Baxter had long given up on the idea of a great romance...

A bit of my sewing turned into computering and at long long last I have added Baxter's story to the blog in the correct readable order (as opposed to the way it was posted). It's up there just under the header. Funnily enough it was the sewing of a little herd of hedgehogs that made me realise he has been missing for a while.I think (but don't hold me to it) that Baxter will be the next pattern...he is all done and ready and ...you know...I'm just not sure. I wonder if he should have clothes. At the moment he is just a naked little hairy hedgehog on his own. I love him of course but I wonder if he is enough? Maybe I need to add the floofy hat to the pattern, or the little tuxedo bib? (with actual buttons in place of the pins)
I can't tell you how much I would love to add his little bathroom ensemble but "Get a scrap of fabric from your scrap bin and wrap it around Baxter's head" is probably not an acceptable instruction.

and Master 16 would not even enter the discussion " Mum, seriously, you are waaaayyy too attached to that hedgehog".So go on, why not go and read his story and let me know if you have any thoughts.(and just for the record I love all my toys equally - there are no favourites....)

I'm not ignoring you....

I'm sewing.........

Discombobulated.. or Jodie is sick of the sight and sound of herself

Most of the last two weeks has been disappointingly discombobulated ...Why ? well because I am an idiot basically. As usual, I set myself HUGE MASSIVE UNREACHABLE goals for the two weeks off work and then got the total shits on with myself for not even getting close to achieving them. Team that with a dose of E.I.T.T.T.S and that's a whole big overflowing cup of ugly !
It's so easy to concentrate on what I haven't done , or haven't had time to finish...
So pardon me while I indulge in a bit of reality therapy won't you?
Hi my name is Jodie and in the last two weeks :

Reuben got released.

I went to AQC with Annie and Lizzie where I bought a new sewing machine !
I was introduced to an awesome new fabric shop
I made a tea-set

I dressed an elephant

I made a truly beautiful tea-pot out of Liberty fabric from the aforementioned fabric shop.
I wrote a whole new pattern that is off being tested as we speak
I made an awesome chicken with Sooz and Amy during a fabulous visit. I mended clothes for the no-longer-living-at -home teen
I spent a day sewing with the hairy-still-living-at-home-teen.
I read 5 books (kids lit-nice and easy)
I finished the final tweaking of (as in totally finished) three projects for Daylesford Craft ExperienceI cooked, cleaned (not very much) mothered, daughtered, wifed, transported and generally did all that other boring non-blogworthy stuff as well.
My inability to logically look at that list and be happy with it drives me almost as insane as the ridiculous expectations I have in the first place. Seriously I should go to Cash Converters and trade my brain in for something useful - like a fondue pot!

Countryside Softies Giveaway

Hi guys, Welcome to Ric Rac...if you are visiting for the first time as you follow the book tour then please make yourself at home. We are all pretty nice around here, a bit odd at times but in a good way . A little while ago I got an email from Amy Adams asking if I would like to take part in 'blog tour' of her book, Countryside Softies.... what you guys need to know is that I am a huge fan of Amy's work and more than a little bit envious of her talent. Amy has such a distinct style and her softies have such personality's. Sometimes as you trawl the internet you might chance upon a link of link of a link ...this has happened to me and in my mind I think - Oh thats Lucykate's !!! Thats how distinct her style is...
I was sent a digital copy of the book, and while reading a book from the computer is not my natural state (we librarians like the actual turning of paper) I have to say as I scrolled I still got that excited feeling and a few little gasps as I went through. The owls and the fox on the cover are my absolute favourites.

Amy has created 28 unique fabric softies that can easily be sewn by hand or machine. Using cast-off woollens Amy's toys are soft and warm and they embrace all levels of ability - a little bit of wonkiness just adds character and personality !In fact the softies are all graded according to how difficult they are .
Look, Lets be honest Amy is a dead-set superstar and her toys are just gorgeous. The book takes you through the whole process of felting your wool and making your softie, and adding the cute embellishments to bring them to life.
So yes, here is another book destined to be bought and added to my shelf but you don't have to buy one . The people at Stash Books have a copy of Countryside Softies to give away...in fact jump on board the book tour - as they are giving one away at each stop. Isn't this guys awesome ? Amy posted this pattern for his little pond over on Whip-up at the start of the blog tour....

If you want to jump on the tour..here are the rest of the dates- go and visit everyone.

April 23 - Syko

April 24 - Lucykate crafts - Amy herself

April 25 - Treefall designs

April 26 - I heart linen

April 27 - Sometimes crafter

April 28 - Plush you

April 30 - Allsorts

If you would like to win a copy of the book, just leave a comment and tell me which animal you would like to see as a softie - I'll close the giveaway on Sunday evening....and the winner will be chosen by the random number thingo...

(and Amy, that fox just kills me)

All in one day

At the AQC last wekend Lizzie got to telling us about her "local". We visited their stand at the show and made plans to visit.

Oh MY Such a beautiful building- with restaurant cafe next door where we had a delicious lunch .
Filled with pretties and 2,500 bolts of fabric.
Mt heart was definately set on bringing home some liberty, I had seen it at the show and had decided I needed a largish piece, Ok and maybe a mixed pack as well.
and this classroom /exhibiton space is enormous and so full of light. Situated only about half an hour from us in Ballan, Annie and I were amazed that we hadn't heard of Mill Rose before.

After a great chat with the owner, we finalised our purchases and headed next door for a restorative coffee and piece of cake. I have to thank Lizzie for all the photos (more on her blog) as I left my camera at home. I agree with Lizzie when she says you should come along and visit her local - it was a perfect ! Annie and I have decided it should be the venue for our monthly staff meetings ( they are just get-togethers really but if we call them staff meeting they sound more important)
I'm sure we won't need to twist Lizzie's arm to get her to attend....

Millrose Quilting & Gallery
Main Road Ballan
92 Inglis St
Ballan, Vic.

So we set off home with my head all abuzz with plans for the delicious liberty fabrics, only to find an even greater excitement on the kitchen table ! (You can see Master 16 started to open it and then thought better of it - clever boy!)
Now if I can just brave myself to actually turn it on - I might be able to do something with that Liberty fabric.

AQC

So , whilst I bought very little at the AQC on Saturday - I did buy something that I chose not to carry home with me on the train.

I think she's almost here.

Blog bore

I know I have been a bit of a blog bore lately,

in my defense, to get to this.............

there is a whole stack of this, and a mind-numbingly lot of this !

None of which make for very good blog.

BUT tomorrow I am heading off to The Australasian Quilt convention with Annie and Lizzie, where I plan to investigate the new sewing machine somewhat. I'm also hoping to find some fabric that will shake me out of my E.I.T.T.T.S .

I'll be visiting one of Reuben's buddies on the Ballarat Patchwork stand and keeping my eyes peeled for Lara, and Carmel, and Fi, and.......if Annie is willing there may even be a crochet lesson on the way !

MON DIEU !!! ' ERE SHE GOES AGAIN !