Qantas Lunch at Rockpool

I was a very lucky girl yesterday, to be invited to lunch at Rockpool Bar and Grill in Melbourne as a guest of Qantas. They are currently launching their new frequent flyer cards with an inbuilt cash passport (known as Qantas Cash), so lunch was a great opportunity to learn about the product, ask a few questions, and of course enjoy a fabulous meal.

The menu

One of the lovely entrees.

 

Steak main with sides including potato gratin.

Dessert: I had the pav which was just amazing (and huge!) but also snuck in a taste of my neighbours chocolate dessert.

A very enjoyable day all round, and Melbourne certainly put on some good weather for it.

A Good Cause: Phoebe's Sew Along

I was recently  contacted about a Sew Along that is taking place for The Phoebe Foundation and am hoping all of my lovely readers will get involved. The quilt project was initiated a few months ago in an effort to help Phoebe's mother heal from her loss, and to encourage others to creatively contribute for their reasons- some women who have joined have also lost a child, or have a child or grandchild with a heart illness.



The Foundation is looking for quilters to get involved by making a wonky cross block, or to donate any spare fabric or batting they might have. The instructions can be downloaded from here.

Please remember that these blocks will be incorporated into quilts for children under long term hospital care and/or palliative care, so think bright and cheery! Solids, stripes, polka dots are all great and simple choices for your blocks. It’s important to use fabric that does not include any FOOD or DRINK related items, as children in the hospital are often under fluid and dietary restrictions and reminders of these items can be distressing.

Completed blocks can be mailed to:
The Phoebe Foundation/Julia Rolando
Care of Kinglake Post Office
1/14 Whittlesea Kinglake Road
Kinglake, Victoria 3763
Australia

Or contact julia@thephoebefoundation.com.au for more information.

Stripes

I've always had a thing for stripes; I've got stripey mugs, bed linen, cushions on my couch. I love them all. I've been doing a little market sewing, and I'm using the stripes and chevrons from Remix. Too cute!

I've whipped up a couple of cushions (the yellow one is Cat in the Hat), and a wheat bag. Bunny is still a work in progress.

I also ducked into Ikea on the way home from work yesterday (I love being able to do that), and picked up this shelving unit to use as part of my market stall. I'm envisioning jelly rolls stacked on the shelves, and maybe a few fat quarter bundles. (and you can see why the room needs painting...)

No progress on my sewing room just yet, as I'm looking for a painter, but I have hung a few quilts on this wooden ladder I picked up quite a while ago, just so that I've got something pretty to look at while I keep on tidying up the room.

A Proper Cuppa

Like a good English girl (my grandparents were from England), I love my tea. A few years ago I was given a Wedgwood tea set, and last weekend I finally got to use it for the first time. One of my fellow stallholders came over for proper afternoon tea.

We brainstormed ideas for freshening up our stalls (Ikea was mentioned), and I sent her on her way with a baggie of fabric scraps to be turned into accessories. I also got motivated and started on some market sewing; some new cushion covers and a super cute stripy bunny.

I also snuck down the beach on Sunday for a bit of a family reunion; I love the beach no matter the weather.

The One Where Kate Gets a Sewing Room!

I know I'm a few days late spilling the beans but it's been crazy around here! It's no secret that I've been living with my mum, but not any more! Last weekend she moved into my grandma's house, as grandma has gone into care following her fall last year. As a result, I know have the house to myself and....a spare room!

It doesn't look like much right now; it desperately needs a coat of pain (hasn't had one in over 20 years), then I can start setting it up. There are also a few stray boxes that haven't moved house yet, but should be gone over the weekend hopefully.

My desk will move out of my room and into the new room (where the shelves currently are). A spare bed will go under the window, and a sewing table will go in the middle of the room. I'll finally be able to reclaim the dining room table and lounge room from all my sewing chaos.

Bella and Millie have found the whole process quite unsettling; Bella has always slept in mum's bed so we've had a few disturbed nights. Millie is also missing Jack, but she should get used to it soon. All in all, it's a very exciting time here at the House of Bella.

A Different Kind of Day

Today was one of those days that didn't quite go to plan. I headed off to gym this morning looking forward to a good workout to start my day; instead another driver reversed into my car, and set the tone for the rest of the day. I do feel a little sorry for the guy, he is a local high school student. Fortunately the damage is minor and we won't need to get insurance involved. My poor little red car!

