Kylie's Stitch 'n Sew

How Aussie are You?

2009-11-14T16:43:00.005+10:00

I don't know how Joyce found me, but I'm glad she did! I took this off her blog. So, how Aussie are you??

1. Been dive bombed by a magpie Frequently! Although if you feed your local ones it does help
2. Have seen a crocodile Yep. Even held a baby one
3. Have seen a snake in the wild Yep. Had Leigh bring one into the house to show me one night!
4. Been bitten by a snake or other aussie wildlife Never bitten by a snake, but have had bites from lizards, crabs and a variety of birds
5. Patted a koala Only at Currumbin
6. Seen a kangaroo in the wild - Had to deal with them while on playground duty! Swerved to avoid them on the road.
7. Climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge -Not yet
8. Climbed the Story Bridge in Brisbane Not yet
9. Visited the Sydney Opera House - Yes, but never been inside.
10. Swum at the beach All the time.
11. Had fish and chips on the beach Oh yeah - Even better if the fish has been caught minutes before.
12. Been stung by a jellyfish Yep. Ouch. Vinegar works well
13. Had sunburn that peeled Yep. Really not recommended.
14. Camped under the stars Love it
15. Visited Uluru - Would love to.
16. Driven the Great Ocean Road in Victoria Again, not yet, want to do it on a motorbike!
17. Seen the penguins on Phillip Island Victoria Again not yet
18. Had an outdoor BBQ with Friends At least once a fortnight, if not more often
19. Played backyard/beach Cricket And hit a 6!
20. Watched a real cricket match live PM's XI match at least 3 years in a row. The things you do for love!
21. Betted on the Melbourne Cup Absolutely, even won one every now and then
22. Attended the Melbourne Cup Live from Flemington No, and it doesn't really interest me.
23. Attended a live Aussie Rules or rugby football game Oh yeah! I wanna be a Wallaby!
24. Ridden a Melbourne Tram Once. Had a ball!
25. Snow Skied in the “high country” of NSW/Vic Again, once. Hated it. Definitely a warm climate girl!
26. Visited the Great Barrier Reef Was proposed to there, honeymooned there and have been back one other time. Love it

27. Been to Kakadu - Stunning spot! Would love to go back at a time when we can access more of it. (HINT: don't go just after the wet!)
28. Crossed the Nullabour by road -Nope. One day
29. Gone down the Murray River on a paddle steamer Nope, but it sound great.
30. Survived a cyclone Nope, and quite happy to keep it that way thank you!
31. Survived a bushfire Canberra 2003. Hopefully never again
32. Experienced a big flood Nothing big.
33. Know who the Wiggles are. Would you like me to sing for you? They are great in concert
34. Know who Humphrey the Bear is. Yeah, but why does he wear a hat and waistcoat, but no pants??
35. Watched Play School as a kid or mum of a kid Both.
36. Watched Skippy the Bush Kangaroo What's that Skip, there is someone out there who hasn't seen your show? Not me Skip, love it!
37. Own an Australia Flag - No
38. Know the words to Advance Australia Fair Both verses
39. Eat Vegemite -especially on toast!
40. Drink Milo yep. And sprinkle it on ice cream
41. Know what lamingtons are made them even. Not a big fan though
42. Know what Pavlova is Mmmmmmm, pavlova
43. Know what Tim Tams are oh yeah. Hide them from the kids!
44.Eaten a meat pie Yep
45. Gave or received a “dead arm” Yes
46. Have owned an Akubra hat No, but I would like to
47. Own/owned an Australia Cattle dog - No, but my sister has. Gorgeous dogs.
48. Been to a B& S ball - or know what one is - A night I would really rather forget.

49. Drive a ute No, but would love to own one.
50. Say G’day Yep
51. Can cook damper -Not for a long time, but yes
52. Can make billy tea -best there is.
53. Supported a sausage sizzle - Support, run, work at...
54. Own John Williamson CD/Music -No
55. Owned chooks or know what they are- Don't own but would love to if I ever have the room.

