Flutterby Angel

I'm still stitching away......

2011-05-29T18:19:00.000+10:00

Hello friends

I have made some progress on the farm quilt....

I am however having some problems with my camera...

I have a sneaking suspicion that I will have to buy a new one...

very soon :(

Sorry about the poor quality of these photos....

Below is the layout of the whole quilt.

This next one shows the layoutof the last strip....

Little girl on a horse 'rounding up' the ducks and the pigs

This one is better quality - just!

The very bottom row is the same as the top row.

Now I am ready to stitch each evening again.

I finished the previous block on Thursday evening and

spent the afternoon preparing this one.

I hope you have had a great weekend....

mine has been quiet but restful - just what was required!!

Take care and spend time with your loved ones.....

Lucky Me!!

2011-05-07T10:19:00.000+10:00

Hello Friends

Another busy week has flown by.....

This week brought the postie to my door......

Look at my lovely mug rug!!

The result of the Mug Rug Swap!

Made by Helen - pop over and have a look at her blog and see how talented she is!!

Thank you Helen - I have already put it to work.

The sofa in my family room has square arms which are perfect for

a mug rug and a cuppa :)

So it now lives next to me and.....

My lovely DH makes me a cuppa to enjoy......

.......wonder if I could teach him scones.......hmmmm....

Maybe I should be happy with a cuppa.....lol....

Thanks again Helen - Love it!

Take care and spend time with your loved ones......

Starting to feel 'normal' again......

2011-05-01T12:04:00.000+10:00

Hello Friends

Hope you enjoyed a wonderful Easter with family and friends :)

We had a great time with both the children home with their respective families/partners.

We were able to love and spoil the little grandson who is now

2 years old and talking non-stop!!

My sister and her DH were also here and

I am pleased to report that she is looking well and

feeling so much better too.

I was able to complete and post my Mug Rug Swap gift.

Thank you to the lovely Helen who was very understanding

regarding the late swap.

I have been out of town with my work quite a lot recently and fell a bit behind.

Below is evidence that they are completed and on their way to Helen.

I have been working away on my Farm Quilt and

seem to be making some good progress and enjoying

the therapy and relaxation of the hand stitching.

I am back at work on Monday but at least in the home office - Yay!!

Will have some progress pictures of the stitching next time :)

I have enjoyed catching up with your blogs over the past week also...

.....some great work ladies!!

Take care .....and spend time with your loved ones.....

Hello and goodbye.......

2011-04-10T15:32:00.000+10:00

Hello Friends

Just a little post to let you know what I have been up to....

Below is a little project I have been playing with....

I have also had a sewing class for my farm quilt....

Got the sheep and the windmill on the way......

.....my work has casued me to fall a bit behind with most things lately...

But Easter will see me catch up :)

I won't be back at home until Easter so....

....Happy Stitching everyone....

Take care .....spend time with your loved ones......

Did you miss me?????

2011-04-03T17:12:00.001+10:00

Hello friends

I have not dropped off the edge of the world!

I have been travelling around the countryside with my work

.....phew!.....

I have this week at home and then the two weeks leading

up to Easter out in Broken Hill!

Fingers crossed I should be home more after that :)

Today I have pieced the rest of my farm quilt

......well almost......

I ran out of the green background fabric...

...but we have another stitching day at Toongi

next Saturday so I will get some more :)

I wanted to lay out the quilt to get an idea

of the final product.....

So here it is.....

On one side of the 3 stars will be a windmill and trough (for the sheep)....

Undecided what will be on the other side....

I'm thinking kangaroos....tractor....hmmmm

Sheep under the 3 stars......

Beige block under that is for pigs and more ducks and chooks....I think??

Please forgive the awful photography :(

I like to do this so I can see if the layout is right.

What do you think??

I am also working on a mug rug for the swap....

That is my project for this week :)

This has proved a bit of a challenge for me...

....which is a good thing....we need to challenge ourselves sometimes!

I have finally decided on colours and a pattern....

Fingers crossed my partner will like it :)

Next time I will show photos of the quilt I made

for my Mum's Birthday!

Beautifully quilted by Lorraine Burrell.

Take care.....spend time with your loved ones.....

Still here.......stitching away.....

2011-03-05T20:18:00.000+11:00

Hello Friends

Just letting you know I am still here stitching away quietly.

I have started on the second strip.....cows & calves and chickens.

Below is the layout.....

I was working out at Broken Hill last week

and will fly back there tomorrow - returning on Thursday.

Then I will be flying back to Broken Hill

the following Monday for the week.

Phew!!

Should finish the cows this week and iron the chickens on

next weekend and stitch them on the following week.....

.....I HOPE!!

I don't like being away from home for that long but........

I am staying in a nice little unit on my own so......

it is very good for stitching!!

Hope to catch up again soon.......

Take care and spend time with your loved ones......

Stitching at Toongi

2011-02-12T19:01:00.001+11:00

Hello Friends

Sorry for the absence....busy...busy...busy!

Today was the second 'class' for our farm quilt

and here are some photos of my progress.

I have also pieced most of the strips for the coming lessons.

I find it is easier to get all the piceing done ahead

and then just concentrate on the applique.

I have been working on my house block...lotsof stitching here!

And I just loved the dog.....mine is called Clyde....

after my brother-in-law's faithful red cattle dog :)

There is a tree and birds to go to the right of my farmer...

....and a cat which will go under the tank stand I think...

The next strip is cows.........

I have pieced the strip - just need to prepare the cows....

Now....I couldn't resist sharing this photos of my two handsome boys..

This was taken while 'snorkelling' on the Great Barrier Reef

about 3 weeks ago....I think they enjoyed it!!!

Tai will be two on Wednesday...

Love my boys!

Take care.....and spend time with your loved ones....

My Contribution

2011-01-27T22:24:00.000+11:00

Hello Friends

....Now don't go into shock....

.....because I am here twice in 2 days....lol....

Below is my contribution to the New Beginnings Sewing Caddies

for the Qld flood victims......

I made mine from a layer cake - Breakfast at Tiffany's....

....and have included the remainder of the

layer cake in the gift :)

I just can't imagine what it would belike to lose what has

taken me years to accumulate......

.....never even stopped to think about the dollar value involved.....

......makes you wonder if we have enough insurance.......

Hmmmmmm......

Take care and spend time with your loved ones.....

A Very Productive Day!!

2011-01-26T19:28:00.009+11:00

Hello Friends

Happy Australia day to everyone!

We had some friends join us last night....

.....to celebate Australia Day......

We had a great evening....lots of laughter....food...drinks...

We played charades and celebrity heads.....

......great fun......

Today was an absolute scorcher!!

43 degrees celsius on our back verandah!!

Perfect day for staying inside and stitching really....

So that is what I did :)

Here we have the results of said stitching....

Sorry that the photos are far from great!

Below My DH is doing his best
to hold the completed quilt top...

.....but alas ....he isn't tall enough......

But I am sure you get the picture!

This quilt is for my Mum's Birthday in March....

....I will find some backing fabric and ......

send it off to be professionally quilted.....

Hope you had a great day too.....

Take care and spend time with your loved ones :)

Stitching Home Work!!

2011-01-16T16:14:00.004+11:00

Hello Friends....

Fisrtly I want to send love and prayers to everyone affected by

Floods and Bushfires in Australia........

I just cannot believe what has happened.....

and my heart goes out to those living the nightmare......

God Bless everyone of you!

Now....below is a photo of what I have been up to........

I started a class at Toongi's Little Quilt Shop last Saturday.

A lovely group of ladies too :) We will meet monthly.

We are making a farm quilt.....thought the grandson would love this ;)

It is a very scrappy quilt and is constructed in strips.

The green block in the centre will soon have a farm house.....

tree....dog...cat...chooks etc....

I am using up scraps left from old projects....

and fabric from my stash.....no purchase yet!!

The bottom of the quilt is the same in reverse....

Except there is not another house.....lol...

will have to wait and see what is on that block!

So......I have most of the bottom piecing completed also.

There is also a few strips that make up the centre part of the quilt.

I will start stitching the ducks tonight and....

when finished.....iron on the house etc and keep on stitching!

Hope you have had a productive weekend too!

Take care and spend time with your loved ones :)

Progress / Update

2011-01-06T08:37:00.004+11:00

Hello Friends

Here I am with a little progress photo.....

Below are the completed blocks for Mum's quilt......

Need to cut the sashing and borders now.....

BUT.....I am waiting on the fabric to arrive......

.....all ordered and paid for but.....still waiting......

Working on a WIP today.....more later........

Oh.....by the way.....this is my 98th post.....

I can feel a giveaway coming on.......Stay tuned......

Take care and don't forget to spend some time with your loved ones....

Eeeek!!! Disaster!!!

2011-01-04T12:07:00.003+11:00

Hello my friends.....

Can you see what all the fuss is about???

Look closely below........

Yes you are right......I made a big mistake when cutting!!!
I could have cursed, cried and kicked something.....
but of course that would not be very lady-like.......
Soooo......I had a long drink of water to steady my nerves.......
and headed to the computer to go on-line and buy another layer cake!!

......dear oh dear......
This lovely fabric - Breakfast at Tiffany's -
is what I finally decided on for my Mum's birthday quilt....
.....And look what happens!

Well.....on the bright side.....
....I need to think of something very pretty to make from my mess.....
Hmmmmm......Any suggestions??

Take care and spend time with your loved ones.....

Busy few days.....

2011-01-03T17:44:00.008+11:00

......Hello Friends....

I have been hiding inside in the cool with the air con for the past few days....

.......it has been rather productive for me.......

I have finished seven mug mats and tidied up the cupboards

in the sewing room.....big smile.....

These two are for my mum to go with the table runner

I made her for christmas..........

This one is for my sister.....for her morning cuppa......

This is for a friend and her hubby who are avid tea drinkers......

These are......just because I can.......LOL........

And.......today I started this lovely BOM by Jenny from Elefantz
I really love the sentiment behind the design.........

.......and I am making it for my sister in her favourite colours........

.......even though I love Jenny's colours......

I hope you have been able to do something you love today too.....

Take care and spend time with your loved ones......

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2010-12-31T09:26:00.007+11:00

Well.....Santa has come........

And gone......for another year.....

Hope you all enjoyed a peaceful and happy Christmas
with your family and friends......
We had a great time with DH's family.....
...he enjoyed doing the job (above) that he has been doing for over 20 years....

This is my little grandson Tai cooling off in the little pool
under Nanna's verandah........

