Introducing my completed “Kate’s Kate”!

January 28, 2015 / manicmumdays / 4 Comments

This baby has been a LONG time coming! I think because she is going to live on my bed I haven’t stressed about rushing to get her done. {After the initial rush to get her top finished – HERE} This is my use of the gorgeous Aussie Kate Spain Charm Swap by the lovely Ms Midge! In case I’ve never mentioned, I adore Kate Spain!

She is queen sized, and more beautiful than ever 🙂

I was half way thru working on the back when I put her away last year to finish some other projects. And there she languished … until I saw an offer to good to refuse to have her quilted by the fantabulous Kelly from The Quilt Machine!

I had originally intended to make this a true double-sided quilt with a differently pieced back. I had pieced some window-style panels, but I knew there would be no chance I’d finish in time to send to Kel … after all, those freaking panels were why it’s been a UFO for a few months lol
So instead I whipped up the quickest backing I have ever done. {Have you noticed that despite the fact I am taking it “slow” with it, EVERYTHING to do with this quilt has been rushed??} I am happy with the backing tho, it features some of my favourite Kate Spain fabrics with some from Terrain, Cuzco, and Honey Honey. I adore how Kate Spain fabrics look so beautiful together – even from different lines.

Can you guess what my favourite colours are?
I find myself surrounded at home by testosterone with my boys and ~~the man-child~~ Mr Manic … Even the freaking dog is a male! haha. So I think that may have factored a little in my choices. This is MY quilt and I wanted it to be really girly for a change. Either way, I adore it!!

Once I got her home I changed my mind on the binding. I was going to go with a scrappy binding, but went with white instead and I think it works beautifully!

Anyhow … I have a few projects on the boil now, so I’m off! Will share again soon 🙂
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2015 Here We Come!

December 31, 2014February 7, 2016 / manicmumdays / 4 Comments

I’m again not making New Year’s Resolutions.

Instead, from now on I will continue to make a yearly bucket list!

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2015 Regular Bucket List
1. Walk our Jack more regularly {we’re both too chunky!}

2. Practice, practice, practice my Free Motion Quilting
3. Swear less {at least when the kids are in earshot}

4. Be more creative with my cooking
5. Say ‘No’ when I mean it more often
6. Save more / BUDGET better – we’re saving for a holiday to …

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2015 Sewing Bucket List
1. Practice, practice, practice my Free Motion Quilting {you’re not imagining it – this made both lists lol Can you tell I really mean it?}
2. Make a Churn Dash Quilt. I have some Best.Day.Ever to use for this one … Soon. Very soon!

3. Sew more clothes for the kids – they LOVE it when I sew for them 🙂
4. Make a rainbow Plus Quilt
5. Make a Rainbow Reverse Wonky Star Quilt like this {A long-term goal that I’d like to tackle next year 🙂 }

{I found this gorgeous example on Pintrest from Flutter Kat! }
6. Start using up all my scraps! I love scrappy quilts!
7. Buy as little as possible – Use my stash all up!
8. Log Cabin Quilt

{I found this one on Pintrest by Red Pepper Quilts and I LOVE it!}
9. This Quilt :

{I don’t know where to credit, I found it on Pintrest and it’s link is an error 😦 So if it’s yours I’m sorry, if you don’t want me to use it please let me know xo}
10. A Drunkards Path Quilt. I actually have this one cut out ready to sew … one day soon!
11. Get my nephew’s and niece’s raggy quilts finished {I am actually aiming at finishing these by the end of January! Wish me luck! 😀 }

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I will no doubt add to this list, but that will do for now 🙂
Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2015 will be everything you hoped and dreamed of ❤

Merry Christmas Eve!!

December 24, 2014February 7, 2016 / manicmumdays / Leave a comment

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Is it sad that the thing I am looking forward to most is the Pavlova??

{last year’s efforts *drool*} heehee

Seriously tho, I am really looking forward to tomorrow! The boys are so excited! We won’t be having a big one this year. My brother is coming over for lunch but it certainly won’t be the HUGE family Christmas from my childhood. That’s one of the sad things about people having fewer children I think – no more squeezing 30 people into a house for a huge ~~day~~ week of fun, food and cheer. Oh well … fun is what you make of it. We will still have a ball together … might even squeeze some sewing in after lunch and/or dinner 🙂

Does your family have any cute traditions at Christmas time?
We get new pyjamas on Christmas Eve and always have something ‘junky’ for dinner – The kids have requested Maccas – yuk! And then we’ll watch some junky tv.

