NEWS

So the big news is we bought this place (but not the furniture shown)! Its a big studio apartment located upstairs in the building we already have already been living/renting in for that past year and a bit. We are pretty happy and feel it was really a blessing. Luke and I can't wait to move in and nest.
I also made these guys yesterday. I call them Ragtime Dolls. Yes it was a marathon session of sewing but I wanted to get some stuff up on our esty (most of the stuff up there is Lies' at the moment). I did a photo session today and got yoshi to endorse them for me (he is such a sell out, he'll do anything for a little attention).

yoshi is looking demure with corduroy rabbit (I realise I am half a step away from 'crazy pet owner' status. I'm okay with this)

Just as I got my Ragtime Dolls listed on etsy, these guys sold!!!! Imagine my surprise! Lies has also sold a couple things so we are walking around with permanent, shocked smiles.

IT GROWS! IT GROWS! This is for you leah, a cathedral quilt update. The hand sewing is taking forever but I am starting to believe I may actually finish this someday. It takes a particular brand of madness to undertake such a quilt. I think anyone who finishes a cathedral quilt should get some sort or congratulatory tattoo. And if it's queen or (gasp) king sized, well, they should outright retire instantly upon finishing (or just after they get their tattoo).

In other news, who has the new radiohead album? (hand raised) Well folks there is nothing stopping you because they have independently released it in two forms. One: a 'pay what you like' Internet download, and two: a $160 (approx) collectors album box set. Brilliant eh?! I think many people will actually pay something (though you could potentially pay nothing) for the download in order to encourage future awesomeness of the like. awesome.

over and out,
-kimberlee

flashback friday:sunday's best

We have many of these professional family portraits that were were arranged by our church and taken every few years for the church directory. Am I detecting a subtle nautical theme here? We are looking pretty coordinated in this photos, our outfits were surely masterminded by the lady in red.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions about my fabric smell problem. It looks as though baking soda is the key and I will try that soon. I have another question for you now. I have just joined flickr in order to officially participate in flashback Friday. I can't figure out how to put my photos up in the group account. I have joined the group... can anyone give me some hints? cheers.

For you leah... my cathedral quilt in progress (and I am telling you, progress is slow). I forgot how time consuming hand sewing is, and even though I am using the machine for joining the squares, it took me hours to sew around just 4 windows. It's okay though. In our fast paced, instant oatmeal society, being forced to slow down and do something the long way is exactly what we all need.

have a great weekend everyone :)
-kimberlee

cowgirl days: flashback

my earlier days of riding that's me on the horse (note I am doing quite a poor job, hand in the air and feet out of stir-ups) and my tiny sister on the pony.

Carling was always so small and with a 6 year age gap between us, I was always a sister/mom to her which I am she did NOT always appreciate. though I am sure she didn't mind me leading her around on tiny tim.

This photo of our horse was when we were purchasing her from her former owners. That's my mom in the white coat, and the owner in the pink gum boots. Carling is looking rather overwhelmed by her pink snowsuit, but a little thing like her would surely freeze to death without it.

So here pictures are as promised. I can't find one of me riding our horses but these are some from our friends farm where we went riding. I miss those days more than I can express. Having to sell our horses was devastating to me but I am thankful for the time we had.

There are some bloggers doing Flashback Fridays, I got this idea from Leah at paper string cloth because I so much enjoy seeing pictures of people from childhood. Perhaps Lies would like to post a few from the good ol' days?

Not sure if I explained why I have not been crafting, in addition to focusing on my illustration portfolio, Luke and I are renaming/reforming his company to include me as an illustrator and administrative assistant. Thus I have been busy learning about tax deductions, spread sheets, record keeping and the like for my secretary duties. Also working on company identity stuff, e.i. new name, website etc.

I hope to get back into it soon. Leah's cathedral quilt has REALLY inspired me. she will be posting a tutorial soon :)

ALSO INVITATION TO DE-LURK! now that I have posted pictures from my childhood and thus exposed myself, I invite you to do the same. Are there those who read this blog and never comment? I am am so interested in hearing from you. drop us a comment. go on.

have a good week!
-kimberlee

must do a post must do a post must do a post.....

