Sunday.

It's a beautifully sunny Sunday as I write this. A gentle breeze is floating around outside, and I can hear a wonderful chorus of bird calls. There is something so lovely about lazy Sundays, spent at church, home and with family.

Over the past few months, weeks and especially days, I've been planning a new step for Missy Mack. I've had new opportunities open up, and an inspired new direction take my imagination. Things are still in the planning stages, but I hope to be up and running in my new venture very shortly. So, some changes will take place on my blog during this time. And I'm excitedly looking forward to starting this new season for Missy Mack.

One rather huge and exciting change - is that I'm the proud owner of a new sewing machine! I have had a wonderful journey with my current machine, a Brother NX 200 Quilters Edition, and I'm not saying goodbye to her just yet. She has served me faithfully and was a wonderful 21st present from my parents. We have sewn numerous quilts and items together, and I have greatly enjoyed using her. She will and always shall remain a treasured part of my 'sewing fleet.'
I am simply stepping up to a new and very clever machine. My darling and wonderful husband has spoiled me with a late Christmas present. I don't know of many men who will sell their precious wine collection, only to devote the money for their wife. But, my Simon has.

After much consideration and research, we settled on the Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0.
I will type up a more detailed post of the journey it took me to decide upon the Pfaff, and of my experience with it so far. But I am yet to have her, and hopefully she will arrive at the shop in the next few days. I'm greatly looking forward to playing with my Pfaff and getting to know all her quirks and features. The day the Pfaff does arrive, I think Simon is expecting cheese on toast for dinner! And yes, I may just be too busy playing to cook!

So, a most heartfelt thank you to my wonderful husband for his generosity and kindness - I love you! And, here's to new beginnings!

Too many leftovers...

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas time, and I'm assuming, like myself, that you are all over the leftovers. I've eaten enough ham, and pudding, and potato salad, and it's time to get back to some salads!

We had a beautiful Christmas time with family, and as usual, the day goes so quickly, and then it's all over for another year. But we have some lovely memories, and presents, of course!

Just a quick post to finally announce the winners. Thanks to all who entered, and for your lovely comments. Congratulations to the winners, Susan, and Stitchin-time! Susan has won the pink/purple bundle, and Stitchin-time, the orange/red one.  I hope you enjoy your fabric!

Christmas Giveaway!

Competition closed! Winner announced shortly!

It's time to do some celebrating! Christmas is all about giving, and sharing with others. So, here are two fabric bundles from my stash. We have a pretty pink and purple bundle, and then a funky orange and red one.
Each bundle has 6 different fat eights (so a total of .75cms.)

Entry is open to Australian residents only (sorry, international people!)
If you would like to enter, please leave a comment, and make sure you mention which bundle you would prefer. If you don't mind either way, just say so. :)

Entry is open till 1pm AEDST Tuesday the 27th of December, 2011.

Merry Christmas!

3 more sleeps...

Yep, not long now and it will be Christmas Day! I am very much enjoying Christmas this year, as it's our first Christmas as a married couple! So I have been busy decorating the house, and baking yummy treats like fruit mince pies, and gingerbread today (if I get myself into gear!)

As always, Christmas tends to sneak up quite quickly, but I'm feeling somewhat organised, and just enjoying the lead up. Sometimes I think I love the week or two before Christmas more than the actual day! 

So, I made a table runner and place mats this year. I used the lovely "Countdown to Christmas" range by Sweetwater. I also made some funky bunting, that is hanging in our kitchen. I love it! And the best thing - it only took half an hour or so to make. One has to love a quick bunting!

Our tree is up, and looking gorgeous. Well, it wasn't up, or gorgeous last night for that matter. We came home to find it had toppled over and landed on the floor. A wonderful surprise of water, pine needles, baubles and dirt  at 9:30pm at night. Never mind, the house still smells lovely from all the pine!

