NEW FABRICS

I love, love, love getting new fabric, so today was really exciting.  Just love them to bits.  I've not really lost my way.  I just felt like a little change from country.  I assure you it's not a permanent change.
They just got better and better.  I always try to forget what I ordered, so it's more exciting when they come, but today I REALLY had forgotten what was coming.  So much fun.  I wish I could get new fabrics every day.

They all work together so beautifully, so just can't wait for Sam to get that bag pattern she's talking about and make them up.  They're called Rebel Roses and Jezebel - are they wicked or what!!!!

JENNI'S KITCHEN

Last year Jenni asked me to make her some country patchwork curtains for her kitchen.  She had her kitchen freshened up with new paint and a new timber pelmet with a cutout star from Sally & Steve at Gottabee Country.  She sent me a photo of her new look kitchen yesterday, and I just love the fresh airy country country kitchen she now gets to work in.  Want to swap kitchens Jenni? 

THE WINTER'S GARDEN

The Winter's garden in Dalby was so inspiring.  It's a beautiful rustic garden with lots of surprises.  I had a lovely day despite the wind and a little dust.  

Lots of unexpected little nooks and crannies all filled with something interesting 

Now this was a big surprise.  A lake with it's own boat right in the middle of a Dalby garden.

What country garden wouldn't be complete without it's little field of Sunnies.  Of course the bees were totally uncooperative and quite camera shy

OFF TO DALBY

Don't you just love chooks.  I've decided I want some, but the stumbling block is where to keep them.  I'm sure a chicken coop isn't too hard to make for a few chooks.   I've been thinking about chooks because I've just listed a cushion on my website with an appliqued chook.  It's another Meme Quilt design.  Love her designs and I think she must love chooks too because they often feature in her patterns.

I'm off to Dalby early tomorrow morning to have a market stall at an Open Garden at Patsy & Graham Winter's place.  It  should be a lovely day.  Dalby is my old home territory, so I'm hoping to meet up with lots of friends from a previous life. I'm told that the Winter's garden is one of the very best that Dalby has to offer, so no doubt it will be looking beautiful.   

WELCOME HOME RUNNER

I've added a "Welcome Home" Runner Kit to my website today.  I love mine on my dining room table, but it would look equally as good hanging in an entry.  Sam designed a few saltbox house patterns a while back and this is one of my favourites.  It measures 39"x18".   I've got the kit listed for $36.00 which includes all the fabric you'll need to make one the same as this photo, 1 Black DMC and of course the pattern.  I haven't included the backing fabric or the pellon.

HARRY'S BIRTHDAY AT QUEENS PARK

Sunday was much too lovely a day to be indoors stitching and besides it was Harry's 9th birthday on the week end, so we spent some time with him at Queen's Park in Toowoomba.  He's here in the photo on the right with his cousin Samuel who also turns 9 this year.  The kids have such a good time when they all get together.

BEAUTIFUL FABRICS FROM VINTAGE HOMESTEAD

Beautiful fabrics from Vintage Homestead by Whimsical arrived yesterday.  Take a look at them because they are to die for.  I've put them on my website under "New Fabrics" and they're priced at $18.00m.  I also got in some light weight iron-on pellon for $10.50m and some Natural Unseeded Homespun for $6.50m.

I'm so excited about these fabrics that I forgot to say what a good day we had at Ipswich on Saturday at the Hand Made Expo.  Tanya and I had a ball.  I don't know what I was thinking though because it was late in the day before I remembered to take a photo. so our stall is looking a bit empty.  

I didn't quite get my photos where I wanted them, but never mind, I'm still finding my way with this blog.

THE HANDMADE EXPO

The Handmade Expo is on again on Saturday 14th March at the Ipswich Showgrounds from 8am until 2pm.  You'll find me sharing a table with Tanya from Tanya's Prim Thyme Designs.  This is my second Handmade Expo experience, but the first for me at Ipswich.  There are great stalls there and it's such a good concept keeping everything handmade.  I'm so looking forward to being there.

ALL TACKED READY TO QUILT

I decided to drag out my old frames to tack this quilt the old fashioned way.  I hadn't used them in such a long time, I had trouble trying to remember how to use them.  I don't think I got it quite right in the end, but the quilt got tacked and it's now ready for quilting.  I'm going to have to have a few (a fair few actually) late nights of TV watching to get it finished.

DASHING THROUGH THE SNOWCONES

I have been working on a new Meme Quilt pattern called "Dashing Through the Snowcones".  I love Meme Quilt designs because they're so simple and fun.  I'm going to hand quilt this one.  I've got some Warm & Natural because it's so cosy, and the next job is to get get it tacked ready to quilt.

I keep thinking of the cooler weather just around the corner and this quilt is such a lovely winter's night quilt to curl up with on the couch, along with a good movie or even better - a good book.

It measures 52"x62", and I'm giving you a sneak preview before I get it tacked.  If you're interested in this one as a kit, I can supply the exact same fabrics at the moment for $120.00.  It won't be on my website until it's finished, but you can contact me by email through our website.

First Post

I'm really excited about my first post, so please check out what's happening at Apple Cottage as we get new stock and create new patterns.   Sam has been here this morning with her sketch of a really awesome pattern for a boy's quilt.  I'll be letting you know from time to time how that is progressing as we make it up.  Some of Harry's (who is nearly 9) favourite things have been the inspiration behind this new design.