31 December 2016

Shop Reorganisation

I have done a bit of reorganisation of my shop site.  I have divided the BOM programs into their own category so that all the patterns for each quilt can be found on the one page.  This should make it easier for you to purchase parts of a particular quilt if you want.

The way I have set it up may be problem as I create more quilts as there is only a limited number of categories but hopefully etsy will have a few more improvements by the time I need more space.  They have been continually improving how the website works and I am glad I took the leap to create an individual website through their tools as I only have to maintain items in etsy and my shop website mirrors what is their.  

A great recent improvement is that you don't have to become a member of etsy now to purchase from my shop site which should be helpful improve sales.  www.seabreezequilts.com.au

So check out the shop and let me know what you think.  Remember tomorrow the final block of Bee Inspired will be taken down and be available for purchase only so download today for free.  

30 December 2016

Post Xmas ARRH

Been in a bit of a post xmas funk, I think I'm just winding down from a busy year, both at work and a bit of stress on the home front with extended family.  DH keeps asking what I want to do each day and I just want to do nothing and go with the flow for this week as least with no plans attached.  He struggles with this concept... I'm struggling with the concept of getting up before 9 this week at least I'll probably have to pull that back next week.  

Christmas evening Grange Beach, this picture doesn't reflect the number of people that were there at 8pm at night.  Behind us towards the Jetty there were lots of family and friends groups having a wonderful time in the cool air.    I don't blame them Xmas day was 40C it was probably high 20's when we hit the beach which was magical.

We had reasonable warning that Xmas day was going to be extreme so we cooked the Turkey outside xmas eve on the WebberQ.  It turned out perfect and there were no complaints about it being dry and we picked a good ham.  DH family can be quite brutal about Xmas lunch... don't get me started on the argument about having a cold lunch and how it isn't trying.  One day someones going to get slapped big time 😈 but the family is dealing with the slow mental decline of my MIL so I will cut them some slack.

My xmas present to myself was a fitbit 2 which I am loving.  I stopped wearing my original fitbit when I battled depression 18 months ago as I was struggling to get out of bed to walk and then the side affects from the meds were a bit full on first thing in the morning and the rest of the time I was just making excuses.  Its taken me a couple of days to get my walking count up but I have managed and exceed the 10,0000 the last 3 days.  And although I was initially scared about the sleep monitoring as I know don't sleep well and rarely sleep a full night I have been surprised how much sleep I am getting... might be a bit different when I have to get out of bed before 9 though.  I'm also increasing my water intake which I know has been a problem recently and its easy to document how much a drink quickly on the app.

DH has been building a gym for the kids over the last 12 months and it is pretty much finished and we installed a treadmill just before xmas and we have all been using it. Them to run me to walk I think it maybe a while before I get up to running (if ever I've never been a runner).  We already had a weights machine from when we first moved in together 25 years ago and its still does the job.

Maestro is building up his left arm and although it is still slightly smaller I think only family would notice now.  It only a couple of weeks until we go back to the surgeon hopefully he will give him the all clear to resume karate.

Mo is running daily and is tinkering with the idea of going vegan for a while.   She was getting a bit of flack from school about how thin she is and the fact that the first thing she does when someone hands her packaged food is reads the label.   DH has voiced his concerns but as I explained to him she does eat 3 meals a day (he and Maestro never have breakfast), she doesn't eat a lot of processed food and she listens to her body.  She knows what excess sugar does to her and since she has been cooking all our meals she now eats a bigger variety of food and tries more stuff.  If we can get her to stop baking cakes we would all be healthier.  I'm hoping exploring the vegan thing will mean she has less time for cake baking.

Fingers crossed with a bit of hard work we will be healthier and fitter in 2017.

19 December 2016

Gearing Up for Xmas

Mo has been taking over the kitchen again, this time to do a cake for my MIL's 87th birthday.  If I had of been home I would have gone a got her a proper cake board for better presentation but it tasted good and looked pretty spectacular.   MIL was only remotely aware that it her birthday but I think she enjoyed the cake.

While I was in Melbourne I took a photo of the window of Hopetoun Tea House.  I usually walk past the line up to get in when I'm in Melbourne at Christmas and never get a good look at the window display.  This time there was no line so I could take a photo.  I sent it to Mo and says maybe she can try and get a job here when she grows up.  I think I would prefer if she just opened her own version in Adelaide than move to Melbourne though.





15 December 2016

Celtic Tree of Life Block 5 ready for download

Head to the Celtic Tree of Life Page for the latest Block download.  If you have missed out on any don't forget you can purchase the blocks from my etsy site at www.seabreezequilts.com.au.

I will need to get my act together over the next few weeks because I plan to start designing the centre block.  As this is the largest block in the quilt it may mean that the lead time may be a bit longer but I will keep you informed as I start working it out.  Once the centre block is designed I can figure out the final two knot blocks and all the fun of how I will put it all together which I have to tell you is pretty much in the air at the moment.


I'm heading to Melbourne tomorrow for work Xmas do.  I will be slotting in a bit of Xmas shopping in the morning and then join the Melbourne office for some serious eating and drinking.  




08 December 2016

The School Year is Ending and the holidays are nearly here

Maestro finished school last week for the year.  I can't remember finishing year 10 this early.  Mo had 3 days of school this week and today is preparing for her end of year presentation tomorrow then has 2 days of excursions and nothing much next week will finish up on Tuesday.

Mo went off to her formal dinner dance last Friday and had a great time. She said all the older kids kept saying she was cute (she hates that) and she got twirled around the dance floor but one of the year twelves who presented her with glow stick glasses.  I have been forbidden from showing a picture of her on any social media but she did look lovely in her dress.

The same day was our Wedding Anniversary so we ordered Maestro a pizza and headed down to the end of the street for dinner by the beach.  It was nice just the two of us out to dinner having a conversation about stuff proving we can still do that without the kids.  We even got a perfect sunset.

I've finished Block 5 of Celtic tree of Life.  I probably should be starting the next block early so that I can get a jump on the centre block which will be block 7 but I haven't yet maybe on the weekend.

I signed up for Sarah Fielke's next BOM (I know I'm an idiot) I don't know when I will be going to get time to do it.  But there are video's involved and an interactive group so I got sucked in and there is no fabric included so I can use the stash.  I also signed up earlier for Jen Kingwell's new BOM but I'm only getting the templates for that.  I'm a sucker for templates got to have them all.

I haven't been fabric shopping in forever and I don't think my stash is suffering I am sure there is enough fabric there for at least a few hundred quilts.  I am collecting one of MO BOM this year and I have started the first block  but I am not liking the plain background fabric they have chosen, though I love all the appliqué fabric they have sent.  So I'm thinking about changing it and starting again.  

01 December 2016

Bee Inspired Putting it All together



The final piece of the puzzle is up ready to to download.  I hope you have enjoyed the quilt and I'd love to see your finished quilt when it is done.

As always pattern will be up for a month and then be available to purchase from the shop.

Enjoy.