Productivity Plus

This weekend I felt like I was at a sewing retreat.  I made the decision to spend "quality time" in my sewing room, and that I did.  I was working with some of my favourite fabrics from Kristen Doran.  They always sew up so well, and look fantastic.  

Since getting my new Apple Mac, I've not worked out how to move photos about after uploading to blogger, so I seem to have them all in the wrong order, but this little zipper pouch is something I made for myself from Shabby Cottage's tutorial, thanks Kathryn.  They must have been pretty good instructions, as following them is not one of my strong points and it went together relatively smoothly.  Only a tiny bit of quick unpick.

Ages ago I agreed to make a Dick and Jane Apron for one of my teacher friends.  I finally did it!  Another photo down lower. 

In between sewing, I managed to do some baking with the children, and we made cheese and bacon rolls for school lunches.  We have had a revival of the "bread maker" and we are all excited again about making bread, and of course eating it.

While out in the garden I couldn't help looking at some of my glorious flowers.  Miss Flowergarden insisted I leave her head out of the pic, but she was a very willing model.

"ta da" I give you . . . School Bags with Class

. . . and by my bed is a lovely posy of roses . . . 

The colours and joys of Spring

With the bright sunshine we had this week, my pink Pigface was all out in flower, and it is just a brilliant pink that lights up the whole street.  Backing out the driveway on my way to school on Thursday I happened to spy this beautiful papava poppie out.  The first one for the season...and lot of bud still to open.

A big thank you to Lucy Lockett for some very exciting post as well, in between Ric Rac's selvedges.  I will be putting these to use for sure!  Thanks Lucy for sharing.

Now, we all had a day off school today for the Ballarat Show, and I decided it was time I spent some quality time in my sewing room.  It was a rainy old day which was not good for the show, but FABULOUS for our gardens.  A good day to stay indoors and Miss Nelly was very happy to have us all about.

 Being home today, we were here to greet the postie, and he brought me these lovely calenders that I ordered from SnapFish for 2009.  How's that for organised!

I also had some Christmas Cards printed as well.

The post didn't stop there, my lovely friend Daisy Chain sent me this lovely book!  The sun was shining on me today despite the rain!  Thank you Jenny.

.  .  .  and the rest of the day was spent on my Secret Santa Swap.  I am almost finished and it looks great.

Happy weekend ahead to you all

Annie

Sewing . . . AND . . . Gardening

I have a new pattern - - I have some new fabric - - 

I am making myself a new SPRING bag

Of course that was not on the list of unfinished projects!  In usual Sewing Mania style, I have started a NEW project.  The unfinished ones stress me out too much.  Much more fun to start a new one.  I'm hoping to finish it today.

This is the beautiful result of all those lovely bud shots I have been taking of the blue cornflower.

P.S. I finished the bag this afternoon and have already transferred all my sh_ _ and it has been out in the world.  Glad I've done some sewing and time to put my Winter bag away.  Week 5 of 11 here we come, and a little rain for my garden tonight.

Sewing room calling

Somehow I need to get back into my sewing room.  With the lovely Spring weather and work work work, I seem to be going from work to the garden to bed and back to work again . . .

I have taken to sitting on the couch with my feet up - sometimes blogging sometimes working 

Any suggestions for getting my motivation back??

. . . after all, this is supposed to be a craft/garden blog and seems to be a bit one sided at the moment.

Hanging in there

Annie

Familiar Flowers

I haven't been in my sewing room for a week, but I have been out in my garden. There is so much happening out there at the moment. Lots of iris's of all colours and a beautiful double white banksia rose. I am enjoying the yellow ones in other people's gardens, and will plant one in my own, soon. They are truely beautiful, just like being in a florists.

I was lucky to bring this seed from my old garden.

It is a double aqualiga - soft pink and oh so frilly.

The lavender is at it's peak at the moment.

Although common, this old Granny's Bonnet is a faithful filler in my garden. It throws its seeds and comes up all over the place, and I love each and every one.

Enjoy your weekend

ARTS Week

We are having a great week at our school.  A week totally focused on the Arts!  Activities and challenges every day - performances, creation and excitement .  .  .  

Today each class was given a bag of "stuff".  We had to make a class mascot out of the things we were given.  I went for a walk after school around the classrooms and was amazed at the different mascots that were created.  These are just a few of the creations.

Tomorrow is our final day and there will be an unveiling of the mascots, and a releasing of 250 balloons into the community with messages inside from the children of the school.  It has been a fantastic week although exhausting as well.  Zero classes - all ARTS - Fantastic stuff!!

In a suburban backyard . . .

Just love it that my garden is blooming at the moment.  There are lovely things everywhere I look - hoping for some rain though to keep it all going.  

I have used a lot of my tank water already.

Miss Nelly was most interested in all the garden activity

Many of you may not know, but I have only been in my current garden for 2 and a half years.  I started from scratch and it is the first garden I have completely planned and developed from a blank canvas.  We bought a 3 year old home in suberbia, but the garden was filled with dieties and flax plants and they were much better suited to Mr Flowergarden's 

factory garden,  (of which I am chief gardener of course!)  I plotted and schemed on paper since the day we signed the papers, and chose all my favourite trees and plants, and of course it has grown and changed even from that plan.  I have my chooks in the back yard, my compost bays, my gorgeous TANK, and now . . . I have a fish pond.

Bob and Fred are yet to arrive.  They are going to be my 13 year old's new pets...and yes, Mr Flowergarden is going to put some wire mesh over the top to keep Miss Nelly out, and also her friend Wilson from 2 doors up.