Quilt A Long

One of my favourite blogs to follow is The Quilting Gallery.
There is always lots going on, competitions, information and now they have a super quilt a long going on for anyone to join in.



There will be lots of great blocks to make that you can use up your Fat Quarters for.
And some awesome prizes.
I will be saving all the information to use and make up the blocks as I get time.
Go and have a look it's going to be a lovely quilt.

I'm Up for a reading challenge

Especially when it involves my favourite Jane Austen novel "Pride & Prejudice"

Yes I know I have my reading challenge page up there that needs updating but I have been reading, just not updating and I know I am a super baaaad blogger but here is the gist of the challenge (as copied over from the following bloggers)

Kylie @Little Black Marks, Miss Dove, Car.

Everyone knows who Jane Austen is (hopefully) so here is the challenge:




The challenge to anyone who cares to take part is to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. Given the general craziness of most people's lives, the suggested time period of just over 3 months - from now until August 31, 2013 - consider it the perfect winter challenge.

You may also choose in those three months to do the extended version of the challenge and watch what started this all - The Lizzie Bennet Diaries which can be found on the official site, on tumblr, or YouTube.

.

If you are really brave, you can go the super deluxe version and also watch the movie or BBC production or any other production you know of.

The 2005 movie version starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth and Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy Which I happen to have in My collection

The 1995 BBC version with Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth and Colin Firth as Darcy

 which I have been dying to watch

I am going to try the super deluxe version - Book, both movies and the Lizzie Bennet Diaries.  Also in case anyone is reading and interested I read another book last year that was free on Kindle for a while called "Darcy's Voyage"
It's just another little take off of the original Pride and Prejudice and I loved it.

I will write up a review after I re-read it as part of an extra challenge for myself.

Bloglovin

I have decided that as Google Reader is closing down shortly, I will try a new reader.

Have a go yourself if you like, it's really easy to transfer over all your feeds from Google Reader too.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Oops so much for my posting more often.

I will be back by the end of the week with news, lots has been happening that I can talk about.

Candle for a Corpse book review

My first every official book review:
(Please not this review is un-paid, I receive no compensation in any way for reading and reviewing this book, except the pleasure of a free book to read)
I am a member of "The Romance Reviews" website and the original review can be found here: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=7996

Author: Marilyn Leach
Publisher: Pelican Ventures
Release Date: December 2012
ISBN: 9781611162646
Four Stars from me....
Book Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery

An Advent gathering that ends in murder, a vicar's wife with a nose for investigating and a small English village full of colourful characters that all seem to have something to hide. 

Along with an incompetent police constable and a reluctant husband, Berdie Elliott investigates the mystery, uncovering town secrets along the way very discreetly over tea and scones. Her best friend/sidekick Lillie accompanies her and has the good fortune to meet a handsome caring doctor who then jumps into the fray and assists them in their pursuit of the murderer.

An Indian grocer who happens to be in the right place at the right time, the electrician apprentice who tries to leave town, the strange visiting clergyman with a short fuse and the poor confused neighbour are just a few of the interesting people you will meet.

With a whole cast of wonderful characters that feel like you could meet them should you walk into any small country village in England, CANDLE FOR A CORPSE is a great romp through the countryside.

This was a very enjoyable read, the characters felt very real without all the excess waffle and fancy conversation that seems to appear so much these days in books. Berdie and her husband are lovely caring characters and their relationship is a good old fashioned marriage with all the right values of caring for each other and the people around them. The story rolls along nicely, meeting new characters and discovering new elements smoothly.

Overall I found it a great read. The story flowed well and was a very enjoyable old fashioned murder/mystery without the sex and gore that can sometimes occur in today's fiction. I hope there is another mystery for Berdie Elliot to solve soon for me to read about.

Washi Dress pattern review.

I have not done a review of a sewing pattern before but this dress has got me so excited that I had to do a review.
Just so you know I am in no way affiliated with this designer or getting any profits from this review, it's merely my joy in a great pattern.

Washi Dress - Made by Rae



There is also a long sleeve tutorial which is free:  Free Long Sleeve tutorial for Washi dress.

This pattern comes in both Paper and PDF format and is multi-sized.