Since we will be having lunch and dinner at our respective parents homes on Christmas Day, I decided to cook Simon our own Christmas dinner, a few days early. I had such fun, and managed to create an amazing and beautiful meal in 2 hours. We had roast pork with crackling, roasted and glazed peaches with feta, vine ripened tomatoes with mushrooms and spinach, roast potatoes and a cranberry punch to top it off. A fabulous and wonderful meal. And yes, can you tell I'm a bit proud of myself??

Lately I have been playing around with some delicious 30's fabrics...

And with bags... and toys. And I have been busy thinking, planning and talking about teaching sewing classes with the lovely Kay, from Crumbz here in Healesville. All such exciting stuff! Hopefully I'll have some further thoughts and plans in the New Year. 

So, I shall stop prattling away, only to wish you all a wonderful and merry Christmas time! May it be a safe one for all your family and loved ones. And remember - Jesus is the reason for the season!

Gail has a blog!

Check it out! Gail is entering the world of technology and iPads!

Click here for Gail's blog.

Keep up to date with new fabrics and what is happening at the shop by following the blog. Gail is putting up new ranges and arrivals regularly, so if you're awaiting on a particular new range - you'll be the first to know online! I'm waiting for "Reunion" by Sweetwater. Yum, yum.

But I'm getting a wee bit tempted by those lovely Prints Charming fabrics!

The other day at work, I had the priveledge to cut some lovely Heather Ross fat quarters. Gosh, they look so darn pretty in their box!

A button or two...

There was much excitement at our house on Friday morning. 

Our first parcel arrived in the post, and it was the best kind of parcel a button loving girl could recieve.

Inside were all the fixings to make fabric covered buttons!

The dishes, vacuuming and ironing were quickly put aside and forgotten. 

And it wasn't long before the sweetest little red and white polka dot button appeared. 

He was soon joined by a matching friend. 

Who were also soon joined by even more friends. 

I'm hooked. 

*sigh*

A quilt for Holly

To me, the colours in this little cot quilt can't help but say, 'girly, pretty and summer.' The mix of the pinks, lemons and a touch of tangerine orange are bright, cheerful and happy. And I love putting  bright colours together with white. It's simple. It's fresh. And I like it. A lot.

This cot quilt was started all the way back in July, and was finally finished yesterday with the label being sewn on. My gorgeous cousin, Louise, who hails from South Australia, asked if I could make a quilt for her to give as a gift. Her youth pastors were expecting a baby girl, and Louise thought a quilt would be a perfect gift.

I mostly had free rein as to design and colours, but as long as some pink was used, and perhaps some birds.  And I had till the middle of November to have it done by. So, no rush! Well, baby came early! So, sadly the quilt wasn't ready in time for Hollys' delivery, but at least she won't know that!

I had a great time playing and perfecting pinwheels. Well, maybe not perfecting exactly. But at least, trying to perfect them. I found quite a few good tutorials online for pinwheels, and figured out some tricks on my own to get my points to match. The birds were appliqued using the blanket stitch on my Brother sewing machine. So much quicker and easier than doing it by hand.

The quilt was quilted by the wonderful and talented Clair on her long arm machine. She always does a brilliant job, though she doubts herself terribly! The quilt is bound with remaining scraps and white, because as most regular readers will know, I love a good scrappy binding.

All up, I'm rather pleased and happy with the final result. It's pretty. It's pink. And I hope Holly and her parents like it and get many years of enjoyment from it.

An aside note, I've been rather ill lately. First a flu, then a persistent tummy bug, and again, the tummy bug with headaches and immense exhaustion. For a week there I was in bed pretty much every afternoon, which is so unusual for me. Hopefully it won't last too long - it's taking up valuable sewing time!

Always love a swap!

Over the last few months, some fellow staff members and I from work have been participating in a swap. It was a paper bag swap (meaning, add some fabric into a paper bag, get someone elses bag at random, make them an item and hand it back. Etc.)

