Lovely mail and other stuff!!!

I've had some really fun mail this week!!! I thought you might like to see what's been arriving here in my patch :o).

First I'll show you my fabric ... I've had my eye on both of these ranges for a while ... particularly the Gypsy Rose ones - I don't know why it took me so long to buy this one cos it's soooo beautiful. I ended up buying them on ebay as I found some great 'package deals'.

The other one is Beach House ... it's gorgeous too ...I haven't decided yet what I'll be making from these ... I'll probably need a bit of time to just 'love them' first .... do you know what I mean LOL?? He he ... I bet you do :o).

I also got these fabulous books ... I ordered them from "Book Depository" last week and I just love them. The quilting one is a fabulous reference with some gorgeous patterns ... I'm trying to do more adventurous quilting and I thought this book might be handy ... loads of patterns and clear instructions. And of course the Tilda one is to die for ..... I LOVE it ..... How cute is this little mouse??!! I can't wait to make some of the gorgeous things in this book!!!

Lastly I received this yesterday from Norway. I was absolutely delighted!! It's a thank-you card from Laila's daughter Stine who recently had her little daughter Emma. I sent over a small gift to welcome her into the world and she sent me this gorgeous photo and card .... so chuffed ... isn't she a gorgeous baby!!!?! You can see more piccies of this adorable little girl at Laila's blog :o)!

Before I go ... here's a look at my new glasses .........Do you like them????? I'm still getting used to them, they're a bit stronger than my other ones ..... I must be getting old LOL!!!

Such excitement!

Lots of exciting things have happened this week!! First of all ... my DH has a new toy!!! Last Saturday he bought this ....... We're trying to think of a name for her (any ideas??) - at the moment she's just "the girlfriend" he he!I'm already worrying if he even thinks of taking her for a ride lol ... I guess I'll get used to it. He's so happy though, if you could see that face (yes I know it's a bit blurry, sorry bout that) I bet he's grinning from ear to ear!!! There's no way I'm going to rain on his parade :o). The plan is that we'll go for weekend rides out in the country ........... hmmmm, we'll see ;o). First he has to get his open license ..... AND a seat for me - that should give me a bit of time to get my head around it all!!!!!

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I also got some exciting mail this week!!! All the way from NORWAY!! I was the lucky winner of the OPAM draw for April - most of you know the One Project A Month challenge being run by May Britt and Kris (see the cute teddy button on my sidebar) ...... well here's my prize!!! Tilda stuff!!! I'm chuffed to bits, I just LOVE Tilda stuff :o)!!! Look at those cute little buttons ... I can't wait to get started! Thanks so much to May Britt, I love my prize :o), and thank you so much to both Kris and May Britt for all the time and work they put into making this challenge such fun for us all :o)!!

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Now this last bit of excitement might only appeal to a few of you, but I have to tell you, it ALMOST had me doing the happy dance!! Yep, it really did :o).

Do you know what this is????? This my dear bloggy friends is the bottom of my EMPTY ironing basket!!!! This hasn't been seen for a loooooooong time ... and here it is :o)!!

This is just the folded stuff after I'd done 5 hours ironing ... the rest is hanging in the wardrobes. I know it doesn't look like much but boy I'm glad it's done ... if only for another week he he he.

Sometimes it's the little things that can make us happy :o). I'd love to hear what's made you happy this week :o).

Yippee!!!

First I just have to tell you .... I WON!!!!! I'm so excited!!! I won the Tilda stitchery and buttons in May Britt's and Kris' OPAM draw for April!! I was feeling pretty chuffed with myself for having a few finishes when my effort in March seemed to be so dismal (yes nothing ... see my sidebar!!) and no this is just the icing on the cake. I mentioned to May Britt that I was pleased to bits to win Tilda stuff because it's not so easy to find down here in Australia ... I think I shall be the envy of many friends LOL!!! Thanks so much May Britt and Kris ... the two of them put so much work into making this challenge so much fun for us all ... AND it gives me the kick in the behind to get myself moving to finish projects instead of flitting from one to another :o).

Speaking of finishes ..... it's only JUST into May and look what I've got to show you!!! This first pic is another of my Diamonds and Braids quilt ... gosh, that's the 3rd of these I've made :o)!!! I had hoped to finish it for the April OPAM list but I didn't quite make it. I made it in pastels this time - fabrics from Moda 'Aviary' ... aren't they just gorgeous!!? They were simply a delight to work with too.

This is another of my patterns - "4x4 Tablerunner" ... I needed a sample of this one as the original has a mark on it and I didn't want to send it out to stores like that.My DH really likes this one ... always a good sign ;o). The original is all in country colours so this one is completely different.

I went to the Tamborine Craft Extravaganza on Friday with my quilting group ... we had such a lovely day. Loads of fabulous hand crafted items to be drooled over :o). A part of the profits went to help the Rural Fire Brigade ... and after what happened in Victoria recently I'm sure you'd all agree that's a very deserving cause. I didn't buy much ... but I did find this wonderful little shelf unit for my rulers ......

Isn't it just fabulous!!?!!?! It has lots of little slots on the top shelf for all my quilting rulers!! My DH was sweet enough to hang it for me this morning so I've spent my time re-arranging everything on (or should I say "off" lol) my cutting table. It's wonderful, I don't have all my rulers at the back of the table any longer so I have so much more room :o)!!!

I probably should have taken a "before" shot so that you could have seen the clutter (MESS!!!!) I had before he he he ..... you'll just have to use your imagination LOL.

I'm off now, it's a lovely day and DH and I are taking the push-bikes and going for a ride ... enjoy the rest of the long weekend!!!

Hexy Project and New Books!!!!

You know how it is when you go to these fabulous craft shows, there's so often someone doing a demonstration and making it look soooo easy!??! Well, that's what happened to me a year or so ago. I was hooked and I just had to give this new thing a try :o). So I bought everything I needed and came home delighted with my spoils and ready to have a play.I even got the Clover Iron cos it made the job soooo much easier :o) ... I studied the book which was very well illustrated, even if the text was in Japanese, no problem, the pictures pretty much told the story (I really love this book)!!! You weave strips of fabric and end up with wonderful patterns - beautiful stuff :o)!!Now I bet you're thinking I'm gonna tell you I wasted my money and it was impossible to replicate what the demonstrator was showing me .... well you're wrong. I laid it all out and I studied the book and I actually made something with this fabulous bundle. Not a waste of money after all.

Oh no, not at all LOL ......... I made THIS :o) ..................He he he ..... aren't you proud of me LOL??? I have my very own drink coaster ... and I use it all the time!!!!! It's not a new finish, I made it ages ago so it's not going on my "finished projects" list on the sidebar ;o), I just thought you might like to see it. It's a massive 3 1/2" wide and pretty much the only thing I've made so far from all this loverly stuff. But I love it - I just wish I could find the time to make more, it really is fun once you get the hang of it :o).

I got 2 more books in the mail from the Book depository today, I'd been watching for the parcel lady everyday last week and today was my lucky day!!! Look what I got!!!! and my very bestest favourite .........I love this Tilda book A LOT!!! There's loads of things I want to make in it .... aren't these ladies just adorable??!!!? ........ in the book they're called 'witches', but I think they're much too pretty!!! ... And knowing how I love chickens, these are DEFINITELY on the "to do" list!!!! They are so cute :o)!!!!

Take care .....