Natalie Ross in Stitches

D.O.B.S

Somebody call D.O.B.S...."Department of Blog Services" and report me for the pure neglect that I have thrust upon my poor blog..............!! "HAPPY NEW YEAR" to everyone too by the way.....LOL....OH and belated MERRY CHRISTMAS xxxxxx Hope you all had a fantabulous one!

No need to go into why I have been so neglectful but let's just say I had "stuff" to attend to and also wanted and needed some very special & valuable family time :))

So just popping in for a short visit to touch base and to let you know that I am still alive 'n' kicking. Doing some clearing and de-cluttering here at home before embarking on a very creative year. Back soon to share my Christmas experience with you. I shall leave you with this......

A gorgeous chrissy gift from one of my dearest friend's, Manda aka Mrs Bug........2 of my favourite things in this world....Tea & Ladybirds!! Too cute for words. Thanks again Manda xxxxxx

Deeeeeeeelightful!

See you all soon

Smooth sailin' "In Stitches"

       

Back on track!!!!!!!

I am sooooo back on track it is riiiiiiiiiidiculous!!!! Life is WONDERFUL............. :))

So many things to update you all with but I will have to spread them out with a few posts. This post is all about the AQM..... the recent trade show I went to in Melbourne just a couple of weeks ago.

It was so much fun as always and I was neighbour to my choc eating partner in crime...Gail of course!!!! What did we consume in the chocolate department Gail???? way too much but Chocolate coated Raspberry licorice is THE best...to date!!

Can you tell Gail is high on Choc raspberry licorice???? I had to fight her for it.......!! LOL Thanks for the accomm Gail........... MWAH!

I was also blessed to have one of my dearest friends "Jenny" come along to help me out. Jen was there with us for the whole weekend and it was so much fun hanging out together. I don't get to see her often as she is in Victoria and I in NSW so it was precious. Love ya Jen MWAH!!!!!!!

Another highlight was popping in for a cuppa with my lovely "lovely" friend Amanda Begelhole.........can't believe we didn't get a piccie...UGG....but it was fabulous to see her again and take a sneak peek at little Lucy ladybug writing a tale of zzzzzzz's..........!! She is 3 and oh so sweet!!! MWAH...MWAH!

So what's new in the design/pattern department??? This is what I whipped up and released at the show............................!!

Do you have a Happy Garden???? if not then you need this!

This is my latest what I like to call "Picture Quilt" design called "Happy Happy Garden". Beautifully quilted once again by the fabulous Sharon French of "Morning Star Quilting" in a bubble design. You rock Sharon!!.....

I have used a fabric range called "Happy Moshi Yum Yum" by Lecien. I picked up a fat quarter bundle at the last Sydney Trade show and wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it but just knew I loved the colours and the subtle japanese print design in the fabrics.

Whilst fishing through a draw recently I came across a Japanese fabric calendar that was given to me after my Grandmother passed away many years ago. The year date is 1965...the year I was born and Japan was Nan's favourite country to visit. She went there a few times so that was inspiration for me to design this quilt..............! It is one of my faves. Measures in at 48" x 58" and the pattern is available now! Hope you like it..... :)

Some little treats are also available now. I have released a small pattern range and I have showed you some of these projects before but I have added one more and better photography...........there are 4 small projects to my new small pattern range and here they are.................... these little bunting pockets are perfect for the little goodies of Christmas. The kids will have a ball come Christmas morning digging around in the pockets for Christmas pickin's!

And if you're a lucky duck and Santa brings you an ipad...then you will definitely need one of these to keep it lookin' good!

And what about all those Christmas parties and BBQ's you will be attending all decked out in your party dress with Christmas cheer in hand???? Who needs a big ol' handbag hangin' off the shoulder hey??? Just a cute little one of these, to match the frock of course....is all you need!

And the year wouldn't be as special if you didn't have something to jot down all your favourite happenings into and perhaps stick the odd favourite pic into as well.

