Ahem.. I lied again

Hello Petals..

yes 'tis I.. the itinerant blogger...

What have I been up to for five months? Um not a great deal! This working full time is certainly over rated.. between work and family I dont get a load of time to do any fun sewing.. I did get myself a new machine in September and alas, I've used it um for about 2 hours!

I did lose my quilting mojo for awhile.. and this horrid heat has put the kybosh on sewing no a/c in the sewing area...

I have also discovered Norwegian Blogs.. This blog "LeKaQuilt" caught my eye awhile ago Thanks to google translater I can now read the blogs as well as enjoy the eye candy.. I am not quite sure about what I like about what Norwegian quilters are doing, but they seem to do clean lines and the colour pallette they use interests me.. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I do enjoy reading the blogs! And I keep seeing SNOW on their blogs, which is hard to imagine after 43C yesterday at work.. and I was on the coast.. EEK.. and of course, yesterday was the day they decided to 'fix' our a/c at work.. we've been freezing all month and yesterday finally they got it right throughout the building...


Helen Stubbings Is doing a giveaway on the above quilt pattern.. its a QAYG job and I just love this.. I've not done a QAYG but I think this one would be fun to tackle! Lots of redwork and its just my 'colours'..

so what I have been exactly doing?? um not a great deal.. the bastard cat is mellowing.. he is sitting at my feet as I type, wondering what the heck I am doing on the darn computer and why I am not in the kitchen opening a tin or two for him.. he let me shave his tummy through the week, so he isn't feeling the heat so bad.. I feel for him when its summer.. Bailey the Wonderdog is in her pool already, we bought her last year another kiddies wading pool and she is having a snooze in it at 8am! its quite funny, I'll have to charge the camera up and take a pic..


Have I had any finishes lately? um no.. LOL I am awaiting some 9 patch blogs to come home from Christine's 9 Patch swap. I know EXACTLY what I am going to do with these.. I have a pile of 9 patch repro's from another swap, so I am planning on doing one quilt on point and one not like a scrappy irish chain and maybe make the quilt reversible? Idont know whether to do two quilts or or a double sided quilt.. hmmm

Anyhoo..enough rambling, please go and check out the blogs..

Oh a link.. this is a favourite of mine : QuiltShops if I am looking for anything in particular, I can usually find it here and on sale.. with our $ so good against the US I've been buying up fabric ten times faster than I am sewing.. ok, another lie there, not much sewing, but I have added about 50 meters of fabric to the stash in the past 4 months! I signed up for TWO BOM's as well.. The one & this one


what was I thinking?? um I wasn't thinking, thats the problem! Did I mention I loathe triangles????????? I guess I'll have them mastered after doing these two quilts...


take care


Lissa
the itinerant blogger
the sometimes patchworker

Ahem.... so I tell FIBS...

Okay okay okay...

yep my last post I promised not so long between posts and wow, nearly 4 months.. CRIKEY FOUR FREAKING months have passed by...

after numerous emails and reading this blogpost I thought of a NIKE ad and thought 'JUST DO IT'...

What have I been up to since February???

Um I could have finished a quilt or three (putting binding on the last one)


I did finish a couple of tops



2007 Scquilters Retreat - Bendigonia Behemouth BACK (all signatures)



Bendigonia Behemouth FRONT (not sure about borders so have put this into the 'too hard' basket at the moment)



Perth 2008 Siggy squares, I thought of sunshine, so I have sort of kinda did a colour wash with the sun radiating from the left hand side.. its a signature quilt as well.. not sure about borders probably do a simple thing (I am a simple person)

I might of even gone on another retreat.. and come home with some more fabric.. UH OH.. this is only SOME of it.. Um I didn't take any pics but there are some Pics on Bernadette's blog, as we were roomies!!!


I might have even remebered how to crochet.. my friend Bernadette found this pattern so I had to make it (I think I finished it in two nights??) a certain furry person loves it for some reason, have to keep it in the car otherwise I go to work with a scarf that looks like it is ANGORA instead of plain ol' wool... this is for a book mark of course, but I used bigger hook and wool rather than perle thread.. it was a bit wavy, but I am sure thats the person driving the crochet hook rather than the pattern.. I am only 39, but I hadn't crochet anything other than granny rugs for um, 25 years at least!