I purchased the PDF so that I could get it right away. It was easy to print the pattern pieces and they are very well marked for sticking together and cutting out.
These days I tend to not cut out a particular size, I use a wheely marker thing (yes very technical I know) and some tracing paper to mark my fabric by rolling along the appropriate size lines and marks, then I cut out the fabric.

There are only a few pieces to the pattern.
The back of the dress is 1 complete piece and shirring across the middle back adds a lovely fit to the body without needing to add zipper.
The front, comes as a bodice and skirt that need to be attached after the skirt has small tucks folded.
The bodice has side darts which are very flattering and you can choose to do a keyhole in the front or leave it straight.
The dress has pocket option, with length options of tunic or knee length and again on her blog there are free tutorials for maxi length.
There are so many great options to this dress. The pockets can be sewn in separately if your fabric is not wide enough to cut them in one piece with the skirt.
Short capped sleeves are included in the purchase but as I said above there is a free pattern and tutorial for adding lovely sleeves (this is the option I put together).

I made my dress using 100% quilting weight cotton by Riley Blake, part of the Alphabet Soup range.

I have to say I was worried, it can be very hard to find a tunic style dress that does not make my tummy look pudgy (or even pregnant) and the pockets had me worried that I would look wide around the hips.

However, upon finishing and putting it on I was so very pleasantly surprised and so very happy that I made this dress.

The tucks at the front skirt are small and not over done and do not add weight to my tummy. The pockets sit beautifully and you would not even know they are there.  The shirring across the back brings the dress around the body in a very flattering way and eliminates the need for a zipper so it can pull on and off with ease.
I used the 3/4 sleeve option as I try to stay covered up even in summer and often am self-consious of my upper arms. The sleeves have a slight gather at the shoulder and are flattering.

Overall as you can probably tell, I am in love with this pattern and the many options open to it.
I will be sewing up another one very soon and I am going to mix up the fabric and maybe even add some lace or trim.
I am going to try it in a slightly heavier weight fabric for winter too and wear it over some long sleeves.  For this option I will probably make it one size bigger too for layering purposes.
Here is a pic of me, see what you think.....

New Year, Sewing, Reading and other things.

Hello, hello to anyone out there who still bothers to read my blog.

I am not one to make New Years Resolutions, I am usually very happy with life and what I have been dealt and where life is for me right now.

However, this year I would like to make a couple of resolutions and place them here for anyone to see.

1. Blogging at least once per month. Simple really, let's see how I go, more than once is all good but at least once is my goal.
2. Reviewing on my blog. I have found some wonderful sewing patterns and other things that I would like to share with anyone who cares to read about them.  I will blog here and share with you what I find.
3. Books, books and more books.  I have 2 challenges concerning books this year.  I have taken on the job of reviewing some books that are not yet published.  Now these will be a wide variety of books but mostly based around the romance genre.  I am not getting paid for these reviews it is merely for the love of reading for myself that I am doing this.  
4. I have also joined a challenge being conducted by a blogging friend of mine to read 13 books in 2013.  Now this will not be a great challenge for me as anyone that knows me will know that I always have a book on hand and sometimes 2 or 3 on the go at onces.  So I have taken on the extra challenge of reading 13 different genres for my 13 books.  I have created a tab at the top of the page where I will be adding all the books and a short review for this challenge.
5. Last but not least just to enjoy life.  I have a wonderful and I mean amazingly wonderful husband and 2 fabulous children (they are challenging but still wonderful) and we are super happy on our farm but occasionally I get a case of the "Woe is Me's" so this year I will have another page at the top of the blog called 'WONDERFUL', here I am going to make a list of all the wonderful, fun things that happen this year to share with you all but also to have them to read at the end of the year.

So there it is, I am wishing you all a wonderful 2013, may your hopes and dreams be fulfilled.

Bec

A WIP is finished!!!!!

