I've been to Bali too

Only I haven't really. 

But I did go to Tassie and I slept a lot and I wandered around a bit

 Great view with a side of ugly fence

A boat

A person who doesn't know how to use her camera

I also taught a super-fun elephant class at Frangipani fabrics

 It was a great day !!! Look at these happy folks !!

It was a quick trip and now I am home waiting impatiently for my new fabric to arrive so I can once again sew a million things for the booth at quilt market (26 sleeps but who is counting). My roof is still leaking like a sieve because ironically it is too wet to fix it, my house is a bomb site and there is not enough tea in the world to keep things on an even keel this week.

That is all.

L is for Lion and litres

I had a plan. 

I was going to release at least two of these little friends every year. 

But this is my first little alphabet animal for the year - number eight. I have 16 letters left to go. I think I'd better get moving because I find it hard to believe anyone will still be listening to me in 2024 !

He is completely hand sewn and suitable for beginners.

He just needs a final final final proof read and he should be available pretty soon.

Things are busy here as usual. I am working on two new pattern releases before the next lot of fabric arrives and the crazy market sewing takes over. 

The hot water service went on the fritz, 

The dog is limping

 The bathroom ceiling has all but caved in with a massive roof leak.

The grandpuppy chewed the tap off the water tank so we have 5,000 litres of water trapped inside the tank.

 When asked what could be done about it , the lovely plumber said. 

"That's fixable but man, someone is going to get really wet"

Stay dry friends !

dudes - it was meant to be a giveaway

It really was meant to be a giveaway, but I got carried away sharing my angst with you all. Thanks for your comments about your lack of balance it makes me feel better to know that we are all listing to one side.

After I first found Helen's blog I bought a copy of her book and through no real fault of my own I may have ended up with two copies. (I blame red wine and Uncle Google.)

So, I have a copy of Simple Sewn Gifts to give away to you , along with four Fat quarters of Bunny Trail fabric.

(photo courtesy of Helen's blog)

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post- tell me anything you like.

Actually tell me the first thing you think of when I say "sewing school".

(There was a boy called Peter in my sewing class in year 8. In politically correct times we might say he exhibited inappropriate behavior, at 14 I can tell you he was a grabby little grub and I stuck him in the thigh with a quick unpick).

I spent a lot of time outside the textiles room 'thinking abut my behaviour'.)

The winner is Bluebird !!!!

this is not where I was going

Some time ago I sent some of my Bunny Trail fabric to Helen Philipps.

Do you know Helen? I don't but I do follow her blog.
 It is the prettiest blog in all of blogland, full of great photography and sewing and flowers.

Helen made a bundle of the cutest things with BunnyTrail - but I thought I had better wait until the fabric was actually available  before I shared .

(The timing stuff with fabric design is bonkers )

Check out Lettuce - isn't she awesome ? You know how much I love a good name for a softie!
You should do yourself a favour and pop over and see the little quilt and the hexie ball as well as a great block that Helen made.

I have been glued to my computer for what feels likes weeks, finishing off two HUGE patterns. I have been working on another little alphabet friend, making suitcases, and watching the days fly by on the calendar.
I got an email this week asking me to teach in 2018 !!!! It totally fruck me out friends, and don't think it will surprise you to hear that I am failing at any semblance of a work/life balance these days. I keep saying things like "Oh it's just busy now because of the fabric, or because of market, or trade show"....but I think I need to realise it is always like this. this has become my normal.
How do you do it? Do you balance stuff?
 If you run your own business, large or small- how do you stop working?
Even if you don't run a business, do you struggle with the elusive 'balance'that we all must have in our lives?

(Must we have it? Is it in fact haveable? Is is a crock of shit?)

Why not ?

Hop to it - a giveaway.

If you saw a picture of my booth at Spring market you would have recognised the beautiful quilt made for me by Rita of Red Pepper Quilts. I always get so many great comments about her quilt at market and so many people know instantly that it is hers.

I am eternally grateful that Rita finds time to work with me.

But it is not all work - now it is giveaway time !!

 Pop over to Rita's blog and enter the draw to win a fat quarter bundle of Bunny Trail fabric plus a selection of patterns , all designed to coordinate with the range.

The winner will be drawn 11am (Australia EST) on Saturday 30 July 2016 and will be notified by email. Entries are open to all and sundry.

Go on folks - get moving !!

(I will be back tomorrow with a list of stockists )

The stuff that happened before the other stuff

While we were in Salt lake City , we went to Moab. I geographically useless so I can't tell you if we went North or South or into outer space. We went with my awesome friend Pinksuede shoe and her daughter and we truly had a wonderful time.

The scenery was like nothing I have ever experienced. My brain had a hard time getting around the vastness of it all.

 See the car !!!

I kept thinking of just about every cowboy movie I ever saw as a kid.

This is my favourite. It is all John Wayne on horseback in the front and Julie Andrews and Sound of Music in the background.

The colours in the rock and the sand were unbelievable.

We were able to stay for two days and apart from the Australians (who should know better) getting ridiculously sun burnt, we loved every minute of it.

I could explode this blog with photos but instead I will make a folder over on Pinterest  if you want to have a look. 

Right now, with snow in Ballarat and scarves and beanies and coats these photos feel like half a world away - which I guess they are.