Melly & me

Being a little bit lazy!

Yes, I feel like I am being a little bit lazy at the moment.  I have been doing a bit of work here and there but I have mostly been feeling so relaxed and lazy this week enjoying the school holidays much too much! It is amazing how much more time there is in a day when you don't have to drive to school and kinder twice a day each at different times not to mention extra-curricular commitments as well.  I am loving doing my morning emailing in my PJs and not getting dressed until much later than usual.  It is easy to do in this winter cold.

I did finish this new little friend this week but alas, I cannot show you him in full!!  He is heading to the US to be part of a bird themed book..... more news to follow in the future I am sure.

I also started on a new scrappy project!  Some of you may remember this beautiful Scrappy Cabin quilt that I finally finished last year made out of all of my scraps...

Well I love this quilt sooooo much that I decided that I had to start a new scrappy quilt!!  Inspired by Rosie's new fabric that will be arriving soon (can't wait!!) "Grandmother's Flower Garden", I have decided to make a Scrappy Flower Garden quilt!  This quilt will be my first fully hand sewn and quilted quilt and I am already enjoying it so much!!  I wonder if this quilt will take me as long as my Scrappy Cabin did!

I want to start on my next two flowers now!!  So see you later, off to relax some more with some hand sewing and a movie.

Melly

Fun Fab Friday

I just had to do a new post to show off our new logo and blog banner!!!!  Do you love it as much as we do??  

We are so thrilled with it and think that this logo is a much better fit for the design path that Melly & me has taken. Hopefully in the not too distant future you will start seeing some of our new pattern covers, which are just too cute, in the stores (we have a bit of a stock pile of the current ones to get through first!)  

Here is another version of the logo on a lime green background which is completely stunning too...

I also wanted to share with you a couple of the photos that have been coming through of Kaleidoscope creations!  It is so exciting and fun to start seeing some of these pics come through, so if you have been making any projects from the book, please show us!!

Today two "Bubbles" unicorns made by two beautiful ladies!

This first one is made by my hubby's workmate, Simone who has made this stunning version of bubbles for little Jessica who is sadly having a stay at the Children's hospital.  I hope this toy brings a little bit of fun and joy to that hospital room and GET WELL SOON JESSICA!

This next one that was made by the sweet Marie who already has a zoo's worth of Melly & me critters!! I hope the new Bubbles is the perfect addition to the herd.

Thanks so much girls for sharing your beautiful creations with me!

I hope you are all having a fun and fabulous Friday as well as a great start to the weekend. Here in Melbourne we are also having a great start to the school holidays - Yipeee!!!

Melly & Rosie.

Flowers for you...

I wouldn't be drawing the giveaway names late, would I? Surely that would be very out of character! Hee-hee!  

I am late again but as the saying goes, better late than never, right?

So to make up for my tardiness I thought I would send some pretty flowers your way to brighten your day and lift your spirits!  Aren't they so sweet, isn't nature so wondrous?

I have drawn the winners for the giveaway and the lucky few are....... Michelle who has won the copy of "Kaleidoscope" and the three people winning a copy of the new pattern are Kris, Katie B and Gail! Make sure you email me with your postal details and I will get your winnings in the post ASAP.

For the rest of you who entered the giveaway with all of your beautiful and sweet words - thank you so much!  I always get blown away by all of your gorgeous responses!!

I intend to get stuck into some new sewing tomorrow after a few days of simply enjoying family and friends...so hopefully something new to show you all soon...

until then have a heck of a lot of fun!

Melly.

Uptown girl

The last week has seen a feeling of freedom creep in to my bones.  There were a lot of deadlines and commitments to catch up on once the book was finally here and I think I may have now caught up with most of them!!  I can only think of 1 more "have to" design commitment that needs to be done in the next couple of weeks but other than that there is nothing pressing.  It has been a long time since I have had this feeling and I am loving it!!!  Of course I have about 6 new design ideas in my head, longing to be brought to life, but with my new found feelings of freedom I wanted to do some "hobby" sewing rather than "Melly & me" sewing!!  

