Vix' Crystal ball!

What do you think???

2012-01-31T15:32:00.000-08:00

I've put photos of all the items I have made this month onto my OPAM 2012 page. What do you think? Should I just put them onto the normal blog and somehow link them to the photos?? Happy with what I have achieved so far this year - have a jade coloured winter jacket finished, just needs stitching up and buttons as well as a nearly complete Happy Christmas banner. So will shortly be 2 Feb finishes as well.

Welcome to our world, little one!

2012-01-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, 730am we welcomed Mattea Jessie Estelle into our family, a tiny 8lb 15oz! DH and I went up in the afternoon for the welcoming cuddle and champagne cheers with dinner.

Very new - about 10 hours old.
Very long finger nails at birth and scratches on her face and forehead from them.

Big sister ~ little sister
A caption could read -
you'd better get in more practice -
this isn't very comfy you know!

A whole new world for this little family!

Photo catch up part 1

2012-01-11T01:43:00.000-08:00

Ormiston House - the windows to our room

Inside - each bedroom is completely different

ABT Railway station, Queenstown

View from the highest point of the ABT

The steam engine from Queenstown

Presents ready to be wrapped for Fee's Advent swap, 2011

The main present for Michelle - book cover for A4 artist's sketch book

Back

This beautiful handbag was made by the talented Florence for our personal swap

Close-up of the bag - it is absolutely beautiful

Check out the pins - they are little Alsace painted figures - I've never seen anything like them before!

Full internet again, so catch up time!

2012-01-03T17:43:00.000-08:00

Chooky shared how I could email my photos more quickly than uploading them and it worked! Thanks heaps :)
Now that everyone has received their swap presents, it's time to post them here.
Chookyblue's SSCS. I sent to Florence who lives near my friend Michèle in Alsace, France. We had a private bag swap recently and by the time she received it, I knew that she was to be my secret partner - at least I had the chance to make something that would go with it!

Back view

Front view. The iPhone/iPod pouch pattern is available from here.

Spring purse

Sunglasses case

Journal cover

Close up of stitchery on journal

Stitcheries on sunglasses and spring cases

Happy New Year, 2012!

2011-12-31T14:17:00.000-08:00

Our house is on the hill behind Burnie and as we looked down into the gully last night, we caught the last of the fireworks bringing in 2012, so I've played with them. Hope you all had a great New Year's Eve in your part of the world or that you you will have soon :)

Show and tell time!

2011-12-28T15:40:00.000-08:00

Have just spent a lovely hour plus talking with Bec, who was my FIS swap partner. Was so nice to talk in real time and such a surprise too! Thanks for the call :)
Here are photos of the Secret Santa gifts I sent to her:

Rat bag - for string, Christmas curly wrap, etc - made by a friend though ;)
Spring top glasses purse, Scissor keeper, tape measure in a tin, emery board, soap and bobbins for threads.

Machine embroidered lace window decoration

Red Brolly large bag made in Civil War Reproduction fabrics on checked Sandcastle

Loved making this bag and am really and truly going to make one for me as well!!! I'm so pleased that Bec is happy with her gifts, was a pleasure to make them.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

2011-12-24T17:14:00.000-08:00

It's here, the fat man has arrived with the sleigh heavy once again and by the time we finish eating dinner we may even rival him in size!
I have opened lots of lovely gifts from Fee's Advent Swap, Chookyblue's Christmas Swap and our FIS swap partners but am still having big problems with blogger, photos and internet being remarkably slow because the family has been incredibly busy on it!
Here are the main presents from the swaps that I have been involved in -

From Michelle Ridgway in Fee's Advent Swap

From Lynda H in Friends in Stitching Christmas Swap

From Ruth S in US in Chookyblue's Swap

I have really enjoyed being involved in these swaps - was great making and collecting lots of differents bits and pieces for my partners. Chookyblue's was amazing as I had Florence as my partner and I had met her in France earlier in the year - in fact, there is a photo of Michèle, Florence and me in the November issue of Homespun. I think Ruth would have found it much harder! Thank you to all my wonderful partners - I love my gifts XXX
I can't put up photos of the swap gifts that I have sent as I haven't seen that they have been opened yet, hehehe - but will do the single upload again once they have.
Merry Christmas to everyone, Joyeux Noël aux familles de Florence et Michèle en France.

Secret sewing!