56. Call the toilet “the dunny” - Yes, but hate the term
57 . Wear thongs (on your feet…) - All the time
58. Support Aussie music - Is there any better??
59. Enjoy a beer - nothing better on a hot day.
60.Swallowed a fly - not a pleasant experience

Currently reading...

2009-11-14T07:22:00.003+10:00

Devil's Brood by Sharon Kay Penman This is the lastest Penman book so the last I will be reading in until a new one comes out. I really enjoy her writing. This is the last in her trilogy about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Highly recommend these books to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Friday Fun!

2009-11-13T16:40:00.008+10:00

I love Fridays. For a start, I don't leave the island - a day at home to relax, unwind from the week and prepare for the weekend. We usually start our day with playgroup down at the front beach. In nice weather, we swim, otherwise we just play at the park. Someone nearly always buys hot chips for the kids - no fruit for us! Without fail, Kira and one of her little friends will ask if Kira can go to G's house. G's mum is a lovely lady who is more than happy to have Kira over, giving her a bath after the beach and lunch. This, as you can imagine, frees me up to do some uninterrupted sewing. I have been working through the week to finish the rest of the nine patches, which I have done. Today I finished off the second top.

I've done a few things differently. I added the squares into the sashing (sure there is a technical name for this, but I can't remember it!) and bordered it in a solid colour. I liked the effect of the solid border so much, I decided it was definitely what the first top needed. I took Lily's advice and went for an aqua tone, although in the photo it looks more blue.

It helps a lot I feel. So two tops down, two to go. Hope to knock them off tomorrow, giving me a whole month to quilt and bind. That's doable, isn't it??

After I finished the red bordered top, I went to collect Kira where the girls informed myself and R, (G's mother) that G was going to come to our house now. So I came home with two girls. I took a break from sewing while we made biscuits. Now, I'm not the worlds best baker and the last time we made these biscuits they weren't the best, this however, was a much better attempt.

They could be a little darker in colour on top, but at least this time they're not burnt around the edges!

When I went outside to photograph the quilts, I discovered this!

A strawberry! With more on the way. Yum! All in all, a pretty good Friday! How was yours??

First top done!

2009-11-08T17:37:00.003+10:00

Here is the first of the four tops I need to do.
At least that's my attempt at an arty shot of it! I was quite pleased with how quickly it came together - took just over 2 hours sewing time, a little longer when you factor in the getting up to put washing on the line and make kids lunch.

I'm thinking it may need another, slightly thicker border is a single solid colour to frame it. What do you think? Any colour suggestions??
I'm thinking of trying to set one on point too - but it won't be until I near the end and I know I have time to stuff around!

I also sewed the nine patches for the second one

and started the nine patches for the third.
(They're the messy pile of chain pieced fabric near the machine!)

All in all, a most productive day!

This is...

2009-11-07T12:59:00.002+10:00

what 324 3.5in squares look like divided into 4 piles!

(Sorry about the crappy photo, not good light here today!) Don't you love that bug fabric on the top? I think it's my favourite. Now to sew them together!

Fussy Cutting Frenzy

2009-11-05T06:26:00.005+10:00

First of all, a big thank you for all the positive comments. You have all made my day and given me a bit of confidence to believe I can actually pull this off!

So, I was suppose to get up at 4.45 this morning to go paddling the outrigger, but when I woke, the clock said 5.08! Oops! Set the alarm - didn't turn it on! Felt so guilty, I couldn't go back to sleep so decided to get up and do some cutting. My morning start looked like this

A cup of tea, and fabric to cut! I need 4 x 3.5in squares from 81 different fabrics for these quilts. That makes a grand total of 324 squares! The other day I cut 16 fabrics, this morning 14. 30 fabrics down, 51 to go. 120 squares down, 204 to go. The title "Fussy Cutting Frenzy" came to me while I was, surprisingly, fussy cutting several of the fabrics. While I didn't have to fussy cut all the fabrics, it was needed on several. Slows down the process significantly, but worth the effort.

