Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Ahhhhh- Holidays

I spent the early part of last week ordering plantation shutters and custom made sliding plantation doors for our house. When I told Mr. P the final tally I just said it really quickly so it didn't sound like one of us was going to  have to sell a kidney to pay for it. He totally bought it. Then I went completely nuts and bought a new bed for our guest room because I have big plans for a complete revamp in there over the next couple of months. This extends out to a double but gives us a ton more space when we don't have guests. Genius. 


I had lunch and a sewing day with the delectable Loz last Tuesday who is also on holidays. Since I was in the area I popped into my favourite mettwurst shop and loaded up on manufactured meaty goodness. I gave one of these to one of my nephews who is also a mettwurst addict but I've managed to eat both of the others in the week since.... 


Plenty of sewing and crafting this past week. My postage stamp blocks are all done - just waiting to be trimmed and then made into something that resembles a quilt top. 


I reupholstered two sad looking chairs that now look completely happy. So am I.

Before 
After 
And I did some more work on my orange peel applique blocks. I am over the halfway mark and sliding down the other side. I even got brave and starting pulling the freezer paper out. 

Thursday was the day that little old Adelaide was the hottest city on earth, so I stayed inside and taught my niece to be how to make bunting. No pictures because this is for the big wedding that's coming up in November and everything has to stay a secret. Feel free to imagine bunting in lieu of pictures. I'm in cahoots with my niece to be on another secret project for the wedding at the moment too....this must be what it feels like to be a super spy!

My greengrocer had a super special on strawberries on Thursday so I bought a few punnets.


This is what 7.5 kilos of strawberries looks like with the tops cut off...


I made strawberry pie with a strawberry coulis ...and ate about a kilo of strawberries in the process. The plan is to make jam with the rest. 


I made two lots of fudge -one went to live in the bin 


the other in my stomach. 


My Littlest Nephew celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday.  Happy Birthday Nephew of Pyjamas! You totally rock!


I did a ton of other stuff too....but this post is already stretching the boundaries of length and I'm sure a few of you have probably already fallen asleep. 

Before I go I want to share some mail I've had over the last few weeks from some very generous and thoughtful people.  

From Terri - a lovely white fat quarter of fabric. So cute- Thank you Terri! 


 Karen at Laughter in Quilts had some gorgeous embellished tea towels on her blog a while ago, and was kind enough to offer to send me some plain tea towels so I could create my own. Look at this pile of gorgeousness! I'm going to have so much fun making these look all pretty.


And Cardygirl - who should seriously give up her day job to go into stand up comedy- very quietly and pointedly sent me this ...which had me in fits of laughter every time I saw it for about three days afterwards. 


Looks like I have my ginger bread house covered for this year. And I think I can put this together using superglue without the sides melting. Just have to be careful not to add too many rhinestones and crystals to it so it doesn't implode from the weight. 



31 comments:

MB in MI said...

Nice post Shay! You are a busy gal...glad you're having a good holiday! Enjoy :-)

Rachaeldaisy said...

You are having an awesome holiday with a bit of shopping, bit of sewing , bit of cooking and a ton of strawberries!!! It's good you've been at home to get all that fabulous mail. Ginger bread houses just make me laugh now.

Paulette said...

Mm, strawberries... Looks like your holidays have gone really well. Love the postage stamp blocks. I might try doing some orange peel blocks for an upcoming project. Any advice or tutes you recommend?

Marie said...

ohhhhh fresh strawberries ... almost as divine as the scrappy blocks!

Michelle Ridgway said...

I don't know where to start or what I love the most..... just everything. I so want some fudge...oh and the strawbs plus the pie. Love the chair and new guest bed. Enjoy the rest of your hols...stay cool x

Sarcastic Quilter said...

Oh, can you tell me who makes that bed? When i open my retreat, a single going to a double could be an awesome 2-for purchase for the rooms. (And the retreat is still conceptual. Only immediate plans are we managed to buy some raw land. -wink-)

audrey said...

