These little wooden spools are hand made in the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria are are a lovely quality.

As I am starting a new thread now I will be swapping over to store my threads on these cute little spools.  Still thinking about how to store them.  At the moment I have then in a little tin case, but have my thinking hat on for another way to store them. 

So the details - they are available in either a box of 20 (as pictured) (no thread on them of course) or a bag of 5 to get you started.  Each spool is 30mm x 20mm and will hold an 8m or 10m skein of thread so perfect for Cosmo, DMC or your other favourite stranded cotton.

I love that no longer will I have creases in my threads too, but really it is the cute factor.

The shop will be closed from Thursday 9th February and will re-open on Tuesday 14th February.

Feel free to still place an order and I will process it as soon as I return.

I look forward to returning and sharing with you all that I learn.

Urban Cowgirl by Urban Chicks for Moda

I’ve been having a little play with these for a project and have some great co-ordinates to fill out the selection.  I’ll photograph and show you later - battery is flat right now (of course!)

Also have a fat quarter bundle available.

Sunny Happy Skies - sure to brighten up your day.

Hi Sarah

I have finally finished Gail’s project from Inspired Stitches 2011 which was delayed by overseas travel, an eye injury obtained while gardening and the Christmas rush to finish gifts due to the former reasons. Gail assisted me in the selection of fabrics for the kit and said she would love to see the finished project. I do not have a blog so would love it if you forwarded them to her. The only thing I did different was to machine quilt as I am yet to tackle hand quilting. I enjoyed attempting needle turning appliqué and look forward to doing more on her next project.

Many thanks

Sue

Gail chose Sue’s fabric selection from the Oasis range by Moda.  If you would like to make your own version of Gail’s Garden Delight in these beautiful fabrics, just let me know.  We have had the Oasis fabrics set aside for a Block of the Month but we are just about finishing cutting all the kits and should have some spare fabrics.

Thanks for sharing Sue.

We unveiled it on Christmas Eve when my family came for dinner.

There were lots of little details like Milly and Milo my sister Susan’s two dogs.

and some birds to represent Piar, Fin, Whiskey and Oscar

I tell you, you could get a sugar high just from walking past.

Then came the eating and it started looking like this…

I was still working while all the construction was going on so it was lovely to hear Vanessa and Rachel chatting away with their Auntie Karen, working it all out and having fun together.  Not sure if Karen will tell us when she is bored again though :)

On Saturday the 7th January we headed off to the Adelaide Airport and at an hour that you would never normally see me up to farwell Vanessa as she headed off to South Korea for two weeks.  Vanessa, along with 42 other Adelaide school students and 10 teachers, was fortunate enough to go on a trip to South Korea. 

As a mother there seems to be so many times that you are learning to let go, to give your children independence. That first time you leave them at kindergarten, when they start school, but this one was a biggy.  At first Vanessa did not want me to go to the airport, said that Garry could just drop her off.  But Rachel and I won out in the end and she said we could come and you will be pleased to know that I did her proud and didn’t cry.  I was so proud of her has she walked through to the Customs Hall and waived with a huge grin on her face.  This is the same child that all through her time at kindergarten I had to find a teacher to put her hand in, put my sunglasses on and just walk away and leave her crying.  Oh it was so hard, I felt terrible everytime.  It is wonderful to see her growing up into such a beautiful person, ready to experience all that life has to offer her.

We have missed her so much, the house is so quite without her presence.  We are counting the days until once again we are up at in what feels like the middle of the night to go and collect her from the airport.  She arrives home Saturday morning and we can’t wait to see her and to hear about all the wonderful experiences she has enjoyed.   Vanessa has been kept pretty busy but we have received a few brief emails, she has experienced snow for the first time and temperatures under zero in the daytime, met knew friends, enjoyed food that is so different from our own (although she says she is over rice for the moment).

You will find Blueberry Botanicals Block of the Month kit here.

If the beautiful blues and browns of Blueberry Crumb Cake are not your thing, just grab a selection of fat quarters, some Cottage Garden threads to match and the pattern by itself and start stitching.

Natalie has introduced Mini Makings to her pattern range - these patterns are fantastic value at only $6.60 each.  Just the thing for summertime stitching for my Southern Hemisphere readers or dare I suggest you could get started now on your 2012 Christmas gifts and make 2012 a handmade Christmas.

You will find all of the Mini Makings’ patterns here.

Natalie also released another of her gorgeous and fun picture quilts - this one is called Happy Happy Garden.  Who could not be happy making and then admiring this quilt.

You will find Happy Happy Garden here and if you would like me to put a kit together for you in bright, happy fabrics, just ask.