So instead of chilling out watching Gossip Girl while binding my quilt, I was running around getting repair quotes.

But never mind. I did get some good garden time this afternoon; planted my winter veggies, and gave my lemon tree a major haircut (it had gall wasp damage). It looks a little sad now, and I won't get much fruit this year. Must weed around it too!

Last but not least, a bird came in through the chimney and flew laps around the lounge room (just glad the poo missed my quilt!). Bella was right on it, despite never having had the opportunity to chase a bird before.

The big 'change' is still happening...I promise I will try to reveal this weekend. I'm very excited!

Lookie What I Found

Change is afoot in the House of Bella. More to come, but lets just say it involves a lot of packing and cleaning.

But in the meantime...

I dug up a snap lock bag of fabric deep in the recesses of my stash, and found all the off cuts from Swoon, already stitched into HSTs. What to make?? Perhaps a little quilt...

My little bit of Cuzco arrived and the binding is on the quilt; just awaits hand stitching. 

I caved in and bought the Ikea cart I was admiring; so cute with all my sewing supplies right at hand.

And for something a little cute...I found these toadies while out browsing in 'the country' yesterday. Not sure where they'll go yet but I love them.

Bunnies, Bunnies and More Bunnies

Today I finally had lunch with an old school friend who has been living overseas with her husband for quite a few years; we only see each other every two years or so. We keep in touch via email, and at Christmas I got an email with a photo attached...surprise! She had a gorgeous baby girl. 

Of course all new babies need something handmade, and my friend requested a red and white bunny. So of course Ruby was the perfect fit, and "Lucky Bunny" was born. She was handed over today, and promptly had both her ears thoroughly chewed.

Such a gorgeous baby too, very chilled and content.

I was flipping through the local paper earlier and what should I find? My bunnies! The ad for this weekend's Maker's Market features a pic of my little bunnies.I'm quite chuffed, but a bit sad I wont be there this weekend; I'll be at Huckleberry in Mornington instead.

Ikea Adventures

So it's 30-something degrees, a public holiday,and you have no air-con....what do you do? Go to Ikea! I originally wanted to look at their fabrics; I need 9 yards for a quilt back and had heard of other bloggers using Ikea fabrics for their backings. I'd seen one online that I liked the look of, so the hot afternoon was the perfect excuse!

Instead I found a few other goodies that I'd love to bring home. I really love this turquoise trolley! It can be used in the kitchen, to store books, or even as a bedside table. I think it'd look great full of fabric...if only I had somewhere for it!

I also found this cute rug; I love a paisley print and this one is quite eye-catching.

I finally found my way to the fabric department, and discovered the fabric I'd been eyeing off was a larger print than expected. So no luck there. But I did buy a couple of meters of stripey decorator-weight fabric which I'll stash away until I find the perfect use for it.

I still need to choose a backing for my I Heart You quilt; any suggestions?

A Little Facelift

No, no, no, not me! The blog. I wish I'd taken a screen-shot to show the "before", but I sat down with a glass of wine, started fiddling, and next thing you know my blog was "new"! 

We've got a new header (my favourite quilt), tidied up some of the fonts and colours, and added that very important "Pin It" button to the bottom of each post. This button is only visible when you view an individual post, but will let you pin any picture on the page. I think it looks much more "professional". Not bad for a Saturday night!

Edit: there is only one 'about me'; the other is a screen shot image. I've tweaked the column widths to get rid of the overlap (which is wasn't doing last night).

Friday Fancies and FebFast

I'm running around like a headless chook today, with lots to get one before a busy weekend. But I always manage to sneak in a little fabric time; today was the day I finally got my Cuzco quilt basted. I absolutely adore the backing I chose for this quilt. It's the whole reason I wanted to use Cuzco. Of course, I had help from my trusty and rather furry assistant.

The other thing I've been doing this month is FebFast. That means a whole 28 days without alcohol, with all proceeds going to programs that tackle alcohol and drug issues in young people. There's only a week to go, and I've been a bit slow on the fundraising, so if anyone would like to support a good cause I'd be most appreciable. Even $1 makes a difference; donations can be made here. 