All these little cuties are available and at nice little price as well!! SO..... are you all running around like the mad hatter who has just realised that he has left the house without his trousers on???? LOL..........Just a little frantic due to symptoms of silly season?? It's not far away and I am yet to leave my bubble of Christmas denial...LOL! Somebody slap me!! hahahahaha..........I am one for leaving everything to the last minute so we shall see how I go with that. DOH!

See you all soon

Rudolph rules "in stitches"

     

Port Pirie experience!!

As I have just realised that there are only 20 days until the Australian Quilt Market in Melbourne, I have now gone into mega panic mode..........I am working on a new quilt and I have 2 maybe 4 new smaller designs to get finished and deperately waiting for the printer to complete a new pattern cover. SHEEEESH!!!!

So manic week one complete and ready to go forth and stitch into manic week number 2, I am here to tell you all about our fun fun fun weekend spent with the awesomely gaaaaaawwwwwwwgus gals from the Country Hart retreat at Port Pirie South Australia.

Gail and I had another fantabulous weekend away teaching together. I always wonder how we manage to still have a voice to say toodle loo to each other at the airport we talk so much!!  and hardly sleep.....LOL........ must be the chocolate that keeps us going......yeah...it's the chocolate...LOL!! cadbury's crunchie this time...........YIKES! :) BUT there was a very healthy brekkie I am pleased to report...wasn't there Gail??

Robyn hosted another fine weekend and it was great to catch up with all the regulars from last time as well as meet some lovely new ladies as well. As there is ALWAY a naughty table at retreats, here are the naughty ones from Port Pirie.

Not sure how Gail and I ended up in a pic with the naughty ones??? we not naughty......! And for those who catch up with us on Facebook you may know this bubble of fun.......Meet Claire. I did and she is gaaaawwwwwwgus too! xx

Now as far as piccies of my projects go, I actually haven't had much time to photograph them all styled up as you do but I do have some pics to show you what I designed for the ladies. I will be releasing them very soon. As soon as I get my smaller pattern cover as these will be released in a smaller format.

Firstly there is an ipad pouch that I have named "istitch". For all of you who have an ipad, here is a sweet, pretty pouch to safely keep your ipad in.

And also a cute set of bunting pockets that I have named "Christmas pickin's" Each bunting has a pocket so you can put some candy canes and little Christmas gifts in for the silly season.

Sorry about the bad shot. I will do another one this week. Each pocket has a little redwork stitchery design on it. The girls at the retreat had a ball stitching these.

Ah look, here's some of them now....LOL!!!! Nice position ladies!! Good view of the scrumminess behind you...hahahahaha!! Cheeky girls..... xx

 
Now all photos were courtesy of Gail and Granny Loz. Hope you don't mind girls. I couldn't fit my camera in so I had to rely on the girls and they came through with the goods. You will see more pics on Granny Loz's, Gail's and Nay's Place blogs.

Big higs and kisses to Julie for driving us back to the airport. First class all the way Jules! xx

Back soon with more to share!

A stitch in time...so they say! "In Stitches"

                  

A bit of this and a bit of that........

Man o man how time flies.................... I have been busy prepping some new designs for the up and coming AQM which is our trade show down in Melbourne. That's on next month, so in between organising Jack with appointments and schooling and teaching, the odd meltdown, oh and taking just a little bit of time off here and there due to "almost burned out & lost my mind" LOL........I am squeezing in a blog post to give you all a quick update.

I do have to say that with taking just a little bit of time off from sewing like a maniac as I do, that my shoulder and thumb have loved me for it. I only noticed the other day that my precious left frozen shoulder, that always hurts, wasn't hurting. YAY..YAY..YAY!

"Hmmm" I said to myself and self "I wonder why?"........oh DOH! no stitching. That'll do it. So it's been nice to rest my worn out bit's and pieces....hahahahaha! AND I am also off down to Country Hart with my trusty choccie lovin' travelling buddy Gail for our weekend of teaching fun with the groovy gals of Port Pirie S.A. Sooooooooooooooo looking forward to that. I have some very cute and scrummdiddlyumptious things for them to stitch. So I have another sneeky peeky and this one is for the "Brookies"...........LOLOLOL

Can you pick it girls????? hey?? hey??....hehehehehehe see you soon!!