It was a warm day at the Zoo......

a boy's gotta cool down with a "block".....

Tai is 22 months now.....

and this is a great age to introduce him to the Zoo.....

He loved all the animals and was very excited!

They left for home yesterday afternoon....(sad face)...

....the house feels so empty and quiet without them.....

....but we are very blessed tohave them...(happy face)...

I got into some stitching late yesterday...

...will have some photos next post....

I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!!!

Take care and spend time with your loved ones

Christmas Decorations.....I love Christmas!!

2010-12-04T16:36:00.012+11:00

Hello Friends

Well if this rain continues we will be having Christmas on Noah's Ark.....lol...

Last night DH brought in the decorations from the garage......

Below is the 'small' mess I created unpacking and decorating the trees....

I really love Christmas Trees and could not really claim to be a serious 'collector'

........but.....I do have just a few......

Now.....these were taken today when I had most things in their place.......
I kinda like this Nancy Halvorson wall hanging.....bit of a favourite....

This is the sideboard in the meals area of the family room.....

Bit of a story attached to this furniture (above and below) ......

.......belonged to my girlfriends in-laws....

....and noneof their family members wanted it after they passed on....

.....so it lives on in our home very much loved!!
And we feel very priviledged to have it!!

Below is a sewing machine which is 'holidaying' with us......

.....belongs to my sister-in-law and she is in the processof moving.......
Sounds like our house is like a puppy pound for unwanted furniture.....lol.....

This is my newest addition.....

....purchased in the post Christmas sales last year...

I buy all my Christmas decorations in the post christmas sales!

.....And lastly for today.....

My 3 red Myer trees....

So named as they were purchased from.....you guessed it.....

.....Myer.....in the sales...

Ooooh.....not a very good photo...

.....my sewing room mess is in the background....lol...

Now......that's not all but I am out of time for today....

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend....

I am....and.......

my Mum and DH's brother and sister-in-law are coming for dinner
......so I had better get off here and finish the cooking!!!

Take care and don't forget to spend time with the people you love!!

My new 'baby'........

2010-11-25T17:44:00.003+11:00

Hello Friends

This is the new addition to my sewing room.....

I acquired her from Ebay and my son picked her up for me....

Just received her on the weekend......

Haven't quite decided exactly where she will live yet....

Will do that this weekend....

She will get a clean and polish on the weekend too.....

She doesn't look very loved sitting on the floor.....

but I can assure you that is only temporary ;)

Hope you have a good weekend......
.....hope to have some stitching to show after the weekend....
.......Take care....

Family Holiday......Near Anna Bay NSW

2010-11-24T10:02:00.006+11:00

Hello Friends

Yesterday we returned from our family holiday

which was the wish of my sister Beth......

It is the first time in years that we were all together!

We had a wonderful, relaxing time....

Below is the farmhouse where we stayed - we also needed another cottage

which does not appear in this photo as there were 26 of us!!!

Below is a rare photo of the three of us.....

My brother John who lives in Charleville Qld....

My sister Beth who lives on the Central Coast of NSW....

And myself.

The 'farm' was a great place for the kids....

Every afternoon at 5pm they got to 'feed' the animals.....

They rode around on a trailer pulled by a tractor - very exciting!!

Some being 'city' kids' were beside themselves - thrilled!!

....and not at all frightened of the animals.....

Chooks, ducks, geese, turkeys, cows & calves, sheep & goats,

Donkey, pigs, alpaca and even a resident kookaburra

who ate out of our hands.....conveniently arriving each meal time!!

Below is Tai sittting on the donkey and feeding the goats....

he loved the goats and chooks best!

....especially the baby chickens which he could hold!

Two nephews and great neice riding in the boom net....

They slid down the water slide to get to the net!!
We were on the catamaran dolphin cruise - fantastic!!

We spent 5 wonderful, fun-filled days together.....

The kids slept so well each night.......

Poor little Tai was just worn out!

This was taken just as we were going to lunch on the last day....

This is how we all felt when we arrived home last night..........

What a great holiday!

Nothing better than spending time with the people you love most in the world!

.......take care.....

Catch-up

2010-11-14T16:57:00.009+11:00

Hello Friends....

I have had a busy couple of weeks......

lots happening on the weekends and with work......

Will have to wander over to 'your place' and catch up on your news!

Below is a little stitchery I have completed.....

I think it is cute and I enjoyed the simple stitching....

It will grow into a wall hanging and

live just inside our front door, I think.......

I tooke these photos out in the garden today.....

It is quite overcast and we had a litttle bit of a shower.......

I bought these fabrics some time ago.....

A layer cake - Charisma.....

I love the fabrics and have been wondering for some time

about what to make them into........

This month's Country Threads magazine arrived and......

Look what I found inside!!
I think I have found my answer :)

Soon I will be cutting......more on this later.....

Remember the Santa Wall hanging?

Well.......here he is completed!

I am sure Tai will love him!!

Here are the little decorations that hang on the tree
These were quick and fun to make!

I am off to Anna Bay on Thursday for a week with the family.......

Will have some photos on my return......

I am heading to the sewing room to trace off a couple of stitcheries....

Hope to get a few hours of stitching in the car....

And maybe of an evening???

Take care and spend time with your loved ones - I will be.....:)

My Saturday....

2010-10-31T10:12:00.008+11:00

Hello Friends

It was my DH's birthday yesterday and he went off to the "Day on the Greeen" at Mudgee....

.......The ticket was my gift to him :).....

.....He is the most social person and absolutely loves this day.......

This is how I spent Saturday.......

Unfortunately.....I woke early and decided there was no chance of a sleep-in...

Soooo......decided I would be a little industrious in the kitchen.....

Below is a sample of the 'fruits of my labour'......

.....I made a batch of Poppy Seed Salad Dressing.....

Can you see that I used red onions - its a bit pink??

Tastes delicious!.....And a favourite of my family.....

.....After that I picked up my Mum and we did a few little messages at the shops....

.....No - it did not involve craft shops!!......

Then we came home and had a nice lunch and....

later I picked some flowers......

Below are some lovely sweet peas....

.....my favourite is the red variagated.....

We have approximately 40 rose bushes and......

below are some samples.......

.........I LOVE roses......

(although some are very thorny - ouch!)

I had a stitching friend join me for dinner and a little stitching.......

I am almost finished the Santa wall hanging for my grandson....

I am just attaching the 'hanging' threads to the ornaments.......

Then I just have to bind and hang!.....

Can you see the ornaments that I have hung?

I have hand quilted it and embelished with beads - difficult to see in the photo.....
I think Tai will love this as he is just learning who Santa is........

Today.....DH and I are about to head off for a walk......

and then I have alittle book work to do......

......and then I will settle down to complete the wall hanging......

Hopefully it will be all finished tonight........

What have you been up to this weekend??

Take care and spend time with your loved ones..............

Stitching Catch-up.........

2010-10-24T18:42:00.004+11:00

Hello Friends

I am a bit late with my post this week......

Have been visiting my sister who has been ill again....

She had pneumonia - third time....

Makes you wonder about the human body...

It is simply amazing how she can be sooooo low and then fight back again...

But she is home again and improving every day........Thank God...

As promised some time back.......

Below are some photos of my Jungle Quilt in progress....

The first block/strip was the elephants.....then the monkeys....

Then we did the giraffes and turtles.......I have now stitched the faces....

but these photos were taken a few weeks ago......

I am currently working on the lions, tigers and zebras......
Give me a few weeks to get back to them as.......

I am also working on an Advent Calendar for my grandson Tai......
..........A little bit of swapping and changing going on with the projects......

.....I am famous for that.....lol.......

I will catch up again next weekend.....I will be out of town for work this week so...

.....probably not much will get done on the stitching front!!.......

Take care and spend time with the people you love.......

Busy Week.....

2010-10-09T13:38:00.009+11:00

Hello Friends

Hope you are enjoying the weekend so far......

I have had a busy week......Made this little quilt for a baby shower.....

I have never made a shaggy quilt before so it was a new experience for me...

Boy it's messy!!! I had threads and fluff everywhere - even after washing & drying!!!

Below is the back.......

And below is the front......

I chose the white because the nursery is all white
except for some very bright paintings on the walls........
I was very happy with the the result!
Love the bright colours 'peeking' through the white!
And I quilted in several different bright threads too......
Hope the mother-to-be likes it.....

Just thought I would share before I run off to get ready to go to the shower!

Enjoy your weekend :)

Take care and spend time with your loved ones.........

A few more stitching projects......

2010-10-01T15:45:00.004+10:00

Hello friends

Have had a lovely week.....hope you did too....

Went wedding dress shopping with my daughter.....very exciting!

She is getting married next year about Nov - Dec....

We were not buying - just trying!

Had a lovely afternoon together....shopped for a few other things....very nice!

Below is a quilt top from a class that I did....not the best effort as you will see in the close-up ...

....but I will find some binding and backing fabric soon and finish it off!

I love the colours and will bind it in the hot pink.

One of my friends suggested it would look good on the brick wall....

.....hmmmmm I think she could be right!

Finished work at 2pm today and took a quick trip out to Toongi Quilt Shop

.....to pick up a bit of zebra fabric for my jungle / african animal quilt......

....I know I had some.....but now I need it.....I can't find it.....

So typical!

And I cleaned my sewing room last weekend....

.....what can I say!!!!

Will share the jungle quilt next time.....

Enjoy the long weekend....that is in NSW anyhow!!

Take care.....Spend time with your loved ones....

What I have been up to......

2010-09-24T18:34:00.006+10:00

Here's a peak at what I have been up to - as promised!

Below......four table runners that I have to back, quilt and bind.

They are for Christmas presents.

Below is the scrappy quilt....draped over the lounge as

I didn't have anyone here to hold it for me....

It is quite a big quilt and it's taking me a while to

stitch around it....lol.....

My DH likes this one and I guess it is a bit masculine....he has claimed it!

Anyway.....that is a little of what I have been up to this year....

I'm saving some for my next post!

Hope you all have a great weekend and manage to

fit some stitching into your busy days!

I am taking my Mum to the local Embroiderer's Guild Show.....

It is always so inspiring and they are very talented ladies....

amazing work and a nice afternoon tea :)

Now I am going to make a nice cuppa and sit with my DH while

he watches the footy and stitch a bit more binding :)

Take care and enjoy some time with those you love!

Guess Who??