First market of the year this weekend; I'll be at Mulgrave Maker's Market on Sunday from 8am-1pm. Looks like it's going to be a lovely day.

Struggling

I know most bloggers like to paint a rosy picture of their lives; all the good bits and none of the bad stuff. But the last few months have drained me physically and emotionally and I've reached the point where I can say, no, I'm not ok. I'm so tired one hour at the gym feels like a marathon, and I count down the hours till I can escape work. I've done no sewing, and no gardening lately, because I just don't have the energy.

We were so hopeful at Christmas that my grandma was recovering well and would get to go home. She has gone downhill the last few weeks and is no longer the grandma I recognise. She is an angry, tantrum-throwing woman who tried to physically attack my mum last night. The only option now is high-level, full-time care.

The constant reminders of Valentines Day tomorrow are a kick in the guts...I'd been looking forward to spending it with someone I thought was pretty special. It's one thing to know you don't belong together, it's another to be ok with it.

And I discovered yesterday that my boss is using me as his 'fall guy'. He is blaming me for something that I have it in writing that he asked me to do. It's not the first time and it probably won't be the last, but I'm not sure whether to say something to HR or sit on it for now.

So I'm wrecked. The good news is I won a Liberty giveaway which I'm very excited about, and I'm escaping north for the weekend. The break will do me the world of good and hopefully I'll be back here next week with a smile on my face.

Wiped-Out Wednesday

I have this cute little notepad that is designed to be a To Do list. Knowing today was my day off, I filled that list last night, and have spent the day ploughing through what feels like a million things.

I've been to gym, cleaned the bathroom, vaccummed the house, finally sourced wheat for my wheat bags (for market), shopped at the supermarket and washed my car (first time since August!).

I've whipped up a Blueberry Frangipane tart for tomorrow; my Candian friend is visiting from San Fran so I wanted to make something super yummy. Haven't made it before, though it was pretty easy. Just wish my pastry wouldn't shrink, no matter how careful I am!

Also turned all my leftover triangles from the Mystery BOM into HSTs...I'll work out what to do with them once the 12 blocks are done.

Still need to visit my grandma later today, then I might be settling in for a relaxed evening in front of the TV. That's everything on my list and I'm exhausted!

Cuzco...

I just want to quickly say thank you for the lovely comments I've received this week, every single one has made my week just that little bit better. Yesterday was a bit of a shocker, but I've bounced back today and tackled that Cuzco quilt!

I did a bit of sneaky maths and worked out that I could stitch my too-small triangles into pairs to use them as side setting triangles, with a little bit of Fandango thrown in to give me the required number. I must say I'm quite pleased with how its looking!

 

 

It still needs a trim and then two borders, but it's not a bad start to January. Hopefully I can sneak in a bit of time tomorrow to get it finished.

 

 

I have a lovely weekend of socialising ahead of my; my oldest, bestest friend got in touch and said "let's catch up Sunday, breakfast or lunch, yours or mine, home or out, it's up to you". Who doesn't love friends like that!

Squeeee

What does a sensible girl do when she finally ditches the guy who has time for everyone but her? And I mean the type that can't even be bothered to send a postcard from overseas?

She heads to Europe of course! I've been wanting to do this trip for a while, and now it's clear I don't have a travel buddy, I'm heading out on my own. I just booked today and I'm so excited. I'll be doing 4 days in each of London and Paris, then heading over to Italy to spend two weeks travelling around (map below). Pizza, pasta, gelato!

My friends and sister have also been totally lovely to me the last few days; I've had lunch, dinner and movie invitations coming out my ears which makes me feel so special. My grandma (who is recovering well from her head injury) may have even had a few things to say to cheer me up.

I snuck in a little sewing time last night and today (sticking to my resolutions!), with six more scrappy tripalong blocks to show for it. I've now got 20, and still lots of strips, so I've decided to go the whole hog and head for 36!

Friday's task will be to get back into the Cuzco quilt; I think I've solved my triangle problems, just need to see if I can pull it all together.

Then There Were 18

I've snapped myself out of my little funk; the person causing all my stress is gone. So I have plenty of time to get back into my quilting, and just enjoy life in general without being weighed down by the drama. It feels good!