2011-11-13T12:16:00.001-08:00

I LOVE secret santa sewing, but I really want to show someone what I have made - the two parts don't really gel, do they? Anyway, I have completed my Chookyblue swap gifts and am very pleased with them. Need to photograph, wrap and then mail anytime from Friday this week. Wow, now that is getting close! I have made the main present for Michelle who is my partner in the Advent swap - also needs photographing and wrapping, along with the nearly complete stack of little pressies to go with it. Still got till next week before I need to post that.
Yesterday afternoon we went to Ulverstone for lunch with friends - with Glenn being ill this year, we haven't seen as much of them as usual - had a lovely meal and a good time, as we always do. When I got home, I started tracing some pattern pieces in readiness for the final swap - FIS. That one's not due for a while yet, but I also have 2 presents to make for our Material Girls' group for the 5 and 9 Dec, so am really trying to be organised here.
Nothing will get done this week - it's assessment and report writing time, so if I haven't appeared on blogger before next Monday, don't worry - I'll be back! I still have lots of photos to post, so that will be a separate one - time to make lunch and get moving.

Secret sewing

2011-11-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

I may not have been posting much lately, but I have been very busy with my Secret Santa thingy-ies. Of course, there is the big FIS [Friends in Stitching] Secret Santa Swap - I haven't started that one yet, but I do know exactly what I am going to make and that's the last one due to be posted, so I am busily working on the Chookyblue SSS for my overseas' partner. I've finished the handwork for that and have completed nearly 3/4 of the main gift and almost finished the Christmas decoration - will be ready to post out on time, thankfully :)
I also joined in an Advent Christmas Swap which has a main gift and 24 small gifts, which don't have to be hand made. My partner for this one is not a secret and I am swapping with the very talented Michelle Ridgeway. I picked up a magazine the other day and thought that perhaps the #$%^ that I saw would be suitable - but guess what? It was another one of her gorgeous designs, so that put paid to that! Mind you, I did think it would be amusing - just for a few minutes - to make her one of her own designs and Vix it. But, I have finally chosen and started the main gift and am very pleased with my idea!
Knitting wise, I have completed knitting - but not yet stitched up - the sweet little purple bolero that I ran out of yarn for - but, I managed to retrieve it and have a little left over. DGD will be happy with it I'm sure. Am 3 parts of the way through a jumper for a 1 -2 year old boy and it is looking great.
We're off to Strahan this afternoon for the night - DS Number 2 and his gorgeous partner gave us a night's accommodation at Ormiston House which we have to take before Christmas and since it's a long weekend in the Northern part of the state, we're going today. I will take some photos of our room as they are all different and post them soon.

When life throws you curves........

2011-10-28T02:43:00.000-07:00

how wonderful to have friends like we have! Sarah sent me a couple of texts through the week to ask how things were going, whether DH was back at work, etc. Then she said that she and Razzy might come down to Burnie to go to our Spotlight on Friday [today] because they like it better than the Launceston one - well, I'm agreeable to that of course. So the visit was confirmed, I organised this for lunch

Apricot chicken risotto - made in my wonderful Thermomix

and here we all are, sitting at the table eating - seems like we do this a bit!!

DH came in for lunch and we all ate, chatted, etc then came the great reveal - our wonderful FIS group has been conniving together the make this absolutely fabulous stitched and pieced quilt for us. They are just so sneaky - and we love it!!!!!!!!!!

Just check this out!

All the verses are so full of love and warmth.

I am rarely speechless, but this time it was just amazing to be the recipient of such a beautiful gift, made with so much care and love by ladies from around our country - many of whom I have only "spoken" with on our blogs. To all of you, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart and Glenn's as well. We have had the best day and are so grateful to all of you for your friendship and support during the last couple of years - and some of you since I met you years ago when we met through the Craft Forum.

Wow - I am gobsmacked!

2011-10-27T23:25:00.001-07:00

I am also speechless at the moment. Back soon with photos of our wonderful present - you girls are just amazing!!!!!!!!!!

Woohoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

2011-09-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

All 13 costume shirts are completed. I NEVER want to make another one. Now that that is over, I can start back on my stall stuff for Saturday 8th. Started early this year, so whatever I make now is a bonus.
Tomorrow is a public holiday here for the Burnie Show, so the weather has deteriorated and it is seriously looking like I will be a happy little sew-er for the weekend with my girls in the sewing room.