Now with my absence I do have a design that I have released recently.......geeeze I have been slack haven't I. This is called "Christmas Candy" and we will be sitting down to that turkey roast before you can say.....humdiddlydiddlyhumdiddlyhum!!! :)

Check it out.................

The ever reliable shopping bag with a sweet little coin purse. Pattern available now!!

Now I haven't had a giveaway for ages so when I return from Port Pirie, I will have a showcase of goodies to share with you so I think we just may have to share the love a bit with some free patterns hey?? sounds like a plan doesn't it. Also I have some info I would like to share next time about this years Quilt Aid 2011. It is GOOOOORGEOUS!!

Until next time...........

Stay grooooovy "in stitches"

       

Snippets of stitching!!

Crikey it's been a mad couple of weeks. Multi tasking to the max.....school holidays......stitching for various things......a touch of spring cleaning...don't know why, cause then it buckets down and blows like a tornado and undoes everything you've just done........!       But that's ok........I love the rain. It's always a good reason to stay indoors and sew sew sew...totally guilt free. Me like THAT!

So......that being said I have another sneeky peeky at one of my other projects that i have designed for Country Hart's retreat at the end of this month. I love this little cutie and I know that the ladies will be very excited indeedy dooooooo!

 I started with some of this..........

 

And Robyn sent me some scrummdiddlyumptious fabrics and I started doing this.........

 

 
Hmmmmmmmm! What tis' it???? I wonder???? thinking thinking............Well unfortunately I can't reveal much more than that so you will have to hold on to your knickers until after halloween people and THEN I can let the cat out of the bag!! Poor thing....hehehe that is such a strange saying. I wonder where it originated from. Does anyone know??

Speaking of cats, my beautiful Katie girl has been admiring the pair of ducks that have taken up residency in our backyard. Are they blind or just fancy themselves as Bonnie and Clyde! I am being strong and not feeding them this year though.

 
They bring their friends and their friends bring friends and then babies come along and blah blah blah.....too traumatic seeing the numbers diminish very quickly with the little ones and my love of wildlife just does not cope so hopefully they will get the hint!

Barry's chuffed about that. More tucker for him! Scrambled egg. Does he not know about the whole "Egg" thing??? strange bird.......

 

Gotta lick the bowl.....it's like licking icing off the cake beaters....god he'd do that too you know! Pushy buzzard...LOL

 

Righto Barry, you're turn for doing brekkie in the morning. Can't wait to see him pour the milk on my muesli.......LOLOLOLOL!!

Have a good one!

Breakfast by Barry "In Stitches"

         

Great weather for ducks!

And Kookaburra's, if you happen to be one!!. Sunday that just past saw a huge amount of rain being dumped on us here on the Central Coast of NSW. A lovely sight I must say. Our spring has started out to be a lovely warm but dry one so the ol' snoz hasn't been a happy camper, nor have the eyeballs for that matter. So a whole day of lazing around on the couch like a potato sharing my DVD treats with Barry....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I watched 3 movies or should I say WE watched 3 movies, sorry Barry and the 2 of us were like a permanent vegie garden.

I have now discovered that Barry likes M & M's..........is there anything he doesn't like??

When we were abruptly moved on later that day by the "What's for dinner" requests.......how rude........! Time for Barry to retire for the evening so while I was putting Barry back in his apartment I spotted (I have my fingers in barry's ears for a moment) my all time favourite bird, the Kookaburra.

This guy or perhaps it's a gal was drenched and from the look of things either enjoying the heavy rain or taking a break! I wonder what he/she is thinking about???? What to cook for tea, yep it's a she, should I do my nails, or wondering if the washing has been taken off the line...........LOL!! Probably still out there.

 

Caught completely off guard, I raced for my camera and unfortunately I didn't have my zoom lense on so this is as close as I could get without ticking her off.

Whoops I think I am busted!!

  

She's off!

 
 
Safe 'n' sound on the good ol' clothes line! Oh the washing has been brought in...........well catch me I'm falling!.........hahahaha

She was absolutely sodden but they are just so grand. I love them! Sorry the pics weren't better quality but if I had fussed with getting the other lense on, well, you know what would have happened.........she would have flown the coup!! Just thought I would share one of my favourite things with you all!