I actually managed to get close to an hours peace. The rule in this house is children are not allowed out of their rooms until 6am. Luke can tell the time on his digital clock and Kira knows not to come out until Luke does. At 6 on the dot, they both came tumbling down the stairs, spied my cup of tea and immediately asked for one.

What a perfect way to start the morning!

BTW - had an idea for something while I was cutting this morning - stay tuned and I'll let you know more when I work out if it can actually work.

It will either be and great success or a huge failure!

2009-11-01T13:17:00.004+10:00

I don't know if you have noticed, but lately my sewing motivation seems to have packed up and gone. Not sure where, but I wouldn't be surprised if the half dozen people who read my blog have gone with it! I have no real excuses for my lack of motivation, life is no busier than usual, no major upheavals to be dealt with, just a feeling of lethargy when it comes to sewing. So, I have made a decision - I either give up or try and sew my way out of it! As the title says, it will either be a great success or a huge failure! First step was to finally set up a table in a corner and put my sewing machine on it. The idea being an easily accessible machine will hopefully inspire me to actually use it!

It doesn't look much and the cover is not off the machine, but it's a start. The window gives lovely natural light (although not so obvious today with it being cloudy!) and it's at least somewhere in the house that I can call mine.

The second was to decide on a project. The obvious one was to finish the back that is a front quilt, but despite the brilliant ideas from some lovely readers I'm just not feeling the love for it at the moment. So I've decided to go big! It's time to try and knock out a couple of quilts for teachers and carers! I've decided on eye spy quilts. I need three. I'm going to attempt 4. The challenge, to have it done in time for last day of school - Friday December 11. Can I do it? I hope so!! The quilts will all be the same design so hopefully that will make it easier. A start has been made. Fabrics have been chosen, design settled on and cutting has commenced. This is what my dining room table currently looks like.

I'm starting to feel interested, excited even! I want to blog about this on a very regular basis so I stay accountable in some way. Would love some feedback to cheer me on! I'll even come up with a giveaway at the end to thank those who keep my spirits bolstered! An entry for every time you make a comment, and it will be drawn on December 14 regardless of whether I have finished or not. In return, I promise to start making more comments on your blogs. Are you ready?? I hope I am!

Currently reading...

2009-11-01T12:58:00.005+10:00

Once again, due to my slack blogging skills, I am playing catch up! Two books for you today.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. Having read the first one, the OCD in me now insists I read the rest. I put this on order at the library thinking as number thirty something in line it would take ages to get to me. Took less than 2 weeks! Given it's popularity, it's a short loan book (2 weeks instead of 4) and not renewable (funnily enough) so I picked it up as soon as I finished my last book. Didn't take me long to read and I will put the next one on hold when I'm at the library next.

Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer. This is the next book for our book group. It took me awhile to get into it, but am quite enjoying it now.

This brings my total of books finished to 49. Geoff will be number 50! My break down is:

Kids books - 13
Young adults - 2
Adult - 34.

Although looking at the list I can't find Twilight, so maybe it should be 50 read, 3 of them young adult. I'd like to get as close to 34 adult books as I can. The high kids books number was mainly due to the Harry Potter series and The Series of Unfortunate Events.

Currently reading...

2009-10-19T08:50:00.002+10:00

Prince of Darkness by Sharon Kay Penman

One of those authors whose back catalogue I've been working my way through. This is the second last of hers. Will be sad when it's over, I quite like they way she writes. Back here
I said I didn't enjoy her mystery fiction as much as her pure historical fiction. Later on I said I was enjoying them more. This one I am positively devouring!

Sampaguita Quilts Giveaway!

2009-10-18T11:41:00.004+10:00

If you have never checked out Emma's blog, Sampaguita Quilts, I suggest you do so right now! She is one ultra talented woman and she has just opened her own etsy shop! To celebrate, she is hosting a giveaway with the kit for this quilt as the prize.

Not only that, she gives you the chance to have more than one entry simply by posting on your blog or buying one of her quilts! What I want to know though, if I win and make the quilt top, will she quilt it for me???

Meanwhile, Xena has posted a meme I thought I'd have a go at. Answers are suppose to be one word! Not sure if I can limit myself!

