What a beautiful glorious sunny day!  Peter put up a basketball hoop for Sam & Tom and we now have yet another pump so all the balls are nice and bouncy!!!

Got the edging done on the train screen..... quilt pieces now flapping in the breeze!!! quick to dry I hope.  Will be able to finish felt train and carriages tonight and then the screen can go to the Vintage Bazaar!!

Still struggling with the tree screen.  Oh yes... there is always another LOL

Feel like the happiest and most blessed person today.  So much going along quite nicely.

While I agree today has enough troubles... without worrying about tomorrow... just want to document that we are going to get married Christmas 2013.  Just dont want to forget.

 So very happy .... I just have to sew the panels together and bind them..... then make up 2 dozen train / carriages.... not too hard I hope.  Ive cut them out anyhow.

So from 4am to 8 I got this far.....

Trimmed pieces.... felt very happy to get to this point.

 Have to find an edge fabric for the applique panel.

 The screens fold up completely.... unfortunately the lighting was really bad... but the other side is completely blue trains.... it is quilted and looks really nice... terrible photo!!

Boy's screen coming along.... well it is all in pieces still..... but everything is working out just as I imagined it would.... yes... LOL... Im ready for the piece that just doesnt "fit"

A morning of sleet and rain... followed by sunshine / sleet / rain.... freezing cold!!

I got into the car to do some banking... Peter presented me with a serve of perfectly hot yummy soup... spoon too.... I got to eat and get warm on the way there.

He has booked me a space in a new shop here... called "Once Upon a Time".  No pressure but the things Ive been making better get themselves finished really really soon!!!

He is either insane, has a brain tumor or he has faith in me.  Perhaps a bit of all three.  It is a lot of pressure really... Im not sure I have that much faith in me.  I think Im just tired and very very cold.  My sewing room is on the back verandah which has been really wet, windy and cold today.  Perhaps I'll feel better here near the heater.

It is a perfect sunny warm spring day.

My dad gave me a native orchid... and Ive divided it up.  The main piece that I didnt really disturb has lots of little perfect orchid flowers!!!

I wasnt going to share.... but oh well perhaps its ok to show it.  The crazy man who has entangled his life with mine.... bought me this.  Yes this will do just fine as an engagement ring.  OMG I might even get married before Im 99 years old. No one has spent this amount of money on me before.  I pinch myself on a regular basis.  Im very lucky.

well I got ahead of  myself and all that list of things are NOT finished and my in tray on my desk is over flowing and I am just putting it all into a plastic tub to keep the fabrics nice!!!  Gosh I must have had a little too much wine that day thinking I could get everything made PLUS the screens.

The African animal screen in at the bazaar and looks amazing even if I do say so myself.  The pressure is on now to finish two children's screen ... one for a boy and one that any kid would love...

Im so excited it is easy to grab 4 or 5 hours sleep and then get going again.... Im so blessed to be able to make things that I like and not have to just sew people's alterations.... although Im grateful for that work.

It's end of term... gotta run and get my boy... early school out today!

Ive 12 days to make a heap of things to sell at our vintage market.  No pressure LOL.

So Ive decided to make one thing every day and post it here even if it isnt finished.  Im limiting myself to 6 hours sleep.  Im going to do the housework before I go to bed so once the boy is off to school I can sew sew sew.

Of course..... there are going to be hiccups.  Wednesday this week the teachers are out on strike.  Hiccup number 1.

Here is my challenge list for the next two weeks.

1. a tree quilt for a single bed
2. an adult's apron
3. a cushion cover
4. a doll's quilt
5. a needle book
6. shoe stuffers
7. Christmas angel
8. whale
9. big bad wolf
10. Christmas tree skirt
11. adult screen (room divider) cover
12. child screen (room divider) cover
13. covered and embroidered coat hangers
14. fabric puff coasters
15. appliqued european pillow cases

Im so glad I decided to listen to some quilting youtube while hand stitching this week.  I just have to share this link with you to Leah Day and her Free Motion Quilting designs.

I use my Brother walking foot all the time and now Ive bought one of these....

and a pair of quilting grippy gloves.  I cant wait to practice the designs that Leah Day has so generously talked about and demonstrated.  I think it will add a great dimension to my quilts.

Update on trampoline tshirt quilt.... well Im just hand sewing the final 3 sides of the final hem.  Ive decided to straight machine quilt along the binding.  This quilt is bigger than a queen size bed and I think that with the weight of it.... some added stability around the binding will be important.  Well it is for a customer and it will give me peace of mind that the quilt will last decades if I make sure all the sections are really well supported by quilting.  It wont add too much time to the finishing off.  My biggest enemy is the weather because I want to rinse out the quilt and need it dry of course to post.... fingers crossed.... Monday.

Im not Wonder Woman

Most of the time it is quite fun to juggle house, family and work.  I really enjoy taking a break from sewing and getting into the shed and helping make the frames for my dress screens.

But then days like today come.  When the house is a total mess.  Peter is sick.  Work is piling up and I sleep in really really late.  Every room of the house looks like the morning after a huge party.  Screens need sanding and varnishing.  Quilts need sewing.  And where is my fabric from USA?  OMG please let that at least show up today.  It is needed for a birthday party in 10 days.

Once upon a time a day like today would send me to tears but not anymore.  First of all I make a coffee and have a long hot shower.  My rule number one these days is look after me first.  Not to be selfish but once the ball starts rolling I may never see the inside of a shower!!!!  and the pressures are much easier to cope with and keep in perspective if your hair is clean and you smell nice.  The coffee part is selfish I guess.

And now Ive been taken care of I will just go through the list of jobs from top to bottom.  It really doesnt matter what gets done first.  I will stop to sew for 3 hours during the day.  This quilt just has to go off to its owner.  Apart from being pulled in too many directions, a common problem for all of us... Ive nothing to complain about.  It's gonna be a great day after all!!!!!

Ok so Peter did a fantastic job making the screen skeletons.

Now the challenge to dress them!!!