.: patchwork house-block swap :.

The lovely Angie, who blogs at GnomeAngel, is coordinating a house-block swap.  I've signed up for the international swap, so these six little houses will be heading off to three lovely ladies both here and overseas.  

I followed the basic pattern that Angie shared on her blog, with a few little changes so I could ramp-up the fussy-cutting opportunities, the TINY fussy-cutting opportunities - the windows are a half-inch square, finished!  Each house is 6 1/2" unfinished.  Here they all are one by one. 

I think this next one is my favourite - not one, but TWO Laurie Wisbrun giraffes!

They're all pretty busy, I know, but I do find it very hard to tone things down sometimes.  Too much colour, all the patterns, throw them all in together, I say!  I even had to specifically buy plain, white, solid fabric for the borders - I just never use a solid white, ever! 

The swap houses are due to be posted by next Friday, so check out all the happy little houses that are now popping up on instagram and Flickr - search for #patchworkhouseblockswap and #thefussycuttersclub.  Pop across too, to Angie's blog, to join in with her second Fussy Cutters' Club linky party, and take a look at all the fun fussy-cut creations that some very clever peeps have been making! 

Hope you have all had a great week - the school holidays have been perfection here in Brisbane.  Happy weekend to you all.  xoxo cat

.: koala trio :.

I haven't yet shared all three of the koala minis I made!  If you've been here before, you'll have seen the minis I made for Camille and Holly already.  Reading Camille's awesome Australia Part 1 post last night has reminded me that I haven't shared all three of them together! 

If you follow me on instagram (I'm @hellofromcat), you will of course have seen all three of them already.  I started the middle koala up there, for gorgeous Pam, weeks and weeks ago, as a little thank you for such a lovely time when we met up in San Francisco way back in January!  I just never actually sewed him up into a finished mini though.  And then when I found out I'd be going along to Camille's trunk show and Red Letter Day class - and that her gorgeous friend Holly would be coming along too - I sewed up another two koalas! - and then set up a little koala-quilting-production-line to finish all three of them together. 

This one is Camille's - all in Bonnie+Camille fabrics, including the koala-grey - except for the Pam Kitty Morning white on white 'Recipe for Success', and the black/grey sketch.  And the tree-branches! - that's from the Lush Uptown line. 

And this one is Pam's - all the greens are Pam Kitty Morning, and the 'Recipe for Success' white.  The koala-grey is a gorgeous yarn-dye chambray from PolkaDotTea Fabrics.  His eyes and nose are the same black/grey sketch.  And the binding is a Lizzy House print. 

And this one is Holly's!  I should have mentioned by now, that the fabulous koala pattern is by the very-talented Kristy of Quiet Play.  I love all Kristy's patterns, they are very clever, well written and super-straight-forward to follow.  

And here are all the koalas together, before heading off to their new homes!  I loved making them for Pam, Camille and Holly, and I love that they are now living happily in different parts of America.  

Hope your week has been a good one so far.  It's a truly gorgeous day here in Brisbane today - not a cloud in the sky, and only about 20 degrees - just perfect.  xoxo cat