference a decent cutting board makes. Wow.
So that was me sorted. Harry's request was to make a pillow adorned with a Liverpool logo, and something else, but he wasn't sure what else. First we were going to get big boxes from work, masking tape, and a tarp, and go to town, but the hot weather,(37 C) and hot high winds made that a no go. So he found a hinged wooden box that he thought he could work with instead.
So, these are the end products..

So, we have been quite productive! We decided that a trip to the movies was also in order, and went to see 'The adventures of Tin Tin". Fantastic. Recommended.
It will be sad to see Harry go today, but all good things come to an end, and I guess I do have to go to work at some stage!!

Swoon Along..

I have decided to Swoon Along too!
I think that this will be a lot of fun.

Small Blog Meet

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I have long been a fan of the wonderful blog Lily's Quilts and as I was pottering over there tonight, I saw her Small Blog Meet. What a wonderful idea! So I am in, and going to meet some other small bloggers, with a view to meeting some (hopefully) very nice people, who share my obsessions, I mean passions!

What I have been up to..

One whole week has gone by, and no blog post! Clearly I have a lot to learn about this blogging malarkey. I do find having to work for a living does get in the way of the creative process, but I shouldn't complain too much, I do enjoy my job, and until I find a way to be paid to potter around to my hearts content, it's going to be the way of the future!
However, things have been happening in the the house of PurpleMum. I have finished all my second round blocks of the 4x5 Bee blocks, and I am very pleased with them, I shall give you a lttle sneak peek. For me to have them mailed out  almost a week before the deadline is nothing short of a modern miracle,

They have taken quite a bit of time and energy, but I am very pleased with the end result.

I have also made a fabulous wrap skirt using a 'Make it Perfect' pattern, I am dubious anout modelling it, as I am not as glamorous as my sistte, but the skirt looks nothing lying on the ground, so excuse the body, I am very pleased with the skirt. The colour combo had had the desired effect, as Mr. Purple commented that it reminded him of something that his Mum used to wear! So the desired retro/vintage colour scheme with a touch of red definitely worked!!

Skirt on me.

Skirt on the floor. Doesn't give you a great idea of what it looks like.

Creative Space...

This is my working space for creating jewelry. I know what you are thinking..how does she find anything??? Trouble is, when i clean it up, I immediately have a creative block. i need it to be messy for the ideas to flow. I know it sounds crazy, but that's just the way it is I'm afraid.

Out of that chaos, comes this....

I have an idea for a necklace in my mind, but it just won't come out today, it might be the 42 degree heat. So I ordered one instead from a wonderful Etsy seller. Let's see if I can successfully put the link in http://www.etsy.com/listing/48018896/personalized-copper-eternity-necklace

However, all was not lost today, as I did get a sample block done for the 4x5 Bee, which I am pretty happy with.

The block is "Four Acres" from Modern Blocks, and this one is designed by Solidia Hubbard. I love the way it has come up, I hope my fellow hive members are happy as well.

Day One.....

You can waste many hours trying to think of something wise, witty and prophetic to write on your very first blogpost. At the end of the day I decided I may as well start as I mean to continue, straight, from the heart, and talking design and the creative process, the thnings that I really love.
I have had so much enjoyment from reading other's blogs that I decided it was time to join the revolution, and have my own. In the process, documenting my own creative journey, hopefully spurring myself on to bigger and better things, and creating a visual diary of what I do. A worthy endeavour.
 So, here I am, a lover of textiles in all forms, a jewellery maker of 10 years now, a very keen patchworker, and someone who is rather fond of sewing for myself and those I love.
Roll on 2012, and all that it may bring! Happy New Year!