A parcel of happiness and quilting inspiration

Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? I have been busy with family commitments these past couple of weeks but have still managed some time to get some sewing in… it’s like a little bakers shop at my desk! But more on that later!

I received a wonderful parcel last week from the gorgeous Cyndi over at Bluebird’s Wing! Have you visited Cyndi? She is such a lovely, lovely lady and full of inspiration – if you know her already I’m sure you would agree! She’s sweet and kind and makes the most amazing handbags that always have me drooling. Well, Cyndi also has some amazing giveaways on her blog and I was lucky enough to win one of them!

Look at these sweet little charm squares, I’ve never seen fabric packaged so cute!

The line is called Buttercup by Joanna Figueroa, Fig Tree & Co for Moda. I wonder what I shall make with them? Any suggestions? I also love the card Cyndi gave me, illustrated by one of my favourite artists, Mary Engelbreit.

Cyndi also included some sweet stationery and some chocolate – thank you SO much Cyndi!!!

I am busting at the seams to make a handbag… I have a design in my head ready to be put on paper. I always do most of my designing in my head before the pencils come out, fine-tuning and nutting out the –how to’s! I guess that’s because most of my designs do not involve drawings as such – although stitchery is definitely an area I want to explore more of. Anyhow… I’ve been wanting to get into more traditional patchwork too, and spent some time on Mothers’ Day watching this dvd…

“Make a lone star quilt” with Michelle Marvig. The dvd came with this month’s issue of Australian Homespun magazine. It’s excellent! Michelle is so clear and easy to listen to, I’d imagine her classes would be lots of fun and you’d learn so much. If the dvd is anything to go by, she’s a great teacher. so this is another project added to my ever increasing to-do list! My friend, Vicki, made a lone star quilt and I was fortunate enough to see it in progress – I’ve been keen to make one ever since and now at last I feel more confident to give it a go… okay, ALMOST confident to give it a go!!

Okay – back to the baking! Ha ha! I’ll show you soon!

Hugs!! Vikki xx

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Polka dots… you know I love you!

I have gone super-crazy, stark raving bonkers and wild with passion over red and white polka dots! (As some might say… I don’t get out much! Ha!)

The love affair began a few months ago when I started collecting kitchenware items for the gorgeous Deb in NZ. Deb is doing up her kitchen (hence the theme) and I wanted to surprise her with a special package because she’s such a sweet friend. A friend who has really made a difference and has put a smile on my dial more times than I can shake a stick at! :-)

(There you go Deb – some wonderful mental imagery for you – me looking in the mirror and shaking a stick while I smile!!!)

Egg cups, tea bag saucer, apron, mushroom decorations, buttons, chocolates and a very special item designed especially for Deb – that I am yet to be able to show you – so there’s just a sneak peek in the photo.

Deb also won the Christmas-themed photo album cover that I gave away after designing it for ‘Simply Christmas’ over at the Shabby Art Boutique (talking of which – have you seen Kerryanne’s recent sneak peeks? GAWJUS!!)

Back to the polka dots! The love affair has been in full swing, and I recently succumbed again when making a bag for my friends’ birthday…

I created this bag using the Bella bag pattern by Moonshine Designs, and the pattern is absolutely fabulous! :-) Easy to follow with great instructions to get that professional finish.

I added a key fob to the inside of the bag so that keys or a mobile phone holder (in this instance) could be attached. To the inside pocket I added a love-heart shaped zipper pull manufactured by Birch. Very easy to do with only a couple of minor ‘naughty’ words uttered during the installation process!

I then put together a mobile phone holder and in true Vikki fashion, I was still sewing half an hour before I left for the party. Due to my panic, I wound up making it too small. Mr SUDs very helpfully contributed: “You should have got the dimensions for the phone!”…

…to which I replied, “I DID!”

We both had a good giggle, with Mr SUDs obviously thinking that he should have seen that one coming!!!