I am a bad blogger, I know this fact and I am a last minute person too.
I have had this sitting around as a flimsy for about 2 years and I needed a quilt to donate for our footy club promise Auction.
So I got it out, sandwiched it up, quilted and bound it.
I did straight line quilting in a kind of chevron pattern, it started out as a vague idea but I was really happy with the end result, it kind of grew into itself as it stitched.
It is quilting fabrics from the bargain bin at Spotlight but they are pretty and go together.
It was purchased by one of the young players for his mum on auction night.
I asked him "what are you going to do with it?"
He Replied "mum asked for a quilt for her birthday"   how sweet.
It's funny really, his dad bought the one I put up last year and it went to Sandy also, she does love her quilts I think.

2012 Work In Progress Challenge.

AJ has devised an evil plan to help some of us finish our un-finished projects in our ever increasing Quilting stash.



So far I have only found about 4 quilts that are unfinished but that doesn't count all the fabric that I have chosen patterns for and not even cut up yet.

I have made a new page to showcase my progress but here is the list so far, there are still a few places I have not looked..

1. Flimsy of Basic Ease from Modern Basics Book
2. Flimsy of Posie Patch from Modern Basics which also needs a bit of applique
3. Blocks assembled using Cappuccino Bali Pop, needs to be flimsy'd and finished.
4. Blocks from Carol Doak's 2011 Twisted Myster Paper pieceing, all fabric cut out but only a couple of blocks complete.
5. Fabric cut out for a Star quilt (very old WIP).
6.

Sewing & Reading some more

I have been sewing for my niece Adelaide.  My one and only brother moved home to Australia in August this year.  He had been living in the USA for 5 1/2 years.  While he was there he met a lovely lady and got married and they now have this little cutie on their hands.  

Adelaide is 18 months old, which is really handy as she is almost 1 year exactly behind my Jess so I can send her any lovely clothes that don't fit Jess anymore.

It also means I can quite easily make her cute outfits to wear in a snap.

Not sure why this photo turned itself around when I loaded it up.
It's just a little A-line pinafore with snapped tabs on the shoulders.
Fabric: It's a Hoot

This one is the Same dress but with Buttons on the shoulder tabs.
Fabric: Amy Butler Soul Blossom.
It may be a tad big right now.

An a 3rd dress.
A cute tie neck halter with ruffle around the bottom.
It has elastic around the chest with a slight frill at the top.
Fabric: Amy Butler Soul Blossom.
I think I accidentally made this in Jessie's size so it will go away for next year.

Then there is all the books that I have been reading.
I have been terribly hooked lately and have been going to bed early with the intention of reading for half an hour and going to sleep.
Well 2 hours later I look up at the clock and realise this is not what has happened and the next day I suffer for it.
I just can't seem to help myself when I start reading I can't stop.
To see how busy I've been check out my reading lists on the page tabs up the top.  I am up to 98 books all up for the year, I may even have forgotten to put a couple of the list too.

Books and more books

So what have I been doing?

Not blogging that's for sure.

Trying to keep up with the fabric orders...Bec Clarke Creations

Trying to keep up with the soap orders...Bec's Soap

Sewing...

A flimsy using Amy Butler Love
Pattern from the Book "Modern Basics"

Not quite a flimsy
using a "Spirit" Layer Cake
also from the book "Modern Basics".

Foundation Paper Piecing
I joined a Yahoo Group run by
the most fabulous Carol Doak
We are doing a Mystery at the moment
and it's so much fun.

OK so I am too lazy to go and fix this pic.
the dress Jess is wearing is just an a-line
shift made from an old mens shirt.
It was very easy and she loves
wearing it around the farm.

There is more sewing but I can't find my photo's

And READING!!!!

Go and check out my reading challenge pages
E-Book Challenge
100 Book Challenge

I also just bought these 2 cool books:

My Step-mum had this book when we were kids
She made alot of the cakes out of it for us
when we had our birthday's at Dad's place.
I just hope I can do some of them for my kids.

Everyone is talking about Macarons so I saw this
book and thought I would give them a try.
I have a husband with a sweet tooth so they
should go down alright.

Halloween Quilt

I just realised that i had not blogged this quilt.

I whipped it up from a layer cake early this year so I could have a sample for a market stall i was doing.

I then ended up selling it at our Football/Netball Club promise auction in August.

I was a bit sad to see it go as I was quite pleased with my first effort at stack and slash that I made up all on my own (well I got the idea from a book but did it my way)

Before quilting

Finished quilt with binding.