2010-09-22T19:43:00.006+10:00

Hello Friends

I am here again after such along time and

I am really going to try to blog at least once per week!

As promised long ago - photographic evidence of 'the great shave'!!

I have been sewing and enjoying it very much for a good part of this year.

I have photos BUT I cannot find my cord to down load them to the laptop!!

Poor 'Nanna-brain' cannot remember what she did with it...lol...

I promise to remedy that this weekend.

This year has absolutely flown by and I feel like most of it is a blurr.

My Son and Grandson

Hasn't he grown! 19 months old now and saying lots of words

- even putting two words together!

Family is just the best thing ever!

Speaking of which....

My lovely sister is doing well at the moment. She is very lucky to be in 'Management Phase"

which is the very best we can hope for....now we just have to keep her in that place.

Thank you again to all of you who have kept her in your thoughts and prayers.

.....Stitching.....

I have been working on several table runners, an appliqued jungle quilt

(which I am loving and I'm on the last block)

and a scrappy quilt which I am currently binding.

I have also completed a really cute quilt with my neice who is

teaching at a child care centre and learning to sew with her Aunt!

Can't wait to get the photos on here on the weekend!

Don't want to ramble on too much....

So take care til next time........Love you.....bye

MY FIRST FINISH FOR ALMOST 12 MONTHS!!!

2010-03-09T21:47:00.004+11:00

Hello Again......

Here is my first finish in almost a year.....well.......

This one was started by my brother-in-law's wife and I finished it so I am claiming it!

This is for my sister's fundraiser.

Not the best photos - My DH wasn't tall enough!!

I will be binding another one tomorrow night....

Up close you can see that it is quilted with red thread and bound in red......

Hope to have time to show the other one by Thursday or Friday!
I am getting very nervous about the hair......4 more sleeps!!

Take care til next time......love you.....bye

Happy Birthday Thank You!!

2010-03-06T20:10:00.003+11:00

Hello friends

I had a birthday on the third.....one of those numbers you would like to forget.....

Look at the beautiful gifts I received from

some wonderful blogging friends

who are in a birthday fat quarter swap.....

I am not even in the swap but they just wanted to send me a gift!!

How wonderful are they??

Thank you to Jo Jo, Kerry and Peg

These were just a lovely surprise!

Now I have to confess to a couple of things.......The lovely green fabric that came with

Jo's gift is not in the photo.......because I am already using it!!! Yay!!!

And Peg.....the chocolate is in our tummies.....Yummo!!!

My wonderful husband gave me a gift voucher to buy some charms for my

NEW pandora! That was fun!

I also have vouchers for the beautician and for a massage hmmmmm!

Thanks kids!

I will have some stitching photos for my next post so stay tuned!!

7 sleeps till I lose my hair..........

Take care til next time.......love you....bye

Beth's Fundraiser

2010-03-01T17:44:00.003+11:00

Hello Friends

Below is a lovely photo of my sister Beth

we are having a fundraiser and auction for her in her home town

....same as chookyblue's town......

It will be held on Saturday 13 March

Now don't be too shocked.....

I am going to have all my hair 'shaved' off to raise money!!!!

I know - I am mad - but I love my sister and she needs my help.

If you would like to sponsor me please contact me by email

and I will give you the bank account details.

If you would like to help out with donations of saleable goods I would be most grateful

....and as above if you email me I will give you the address to send them to.

Please help me out by adding a link to this post on your blog to help me spread the word.

Thanks you so much.....take care.....tell your loved ones how much you love them....

Love you.....bye

Update

2010-02-16T20:51:00.004+11:00

Hello again everyone

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who left a comment on my last post.

You are wonderful and caring and I appreciate it very much.

I have been trying to be positive and strong and mostly it is working ok at the moment.

Some of Beth's friends are planning a fund raiser for her and I have joined them.

My friend Marlene and I are making a Quilt to raffle / auction.

I should be very honest and say that Marlene has been doing MOST of it....lol......

I have been so overwhelmed by people's generosity.

Our world has far more good people than bad and thank God for that of course.

We are slowly accumulating donated goods and hope to have a successful night on

Saturday March 13 at Coonamble Golf Club.

On a brighter note......

It is my grandson Tai's first birthday today!!!

Where has that year gone??

He took his first few steps on Saturday so we had better watch out now!

I will be visiting on the weekend for his birthday party.

Promise to post a photo of him and just maybe the quilt top!

Thank you again my very good friends.......

take good care.........love you........bye

My Sad News

2010-02-04T08:59:00.003+11:00

Goodmorning Friends

I felt the need to share the heaviness in my heart.....I hope you don't mind.

On January 11 we discovered that my sister who is 50 has cancer.

She has Multiple Myeloma which attacks the bones. She has tumors in her skull,spine, ribs, pelvis, one arm and one leg. The pain is quite bad but controlled by medication. Her movement is restricted due to the tumors in her spine so she requires help with some everyday tasks.

Chemotherapy begins on Monday 8 February. We have been assured that this will buy her some good quality time - "up to a few years" according to the specialist.

I feel so numb inside.....like this cannot be happening to us.

My heart is aching and I don't know what to do.

I feel like I want to do something lovely for her......I thought of making her a comfort quilt but I can't seem to get myself motivated to do much at all......maybe later.

I just hope sharing helps me in some way as I know that blogland is full of wonderful caring people.

Please include Beth in your prayers and thank you for listening.

Take good care........love you....bye

Christmas Wishes to My Friends......

2009-12-23T08:43:00.005+11:00

Good morning friends!

My Christmas wishes to everyone out in Blogland:

I hope you spend Christmas with the people you love most in the world

I hope 2010 is a wonderful year filled with special blessings for each of you

And especially in Australia....I hope 2010 brings lots of lovely rain to chase away the many long years of drought.

Below is my gorgeous grandson Tai 'investigating' the Christmas balls that I think started out on the treee???

He is the most wonderful blessing for our family......

can't wait for my Christmas cuddles!

Hmmmmm Not sure how to stack these ones....will have to concentrate harder!

Ooops! I've been caught red-handed!!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

A little bit of everyday news......

Yesterday I resigned from my position of 10 years!

I feel a great sense of relief combined with a bit of sadness too.

HOWEVER......

This means I will have time to get back into blogging and stitching - YAY!!!!

I am looking forward to re-joining all my friends from blogland in 2010.

CAN'T WAIT!

My love and best wishes to you and your families....

Take care til next time......love you....bye

Can you believe I am here?

2009-11-03T16:58:00.005+11:00

Hello faithful friends...

I am home by force only, recovering from a mystery virus....won't hurt me I guess!

Have enjoyed catching up with some of your blogs and seeing

some of your amazing work....you guys are great!

I have nothing on the sewing front to share.....

But I do have a gorgeous grandson who is now 8 months old!!

Where does the time go?

Below is the very proud Nanna and Tai on the Christening day 20 September 2009

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family....and we have had some lovely times

together recently...

Below we have Daddy and Tai at a family wedding recently...

He is such a grown up in his little pin-striped suit that his other Nanna made for him!

If only DH was in this photo I would have my three favourite boys here!

We celbrated DH's 50th Birthday last weekend and it was fabulous!

My DH is a very 'social' person and loved by many friends so

the guest list was almost 100!!

Lots of laughter, singing karaoke and dancing ensured a very memorable evening for him!

Take care til next time......love you.....bye

Look! I have been stitching!

2009-05-03T16:42:00.006+10:00

Well.....Hello!

I am back from a frantic few weeks at work and home!

I have a very busy month ahead too so if you miss me......

I am just not at home and really busy!

I did make time to have a read or three of your blogs....sorry I have not commented

.....but I did stop by for just a minute!

I have my sister's 50th at the end of the month which will be held

at her home on the Central Coast....

plus.....a fair bit of travel with work during this month....

Hopefully things will settle down a bit after that!

Had a special visitor yesterday.....we had lunch together

followed by a couple of hours chatting and stitching......

and yes.....we did stitch....

can you guess who?

....it was the lovely Chookyblue...

Thanks for stopping by and brightening up my day Chooky!

Now....have alook at what I have been up to today.....

Firstly I baked some apple and cinnamon muffins....sorry no photos.....

Then I finished off this bag that I have been making for quite a few months....lol....

It is for a very dear friends 60th Birthday.....

Here are a couple of close-ups - I had some fun with the embroidery.....

I just wanted to make it a little bit special and different.....

I hope you had a lovely weeekend doing whatever makes you happy....

I DID!!

I am off to have a shower and get ready for Mass....

Then back home for some ironing.....yuk!

Take care til next time.....love you...bye

New Blogger

2009-04-14T08:34:00.002+10:00

I discovered a new blogger!

Patricia from Tuppence Craft....pop over and say hello and welcome!

She is doing a great job with her blog and maybe could use some great tips from

the more experienced bloggers!

Welcome Patricia!

Tai's Quilt and Photos of Tai

2009-04-13T17:28:00.005+10:00

Hope everyone had a very Happy Easter!

We drove to Canberra to spend time with the children and the gorgeous grandson Tai.

All are well and happy and it was great to catch up.

Tai has grown sooooo much.....

He is 8 weeks old today and has gained 3lb......so that makes him just over 8lb now!

Only the size of an average new born.....but he was only a tiny little fellow at birth!

He now has his very special completed quilt......

see below......

I was very happy with the finished product....

Here is the little man enjoying his quilt.......

Nanna and Tai had lots of long conversations......
He loves to 'talk' and smile now and is very social!

(I think he gets that from me.....what do you think?)

I am absolutely loving being a Nanna and could easily bore you with many more photos.....
but I have to keep reminding myself that not everyone loves him as much
as I do.....lol......

Take care til next time.....love you....bye

A Little Progress..........

2009-03-29T18:35:00.003+11:00

Just wanted to show you that I actually got a bit of sewing done today......

I wanted to finish Tai's quilt soooo....

The backing should have been chenelle but I had a stress attach a couple of weeks ago because the chenelle made the whole thing far too thick and heavy....well I thought so.....and as I am a very inexperienced quilter....I was very nervous about quilting it.

I ended up deciding to use cotton for the backing and today set out to sandwich and quilt!

Oh no.....not enough fabric.....so I patched the backing with leftover fabric from the front....sandwiched....pinned....and began my very simple quilting....

GUESS WHAT???

I ran out of thread!!!

It seems I wasn't meant to finish the quilting today!!

I will get some more thread tomorrow and finish off the quilting during the week.....hopefully....

Below is a picture of the back.....oh... I made the label today.....