I remember how excited we were as kids going to bed on Christmas Eve after leaving some milk and bikkies out for Santa. My boys leave a bucket of water and some carrots or oats out for the reindeer as well ❤ We used to try and stay awake to see Santa. My babies don’t seem to tho, they crash like a sack of potatoes! haha

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Anyhow … Hope you all have a very happy and safe Christmas Day tomorrow!

The End Is Nigh …

December 9, 2014 / manicmumdays / 3 Comments

… The end of the school year anyhow 😉
My little man finishes Kindy today!! I can’t believe it – where has the year gone?

I have to admit, I was a little teary! He has had some beautiful teachers and support staff this year. So has my gorgeous big boy. We have been very fortunate to have these ladies in their lives!

So, I decided to make them some quilted cushions for their gifts this year {AND a big box of chocs each heehee} I finished the last of the 5 today! Here are 3. I did 2 of each of the end ones :

I am in love with them! I hope they like them too

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Because I have been doing these {and working, studying etc} I am only just getting to my latest finish … Check out my job for tonight! :

And … on that note, sorry it’s a quick post, but I am off to dish up dinner and bind, bind, BIND! 🙂

Catch you soon

Colour My World!

December 5, 2014February 7, 2016 / manicmumdays / Leave a comment

I love, love, LOVE colour!
Not sure if you know, but as well as sewing, quilting and painting/restoring furniture, my actual ‘day job’ is working at the paint counter at Bunnings! So colour plays a large part in my every day life 🙂 Does colour matter to you too?

So, that said, I am suitably excited that Pantone have released their Colour of the Year for 2015!

Goodbye Radiant Orchid, you were lovely!

And a HUGE Welcome to Marsala!!

“Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness.”
– Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute^®

From what I can see so far on the net, opinion is divided!
What do you think? Love it or loathe it?

Personally, I was plugging for Calypso Blue or Scuba Blue. Or even Classic Blue … but I do tend to swing towards blues and greens in my own choices, so I am probably a little biased 😉
I do think it was time for a nice, cool blue tho. I am seeing so many blues in design right now!
I’m not sure about the warmth of Marsala – again, it could be because it’s summer and oh, so HOT here right now.
I can see how Marsala would be of appeal to the northern hemisphere who have hit winter now tho! It would go beautifully with greys and even some gorgeous earthy green/burnt orange tones …

How do you think it compares to the previous ‘Colour of the Year’s?

Personally I think quite a few are a little blah to be honest … But I do like my deeper, jewel-toned hues – I still adore Emerald – so it might just be me! haha

Oh well … It’s not up to me to choose.
I will watch with interest to see how much this colour influences colour trends in 2015.
I am tipping there won’t be much Marsala on my sewing table or paintbrush tho 😉 haha

Have a great day!

It’s been a whole year …

September 29, 2014September 29, 2014 / manicmumdays / Leave a comment

… since our little Quilting Bee, QCA#3, kicked off!

It’s really flown, but at the same time, it seems like we’ve been in it for ages!
Here are the last 2 blocks ~ August :

And September :

I’ve really enjoyed this experience but most of the ladies are too busy so have opted out on a second round.
One even has a baby about to arrive! 🙂 Excitement!
I was on the fence and thought I would have been happy either way but I am feeling a little wistful now …
Oh well, all good things must come to an end 🙂

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Here are all of my contributions :

All the ladies made gorgeous choices for their blocks! ~~Most~~ All were a complete pleasure to make 😉 Mine is the top middle, I was November last year! I haven’t pieced the quilt as I have a couple of alterations to make … I have also made a further 8 blocks to make it bigger!
But here are the 12 blocks of the worker bees + the one I did for that month {It’s in the top left corner} :

Pretty, hey!
I’m sad we’re disbanding the Bee … But so very happy to have been a part of it!
❤ Thank you ladies! ❤

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Rightio, that all from me for tonight – short and sweet! Catchya next time.

Happy Birthday to Me!! Plus Astronomy and a Make Over!

September 20, 2014February 7, 2016 / manicmumdays / 2 Comments

Well, Happy Birthday to “Manic Mumdays” anyhow 😉

2 Years ago yesterday I started this little blog! Yaay! And I am only just this last few months being kind to it and spending some real time on here.

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I was going to post this last night but we went with our Grade 3 classes out to the lake and had a session with the Astronomy Club!

