Cinderberry Stitches

Yes it's true....

Coming to our home in 2012

Natalie x

 

Airing the laundry

I know, mundane hey....me airing the laundry.

It was such a beautiful day here yesterday I popped Isabelle's craft table and chairs out side and spent the afternoon in the sunshine.  Paint, shaving cream, playdoh for her.  Hanging out clothes and taking in the fresh air for me.  Even the dog got in on the act and has one green handprint on her back, Isabelle thought it was hilarious. It was.

I have found it hard to blog lately and find myself sitting at the computer wanting to say a billion things but not knowing where to start.  So I just sit and look at the computer, get sidetracked and move on to something else without saying a word.

It drives me crazy, so here I am showing you the washing.  Boring, but oh so pretty and normal with the blue sky and sunshine.

I have decided to blog more often, not always about what is happening in the studio and what is in my hoop because in reality some days when you work from home with another little soul at your feet you might not step into the studio until the sun goes down and the stars appear.

So I guess you might see what we get up to as Mother and Daughter or even just everyday 'mundane' things that I take for granted.  The crafting, the painting, the smiles, the tears. the moment I found Isabelle with a Crayola marker texta and one of my samples from Cotton Floss.

Washing on the line. 

Running bare foot on the grass.

My everyday.

I have decide to leave the camera out on the bench so I look at it everyday and snap away when I feel the urge - rather than think to myself 'wow now that would make a great blog post'.

The next few weeks are going to be crazy mad here.  Crazy, mad and fun.  The moment my fabric lands on my door step, I am guessing there will be tears.  Happy tears.  Then I can finally show you what I have been dreaming about for more than twelve months and you can cry with me, or laugh out loud if you so desire.

So until next time I will leave you with a preview of what will feature in Monday's post.

New pattern.

Two words.

Mush-roomie Flip

And just like that I wrote a post and managed more than 140 characters.

Just wait until you see the fabric that is sitting beside me, and the box of toadstool houses...most definately blogworthy and just like that - my writers block may have faded.

xoxo

Natalie

A 'mummy to do list'

So many things I should have been doing today like finishing of writing my two new patterns, taking some pattern cover images and beginning a new project that needs to be completed, wrapped up and posted by the end of the month.....but sometimes you just have to put work aside. 

It will still be there in the morning.

Instead we wrote a 'Mummy to-do list' I took my daughter to the park, sat in the cool winter sunshine, played in the sand and built sand castles, laughed, played hide & seek in the maze and made chocolate cake - just so she could sit on the kitchen bench, lick the beaters and make a mess, then we sat and watched Peppa Pig together.

The other 'to do list' will still be waiting for me tonight when Izzy is sleeping soundly and the house becomes quiet, actually I love late-late night stitching & I know she will never be this little again. 

I hope you have been enjoying following the Cotton Floss book tour, yesterday the tour stopped by at Pam Kitty Morning's - you know she is always full of fun and I only wished there were not so many miles between us.  If you are interested in winning a signed copy of Cotton Floss pop in and say hello to her, ok?

Today the tour stops at Sarah Fielke amazing blog, can you even believe Sarah has sat and stitched up a pair of Stella and Henry owls that she is giving away...go on, you know you need this pair sitting in your sewing space - How awesome would that be?

Here are the rest of the tour dates....hop on the wagon and visit them all!

Stop 1 -  Monica - Happy Zombie

Stop 2 -  Amanda - Amanda Brooke

Stop 3 -  Pam - Pam Kitty Morning

Today's stop! - Sarah - The Last Piece

Tomorrow! 16^th Krista - Poppyprint

17^th Bari - Bari J

18^th Shari - Doohickey Design Studio

19^th Paige - Paige Hill

 

Ok, that's all for tonight, must sit down and write tomorrow to-do list...

I wonder - what's on your list?

Till then,

Natalie xo

 

The great escape

Last months Shenanygans Shenizzygans.

There is nothing better than a great escape, except finding a toy you forgot you had.

I love these kind of days.