Need more fabric for the binding too....so off I go to the LQS tomorrow.....

I am trying to finish this quilt so I can give it to him at Easter!

Oh well....I have another weekend left....lol.....

Have a good week and take care til next time.....love you....bye

Presents....Girls day in the Country

2009-03-28T09:09:00.014+11:00

I have finally 'surfaced' after last weekend spent at Girls Day in the Country in Nundle....and a very busy working week!

First....GDITC....

What a fabulous job Kerry Swain does in organising this annual event!

Congratulations Kerry - everything was fantastic!

Thanks also to Rosalie and Leanne for the great projects and for your generosity in sharing

your wonderful talent with all of us.....a great weekend!

As I was such an 'air-head' and left my camera at home....I have no pictures of the day!

But....below is the bag of goodies that was on the table for us......

three projects this year...thank you...thank you....thank you

This is how much I managed to get stitched of the needle case......

No.....ofcourse I wasn't chatting and eating when I could have been stitching.....lol.....

I love the variegated thread used in this project....

A close-up....

Kerry had heaps of giveaways during the day and I was delighted to win one of the major prizes....how lucky was I?

I won this quilted bag....I think it is called a fat quarter bag?

Look closely....Rosalie and Leanne signed it as a memento!

Thank you Kerry.....I can see this one travelling to Club Quilt with me.....

On the Saturday evening as we had 'drinkies on the lawn' at the caravan park.....

we had a 'Secret Gift swap'......below is what I scored......

a lovely fat quarter....some ric-rac and can you see the cute pussy cat button?

Thank you to the lovely Judith....I love it.....and I am a cat lover!

Now....during the week I received another birthday gift from the fat quarter swap!!

This time from Mandy at the Old Dairy....

Can you see the two lovely glass buttons? Beautiful fabric and lovely cotton lace too!

I think I have been spoilt......Thank you Mandy....I love them....

A little while ago I won a give away on Linda's blog.....

I received it this week......

This very beautiful table topper...

Sorry it is a little crushed from travelling....

Look closely at the beautiful tiny, even stitches....the work is just divine....

See the cute little angels with lovely 'wild' hair....I love them....

Just soooo ME!

Thank you Linda.....it is already much loved!

Well....I am off to check out a friends new house and then hopefully spend the rest of the

weekend sewing and maybe even some hand stitching!

Enjoy your weekend

Take care til next time......love you....bye

Girls Day In The Country 2009

2009-03-19T19:31:00.003+11:00

This is where I will be Tomorrow!!

......Lovely Nundle.....

Below is the Woollen Mill.......all you knitters will be jealous!

This is the view from Hanging Rock near Nundle....

How beautiful is that?

Nundle is a very quiet and picturesque little town.........
but not for long.......100 or so stitching ladies are about to decend upon Nundle!
I am sure it takes Nundle several months to recover from our visits.....lol......

The people are friendly though! .....lol......

Can't wait to see everyone......Kerry, Rosie and Leanne and all the lovely stitching crew!

Will post heaps of photos when we get back........

Have a great weekend.......enjoy some stitching.......

Take care til next time......love you.....bye

More Birthday Swaps....

2009-03-15T10:06:00.007+11:00

Good morning all....

First off I would like to apologise to Rachel and Jo for the late 'showing of the gifts'....

I have very busy weeks and usually only post on the weekends....sorry....

I would like to share some more lovely gifts from the Birthday Fat Quarter Swap...

These arrived this week....I love that your birthday lasts for a week....lol.....

Below is a very thoughtful gift from Rachel - Four Wise Monkeys

How appropriate is this pattern! My gorgeous little grandson Tai will love this......

Thought I would just open up the fabric to give us a better look.....

This is just wonderful Rachel.....thank you so much!

Below is the very generous gift from Jo over at Vintage Lane Stitches....

Jo these are just perfect too....and I love ric-rac.....pink and green.....

I just love being part of the blogging and stitching world!
I have met some of the best people and learnt so much due to the generosity of
bloggers and stitchers!

You guys are the best!

Now.......Girls Day in the Country next weekend....WOW!

Hasn't it come around quickly?

We are sharing lots of preparation emails....lol.....

Truly.....if we forget anything at all.....I'll be shocked!!

And I think I will be more shocked if everything that is on the very comprehensive lists (thanks Peg) fits into our vehicles!!

Anyone's DH have a semi-trailer!!.....lol.....

I am off to do a bit of cooking and then spend the afternoon stitching....

shhhhh......don't tell anyone.....it seems to bring the visitors out of the woodwork!!

The past two weekends I have missed out on my stitching afternoon because I had

lovely visitors drop in.......not really complaining as I had a lovely time catching up.....

....but no stitching time...... :-(

Have a creative day!

Take care til next time.....Love you.....bye

March 3........Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-03-07T15:28:00.008+11:00

Yes! It's true.....another year has come and gone for me!

Thank you to everyone who so very kindly remembered my birthday.

Maree from On my Verandah....thank you for organising the Birthday Fat Quarter Swap

....terrific idea!

I want to share my gifts with all of you.....

These are the fat quarters that I received from the swap.......

This is from Shelley - Angels Come to Play.....

included is Shelley's very own pattern for covered coat hangers and some ric-rac and ribbon..

Thank you Shelley.......I will post my attempts at the coat hangers later......

This one is from the lovely Kerry from Forever Friday.....one of my favourite colours and Buttons too!! Very thoughtful Kerry and much appreciated....thank you!

Below we have a gift from the gorgeous Jo from Home Sweet Home........

Just too pretty, these ones.....and some fragrant wax for the oil burner......

mmmmmm smells just divine....thank you Jo......

My bloggy friends have proved once again just how generous and

thougthful they are......thank you, thank you, thank you.....

Now my special day would not be complete without my family and below we have the

beautiful gifts from the head of the family (that's what I let him think anyway......lol....)

This year he has been incredibly generous and has obviously been planning for some time hmmmm

Below is a picture of the sideboard in the dining room......look closely at the ruby glass lamps....

I have been eyeing them off for some time and trying to justify the expense......

How blessed am I? My wonderful DH got these for me......but wait - there's more!

He also schemed behind my back....lol....and had this little beauty hand made for me

......no not the dressing table, silly.....the jewellery box........

Check out the grain on the timber....walnut I think.......

This is the inside......beautifully handcrafted by our very dear friend......retired from 'real work' as he says.....but spends most days in his workshop.....

My mum gave me money which was somehow gobbled up into a pair of shoes today....

....can you believe that....lol....

My children gave me a gift voucher for the beautician......mmmm......nice facial perhaps......

My very good friend Jo spoiled me with a gift voucher for a massage.....

you think she knows I have had a rather stressful few weeks at work?.....

Another very good friend Marlene bought me a bottle of Bialeys......hmmmm maybe she heard too?

I did think it might be a good idea to save that one for Nundle - Girls day in the Country...

.....we could share then.....good idea!!

This has been a long post I know so.....thanks for staying to the end.

I have had a BIG few weeks at work.....my position has been abolished in the restucture of the organisation.......and I have been busy putting together a new resume and an application for the new position which has been created. The position would be a significant step up for me and I was very surprised on Friday to learn that I have been granted an interview!

Soooooo fingers crossed for me on Monday at 11.15am please....

Thank you......it will be great to know I have some support out there!

And......just a post script.....it's our wedding anniversary today....

We are going out for dinner tonight.....isn't it great to get a night off from cooking?

Happy Anniversary to us!!

Tai's Quilt - Some Progress!

2009-02-22T21:51:00.007+11:00

As promised.......an update....

I managed to stitch Tai's name and birth details onto the last block and

this evening I pieced the blocks together.....

Still have to get the borders done.....hopefully that will happen after work this week....

Here we have his name and the whole quilt....

Some of the stitchery blocks.....

Below is the progress on the bag for my friend's birthday....

did a bit more hand stitching on that while in Canberra and travelling...

bit more embroidery and then hand quilting before I put it together.....

Hope you all enjoyed the weekend.....I had a good one...

Tai has taken his Mum and Dad home and they are settling in well from all reports....

He apparently likes sleeping in his very own bed....lol....much better than hospital!

Take care til next time......love you.....bye

Introducing Baby Tai

2009-02-20T19:45:00.008+11:00

.....Introducing our precious grandson Tai.....

DH and I spent 4 days admiring our beautiful little bundle of pure joy!

He is very small but very cute!

They are still in hospital because he has lost weight - now 4lb 13 oz....

The midwives started to pay attention to the new parents when they weighed him on Wednesday evening.

DIL still did not have milk and he was not sucking well and he was jaundiced.

Finally discovered today that he is slightly tongue tied and the Doctor was going to do the little 'procedure' to fix that today.

A fairly simple thing but the parents...particularly Mum....are very concerned.

I am sure he will thrive once this is fixed.

I have to say that I am very proud of my DS....he is such a good husband and father.

My lovely DIL has been coping with a difficult birth and a baby who was not feeding well and fussing a lot during the night - I think it was rather overwhelming for her......

(most of us mothers have felt similar feelings at one time or another)

so my DS has not left her alone since the birth....he has been sleeping at the hospital (when they can sleep that is) and helping with the baby's care and supporting his wife.

Anyway......here is the little man.....

Nanna, Daddy and Tai....day 1.....12 hours old

Day 2.......eyes open....

Day 2....."I love my Mummy".....

Day 3....."My Nanna loves me enough to change my dirty nappy!"
My goodness he is tiny........mine were never quite that small but gee you forget don't you?

Day 3....Nanna snuggles.....

Thank you to everyone who left messages....I was overwhelmed....the most comments I have ever had!

This weekend will be spent putting the quilts together.....hope to post some progress photos on Sunday.

Take care til next time.....love you....bye

WOOOHOOO!! I'M A NANNA!!

2009-02-16T09:01:00.002+11:00

I became a Nanna at 3.39am today!

Baby Tai came into the world after a long labour weighing 2.3kg (or 5lb 2oz for us old girls)!

He is only tiny but caused a few little problems getting here....all are very well and happy now though. Thank you God.

He has lots of black hair and caught onto this breastfeeding thing very quickly!

I have a photo on my mobile but don't know how to get it onto my blog!

We are off to Canberra to visit the new little family very shortly.

Should be back about Thursday with a couple of photos to share!

Take care til then.....love you.....bye

Bushfire Tragedy

2009-02-08T21:26:00.005+11:00

I have been busy sewing under my cool air conditioner today and had a couple of friends drop by for a cuppa.....Lovely afternoon.

