My New Place..

Come and check out the new place! I've decided to move to bigger and better things. Don't forget me in the move....!

Amity, Alec & Atticus

-Jemma

Martha!

Do you love Martha? Because I sure do!

I know that lots of people have some very mixed feelings about her. And that she can be pretty scary, but I just can't help it.

With the arrival of my iPad, so came the ability to get her magazines fir about a fifth of the cost it would be to get paper versions here in Australia. To say I'm in seventh heaven would not be an understatement.

All of your feelings for Martha aside, you can't argue with the beauty of these projects and photos, no can you?

These are from the ester edition of everyday living that I've been devouring.

Only one complaint. America has opposite seasons to us, so they're all bragging about spring as we head into dreary winter. Oh well. I still love it.

-Jemma

Manliness

I need advice!

Damien wants a quilt. Since I've finished my one, he's been stealing it. And that just won't do :)

So, what's a good "manly" fabric? I'm thinking plaids, but suggestions would be lovely!

(Please nothing with John Deere on it, please!)

-Jemma

28. Have a real garden

These are a few photos from my yard. Top left is the passion fruit vine I got for Christmas that has quadrupled in size, top right is the nicest mint that I've ever grown (very green!). Bottom left is Damien's little turtle chilling out in the crazy strawberry plant that has a mind of its own and bottom right is a view of all.

The parsley and mint were both totally ripped out when I planted the passion fruit and have resurrected themselves. Not that I mind. The strawberry was there when we moved in, but has just gotten out of control huge. Again, not that I mind!

This is actually just a small part of the garden and I have a real veggie patch now. But to be honest it's a little ugly at the moment. Just a few snail eaten chillies and leeks... Hopefully I'll get a good winter crop in though and it'll be prettier for photos!

-Jemma

41. Make 5 quilts start to finish - Quilts 1 & 2

Quilt 1 of 5.

This one was made for my nephew Seth for his first Christmas. Made using this technique by Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts.

It was made with Michael Miller Robot Camp and plain red cotton. I can't remember the binding, sorry! It was very fun to make, very easy despite the complex looking end product and nice to work in colours I wouldn't usually choose.

Very good in all!



Quilt 2 of 5.

Made with two City Weekend charm packs that I got about 100 years ago from the Badskirt Shop. I actually started making this 3 houses ago. So maybe, four years??

Anyway, this is the first quilt that I've made just for me. And I use it everyday on the couch, it's very snuggly!



-Jemma

99. Get a lime tree.

I finally went out and got my lime tree in the hopes of maybe having at least a few baby limes for in spring this year for some tasty mojitos.

This is a Tahitian lime, which are the most delicious one for your cocktail needs and are also good for cooking with. I got a grafted plant which basically means that they have taken a shoot from a mature lime tree and glued it onto a root system of a younger plant. This just basically means that I'll be getting limes asap.

It may not be the prettiest tree, but I have high hopes!

- Jemma

25. Organise my sewing room properly.

Moving house has been a great help with this one. Because I got to start off fresh! This is the purple craft room, which I hated when it was all empty. Purple can be an overpowering colour. But now all of my stuff is there, I think i might like it!


My lovely craft books and magazines.


My sewing machine and my green table, one of my favorite things.


My TWO windows with lots and lots of sunlight. (My photography skills leave something to the imagination though)




More craft books and the lovely Horstense in some calico toilles. Along with some gocco prints I did at brown owls back in the day..

So what do you think, pro purple or no?

-Jemma

46. Learn how to make real coffee

Never mind the dirty window. Just admire my tasty latte in a my pretty, pretty cup.

Damien and I made the plunge and got a coffee machine in the boxing day sales that we like to affectionately call "Longhi".

If you think buying a coffee machine will help you save money on the take away coffee you get every day, then you're wrong. You just drink twice as much!

-Jemma

90. Meet my neighbours.

Well, after an initially terrifying meeting with my neighbors on one side I'm happy to report that this list item has gone very well!

Firstly our next door neighbor on the left was actually the agent who sold us the house, so that was easy.

The meeting that was scary was the neighbors on the other side. I was in the front yard minding my business when she comes running over to me demanding to know my dogs name.. I was thinking that she was going to yell at me for his barking or something, but just wanted to know his name so she could make friends. Apparently they had quite a nice little through the fence relationship going on....

We also kind of met the across the street neighbors when they taped a Christmas card to our rubbish bins, so I'd call that mission accomplished!

-Jemma

My creative space

I've been doing things, really I have!