But hey – I bet no-one else has a lipstick holder attached to a key fob in their hand bag????!!!! Ah yes – that’s what it was intended for all along!!!! <cheeky grin> :-)

My friend really loves to coordinate her attire, and I love to make coordinating ‘everything’, so I purchased a wooden bangle and covered it in strips of fabric, adhering them to the inside edge of the bangle using a hot glue gun. It was quick and easy to make… and as a dear friend of mine in England would say, “Yeah – it looks it n’all!!” LOL

Well that’s enough spotty dotty news for one day… but I’m sure there will be future instalments!

Till next time – don’t forget to have some fun!

Hugs! Vikki :-)

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The ‘best gift in the world’!

Hmmm… are you wondering, “What is the best gift in the world?”! What pops in to your mind??

I know it sounds corny, but I can’t think of anything more wonderful than the gift of friendship. And I have been very blessed with some wonderful and very dear friends! So when a friend takes the time to create a special gift for you – it’s double prizes time!!!

When I first started blogging more than a year ago, Mai was one of the first blogging buddies I made. We did a couple of swaps over the year and got to know each other through emails between The Netherlands and Australia (gosh I love the Internet!!!) At Christmas, Mai sent me this amazing pieced book-mark! It’s in the above picture, and this is what it looks like off the book…

How clever (and gorgeous) is that?!! The book-mark is adjustable - with Velcro straps - to fit almost any reading material. It’s clever and just so darn pretty! I absolutely adore the fabrics!! Thank you so much, Mai!! x

I am a very spoiled girl aren’t I?!

This past week I received another gorgeous gift from a dear friend who always puts a smile on my dial! She is fondly known by a few of her chums as Miss Penny Goodgiggles – and I couldn’t think of a name that is more appropriate for her! :-)

Miss Goodgiggles is also known as Cheryl, and this gorgeous gal gifted me with a special iPod cover, made in my fave fabrics – Pure by Sweetwater for Moda! Don’t you just love the way this talented lady has utilised the fabric by creating a little tag depicting the word, “Joy”?

The morning before I received the parcel I was admiring another friend’s hand-made iPod cover and thought, I really must make me one of those! Then lo-and-behold – as if by magic – I was housing my gadget within a special designer pouch that very afternoon!!! Thank you so much Miss Goodgiggles!!! x

I shall be back real soon with more news of the week that has been… It’s been so much fun!

In the meantime – I’d just like to say thank you so much for your visit! I made you a cup of coffee – did you see it in my photo? Now, would you like biscuits or cake to go with it? :-)

Hugs! Vikki :-) x

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A bit more eye candy and an ode to 2010

As promised, I’m back again with more eye candy for you, and this post is overflowing in shabby goodness - so set your peripheral vision to soft focus! :-)

I was so very blessed to have won an amazing giveaway just before Christmas, from the lovely Linda over at Lilly Cottage. My parcel arrived on Xmas Eve so I placed it under the tree to open on ‘the big day’. When I did so, my mouth dropped open and out spilled a multitude of Oohs and Aahhs. Check out this beautiful bunting… even more gorgeous-er in real life!

It is currently hanging in DD’s bedroom because she has the prettiest room in the house. But I’ve advised her it’s only a loan until I get my very own pretty craft space and then it’s game over!!

Here’s a close-up of the delicate vintage doilies and silk ribbon…

The bunting was the giveaway prize that Linda offered after doing a guest post over at the Shabby Art Boutique (for Kerryanne’s Simply Christmas). But that was not all that Linda gifted me; and I felt completely humbled that this lovely lady, who I have never communicated with before, added other hand-made goodness (and a beautiful glitzy key ring) in to the mix for someone she did not know. Isn’t that beautiful? I’m so glad I saved the parcel for Christmas Day because it really did hold the true spirit of Christmas! Thank you SO much Linda! :-)

Tiny little sequins, dyed lace and beads – and the scent of lavender – sheer delight!