1. Where is your mobile phone? bag.

2. Your hair? needs a cut (broken the one workd thing already!)

3. Your mother? Canberra

4. Your father? hmmm....

5. Your favourite food? pasta

6. Your dream last night? no idea!

7. Your favourite drink? Champagne

8. Your dream/goal? Happy healthy kids

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? sewing

11. Your fear? blindness

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here

13. Where were you last night? friends

14. Something that you aren’t? skinny!

15. Muffins? blueberry

16. Wish list item? hmmm, where to start

17. Where did you grow up? Canberra

18. Last thing you did? Took Luke to nippers

19. What are you wearing? Shorts and Coochiemudlo Island Surf Life Saving Club T-shirt

20. Your TV? off

21. Your pet? Odo the lizard and Grassy the budgie

22. Friends? plentiful

23. Your life? fantastic

24. Your mood? bit tired, but apart from that good!

25. Missing someone? Mates in Canberra

26. Vehicle? two

27. Something you’re not wearing? makeup

28. Your favorite store? Ikea

29. Your favorite color? red

30. When was the last time you laughed? last night

31. Last time you cried? after my eye surgery

32. Your best friend?Jo

33. One place that I go to over and over? the mainland

34. One person who emails me regularly? Megan

35. Favorite place to eat? Anywhere I don't have to cook!

Currently reading...

2009-10-08T16:52:00.002+10:00

An Open Swimmer by Tim Winton

Every now and then I get it into my head to read through the entire back catalogue of an author I really like. Currently on this list are Sharon Kay Penman, Val McDermid and now I have added Tim Winton to that list. I love Tim Winton's work. He is by far and away my favourite author fullstop. I find myself reading passages of his work again and again just to savour the way he writes. *sigh*

Oh, you'd be glad to also know, I have finally finished The Orchard.

Currently reading...

2009-09-30T10:51:00.002+10:00

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. This is the memoir of John Elder Robison who wrote Look Me in the Eye.

I'm still reading The Orchard as well, but find I can't read it at night as I need to really concentrate and by that stage I'm lucky if I can manage half a page! So The Orchard stays in my handbag for ferry trips and timing wasting on the mainland.

Thank you

2009-09-29T16:37:00.003+10:00

To Jenny, Emma and AJ who have all given me ideas on what to do with the back. I'm going to map out all the ideas on graph paper and then try and choose whose brilliant idea to use! Thanks girls.

Design help needed!!

2009-09-27T14:00:00.006+10:00

I'm putting out a call to fellow bloggers and quilters - I need help!! Due to some disastrous cutting errors and fabric being out of stock problems, I have the following the fabric to make a back for this quilt.

OK, this is what I have available to use.

Dragonflies - one piece 43 x 76 inch. (includes selvage in the 43)
one piece 43 x 27.5 inch (includes selvage in the 43.)
Ribbit - one piece 43 x 13.5
nine pieces all 3 inches wide with lengths of 43, 18 (four pieces), 7 (four pieces)

Lillipads - one piece 43.5 x 35 inches. Unfortunately with this piece, half way along the 43.5 side the fabric is cut approx 5 inches on one side and about 3 on the other so using it as a whole piece would require trimming.

Back needs to be around 60 x 75 inches. this gives me a few inches each side.

My original plan was to use the dragonflies as the back, but I just don't have enough! Any brilliant ideas?? Feel free to email any designs to me at kylie(dot)purdie(at)gmail(dot)com
All help gratefully accepted!! Please!!!!

10 Years Ago Today...

2009-09-25T09:33:00.004+10:00

I married the man of my dreams, the love of my life.

My, but we look young! I was 28, he a spring chicken of 26. I can easily say it was one of the happiest days of my life.

People tell me we still look at each other like this. I laugh and say "God, how sickening!" but inside I glow with pride and happiness that ten years on it's still the case.

I can truly say we have never had to weather stormy seas in our marriage. We have always stood shoulder to shoulder and faced what was coming. I can think of no one else I would rather do it with.

