Quilting

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, Yes?

/ manicmumdays / 6 Comments

So then you guys must be VERY fond of me then, hey? haha

How are you?
I am still plodding along.
It’s been an extremely busy and tiring few months here … We have 2 weeks of school holidays coming up and I have some time off work booked and we are just going to do NOTHING! I am working the weekends, but otherwise PJ days is the plan 🙂 Oh, and we might go to the movies one day and see Finding Dory {I wouldn’t be able to wait for the DVD. Yes, me not the kids haha}

I love Dory! Crush and Squirt are firm favourites 🙂

This is probably going to be my last ever raggy quilt. It’s just getting too hard to find quality flannel here these days. Oh well … I enjoy regular quilting more anyway these days I guess 🙂 This one is for my little niece! It’s a large single bed size and I am a little bit in love with it!IMG_8320Front.IMG_8317Back.
I have a brand new nephew! He was born last month on Star Wars Day {Mother of boys info I never knew I needed to know! haha}
May the 4th be with youHe is the most precious little bundle! I have started nearly finished a quilt for him. Then I need to get cracking on one each for my elder two nephews.
They have been waiting long enough so patient!
A sneak peek :IMG_8522It’s a simple square patchwork with meandering quilting. But it’s very cute 🙂

I also have another top-secret project on the burner. As well as trying to get a bit of furniture painting in somewhere. I did do some painting a couple of weeks ago –
IMG_9257This is chalk board paint around my pantry entrance {… and this is the tidiest it’s been since we started using it haha The boys LOVE it!} There’s usually a small canvas covering the yellow phone point because we don’t use it and it annoys me to see it there. But I need to sand the spot for the hook …
Anyhow, I am about to crash!
Cya next time ❤

KATE Sig for Manic Mumdays

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Perfect!

/ manicmumdays / 2 Comments

I haven’t been round much of late cos I have a heap on my plate atm … Not doing much sewing or quilting either *sigh.
But, I just wanted to share some good news with you all –
Tonight I got my latest assignment marked and …

10100 percentWoooop!!!! Happy Dance!
xTgMELxTAheehee
Hope you’ve had a great start to the week too!
KATE Sig for Manic Mumdays

Tula Pink Charm Swap ~ Quilt Along

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Towards the end of last year I participated in the Tula Pink Charm Swap run by the fabulous Ms Midge.
OMG!!! They are so pretty!
After each Charm Swap there is a Charm Along!
And here is my contribution :IMG_8088 (2)It’s only the top right now, but I have a backing in the works and will keep going til it’s done – I’m determined not to add it to my UFO pile 😉
It is 49″ x 74″ { 125cm x 188cm}
It would make a gorgeous single bed quilt but since I don’t have a single bed to use it on, {except the boys and they won’t part with their Batman quilts for a girly one! haha} I think it’ll make a nice sized throw or couch quilt for meeeee!.

I am also pledging to get cracking on the aforementioned UFO pile! There are a couple of half {or more} done pieces, so I am going to keep plodding along and get some finished soon 🙂

I’ll endeavour to get my holiday pics up soon – we had a fantastic time staying at Manly Beach, Sydney!! And hubby was very surprised 🙂
Hope you have a fantabulous day!

KATE Sig for Manic Mumdays{P.S. It’s my birthday today! Yaaay! 😀 haha }

three65positive – 7th Jan

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I am feeling very positive today!
The reason I chose POSITIVE as my word for 2016 is because I believe you get back what you give out. And I needed some positive in my life so decided that if I made the conscious effort to be positive every day {even when I am down} positivity will come back at me. Makes sense right?

So, anyhow, today I had to get up at 5am for an early shift at work. I had a lovely breakky of Avo on toast {my favourite!!} and a nice strong coffee and headed in for my shift. Had a great, productive shift and was feeling great still … Come home and check out my email and find one from the Government saying they were going to back pay me family benefits!!! We’ve never claimed them but they can only back pay to last financial year! But still!! A nice little bonus right before our long-awaited holiday which means we will be able to do lots of things while we’re away! Very excited!!!