Now on my last post I did promise a giveaway.. I asked my son (aka the beast) to pick a number and he picked "ONE" so if you posted on my PREVIOUS POST you could of won... so VICKIE from NT if my guess is correct, please email me your snail mail and I'll pop a wee surprise in the mail to you!!!

her comment was....
Vickie said...
HOLY snappin duck poop, good to read you is alive and kicking girl..hmmm been spendin again eh?some nice goodies there-and whats with all this winning eh..new name fr you "queen of winnings"
cheers Vickie

1:15 AM

I have had a poopy week.. the shingles are back - yes again... no spots, just the pain, I am sure I'll survive.. what brought on this dose? last Saturday, I drove past my g/fs street, had planned on calling in then thought 'nah I'll go home' then something told me to go back, so I backtracked and I had a lovely afternoon chatting to my g/f and her hubby.. four hours after I got home, my g/fs hubby passed away.. he was only 41.. so I have had the shock of that and the funeral this week.. so no wonder I have shingles..


Also check out Mid-Ohio-Knitters Blog she is having a giveaway!!!


Well I think thats enough for you all to take in.. next post, I'll put up some of the redwork I've been working on!



take care


Lissa

Yep 'tis I...

Hello possums...

well I did promise that it wouldn't be so long between 'drinks' or posts..


This is about all I have done lately... not much, its Gail Pans 'freebie' stitchery of the month... I am lazy (as you might already know) so I am doing mine in redwork.. so far so good.. block 2 is ready to be stitched..

But I have been a tad busy (same o same o) and I am sure you are all aware of what has been happening to this poor country of ours.. 189 dead in the bushfires, I think they are up to 1834 homes gone, 7000++ people homeless and the number of dead is expected to hit more than 300 in the coming months... we have the fires in the south and and flooding up north, over 1000 homes flooded up there.... a lot of aussies are rallying together, donating quilts, orphan blocks, tops... if you want to help, please check out
Australian Red Cross - need $'s.. with so many people homeless, they need funds.. if you are overseas, $1 AUD - 64c US..
OzComfortQuilts - Jan is an amazing woman.. the amount of quilts she makes for charity each year is mind boggling.. she is happy to take off your hands, those orphan blocks, quilt tops, and of course, finished tops.. I have a few orphans to send to her.. I know this woman 'in the flesh' and she is a generous woman, so please, why not whip up a block or two or more and send to Jan.. she also has a tutorial on her other blog on how to make her QAYG blocks.. she has been calling for 10.5" finished 'heart string' style blocks..

There are so many people doing some wonderful things... I'll post a few more links in my next post..

we have a lovely country, a country of extremes in so many ways... we are on day 6 of rain here in downtown Newcastle, and we have been blessed not to have flooding in our area, although there are flood warnings further 'up the valley' please keep your fingers crossed for the farmers!

well not much sewing getting done here, to say I have had a poopy fortnight is an understatement and I know dragging a sewing machine out and doing 'something' or anything would cheer me up, but yesterday, well a quick trip to the quilt shop always cheers me up.. and to be honest, this is a FABRICOLOGIST blog so I have to keep the masses happy with a pic of the newest members of my 'family' (thats the stash family)...

for the aussies, the fabs on the left, the repro's are from, that place that we all say we dont shop at, but often visit... spotlight.. they were $9.95/m (a bargain for non aussies)..

the Aviary charm squares, they are sweet, I got two lots but somehow have misplaced one lot! doh! the rest of the 'loot' come from Onpoint Patchwork which is on my way home from work, and I never ever seem to get there, they have a little bit of everything and a lot of thimbleberries..

KA requested pics of my other 'fetish'.....

Yes I am embaressed/chuffed to say I am the owner of not one, not two but THREE pandora's.. and yes, I wear them together all the time.. I feel a bit odd now when I take them off, my arm feels like it is floating away.. I am thinking I am going to end up with like a tennis player arm one lovely muscly one, and one with the saggy 'fadoobeeders' (fadoobeeders = tuck shop lady arms / batwings).. oh well, I love them and to be honest, I haven't bought a lot of them, my darling daddles (aka the father) bought me my name for christmas he nearly fainted when they told him how much.. I thought it was kinda funny, as he bought my REAL name and not my nick name... so there, my secret is out, my REAL name isn't Lissa.. its MELISSA..

I did also get some 'cheer up' mail the other week, I won a giveaway on Bozzy's blog... I was having a poopy day, and come home to this 'stash' of habby items.. the pins are wonderful, I love clover applique pins and these are perfect like the clover ones.. the silicon bobbin holder is also something I have coveted and the yoyo's in hearts were perfect for valentines day (oops forgot to take a pic of what we made)..

Thanks so much Lynda!!!


