Block One - Almost Done

 My first block of the SKoW Stitch-a-long is almost complete. This is my first attempt at needle turn applique. I am finding the curves quite difficult. My stitching needs improvement but looked alot better once I used thread to match the applique fabric.

I'll work on my placement for the next blocks. This one is a bit skewed. You may see a blue line around the applique - its a water based marker and will come out once complete.

I am having fun with it though. Now on to the next one.

Happy Stitching
Susie

Scrapbooking Party and cake (again)

My eldest daughter turned 8 on Sat, such a cliche but really, where has the time gone since she was a bub in my arms? With a new renovation to pay for, any party was going to be low key (and relatively cheap), so we both decided on having a couple of friends over for a scrapbooking party.

The table was set for six friends and a little sister! There were dramas initially about how many people could come, she wanted to invite all of her friend and I know she had everyone's feeling's in mind but sometimes it just isn't possible to invite everyone.

We had a 'bits and bob's table' which housed some scrapbooking magazines for inspiration, a layout example, cardstock, papers, embellishments and other 'bits and bobs'.

Each child received a 'kit' which included their own cardstock (colour customized by the birthday girl), glue stick, scissors, rhinestones (each person had their favourite colour rhinestones) and speciality papers.

Photos were taken and printed as soon as the guests arrived - had to take one with brother and sister.

Loads of concentration........

Little Lily getting a little tired of scrapping after a while.......

Entertaining two yrs olds with chocolate was the only way to keep him away from the scissors and glue......

The final product from the birthday girl!

 And to top it all off - lollies and cake!

After making 52 cupcakes for school on Friday, a dozen cupcakes and the birthday cake for Sat (and another cake for the relatives on Sunday), I'm all caked out!

And the best part of the day? The birthday girl had a great time!

Party season is over for another year in our house. Happy Birthday for all of those to come.

xo

Crazy squares and cake

The Anni Downs SKoW is to be completed by October. I've only just started. I must be crazy to have decided to hand piece my 1 1/2" squares together......totally crazy........I know

I did a couple of squares the other day at Urban Stitches - which was so much fun!! Thanks to Sam and her friends I had an awesome day out (photos to follow in next post). I think I have to piece together 129 of these little 1 1/2" squares and that is only the start of it.....

Surprisingly, they really don't take that long, I love completing them in front of the TV at night when the kids are in bed. Very relaxing.

My Thomas-the-Train obsessed son turned 2 on the weekend. Can't believe its been two yrs since this little 4.5kg bub entered this world......here is a photo of his cake.

Still not feeling very adventurous in the cake dept, need to build up some skills.

Another birthday next week - Miss soon-to-be 8 wanted the sewing basket out of the Women's weekly cake book, I can barely manage a round cake, so she has settled for a nice simple floral decoration on her (simple round).  My oven is getting a good workout. Aren't these candles cute?

Susie xo

Better late than never

 Well its been a long time in the 'stash' planning, but finally I pulled out these fabrics today to get going on my Stitch-a-long organised by the wonderful Chookyblue.

We are following the above-shown pattern in the book by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched.

 I feel bad that some people have finished but, you know...life gets in the way, I have been following the blog and the work some people are doing is amazing.

 I feel I need some more smoky blue/grey colours? or a duck egg blue?

I do like these though........

OK, wish me luck as I embark on my first foray into needleturn applique......

Happy Stitching, Susie

French stitchery cushion

I started this French stitchery a long time ago. The stitchery itself didn't take that long it was just me trying to figure out how to make it into a cushion (yes, you would think that would be the easy part).

I purchased this stitchery from here. I just love her work. I really would love the Edwardian house but that will have to be when I win Tattslotto.

I find the stitcheries a little difficult to trace as I have to stick the pattern and the fabric up on a window and its rather awkward. Your arm starts to ache after a while. A lightbox would be fantastic - but perhaps Tattslotto again (they are really hard to get on ebay too).

I just adore these little tulips. As you can see, the stitchery is mainly stitched in backsttich, with a little satin stitch and a couple of french knots. I have stuck to the thread colours provided in the pattern but would be great to see another variation.

Some of the fabric I won from the lovely Val's blog.  I knew I could put it to good use.

This cushion is for my mum as it was her birthday a couple of weeks ago. I hope she likes it.

Happy Stitching,

Susie xo

Cake, cakes, more cakes and a Party.

Like most people, funds are a little tight at the moment. In the past I've never attempted the kids' party cakes but this year there wasn't a choice. I think I was a little inspired by this blog too. I invested in a large rectangular cake tin and proceeded to run with a decoration of rainbows and flowers I had in mind.......

I prepared for the worst but when I looked at the cake and it was golden brown on top, then I pulled it out of the oven and it was like blubber, I started to panic.!! Flick, on went the other oven (my two ovens purchased on sale years ago and kept in storage waiting for the 'big reno' have finally been put to good use) and I made the 'back up' round cake whilst the other was still baking.

After a panic call to my 'baker' friend, who put me at ease, this is what i ended up with......I left the rectangular cake in the oven for around 1.5hrs and it seemed to do the trick.

I also made some cupcakes to go on the table with the food. When it came to icing the main cake it wasn't the best idea to start it after two glasses of wine (not that it really would have mattered).

The smarties started sliding around and I had to keep propping them back into place. But the main thing was the birthday girl LOVED her cake!

Big sister helping to set up the party at the party playhouse.

The birthday girl not wishing to pose for a photo.......Hello Miss 4!
Well, Mr almost two next month and then Miss 8 in August, looks like that cake tin is going to get a workout!

Happy Baking
Susie

The Gifts are delivered

This was the secret project I had been working on for my mum and mother-in-law.

The beauty of the Creative Memories digital scrapbooking and calendar making is the calendar's can be custom designed so I started mine from the beginning of this month.

I love this photo of this cheeky girl. The digital scrap booking package is so easy to use and the best part about it is its portable. Perfect for a busy lifestyle where it takes me a long time to set up my scrapbooking gear - not to mention having to wait till the littlie's are in bed. I purchased my package from here. Its no trouble to jump on the computer and start scrapping.

I still do traditional scrapping with my 7yr old once a month. Its fun to do something lovely together however this is perfect as a relatively easy and quick gift.

My almost-78-year old mum has been so ill for weeks with shingles in the eye and side of her head that it was lovely to see a smile on her face when she received this belated Mother's Day present. My mother-in-law also appreciated hers and spent a long time considering where it would go - I suggested the laundry but she wouldn't have a bar of that!!

Happy Stitching, (and scrapping)
Susie