Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Giveaway winner announced!

Thank you to everybody who joined in with my giveaway fun!  I’m delighted to announce that the lucky lady who will get to play with the MY Memories Suite of digital scrapbooking software and additional discount coupon,  is the lovely Wendy from Sugarlane Quilts

Congratulations Wendy!

Wendy was the last person to leave a comment on my giveaway post, number 22!  I just thought I’d share this as I’m a bit nutty in the noggin’ sometimes and for some strange reason I have this notion that first and last commenters aren’t as likely to win as any other ‘number’.  So there you go – the odds are the same for everyone – and I must change my limited thinking!!! Smile

Giveaway winner sept11

If you are interested in purchasing this software - My Memories is giving my readers a $10 discount off of the full price of the My Memories suite, together with a further $10 coupon to choose digital paper pack/s of your choice.  Please copy and paste this code:  STMMMS99044  (on My Memories website) to receive these discounts. Enjoy!

We’re on school holidays here in Melbourne so there’s lots of activity in the house!  I’ve decided that the quickest way to get your child’s attention is to sit down with a nice hot cup of tea and make yourself really comfortable… better still, pick up some stitching to enjoy while your tea is cooling to the ‘perfect’ temperature.  It works every time!! *wink*  I’m going to design a pair of pants (trousers) with a spring embedded in their seat!  Do you think they’ll catch on???

I’ll be back again shortly with the third and final instalment of Angels playing Happily!  Have you been stitching it?  If so, please email me some pics as I’d love to see!

Till next time – hugs! Vikki xo

Sunday, September 25, 2011

A new vintage toy!

I have a new toy…

Vulcan 1

…one that I won’t be playing with because it’s a little bit old and rusty!

Vulcan 2

Isn’t it CUTE?!

Vulcan 4

I have been eye-ing off vintage toy sewing machines for some months now and at last, one has come to live with me!

This Vulcan was made in Germany in the 1940’s/50’s 

To give you an idea of its scale… here it is sitting next to its big ‘Brother’!!!

Vulcan 6 pic

I love the shape and design of this one – it really screams ‘1950’s’ doesn’t it?!!

Do you collect old sewing machines?  If you do – please share as I’d love to hear about your passion! 

 

Till next time – enjoy your vintage sewing!

Vikki xo Smile

Monday, September 19, 2011

My new Creative Journal and a giveaway!

Do you keep a creative journal?  By that, I mean do you keep pictures and record all of the things you have made over the years?

I used to keep a comprehensive journal many moons ago.  This page records a dragon that I designed for my son when he was seven years old. 

Creative journal dragon page

I included details about dates, inspiration, costs, techniques and fabrics used, etc.  But as time went on, and my creativity became more prolific, I was hard-pressed to even print off all the photos I had taken let alone find the time to write up about them in my journal!  Plus, I didn’t need all that information, I was really only interested in keeping  a visual together with knowing when I made the item and who for.

The way we use technology has changed so much in the past seven years since I scrawled all those notes about Aaron’s dragon!  We live in a digital age where our photos are stored on our computers – where software is user-friendly – and it’s all becoming so much easier for the ‘non-techy’ person (like me) to navigate their way around “stuff” (do you like my techno lingo?!!!)

So when I was asked if I would like to review the My Memories Suite of digital scrapbooking software, I didn’t hesitate in saying YES!  It was only seconds before I thought how great it would be to keep a quilting/creative journal that I could add to easily and required no “printing-off” of photographs! 

I had a play over the weekend and this is what I came up with:

Test Two-001

The software is easy to navigate, very intuitive.  You can choose templates already set up with pretty graphics and drop your photographs in, and add text.  Or you can design your own template which is what I’ve done here.  There are different background papers, textures and colours.  You can manipulate your photographs and text, and add all kinds of sweet, vintage or funky embellishments.  Not only did I feel good about getting back in to keeping a creative journal – but it was so much fun!  I also found it really interesting playing with different colours and thought this would be a great way to play around with colour palettes for future sewing projects.

Test Two-002

I shall show you more of my journal pages as I create them!  Of course, this software can be used for any kind of digital scrapbooking – family memories, special occasions, recording achievements etc.  You can even add music to your albums if you so wish.  Or like me, you can save them as stand alone Jpeg files and publish them on your blog! 

GIVEAWAY!

My Memories has given me a second set of software to give away to one lucky reader.  Smile 

To enter, please leave a comment on this post and if you so desire, tell me what your favourite digital paper pack is after visiting  MyMemories.com 

This giveaway is open to everyone and the winner will be drawn at 10.00am (Melbourne time) on Tuesday 27th September.

Good luck!  Vikki xo

If you can’t wait until next Tuesday to see if you have won, My Memories is giving my readers a $10 discount off of the full price of the My Memories suite, together with a further $10 coupon to choose digital paper pack/s of your choice.  Please copy and paste this code:  STMMMS99044  to receive these discounts.  This offer will still be open to my readers after the giveaway has been drawn.

 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Stitching progress, Homespun and one cute find!

Hi all!  I hope you are enjoying your weekend as much as I am?  Spending time at home with family, stitching and watching the weather alternate between sunshine and hail storms has been all part of the charm.  I’m such a homebody!  How about you?

I haven’t touched my sewing machine since making Rosie’s mermaid costume (thank you so much for your lovely messages!!), but instead I’ve enjoyed some needle turn applique and hand stitching while working on Lynette Anderson’s ‘Christmas Fun’ BOM.  Two more stitchery blocks are now complete…

LA BOM tree block pic

Each block comes with a hand-painted wooden button.  I’ve placed the angel button on the top of the tree for this photo, but will sew them all in place once the quilt has been put together.  The tree is my favourite so far – I love the white snowflakes on the beige background.

