No Fool Like An Old Fool?

Have you been suckered into buying any of the products advertised on Instagram? I have! And the evidence is all contained in this bright silver postage satchel. No fool like an old fool? I think so.

Over on Instagram the ad for the INVINCEABLE power cleaner totally won me over. I mean, who wouldn't love a spray solution so effective and so powerful that it practically does all the work for you? Not me, that's for sure! Just the possibility of spraying some dirty surface and then miraculously wiping away a cloth full of grime with zero effort on my end was to good to pass up. As it turns out, it was also too good to be true. But as my cleaning style is already that of a spray and go kind of woman, so I was putty in their hands before the video even ended. The only question I was left pondering was how many miracle powdered tablets was I going to need?

It's true to say I don't exactly have a grip on housework. It's a daily necessity that gets in the way of what I'd rather be doing (which is anything else at all). But that doesn't stop me having mid scrolling daydreams about being a marvelous cleaning wizz with all the new gadgets. I somehow convince myself that I could really be on top of these chores if I just had the right tools. And those tools must pass my first level of inspection - the AS SEEN ON TV badge. If it has that, it's pretty much on my wish list. Fortunately (although I will admit I have begrudged them at times) my family has, up until now, swooped in just seconds before I hit the 'buy now' button countless times, and followed up with why such and such product is a fake, a bad idea or just plain impossible. 

But this purchase slipped the net. I just went ahead and spent over $35 on an empty plastic bottle and 5 baggies of powdered washing detergent. 

My heart sank when I peered into the bag. I had a gut feeling that this invincible spray and wipe cleaner wasn't going to be so invincible after all. Trying to salvage some self respect, I made up the formula and gave it a go on a small bench top area. It fizzled slightly and then just sat there in pool of what looked a lot like $35 dollars worth of detergent. I gave it 4 hours to work it's magic like the bottle suggested. But 6 hours later it was the same puddle of detergent and it really hadn't cleaned a jot. 

 At this point I would have said that I'd paid $35 for an ANY ANGLE SPRAY BOTTLE as declared on the front label. But that isn't entirely true. You see, the bottle won't spray on any angle other than directly upright and the screw top nozzle is already cracked.

So if you see this advert on Instagram, scroll on..

Morning Glory: My Bird Eyes

Here's how I stitch embellished my bird eyes. 

I stitched around the eye with a brown thread, and then created a larger inside eye circle with that same brown and finished it with a white dot. 

I just think that white dot adds a spark of life

And I did the same thing for the second bird

They're such characters, I love them

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

Morning Glory: Still Stitchin'

Right now I feel as though I've been stitching for a hundred years. I completely underestimated how much time it would take for me to tackle all this hand embellishing. It feels like every time I look up, there's an extra inch I hadn't noticed before.

Today I'm working on the berry stems because I think the red detailing just adds something extra. And this quilt can really take all this extra embellishing and special touches so beautifully.

I'm just weaving a few specks through, but they are gorgeous..

I love how this looks....

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

WOW: You Know What Flowers Mean!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I've been designing again! And another bouquet means another quilt pattern is on it's way. These blooms are just jumping with fragrance, they are so sweet and meadow fresh. I really think I should take up gardening as I am so obsessed with flowers and plants of all kinds. But then I think about how much sewing time it would eat up.. and I decide to stick with the fabrics instead.

I'll leave beautiful blooms to the experts and keep rewarding myself each time I tick another item from my Quilty To Do List. I'm feeling so productive this week, it's wonderful.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Morning Glory: Hand Stitched Details

After stitching the centre down, it's time to add some little embellishments. Although it's such a minor thing, a touch of hand stitching can really add dimension to the block. On my vase, I felt that the gold ornamental petals should be outlined with red thread to bring it all together.

I'm using this Aurifil thread. It's become my go to brand my stitching these kinds of details and embellishments on my blocks.

It was lovely before but the red just adds a little something..

If only hand stitching wasn't so time consuming! As I sew I listen to audio books and it really does help the time go along. I often find I'm so engrossed in the story that I forget all about the time and don't even realize that an hour or two has passed. It's definitely a good hand sewing trick and I recommend it to everyone now. I don't really know how I entertained myself during these hours of hand detailing before audio books (I don't generally listen to the radio). However did I keep myself entertained? I can't even imagine being without it now.

Anyhow, back to another shift of stitching..

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

Morning Glory: Sewing Down The Centre

I've gone up a gear in my Morning Glory routine. With BOM 2019 right around the corner, I want this gorgeous quilt top finished and that means sitting down and sewing on. 

I'm stitching down my applique shapes on an old Bernina 440. This is actually my 'travel' and workshop machine but I'm still in between machines (can you believe it?!) so it got the job! I'm using a 37 size foot and stitching with Superior brand invisible thread. This is an extra fine polyester thread rather than a nylon. I don't use nylon threads because they melt under my hot iron - and I don't have time for that. 

My trick is to release the top tension and stitch in a small zigzag stitch with the invisible monofilament. 

There's so much sewing down to do 

I have to work in 'shifts'

So, it's 2 shifts down and a few more to go.. 

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

'Cherish' is Launched

Meet my newest quilt pattern. It's a blooming beauty! Here we have a quilt that's just inviting itself to cozy up a bedroom. The centre is an applique arrangement of beautiful flowers, freshly cut from a garden teeming with ladybugs, bees, daisy chains and blooms! 

And the colours - oh the colours..where do I even start? This is a pattern you can really trust with those prints you love to pieces but don't want to cut up because they're so pretty. I know you know what I mean!

To make things even better, the shapes are large and easy so that even applique novices can feel confident and the simple hourglass blocks bring all your favorite fabrics together to frame your lovingly made applique blocks. Are you in love yet?

Quilts this pretty are simply impossible to forget. You've already seen my idea for a grey chambray background (above) to make your fabrics pop. But what about a creamy light background to play up the charming blocks that just beg for your attention with all their little details? And I can also see this quilt coming into it's own in reproduction fabrics too. Fabrics old or new, this is a beauty that's just waiting for your special touch. 

The finished size of 68 x 80 inches makes it perfect for a single bed. And who wouldn't love a bed covered in this cheerful, loving quilt?

'Cherish' (68 x 80 inches)

Complete PDF Pattern

$12.95 USD

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