The strawberries look so good! Yum. Love the idea of a single bed that makes out to a full--great idea for a guest room which I should have in about 8 yrs.? hehe You have obviously been extremely busy on lots of fronts. Fun to catch up.:)

Cardygirl said...

My, who has been a busy girl? Lots of loveliness...can't wait to see how you jazz up the house...Swarovski crystals, internal lighting and Lilliputian figures perhaps? Glad that you like it!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

You have you a good man there....:) Where did you get that daybed? It's so cute. Also love the redo on the chair.

Pokey said...

The house is getting good treatment, with all that neat stuff to dress it up! Why did one batch of fudge go into the bin...? Strawberries look yum, but so do those desserts! Nope, not a sleeper among us, Shay, but do share the finished foam house when it's fully glammed up ~
:-}pokey

Canadian Abroad said...

Bwahaha! On the gingerbread house. You are set for life now. Sounds like a busy but satisfying time. Enjoy these holidays!

Unknown said...

All looks fabulous Shay. Fudge recipe? Do you use marshmallows? Enjoy the rest of your hols. Sharyn:)

Anne-Lise at Rag, Tag, Bobtail said...

So busy!
Strawberries!! Drooling ....

Jennifer said...

Wow, a (almost foolproof) gingerbread house......what a thoughtful gift! Love that daybed too, how very genteel - how about a nice quilt for it?

Sooli said...

Nice work on the chair, it looks amazing! Mmmm those strawberries look lovely! So glad we're getting some cooler weather this week.

Diane-crewe said...

wow! your holidays have been busy xx cant accuse you of sitting on your bum!! Being inside and having fun in the temps you lot down there have been having sounds like the best plan to me xx

Terri said...

You are a multi-talented girl! When do you sleep?
Enjoyed every minute!
Hugs

Katy Cameron said...

All the best spare rooms have that day bed you know ;o)

Yay on the sewing/upholstering, boo to evil fudge, yay to good fudge and strawberries, and I hope he shared that bottle ;o)

Sue SA said...

LOL love the calorie free gingerbread house! Cardy girl to the rescue, what a great pressie!
Loving the progress you have made while on holidays, including jam making wow! Glad the bunting went well, what a great idea of the wedding. Still desperately scrambling around trying to find a hand project, I am so out of practise!

Anonymous said...

Love the new day bed bet you get use out of that on your PJ Days!
Love Cardygirl Always Thinking of Others can't wait too see that put together!!!
Xx

Unknown said...

I'm not Anonymous!!!

Karen said...

Love all the changes to your house! Each one is awesome. I too hope you shared in the bottle :)

Mistea said...

Looks like you're getting things done on your time off.
Love the cute bed.
Delicious strawberries and fudge - perfect vacation snacks.
Enjoy your stay.

Helsie said...

Mammoth is the only way to describe your achievements..... and not even bowed down by the amazing heat !!! I take my hat off to you !

seabreezequilts said...

I'm not showing squid those strawberries I have to put a padlock on the fridge when I buy strawberries if I want them for something special.

Jindi's Cottage said...

Love the bed, probably a good thing I don't have room or I'd be wanting to rush out and play copy cat...OK so you are making a mockery out of holidays getting all that work done girl, slow down you're making me tired...or send fudge and jam and I'll let yo off the hook *LOL*...

Marg said...

Loving your new blog look, with the lovely cool colours as a respite from this hot summer.
As usual you are on fire girl. Looks like you are making the most of your summer hols.

Kate said...

Love the new blog decor. You must be in "redo" mode these days. Your "new" chairs looks great. You have way more energy than I do. Strawberries and fudge!

Kristie said...

This post is filled with so many fantastic things!! That chair redo must be my favourite, though, love it!

Sarah said...

Hahaha that is cool. A foam gingerbread house for you! I love the reupholstered chair. Nice job. Is your day bed from ikea? I like the idea.

Brenda said...

Jealous of your fudge (the one in your tummy), looks delicious! Maybe I'd better go eat lunch!