I was also very lucky (might have to rush out and buy me some lotto tickets)
before christmas I won a giveaway on a few blogs.. firstly a wonderful pattern from Kerry from My Favourite Things.. Miss Lara has eyed this pattern off.. I also won a lovely pattern from Annie from Hatched and Patched I also won a lovely Lynette Anderson designs pin from Kim @ Honeysuckle Cottage, it was wrapped in a lovely piece of fabric too.. Thank you sooo darn much ladies! I love

Which leads me to thinking.. I have been sooo darn lucky with 'winnings' (some days I feel like I am a blog whore, I LOVE blogs, I could spend all darn day on the net checking out what peoples are up to) online, that stay tuned possums, I am going to have a giveaway.. not sure of what yet.. (a teenager or two could be on the cards!).. but I am not saying my next post, could be the one after, but there is a giveaway.. might be some stash (if I dont get my finger out) or something fun.. I haven't thought about it too much as you can tell, but stay tuned possums..

Remember Me???

Yep..

'tis me, the Itinerant blogger..

to say I have been busy of late is an UNDERSTATEMENT.. of course the ferals are all but over the school holidays.. Missymoo went to school today, first day of high school *sob* my baby is in HIGH School.. the smelly's (aka the boys) are off to school tomorrow.. year 8 and year 10... Lordy I am getting OLD..

so you may be wondering, where have you been? what have you been up to? um, to be honest, not a LOT..



I did finish this top, and this is it on my Queen Sized bed.. I did only plan on making a little bit larger than a single bed.. but hey, queen size is only a wee bit bigger now isn't it?? now I dont 'stage' my pics, what you see is what you get.. it was 40C (thats like 100F) the day I took that pic.. well my son took that pic, cause it was too darn hot for me.. Its a double four patch done in civil war/1800 reproductions.. the Beast enquired who the quilt was for and I said, well this is the one you said was too girly.. but he likes it now.. the plan is for this year to make all the darlings a new quilt for their beds.. sounds good in theory!

What else have I been up to? well my darlings have used up all the warp speed internet, so not too many pics to share, takes AGES to upload one sucker.. grrr @ the kids...

I have been finishing off UFO's.. I did manage to finish off embroidering my australiana redwork, just have to mathemagically work out how to set the squares.. *thinking cap is on*.. I did finish another redwork, a freebie one from the internet, but no frame can be found for it that I truly adore.. wish me luck on hunting that one out!

I also have been having a wee bit of trouble with my eyes, I have since the four lots of shingles last year, so I finally got around to getting my eyes tested, and now I am officially short sighted in one eye (and its my non shingles affected one), so I have to mortgage the house and beg the insurance company for new specs.. well its not too bad, but sheesh, why do spec frames cost so much? I mean gold is only $800US an ounce and I am sure these specs aren't made from gold! I am not allowed to drive at night until I get my new glasses.. I knew I couldn't read number plates, and I knew reading street signs was a problem, but I didn't realise how much of a problem! I can't beleive I have drive on a 110km/h highway at least a dozen times in the past six months.. yikes!

well I'll share more pics when I get the warp speed back, I dont know HOW I survived on dial up, cause this net is frustrating the crapola out of me!



Lissa
PS the new camera turned up too, so hopefully wont be so many dodgy pics this year!


stay cool!!!

Cat 67, Tree 2

Hmmm

this is an 'after' pic of the poor ol' tree..

A certain critter, who shall remain nameless (but who is often referred to as 'the bastard cat') has been having a WOW of a time with our tree... well until the unfortunate incident of him in the tree and the tree toppling over.. I have never seen a furry critter run so fast.. he plays it 'safe...r' now by just 'tinkering' with the baubles that are on the lowest branch.. of course now, there are no deco's on the bottom of the tree, they are all on the floor UNDER the tree.. I took great pains in 'decorating' the tree this year, had everything BALANCED, and it looked perfect.. of course I should took a BEFORE pic, aka, before Cosmo attacked it..



this pic, well pretend your glasses need updating, stupid darn camera.. I have no idea how long the new 'freebie' will take to get here, but I am sure you guys are thinking 'not bloomin' soon enough'.. I like homemade deco's but I am lazy, so I got the felted ones from a cheapie shop a couple of years ago, they were like $1 each at the sales, felted reindeers, reindeer faces & santa faces.. the crochet snowflakes come from Target, I did plan on getting mum to teach me how to make them, we got these on sale too, they were 50c each I think.. I bought every single one, planning on making a few dozen more to just do the tree in snowflakes.. which is ironic when you think about it, as snow doesn't fall here in Winter, let alone in the hottest part of summer.. Oh the red baubles are covered in red buttons.. I just hot glued them on.. going to do some white ones when I get a chance, have to find some plain ol' white baubles first, and some white buttons *W* I am sure I got a tonne of them about!!!


