A thank you GIVE-AWAY!!!

Hi again. Sorry it's been a while. I have been run off my feet lately. You probably noticed that I've been MIA. Although I really wish that I could be working on this little blog and the DreamPatch store full time I'm not. To be honest this blog isn't my first or my second "job", its fourth on my list of priorities. I have another "part time" job that has been more like a full time one lately and that's why I keep disappearing.
It killed me that all I had time for was a mention of my Blogaversary. I really wanted to create something amazing to thank you for the past year. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your visiting me and reading and of course commenting here. I read all your comments and they are a real pick me up.
So as a thank you for your time and support I wanted to do a little give-away!!!

Remember this...

Well this mug rug/place mat is part of a set which include coasters and a tea cosy. Here in Aus it's actually winter and if your anything like me on a cold day tea is the preferred drink. 

The set is made with Aneela Hoey's Little apples fabric.

This tea cosy is reversible and ready for almost any size tea pot. I've tested it thoroughly ;)

There are 4 coasters that are also reversible with a pin-wheel on one side and a hexagon on the other.

Are you interested? Would you like to win this set?
You have 2 chances to win.
Firstly all you need to do is comment below. Yup that's it.
Secondly if you are a follower leave me a separate comment introducing your self and that's your second entry. Don't worry if your new here just follow my little blog and let me know that you did and that's your second entry.
Just a reminder though if you are a no-reply-blogger be sure to leave your e-mail address in your comment so I can get a hold of you.

Entries close in 2 weeks, Monday the 29th of August. Entries have now closed.
I hope you stick around for the coming year. I've really only just figured out my goal for DP and I hope you continue with me. Thanks again!! xxx

My Sewing Space

I wanted to share with you my sewing nook. I gave you a sneak peek when I showed you my spool holder and now I've pretty much finished my little desk area. Before I was constantly packing and unpacking my sewing machine and fabrics on the dining table. Because of the dining table being the only place to eat and it being in the middle of our kitchen I couldn't leave any thing there for little fingers to reach. So I pinched some space for myself in the study. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. It's not the biggest room ever but it's cozy and as soon as little miss is tucked in for the night hubby and I like to retreat in here with a cuppa and chocolates while I sew the night away. I hope you enjoy my tour.

 The thing that I love in this space is seeing the morning sun on my desk! It just makes me want to sew first thing in the morning. I don't really get the chance but I am here in this seat almost every night.

On my desk is a cutlery tray from Ikea which I use for my scissors, rotary cutter and anything else I need on hand. I've also got a memo board which I keep pics or blocks that I love and card from friends. 

My gorgeous doll quilt from the amazing Michelle at The Quilted Tortoise up on the wall over my cutting mat. 

This is my book shelf / sewing cabinet / bar. It's got everything from books to wine to sewing machine accessories. We used to have three smaller cabinets for all this stuff but to me it felt a bit cluttered so we got rid of all of them and got this buffet hutch set off eBay. I really wish I had taken a before shot but in my excitement and inpatients I forgot. It used to be a dark honey coloured timber with average timber knobs. I replaced the timber shelves with glass ones and my amazing man pimped it up with lights so at night it glows.

I painted the back of the cabinet a soft green colour because although I love white furniture this piece really needed some colour. 

 This is how I store my already opened jelly rolls. I like being able to see all the strips of fabric that are left and this really makes it easy. 

Well I hope you enjoyed my tour. I joke that I'm slowly inching hubby out in hopes he buys a laptop instead of a pc and I get the whole room but I don't think that would ever happen. beside I really enjoy our little rendezvous here in the evening. All in all it's more than I had before and I love it!!

Woohoo it's Friday today and that means the weekend is in sight. I hope you have an amazing one planned for this gorgeous weather. I'm hoping to squeeze some time in the garden and maybe plant a tree. 

Hope you enjoy!!

Just for fun.

I opened up a Little Apples charm pack and look what came out...

A mug rug &...

some coasters.

  I was busting to make something out of this adorable line but I already have a lot of quilts going on so I thought I'd make my first mug rug. I have to admit I can really see how this can be an addiction. It's so much fun and its fast. I think I might have to join a mug rug swap or something like that. Do you know of any starting?

I had plenty of charm squares still left so I started a matching project. 

Hopefully a tea cosy. Still in progress.

Oh and all my other "in progress" projects are coming along slowly. The post last week did help... a little. I've put a boarder on my Ruby quilt. My Lollipops gone triangles quilt is now in 6 large pieces rather than the 80 HST blocks it has been for so long. Sadly the Dresdens are still untouched and the FWQAL blocks are also only at 11. But it can't all be work right? Gotta have some fun! 

I have to admit that I wasn't prepared for my Blogaversary which happened to be Tuesday. Yup one whole year ago I started DreamPatch and it's been so much fun. I love the sewing parts! I LOVE the fabric part, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed that. And I'm getting used to the blogging part. I'm not a super chatty type of person and I'm not that outgoing and I was so surprised to find that writing isn't any easier for me.  But I would like to say a BIG Thank You for reading my little blog and thanks for following whether it's here or on Facebook. And another BIG Thank You for anybody who's purchased any fabric or quilts from my little store! I appreciate it so very much!!!

Linked up with...