Then I heard the 5 o'clock news as I was getting ready to go to Mass.....

SHOCK.....ABSOLUTELY SICKENING SHOCK....

I cannot believe the devastation that was going on while we were so happily oblivious!

The worst bushfires our country has experienced in about 70 years....

The last I heard there were 66 confirmed dead and many more missing.....

hundreds of homes destroyed....I just can't believe it....

One whole family of six perished in their car.....this reduced me to tears.....

I would like to appeal to all you wonderful bloggy people out there to please pray for all the people who have been affected by these bushfires.....especially those who have lost loved ones.....

Also....please pray for all the wonderful emergency services personnel who risk their lives to protect and save the lives and property of others.......they are true heroes!

Please pray for life saving rain to help put out the fires......

I ask all who read my simple prayers to pass the word to other bloggers.......we need the power of prayer to help these people who have lost so much.

Thank you........

Wherever you are...take good care and thank God for those you love.....

Love you....bye

6.30am Monday - News Update:

108 people confirmed dead and more than 750 homes lost....not much relief in sight.....

Look what was in my mail box!!

2009-02-03T20:17:00.003+11:00

Can you believe this!

I received this fantastic and generous parcel in the mail today from Razzy's Special Place

This was the prize for her 100th post Give Away

This photo is not doing great justice to the lovely fabric....trust me it is very special.

Thank you for your generosity Roseanne....I love my pressies!

Congratulations again on your Bogaversary!

Now I am off to ponder what I can make with this lovely fabric....hmmmmm.......

Take care til next time.....love you....bye

Baby Shower

2009-02-02T17:52:00.004+11:00

We have just returned from the weekend in Canberra......

we attended the very special baby shower of our beautiful DIL (and our DS of course)

Below our DIL is opening one of the many beautiful and generous gifts they received.

This is one of the piles of new baby clothes that our DS was sorting so he could wash them while DH and I were clearing up after the party. (He has been suitable trained by yours truly!)

DIL was ordered to rest by DS as her poor little feet were puffy and she was very tired.
The heat was incredible for Canberra.....38 and 39 celsius!

After the cleaning and a light snack the four of us relaxed in the spa for half an hour.....
it was just heaven after the wickedly hot day!
Nooooo......no photos of this.......

Below are a couple of photos of the almost complete nursery.....
You can see the "nesting" is well underway and she is very organised.....

How cute is this........and where are his quilts? you may be asking....
His Nanna is not quite finished yet but is still working feverishly.......will need his name before completion!

DS and friends were trying to guess the birthdate and time.....hilarious really......men have no idea do they?....But you just have to love them anyway....lol.....

Twenty days until the due date now....hope the weather becomes kinder to her!

Hope to have some stitching updates next time...

Take care ......love you....bye

AUSTRALIA DAY

2009-01-26T11:21:00.010+11:00

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY TO ALL THE AUSSIES!

Enjoy your true blue Aussie day with friends and family!
Hope you are having a BBQ today.....we are tonight!
The weather is wickedly HOT here.......so stay cool!

This is the flag raising ceremony at the official Australia Day Clebrations in Canberra this morning....

I have had a couple of very busy and frustrating weeks at work and have come home each day and just 'flaked out' on the couch! We are in the middle of a huge restructure and I think the next few weeks will be much the same - I will know if I still have a job in March...if they don't move the goal posts again! Anyway....enough of that.......

Only 4 weeks until I am a Nanna!

The time is just flying by and as usual I have been caught out lagging behind with the new baby quilt.

Thought I would share a sneak peak with you.....this one is a surprise for DS and DIL....

Below are three of the stitchery blocks......as you can see I have not done a great deal....

They will come together quickly over the next few evenings though......

Teddy Bears and Ducks are the theme.....

I spent a couple of hours yesterday cutting and sewing the blocks together.

I have not worked with chenille before and boy does it make a mess!

But I love the look and feel of it!

These are the blocks all laid out on the sewing room floor....the blank spaces are where the stitcheries will fit of course!

The pattern I bought was in baby blue and white but I thought the red and white would look good...and I am really pleased with it!

I had difficulty finding fabric that would qualify as the 'light' component....but it turned out OK.

There will be a border of red and then one of the white chenelle and the backing will be the white chenelle.

I am off to do some more work on the stitcheries.......Enjoy the rest of the Holiday Aussie Day....

Take care til next time........love you....bye

Progress.....Finally!!

2009-01-11T20:30:00.004+11:00

Here are some progress shots of the quilt I am making for my grandson who is due to be born in 6 weeks!

Today I finally put the borders on - red and then green.

Jo and I couldn't believe how the borders changed the 'look' of the quilt so much.

I am also making a cot quilt and have not even started it yet....lol...

I will be in big trouble if he decides to come early!

Below is the backing fabric all ready to go....
All I need to do now is to go back and 'sandwhich' the quilt ready for quilting......
I am not a very good quilter....it will be very basic quilting....

Hope you all had a great weekend.....

take care til next time.....love you.....bye

Post Christmas Sales!

2009-01-10T12:00:00.006+11:00

Before I show the shopping purchases...I would just like to share my Christmas gift from my very good friend Jo....

How special is this.....an Anni Downs pattern - Twelve Days of Christmas!

Plus some fabric and threads to complete the project.....thank you so much Jo....I love it!

A few lovely fat quarters.....just because.....

These will probably become a bag for my DD who is a blue girl!

Not sure about these but could not resist the Pink and Green....one of my very favourite combos....

Maybe that really nice Melly and Me bag??.......hmmmmmm.....

I am off to mop my floors and then get some borders on that baby quilt!

It is still calling me........6 weeks to go until I'm a Nanna!!

He is becoming a big boy now and practicing his gymnastics.....makes mummy's tummy 'roll'....lol.....

Take care til next time.....love you....bye

How we spent Christmas Day

2009-01-10T11:34:00.009+11:00

I am sorry this one is a bit late but I really wanted to share our day with you....

This year we spent Christmas with DH's family where 36 sat down for Christmas Dinner.

There was lots of rather loud conversations going on all at once....lol....lots of fun and laughter too!

Everyone pitches in and helps and it is generally a great day.

My DH is always 'Santa' and he arrives on the back of a ute!

A bit of an Aussie tradition....lol....

Here he is being helped from the back of the ute by some of the older 'adult' nephews....

....they truly behave more like children at this event because they all have special memories of when they thought it was truly Santa....lol....

This one is with two very happy neices.....one is 22 and the other 6......

This is Santa with Nan, all the grandchildren and three great grandchildren!

This was taken after Santa had personally handed out the gifts to everyone.....takes about an hour and a half....

Here are the Christmas Dinner preparation crew....yeah!.....4 SIL and 1 BIL....the workers!!

We tell them that every year!

This is two of the clean-up crew......the eldest and the youngest brothers.......they made me take this photo for evidence!.....lol.....
My DH is one of 9 children - 6 boys and 3 girls - never a dull moment!

I would just like to add that there were no arguments or fights between the children or the adults....
everyone just cruises along doing their bit to help without being asked....just because that is how they have always done things.....many hands make light work!

Thanks for sharing our day!

Take care til next time....love you....bye

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T08:45:00.003+11:00

Welcome to 2009!

I hope 2009 is a happy one and that we (and those we love) are blessed with good health.

I also hope we are able to enjoy our craft as much or as little as we would like.

Love and blessings to you all!

SSCS Pressies.....

2008-12-26T14:12:00.010+11:00

Look how spoiled I am!

My SSCS gift came from Becky.....Thank you so much Becky...I love everything and you have been so very generous....

Of course the angel is a favourite!

I felt like a little girl again opening all those lovely gifts....

Here we have close -ups of the pincushion and tape measure....

Journal, angel and christmas decoration....

plastic project bag and sewing kit.....

A lovely pattern, needles and a jar of vintage buttons....

And.....Nancy Halvorsen Christmas panel......advent calendar....
I will have to make this for my new grandson"s first Christmas next year.....
That will be soooo special!

Thanks again Becky....

and to Chookyblue....
You are a wonderful elf and thanks so much for all the time you put into organising such a great world-wide swap!
We are all so very lucky to make so many new friends!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas with family and friends.....
We had a wonderful day and were very lucky to receive some beautiful gifts....
My husband was generous as usual and spoiled me....I am blessed to have him in my life....
Both my children were also thoughtful and generous....how lucky am I?

take good care til next time.....love you....bye

Two More Sleeps......

2008-12-23T13:12:00.004+11:00

No photos today.....only two more sleeps....

My brother and his family are on their way from Charleville in Queensland....

they have four boys who will really make Christmas exciting!

And my sister and her DH are coming from the Central Coast.....

My Mum is rather excited too...we will have a lovely family barbecue at my house tonight.

Then it will be Christmas Eve.....and only one more sleep!!

Be very good til next time 'cos the big fella is makin' his list and checkin' it twice......

Club Quilt Christmas Party Secret Santa

2008-12-20T09:54:00.009+11:00

.......Only Five More Sleeps......

Another festive addition to the house.....

The three little Christmas trees I picked up recently at Myer on a 40% off sale.....couldn't leave them there could I??!!

And....I have finally "dressed" my ornament hanger....lol....looks much prettier now....

Club Quilt Christmas party was held on Thursday night and it was great!

Peg did a fantastic job organising the evening.....Thanks again Peg...

There were 24 ladies present we had a great night!

Some of the ladies participated in a round robin bag swap during the year and these were unveiled on the night......keep an eye on the Club Quilt blog for the results.....AMAZING!

The ooohs and aaahs just did not stop during the whole 'show'....

This was followed by the Secret Santa Swap! Look at all the beautiful presents....and this is before they were opened.....lol.....

I received that really big one in the bottom left corner!

My gift was made by the lovely and talented Gaizie.

Thank you again Gai....I love it!

First I reached in and pulled out this amazing Christmas Bag...it is huge - perfect for the Christmas shopping.....it will get a work out in the next few days....lol....

But......inside....it had a baby!

I also got this cute little number....this is so gorgeous and the photo does not show the lovely fabrics well enough.....

BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE......
This beautiful christmas stitchery....I just love this......could not have been more perfect if Gai had planned it! I am an angel girl....love angels and this is just so ME!

Now I am just looking for the perfect place to hang it.......

