To love and to cherish...

Well, this is what happens when you plan a wedding in 3 months - your sewing blog suffers greatly! Yup - 3 months. Things have been incredibly busy here with decisions to make, dresses to fit, flowers to find and food to organise. But, in literally 5 days, the 14th of May, it will all be here - and I will be married!!

I know it all sounds cliche, but I seriously can't believe that I will be getting married in 5 days time. The past few months have gone by so quickly, and I'm still wondering what on earth happened to April. I know I had a birthday in there somewhere, but that was about it.

So I thought I best put up a quick post to say that yes, I am still alive, and yep - the wedding is soon! I will of course be on my honeymoon for a few weeks after the wedding, but once we get back and things settle down to normality, I have great plans for this blog and my business. And I'm so keen to get back to some sewing! Sadly my machine has decided to die on me, and I'm currently using my mothers 35 year old Pfaff. I think I may be in need of a new machine if my one can't be repaired. I think the motor has packed it in. :(

But anyway, I just wanted to quickly share with you my latest publication. Whilst I knew my quilt was going to be in the May edition of Homespun Magazine, I had no idea it was going to be on the cover. And look, there it is!

Let me introduce you to "Cherish," a beautiful and simple quilt in gorgeous blues and greens. I LOVE this colour palette - it's so soothing and soft. "Cherish" has quite an interesting history, and the one photographed is not the first quilt I actually made. The first quilt was made and perfected, and then ruined by a 'professional quilter' who did a ghastly job on the quilting. I was devastated, and with 2 weeks to the deadline I started the whole project again. And thankfully, the most wonderful Clair Acres, quilted the quilt for me in a few days, and for free. Clair - you are a lifesaver - and you did a beautiful job!

So, it was quite a relief to finish the quilt and send it off, and also to see it in the magazine. Oh, there's also a profile on me aswell - mega exciting!!

Well for now, it's probably my final post as Samantha Mackenzie - I'll be back later, married and with a new name!!

New Year...New Quilts.

Well, it was a wonderful christmas season here, and much fun and food and festivities were shared by all. Probably a bit too much food. But that's always the way at Christmas, and I'm now doing a little diet to shed some unwanted kilos.

I was doing quite a bit of sewing before and during the christmas break. A week or so before Christmas I decided I wanted to make my boyfriend a quilt as a present. I was feeling horribly sick at the time of this decision mind you. But I'm the type of person, that when I am sick I actaully have to do something. I cannot stay in bed and just lie there. So I dragged out a Pure layercake I had bought months ago, and all I could manage in my sorry state was sto sew large squares together. But I think it looks great, especially when the borders were added later. It's a bit simple and plain, but I like it - and the main thing? The boyfriend loves it too.

I carried on a circle theme with the quilt, strangley enough, and quilted large circles in each block. I'm yet to take some better pics of it, but will do so soon.

I have also been busy sewing a comissioned quilt for a lady, Cathy. Her friend is sick with cancer, and she wanted a quilt to be made with photos. I haven't actually done a photo quilt before - but gosh it's easy. I used the Matildas Own Photo paper, and it was quick and simple and no fuss. I decided to print the photos in black and white, and I like the classy look it gives the quilt. I stipple quilted the whole thing, and I'm really happy with the finished quilt.

Cathy picked it up today, and loves it. So, I count that as a job well done!

I actually really like doing comissioned quilts and items for people. I don't feel much stress or pressure, and I enjoy the challenges.

I must say though, I'm feeling rather sombre tonight as I post this. I can't help but feel sick at the pictures on the news of the devastating floods in Queensland. The footage of this sheer torrent of unrelenting water flooding streets and destroying homes and lives is horrible.

I know I will be donating money to assist in the rebuilding, and I'm encouraging all to do the same. I'm sure alot of people from Queensland, who are now affected by these floods, were some of the kind and wonderful people who donated money to my area and region after the Black Saturday bushfires. I'd love to give them something back.