A little bird told me...

During our mid week post flu break, I stopped by a giftstore and found these tea towels. Of course, I wasn't looking for tea towels, I was actually after some special wool fat lip balm I usually pick up in Ballarat (and can't find anymore). But when I saw these little characters, well, I couldn't resist:

Luckily I also found these oven mitts. As soon as I saw these, they were mine! I instantly fell in love with the polka dot ruffle and floral print. Now, these oven mitts are really an economy - because although I said I wouldn't buy anything when I went into the shop to look, the fact is, we needed oven mitts.

Our old ones are looking rather desperate and shabby. And most importantly, they don't protect our hands anymore as the thermal lining has disintegrated.

Well, I added Make Oven Mitts to my WIP list and even planned on going shopping to buy the thermal lining...and now I don't have to, and the gloves were cheaper than I could  have purchased the material for. Talk about excellent shopping!

these birds really caught my heart, they are so dear

I have a soft spot for birds and all of my quilts end up having one in the design somewhere

these charming characters are drawn / designed by "Madeleine Floyd"

isn't she super talented? I'd love to invite her to my house and give her an entire wall to work on

 and the tea towel brand is Ulster Weavers Linen Tea Towels

this is their website

www.ulsterweavers.com

I know that if I had seen these on any of my daily blog lists, I'd have rushed out to buy it

it almost makes wiping down surfaces enjoyable

so I also purchased the matching apron...because who has enough aprons??

and the only thing that disappointed me was that there was no matching cups

 I'd  love some tea cups with these sweet drawings

but I should be careful what I wish for because I just took a moment to look at the website

and oh no, I think I'd like to overhaul my Tea Towel Cabinet

all of them

and start all over again, exclusively with Ulster Linen Tea Towels

because I've had a long planned make fabulous quilt fabric tea towels WIP

on my mind...and now I think, hmmm, Ulster Weavers would be nicer...

but more importantly

what did the little birdy tell me?

Go home and tidy your kitchen!

Hello Quilt of the Day !

There I was, just browsing through my usual blogs...and look what I found:

Thanks to The Quilt Show for listing my quilt.

If you're interested in viewing my other quilts,

you can view them through my gallery by clicking here

WOW: Home Again

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Well I've had enough of this exhausting flu!

My DH and I got in the car and decided to get away for some serious fresh air and relaxation. We went to Ballarat and it really was a restful break from the last few weeks.

Of course, I'm completely disorganised at the moment (even more than usual) so when I packed the camera, it hadn't been charged since I got back from Europe! At least I got in one snap - of this luxurious spa - where I spent a lot of time soaking away all those aches and pains.

On the way back home we stopped at a giftshop where I found some really charming teatowels and an oven mitt and pan mitt too. It was a good reminder of all the housework waiting for me at home...

Today I've got lots of emails to catch up on, a house to sort out and a few lists to make. I'm really looking forward to creating some time to get some WIPs done. If feels like months since I last enjoyed some productive WIP time!

How's your wednesday?

FMN: Block 7: Details

Magnolia: I was really undecided about which background to set the Magnolia block on. I'm making 2x of the same quilt: one light and one dark background, so each month I have to select the right block for the right quilt.

The Crown of Thorns was an obvious choice because the colour really stood out against a dark background, but I had to consider the flowers that came before, and to achieve balance of the quilt overall. It's an unusual choice for such a flower, but it works on my quilt.

I edge turned all the pieces and then went back in with coloured pencils to create depth and shading in the petals. As with all my blocks, I will be embellishing the block further when I reach the quilting stage.

Crown of Thorns: Again, all the pieces have been edge turned and I've used coloured pencils again for shading.  Only the thorns are raw edge as I will be stitching over them for effect.

These are blocks from Part 7

of my free 2012 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

You can download this month's block via my website or my Yahoo Bom Group 

WOW: Magnolia & Crown of Thorns

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Part 7: Forget Me Not BOM  is launched

I'm feeling better today but still rather tired. The flu has really taken it out of me and I could use another month in bed just recuperating. I'm looking forward to seeing what you all do with the BOM blocks this month, it's always exciting when the photos start trickling in. If you're not already a member of my Yahoo Bom Group, it's always a good time to join. There's always some beautiful work going on.

Magnolia or
 Crown of Thorns



WOW: August Already?

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

When did August get here?

I've lost three weeks I'm just not ready; I'm still in an early July state of mind. The flu's been staggering around the house. First my DH, then me a week later and a week after that my DD.

Looking at my DH, I have hopes that I'll pick up this week. I really hope so. The worst thing is the lost time. And the realisation that a virus can seriously leave you bed ridden. I can't even remember the last time I was this unwell. I actually had a flu shot this year and I don't know it it's helped, all I know is that I did all I could to prevent this happening. Oh well.

This is the best I've looked for the better part of a month!

It's my first coffee since the flu arrived so I must be feeling better...

but I'm still taking it easy, I'm totally exhausted. And I'm thinking about the rest of the year and starting a priority list of things to do. Because there's so much to get done and I really want to see as many as possible WIPs become finished pieces to enjoy. I also have a lot of clearing out and generally tidying up to do. I might even start a completely new WIP to motivate myself. Anything to get going again.

Hopefully my next WOW will be full of doings instead of recovering.

How's your wednesday?



WOW: Blogging from bed :(

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I got a bit ahead of myself last week; I thought I was over the flu and went ahead with my plans as usual.

Last wednesday I was at Vic Quilter's Showcase. I did it again on Thursday...but by friday I was feeling unwell again. Then on Saturday I picked up a little...but it wasn't to last and I've been back in bed since.

This flu that's been going around is a lingering one. The most annoying thing is the lost time, particularly as I have so much to do and so many things to be getting on with. But for today, I'm taking it easy and just working on getting better.

I did spend some time looking for the Vera Moda yarn last week, but with no luck so I might have to stop my winter crochet WIP for now, it's so frustrating to stop so near the end of such a useful WIP!

It's tea and rest for me today...