New Years Eve!!!

I can't wait. I just had to share!!

By the way I left my camera with all the photos from my trip at home so no photos. Maybe at Christmas time I will share if your still reading.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder..

So for any of you who read my blog (which is not many) you may or may not have noticed my long absence. I am still alive but I have had so much on my plate.

Firstly I have come back to Australia for 4 weeks just because i felt like it and also because I missed my sewing machine and my mothers large pantry. So I have been enjoying myself far too much.

Secondly I have been bombarded with assement pieces for uni. When you have 5000 word essays to do you do not get much time to blog.

And third and final excuse, pinterest has taken over my spare time. I am so addicted.

But all excuses aside I have many things to share over the next week or two don't you worry.

Ill be sharing some projects that I have been working on since I have been home. Some quilt tops that have been sitting in my cupboard for way to long. A few recipes of things I have made while I have been home. And a few other things up my sleeve, they are all fabulous by the way. But you will all have to come back and have a look for yourself.

For now...

Jazz

Pinterest Inspiration

So tonight I sit at my computer. I have a thousand things I really should be doing, but instead, I am searching the millions of wonderful images on Pinterest.

If you have never heard this expression before, then don’t worry because I must admit, tonight is the first time I had ever been on the site myself.

So tonight I thought I would share with you a few of the wonderful images I have found in the half hour of searching. Just imagine what you could find in an hour.

If you have never been on the site then you are really missing out. It gives you so much inspiration.

Source: nobiggie.net via Karisse on Pinterest

Source: None via Erica on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Josey on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Michele on Pinterest

Source: thebookofsecrets.tumblr.com via Emily on Pinterest

Source: opentravel.com via Sahar on Pinterest

Source: sugarlaws.com via Lissa on Pinterest

Are you just loving on any of these images?


What inspires you?

Stars and Flying Geese

So I have been a little slack with my blogging. But I do have an excuse, I have been studying feverishly for my exams. But now I am on my one day break so I thought I should post something. So I thought I would show you the second quilt I made, mainly because its the only quilt I have with me. The rest are at my mums house waiting to be quilted.

So.... this quilt was my second quilt ever!! as you may know my boyfriend is Irish and when he got a hold of my first quilt and my mums and our neighbours he wanted one for himself. The only thing he wanted was a green quilt, can you believe it?? So i set out to make him a GREEN quilt (btw I don't really like his take on green). This is the result of his annoying and pestering efforts, a green Irish quilt!!

This quilt was so time consuming, but I LOVE it!! Yes I said I didn't like green, but this is an exception.

I got many funny looks from old time quilting friends who thought I was crazy making this quilt. But I did it and I love it. I snuggle up to it everynight.

These are my favourite two stars, the one below was my way of putting some colour (other then green) into the quilt.

 

Below was the backing of the quilt.

 

This quilt was the first quilt I made all by myself. I had to learn how to do flying geese and they were so hard the first few times, but they got easy after that. I did not quilt this one myself, do not think I could have if i tried, its HUGE! I don't know the exact measurements but it fits on a queen with hangover.

I hope you enjoy this post, come back soon as I will be showing of some new fabrics additions to my stash. 

p.s. Sorry for the bad photos, it was raining and the light was horrible, I tried every room possible!

Choc Chip Cookies

So last night I was sitting on the couch with my boyfriend and all of a sudden we both had a craving for something sweet. Of course i didn't have anything on hand to whip up something so we had to go without.

But my mission today was to make something sweet (and easy). So I give you my tried and tested recipe for my favorite choc chip cookies!

This recipe is from the Australians Women's Weekly COOK book and they are so scrummy!

Ingredients
125g unsalted butter
1/2 caster cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 3/4 cups self-raising flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
150g dark chocolate chips (I always add a little more)
Pre-Heat oven to 180

They look so yummy don't they

First off you cream the butter, caster sugar,  brown sugar and vanilla

Add lightly beaten egg gradually to the mixture

Add flour and salt

I have used a mixture of the lindt dark chocolate and some milk chocolate

but you can use whatever takes your fancy.

Add the chocolate bits and mix.

I use my hands cause its easier.

Roll a tablespoon of the mixture into balls and bake for 

10-12 minutes or until slightly golden.

Don't you just feel like cookies now!!

ENJOY!!

New Toy

Like most, Easter eggs were very common throughout our house over the weekend. But there was also a new addition that I can't wait any longer to share. 

My beautiful boyfriend was very spontaneous and bought me a NEW CAMERA!!!!

I have been a camera enthusiast for quite a while and my little old camera is just not cutting it anymore. 

Now I am the proud owner of a Canon EOS 1100D SLR Camera is just so pretty.

With this lovely lense.





And to carry it around a lovely bright green carry bag (that's the Irish coming out in him)

I am having the best time taking photos of anything I can.
We went for a little drive around yesterday afternoon and I had a chance to take a few snaps.

There will be more too come!

My First Quilt

So I thought I would share my first quilt with anyone who is reading.

I made it when I was only 20. It was made with scraps from my mums fabric stash. 

I even quilted in the ditch myself. I have never quilted my own since this one. 

I always send it away to the lovely Betty, she does a better job then I would ever be able to do. 

I love the backing fabric, I have a little obsession with polka dots and strips, as you will notice with a quilt that I will show at a latter date. 

This quilt is a much loved couch quilt and is coming apart. 

I must not have done a great job with the quilting. 

But I love it and it is with me everywhere I go.

So just wanted to share. 

*Sorry for the bad photos, did not have the best lighting.

A little about ME!

So today I thought I would tell you a little bit about myself. 

There is not much but so don’t get too excited. 

I am 22

I am Australian

I am living in New Zealand

I am studying to become a primary teacher

I am studying online so I can do it anywhere and anytime

I love to cook but don’t like to clean

I love food and I eat too much

I love making quilts but don’t have my sew machine

I love fabric and I buy way too much

I love the colour aqua

That’s about all I have to tell

For now…

Jaybird Quilts and Fabric Shoppe

Jaybird Quilts was one of the first blogs I came across when I began to follow quilting blogs.

Julie Herman is the wonderful woman behind the blog, and she is pretty amazing.

And she's young which I love.

Anyway She is having a giveaway over on her blog Jaybird Quilts.

In association with one of the most amazing online fabric stores, Fabric Shoppe. The fabric shoppe stocks lovely modern fabric. 

I want to buy everything its all so beautiful.

So you can pop on over to Jaybird Quilts and go in the draw to win some beautiful fabric from the Fabric Shoppe.

Just thought I would show you some of the beautiful fabrics that I love from the Fabric Shoppe.

I just want them all they are so beautiful. You can also choose your own fabrics bundles. AMAZING!

My First Post!

So, here I am! I have been a keen blog “onlooker” for a while now and never thought that I would actually start my own.

I am very nervous and excited to start this journey, by myself at the moment, but I hope to get some followers soon.

As I have been removed from my typical surroundings and do not have access to my sewing machine, fabric stash or larger kitchen with my numerous utensils. I had to devise a way to get my fix (no, I am not referring to drugs but I am referring to sewing and cooking).

So the idea of creating my own blog where I can showcase my creations, my fabric finds, my cooking accomplishments and anything else that I find interesting or fun.

So welcome to Sew.Cook.Love and I hope you enjoy.

- Jazz