I got some Layer Cake squares, piled up 5 at a time and then made a 3" strip in the centre of each of them then I took the strip and cut a 3" square out of each one. 

I did this with all 42 squares and that way I could swap every single square around and mix up all the centre squares. 

I made the first strip really random so that they are off centre and out of kilter and I think it turned out alright.

One Layer Cake really makes a decent size quilt.

I straight line quilted beside each seam going up and also across.  Then I also straight line quilted down the lenght of the centre of each column to give a longer illusion.

Remembering

I remember!!!



I will never forget.


Terrorism will NEVER win over the Goodness and Courage of the rest of the world.

Busy living liffe

Once again (if there is anyone left reading this blog this is for you) life has gotten in the way of blogging.

Here is a little pictorial of what we have been up to.

A Quilt for a Queensland Wedding
I am so proud of this quilt, it was tough to finish
in the time that I had available but it's lovely
plus the bride and groom love it.

We live in a lovely valley but this is what happens
when we have a wet Autumn/Winter.
Some days we don't see the sun at all!!!
It's very peaceful and beautiful for a while
but not all day. That's Sam up the track!

I am very happy with how all  my fog photo's turned out!!!

We got a new Kitten. His name is Whiskers.
He is very friendly and follows us all
around the farm - seroiusly he comes out into
the paddocks if we are walking around!!!

We also had some beautiful sunny days in the early winter.
The kids love getting out in the Vege garden.
We didn't put any winter vege's in this garden
so lots of fun was had moving dirt around.

We also got a new puppy.
He is going to be a working dog eventually
But for now he is mad and wild and very funny.

Hopefully I will be back a bit sooner with a few more photo's

BLOGGERS QUILT FESTIVAL

I know I have been a very irregular blogger lately but I always try to have an entry for the Bloggers Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side.

I have made a few quilts this year so far but I am going to blog one that I made late last year for a lovely and very talented quilter in a swap.  I was terrified when I found out my swap partner as she is AMAZING at both piecing and quilting but I settled on an idea, a theme, some fabric and went for it.

I used the basic pattern from Ricky Timms Convergance quilts book and it was so much fun.
My Theme was snow as every year Emma and her famliy take trips to the Snowy Mountains and I love to look at the photo's.  I machine embroidered some snowflakes and did a Free Motion swirly all over quilting.
On the back was a butterfly fabric that I used in honour of her son who loves having his face painted with butterflies.

Sam turned 4!!!

I'm a terrible blogger lately and now I'm a terrible mother.

I have been meaning to do this for weeks.

On 6 April 2011 my gorgeous boy turned 4!!!  Then a few days later he started going to pre-school for 1 day a week.  He is so smart and loving going to school and meeting new kids and people.

So here is Sam, not so long ago on a rainy day.

I have wonderful plans to try for a weekly post soon, sort of a farm/crafting/kids diary as that is mostly what my life is about right now.  Netball/Football season has started too so hopefully if I can get my act together will be talking to anyone who is still listening soon.

P.S. go check out the new goodies in my store, just in case you hadn't already.

Bec Clarke Creations

Jessie turns 2

I am a bit late posting this but life is so flat out at the moment.

The delightful Jessica Grace turned 2 on Thursday - St Patricks Day.

I had to go to Albury to get the car serviced and do a heap of errands so she was at home with Bev my eve wonderful Mother-in-law and Sam.

I have been practicing my digital scrapping and came up with this.

We are going to have a little family get together for both kids in April when Sam turns 4.

She is very strong willed at times and can turn a tantrum and stamp her foot like no-other child I have seen, but for the most part she is funny and very cuddly and I love our little Irish Angel with all my heart.

We apologise for this break in transmission

Isn't that what they used to say when the TV station went out.

Well now days you don't even get a sorry they just carry on like nothing happneded

BUT

I sincerely apologise for my very long absence.

I have had the most terrible month with my computer.

I got a nasty virus that duplicated all my file folders then hid my originals so I was having an absolute heart attack thinking I had lost everything.

Luckily I did a few searches and found them.  I also managed to make a copy of my Outlook email files and was able to restore them once I had my computer back up and running.

