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I really wish I could get to update this blog more often. It just never seems to happen, despite good intentions. Since starting my part-time job (which I am loving by the way) it has been hard to find time for everything I want to do. Hanging out with the kids, sewing, housework, cooking, watching TV, reading (blogs and magazines are really stacking up) and of course, blogging.

I know, it’s boring and you’ve probably heard it all before. So what’s been happening lately in my world?

Here is Sam with his novelty half-beard on the morning of his birthday. He turned 16 last week and he was really happy with the jacket and hat we got him. I know he doesn’t look happy in the photo, but he’s a teenager so that’s just how it goes really.

And here is Jack (7) wearing big brother’s new jacket and hat. And crooked sunnies.

I recently picked up a big tin of interesting old buttons for $3.00. There are some really lovely buttons in this lot. I had a lot of fun sorting and looking through them all the other day. I want to make some more button jewellery soon.

I have been busy getting a big order together for a lady who is opening a shop up in Darwin. I only have a couple more things to complete and then I can send it out.

She wanted eight of the patch cushions and I only had four on hand so I made another four.

Look - another cushion!

Paul and I recently had a really great weekend away in Sydney - just us, no kids! We went up for the wedding of my dearest friends Yvette and Dan and it was such a great wedding. The reception was held in a five star hotel in Double Bay and there was no expense spared. I wish I had taken a photo of the huge and beautiful chandeliers that dotted the ceiling in the reception hall.

Such a lovely family and I have to say it - so glorious to be near so much old money. They are honeymooning in Paris for a month! Who does that? Seriously, the reception reminded us so much of My Big Fat Greek Wedding - not that they are Greek, but many of the invited guests were and there was much dancing. Yvette’s family is Asian and there were so many cousins and family friends and so much tradition and ceremony, and then there was Dan and his tiny little quiet New Zealand family. Gorgeous!

I better check with Yvette and Dan before I post their wedding photos online but here is Paul and me. Would you believe Paul is wearing my dad’s old dinner suit? They both wear it so rarely that they have decided to share it. Paul bought a new bowtie and lovely new cuff links though.

Isn’t it fun to dress up? There just isn’t the occasion for it these days. So if you’ve got it, flaunt it, I say! I love this dress so much. First of all, it’s red. Next it draws all the attention to my bust (and hopefully nobody will notice my round tummy) and finally - it was the first and only dress I tried on and I loved it. Superfast shopping. So quick and easy. Oh, and before you ask - I really didn’t have time to make a dress.

I did cover up a little for the church service though, thanks to a little bolero top.

I had wardrobe issues on the day though. I bought some of those stay up stockings that stay up with the use of elastic and lace and I spent the whole wedding ceremony hoping that my left stocking wasn’t about to end up around my ankle. I was glad my dress wasn’t too short as I could feel the stocking lolling about on my knee. Can you imagine how hard it is to fix this problem when you are in the middle of a church?

Back at the hotel room before the reception, I went to change into my emergency backup pantihose and when I opened the packet, I found that one of the legs had been sewn into the crotch seam and they were totally unusable. In the end, I just went with bare legs and by the end of the night, I was in excrutiating pain from my beautiful new shoes. We had a wonderful time though!

I have been making a few new things just in time for Christmas!

I’ve made some lovely cushions - fabrics used are a combination of designer cottons and fabrics handprinted by me, backed with a sturdy sand canvas.

Patchwork style belts. Quality nickel military buckle and end tip to keep it secure. The belts are stiffened and stabilised with sturdy non-roll belting.

All available from my online store: www.redinstead.com.au

Today I made a floor quilt for my newest neice, baby Mackenzie:

It didn’t photograph so well but I am in a rush tonight! The colours in the photo are a bit off but take my word for it that the blue of the trees etc does go well with that brighter blue border. Honest!  Here is a detail of the quilt so you can see it better.

I cheated a bit and started with a fat quarter that Amitie Textiles sent me. I quilted it to follow the flowing hills in the print and used a cute stash fabric for the back.

I’m off to rural Victoria and then Melbourne for the next week so bye for now!

Remember this from yesterday? I wasn’t too sure what it would become…

Well, it became an apron!

I used two tea towels (dish cloths) that are taupe with a red stripe and attached the patch piece on as a pocket. I really seriously love this. I haven’t made an apron before but it was so easy.

The pocket has a layer of batting and then a plain fabric (thrifted bed sheet) and I quilted it before attaching to the tea towel base. Some red cotton tape to bind the pocket edge and some white cotton tape used as ties. I sewed two vertical lines of stitching to divide the pocket into three.

Some of the fabrics in there are ones that I printed myself a while back, using stamps and fabric ink. Of course there are many designer fabrics in there too. About a month ago, I cut a huge pile of fabric strips and sorted them by colour, all ready for stripwork projects, remember?

I love all of these fabrics. And now I get to see them all the time - and even wear them! This apron makes me happy.