I also received these beautiful hand made lovelies from two my very dear friends over in the gum trees, Jenny and Joy. I’m sure you can guess the style of each designer – they have gorgeous distinctive signatures don’t you think?!!! :-) Love em’ to bits! Thank you so much, girls! x

There is one more pressie to show you but I’m holding off on that one because it is so apt for me at the moment that it’s uncanny! I’ll save it for another post! {{Thank you Judith!}}

Last but not least, I received this beautifully-sweet hand-painted gift box from my dear friend Kerryanne, as a thank you for participating in Simply Christmas. Kerry – it was my absolute pleasure - but thank you so much for this gorgeous treat! :-)

The pretty box was beautifully wrapped and overflowing with minty-chocolate lollies, which have since been placed in the sweet jar for midnight snacks when my DS and I stay up late to watch comedy DVDs!

Talking of which… I’ve finished my sewing for this evening and will no doubt embark on my final ‘Midnight DVD stint’ for 2010! Where has it gone?!!!

My Ode to 2010

Thank you for a year of ‘firsts’,

Kinder, High School, and a wedding rehearsed!

After 10 years – Mrs Collumbine – I’m Legit…

My rellies visited – we enjoyed every bit!

My first published designs, my first pattern sold…

My first AQM was a joy to behold.

Gorgeous new friends, and old friendships that thrive

Creativity, bubbling, and welling inside!

Thank you 2010, you have taught me new things

but now I yearn for what 2011 brings… :-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

Hugs, Vikki xoxoxo

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Santa visits!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas?!!

We sure did!

Christmas Eve was a very relaxed day for us, albeit full of excitement! Santa visited the kids in our neighbourhood, hitching a ride on a local Fire truck… he does this every year and gifts the children with lollies (candy/sweets).

Fire Fighters in the suburbs of Melbourne are all volunteers and are such amazing people. I am in total awe of them, and to make these special visits each Christmas Eve in order to bring joy to the littlies, is just the icing on an already overflowing cake!

On seeing Santa - my DD, (complete with red antlers) - ran for cover, taking refuge in the doorway with her older brother! Santa is a jolly ole’ fellow but he’s still a wee bit scary to some wanna-be reindeers! :-)

However, St Nick was highly revered the following morning upon receipt of a pile of brightly-wrapped pressies! I was also praising the jolly old Elf for gifting headphones along with the whizz-bang keyboard he left for DS! They really do think of everything at the North Pole, don’t they?!! *wink*

I must have been a very good girl this year as well, because I received some beautiful gifts. Would you like to see some of them?

This gorgeous lavender-scented hanging heart was gifted to me by my lovely gumnut (!) friend, Fee! Thank you Fee, lavender is my favourite scent and I love it!!x

This sweet floral (card-holder) purse was gifted to me by the lovely Vicki over at The Pickledish Patch. It also contained some scrummy buttons - thank you Vicki!! (Wait till you see what else Vicki made for me recently… I’ll share in a tic!)

Two darling friends of mine visited my homeland recently and both gifted me little treasures. Gorgeous English tea from my old Capital; and a red post-box key ring, together with Cath Kidson tissues which are too good to use! In fact, they match my daughter’s new outfit perfectly!

Here, I was trying to get a snapshot of her wearing the top today so that I could show you – but she was running around like a lunatic in her Elton John sunnies, so the pic isn’t too clear!

Hmmm… not sure which is more crazy – my DD running around like she’s just won the 200m Sprint, or me capturing photographs to compare her clothing to a packet of tissues?!!! Ah well, I’ll leave that one for you to decide… ha ha! :-)

I shall share more pressie pics with you next time! As promised, here is a photo of the other delight that Vicki hand-made for me this year! The gumtree designers had an apron swap and I was invited to participate! Vicki knows my favourite colours are pink and green…

Okay - I was trying to be tongue-in-cheek here but it didn’t quite work – what a show-off! Ha! (Actually, I was trying to cinch-in my waist!) The diet starts next week!