Nearly done!

2011-09-27T03:44:00.000-07:00

If you've bneen wondering what I'm doing since I'm obviously not blogging - well, I am making shirts for Robin Hood's merry band for our school production. I have completed 9, have two more ready to put in sleeves and doing finishing bits and 2 to start from scratch - all to be done by Friday! Never want ot see another satin type fabric shirt again, hehehe.
On another note, my lovely French class has been making macarons yesterday and today they put them together, packaged them up, with one of each colour and took them home to share. I was so proud of them - this was their first effort and they did a great job. The chocolate ones tasted awesome and so did the raspberry ones!

DGD in the new hoodie Mimi made her whilst we were overseas.
I thought it was a bit boyish, but this little charmer proved me wrong!

Oh no, oh no, it's back to work I go..................

2011-09-18T04:01:00.000-07:00

School's back tomorrow, so there ends my fortnight of sewing and relaxation!!!!!!! Gee, I'm so glad I have Fridays off :)

Purse swap with Bec

2011-09-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

Bec and I were partners in the FIS purse swap. We talked about what patterns we had and discovered both of us love Red Brolly Designs and had a pattern for a purse - the same one. So, with us both doing the same design we were set - Bec started and was well underway when I came back from Launceston after G's surgery. I felt guilty already for not having started, but even worse when I realised that I had ordered another design as well - and both patterns I had were the same - but NOT the one I had thought in the first place! A quick call to the lovely, helpful Sarah fixed all that and I managed to make and post in plenty of time for Bec's purse to arrive in NSW on Wednesday.
I am thrilled to bits with mine, Bec. The colours are just me! Thanks so much and I do hope that you've opened yours by now and that it's just what you like as well. Thanks Sarah for another great swap - my fingers are now healed after all the hand stitching, but think I might have to look at how I go about applique in the future!
You'll see photos of our purses in my previous posting :)

Girls' Day out and Purse swap!

2011-09-16T03:59:00.000-07:00

Parcel ready for Bec

Girls' Day out at Ulverstone

Christine after opening her "Mail" from Hancocks

Chris McInnes, Vix, Leanne, Christine and Sarah - afternoon tea time at the Cherry Shed, Latrobe.
Psst, that's Christine's dessert Leanne and I were pretending to eat!!!

From Vix to Bec

From Bec to Vix

Photo catch up

2011-09-16T03:47:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's just over a month since I last posted and whilst I comment on lots of other people's posts, I haven't blogged for way too long.
Here are some photos of what I have been doing over the last few weeks! There are more to come to match up with the OPAM finishes.

Red slouch beret for Abbie

Red beret - same pattern but with less slouch - for Anna

30 cm wide mustard circular scarf

Opened

"I'm on the top of the world, Mimi! Now, watch me go!"

Auntie Leashy is such a great trampoline

"I'm a big girl, Mimi - I help Dadda peel the carrots for tea."

Machine embroidered journal cover for GS

Some of the shoe bags for the Gala and Arts day next month

Just popped in to say.................

2011-08-09T05:18:00.000-07:00

We're finally back home after DH's surgery in Launceston and he is now cancer free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Double celebrations here, when we have the energy, hehehe

Back soon with some photos of the knitting I have completed over the last few weeks.

Results are clear!!!! Yippppeeeeeeeeee

2011-07-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

Last night DH's surgeon called in to the hospital to see him and for once had great news. All pathology results have come back clear, so no cancer!!! I think I am still in a state of shock as I was half expecting to hear otherwise. Still don't know when we will be going home to Burnie, but this week sometime I hope.

Guess who managed to see Cadel win the Tour de France?

The changing views of Launceston

2011-07-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Just a quick photo drop really of Launceston under the fog yesterday morning as I was getting ready to go to work. Quite eerie!

July finishes

2011-07-16T18:32:00.000-07:00

I've been doing heaps of bits and pieces over the last few months - finally finished this baby jacket so that my DD can deliver it to the gorgeous child this afternoon - and have made this cowl for me. Yarn is some gorgeous silk that a dear friend has given me - must write down the name so that I can remember to update this post.

My stocking from Auntie

2011-07-15T03:24:00.000-07:00

How gorgeous is this? It's made with the new Nancy Halvorsen Christmas fabrics, Jingle All the Way, and there were 2 fat 1/4 s inside as well! LOVE IT!