LA BOM angels block pic

This row of angels are yet to have their faces added – as I am yet to make the yoyo’s for them.

Since taking these photos yesterday afternoon I have stitched another block – once I get going I just can’t stop!!  But here’s a photo of progress to date without the block I’ve just mentioned.

LA BOM update sept11pic

My children have been homebodies this week too, due to some viruses that are travelling about at the moment.  So I popped out yesterday afternoon to buy them a sweet treat and spied the latest copy of Australian Homespun while I was at the grocery store – what a bonus!

Homespun Sept11pic

This issue (No.100 Vol 12.9) is brimming with inspiring projects from front to back cover!  I love the colour palette on the front cover, do you?  This is the ‘Romance’ issue!  I was first struck by the pretty handbag that is featured on the cover… and was delighted to read that the beauty is designed by my sweet friend Joy over at Joypatch!  There is also a pretty sewing set by Lisa over at Cubby House Crafts, and the most feminine cushion designed by Melissa Grant of One Day in May – someone I will be definitely watching out for from now on!  I am giggling as I write this because I’m sure I sound like a marketeer!!  Truth is, I can’t help but wax lyrical about the things I love, and I REALLY love Homespun as I know many of my friends do!

I am aware that it’s been difficult for overseas fans to purchase this magazine but that is now a thing of the past, because Homespun has just gone DIGITAL.  How cool is that?!!  You can now purchase a subscription and get the magazine sent direct to your inbox each month – just click on this link to take you to online subscriptions.    Just in case you’re wondering – no, I’m not on commission! *giggle*  I’m just very excited that my overseas friends will now be able to read this wonderful magazine each month if they so wish!

The last thing I wanted to share with you today is this wonderful tablecloth that I bought last week from my local thrift store. It’s in the above picture, and this is what it looks like on my side table…

Tablecloth 1 pic

Tablecloth 3

I haven’t ironed it yet because it needs a gentle wash first – but I couldn’t wait to show you!  I had thought about making a vintage-style apron out of it, but it’s just too beautiful to cut up!  All those cross stitches… it must have taken someone a long time to create.  It has gone to a grateful home, and it got me to thinking about the work I put in to my own creations.  If they ever end up in a charity shop in the future I have no problem with that at all – I’d rather a creation give someone pleasure than sit in a cupboard somewhere!!

Before I say goodbye for today I’d just like to say that I’m really happy that you came for a visit!  I really enjoy sharing my life and creations with you and never take it for granted.   I haven’t been visiting many friends’ blogs recently because I have been investing my time with the children and at home… but it’s important for me to let you know that I haven’t forgotten about you, and that you are treasured friends!  I think this is the ‘way’ with blogging – it ebbs and flows – and it has to be flexible just like everything else in life.  It’s sometimes difficult to put things down in writing and convey them in the way that you’ll hope they’ll be received… so please know this…

…I value you! 

Whether I’m being vocal or quiet… I think you’re awesome!

Sincerely!  Vikki xo

Thursday, September 1, 2011

A Mermaid’s tale…

Rosie birthday mermaid 1 pic

This little Mermaid finds it really hard not to pull silly faces when the camera is pointed at her!!  It’s one of those ‘withdrawal’ things from being out of the sea for too long!

Rosie birthday mermaid 2 pic

Balancing on ones ‘fins’ takes a bit of practice, too!!

But this little Mermaid had a birthday party to go to last Saturday – on her very own birthday.  SIX years old?  I remember when she was just a little egg sitting on a coral leaf!

Rosie (accompanied by Mr SUDs) had an absolute ball at her friends’ party, while I recooperated on the couch from picking up my  Mer-Man from the airport during the early hours of the the morning!  Aaron and I got home at 3.15am and stayed up chatting for a while before getting a couple of hours sleep before the birthday girl awoke.  Her best gift was having her big brother back home!!  (Yes, it was my favourite gift too!!)

Our young Mermaid loved her costume, and that in itself was a wonderful gift to me!  I couldn’t find a pattern I liked so made it up myself.  I really don’t enjoy working with sequins and satin – give me 100 per cent cotton any day!

Mermaid costume top close up pic

This two-way stretch fabric was good to work with though, it didn’t fray and was a dream to sew with, helped by using a special ‘stretch’ needle in my sewing machine.  I learned quite a few new things too.  I was aiming for the pleated halter neck top to look like clam shells – and it did UNTIL I top-stitched it.  The secured edges took out the pleats.  So I made individually quilted clam shells out of the leftover fabric and hand stitched them to the bust area.

Mermaid costume tail close up pic

I also learned that sequined fabric (tail fins) is not kind to sewing machines.  Luckily I’ve had enough sewing experience to think to put tearaway beneath the fabric before I sewed with it – as this prevented all the little bits of plastic sequin from going in to the feed dogs of my machine and leaving debris.  But I didn’t realise that the sequins could break machine needles…  I took it really slowly after that incident; and to cut down on sewing time, rather than over lock the seams, I used a product called Fray Stop ™ .

The very next day… our little Mermaid transformed in to a Fairy!

Rosie birthday cake candle blowing pic

Just about to blow out the candle on her gluten-free Kitty-cat birthday cake!

Cat cake 1 pic

Isn’t that the weirdest Kitty-cat cake you’ve ever seen?! LOL  I ran out of icing sugar to make the fondant… after six hours straight in the kitchen on Saturday night I didn’t have time to purchase more!

Rosie birthday cake at table pic

But just look at that smile…  every single minute of preparation was ALL worth it!

I love my little Merma-Fairy!  And I love my gorgeous jet-setting Mer-Man, too!!

Till next time – enjoy the moment!

Vikki xo Smile

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