Isn’t the apron wonderful? Thank you SO much, Vicki!! I love it!!! :-) It is too good to wear in the kitchen, so will be worn when I’m ‘at work’ in my sewing room! :-) Hugs, Vic!

I am making an apron for Fee and progress is well underway, I really hope that she likes it! She’s a ‘shabby’ girl at heart and that is the only clue I’m going to give her!

Rightio – my little one is all tucked up in bed and Mr SUDs, DS and I are off to watch a Sci-Fi movie!

I’ll be back soon with lots more eye candy!

Hugs! Vikki xox :-)

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A sneak peek…and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Boy oh boy – I am loving this lead up to Christmas! I get as excited today as I did when I was five years old! I even bought myself an advent calendar this year – an ‘old fashioned’ one with pictures - as opposed to chocolates!! :-)

I have been busy designing and creating, but there’s nothing I can show on that front just yet. But here’s a sneak peek of something that I WILL be sharing with you REAL soon!

All will be revealed in a couple of weeks! :-)

I am also enjoying creating projects from others’ patterns, and have just started on this gorgeous wall-hanging by one of my favourite designers, Laurraine Yuyama from Patchwork Pottery. :-)

This is the project – on the front cover of the first issue of Quilter’s Connection – the gorgeous Canadian magazine for, you guessed it, quilters!

Isn’t it divine? I love the way Laurraine marries muted country colours in her stand-out signature style. What a talented artisan she is – and an absolutely beautiful person, to boot!

Here are the fabrics I have chosen:

Very similar to the original – but why change perfection?!!! he he…

I purchased the magazine through Laurraine’s Etsy store, together with Cotton Life – a Japanese publication featuring another of Laurraine’s patterns.

Laurraine’s parcel arrived a few weeks ago, wrapped beautifully and containing an extra gift for me…

One of her sweet fabric birds…

Thank you Laurraine for your sweet gift – and for your inspiration, enthusiasm - but (most of all) for your friendship! x

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There’s something so special about hand-made isn’t there? Nothing tops it! Over the past few years I have been gifted handmade creations by dear friends, and they are so special to me. I think it’s the energy that is passed through the fabric from one person to another.

My family and I put up our Christmas decorations a couple of days ago and it was so sentimental to hold the handmade holiday decorations that have been hiding in boxes for the past 10 months. I had a smile on my face as I thought of each person in turn and what they mean to me. That’s one of the best things about this holiday season isn’t it? Remembering our loved ones and dearest friends. :-)

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So! On a final note… are you all set to open the first door of your Advent calendar tomorrow???? How exciting!!!!

Catch you soon!!! Hugs! Vikki :-)

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A gift of Joy!

I received a beautiful gift of joy this week from the lovely Linda of All Stitched Up :-)

Isn’t this mini quilt adorable?! So bright, fresh and pretty - and in my favourite colours! The photo really doesn’t do it justice, I wish I could show you all in person!

But the gorgeous quilt wasn’t the only passenger in the parcel! I was also gifted with this adorable little purse, exquisitely embroidered and incredibly cute…

I am a very lucky girl – thank you so very much, Linda! x

If you would like some great ideas on how to hang your mini quilts – go visit this post on Linda’s blog and read the comments – there are some great ideas! And if you like to make handbags – Linda has a gorgeous range of patterns available here :-)

Talking of patterns… I have a few to share with you from other fabulous bloggy friends – will do so soon!

You know, I was just thinking, when I read a blog I always have this (probably unrealistic) idea that the blogger is organised, peaceful and everything is under control… ahhh the serenity! Is it just me or do you do it as well?

Now I’m going to spoil the illusion… what is happening in my world right now? My dog is going ballistic on the beanbag behind me and my daughter is grabbing on to my right arm (making it incredibly difficult to type), pretending to be a puppy whilst barking and attempting to lick my face. Serenity? Hmm…. I think I remember what that means… somewhere in the distant past… Ha ha! :-)

Have a great day!

“WOOF WOOF!”

… ah well - if you can’t beat them – join them!!!!

Hugs! Vikki xx

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