Happy Anniversary babe. Here's to another 10.

And the winner is...

2009-09-25T09:26:00.003+10:00

ME! A little while ago I entered a giveaway over at Carrose Creations and was lucky enough to be one of the winners. This lovely little bundle arrived in the mail last week.

I haven't had a chance to look at the handmade yet, but am looking forward to it as it's a magazine I don't buy for myself. The card purse has already been pressed into service as has the bookmark. I don't expect the chocolate to last long either!

Thanks Car, it's all gorgeous!

Currently reading...

2009-09-22T21:55:00.003+10:00

No 1. Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith.

The book that starts the whole series! I'm now reading three (3!!!) books at once. I need to read this by Sunday, actually sooner as I have a friend who is in the same book group as me who needs to read it by then as well. I've managed 172 of the 250 pages today. I have read it before so that helps. Should be able to polish it off tomorrow and hand over to my friend. Thank goodness for school holidays! Also still reading The Orchard (which is the next book club book) and Dexter of course. My question about Dexter, however, is this: it's an omnibus of 3 books. Do I record it as one book or as three?? I'm on the last one so I need to know soon. What do you think?

Finally - Finished Frogs!

2009-09-21T08:50:00.003+10:00

Much to Luke's great excitement, I have finally finished frog quilt!! There was much happiness and rejoicing. Good timing too. With the weather warming up here, it's getting too hot for a doona, but it's still too cold for just a sheet. A nice quilt is perfect!

Kira was feeling left out, so she stole the quilt from the back of the couch and put it on her bed.
Think I know what I am doing with what was suppose to be the back of Luke's quilt!

Currently reading...

2009-09-18T12:34:00.003+10:00

The Orchard by Drusilla Modjeska.

I haven't finished Dexter yet, but am also reading this. The Dexter book is too big too put in my handbag so have put this in to while away the ferry trip to and from the island.

Currently reading...

2009-09-09T12:31:00.003+10:00

Dexter: An Omnibus by Jeff Lindsay

Loved the series, thought I would try the book.

Happy Birthday to me!!!

2009-09-06T11:58:00.005+10:00

Once again this year I am taking part in a birthday swap. I love this. I send everyone on the list a FQ for their birthday and in return, on mine, I get lovely squishy mail! This is what I have received this year.

This lovely lot was from Caryn

Xena

Krisit

Sam

Bec

Cylie

Finally some lovely reds from my mother in law. Got to love a MIL who feeds your habit! :)

Thanks girls, they are all scrumptious and really made my day.

Currently reading...

2009-09-06T11:45:00.005+10:00

Dragon's Lair by Sharon Kay Penman The more I read of the Justin De Quincy books, the more I like them!

I've also read
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith

A Photo a Day in August - 30

2009-08-30T14:39:00.002+10:00

I turned up to Luke's parade the other day and was completely surprised when he received a You Can Do It Award for Confidence. Specifically for demonstrating leadership in maths investigations. YCDI is a social/ emotional programme they run at the school focusing on confidence, organisation, getting along, persistence and resilience. I was so proud!
Sorry for the blurred faces, I don't know the kids or their parents so won't publish their faces.

A Photo a Day in August - 29

2009-08-29T16:38:00.002+10:00

So I've missed a few days again! This time I have excuses ranging from job interviews (went well, fingers crossed should find out by end of next week) to eye surgeries. I had something called an Implanted Contact Lens (ICL) put in my right eye, with the left eye scheduled for next Thursday. Surgery seem to go well, sent home. Ended up with a horrendous headache which we put down to the general anesthetic. Went back in for follow up on Friday only to find out the headache was caused by increased pressure in my eye. Normal pressure is below 21 - mine was 42. Drugs to bring it down didn't work, so it was decided to put me under again and take it out. So three million eye drops later and another op I was back to square one. So, today, 24 hours later, this is what my eye looks like.

Lovely isn't it!!

A Photo a Day in August - 23

2009-08-23T17:52:00.002+10:00

A slight cheat - this was taken by Leigh this morning on as he paddled his kayak