You know I feel very blessed to be a part of such a special group of ladies....they have made my friend Jo and I very welcome and we appreciate them so much!
I haven't been stitching and quilting for very long and I am not very experienced....but these ladies don't make me feel like a novice!.....and they are willing to share their knowledge and talents.....that is what it is all about and what makes it so great.....so thanks ladies!

We are looking forward to 2009 soooo much......we have even started planning some projects!

Aren't Stitching Friends Just Wonderful!

Take care til next time.....love you...bye

Nine more sleeps.......

2008-12-16T21:19:00.005+11:00

Tonight I was reminiscing of Christmases past when my children were young and we would count the sleeps 'til Christmas.......ahhhh where have those years gone?

I would tell the the Christmas story of Christ's birth....and coming from a family with horse racing relatives....they were mortified that a baby could be born in a stable!

Especially such an important baby.......the son of God and our Saviour!

I can still see the wide eyed innocence on their faces.......

Below is my nativity......there have been a couple of accidents over the years - Joseph went to heaven.......but the rest have survived!

Our Christmas Tree.......and the gifts that I have just finished wrapping tonight....

The all important gifts......

Some more decorations.......

I have been trying to find a new wreath for my front door......the old one simply fell to pieces!

I am a bit sentimental about these things.....lots of them have special memories attached.....

Some of my decorations were made by the children when they were in their first few years of school......

Now my daughter is the teacher of a kindergarten class who are making some of the very things she brought home to me all those years ago......

I gave her our advent calendar which I made quite a few years ago to hang in her class and count the day off until Christmas......

Next year my DS & DIL will have a beautiful son of their own......

Oh listen to me becoming all sentimental.....

Enjoy the rest of your week......Club Quilt Christmas Party on Thursday night....

Take care til next time......love you...bye

What I have been up to .....

2008-12-13T10:57:00.006+11:00

A few weeks ago I was one of two lucky winners of a give away by Anni Downs - Hatched and Patched.......I won a copy of her new book The World as it Should Be............

I can't tell you how surprised and thrilled I am....I never win anything!

This is so special too as I am a great admirer of Anni's work. Follow the link and visit Anni...

Soooo....this arrived in the mail for me this week....

And as you can see it is signed by Anni....even more special!

Sorry about the flash on the pictures...just a very amateur photographer....lol........

Below is a sample of some of the little thngs I have been up to lately....finishing off Christmas

presents and putting together a few little 'stocking fillers' etc

Jo and I are looking forward to the Club Quilt Christmas party this Thursday evening.

I am entertaining at home this evening....we are having one of our dinner party groups (our turn).

This will be a Christmas theme with a secret santa....drinks and finger food on the verandah...

Should be a great night judging by past experiences....lol.....

I had better move it and get some of the preparations done or there will be no food....lol.....

Take care til next time.....love you...bye

New House & Gift

2008-12-07T11:10:00.005+11:00

Goodmorning....it is now 11.15am and I have not been out of bed for very long...lol...

Had a barbecue and played cards with DH's brother and SIL last night.....very late night but enjoyable and relaxing.

I have finally taken a picture of a beautiful gift that Chookyblue gave me when she last stayed with us......it is a beautiful little pincushion kit from Crabapple Hill....

Please note the gorgeous pin...I just love it....thanks again Chookyblue..

Won't start work on it until after Christmas.....

I took a few pictures inside the house yesterday mainly to email my children because they have not seen it yet.

When I had a look this morning I did not have a good one of my sewing room.....

Soooo....below is a picture looking through the family room into the sewing room.....pretty poor effort I know but promise to take some more later.

Now....I must run and have a shower.....do some ironing...yuk..yuk....because...

at 2pm Jo will be here for the big stitch-in....lol....

We are on the home stretch now with our Christmas gifts.....thank goodness!

Finished the SSCS and Club Quilt gifts but have a couple of others to complete!

Also.....I received my SSCS gift on Friday.....Thank you to Becky USA...I am resisting all urges to open it and will put it under the tree for Christmas Day......though I must admit to a little 'feel' of the parcels.....I can't help it - must be the kid in me! ....lol....

Take care til next time....love you....bye

Stitching Presents

2008-11-30T21:18:00.007+11:00

I have been busy stitching Christmas presents........

Below I have five chickens - you can only see four as I am a bad photographer.....lol...

I came up with this idea for my office secret santa....the girl I drew has said she would like

a framed 'something' country for her kitchen....farmyard animals like chickens and cows was her wish.

I am doing this little row of 5 chickens for the frame below...sorry about the quality of the photos...

I was trying to hold and snap at the same time!

I put these together this afternoon and I am stitching them now...it is very simple so should only take another couple of hours...the chickens will get legs and then go to live in the frame below!

This is actually quite a rustic looking frame.....too long for me to get a good shot of it....

Here is one corner of the sewing room.....these little drawers hold my fat quarters....

colour coded for good time management....lol...

I will have to get a few more photos of the sewing room......it has 4 big built-in cupboards

which I have managed to almost fill!

I have wasted so much time enjoying the fabrics that I had forgotten I had......

And my collection of quilting magazines....just had to sit and browse while unpacking.....

It was interesting looking at Country Threads Vol 1 No 1......

Country Threads is my favourite magazine and I have subscribed forever!

DH is making progress with the 'jungle' outside....his new name is Tarzan....lol....

He is a most unlikely Tarzan really....but he has been fighting a jungle of a garden since we moved here last weekend.

He is making very good progress too....it is beginning to look like someone actually lives here!!

I had better get off to bed....work tomorrow......

take care til next time....love you....bye

I'm Back After the Big Move!!

2008-11-28T10:38:00.003+11:00

Hello.....I am finally back on deck....

We have moved and unpacked and are beginning to settle into the new home.

Sorry....no pictures yet as I have only just locted the camera....lol....

Will get to that on the weekend.

I am very happy with my new sewing room....nice and roomy with very big cupboards.

We are still trying to organise tradespeople to get a few jobs done.....

Fair dinkum!....its easier to organise children and husbands....lol....

We have had lots of beautiful rain.....some crop farmers are not so happy about the timing though!

Right in the middle of lots of harvests.....not good for them.

Will catch up on the weekend.

Take care....love you...bye

Stitching While Packing!!!

2008-11-16T16:06:00.005+11:00

Had a lovely day with my Mum yesterday......we spent the afternoon watching a movie...

She loves Danielle Steel stories so I sat through one of those and found it wasn't so bad!

Mum knitted and I stitched.....we stopped half way through for the obligatory "cuppa".

DH was working until 5pm and then went off to his work Christmas Party at about 6.30pm.

Mum stayed with me for dinner.....we treated ourselves to lovely fresh prawns...yummy!

Then a bit more TV and stitching/knitting/chatting......lovely and relaxing....

Today was a different story!!!

DH was in full packing mode and I was cheerfully trying to ignore him......

I did some machine piecing while he packed around me.....

I'm lucky he loves me enough to be happy about that....lol....

Every now and then I had to stop and give him "the look".....

The "No not that one....not yet!" look.....lol.....

Look below at the progress.....

Mind you.....I made some progress of my own........

Finished the Christmas gift for Club Quilt today....can't show pictures yet!

Did some piecing for the last of my Christmas table runners.....

and also a bag I am making my good friend Penny for her 60th Birthday.

Can show some of this as she is not a blogger...

Pen loves to knit...see below...hope she likes it....a bit more stitching yet....

Also tidied up some very messy ric rac....and shoved the rest of the tangled pile into

a box that DH was packing....lol....

We are off to church tonight and then out to dinner with some of my Mum's family.

Will be nice to catch up.....they live in Sydney are only in town overnight.

I hope you had a lovely weekend too.

I feel like I have achieved something....next weekend will be a write-off with the moving....

Take care til next time....love you...bye

Give Away!

2008-11-12T18:08:00.003+11:00

Old Red Barn is having a give away of not one....not two....but THREE quilts!

Hop over and post a comment to be in the draw!!

For bigger and better pictures....follow the link.

I don't know how she can give them away!

Stitching and Packing!

2008-11-11T18:43:00.005+11:00

I'm still here.......busy, busy, busy......packing for another big move....

we move to our new house on the weekend of 22 & 23 November...

Sooooo.......DH has started the packing already....slave-driver!

Mr Organiser! But I am always grateful when the day arrives......

The picture below is the spare room....now the storage room for all that is packed!

Now listen buddy.......stay out of the sewing room!

Not ready for that one yet!

I will still be stitching when he loads me onto the truck....lol....

Below is the result of some cutting on the weekend....a bag for a friends birthday.....

I love pink and green....so pretty....

Some hand quilting on another gift.....busy fingers woking on some Christmas gifts too....

I have my Chookyblue's SSCS gift finished wrapped and packaged to send......
Had to be organised on that one with the move and all. Will post this week.

I am trying to be good this week and next week.....working on my stitching

as I won't be able to stitch on the weekend we move......got to keep up the pace!

Socialising at a friends house for a Tupperware party tonight.......

Can't tell you how long since I have been to a Tupperware party!

Hope you all have a good week...I will check back in on the weekend if I can get

permission from the slave-driver....lol....

Take care til next time....love you, bye

Give Away

2008-11-08T08:19:00.001+11:00

Christine from Once Upon a Quilt is haveing a one year anniversary give away....

pop on over and join in!

Gorgeous Mail.....Catch up with Friends

2008-11-02T11:37:00.003+11:00

Once again I have had a busy week......staff members on leave at work....

undergoing a huge restructure and not enough hours in the day!

At the moment I am thankful I still have a job as in 6 months time that may not be the case.....

On a very happy note.....these little beauties (below) arrived in the post on Wednesday and

that certainly brightened my day!

The fabric is Charisma by Chez Moi for Moda....I have loved it for a while now.

Now my dilemma is....what do I do with it? I'd love to make a quilt but.....

I am not good with quilts.....I have only made about 6 and don't have a clue what pattern to use etc...

So now I am asking for suggestions from all the experts out there!

As I am not too confident in this area......something quick and easy would be the answer.

Any suggestions gratefully received.....

Below is some more fabric that I just "had to have".....same deal.....

not sure what to make but......I am thinking they will look good as a bag??

They are Posh by Chez Moi for Moda....sure you all recognise them!

Chookyblue had another sleep-over during the week and it was great to catch up as always.
One night Dragonfly Crafts even joined us for a BBQ dinner and a little drink......
We heard a rather funny story about 'The Dragonfly' getting on the roof of her house....
that was the uneventful part.....
and how she managed to get herself down.....lol......by jumping onto the kids trampoline.....lol....
I think she is a lucky little dragonfly....we may have to clip her wings!