This is the stocking I made for Jane in the same swap.

Woohoooooooooooooooooo!!

2011-07-09T02:51:00.001-07:00

We're going to have a new grandbaby!! That's fantastic news :D

Cold and windy - and lots of snow!

2011-07-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

It was a shocker of a day when I drove to Launceston on Tuesday. An hour from home all the hills and ranges were covered with snow - was too cold to get out of the car to take the photos, so took them from inside heheheehe

Quamby Bluff, Deloraine

Western Tiers behind Deloraine

Snowing on the other end of the Great Western Tiers south of Deloraine.

My sister and BIL used to live in Deloraine years ago and I remember having to go to the toilet which was off the Laundry - these mountains were the view and I was astounded by the amount of snow and couldn't help but be pleased that my house's toilet was much warmer, although viewless!!

Going home again tomorrow - CT scans yesterday showed that the cancer is only in the bladder - the first good news we have had from the specialist EVER! Now we have to wait for a date for its removal as the carcinoma in situ has become invasive in part and will continue to grow. Lots more sitting around in hospital rooms coming up, so I have to start a list of what needs to be made and get some tracing, etc organised.

Got a nasty scare when I saw how many days till the opening of the Stocking swap - so have now traced it off and will be working on it over the weekend Jane. Will be posting though as I can't see me getting south for a while yet!

Oh no........ we're off again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-07-03T22:28:00.000-07:00

No results yet, but due to some further complications last evening, DH is on his way back to Launceston via patient transfer, after spending the night in Emergency and then a ward at NWRH. He's fine again, but needs observation under his own Dr's care. I'm staying put tonight after not getting home till nearly 2am. Not being a drinker I was most put out to be pulled over by the police on my way home for a random breathalyser and licence check. I swear, if I had driven back down into town, instead of going through Shorewell, wouldn't have happened. Obviously it was a very quiet night on the roads!
On the plus side, I managed to finish a vest for GD, so some benefits to late night visits to hospitals.

This afternoon I have been working on a present for one of the ladies from our quilting group. We have to make something that will only take an evening. I cut this out yesterday before we went to the hospital and also something to go with it which I will give her for Christmas.

Inside

Outside

Knitting needle and crochet hook roll

Home again - hopefully for good this time!

2011-07-02T23:32:00.000-07:00

Phew, I think I am just about over trips in the car to Launceston unless it is for purely social, stitching or shopping with friends! DH is now home following his second visit to hospital in a week and is doing well. He is not allowed to do anything much except rest and he is doing a great job of it :)
We should have final test results on Wednesday this week and we are hopeful that he will now have a reprieve for a while. I am being nurse for the next 2 days and will work from home at least on Wednesday as well. Will review this as the week goes along.
Today it has been groceries, washing and keeping warm. I have finally cut out present which I need to have made for Material Girls for tomorrow night and am about to start stitching. It's little - has to be able to be made in an evening, so I'd better get started.
Nice to be home :)

Did someone think we killed the Chinaman??

2011-06-27T01:18:00.000-07:00

Well, we didn't but I do think we are copping it anyway :( DH's results weren't what we were hoping for, so he is back into hospital again on Wednesday for another, deeper biopsy. At least the specialist isn't going to just remove his bladder at this stage. He spent the weekend in hospital in Launceston because on the way to Hobart there were some complications from the previous biopsy - so back to Emergency we went. On the positive side, I don't panic now.
Tomorrow is a normal - if you can call anything normal these days - work day for us both. I am about to make a list of things I need to get done, including completing stitchery for Fee and starting the Christmas stocking for Jane. I'll take a few things with me as there will be lots of sitting around over the next 4 - 5 days I imagine. Will have my laptop and internet access in the evenings.
DH has a really positive attitude, although received a bit of a shake up this morning. Fingers, knees and eyes crossed everyone, please xxxxx

I'm back - although you wouldn't really guess it!

2011-06-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

Well, we've been home in Burnie for a fortnight after our fantastic trip to France and England. We've had a trip to Launceston for DH's follow-up tests, school is back and full-on and tomorrow night is Mum's 80th birthday celebration so it's off to Hobart for us in a little while.
I've done absolutely no sewing or stitching for weeks, no OPAMs for May and only 1 knitted jacket with a hood to show for June. I really must extract it and get moving again once we get the test results on Monday and get home. Hopefully results will be positive and life can get back to normal - whatever that is!
Photos next week and some more trip piccies.