To fix the problem however, I had to totally wipe my hard drive and re-boot to factory settings then load up all my documents again etc... etc...

So here I am back, finally and I should have some pictures to show you next week as I have done some sewing of quilts and clothes and all sorts of wonderful things.

I will also have some photo's to show you of my very first Market stall selling fabric.

It is this Sunday 27 Feb in Wagga Wagga, at the Muddi Boutique Markets.

I have to say how impressed I am that we have such a high calibre market in our area (although it is a 1.5 hour drive for me).  I have lived in Sydney and Melbourne and I think these markets are worthy of both places. It just goes to show that there is talented people everywhere.  We are lucky in our area to have Sari to organise the Muddi markets in Wagga.

If you live or are visiting  the area they are happening every 3 months this year so look them up.

Catch you on the other side of Sunday I have to go and practice my songs for this Saturday at Tumbafest

FLOOD RELIEF RAFFLE WINNER

Well I discussed it with Mr random.org and he came up with a number for me.

I had 108 tickets sold and I was so happy to be able to help in that small way along with donating myself of course.

So who is the winner you ask.

It was random number 22 who is Samelia's Mum.  I will be contacting her tonight to tell her the good news.  Go and check out her blog, she does the most amazing raw edge applique and has recently done a tutorial on a very cute mug rug.

A huge thank you to Toni of Make It Perfect who organised all the lists for Auctions and Raffles.  I can't wait to see how much money was raised.

And lastly a huge thank you to everyone who bid and donated and just got involved in this wonderful online event.

They still have a long way to go for recovery up in Queensland but hopefully our efforts helped a bit.

Please also spare a thought for the town in Victoria who are now suffering flooding.

Our wonderful country really is a mystery to us but it just goes to show, you cannot fight Mother Nature, you can prepare for what you think she may throw your way but you just never know what it's going to be.

***CLOSED*** Thankyou Flood Relief Raffle Quilt

RAFFLE IS NOW CLOSED, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PURCHASED A TICKET.
WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED IN A COUPLE OF HOURS.

Welcome to my raffle if you are visiting from the Make it Perfect blog if not then click on the button below anytime after Sunday and there will be a master list of places you can visit and support the Flood Appeal.




It is now quilted and bound and has finished up a nice lap or baby size quilt at 37" square, I have taken this photo on our clothes line which is in front of our vege garden.  The second photo is of the back so you can get a clear picture of the quilting.  It's basic straight line quilting, it was "organic" with no lines drawn.

I was going to do an Auction but I want 'Everyone' to have a chance to win it.
So...
I will do a raffle.
For every $2 you donate to the QLD FLOOD RELIEF you will get 1 ticket.
For every $5 you will get 3 tickets.

So if you only have $4 then you get 2 tickets
But if you have $10 then you can have 6 tickets and so on.

I haven't been to do a donation to QLD FLOOD RELIEF yet as I have been busy sewing so I don't know if the system gives you a receipt you can send to me but it will probably have to be on an honesty system.

If you have a receipt you can feel free to e-mail it to me: beccaj74 (at) yahoo.com.au

If not I will just have to trust that people are going to be honest when they say they have donated to the cause.

It's simple to enter, leave me a comment here telling me how much you have donated and I will work up a spreadsheet in the order the comments are left and then use good old Random.org to generate numbers at the end of the Raffle which will be Monday 24 January 9am Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time.

I will cover the cost of postage anywhere in the World.

I also just found this cute little workshop that is only $5 to join and all money goes to the flood relief.


Kim Archer Smile Workshop

Queensland Flood Relief Auction

Toni from Make it Perfect is organising a master list of Auctions and Raffles that will be taking place starting Monday 17 January.




I will be taking part and putting something up for people to purchase raffle tickets for.
It will be a quilt made by me, I will have more information on Monday if you want to come and look.
Postage will be included.  All ticket purchases are to be made straight to the relief fund, but I will have links and more information in the next few days.
Please visit Toni's blog on Monday and find something to bid on to help the people in the North.
Spread the word and tell everyone, you will get to bid on some fantastic items as well as donating to a wonderful and worthwhile cause.