craftjuice

jelly roll quilts

You may remember that for my birthday, Mum and I went to Peppermint Stitches and she bought me this gorgeous jelly roll of Objects of Desire by Sandy Gervais for Moda for my first foray into a 'real quilt'.

Well a few weeks ago, I finally purchased Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott and I am so happy to say it is a beautiful book full of glorious patterns (easy and more difficult) to turn my lustful jelly roll into a beautiful quilt. 

Although I LOVE the quilt on the cover of this book, after reading the fine print, it could be more than a little ambitious for a first time quilter. So after some crafty discussion with Susan (I can never make these kind of decisions on my own), we decided I should have a go at the Garden Trellis pattern which should look a bit like this...

It is described as "a quilt that comes together very quickly and, although you have to handle the bias edges with a little respect, it is a quick and easy choice if you need a speedy present for a special friend".

Sounded good to us.

Don't hold your breath for me to start it just yet as I need to save up for some quilting equipment...but at least now I have a plan!

REread brooches

At the recent BrisStyle Market, I picked up a set of two owly brooches from this fine young Brisbane craftster, RERead.  One says 'it's' and the other says 'lovely'  - lovely. Each brooch is handmade from old children's books and other materials.

Due to high demand, her Etsy shop only has a few pieces at the moment, but you can check out her blog and see some of her other fantastic creations.  Best of all, RERead is giving away this lovely 'Harky!' bird brooch this month...head over and leave a comment!

Also available at the MoB Store at Brisbane City Hall...

any excuse to shop - mathilda market is on again!

In a flush of excitement, I've found out that Mathilda Market is on again at City Hall this weekend (Sunday in fact)!  I really enjoyed last time when I went with Susan in March, and bought some really lovely things for Miss M.

There looks like lots of new booty this time around!

status report: monday 13 july 2009, 5.45am

Is this how Annie Leibovitz started?

Finishing: my blog hiatus

Thinking about: two incredible parents laying their courageous little girl to rest today

Just discovered: life's too short not to make every moment count

Cooking: porridge and later, some freezer meals

Planning: my time with Miss M while Mr B is away for three weeks in San Diego

Checking out: my work email

Listening to: someone practicing their flute (quite well actually)

I really must: get rid of all this clutter on my desk

Watching: the sun coming up over the hill outside my window

Wanting: a big warm hug

Have just finished: my first coffee for the day

Going to: make my grocery shopping list

Needing to: add birthday party invitations...someone is three soon...

Hoping: Mr B made it to his destination safely with 15kg too much luggage, passport and sanity intact

Looking forward to: Miss M's first music lesson this morning

Love and peace to the Morgan family today.

birdcage cushions

This week I made these 'birdcage' cushion covers from some great graphical Ikea fabric.  I cut a 49cm square from the fabric and  used a bird applique template from one of my Marie Claire Idees books, cut in some red cotton, and machine stitched around.  Then I put in a zip on one side and sewed around. Wha la!

They were for a gorgeous girl at work who has had a really rough year so far, but just bought herself a lovely new apartment in the city. She is going for a black/white design look and I thought these would look nice. I designed them for her - a little bird feathering her nest and leaving the past behind to explore the world with new found confidence.

I was so pleased she really liked them!

fresh juice for june

photo from Katie Did's flower collar tutorial

Sorry I'm a bit behind in getting to my fresh juice this month! But here's some great blogs I've been recently reading that you might like too...

Anna Marie Horner - I love her fresh feel and amazing quilts! (Did I say 'quilts' again out loud?!)

Bloesem Kids - what is there not to love about this design blog for kids? Just gorgeous.

Canberra's Got Style - great Australian design and fun around Canberra

Katie Did - this amaaaazing woman makes the most amaaaazing clothes for her kids and all photographed so beautifully!  I wish I was this talented!  SO INSPIRING!

Middle is Gold - I just love this blog because it is so full of life and family and love and other great stuff (and now, even a new gorgeous baby!)

I've added my fresh juice list for June over there on the left hand side so you can find them anytime...

(got a spare few minutes to finish your coffee? visit my other fresh juice picks throughout the year!)

kids quote handmade cards

A while ago over at angry chicken, I spied these hilarious cards made from her kid's quotes.

I thought this was a great idea not only to get mileage out of the laughter that generally ensures from whenever kids share their profound statements, but also as a lovely way to document them (and share them with others)!

Perhaps I can start with Miss M's "I'm not a Jedi mummy, that's Star Wars!"

For more of Amy's kids quote in all their perfectly typeset glory, have a look here...

jane austen's sewing box

It's really not my cup of tea in a delicate china cup, but I couldn't help but mention this find at my local bookstore today... Jane Austen's Sewing Box. A craft book inspired by Jane Austen books by Jennifer Forest.  Yep. Who would have thought.

Here's a nice description...

Jane Austen's Sewing Box opens a window into the lives of Regency women during a beautiful period in arts, crafts and design. Jennifer Forest examines Jane Austen’s novels and letters to reveal a world where women are gripped by crazes for painting on glass and netting purses, economise by trimming an old bonnet, or eagerly turn to their sewing to avoid an uncomfortable conversation.

Based on Jane Austen’s novels and with illustrated step by step instructions for eighteen craft projects, this beautifully presented book will delight Jane Austen fans, lovers of history and literature and craft enthusiasts alike.

ISBN: 9781741963748

I like the bit about turning to sewing to avoid an uncomfortable conversation! 

I think you'd have to blush coyly as well and prick your finger with the needle in the midst of your trembling discomfort.

photo tagged! my favourite photo

Jacqui tagged me to show my favourite photo (via fatmumslim).  Without hesitation, this is one of my favourite photos ever.

It's my dad. And it says everything about him!  He's handy. He's hard working. He's hilarious.  This was taken a few years ago when he was cutting down and mulching some of the tree in my mum and dad's backyard, hence the safety ear muffs.  I said 'smile!' and this is the first thing he did. To make himself like a beaver!

It makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it.

I love you so much dad!

(And now you know where I come from...)

happy birthday to me!

It's my birthday today!  I'm 37 - woot!  I really don't mind getting older - I'm having more fun than ever. And getting better at being myself every day! As I reflect on my life (as you do on your birthday) I am really thankful today for a lot of things.

One of those things is that I'm surrounded by the best friends that anyone in the world could ask for. I only have a very small group of close friends, even though I am blessed with an abundance of amazing and fabulous people in my life.

See these fantastic birthday gifts I received?  They are from my wonderful friend Jacqui who lives in Japan.  I only met Jacqui just a little over a year go through this blog and her blog, Blooming in Japan.  Even though we've never met in person, she is one of my dearest friends.  She has opened her heart and we share lots of interests, dreams and challenges. It's so rare to find someone that you just clicked with and I can't wait to meet her in person and give her a big hug one day!

These beautiful and thoughtful gifts have a story which illustrates the thing I am thankful for the most today - amazing friends. Because when Jacqui found them on Etsy, she had no idea that she was connecting with another of my amazing friends!!!  Yep - through some bizarre bend in the universe, of all the things Jacqui could have chosen for me, she chose my friend Fiona's stuff at Tree Party Design - get out!  And that just makes everything all the more special - because these special gifts are given and made with love from two very special people in my life.

And that's why I'm so thankful for my amazing, talented, incredible (and at times, very tolerant and patient) friends. And it fills my heart so overwhelmingly big and full, it makes me cry a bucket of tears! It's the best present of all. Especially today.

Happy Birthday to me. I'm the luckiest girl in the world.