Just before I go I am off down to Country Hart in Port Pirie S.A again this year......YAAAAY......at the end of October with the crazy crazy Gail Pan....LOL! We will be teaching together again for the weekend so really looking forward to that! We had so much fun last time. The girls are so much fun down there and Robyn hosts a fantastic weekend. Here's a sneeky peeky of just one of my designs I have lined up for that weekend. Come to think of it, everytime I go to S.A I have a brilliant time. Must be something about the south! They do have an accent you know....LOL!

 
Back to my other secret squirrel design. Sneeky peeky soon. Promise!!

If all else fails, take flight "In Stitches"......LOL

               

Kindred Stitches!

I have received some pics lately from kindred stitchers who have been happily stitching away a variety of my designs so I thought I would share with you the beautiful work and gorgeous fabric choices from some of our sisters of the Patchwork community!

GO GIRLS!.................. :)

 Firstly we have Sharon who is sounding very organised and busily preparing for Christmas........! Sharon has made my kids' toy bags from my Christmas book for family members. Sharon has used one of Lynette Anderson's Christmas fabric ranges and I must say that they look awesome. Christmas looks great in all different tones of blues, greens, reds etc:

Thanks so much for sharing them Sharon. They look absolutely fabulous!

 

There are lots of fun and easy projects in my Get Red Red for Christmas book. Keep the fun going Sharon! x :)

Now Michelle from "Patchwork Heart" recently had a member from one of her talented team make a sample of my Woodland Magic. This design is one of my personal faves in my design collection.

 
I do believe that Michelle kitted this up so pop on over and have a looksie. Isn't is gorgeous!! It looks so happy. And if you are just starting out with making quilts and applique or are looking for that special project for someone and are running a little low on time, then Woodland Magic is perfect. Thanks so much for sharing Michelle :)

I just want to add a little somethin' somethin' which was given to me by a very special friend. I only get to see her once a year at the JukeJema retreat at Nowra. Her name is Jenny Martin and she is one of the most beautiful souls that has ever come into my life. I have only a hand full of beautiful souls in my life that I am blessed to call my friends. You all know who you are MWAH MWAH........ :)

This is one of Jenny's designs incorporating a little of one of my designs to make it just for me! You may remember me showing you Jenny's beautiful "The Flower Pot People" one of my BOM's.

 
Well Jenny made me this beautiful folder cover. It has plastic sleeves inside so I can keep all my projects in the making in and also notes etc: I so need something like this instead of a ratty manilla folder....LOL! You would think that I would have gorgeous creations for everything I do wouldn't you???? You have heard about the pipes at a Plumbers house haven't you??  LOL............. Check it out.

 
This is the centre block from my quilt.

 
and this is what's on the back. How sweet is it!!

With all the things us ladies have to do in our day, our life, our world, how lucky are we to have stitches.......................and friends in stitches who make us little treasures such as these. So when you are having a super crappy day go and have a snuggle and a sniff of your precious hand made gift that I know you have there. :)

Sisters in stitches.......always!

          

Stitchers Dream Day Out

Technology........GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Last week found me very frustrated and just a little ticked off. You see, while I was away teaching at "The stitchers Dream Day" for The Quilters Angel my house was like HQ for the CIA with some serious You Tube sessions and investigations in progress via massive downloads. Hence, our internet usage maxed out and we were taken down to the speed of a an intoxicated snail that had been in cahoots with a bottle of rum! "10 more bottles of beer on the wall ... 10 more bottles of beer... hic hic hic"

My net surfing speed was PAAAAAINFUL.....it took a kazillion billion million minutes to open my emails (do you like that one?  kazillion billion million haha) and to do a blog post and upload piccies?.................forget about it...LOL! That is just one good reason to be committed.......................... HA! with the bottle of rum!  hehehe

So last weekend I headed up to Toowoomba to teach for the weekend with the effervescent Libby Richardson and the BEAutiful Julie Lovell from Calico Farm. The 3 of us clicked straight away and that was the recipe for a FAB weekend. Here we are doing our talks...well Julie is the one talking and we are listening intently.