So I was quite happy when I recieved the lovely Jenny from work, as I knew instantly what I was going to make for her. She being a Bronwyn Hayes fan, I planned on doing a stitchery and putting it on a canvas.

Jennys two fabrics, from the Sophie range by Moda, were perfectly yummy for the task and everything came together beautifully. Well, except it ended up being a wall hanging and not a canvas, but nevermind! I think I much prefer it this way.
Plus, it gave me an excuse to do some random stipple quilting, which I always enjoy.

The stitchery was a free download from Brownwyns blog, featuring her trademark cat, Brutus. I coloured in the picture with my Prismacolour pencils, and then stitched around it. And from there I just built up the wall hanging till it was larger enough. I love it. And most importantly, Jenny loves it too!
I'll be back with some photos of what I recieved from the talented Maree - it's a fab bag!

My mother in law also loved it! So I stitched her another version, and popped it in a frame. Would make an ideal quick gift as I did the stitching in about 3 hours from start to finish.

Some new fabric love, and a finish

Just had to share some of my recent purchases.

I dare anyone to walk past and not think these turtles and trees are the cutest things around. They just define cuteness in my book. And of course, being the selvedge collector I am, my heart went flip flops when it saw this one. 

Yep, this is "Little Apples" by Aneela Hoey for Moda, and it's just the cutest!

Now, if you haven't heard of Umbrella Prints, it's a South Australian textile company producing some gorgeous and yummy prints. Check out their blog and website for some more eye candy, but here are three of their lovely fabrics. I just adore the colours - so fresh, so yum.

And finally? Well, with Christmas only *counts* nine and half weeks away *gasp* I'm getting into the festive mood. This is such a sweet range of fabric, and I'm looking forward to making a lovely table centre from these goodies. 

These fabrics are from the range 'Countdown to Christmas' by the brilliant Sweetwater. 

Hope you're recent fabric purchases have been as yummy as mine! 

All these fabrics were bought from work, the wonderful Patchwork with Gail B in Bayswater, VIC.

And to finish off my little post - a little quilt! I made this quick and easy cot quilt last week, specifically as a donation for our church Youth Group fundraising dinner. It was auctioned off and sold for $200, so that's pretty sweet! 

I really like the colours and fabrics in this quilt, and had quite an enjoyable time making it. It's a simple stacked coins pattern, which looks great. But I think I love the border the most - it's just too darn cute.

Home is wherever I'm with you

Well, today marks three and a half weeks since Simon and I became home owners! And we are thoroughly enjoying our lovely little home so far. As you can imagine, we have been quite busy unpacking boxes, and sorting things out. The house doesn't have much storage space, so until we can arrange more permenant homes for items, most things are still living in boxes for now.

Already plans are in full swing for alterations we wish to make to the house and property. Simon and I often talk excitedly about what we would like to do - it's great fun! I'm sure that not even half the things on our 'to do list' will ever be accomplished, but it's great to dream and imagine.

Something that I was quite excited about was setting up my sewing room! Simon and I had a gift voucher to use at Ikea, so last Saturday we made the trip down to our local store (about an hour away.) I am an Ikea novice, so it was a fantastic experience for me! I had a lot of fun walking around and looking at things. But I was extremely excited when Simon and I purchased a beautiful Beech wood table with height adjustable legs for my sewing room. It's just brilliant and exactly what I wanted. It's been great fun setting things up! I still have alot more plans in store for the sewing room, but it's a slow work in progress. Hopefully I'll have further updates to show you soon!

And just to finish on a further sewing note - here is a quilt I finished a few weeks back. I actually had this one quilted by my work mate Clair back in February, but for some reason I was a bit busy, you know, getting married! So I finally sewed the binding on, and ta-da!

I love the colours in this quilt, and particularly LOVE the backing. Oh my gosh. How cute are big white polka dots!

As much as I love this quilt, it will probably be for sale soon. And for those interested, the range of fabrics in this quilt is an oldie, "Objects of desire," by Sandy Jervais.