"what was she doing on the roof?" I hear you ask..........
Oh just fixing the air conditioning unit!!!
A little Jill of all Trades.....

Yesterday Chookyblue and I and our DHs had lunch together......yes she returned to our town.....
It was great to meet the DHs.
Then of course we had to get into shopping mode and we had a great bargain-filled afternoon....
Thanks for the eggs Chookyblue....I even got some of the blue eggs....remember that!

Now I must get busy and do a bit of stitching....the only bit for this week the way I am going!

Ohhh......maybe not.....DH wants help moving a piece of furniture for my Mum....

Hope you have enjoyed the weekend so far.....
Take care til next time.....love you....bye

Sunday Stitching Therapy

2008-10-26T18:39:00.004+11:00

I'm here again.....after avery busy 'catch-up' week at work!

The old eyes were so sore I could not even stitch in the evenings!

I tried to get a bit in today......

I finally finished off the second table runner....after a few false starts over the past few weeks!

Club Quilt was on today and Jo and I had good intentions....but they just did not come to fuition!

We did manage to catch up for a couple of hours this afternoon and below is

a little glimpse of our progress.....

We have been working on some Christmas presents and Jo would like to finish off her

Couch Companion by Leanne Beasley.

We hope to get back to that next Sunday if time allows.

I guess it's that time of the year again when everyone is getting busy.

We are having trouble fitting in the stitching......have to become more creative with our time management!

DH and I spent yesterday organising things for our new house....one day gone!

Hope you all had a great weekend and enjoy your week!

Take care til next time....love you....bye

Baking and Shopping.....

2008-10-17T10:51:00.007+11:00

I have had a really lovely relaxing week off work........

On Wednesday I did this baking and impressed my DH greatly!

He has been taking some to work to share with his staff.....

...and bragging that he baked - of course they all know that's a joke!!

I am still struggling a bit with the oven in this place - will be glad when we move into our new place!

This one is difficult to regulate so all of these things are a bit over-cooked....

Still yummy though!

Choc-chip and walnut cookies

Coconut slice with blackberry jam instead of the usual raspberry.....
New Recipe.....Yoghurt and Lemon Syrup Cake.....
This one was very yummy....just a bit dry because it was slightly over-cooked....
yummy with custard!

....BIG ANNOUNCEMENT....

We are having a BOY!!

Sooooo.....Nanna did a little bit of shopping yesterday at the Myer sale....

This one is for the newborn....
I laid it across my arms like I was holding a baby to show Poppy (DH) how big he will be...

These two are for next year....
PJs for Christmas...how cute...

And look at these....won't he be a 'cool dude'....

DH sent me straight home after these purchases!!

I know...I've got it bad...but I am very excited!

Daddy has felt him kick for the first time this week....it feels more real to him now!

Off to quilt the second table runner and piece the third.

Have done a bit more on the Noah's Ark BOM stitcheries....might start the log cabin borders if I get time....

Hope your day is going well.

Take care til next time....love you...bye

Great Give Away....

2008-10-16T09:12:00.003+11:00

Pigtails and Snails is having a wonderful and generous give away......a lovely quilt.....so generous.....pop over and add your comment to be in the draw! There is second and third prize draws too!

More Show and Tell....

2008-10-15T14:24:00.005+11:00

This is my needle turn applique cushion finished!

This was a project designed by Rosalie Quinlan especially for Girls Day in the Country at Nundle in May this year. Thanks to Rosalie for teaching something very new to me....

It has forced me outside my comfort zone!

I thought the hand quilting in the dark pink thread really gave it an extra dimensionand seemed to 'make' it.

It was the very first time I had tried needle turn applique so please do not look too closely

because there are some 'naughty' points that I know should not be there!

Whilst I enjoyed this project....I am not sure that I would be keen to do more.....

Am I just feeeling very safe in my comfort zone do you think???

Anyway there it is and I am pleased that I stuck it out and finished it!

Take care til next time and Love you...bye

Show and Tell....

2008-10-14T18:57:00.006+11:00

Here I have a belated show and tell on one of the items I finished

for Peg's challenge in July.....

This is the Christmas wall hanging.....

Please forgive the photo....it is hanging in my hall and I couldn't get back far enough

to get it all in.....and that's because the hallway is too narrow....

...not due to the size of the photographer.....lol.....

I bought this last year because for me.........it is the real meaning of Christmas.....

I stitched over all the words and did some embellishment.....

I used some beads and some gold thread which I found rather difficult to work with....

I also used some gold stars.....

I could have embellished some more....but quite honestly....I was over it by then!

Below is my progress shot of the Noah's Ark BOM stitcheries.....

I am really enjoying these little ones......

I have chosen a very pale green background fabric and I am happy with the progress.

I will get back to it again tonight.

Today I gave myself a few hours out of the house.......

Had lunch with my cousin who is a beauty therapist and has

her own business.....also treated myself to a little pampering and product at her shop!

Had a lovely relaxing few hours...hmmmmm.....

Sometimes you just have to be nice to yourself!

Hope you are having a wonderful week so far....

Take care til next time......love you...bye

Feeling Better.....Spring is in the Air....

2008-10-10T18:42:00.009+11:00

I am feeling quite a bit better today....thanks to those who left get well messages.

It was not the best of spring days today but when you have been couped up inside like I have recently....any excuse to walk around outside!

I found that Spring truly is in the air....birds are chirping and everything is blooming!

There is not much of a garden at this place we are renting.....

but I managed to find some lovely bottlebrush

And there are two gorgeous big banksia rose bushes......I love them!

And below we have the beginnings of a vegie garden that we planted a couple of weeks back
A small tomato plant......

Some baby lettuce.....

A little baby english spinach....

And here we have the blossoms on the orange tree......

The sad thing about all this is that we won't be here to reap the benefit of the vegies!

Well....maybe some.....

We bought a new house last Tuesday!!!

We are so excited...it is back in the same area where we lived previously.

The house is a little run down and needs lots of TLC....

but we are good at that and we got it for a bargain price!!

Soooo....looks like we will be on the move again in a few weeks!

Last move for a long time hopefully!

I have been doing a bit of stitching today.....my Noah's Ark BOM is started....

Maybe I will have photos next post.....

Take care til next time.....love you...bye

Still Here.....

2008-10-09T09:50:00.002+11:00

Hello.....just letting you know that I am still in the land of the living.

I am recovering from pleurisy which came courtesy of the flu.

If I could stop the 'coughing fits' I might be able to breathe easier!

Not getting any stitching done....too tired.

Have been having a read of your blogs today and enjoying that very much.

Will catch up later.....

Take care til next time....love you...bye

Finally made it!

2008-09-26T20:39:00.006+10:00

Phew! I finally made it to my laptop!!!

What a busy week I have had...

sick hubby.....demanding....you know the drill

I swear I'd rather look after sick children....lol...

All the same.....I am very happy that he is back in the land of the living!

Below is the first of my table runners finished in time for the early family

Christmas gathering on October 5!!

This is my secret santa present....

I am pretty happy with it and I am nearly finished the third centre and

I am ready to bind the second one. Hopefully I will get to those tomorrow afternoon.

Below is a shot of Jo's progress on her Christmas swag.

These were taken on Sunday afternoon but I have not had an opportunity to

post them until now.

We had a lovely afternoon....as we usually do!

We did a little bit of hand stitching on Wednesday night while the DH was

'suffering' in bed with his flu.....

I am now officially on two weeks leave and boy it feels good!

We are having a few days at home to do a few domestic things and

then we head off to the Central Coast for a week....yahoo!

Hope to get a post in before we go and willl take my laptop with me to check in etc.

Take care till next time....love you...bye

Progress Report

2008-09-21T14:15:00.005+10:00

Here I am with an update...had a nice busy week...

Firstly...Callum's library bag is finished - with drawstrings...

handles are apparently "sissy"!

Hope he likes it - will take it to him tonight.

Second....I finished the second of the centres for the Christmas table runners and

started on the third....

This is the second centre...only slightly different from the first.

Yesterday afternoon I spent a couple of hours putting them together...

and below are the two tops finished!

Oh...just have to sew the red buttons on number two!

And yes...I made one a bit longer than the other.

My plan this afternoon is to sandwich, pin, quilt and sew the bind on!

Big plans...best get off here and back to the sewing room!

Isn't it a beautiful spring day?

My DH and I spent the morning (after church) planting our vegie garden.

Had a lovely cuppa out in the spring sunshine too!

Makes me wish the sewing machine was out there so I could stay and soak up the day!!

Jo is on her way here so I have to go and get organised.

Will take some photos of Jo's projects too!

Take care till next time....love you...bye

110 Four Patches!

2008-09-15T19:01:00.006+10:00

Well.....yesterday was club quilt and what a lovely day we had!!

The room was full of wonderful women....not much talk going on....lol....

But you know we are women and can easily manage two things at once.....

.....as long as one is talking....lol....

Anyhow...I did manage to get heaps done.....110 four patches actually...

All for my Christmas table runners!

I actually didn't think I had that much fabric!

Maybe I could make FOUR table runners!

Below you will see some of the four patches laid out on my cutting table next to

the centre piece I finished during the week.

Now for a close up of the patches...some lovely fabrics....

some from Kerry Swain and some from my stash...

After I came home from Club Quilt.....I got a call from my very good friend

who is the mother of our God Children.....

Callum would like me to make him a new Library Bag for school and

he has chosen the fabric himself.....Can you tell!!

God bless him...I hope it doesn't scare the other children!!

That will be my project this week...could be scarey work!!

I am off to press the rest of the patches and iron on the applique for

three more centres.....think I will make them all slightly different...hmmmm...

Take care till next time....love you....bye

Hand Stitching and Club Quilt

2008-09-13T13:52:00.003+10:00

Here it the centre of the Christmas table runner stitched and ready to go.......

This afternoon I will cut the fabric for the pieced ends and will

stitch them at club quilt tomorrow.

I will also get another centre ready to stich as I want to make 2 of these.

I am going to do simple four patches for the ends and just bind them.

I just want a couple of quick and easy gifts......if they go together quickly tomorrow

I may even make 3!!

I have made progress on the Club Quilt Christmas gift as well but can't

show photos here....you will have to wait until after the Christmas party!

I have been out to vote in the local council elections this morning...glad that is over!

Will be back tomorrow evening with some progress photos....

or maybe Monday if tomorrow gets too crazy!