FWQAL Blocks

I caved! I tried to start a scrappy looking quilt but it wasn't going to work. (which I kinda already knew) I love to match fabrics and my collection wasn't big enough to make a whole quilt in turquoise and red. I can really only do organised scrappy. Does that make sense? I love picking out fabrics but the thing that is so appealing about a collection of fabric is that all the thinking is done for you. Plus I couldn't justify buying more fabric when I have a whole heap of untouched pre-cuts sitting pretty in my sewing cabinet. My hubby got into my ear years ago and his voice is always in my head patiently asking... "Do you really NEED that?" He is the more responsible one when it comes to money. 

So I started my blocks again. This time using Oasis by 3 Sisters by Moda. I have to admit I was half hearted about this range when I started (only because I was worried about it being to girly as I'm not that way) but after the first few blocks I really couldn't stop. I love it now. I can't wait to get it pieced together.

I'm still trying to catch up with everyone else. These are the first 9 of 11 that I have done. The only thing missing from the Oasis range was polka dots and there is no way I could have that. ;)

There are soooooo many amazing looking blocks. I'm loving the rainbow ones I've seen about. They will undoubtedly make amazing looking quilts. 

Are you doing the quilt along? I would love to see your blocks too. Just leave me a link and I'll be sure to visit!

Progress Report.

After some much needed organising I realised how many projects are "in progress". I think the only way to remind myself to finish them is to share them with you. (I hope you don't mind) 

Firstly the Ruby quilt which I've pieced together. 

Loving the mixed up placement of the squares. Just have a border to put on with the left over charms and maybe a little bit extra, then basting and quilting.

My Summer House pin wheel blocks are coming along sooooo slowly. I've been doing 4 blocks an evening in hopes to finish them a little faster.

Not in a huge rush although I would love to get it of my "to do" list.

There is my Dresden Plate quilt or place mats. Which ever I finally decide on doing. What do you think? 

Oh and remember this quilt. It's ok if you don't. I forgot about it too! Yup that's how long it's been. My Lollipops gone triangles quilt. It's not quite this unfinished, I've put a few rows together since this photo.

I've still got my Farmers Wife Blocks to catch up on. I'm up to 5 and a half. (every bit counts!!!) And knowing myself I ended up opening a layer cake and re-making those blocks using Oasis by Three Sisters. I couldn't help it after spending half an hour to pick out fabric which in the end I didn't like. Also after seeing the gorgeous girly FWQA blocks by Amy from nanCompany,  I was inspired to go a more pretty vintage look.  I'll post picks soon, I just need a brighter day for photos since it's been raining for almost a week now. 

So there are the projects I'm least embarrassed to admit I've partially forgotten. I hope sharing them with you will get my bottom into gear and make me finish them. (or parts of them at least)

Linked up with...

Oh Ruby!!!

What can I say Camille has done it again. Gorgeous fabrics waiting to be turned into a patchwork quilt, cushion or runner. So beautiful and delicate without being overly girly. Ahhh so pretty, and filled with so much polka dotty goodness!!! 

Thought I'd do something simple with this one and keep the focus on the fabric. Also with so many other more complicated projects on my to do list, like the FWQA and the Jelly girl quilt for my Little Miss (which I'll have to share with you soon) to name a couple, I just wanted to have a little fun.

This is the basic block...

and this is the layout plan.

If you would like to purchase one of these charm packs head over to Craftumi (for Australian purchases) or e-mail me at lydia@dreampatch.com.au 

Ah how happy am I that it's Friday. What are your plans for the weekend? I was hoping to get stuck into the garden but the weather is looking very gloomy. Hope you enjoy it no matter what your plans are!!

Linked up with...

I'm baaaaack!!!

Yay I'm back to all thing normal, and I've missed it! Back to my sewing and cooking and cleaning. (definitely not the best part) And bundled in with all that is the Farmers wife quilt, which I only just got to start today. 

Firstly I finally got my book yesterday and although I probably could have started earlier I really wanted to have the book with me. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. 

I had a read through the first few letters and the way those women spoke of their farms and experiences are really amazing. In my mind farm life would be so blissful. Living on acreage would be a dream come true. Picking your own vegetables, fruits and eggs would be much healthier than the chemically treated, genetically modified produce that we may come across. But as I was reading I thought about the year those women lived in. They probably didn't have running water and electricity. If they had a car their traveling would be very limited and although I think by this time they had telephones I couldn't live with out the internet and being so connected. I thought being a stay at home mum can be a little isolating but how those women were living and what they were capable of is truly mind blowing. 

I was kinda put of though when I found that there are 106 templates. Eeeeek!! But this morning I bit the bullet and printed out the first 30. (after doing some shuffling to save some paper)

I thought that using the templates would be harder but it's not that bad. Even though there is a bit of fiddling around to find the right one, there really isn't much thinking. Usually I'm repeating numbers in my head and double checking measurements before I cut but I didn't have to do any of that because it was all done for me. Love that!! I finished the first 2 blocks much faster than I thought would take. 

I don't really know what my theme is. I'm just using up fabric from my stash with out opening any layer cake, charm pack or jelly roll. (which is soooooo hard to do) I think I'm just going the scrappy look. 

Well I gotta get a move on, I'm a little behind. 

Thanks for all the well wishes. I really appreciate it!!!

A little under the weather.

I'm still here! Just a bit of a cold. Haven't left the house since Sunday and not really planning on going far. Woke up Saturday morning with what can only be explained as barbed wire around my tonsils and now it has morphed into a full cold. Sneezes and tissues everywhere. And my poor Little Miss has a chesty cough, though that hasn't stopped her from doing anything.
I wish I could say the same. 

Can't wait to get back to all the crafty goodness that's waiting for me.