I have about 15 list items that I
Ve done saved in my drafts folder just needing photos added. Which i will be doing over our 3 day weekend that coming up...

In the mean time.... I got an iPad yesterday and have been drawing lots of little cartoons with it (like the one above) Very fun!

Make sure to go see Kootoyoo for more spaces...

-Jemma

Wool.

As I've started to get more into crochet and better at it. I'm finding myself carrying around more and more balls of wool. I've been on the lookout for a knitting bag, but everthing that I've come across is just blah. Aimed at old ladies, boring or just not what I want.

So, suggestions please...! Either bags themselves or patterns whichever. The only prerequistite is that I want to be able to sling it over my arm, so no short handles!

-Jemma

My Creative Space

Wow, it's been a while. But here we are. I'm working on this crochet ripple throw for the new house when we buy a nice couch (Not the hand me downs we've always had). I'm imagining the couch to be a charcoaly grey colour. So hopefully this goes well.

Also a new toy. It's a flip camera, so watch this space for some funny puppy videos once I work out how to use it!

Check out all the other players at Kootoyoo as always.

- Jemma

32. Donate blood for the first time.

Look what I did on Monday!

It was much less scary than I thought it was going to be. And none of the problems I was worried about happened (my iron being too low, travel, being rejected because of my back operation).

It all went very smoothly I think. I won't lie, it did hurt but it was nothing that I couldn't handle and it's all over fairly quickly. So no big deal.

One tip, don't get cocky about how well you're doing. Then don't only sit down for a few minutes after instead of the recommended 15. You will nearly faint and then have to lie down on the couch for 30 minutes in front of everyone and look like a huge dork.... That was pretty embarrassing.

So make sure you go to www.donateblood.com and make an appointment! It's really easy and you get free chocolate milk and cookies after. There is no downside.

- Jemma

Winner.

Now, before I go ahead and tell you who's won the adorable Artemer. I'd first like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came and looked at the blog and entered to competition. It was very nice to see all of the new people, look at your blogs and say hi! It's all been a little bit humbling really.

And I have to say thanks to Amy. I liked her enough beforehand, but now with all of the niceness she's shown me on top of everything, it's become a full blown girl crush (which my sister shares).

So pretty much, thank you to everyone!

Now the good stuff (with drum roll) the winner is.....

Comment 122 - Jeanette from Keep Me In Stitches!

Jeanette is very lucky, she entered on the last day and was the third last commenter! Maybe you should go check out her lovely blog and have some of her luck rub off on you?

I hope everyone has had as much fun as me this Blogtober, and I hope to see you all around here more!

-Jemma

Look what I got today! - Day 28

I haven't had much chance to have a good look yet. But it's very promising. There's very cute dresses that I was surprised about and I'm planning to make.

Have you got yours yet?

-Jemma

**Edited to actually add the photo, blogging from my iPhone still has hiccups apparently**

Test

Testing blogging from my phone.

Look who's here! - Day 27

Artamer has arrived safely, you'll be happy to know. I carefully unwrapped him for a quick cuddle and a few photos while the sun was still out.

Let me tell you, he's just as handsome in person and more squishy that you've even imagined.

If you haven't already entered the giveaway. Make sure you don't miss out! There's only 4 more days to enter and the competition is stiff.

But hey, even if you don't win I'm sure Artamer has some pretty brothers and sisters that you could have for your own. Maybe go look at Amy's shop and while you're there look at her amazing fabric. (Which is always speedily delivered)

Happy blogging!

-Jemma

101 Things - Day 27

Wow, I don't think flattered is a big enough word to cover it. So I'll just say hello and welcome to everyone that's been sent over here from Amy's place!

On a sadder note. I've missed 2 days of Blogtoberfest, so I guess I'm not crossing number 27 off my list this month. Fingers crossed for next month though....

While I have you all here I'm looking for help with number 64. Read 10 books that people have recommended for me.

So, suggest away please? I'll read pretty much anything, but for this excercise let's at least make sure they're novels ok?

(And for anyone that's come here in the last few days and has said they're wanting to make a 101 in 1001 list, please, please, please let me know. I can't wait to read them!)

-Jemma

Oh no - Day 24

We appear to have use our whole 160gb internet limit for the month (don't ask).

I'll try and get through the last few days of Blogtober at work..... Fingers crossed!

-Jemma

Spring Racing - Day 23

Found Here

I made a facinator today to wear to cup day. But I left it too late to take a photo, and now it's too dark. This one's prettier anyway. Too bad it would clash horribly with my hair...

-Jemma