Golden elm

We have a beautiful golden elm tree growing close to our deck. It gives great shade in summer, while letting winter sun in when it loses its leaves. We get so much enjoyment from this tree - watching the leaves turn yellow and slowly fall off, then some paper-like blossoms appearing before the new leaves shoot out. We also enjoy the little finch-like birds that hop through its branchs. For a while a pair of turtle doves enjoyed the tree too. I have often looked at the strong lines of the veins in the leaves and turned them into quilt pieces in my mind.
In the last couple of weeks, I worked on turning them into a quilt design on paper. It's all drawn up now, ready for me to start making it. It's been put on hold for a bit though, while I get sidetracked with turning other ideas into quilt designs while the drawing is going so well. But I like the idea that there is a quilt design drawn out to full size all ready for me to get stuck into when the sewing bug bites again!

Still keeping our hands busy

Just briefly, here's what I've been busy with... I am enjoying stitching the binding to Hannah's quilt, and Aaron's quilt is also pieced and quilted, waiting for the binding to be stitched down. They won't be done a moment too soon, as Aaron and Hannah have been asking for more blankets to build their palace (under and over our coffee table).

In a change from things fabric and quilt related, this afternoon Aaron, Hannah and I had a lot of fun with card, recycled paper, punches and stamps, making gift tags, and a general mess.

Busy with our hands

Here are still some pics from yesterday. As you can see, we were busy with our hands. Hannah made a spider, some fish, a bangle, and egg which you can peel, toast, a microwave, and teapot and teapcup. I always like seeing what the kids come up with when they get busy with paper, pencils and sticky tape.
Meanwhile Caleb used his little hands to stuff Duplo up his pants, and stand the wooden dominoes up on end, that latter of which we thought was rather clever! My hands were busy too, but I didn't take any photos. Maybe today.

Preparing anxiously

Between various family- and church-related events and activities there hasn't been a whole lot of time for enjoying making things.

The photos depict our dining table in recent days, as I spent whatever spare time there was preparing for a presentation about my quiltmaking for WAFTA for next week Tuesday. I will be giving a talk and working through a demonstration and I'm rather nervous about it all. I agreed to do it on the basis that I thought it might be a good learning experience. I just hope I can look back on it (without cringeing!) and feel that I did my best.

Lots of pink paint

Well, here's the project involving pink paint... I'm not sold on the colour yet, but the kids are all very happy with their new kitchen! This project was inspired by a little picture spotted in an old 'ariadne at home' magazine.
IKEA was out of the plastic hooked cups I wanted, but I am very happy with our improvisation - the holes were made with a very hot screwdriver.

Strips of squares in the sun

It was a beautiful day today, as if it was spring. We were suitably productive, stitching together squares. We were also busy outside this morning, with pink paint, a stainless steel mixing bowl and an old chest of drawers, as well as some bits and pieces from IKEA. We'll show you the finished results soon!

On being organised and trying not to forget too much...

I got this filofax for my birthday last year and I don't know how I would ever manage without it. It contains most of my lists and important things to remember. Just recently, in a bid to clear out valuable mental space for more interesting things, I made myself some 'housework' lists (four different weekly lists, to fill a month, so that I never have to think about what needs doing for the week). Phil laughs at me, but I am rather pleased with these!
In my bid to remember everything, I can't seem to get enough of lists, and my visual diary is also filled with various lists of ideas, projects on the go, potential quilt series, and things to try. I rediscovered the list below this evening - it's inspiring all over again to revisit old lists!