Blooms, all the way from Iceland!

The lovely Berglind of Miss Bee & I decided to do a little fabric swap recently. Since she is in Iceland and I am in Australia, we are all but on geographically opposite sides of the world! Berglind bravely accepted the challenge of sending me 'something nice' and here is what arrived!

Beautiful, beautiful blooms! This fabric is called 'Olive Rose' by Valori Wells for Freespirit. It is stunning and a range I've not seen in Australia anywhere. Thank you so much Berglind - it is very special - you chose perfectly!

Even the selvedge is gorgeous!

And how rare to see FIFTEEN colour dots on the selvedge! (Poor Ric-Rac will be hyperventilating - hi Jodie!)

And there were other treats, including the PERFECT quilter's nail file. I am blessed with the best blog friends.

Now, what can I make of this I wonder?

SEWN giveaway winner announced!

Thank you so much to all of you who entered my giveaway. I really appreciated the thoughtful comments you all made, and hope to get around to answering some of those curly questions about a Australia for you! As much as I would love to send each of you something special, there is only one prize. My trusty Random Integer Generator came up with the magic number: Commenter #124 was:

Anonymous said...

My children and I love to read Mem Fox books...especially Koala Lou...this it what I think of when I think of Australia. Brina blrohloff@aoldotcom

JUNE 3, 2009 11:37 AM 

Congratulations Brina! Please contact me with your address details, and the bag will be winging it's way to you very soon!

My very best wishes to Sarah whose SEWN website motivated this giveaway, and many others. SEWN will come online sometime between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, depending on where you are in the world. Bring it on Sarah - can't wait!

Another cute little film ...

Shows the potential for beauty from the discarded. And that blooms are possible in almost any context!

   

If only my garbage bin would magically transform itself overnight like this - it would make getting out of bed in the morning much more enticing!

Chill the champagne, SEWN is about to launch ... so roll on up for a giveaway

An innovative new site for sewers called SEWN will be launched in early June 2009. This site promises to be fantastic, with forums, online advice, free patterns, tools, interviews, tutorials, and an online buy & sell area!

To join in the celebration of the launch of SEWN, I have joined the the Blog Party Giveaway and I am giving away this:

In honour of the fact that SEWN has talented Aussie girl Sarah Fielke at the helm, please leave a comment & tell me something that comes to your mind when you think of Australia - something you love (or hate?!) about my country, or for overseas visitors, a question you've always wanted to know but haven't had an Aussie on hand to ask! Just any random reflection about Australia that you feel like sharing. 

My giveaway will be drawn at 8pm on Monday 8th June, 2009.

Please ensure I am able to contact you if you win!

The bag is made from Amy Butler's 'Midwest Modern' fabrics and the pattern is called 'Fat Quarter Bag' by Melly & Me.

The side panels of the bag are in an Urban Chiks '1974' spot, and form a cute little pleat.

I have used bag rings & magnetic clasps from Nicole Mallalieu Design for this bag. I can strongly recommend Nicole's business - really high quality product & fast service.

So comment away, and please support Sarah with the launch of the SEWN website. There are giveaway opportunities galore, here and here, to celebrate.

SEWN giveaway in progress!

I got a job this week - nothing earth shattering, just casual, but it has involved blowing the cobwebs from the science side of my brain. I have worked two days and am now certified as competent to identify 15 types of fruit fly!! I'm so proud! The upshot of this news is that my giveaway gift for the SEWN launch is behind schedule, but under construction. It involves these fabrics ...

... and this Melly & Me pattern:

Really hoping it will be finished tomorrow & ready for comments. Nice to be thinking about fabric again rather than fruit flies!

They don't call me Bloom for no reason!

I am expecting visitors for the weekend & tomorrow I am playing parent-helper on a school excursion to the zoo. So I am SUPPOSED to be cleaning the house today. But as so often happens, I am avoiding the mundane & have become distracted by blooms! I came across this treasure at the Michael Miller site.

'Flower Shower Brite', free pattern here. 

I LOVE this quilt! It is made from a new Michael Miller range called 'Jewel Tones'. You may remember the gorgeous 'Birds of Norway' print that Janelle sent me recently?

Kathy Miller at Making It Fun explains in this post, that the colours used in 'Birds of Norway' worked so well, that it inspired the whole new 'Jewel Tone' range. 

These fabric manufacturers are killing me! Can't they just release some dead ugly fabrics for a while & give my addiction a break?!

Almost a quilt

I spent 24 hours with these girls on the weekend. Always lots of fun, copious amounts of food & some serious stitching productivity. I worked non-stop on this quilt:

Awful photos as it is a miserable, dull day here, but you get the idea. Just need to add a white border & this top will be done.

The pattern is 'Ava Rose' by Hatched & Patched, the fabrics mostly 'Barefoot Roses' by Tanya Whelan from this stash that has been sitting around looking pretty for far too long!

Finish #1

The needlecase for my Mum is all finished & ready to post ...

... buttons stitched on, binding sewn down ...

... it opens up to this ...

... amd then opens up again to reveal spots for scissors & needles.

The design is called 'Simple Stitches Needlecase' by Lynette Anderson.

For a friend ...

Another small stitchery I am working on for a friend. I am enjoying the serenity of my needle & thread in the evenings, but it is time to set the machine whirring & transform some of these stitcheries into the items they are meant to be. Hopefully back soon with some finishes!

For my Mum ...

I have been working on this stitchery design by Lynette Anderson. It will be a needlecase for my Mum, & is from Lynette's Weekend Projects range. 

I bought this as a kit for Mum last Mothers' Day & she hasn't had time to make it up. She is having a tough time with her own mother at the moment. My Grandma who has dementia has deteriorated badly in the last little while. She is in hospital presently & Mum is doing her best to care for her, but Grandma has become quite abusive, so Mum is doing it tough. I am not able to be with them, so phone calls from afar & stitching gifts is the limit of my comfort unfortunately.

Among my mother's many good attributes is an enormous capacity for forgiveness - a good thing really, as this Mothers' Day gift will be late - love you Mum!