 
Sorry that the pics are smallish. This is all I could get my hands on. See my camera decided it was too bloody cold to work. The batteries went flat and it went into hiding with its hot water bottle never to be seen again. Did I mention the cold snap that came through Toowoomba that weekend?? AH HA! Coldest on record.........Queensland, what on earth happened?? Seeing that it's my favourite state I shall forgive you just this once...LOL!

So there's Julie talking then me & then Lib. The marquee looked wonderful and all the ladies had a fantastic time. Yummy goodie bags, yummy lunch and great giveaways. It was special as always to meet blog friends and to make new ones. One cheeky chic that you may know is Kris from Tag Along Teddies. Kris was at the naughty table. There's always at least one naughty table at retreats and just quietly I think Kris was the head honcho! Great to meet you in the flesh Kris and hope you don't mind that I borrowed some snaps. Photo courtesy of Kris Meares. :)

The gorgeous chicky babe pictured with us far right is Helen. This beautiful, wacky, awesomly funny lady is worth bottling. Helen was the cherry on top for the whole weekend.

MWAH Helen.... you rock! xxx

 

There was lots of show and tell and I met 2 wonderful ladies who had made my Hootie's Garden bag. Thanks girls. I love the colours that you have chosen and thankyou for bringing them along to show us all. Sorry, small piccie again!

 

Jenny (pictured left) also made my "The Wonder of Spring" BOM and brought it along to show me. It is magnificent! Thankyou Jenny.

 

It was a top weekend had by all. A little chilly but warm hearts & friendly smiles made it all worth while. Thankyou to Marion for inviting me along. Marion took such good care of us making us feel very welcome and very well feed! My tootsie's say thankyou as well. Marion loaned me a pair of socks as frost bite may have been eminent.  LOL!

 
 
Back to reality. I have so many things on the cooker. That explains my absence. New designs, magazine project and projects for my next retreat which is at "Country Hart" teaching along side my partner in crime Gail Pan. This is at the end of October so book in for a fantastic weekend with Gail and myself. Last year was so much fun and this year will be no different. Robyn knows how to put on a show. 

before I go you are probably wondering why haven't I revealed my projects from last weekend. I do need them for a retreat but I am remaking them in different fabrics along with a secret surprise project as well so if you happen to see them in blogland the next time you do see them they will look totally different....... ;) cheeky aren't I........ :)

Keep smiling "in Stitches"

       

My weekend at Nowra - Sequel

Me again........with more fun pics and tales from the JukeJema retreat.  First up is another finished retreat seat from Sandra and a one in the making. I am loving how different they all look with the individual fabric choices. And before I show any pics the pattern is available now and you can get "My keeper of all things lovely" as we speak from these stores here in Australia.

www.countryhart.com.au       S.A

www.fabricpatch.com.au       QLD

www.cookiesandcreamcraft.com.au     N.S.W

www.thequiltershive.com            N.S.W

www.countrypickins.com.au        N.S.W

Here is Sandra's retreat seat and it's so lovely just like her. :) Thanks so much for sharing Sandra and spending the weekend with you was awesome....you're too funny!

 

Here are the pockets from Glenda's seat and I am sure she has completed it by now.........haven't you Glenda!!  LOL

 
Now the weekend wasn't complete without show 'n' tell. There is always wonderful show 'n' tell at a retreat but this one was a little different and particularly phenomenal. All the ladies who were there last year were given a challenge that they were to make one or two of each of our designs. Being one of mine, Annie's & Janelle's. There was also some other works on display as well and WOW, the ladies did not disappoint.

The quilt that the ladies chose to do of mine was mainly "The Flower Pot People". Here's a squizzy at some beautiful work. Here's trouble...LOL. Margaret & Kay worked on this together and it looks stunning. They are 2 cheeky gals and it's always lovely to see them at JukeJema each year along with Sandy.N. (she's related you know).

 

And speaking of the bubbly Sandy, here is her gorgeous work of art!