Over the past week or so, I have just not felt like blogging and it is only by sheer will and focused motivation that I bring you this post. Ta-da! I do have my reasons though. First of all I was busy making this quilt. I know it looks quite similar to the one I made before but I am not one of those crafters with loads of fabric, in fact I hardly have any (shock horror) and since I quite liked the last one, I basically did the same thing all over again only much bigger. This second quilt is almost twice the size as the first. I made yoshi jump in the picture for size indication but dogs can be all kinds of sizes so I don't think he helped.

This is the quilts recipient, my cuter than cuter baby niece Ella. I am going to be seeing her very soon because we are going to the states on Friday. Which is another reason I have not been blogging. I have mentally checked out and though my body is still wandering around in NZ, my mind is floating somewhere over the pacific ocean. many of you may know this feeling.

Since I don't have much else to show you today, I thought you might like to see around tiny city apartment. This is the GRAND MASTER WARDROBE which came with the flat. Its sheer size made me think we would never fill it (there are also cupboards above which wouldn't fit into the shot) but we have. Note: all of luke's clothes are in the two baskets on the right, and the rest are mine. blush.

Here is some baking I did YESTERDAY, and its almost gone. Oh the power of banana muffins.

I didn't tidy up for this shot (obviously) so now it has all kinds of integrity. this is my kitchen.

I don't know if I will be able to post while I am overseas. but I am only gone 3 weeks so hopefully you will forgive my absence. Lies may or may not post while I am away. As I mentioned before, she is now working at a gallery and is finding it hard to blog. I don't think she has much spare time at the moment but she said she has been so inspired and wanted to share many things here.

over and out comrades,
kimberlee

Thursday Picture Post

Today I am posting random things that are on my mind so first and foremost, WELCOME BACK LIES AND LIEVEKE!!!!! I have missed my crafting friends so much since they have been away in Belgium. I hear that Grandma had Lieve drinking extra milk and now she is beautifully rotund and ready for a growth spurt. I have not seen them since they got back yesterday but hopefully I will very soon.

These are my friends who just got married and are expecting a child very soon. This baby has the working title of Billie Montana and they have an inkling that she is a she. So we're going with that. I am making them a baby quilt and below are a few shots of my work in progress. It has taken a while because this is my first quilt. Thanks to some instructions from Melissa, I feel it is coming along. Of course there are a mighty few imperfections but i am sure Billie Montana won't mind. :) This quilt is meant to be a surprise and since Mayana doesn't read this blog (i don't think) I feel it is safe to post. And if she does, act surprised anyway when I give it to you.

I chose these colours mainly because it was scrap fabric I already had and I thought they went well together and weren't gender specific. I think boys can like flowers too!

This is a hat I knitted recently from some lovely hand spun hand dyed wool from Canada. My friend Emily gifted it so me because being the avid extraordinary knitter that she is, her collection of yarn is truly epic. Now she just gives the stuff away because she knows she could never use it in her lifetime (we are talking suitcases and suitcases full). So thanks to you! And Thanks to little Arwyn for modeling it for me. I think it best fits a 2-4 year old and I also have one just like it for a tiny baby. I am planning on making more. What do you think of the shape?

This gorgeous little munchkin is my dear sweet niece who has been on my mind a lot lately. I miss her much and am wishing that I could kiss and cuddle her. I am thinking of channeling that energy into a gift. Perhaps my second quilt will be for her :)

Last but not least is the Beautiful Bride to Be, Laura. These pictures were taken on her hens night (yes that is me next to her in the first pic) and I am very excited to be going to her wedding this Saturday. She and Mike are getting married at her family home out in the country. I anticipate a very enchanting event. Doesn't Laura look stunning even in her silly hen's night get-up!

okay must get going for today. 9;30 in the AM and I am still in my bathrobe (the shame)!
-Kimberlee