Secret gifts revealed!

2011-05-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

Once Lynda's birthday was over and we had arrived at Mulhouse, I was able to post photos of the secrets and secret sewing I had been doing before I left home.

Tis the season fabrics and gorgeous Australian overdyed threads.

Michèle and I bought matching background fabric in Colmar to do the stitching for this lovely little quilt. I also have the same thread but will have different coloured fabrics - hopefully from my stash :>
There should be a photograph here of the Loulou bag that I made for Amélie and the Birthday book I made for Lynda before I left - apparently the photos are on my home computer, can you believe that???????
What I did find though, were the photographs of the wonderful presents I received from Michèle and the Material Girls for my birthday, so here they are:

French ribbons/tapes, gorgeous charms, DMC threads - saw the factory where they are made in Mulhouse - all together in a very pretty hand stitched purse.

Birthday presents from Annie, Lyndy, Christine and Chris M

Front of purse from Michèle.

Paris, Mulhouse and Burnhaupt-le-haut, Alsace.

2011-05-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

Make your own free scrapbooking design

There are so many photos that it is difficult to decide which ones to choose to share here, so I have chosen the "easy" way out. This brings us to the day before we left to go to Mulhouse to stay with my penfriend, Michèle.

In Place de la République, Mulhouse.

At Michèle's Patchwork group - Florence and Michèle on my left.

Any ideas????

2011-05-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy having a great time that I haven't managed to do much more than read posts and send a few comments! Am now in London and off to Dublin on Friday for the weekend. Anyone in blogland have any suggestions on Patchwork/Stitchery/ Knitting shops in the area of Clapham/Wandsworth/Putney please????? Started a jacket for my DG but have decided it is much more suitable for a boy, so will finish it off and put it away for a present. Need to find some pretty wool to make another one though, so any suggestions would be appreciated!

I will need new shoes by the time we get home!

2011-05-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

Today we have walked 26167 steps - from our apartment in Saint Germain to the Musée d'Orsay and around that for 2 hours. Then we walked over to Île de la Cité, looked at the special display of war memorials, bought yummy, crunchy baguette sandwiches before walking to Île St Louis - just over the bridge!
We then walked through huge crowds till we found Beaubourg - Pompidou Centre. We were disappointed to find that all the arches at Châtelet are being removed to modernise and refurbish the shopping centre and railway station front. They had real character but are now all but gone. Took the metro to a station called Chateau Rouge, near Sacré Coeur. It was strange being in the minority on the train - not because we are English speakers, but because of our skin colour. It was a long steep climb from there to the basilica, but I made it, even in the warmth.
We have certainly been blessed with wonderful weather in Paris - it's been very cold first up, but the days are lovely. Loving being able to wear a scarf every day without thinking about it. At school the kids call me Madame Scarf, LOL
We wound our way down from Montmartre to Pigalle - the home of Moulin Rouge and numerous Kings Cross like shops :) - and caught the Metro back to our place. Tonight, after packing our cases we went out for a meal and then back to the Tower Montparnasse to watch the Eiffel Tower do its bit! Was just lovely!

Tomorrow, we head east to Strasbourg, then to Mulhouse where we have the night before being collected on Friday to spend the weekend with my ePenfriend, Michèle and her family.
Have managed about 10 rows of knitting and that is only because I was watching a show on my netbook and didn't fall asleep. The couch is very comfortable as we have both found out when we have had a bit of a rest between day outings and dinner. Hope everyone is well and getting some craft work done!!!

Our Parisian update for you!

2011-05-02T08:29:00.003-07:00

Digital scrapbooking design generated with Smilebox

The rollerblade photo shows only a couple of Sunday rollerbladers - poor choice of photo, as in fact there are around ten thousand rollerbladers of all ages who participate in a fast-paced, three hour, 12-15 kilometre circuit of the city on Friday nights from 10pm, unless it is raining. There is a slightly more relaxed, family-oriented alternative on Sunday afternoons, organised by Rollers-et-Coquillages [Skates and Snail shells]. The circuit is organised in advance, changes every week and is always traffic free. The Paris police force not only blocks off all roads along the route during the skate-ins, but I saw a number of the local constabulary participating with the rollers.
It was absolutely amazing to watch - the Friday night event is called Le Friday Night Fever.

