Bits and Bobs

Little P came for a visit last Friday and "helped " me clean the linen cupboard. He became rather attached to a pillow he found in the cupboard while he was "helping" and spent the rest of the visit toting it around and pretending to go to sleep and encouraging Grandpa to do the same.  And so the idea for Little P's Pirate Pillowcase was born.

My first finish for 2011.

Loungin' Around continues to come together, surprisingly, with very few "oh shit, bugger, bum " moments.

Two more Dresden plates finished (almost)  

I decided to make a table runner for our outdoor table. What I learned during this process is that Moda are a pack of lying bastards because 5 inches in charm squares sometimes means 5 and 1/8th inches, or even 5 and a 1/4 inches. I'm nothing if not flexible, and my trusty rotary cutter has come in very handy.  

Oz by Sanae is one of my favourite fabric collections ever.

A while ago, I won a giveaway at 13 Woodhouse Road, which  Shruti duly sent off all the way from India. It turned out the parcel was cursed because it burnt the post office down , and then the second time Shruti sent it (with completely different contents- because the original  parcel was toast ) it got returned to her looking like it had been hit by a bus. Third time was a charm. I think this good luck wish on the front of the parcel probably helped.

This is what was inside ..a silk saree bedspread. I'm so glad Shruti persevered. It's gorgeous. Thank you Shruti.  

I'll be guest blogging over at 13 Woodhouse Road later this month and again in February for the Sewing Spaces Focus feature that Shruti is hosting.  Pop on over and visit.

I have a chair fetish. There ..I said it. Out loud.   I bought some antique colonial chairs to go with the dining table months ago, and have since decided I don't love them. The hunt for more chairs has been going on for a few weeks. I was rewarded when I found these on the weekend. I like eclectic and they  helped solidify the original plan that the dining table needs to be re-done in a creamy white, which I will do...eventually.  Meanwhile my patio is starting to look like a used chair lot.

And now I'm on the hunt for the perfect fabric to re-upholster them.

Imagine creamy white as far as the eye can see...

Char over at Cloth Stitched is having a giveaway for 5 fat quarters of Pillow and Maxfield Pretty Bird Fabric. Pop on over and throw your hat in the ring for a chance to win. I have this fabric in the Fiesta colourway and would love the chance to round out my stash with some blues from this collection. Entry is open until January 15th.  

I've been graced with two awards in the last week. One from Kirsten at Logos Quilts and More and the other from  Seams Inspired. I wanted to publicly acknowledge the thought behind the gifting of these awards and to thank you both for thinking of me. I feel very honoured.

I've  made a decision about awards and I hope nobody will be offended or hurt. I blog because I love doing it. I read and comment on your blogs because I enjoy visiting you and seeing what you're getting up to.  Recognition for me is that people visit my patch of the blogisphere and hopefully leave feeling amused, or a little bit happier or having shared part of my day.  For this reason I've decided to make my blog an award free blog from now. I really do appreciate the sentiment behind awards but I'm not comfortable with accepting them for doing something I really enjoy. I hope people will understand (This one paragraph has taken me two hours to phrase!)

Day 2 of holiday-fest 2011 tomorrow. Going back to work seems ages away. Life is pretty fabulous.

Long Weekend Roundup Post

All evidence of Christmas was erased from Maison Pyjamas on Saturday. It's always exciting to put all the decorations up but I'm equally happy to take them down again when it's all over. A little bit of Christmas goes a long way and rarely makes it past the first of the new year here.

I finished blocks 5-7 for Dresden Heaven.   All of the quilts I have in the concept/development stage at the moment actually have names.

I started thinking about  a quilt for Mr. P. since my husband has never scored a quilt  from my efforts.  So "Loungin' Around" was born. This is going to be simple and fast. Unlike the other two quilts I have on the go at the moment.

 

Miss P bought me this cookbook for Christmas. I felt like baking yesterday and thought Jam Donut Cupcakes sounded yummy. They were. Past tense. 

I've set myself a challenge this year to try some new recipes and food combinations.   I want to break out and eat something new at least once a week.  Tonight's delight was Little Miss Sunshine's  Kon Loh Mee or if you're as unclassy as we are at Casa Pyjamas -2 minute noodles with prawns. Delicious no matter what you call it.  

One of the indisputable facts of my life  is that Mr. P is a hoarder and a bower bird. This had pleasant consequences this week when he came home toting this freebie.  Before you get all " Good Grief,  she's going to spin her own wool. Everybody run and hide " , this is for decoration only , which is just as well because it has bits missing. However, Mother of Pyjamas has two of these in case I ever feel the urge to knit socks from wool I spun from dog and cat fur I picked up from my very own carpets.

My week last week  was made complete by the arrival of a parcel  from the beautiful Beck over at Sarcastic Quilter. I would like to publicly announce Becks is an Oreo pusher. That girl knows all my weaknesses. There was fluffy fabric too but lets all just bathe in the gloriousness of the Oreo's shall we?

I haven't re-touched this photo at all. Can you imagine the consequences that red dye is having on my ability to sleep at night. Mr P has rationed me to three Oreo's a day. It's like he's the Oreo Warden or something.

I've been on a fabric buying spree lately (40 yards in two weeks at last count) so thanks to a brilliant idea from Kate at Life in Pieces  I've decided to put myself on a yardage allowance for 2011.  I'm committing to buying under 100 yards this year. I'm feeling panicky just thinking about it. Isn't it good to know you're influencing the world for good and not evil Kate?

I am back to work tomorrow for three days then on holidays for several weeks. I'm planning for creativity and fun to abound while I'm not at work.  Words fail to adequately describe how delighted I am at the prospect.

I hope your week is fabulous!