Oh, by the way.. the HOT returned.. its so blucky today.. had the a/c going and the kids..

No fabric arrived in my house this week.. which is probably fortunate for me, cause dags would have a cow at me.. I am already in the poop, as he bought some Pandora charms for a certain person (Miss Lara) and found out how much they are.. hmmmmm.. when you have TWO pandora bracelets almost full, well he now knows how much I been gifting myself.. ooopsie.. so lucky no fabric turned up, dont know what is in store for next week though, as I do know there is something on its way from Hancocks!


dont you just love gifting yourself?? I mean you ALWAYS get something you like, and you just know you'll appreciate it????

Nothing sewing happening this week.. I do have a few things I have to make and get into the post this week, so I am going to be busy..


Well I am gonna go and get myself out of the heat..

Oh... a link.. instead of a blog to go visit, I have a vintage embroidery freebie link to share.. click here .... masses of vintage patterns for you to redwork or embroider.. I remember doing that once.. LOL



Lissa
the itinerant blogger
& definately the itinerant patchworker!

Cool Giveaway Daisy Quilts!

Daisy Quilts is having the coolest giveaway...



Why not go and help celebrate her blogiversary!!!!


Lissa

PS another cool site to check out is my friend B's. I met Bernadette at the quilting retreat this year, but I used to chat to her on ICQ a zillion years ago.. is it still around??? ICQ??? I found ICQ group chats nearly as frustrating as a toddler and up there with a bastard cat! LOL
Bundy does the bestest ever machine quilting, a few of my tops are off on a quilty holiday at the moment with her! I can only DREAM to be as good as her... apparently practice plays part of it??? LOL

Ooops I did it again!!!

Blurry photo's that is..

found out 'WHY' I suck at taking pics.. my DARLING Monster (aka DS Morgan aka Morgy the Monster) has been JUGGLING my camera.. yes ##%#%#@&*()&#@ juggling my camera.. I was talking to him the other night and FOUR times he dropped it while talking to him.. I bought a new camera using some 'flyby's' I get from using my credit card a LOT.. LOL it should be here by the end of the year, but until then.. just pretend you forgot your glasses..

OK whats a week without fabric?? I mean I dont have time to SEW it lately, so why not keep the US economy going by buying fabric from there?? I got the fabric pictured from ebay, autumn rose quilting or something like that, for $46 US posted for SIX YARDS yes, SIX.. six of any fabric in australia would cost me at least $120 + postage, so I am a happy camper with this lot.. backgrounds are impossible to find in Newcastle too..

a post or two ago, I asked if someone wanted to swap magazines with me, and someone came to the RESCUE!!! My new bloggy friend Caroline sent me this lot, some yummy lindt chocolate (who doesn't love lindt chocolate, my second fave after Cadburys Rocky Road - a new to me favourite), a cute needle book and a gutterman tin of thread! and of course the Quilters Newsletter Magazine I HAD to have.. I want to make the Civil War Crossings quilt, lovely pinks and double pinks and a bit of chocolate thrown in for good measure! Thank you so much Caroline..

Um you might notice something else.. I finished another two pin cushions, not convinced I like working with felt much, but I sat up and finished both of these on Saturday night last weekend.. 2am I put the last stitch in, and looking at them you'd guess that too! the slip stitching is dead dodgy, but hey, only rude people wouldn't comment, and fortunately for me, the felt police are yet to visit..

I have had a crap week at work..

We had mums 'anniversary' this week, I still am numb about her passing away last year.. I thought I'd be OK for work, but stupid here *pointing at oneself* forgot the work she had.. I am a debt collector, and I also help create revenue for the Public Hospitals in our state.. I had to create invoices for 'cremation certificates' all morning... But I managed to get through the day with minimal tears..

Ok thought I'd leave you with these two cute pics... they are taken a wee while ago (why they aren't blurry)

I love this one of the bastard, I mean, evil one.. I just love how the fabric and the cat sorta kinda blend together.. he has been behaving himself *touch wood*, and I am most anxious about the safety of our christmas tree which will go up on Monday!


and this pic of Bailey the Wonderdog, who really isn't an inside dog (we did try for two VERY LONG YEARS to housetrain her) but she is allowed in for visits after baths and a dash of 'psycho spray' (doggie cologne that makes her go pscho).. she isn't, um, allowed on the LOUNGE.. the one she is sitting on is one I found in a junk shop for $50.. I think its one of the copperart ones, but its great to keep pet hair off the lounge, the one scrunched up behind her, is my version of 'Ruths Quilt' by Leanne Beasley.. I called mine "Lissa's Quilt", cause well, I dont know anyone called Ruth, and my name is Lissa! LOL