It was then that I spied this pattern......

It is the "Uptown Girl" jacket pattern by the wonderfully talented designer, Toni Coward from "Make it Perfect".  I dont often feel that clothes sewing urge but when I glanced at this pattern yesterday I knew it was exactly what I wanted to rush home and make!  So I pulled out some of my favorite Heather Baileys and got to work!  in about 3 hours I had the most gorgeous little jacket made up for Boo (yes I have finally decided to change her blog name now that she can no longer really be referred to as baby floss, being such a big girl and all!!) and she was more than happy to model it for the camera....

The jacket is lined with pellon making it nice and snugly and warm and it really came together so easily.  I am thinking I may need to make another couple of these as gifts!  I don't need to make another one for Boo just yet as the best thing about this jacket is that it is reversible!!!

Thanks so much for the great pattern Toni!!

Tomorrow we are going to take Roony (little floss' new blog name!) to the Star Wars exhibition at Scienceworks which is the source of much excitement in the flossy home!!  It is amazing how quickly they grow up.  Only 1 more week to school holidays and counting, I so can't wait!

I haven't forgotten the giveaway and will draw the winners in the next few days.  Don't forget to go in the running on the post below if you haven't already and have an amazing weekend everyone!!  

Melly.

Feathered Friends

On the weekend Leanne, Rosie and I had an amazing time with 160 ladies at the "Girl's Day Out" weekend in Mooroopna. It was so nice to catch up with so many friendly faces from last year as well as a lot of new ones. Claire from Matching Pegs was there as was her friend and "Kaleidoscope test sewer extraordinaire" Deb. I also was surprised to catch up with an old class mate from school who was equally surprised to find out that Melly Hurlston was originally Melanie Dekker from school - so much fun!!!

Now that the retreat is complete I can share with you one of my designs from a sneak peek a few months ago.  This is my new bag pattern, "Feathered Friends".....

This bag pattern has a beautiful stitched pocket and band (an iron-on transfer is included!) but can also be made without the stitchery - featuring another cute fabric print!

The pattern is written and ready to go which means I need to do a giveaway!!  As I was thinking about this post I realised that I never did a Kaleidoscope giveaway either!!  EEEK - how naughty and forgetful am I! 

So to go in the running to win a copy of "Kaleidoscope" or a copy of my new pattern, "Feathered Friends" please leave a comment on this post!  I will draw one winner of a signed book and another 3 people to win a copy of the new pattern on the weekend.

Good luck and may the floss be with you!

Melly

My view

Wow what a busy few days have been had!  There was so much activity and celebration on Friday and then the long weekend was spent unexpectedly in a hospital!  We are all well but a much loved family member was in a very bad way and it was quite a tense and upsetting weekend.  Today I have a bit of a breather and I am finally sitting down in a quiet house.  I thought you might like to share my view??

The weather is so cold and wet and I am rugged up inside with a warm cuppa!!  I have been having a nice slow uninterrupted browse through my book for the first time (I was either too excited or too busy previously!!) and am catching up on some stitching for Country Thyme's  "Girls Day Out" retreat in Mooroopna this weekend.  

Thanks you so much for all of the congrats and excitement in all of your comments over the last few days!!  I hope some of you will be holding books in your hands really soon!!  A number of you have asked if the book will be available at the Sydney Quilt & Craft fair starting tomorrow and I am pleased to be able to tell you, YES!!!! Go and visit "Patchwork with Gail B" at stand F34.

Back to stitching for me....

Melly

EEEEEEEEEEK!

Hmmmm, I wonder what could be in all of these boxes....

I better open one up and have a look....

Surely it couldnt be???????

Oh my goodness!!!!  IT IS REALLY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

time to celebrate with loved ones.....

and just enjoy the moment.....

OK, and a little bit of this (I am trying hard Jenny to do my best writing!!!)