I snagged a little time today to quickly whip up two more blocks:

I thought I was only up to 14 or 16, but I laid them all out and there are 18!

I'm not quite decided on whether to aim for 25 or 36...I guess we'll see how fat those fat quarters streatch with a few scrap bits thrown in. It's like organised chaos!

Whoops!

I was being such a good blogger, then I got busy and my blog got neglected, sorry! My grandma had surgery just over a week ago, and things have been very up and down since then. I'd never realised how tiring it was being so stressed for so long, but all I've done this weekend is sleep. When I visited her this morning they had her up on her feet, and she was sounding quite cheerful, so I'm feeling very pleased!

Safe to say though that there hasn't been much craftiness happening here. I did get the binding on my Hopscotch quilt, but I'll be taking it with me on holidays to hand-stitch it down.

My Christmas tree is up and looking a little sparse (Miss Bella is a fan of the crash-tackle so we keep it minimal), but I've done almost all my shopping so it does look a little like we have the Christmas spirit around here.

I also had my Christmas party this week at the Langham Hotel...very swish!

I received a surprise delivery of Fig Tree's Avalon this week, and should have some more Cluck Cluck Sew patterns arriving soon...but I'm definitely looking forward to a break once Christmas is done, so I'll be shutting the shop for a week and a bit.

Long Weekend

Only half way though my long weekend, but I think I've managed to make the most of it so far. If I'd thought about it earlier I might have organised to go away, but no one has as much time off as me, so there wasn't much point.

I've managed to get all my cubes turned and stuffed; they just need to be stitched closed now. Fabric is Oh Deer by MoMo.

I did a little bit of sneaky shopping yesterday, and picked up some cute new shoes for summer. Now I just need to find an excuse to wear them!

 

 

Today was such a lovely day that I just had to go to the beach, so I headed to St Kilda for a wander along the sand. I love dipping my toes in the chilly water and feeling so refreshed. Just a tad too cold for swimming though. A lovely afternoon finished off with ice-cream before I headed home...

I've still got three days to fill. I think there might be a bit of quilting to be done, and a little pottering around in the garden. I'm also keen to start organising myself for christmas, and I have a few birthday presents to buy, as my bestest, longest friend is turning 30 soon. After this month I feel like it will be big downhill run into christmas, then the new year will be upon us!

Market Madness

With Christmas coming, market season is in full swing and it starts to get a little hectic around here. My basket of rattle cubes was cleaned out at last weekend's market by one person, so I've had to dig in a make a heap more. They aren't too difficult to make, just a little tedious, so I avoid them when I can...

I've used Oh Dear by MoMo for this lot, as there is a good mix of colours for both boys and girls.

They still need to be trimmed, turned and stuffed...and I've run out of bells to put in the middle so there is a trip to the shops required before I can finish them. As you can see, Hopscotch is still in the sewing machine...

I also whipped up a cushion for a KK present last week...the new owner was very happy so I might need to make a few more. I'm also contemplating a cot quilt from Kate Spain's Honey Honey before the upcoming Boutique/Mathilda's Market.

Fortunately it's not all work and no play around here...Bella got a little bit of outside time last weekend so she could enjoy that bit of sunshine we had been having (and yes, that's me!).

Now to make the most of this six-day weekend I've managed to score...

Gone!

Last week I had a very wonky carport...

This week I don't!

After four weeks insurance and the builders finally got themselves sorted and removed it yesterday. Just in time too, it took on a bit more of a lean during last weekends windy weather. The new ones goes in next week! Looks like we have a bit of pruning to do...

When we had a carport, the dogs were kept down the back of the yard, away from the fence so they couldn't bark. Now that it's gone, they get a little more lawn and sun time. Millie is really making the most of it.

I'll admit that this week hasn't been my finest, hence the lack of posts. I had a revolting day at work on Monday that left me wondering if it was worth it. I actually started looking for a new job. I had hoped my yoga class would calm me down but it really didn't have the desired effect. Then I capped it off by whinging at the man, which made me feel worse...

I'm excited that I made a little progress on Hopscotch; those lines take forever! I've done two rows of blocks, so just six to go.

  

I also finally picked up one of my birthday pressies; a little sapphire ring from Tiffany. So really the week wasn't all bad, but it certainly didn't get off to the best start.

(instagram: blackcat20)