Just before Paris, I managed to....................

2011-05-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

Write my reports
Prepare an assignment on France for my students - since it is always difficult to get students to work well for a relief teacher, I made it into a competition and no-one including me has any idea what the answers will be until we get home. [bought some cute little Parisian magnets as prizes today, so that will make some students happy].
Make a ribbed scarf for my DS for Easter as he is on a chocolate free diet - bad timing I reckon!
Make a gorgeous bright bag to give as a present - can't put up photos until a bit later in case she guesses, hehehe
Buy lots of lovely fabrics to make a TIS quilt - photo to come
Type up and send out minutes from the association I am secretary for and take new minutes from the April meeting - had the chance to pass on the job and didn't - I really did need a holiday!!!!
Make my special partner a gift - again, that has to wait for a couple of weeks, but I have already taken the photos to share
Find the floor in my sewing room and tidy up my lounge room for our house and Ellie sitters whilst we are away
Work up a nasty mouth ulcer under the thick part of my tongue
and finally, lose my toenail - damaged it in January when I dropped two very heavy new Christmas ornaments from Habitat's sale on my foot.
THEN we left!!!

Someone is warmer than he or she deserves to be!

2011-04-10T03:54:00.000-07:00

Click here to read about Helen Stubbing's sad week with her quilt being stolen in Hobart. Maybe someone might recognise it from our blogs.

Treatment is finished!

2011-04-08T02:42:00.000-07:00

Today is a red letter day in our family. DH has finished his third round of treatment and fingers crossed that this will be the end of that dreaded cancer. Not even going near what the next step will be, if not!! So, now we start to get ready for our big trip, but I have a lot of catching up to do first - starting with my blog.
Here are some photos of the old church, now the Quilted Crow, where The Gathering was held.

There were 40 participating ladies plus Leanne, Rosalie, Deirdre and Leonie. The setting was wonderful. no draughts and certainly not cold. The company was great at our blogging table and we had a terrific day. Here are a few of the beautiful items on offer - the red bags on the tables contained the patterns.

These 3 items were designed by the Quilted Crow girls, Leonie and Deidre. I loved the reproduction fabric in the table runner. The flower petals were done in wool.

Rosalie's projects

The outside of Leanne's sewing roll

........... and the inside!
Fabrics and colours were just so pretty.

Here are some of the very cute little ornaments that Rosalie will be releasing in a booklet very shortly.

I THINK the booklet is called Petit Noël

This beautiful quilt was hanging in the hall. Hope it wasn't the one that was stolen from there this week!

I hang my head in shame that I haven't taken a photo of what I purchased - but that's for tomorrow along with a peek at the gorgeous birthday presents I received from my friend, Michèle, who lives in eastern France. Counting the days till we meet her and her family next month :)

I never win, but maybe one of my readers will!

2011-03-21T03:43:00.000-07:00

Click here to see the delicious fabric giveaways that Fee has this week. Don't miss out, it's being drawn this Friday night.
How amazing is that? Fee was one of the first people I saw at the Gathering on Saturday and she handed me a parcel. Now, I was extremely surprised because I knew absolutely nothing about having won the fabrics, because there is no internet access at Mum and Dad's. Having said that, I was DELIGHTED to win.

Thanks so much, Fee!!!!!! Only 1 month till we arrive in Paris, so I will put on my thinking cap and do some planning to make it up whilst I am away :)

Another week already!

2011-03-20T00:19:00.000-07:00

It's been another busy week in this house and about to be an even busier one, if that is at all possible.
The sewing kits for "New Beginnings" arrived during the week and we packed them ready to post. With the hold up in them arriving because of DH's treatment, we have missed the deadline to send them to the Gumnut Girls for delivery to ladies who were affected by the floods and cyclone in QLD. If anyone knows of any group or Patchwork Shop or even someone who is involved with an affected group, I would really love to hear from you so that I can mail these on. I don't want these lovely ladies to think that all their work has been in vain :<
I finished a couple of drawstring bags for the kits

and I finally managed to complete my Raspberry Ripple bag last Monday. Am really pleased with how it has turned out!

Last night was the full moon, with the moon in its closest position to the earth. I love the effect the moonlight had on the clouds.