I think it’s positivity and karma coming round at me cos I am in the right head space to ask and receive what we need … Makes me sound hippy dippy, but I don’t care 😛

Besides the initial sluggishness, I really like getting up and going to work early!
My boss has offered to keep me on my larger contract after hubsy finds work if I can do Thursday & Friday early starts. I immediately said YES!! It’ll mean putting the kids in before school and holiday care, but they will be ok with that and we will all enjoy the extra $!! I am so lucky to LOVE my job! And now I am off to work on my latest quilt – a raggy!!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

KATE Sig for Manic Mumdaysthree65positive – 7

three65positive – 4th Jan

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Meet Tink!
365P 4He doesn’t like having his photo taken, but in the end he just sighed and said “Fine! Get it over with!” I am allergic to cats but I do so love gingers so I can never resist giving cuddles when they’re offered! I just have to remember to wash properly or I pay the price later! haha I am off to do a little studying and will try to get some work on my latest quilt done tomorrow. Hope to have it done by the end of this weekend 🙂

KATE Sig for Manic Mumdays#three65positive – 4

Happy New Year!! {And something new}

/ manicmumdays / 4 Comments

Happy New Year!!I wish for you a happy, prosperous, joyful, funny, loving, exciting, relaxing, fun year!
I hope 2016 is all you are hoping for and more ❤

As per last year, I won’t be making NY resolutions … So I thought I’d do something a little different {Since last year’s Bucket List hasn’t been fulfilled I will keep working on that thru 2016 😉 } I’m really excited about this, so check it out :

2015 was a pretty shitty year for my family. I feel like I am a bit jaded and in a kind of grumpy funk. So I thought I might try to think positive and share one image that makes me happy each day.
It might be Quilt-y, Interior Design-y, Meme-y, Family oriented, or maybe even just plain day-to-day ordinary.
It may be one I’ve found on Facebook, Instagram, Pintrest etc … or it might be one of my own.
But it will make me feel good and it will be POSITIVE 🙂
I am going to call it three65positive.

I reserve the right to lace my babies thru it whenever the feeling suits me too! Cos they are freaking AWESOME little people and the most positive things in my life. I am SO proud of them.

I will be sharing my three65positive pictures on here, my facebook page, and Instagram. So please feel free to tag me (@manicmumdays) there and use #three65positive on Insta 🙂 I would love for you to share too! ❤

I will post my very first three65positive later on today so watch this space all my spaces! 😉

Late Night Colour

/ manicmumdays / 3 Comments

Wow … never dreamed I would be so absent lately.

My hubby is still job searching so I am working more. That’s about the only excuse I have. Lucky I love my job hey! 😀 I am hoping to keep the extra hours going after he finds a job. The extra money will help us build our savings up again …

I have finished a couple of projects that have been waiting for quilting and binding tho, so I feel like I have accomplished something at least.

This one is a baby sized quilt which I intend giving as a gift 🙂Baby boys QuiltThe fabric is “On The Go” by Riley Blake and it is 38″ x 42″ {97cm x 107cm} I FMQ’d it and made it during a QAL with Nanny Margie. I just adore the way it turned out!

This one I SLQ’d. I just love the purple/green tones together :
Log Cabin QuiltI made it with a random Jelly Roll I picked up cheap at Spotlight a couple of years ago. It’s 42″ x 52″ {107cm x 132cm} I am undecided whether to give this one away or list it in my Etsy store …? hmmmmmm
❤
I tested a pattern for the fabulous Molli Sparkles a little while ago and now that its been shared, I can share the blocks I made :
IMG_7250I love this pattern! It comes together so quickly too 🙂 I have a small stash of Tula Pink’s Colours FQ so I am going to use it to finish this baby off. It’ll definitely be a 2016 finish tho, no chance on earth it will get restarted this year ;)<3
Oh well … I better go crash, I am working all day tomorrow so I need to get some sleep!
G’nite y’all!
KATE Sig for Manic Mumdays

I’m Still Alive!

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Wow! What a busy month it’s been!

We have had alot going on around here … Mr Manic was retrenched in August so he has been looking for work. There are so many retrenchments happening round here lately, it’s quite scary! But … he has an interview for a dream job next week, so please send up a prayer for us … And some luck wouldn’t go astray lol 🙂
While he is searching I have been lucky enough that my boss has doubled my work hours to keep the $ trickling in. I am very grateful, but that also means double the work for me! haha Which in turn means less time for creativity and sewing.