Oh.eM.Geeeee!
I could soooo buy myself a decent telescope and get into that as a hobby! It was amazing! The fabulous telescopes they had out there cost less than I assumed! Might be time to start saving! Haha!
When our lovely host, Bob was talking about the Milky Way and the fact that it has 200Billion stars, I was getting a little teary with how insignificant we really are!
It blows my mind that all of that potential is out there. I definitely believe we can’t be alone in this … We’re talking 200,000,000,000 other stars – just in our Galaxy! And if each of those stars has 8 planets like ours does that’s 1.6Trillion possibilities! {that’s 1,600,000,000,000} There has to be some other life form out there – What do you think?

We saw Saturn which looked just like this but a little less distinct:

And Jupiter with a couple of its 60+ moons. Our view was exactly like this :

We got to see Mercury just before it disappeared over the horizon and Mars which really was red! There was some white on it from the nitrogen ice cap! We looked at a brand new {only 10,000,000 years old 😉 } cluster of 40+ stars called the Jewel Box Cluster :

We also looked at The Southern Cross and Alpha Centauri {actually 2 stars! And one of the Pointers!}; Scorpio; and Sagittarius.

*sigh* I desperately want a telescope now! haha

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Mr Manic helped me move my newly made over sewing table into place on Thursday!

To say I’m in love is an understatement!

Here are some pics :

The ‘After’ pics are in crappy light, cos we kept running out of time and I didn’t want to go without using it any longer haha
The colour is darker – more the colour of the top.

I replaced the handles with some gorgeous crystal drawer pulls I found in the Antique store; bogged up the old holes; repaired some minor damage to the bottom on one of the drawers; papered the drawers; painted it; and replaced the old, rusty castors.
It was a bit ugly with its old, yellowing varnish, but structurally, it was in fantastic condition!

I have decided to make over a little bookcase I got cheap at a garage sale in the same colour to put with it. I’ll finally have something to store my quilting books, patterns, and bits n bobs on! It was pretty sound but since removing it’s back it’s a little fragile. Fingers X’d I can fix him up 🙂

Anyhow … I am off to work a bit more on my little bookcase now!
Have a fantabulous weekend everyone!

Latest Upcycle Project Sneak Peek

September 11, 2014September 11, 2014 / manicmumdays / Leave a comment

Hi Everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

I am still working on my sewing table … would you like a sneak peek?

I am in LOVE with the colour!
But … Looking at it I am kinda in half a mind that it’s too full on all in the same colour.
I was originally going to stain it.
Then decided to use some of the gorgeous Annie Sloan Chalk Paint I won and talked about HERE.

I think for now I will wax it and then down the track I might cut the top back and stain it … What do you think?

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My gorgeous Kate Spain Charm Along quilt made an appearance on 13 Spools this week! You can find it HERE! I feel very honoured!

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My poor little man is sick 😦 I had to leave a training course early yesterday to collect him from kindy and he came home and crashed. I thought he was mainly just tired but then we woke him for a bath and he insisted on going to bed without dinner and crashed again! He came out round 9pm saying “I just want to cuddle you and then go back to bed” which he did.
He is crashed out on the couch right now 😦 Poor little darling, I hate when they’re sick!

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I dug round YouTube to find this and share with a friend today and thought I’d share it here too. Very funny stuff 😀

Anyhow, I’m off to check on my sick baby. Cya next time!

Lessons We Learned This Week

September 5, 2014September 5, 2014 / manicmumdays / Leave a comment

First of all, welcome Spring!!! Yaaay! My favourite season is upon us once again 😀

It’s still misty on my way to work at 6.15!! But it’s like this in no time :

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So, my big boy and I learned a couple of things together this last week or so.

Lesson # 1.

Back story = I detest lying!! If you wanna know only one thing about me, know that lying is a deal breaker.
Long story, short version. He had a little stumble at school involving some of the values we are teaching and I questioned his honesty and integrity {don’t laugh, these are words I use with my boys, they’re values I regard extremely highly!}. He then lied and made it worse. He was grounded and banned from gadgets for a month. This is his all time least favourite punishment! So it works a treat as a deterrent. Usually.

Anyhow, he got upset all over again when I told Mr Manic after work. Mr Manic asked if I thought shaming him was the right thing to do.

And do you know what? I’m ok with it. I didn’t set to shame him, of course. But I’ll sleep fine with it for sure.

I think shame in your own bad actions is one of the things missing from today’s society. If you’ve done something shameful you should feel ashamed! I wouldn’t have told it to a wider audience, just like I’m not sharing the full story right here. And now, here we are 2 or 3 days down the track and apart from sulking over being grounded and not being able to use gadgets, he is none the worse for it.
Personally, I believe that if wanting to never feel shame ever again is a deterrent to doing the wrong thing next time, then freaking YAY! Happy side effect and parenting win as far as I’m concerned.
The last part of his punishment was to go to school the next morning and deliver a heartfelt apology to the person involved which he did with courage and genuine remorse. He is generally a kid who we never have issues with. This was totally out of character and I am fairly confident it won’t ever happen again.

