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Big Mama: An Inspiration.
Though she would swear black and blue it's not true - my mum is the most creative person around. If you'd asked me five years ago whether I was into quilting I would've laughed at you. Yet now it has...
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Pocket problems
I've always hated sewing pockets and quite frankly, avoided them wherever possible. Hidden ones aren't so bad, as any mistakes are usually well contained inside the garment, but my perfectionist self...
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Dummies : Do they really pacify?
I recently visited a cousin with a gorgeous two week old baby girl. She was just precious and I was reminded of all the joy a new baby brings to a household. This darling girl uses a dummy (pacifier...
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Roast Chicken Pasta Bake
Before going in the oven.Who doesn't love a roast? Easy to to prepare and oh so tasty. But I hate wasting leftovers and in a house of two adults and 1 ½ children, we couldn't possibly eat an entire...
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World Map Family Quilt
Living in Canberra I feel we can never have enough quilts. Even during the summer it's often nice to snuggle in the morning or evenings when hanging out on the couch. I spend so much time making quilts...
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Mama's Moist Banana Cake
I LOVE banana cake and have been making the same recipe since I was a child. I have no idea where the recipe originates from, but it was neatly penned in my mother's hand written recipe book and now...
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Noah's Ark Crochet Blanket
The internet is a wonderful resource for so many things, especially patterns. I can't see myself ever buying another crochet or knitting pattern in the store. So many wonderful designs are available...
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Egg Allergy Update
Those of you who have been following this blog will remember that just over a year ago, we had quite the scare when trying scrambled eggs on our son for the first time, which ended with a rushed trip...
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Kick Baby, Kick!
Any mother will describe to you the wonderful feeling of having a romping, kicking baby in her tummy. Those initial flutters are accompanied by great excitement that there has finally been a...
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Back on Track - A Summer of practicing quilting skills
Starting SimpleIts nothing new to say that having children takes up time. Thus it has been with me since the birth of my lovely girl almost a year ago. Add to that me finishing off my masters and my...
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Machine embroidery for kids 101
One of the best things my mother ever convinced me to do, was purchase the embroidery module for my Bernina 440QE. I simply LOVE it, though it perhaps doesn't get used as often as I would like...
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Fabric addicts 101
https://thefabricheart.files.wordpress.comI just love that feeling of having an idea for a new quilting or craft project, walking to the sewing room and having all the supplies there ready to go. It's...
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Quilting Rulers - what's the big deal??
I've been a fan of Free Motion Quilting since I got into quilting about four years ago. It's such a wonderful art-form and in all honesty, I draw better with my sewing machine than I do with a pencil...
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Helicopter Appliqué Quilt - a lesson on selecting fabric and colours. - UPDATED
It's a common problem: Find a quilting design I love, decide to replicate, can't find the same fabric. Solution: Do it from your stash!This gorgeous appliquéd and pieced quilt was made for a friend's...
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Sewing through ones finger - A right of passage or what not to do?
I finally did it. I sewed through my finger today. Middle finger on my right hand. I was using a quilting ruler, it got a bit stuck on a seam, and in went my finger. Ouch! In fact it's not so bad. Only...
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The Easiest Quilt I've Ever Made
As stupid as it sounds, I totally get mummy guilt when I spend too much time sewing, even if half the time the children are in the room with me playing. In an attempt to free myself of said guilt,...
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Princess and the Pea - Quilt and Growth Chart
When my baby girl was born, my Mum had set a bit of a precedence with the Jack and the Bean Stalk growth chart she'd made for my son (see here). In true Big Mama style, she came out with this wondrous...
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Hubba Hubba: A quilt for a special little girl - Part 1
I love making quilts for people and have attempted, somewhat successfully, to give quilts to my close friend's children on their birthday. With one such first birthday coming up in October, I recently...
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Simple Sewing Machine Maintenance for Quilters
Sewing Machine maintenance is critically important for the long-term health of your machine. If you are sewing pretty much every day, especially with batting, you really must get that fluff out from...
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Special Request Quilt - Featuring Machine Embroidery and Appliqué
It happens every now and then, a good friend calls with a special request. Mine came last month in the form of a gift quilt for a lady who's family was in the midst of much turmoil. My friend lived far...
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Hubba Hubba Quilt Follow-Up
I first posted about this cute quilt back at the end of July (see here), but got busy with my special request quilt and working the new school term. Today however, I finally finished it and am...
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Hope Bag - My school holiday project.
I'm back teaching this week, but man, the school holidays were not the relaxing, craft filled experience I had anticipated. Husband and au pair both away on over seas trips meant we got Big Mama in for...
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Scrappy quilt - lets get decorative!
I have always wanted to use my sewing machine for more than just basic stitching. My amazing Bernina 440QE has so many beautiful stitches and I've been on the lookout for the perfect project to use...
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Lattice Quilt; why you should join your local quilt group.
I joined the Modern Quilt faction of the Canberra Quilters in the first half of last year, on the suggestion of a colleague who found out I was a quilter. I didn't even know such a group existed and...
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Vroom Vroom! My first Sweet 16 Project.
I love France. It's my second home. And despite not seeing them as often as I'd like, I still love my French family from when I was on exchange 16 years ago. My beautiful French nephew turned 7 this...
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