Sawadeeka from Thailand....

What a wonderful family holiday we are having! I really wanted a place where we could all experience a new culture and something very different from Australia. Well, I got it right! Can't tell you how much fun it is to explore together and share a laugh over some of the funny experiences we have had. They all love Elsie with her blonde hair and dimples and she has had to stop many times to have her photo taken. We are on to our next phase now, having just put the 3 girls back on the plane to Australia. Darryn and I will now spend a less crazy week in Koh Samui which we are very much looking forward to. I have to say though, it was very hard to say goodbye to the girls and I miss them already:( Have just tried to add a couple of photos and can't seem to manage it at the moment, will try again later. Until then, Thai squeezes, Michelle xx

IPad Sleeve

Well... I'm so pleased with myself at the moment that I will happily quote a friend of mine.. "if I was a chocolate, I'd lick myself!" I decided that before the big holiday (only 2 more sleeps eeeekkk), I needed a sleeve to protect my ipad a little more.  I knew the design I had in mind, and had the idea of fabric but was worried it would be a little drab... so I improvised and love how the colours worked.  I'm also extra impressed for two reasons.  One, I used scraps to make the little 1" squares, AND two,  I used fabric I liked from my stash for the lining (gorgeous grass green polka dot).  Now I know that seems a silly thing to say, but I have a real problem using fabric I love, "just in case" there is something else down the track I'd rather use it for.  But what this leads to is a ginormous (yes, it is a word... maybe) stash of fabric that you're too frightened to touch, and really... what use is that?  
* editors note... the fabric MAY have gone in and out of the drawer a couple of times...

So, da daaaa!  I have a new ipad sleeve. And we sharn't (that's another made up word I'm entitled to use because its after midnight and I'm tired..) discuss how many times it was unpicked and sworn at.  But, I swear on my Mothers Bernina, that the measurements on my tape measure must of kept moving! Surely there's no other possible cause? 

Squeezes and sweet dreams (but not at the same time because otherwise you won't be able to get to sleep!)
Michelle xx

p.s. I will post this pattern as a tutorial upon my return x

Productive Sunday....

They don't seem to come along too often here, but gee they're nice when they do.  I discovered about a week ago that I had made a silly mistake with one of my borders on my BOM, which made me toss it aside in disgust.  Not sure about you, but I really strongly dislike 're-doing' something, and it takes a fair bit of motivation to get my head back in the game, so yesterday was the perfect day.  I remade one border, which made me really strongly like it, and I have to say, the mistake I made meant I needed to add an extra colour and it looks so much better so ...yay! Some things are just meant to be!

I am also making the shop sample for the new Homespun 'Project of the Month' program, using all the gorgeous Amy Butler 'Lark' fabrics.  The first project is a suit carry bag (they are all travel related items), and this photo shows the feature panel.  The cream is stitched using pearl thread (very quick and a lot of fun) and the flowers are appliqued using vliesofix having been cut directly from Amy's fabric (again very quick).  I will post more photos as I go.  We are running this program at the shop with kits available in exact fabrics.  My sample will hopefully be on display very soon.

Last but not least, school holidays are again upon us, and I have decided that Elsie needs some serious mummy crafty time.  Yesterday we mastered the art of french knitting, which she loved and today we move on to 'real knitting'.  I will have to stay very close, but isn't that the fun part since I have so much stitching of my own at the moment?  Normally I'm running from here to there, or on the computer saying "hold on Elsie, I just need to read this and will be with you in a minute"... which she knows means at least half an hour.  guilt guilt guilt.....  So!  Today we will knit..(and stitch) and I will sit right next to her, which I know she will love. 

Have a great week everyone,
squeezes, Michelle xx