Yay, Fee - got your message. Thanks heaps, will get them in the mail tomorrow or Tuesday after work!

For those of you who remember my post a couple of weeks ago about theQuilting Delights parcel, it arrived on Friday. I thought I had ordered 2 panels of the Sewing prints -

if anyone is interested in buying a set of 4, I have several extras, LOL. Email me for details.

Thanks goodness it's a long weekend!

2011-03-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

Our social life has hit an all time high this weekend and I am suffering from a sleep deficit hangover! Not being a drinker, it's not possible to have the other kind, but I am definitely walking around with a foggy head ~ not good cos I have plans for today, LOL. Back later with piccies
I've had a couple of extra hours sleep and some Aspros and am feeling tons better, thank heavens. Done the groceries and the washing, even have the first baskets back in because it has turned into a magnificent day down here :) That alone makes me feel better.
Last week I had 2 days in Launceston for work and we stayed at a gorgeous Art Deco apartment building close to the inner city. I took some photos to share - especially for those of you who love poking around looking in antique shops, etc.

Friday night we went to a dinner in Burnie for one of the girls who has worked with DH for a number of years - she is expecting her first child in a few weeks. Since Glenn had had his treatment for the week he was unable to drive. Check the next pic out. I wonder if you can guess what is about to come next?

Yep, I picked up the wrong set - all dressed up, husband not able to lift, carry or drive. Only friend with a key to the house is in Shepparton for 10 days or so....... thank goodness our DD had come home for the weekend and finally realised that there were 2 missed calls on her phone. She did laugh when I told her where we were and what I had NOT done, LOL.

Here are some photos of the 60s/70s party we went to in Launceston last night. Was wonderful to catch up with so many people we hadn't seen for years - some not since we left Launceston and moved to the coast more than 25 years ago %>

Was a great night - so much effort by party goers to dress to the theme - phew, those acetate fabrics are sooooooo hot when you are having a tropical moment though! LOL
On a sewing note, not much to show you as I have been really busy at work, but I have sent off the third round of the Stitching around the block to Fee for the final round. I had it all folded up ready to mail when I realised I hadn't photographed it, so it's not completely flat as a result.

Almost up to date! Now I'm heading to my sewing room, very belatedly, to finish the Raspberry Ripple bag I started stitching last Sunday!
Hope everyone has had a relaxing weekend!

Quilting Delights

2011-03-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

I put in an order with Quilting Delights in Portland, Oregon, at the end of January - but STILL haven't heard anything from them about my order. Does anyone out there in Blogland deal with them? All I have had back is an email to say my order has been received and no reply to my emails. Hope someone can enlighten me please????????? I had an email this morning and my parcel was sent on Thursday 3 March. Yipppppppeeeeeeeeeee. Panic over!

Déjà vu???????????

2011-03-03T23:18:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Friday again and I have just returned from Launceston as DH has had to resume his cancer treatment. On the upside, we got to see our son, DIL, GD and DD twice this week and enjoyed having time with them. I will spend some time this weekend getting my H+P work ready so that I can be working on it during the treatment on Friday mornings. If I play my cards right, it will be finished before it's due - which would be a miracle for me, LOL
I've managed to complete the second of my Life is Beautiful stitcheries this week - only taken many months. I think I have to work hard at increasing the size of my stitches because although they look beautiful, at this rate I am still going to be doing them at 90. I have the whole set of BOMs and have only done half the first, so.......... hmmmmmmmn
Have started the scarf to go with the grey beret I posted a couple of posts ago and am going to rug up and sit in front of TV with my knitting tonight.
Hope everyone is well and getting some of their crafting done :)
PS. We are STILL going to France at the end of April and from there to London!!! Ne t'inquiètes plus, Michèle!!!

Photos to share!

2011-02-27T02:44:00.000-08:00

I've had a very busy few weeks, with school resuming and me becoming a Humanities teacher after all these years. Strangely enough, I am quite enjoying it and it is really pleasant to be teaching in an area where the students aren't saying how much they hate the subject!!!!!
DD's manager is having her first baby and she commented that of all her wonderful relatives and friends, no one knits and she was very envious of all the beautiful baby knitting her friends were showing her. Hope that these go somewhere close to the mark!

I have been playing with the school's machine still and have finished these to go into my stash for a craft party we are planning for later in the year. I used pre made aprons for these two.