 

So to celebrate the release of Sail Away plus Girls & Dolls it is time for a giveaway - here are the two newest designs to be added to the collection, you can read more about them and view close up snap shots here and here.

Two lucky readers will have to chance to win both patterns.

To join in the fun just leave a comment on this blog post.  Two people will be picked at random on the 18th March  21st March 2011 so let's have a little fun and a giggle along the way.

I am looking forward to hearing what kind of days you love the most or who you would love to stitch the designs for.

Till then,

Natalie

 

PS: New to blogging and not sure how to comment to enter the draw? Just click the 'comment' link below this post to access (word verification is no longer required, yeah!)

Thank you - comments on this post are now closed, you will find the winners names here.

Inquisitive Izzy

Dear Mummy,

Thought I had better tell you,

Do not leave your favorite eraser lying around the house,

When your inquisitive 2 year old is awake.

Love from your daughter, Izzy. xoxoxoxoxo

 

Dear Izzy,

Thanks for your advice.

I will heed your warning *next time*

Love Mummy. xoxoxoxoxoxo

 

 

Till then,

Natalie xo

You better not pout

It's Christmas Eve.

Carols, last minute wrapping, eating candy canes and fruit cake, getting the apples ready for Rudolph, thinking about what toppings will go on my plum pudding tomorrow...you know, the 'important' things in life.

So while I am thinking about my Dad's brandy sauce,  I just wanted to pop past and wish you a Merry Christmas - enjoy your day where ever it may be.

Eat.Love.Play

It is time for me to take a little blog break while I spend some time with the Family.

Thank you so much for stopping by throughout the year, thank you for saying hello or for just being quiet while I do the talking, thank you for letting me know you enjoy reading my updates - it is easy to forget how big the internet reach is when I am typing away on my laptop in the middle of the night (or day).

Take care over the festive season and may the New Year be bigger and better that you ever imagined

Till then,

Natalie xo

PS...and if you miss me I am often found on the corner of here and here

 

 

Holiday Happy

 

Do you have a Christmas tradition?

We do, it started many years ago at Nanny and Poppy Lymer's house.

Here is a snippet from the 80's

This is my Christmas story.

Nan & Pop Lymer were care takers of a local high school, they lived in a home on the school grounds. As kids, on weekends we had the entire school as our backyard, gym equipment, stage with piano, rope swings, science rooms, tennis courts, pool.  You have to understand that as kids we thought Nan and Pop lived in a palace - the place was awesome.

Each year we had our Family Christmas at Nan and Pop's about a week before the BIG day.  The night before they would hang a stocking for each of the Grandchildren.  The two of them must of had a direct line to Santa because each year he would remember to come and visit their place early.

Anyway, every year after our big Christmas lunch Pop would get a phone call from the neighbours letting him know there were big kids in the school ground that were not supposed to be there and he would have to go off to work and police the school grounds.

It was about this time each year (the Big man himself) Santa!! would knock at the door to come and visit me, my Brother and Cousins.  We even got to sit on his knee and have our photo taken.  Santa would stay a while and hand out presents and Christmas stockings and then say goodbye.

Moments later Pop would come walking back in the house to a room full of excited children.  I can't believe poor Pop missed seeing Santa EVERY year. 

I think once my cousin Nick commented that Santa even wore the same aftershave as Pop, wow - how cool is that?

I love Christmas.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Now we are older and have little ones of our own we go to Mum & Dad's (the next generation Nanny & Poppy Lymer) for lunch.

Nan and Pop hang a Christmas stocking for the three Granddaughters and Christmas Eve Santa stops by and fills the stockings with little gifts.

2010 is the year to make the stockings a little brighter and fun for the girls so I reached for Monica's Holiday Happy from Lecien and went to work stitching a new memory.

Check out the swatchamacallit - I used the mini gnoma-claus fabric for the lining and my favorite snowflakes for the outer, I guess that makes them reversible.

I went a little stitch happy.

Five drawstring bags for three girls.