I have managed to do a couple of little bits n pieces – SLQ’d a lap/couch sized quilt; about 1/4 thru FMQ’ing a cot sized one; Made a couple of test blocks that I can’t share yet … Hmmmm no pics in that bunch. How about this one –
IMG_7241This baby is destined to be a place mat for me! I have made two and I am just loving the pretty fabric

❤

I am also up to my neck in module 2 of my Interior Design course right now.
I’m so LOVING  it! Don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it before, but in high school I toyed with the idea of doing Architecture {among other things}.
And this Module is all about architecture!! YAY!

While I was studying this morning, I remembered something I think of now and then from when I was a child … It’s a memory from Grade 2 – which for me would be about 33-34 years ago.
It’s of my teacher criticising my drawing of a house. You know the type, sun on the corner of the page, rolling hills behind, tree to the side. A square house under a triangle roof, with a front door and crossed window to the side. Maybe with a chimney atop the roof blowing smoke and a few flowers? Kinda like this!
… well he said that it was totally unrealistic. That the windows were totally wrong, along the lines of “Windows are only one pane of glass, not broken into 4 like that!”
I was 6, too little to argue the point and it stopped me from drawing them for a good while … and I still remember it! I am surprised that he had never seen windows with more than one pane when you consider the famous buildings in the world with more than one-pane-windows 🙂
Even Buckingham Castle has 4+ panes in its windows, see? haha
Isn’t it funny the things kids remember?
Oh well, lunch is done, back to the books computer lol
KATE Sig for Manic Mumdays

Plodding Along and Some Pretties

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Oh dear! It’s been a full month since I last posted! oops … Where has the time gone??
I have been doing a little sewing.
I made another quilt top and back, sandwiched it and it’s patiently awaiting quilting.
IMG_7023 (2)I am also in the middle of finishing a QAL quilt. I hope to have it finished by the end of the day. Not sure I will get the binding on, but having a few days off work added to school going back tomorrow means I’m hopeful it’s finish is imminent!
I also have my gorgeous Heather Bailey Charm Swap quilt to finish!
IMG_6711This one ^ … I have the top and back done, just need to quilt it!

*Sigh* I know why – I am only just starting to get used to FMQ and I want to FMQ them but am scared to start them cos I don’t want to stuff any of them up! haha 😀

I am not allowing myself to start any more tops {that I am desperate to start} until I get these 3 quilted!

Actually, I just remembered, I have another quilt sitting in my tub awaiting a back and quilting! D’OH!!!

I think I will start by cleaning my sewing table so I have the room to quilt them. Then I might be inspired to get going!

❤

Last weekend I sewed a these blocks to send to Jackie Gillies as part of her #quiltblockstoendviolence … If you have never heard of it, you can check out her Instagram account HERE which has all the details you’ll need to join in 🙂
QuiltblockstoendviolenceI love this block so much I am going to make my own quilt with them!

Well, I am off to clean up my sewing table and look for some clarity and motivation lol
Hope you all have a great week 🙂

KATE Sig for Manic Mumdays

A Finished Top!

/ manicmumdays / 4 Comments

Hey y’all 🙂

As you might remember, I participated in Ms Midge‘s Heather Bailey Charm Swap and subsequent Charm Along recently?
{While you check out Ms Midge’s page, why not join in the Aussie Aurifil Club?? Those threads are simply gorgeous! ❤ }

HB CA Ms MidgeLook at all of the pretties we swapped!!

Well, I was sewing like a demon to finish in time for the deadline {linked at 11.45 for the 12.00 deadline! haha} And this is the result :

HB Charm Along finishedWonky Stars!! Can you see the secondary white wonky pinwheels?
I am working tomorrow, but planning on whipping up a quick backing on Sunday and quilt it next week some time.

I love it, but kinda wish the stars and pinwheels both stood out more … So I think I might try this one again down the track but use deeper colours and stars all in one colour and see how that turns out 🙂

I still haven’t used my precious Amy Butler Charm Along squares yet!!! I MUST get onto using them soon …

Anyhow, this one was meant to be a shorty – see you with a finish next week hopefully!

KATE Sig for Manic MumdaysP.S. I haven’t said it for a while – but why not check out my Facebook page, Pintrest or Instagram? 🙂