Lesson learned = Feeling ashamed of bad actions is ok.

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Lesson #2.

My big boy has been promoted to ‘Squad’ at swimming lessons recently. Yay! He is such a lovely little swimmer! My brother was a fantastic swimmer and ~~could~~ should have gone all the way to the Olympics with it. If only … But that’s a loooong story for another day.

Anyhow, it’s now an earlier time slot. 9am on a Saturday morning which means we need to get up at 7.15 to get there on time.
I was lamenting this fact to Mr Manic a few days ago and didn’t think anything more of it. Until Mstr 8 started getting grumpier the closer it go to the weekend, and saying he didn’t want to swim squad. I pressed him and found out it was because “I feel bad cos you have to get up early on your day off after working hard all week just to take me to squad” OMG! My heart filled to bursting point!
He is such a gentle, soft soul, and so mature that I sometimes think I treat him like he is older than he actually is and then I get a little shock when he acts like a kid lol I love his guts so much!

Lesson learned = Kids hear everything! Even if they don’t appear to be listening, they are haha 🙂

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I haven’t been doing any sewing lately 😦 Sad because I am running late with my Bee blocks!!
I lent my fold up tables to a friend for her little boy’s birthday party and haven’t picked them up yet. Kinda deliberately as I was trying to use it as fuel to get my sewing table project finished. That’s still a way off. I decided I wanted to paint and wax it instead of my old plan and that’ll take a while longer. I’ll then have to let the wax cure before giving it any hard use too … *le sigh*! I have had some very early starts this week and I am dead tired, but hopefully I’ll get it done over the weekend 🙂

Oh well … I have finished my Sunny chair tho! I’ll post a few pics over the weekend. Anyhow, catch you on the flip side,

KATE Sig for Manic Mumdays

Mid Week Rambling

August 26, 2014February 7, 2016 / manicmumdays / Leave a comment

That’s right – HAPPY HUMP DAY everyone!
Not that I know why I’m excited – I work Sat/Sun/Mon/Tue this weekend … so it’s kinda like a long weekend in reverse or an anti-long-weekend! lol

Oh well … I don’t mind cos I must admit, I am absolutely loving my job right now! I spoke to my boss the other day and she has okayed me holding a DIY class on make-your-own Chalk Paint! Yaay! Very excited 🙂 And next week I am going to try making my own Milk Paint! If only finding powder pigments weren’t so hard! Do any of you know where I can find some that won’t cost an arm and a leg??

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Not much is happening on the sewing front for me right now.
This might be hard to believe, but I have been sewing for the last year or two on a Blow Mould, fold out table in our living room! haha
Anyhow, I lent our 2 fold out tables to a friend last week and I took it as an opportunity for a clean up.
The same day I found this amazing wooden table/desk on Gumtree!!

It’s on castors and needs a bit of a tidy up, you might be able to see I’ve already started to sand the drawers? One needed a little repair too and I put them back in to take a quick pic … The yellow/orange varnish has to go!
This baby is super sturdy tho! And she fits my cutting mat well. Exactly what I was looking for!
I will at last be able to sew above medium speed without the table shaking and supplies falling off from the vibrations! 😀
Hopefully I will get the make over done including a quick wax today, and get her in and being used by tomorrow!

And not before time either! I’m running late on August’s Bee block! September’s is up already and I hope to get them both done before Friday … Speaking of Friday – It’s my little man’s birthday!! I can’t believe he will be 5 already!! He has requested a Minecraft cake and I was pushing for Creeper. He has narrowed it down to Enderman. *phew*! Of alllll the possible Minecraft cakes, this would have to be the easiest!

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I am starting a detox tomorrow. Not sure what to expect, but I am going to be very strict and stick to it all. Even the nil-caffine rule! Not sure how that one will go! lol Wish me luck!

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Check out this fun Quilt Block quiz! I found it over at the Missouri Star Quilt Co. blog, Cutting Table. You can take it by clicking the pic :

Sew, which Quilt Block are you? I’d love it if you left me a comment to let me know!
I got ‘Flying Geese’ which is interesting since I have never made a flying geese block. Like ever! haha
Might have to add something with them to my to-do list …

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Well … that’s all I have for today. Will try to squeeze a quick update in early next week – Cya then!