 
I was sitting down the front with Janelle & Annie and it was gob smackingly awesome to see how much work all the ladies had done. I was very touched indeed. *tear...tissue* :)

And here is my beautiful friend Jenny. A little ray of sunshine and a walking, talking stitching machine she is she is!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the colours the colours. I love each and every one of them my chicky babes. Thankyou so much!

Now just a couple more pics to show you and I shall save the rest for part 3 otherwise I will have to call intermission and the popcorn machine is out of order!!.

Here is me & Jenny and this is my "Ladybirds on Patrol" quilt. And 2 spunky ladybirds..LOL!

 

And just one more I promise. This is Pippa and she is a genius. Pippa has made my "Ladybirds on Patrol" as you can see and has modified it into a Roman blind!!! Clever gal. I love it........................ :)

 
So there you have it..... a fest of colour & creativity!!

Back soon for the final installment.

Fun, favourite things & friends "In Stitches"

                  

My weekend at Nowra - Part one

Well, what can I say................ what a fabulous weekend it was at JukeJema's annual stitching retreat at Waterslea. Monday and Tuesday for me has been a blur, nearly lost my voice, suffering lock jaw from laughing, ran out of Tena Lady's and just starting to feel my wacky normal self again. LOLOLOL Janelle and I had a great trip down. A bit of drizzly rain here and there but overall a great run. Talked non stop. Not even the radio stood a chance!

We taught along side Annie Downs and the three of us have done this gig before so it was special to be able to do it again.

 

All the ladies who attended the retreat were particularly special. Great to see familiar faces and to have some new ones too. A gold star goes out to Shiree & Colleen who came all the way over from New Zealand. Hope you had a wonderful time girls, it was great to finally meet you :) So who was the Captain of this ship?? Well THE most gorgeous girl.....Kim and her second in charge THE most cheeky Carol...........! You never disappoint girls. You are amazing! Thankyou :) MWAH

Carol on the left...Kim on the right :)

 

Kim's mum, a lady who is wrapped in loveliness, every year makes all the amazing gifts that the ladies get in their gift bags, was once again THE winner of the hardest working stitcher there. Here we are.................snuggle snuggle.

 
 And here is just one of the gifts that Margaret stitched. I think about 70 of each and there was one gift representing each of the tutors so quick calculation.........de dum de dum.....210....YOWZA!   or there abouts.

 
How cute hey! I am going to give this to my sister Mel as I have one that I made from my copy of Janelle's book. And last but definitely not least for part one of my weekend show 'n' tell is my project.

 
OOOHHHH! Just had to sneak this in first........Where have I seen that chirpy little chap before??? Of course, my Woodland Magic quilt. He was made and presented on the goodie bags representing me. What a gentleman... :) 

All the ladies loved it and that's what it's all about. You always hope that your projects you design for retreats are going to be received well and it was. So here is "My keeper of all things lovely" which is a 2 piece set consisting of a block keeper and something a bit fancy shmancy. What I like to call a retreat seat.

 
This is such a versatile project. You have the nice soft pillow to keep your bottom happy and 3 side pockets that hang at each side for your sewing needs. Saddle bags I like to call them, & pretty good lookin' ones at that! hehe Threads, rotary cutter, scissors, glasses, the list goes on. You could have one in your sewing room, take it to the footy, on a picnic............anything goes!

This was inspired by a friend of mine while we were at this same retreat last year that I should design something that you could hang off your chair and keep all your bits in that you would normally have on the table. So think of how much more space you will have now ladies at your next retreat.

I just have to put some finishing touches to the pattern cover tonight and the pattern is ready for release to the shops. Now the block keeper speaks for itself. A sweet stitchery on the front of one of my garden girls with some fun easy piecing, measuring in at 14 inches square. Perfect for the next quilt or to keep your stitcheries safe and secure!

Now before I go I shall leave you with a pic of Sandy G's completed retreat seat from the weekend and I shall return in a few days with part two!

Sandy used batiks and it looks sensational! Isn't she gorgeous :)

 
I have heaps more to share and lots of show 'n' tell. That is just awesome so stayed tuned folks and I will see you in a couple of days!!

Happy days & Tena Lady's "in stitches"