The therapeutic power of "pretties"

I can not begin to tell you how blown away I am by all of your amazing comments, emails and support.... thank you all so much, words cannot express!

I now know how many good comments it takes to cancel out a bad one; the exact number I have received!! You are all so sweet and kind.

I have decided to do another post quickly as I don't think my secret admirer deserves that much air time, so on to much more pleasant things!!

Today in my quest to renewed happiness and creative energy I have been playing with pretties!!  Mostly pretties that came from our recent trip to Korea and I thought I would share with you some what I have been looking at today!!  It is amazing how sitting in your studio fondling things that bring you joy can be just the right medicine!

These hand stitched and hand made thimbles made by the most beautiful Korean embroiderer that I came across.

The vintage paper doll sets that I found in the funniest of curio shops.

This vintage korean school note book found at the bottom of a dusty pile at the same fabulous shop.

Beautiful embroidered butterflies.

And this yummy pile of hanky linen that arrived in the post today!!

What great therapy!!

Melly

Sometimes it hurts

It is monday morning and I am feeling glum. Usually Monday mornings are one of my favorite times, I love getting back to the work that I love and Mondays always herald new beginnings, new designs, new focus. Yesterday I had mapped out in my mind exactly what I would do today, but I think I may just wallow, I think I may just sit.  I am letting that nasty, anonymous blog-bully get the best of me, despite my logic's pleading to just "let it go", despite my loved ones' pleading to "just let it go". I know that if I let if effect me, she has won, that her malicious comment has had it's desired effect, but I just can't help it..... Sometimes it hurts. 

So whoever you may be out there who decided to make yourself feel better by pulling me down, it worked!  Your words had the desired effect; you have succeeded in bringing out my insecurities, you have succeeded in making me want to shut myself off from everyone, taking away some of my confidence and making me sad.  But do you know what?  it is only a matter of time before that hurt turns to anger, before that anger turns into creative energy and until your desire to pull me down only results in making me stronger, only results in some great new designs, only increases my desire to do well. So for today I will let the hurt hurt, but I am also aware that someone only bullies to hide their own insecurities, to make themselves feel better, so I feel sorry for you!  I hope you will find some inner strength, some self worth and some peace.

Melly

... To all of our normal and beautiful blog readers or any visitors, we are so sorry for the down and depressing tone of this post but I just wanted the right of reply to someone who dares not leave a return email address.

12 sleeps & giveaway winners...

How cute is this photo??  I just love this picture which was one of the unused photos from the "Kaleidoscope" photo shoot.  I think this has become one of my favorites photos and perhaps it is destined for a frame since it didn't make the book.  

I have been told by the printers that the book is scheduled to arrive to us on the 9th June now!!  A few days earlier that originally expected and just 12 sleeps away.  How cool is that?!  For anyone who was wanting to make sure they get a copy as soon as they come in or wanted to secure a signed copy then you can now place a pre-order for Kaleidoscope here!  If you would like it to be signed for yourself or someone special then please let them know in the comments when you make your purchase.  I will have to start practicing that signature because believe me I have the worst hand writing in existence!!  

The new "Clucky" and "Claudine" patterns are all written and ready to go and the lucky winners of the giveaway are..... Lorraine, Tone Iren and Lyn Smith. Congrats girls and please email me with your postal address and choice of pattern!  I look forward to seeing your new creations!!

I have made another new creation this week, despite the mystery virus that is traveling through the family, but I cannot show it in full as yet since it may be heading to Homespun.  Here is a little peek though, coz I just love to tease!

Now I need to get back to putting together my thank-you packages for the "Kaleidoscope" test sewers. I had the most amazing six test sewers help me in the pattern writing process and I am so thankful to Jenny Alexander, Debbie Glenn, Amber, Sarah, Lisa and Rachel for the part that they played in getting the book complete.  Go and say hello or check out their blogs, they are an amazing bunch!!

Take care and enjoy the rest of your week,

Melly