Oh yeah,

that means leftovers

for me.

They sure look sweet hanging there waiting for Christmas Eve.

The girls love them, and are most excited to see mini gnoma-claus inside.

I am thinking they might even double as pyjama bags or library bags in the New Year.

Mines the blue one Santa.

I love Christmas.

 

Till then,

Natalie x

 

Sometimes I use bribery

OK, today I decided it was about time I got organised and took some Christmas card photos, yeh - sounds like a simple objective until I mention they involved a very sweet (and very fast moving) two and a bit year old.

I am not going to lie.

I used bribery where possible.

Today it was frozen peas and corn.

Don't ask me why she loves them, I have no idea.

 

So this is how it went

Isabelle: "Loooook Mummy".....

Isabelle: "Mummy....Loooook"

Me: "Yes, sweetie - peas and corn, could I have some too?"

Isabelle: "Oh nooooo!!"

The eyes say it all.

I LOVE it xo

 

 

Home & studio

Christmas is almost upon us again, comes around fast these days don't you think?

I remember when I was a little one it would take forever for Santa to visit now it feels like just a few months ago he came and enjoyed the cookies and milk while Rudolf munched on these.

On the home front we have been decorating the tree, making playdoh, visiting Santa, enjoying Christmas playgroup parties, spending time with friends and generally just trying to keep up.

Life's exhausting isn't it?

Decorating with a little one who prefers the fine art of un-decorating has been fun although worth it when she brings me a star off the tree while I am up to my elbows in dish water and sings 'twinkle twinkle little star' while holding it carefully above her head. There is nothing better.

Except maybe dress up day and the joy of playing inside the tree box.

On the design front....

Cinderberry wise - the studio has been buzzing with new ideas I have for 2011

I think it's going to be a big year.

Exciting even.

So while my mind is already working on things for 2011/12 I will show you a snippet of the final works in progress for 2010, if you kept your eyes peeled in the photos from Quilt Market this won't be so much of a surprise.

You see, Bella Babushka is being quilted...

It began like this -

then grew,

and grew...

Once she is quilted and bound I will take some better pictures of the entire quilt and share them with you. It is very simple to make, basic applique, piecing and a little bit of stitchery which makes me smile.

and if you are wondering. Yes, she was inspired by Flat Nat.

Till then,

Natalie x

 

 

When I am not sewing

It's time to play a game of blog catch up, would you like to play?

You don't have to do much - there are no rules, just sit back and read or just look at the pictures.  Caffeine is optional, chocolate is a necessity....I have both, or at least I did two minutes ago. 

Rather than one long post, I might break it up over a few - it's more fun that way.

It's true, I have been a little quiet on the blog - I guess it is just the time of year with the US and Australian quilt market time approaching fast all you can hear is the hum of the sewing machine, the occasional pricked finger, oh - and rain on the roof last night.  I love that more than you can imagine.

So where have I been lately?

Last weekend we spent the day down at Oakdene Vineyards, this place is amazing.  I wish I could tell you it was my garden, maybe I will just pretend - I could get lost here forever and live happliy ever after.

Often I get asked where inspiration for my designs come from, this would be one of those places.  I am sure you could understand why.

Rows and rows of snails, a vintage pram & tricycle, wheel barrows filled with flowers.

Scattered pots of flowers and the most gorgeous bird cages.

Did I say gorgeous?

Sorry, I meant GORGEOUS!

And the perfect color too vintage blue with a touch of rust.

Then there where the rocking horses....*swoon*

It was the perfect place for a party, and the kids loved playing in the garden making a little tea party, watching fish in the pond and using their imagination.

I couldn't think of a better place to be.

October and April are big birthday months us, some months are just like that... a few days after my Brother's birthday our little munchkin turned two. 

Pinch me, wasn't she just born a few weeks ago?

Here she is very proud to be in the chicken house at the local showground.

And that is the smile she uses to get away with most things.

Cheeky with a touch of mischief, that's our Izzy xo

 

Till then,

Natalie x