Take care til next time....love you...bye

What I have been up to this weekend!

2008-09-07T17:51:00.005+10:00

Just wanted to share what I have been up to.......

I spent about 2 hours on Saturday afternoon putting together

the Couch Companion designed by Leanne Beasley.

I am so happy with the finished product!

I shared the stitcheries previously...

I was really lucky to have Leanne help choose the fabrics from Kerry's

Cottage on the Hill the day after Girls day in the Country!

I travelled to a nearby town to spend the evening with a friend and

stitched the binding down while we were chatting......

Had a lovely evening and morning before travelling home

this afternoon.

Going out to dinner with some of DH's family this evening.....

had better go and get myself ready.....takes a bit these days....lol....

take care til next time....love you...bye

Lovely, relaxing Friday Night

2008-09-06T08:20:00.004+10:00

Just a little update....

I have finished the elephants and started the Christmas table runner...

Had a lovely night last night.....

DH and I decided that we would just have an easy dinner and

relax after a busy week....

so we opened a bottle of wine and enjoyed a glass in front of the fire...

hmmmm lovely way to finish the week..

My trusty microwave went to microwave heaven last night!

It has been terminally ill for a few months but bravely battled on each time

I bashed it on the top!!

Sooo....today I am off to buy a new one.....bit sad after about 12-15 years!

After Lunch Jo and I have planned a few hours of stitching....

might have a couple of photos on Sunday evening.....

Take care til next time...love you bye

Back after a Busy Weekend!

2008-09-03T18:11:00.006+10:00

This is one of the Noah's Ark BOM stitcheries from Lynette Anderson Designs

I am a bit behind with them but they are very cute....

will be a nice wall hanging for my future grandchild!

I decided on a very pale green background fabric - just to be a little different.

I have been a busy little bee this past week...

have been to Canberra to help DS and DIL do a 'backyard blitz'....

they are putting their house on the market as they have bought a new one!

Nothing like doing everything at once...new baby...new house...

Below is the centre of a Christmas table runner that I am putting together....

making it up as I go.....bit scarey!

My family has a Christmas get together every year - before Christmas

because everyone is spread so far and wide across the country that it makes it very

difficult to make it 'home' for Christmas.

This year it is at my sister's place on the Central Coast of NSW in October.

I am making this table runner for our Secret Santa.

We usually have a lot of fun with this part of the event.....

lots of swapping and 'stealing' of presents!!

I will give you an update as the stitching progresses....

I am off to check on dinner and get ready for some stitching....

Jo will be here this evening for some stitching therapy!

Take care til next time....love you...bye

Have a look at this......

2008-08-25T19:26:00.005+10:00

That Chookyblue is a marvel.....look at my new header....MAGIC!!!

Thank you so much....you make me look so much cleverer than the real thing!

Below is a picture I promised a few weeks back.....

the frame is one I got for my birthday and I said I had something special in mind.....

What is so special you say?

The broach on the bottom right and the hat pin top centre

both belonged to my great grandmother.

The broach on the top right was my mothers.

The broach bottom centre was my grandmothers.

The tie pin on the left centre was my grandfathers and

the one on the right centre was my great grandfathers.

The others are just "fillers" - mine!

Just a way to display some of my special things.

While none have any significant monetary value.....they are very precious to me!

Take care til next time.....love you...bye

Lovely day......very productive!

2008-08-24T21:14:00.007+10:00

My morning started with a little sleep in and then a lovely cooked breakfast

which is our treat on Sundays!

DH went off to watch the nephew play footy (rugby league)

in the semi finals so I was on my own......bliss......

Firstly I did some baking......mostly for DH's lunch box during the week!

Below are the patty cakes (cup cakes)...some plain and some with sultanas.

Un-iced at this stage.....

Yummy!

Below are some Orange and Poppy Seed Muffins - Most are now in the freezer!

I find it is the only way to keep them from the ever-hungry eating machine - DH!

I have had a very productive afternoon in the sewing room!

Finished the quilt top!

It is nice and bright....I hope they like it!
The photo below was taken on a queen bed so that will give you an idea of the size...

hope I didn't make it too big!

I will back it with the pussy cat fabric and probably bind in the red??

Can't decide if it needs a border....what do you think?

Fun with the Camera....and a visitor.....

2008-08-23T16:39:00.011+10:00

Chookyblue was our overnight guest last night.

We enjoyed a glass of wine over nibblies and dinner with our friend Jo and of course DH!

Oh.... and we did have a chocolate......or maybe two with our cuppa afterwards!

Thanks for the chockies Chookyblue!

Then of course I had some assistance with the header for my blog and was

instructed that I should take photos of particular items - outside - because the light is good!

Below are a couple of shots that I had a bit of fun with.

Told you I love angels!

It was Daffodil Day yesterday so I thought I would share with you!

This is a charity day to raise money for the Cancer Council in Australia.

I put together another section of the baby quilt today and hope to do another one

tomorrow....thought I forgot didn't you?....lol.....

Take care til next time......love you...bye

Busy Nanna!!

2008-08-17T20:10:00.002+10:00

In true Nanna fashion.....my mum and I went off to check out baby stuff on Saturday!

Below are my two (yes I said two! I showed great restraint!) small purchases.....

Of course I had to start BT's (that is my name for Baby Thorn) first quilt......

So I took myself off to the local Janome shop - come quilt shop and purchased to fabrics below.

I chose the cute pussy cat fabric and just built on that......has to be suitable for a boy or a girl!

I started the cutting on Saturday afternoon and packed my machine and other gear

to take to Narromine for Club Quilt today where I actually started sewing.

I came home and spent a bit more time stitching as well......

Progress photo on next post!

Below is a picture of some of the hand stitching I have been doing lately...

This is part of the Couch Companion by Leanne Beasley.

I am really enjoying the stitcheries...

Next picture.......I promised Jo to post a picture of my antique pram.

DH bought this for me a few years ago and I love it.

I have been meaning to make a little quilt for it but.....

haven't got around to it yet....lol.......

This is a bit of a catch up post and photos so I am sorry if I have raved on for too long.

Thank goodness my camera is back!!

Take care til next time....love you...bye

It's True....It's True......I'm gonna be a Nanna!!!!

2008-08-14T21:47:00.004+10:00

I am so excited I have to share with the whole of Blogland......

*******I am going to be a Nanna*******

My son and his lovely wife are expecting a baby in February!

They just had their 12 week scan today and our little angel is 8.5cm long....

and was performing perfect tumbles for them!

Oh Bless....isn't that just wonderful!

We didn't have all this technology when I was having my children.

I couldn't wait to share my news with all my friends in blogland.

I guess now you will have to share my journey for the next 6 months!

I will be looking for baby quilt patterns!

That is not all they have done either......they went andbought

a new home too!

Something a bit bigger for raising a family.

.............isn't the world just wonderful sometimes...........

Take care til next time....love you...bye

Oh...and they remembered to post my camera too...

....somehow it doesn't seem so important now.....

Not Really Back to Normal............

2008-08-12T13:16:00.003+10:00

I guess I must have been dreaming in my last post....

still don't have my camera!!

I am seriously considering buying a new one!!

I have several things to share...I am really enjoying the stitcheries

I am working on at present.

I have fininished the one for the Chrissie present I am doing and

have also finished one of the two for the couch companion.

I am hoping to get to Narromine for the stitching at the bowlie this Sunday.

I had all good intentions last time but had to help a friend who had a child in hospital.

Can't wait to find out who my partner is for Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap.

That should be interesting..........

I received a parcel from Kerry at Cottage on the Hill yesterday.......fabric to complete my

cushion from the girl's day in the country in May and backing for a quilt

that I have not even started yet.......lol........typical!

If you want a really fun weekend

with lots of like minded stitchers and a wonderful host and tutors.....

Head over to Kerry and sign up for the 2009 Girl's Day in the Country at Nundle

How cold is it in our neck of the woods?...bbrrrrrrr.....Roll on Spring!

Take care until next time....love you...bye

Almost back to normal....

2008-08-04T19:54:00.004+10:00

Hello!.....I'm back again....

I have telephone and the internet is also working as it should.....

seems we had some "crossed lines"

All I need now is my camera.........

I have completed my challenges from Peg's Finish Five be the end of July!

I signed up for three and actually almost got four finished.

I am waiting on some backing fabric to complete the fourth one so just

missed out there.

Sorry I don't have photos Peg but will post some catch up ones when I receive

my camera back.

I have also started a couple of new projects that I would like to show you

and I have a kit for a quilt that I need time to cut and piece.......

you will have to wait for a preview of that also...

AND....I signed up for Chookyblue's Secret Santa Swap......

I know this is so boring...........

Take care til next time.....

Still no Phone or Photos!

2008-07-28T19:04:00.003+10:00

I am fairly settled in my new house but still don't have a phone service

.....but the internet is working!

I lost the 'net for a few days but now it is back??

Something strange is happeneing here.........

I have found my camera but need to get it back. A cousin from Canberra has it!

So unfortunately....another boring post!

Peg - I have finished two of three for your challenge but no photos!

I am almost finished the third - tonight should do it...yahooo!

It is very cold here at present and has been for about a week or more!

Sydney was wet and cold last Thursday too.

Bring on Summer!!

Take Care til next time...love you...bye

Home and settled at last!

2008-07-23T20:30:00.002+10:00

Well here I am back again after such along time!

This blogging really gets you hooked....must be all the lovely people that you meet.

Firstly I want to say thank you to all the lovely people who left messages

regarding the sad passing of my great aunt.

I am sorrry that I have not had time to personally thank each of you.

I came home from Canberra on Wednesday night last week and had

to go to Coonabarabran for a meeting on Thursday (for work) then

had Friday and Monday off to move house!

Boy is that an awful job!! Glad it is over.

We are pretty settled in our 'new' little house.

I have been fighting with Telstra for three full days regarding our

telephone and internet connection. The phone still isn't working properly

but finally the internet seems to be ok.

Of course that is the most important thing 'cause I can do

some much needed blogging!

I have to say that I feel funny posting a blog without pictures....

how boring!

BUT....I left my camera in Canberra....not good.

I am off to Sydney for a meeting tomorrow........

a big day....leave home on the 6.30am flight and arrive back on the 8.30pm flight.

A big day for the old girl......

I will catch up with everyone on the weekend...it is going to take ages to

read all your posts from the past couple of weeks....but i am going to do it!

Take care til then....love you...bye