And this is a sneak peek at another one which I have made from scratch.

I have been a busy little beaver. Marcie loves me again because she was feeling very left out lately.
And to top off our beautiful day, here's a photo of my DIL and gorgeous GD who popped in tonight for tea.

Just check out those ringlets! The little cup was mine from my mum whose father gave it to her when she was little. Azzy told me that she loves tupsatea and water, so we had a grown up drink in the lounge room with DD's dolls and pram for company. Wonderful :)

Still sewing!

2011-02-26T15:41:00.000-08:00

Look at the water shimmering away - haven't seen too much of that this summer!

This is the view over the port from the northern end of our deck.

It's Sunday morning - sun is shining and the birds have even been warbling out a few tunes. The view from my dining room and deck is just magnificent and I have been sewing for a couple of hours. I've got a few things on the go, but will share soon, I promise!

Up, up and away.................

2011-02-04T01:39:00.000-08:00

Where to this time you might ask? King Island! The home of King Island cheese and beef. Yummo :) We have friends over there and I also have some students there - well actually, only one this year because the other one, whose parents we stay with, has just started school in Melbourne this week. So, I will have at least one other trip to the island this year. I must say though that it is most annoying that we have to drive east for 45 minutes to fly from Devonport, flying over Burnie on our way and return, rather than driving west for 20 minutes and leaving from Wynyard airport. So why am I complaining - well, it is Saturday and we have to be at the airport at 745 am! LOL And I won't even dare to tell you how much the flights cost, except to say that I could fly to Brisbane from Launceston and return for less.
I've had another very social week, done little sewing with Marcie, but have done a lot of hand work on my Stitching around the block. I did make another apron this week and took it into my friend in town today. She loved it - but said she would wear it at home rather than work so she won't get it dirty.................

Pity I didn't iron it again before I photographed it, but I nearly forgot altogether! The cakes look so yummy!!!

Here are the adult, child and dolly sized aprons that I blogged about the other day. Fun to make these ones too.
Hope you all have a great weekend and get time to do lots of the things you enjoy :)

Ballarat has a beautiful lake again!

2011-01-31T03:37:00.000-08:00

On the Sunday, we went to visit some special friends in Ballarat. We stopped for coffee at Buninyong at the old style chocolate and sweet shop. Here're some photos of 3 Alma Lynne fabric design hangers which we saw in the Sewing Shop window - DH said that he believed they had lost their place and really belonged to me!

Pity the shop was closed, but I did ring and they don't have the panels for sale :(

PS: Have had an email from Gail and she has given me details to purchase these cute panels!

Yay, thanks Gail :))

We had lunch with the gorgeous Little Red Hen and her DH, who used to live 5 minutes from my house here in Burnie.

Gus and Kate didn't want to miss out on anything!

Being good, Mum ~ this is only for a photo right ~ not the naughty corner?????

Lake Wendouree is just a 5 minute walk from Jan's through the Botancial Gardens - last time we were there, you could walk across it. Not any more, water is lapping over the edge of the foot path, the wildlife is breeding and the locals are out.

Oh Glenn!!!!!!!!!!!! That's terrible, hehehe

Marginally better, but who cares, we had a great visit. Loved seeing all your lovely crafty bits and pieces, too. Thanks Jan and Pete xxxxxxxxx

End of the first month........ astounding!

2011-01-31T02:26:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that Christmas was more than 5 weeks ago and yet so much has happened in that time and it seems like Mother Nature isn't done with our wonderful country yet!
Today is my sister's 30th Wedding Anniversary and their third grandson was born in Darwin - guess noone will forget the date now.
On the homefront, I have been sewing and practising with the Embroidery machine - loving that! Here are a few of the things I have been doing lately -

9 blocks from the FIS block of the month

I am using the other 3 blocks to make something else - trust me, I don't need another large quilt at the moment! Here's these 9 trammed and with two borders - one to go yet.

I couldn't get the border fabric in yardage, so have to join fat quarters to get what I need. Annoying!!!!!!!!

I have already posted photos of the red beret that I made earlier in the month - that number is now 2 + 2 matching scarves. Wanted to make DIL a beret set as well, but chose a cable pattern for her

I've been impressed by the wonderful journal covers some of the clever blogging ladies have made over the time. Here are my efforts - used some cute little embroideries to jazz them up.

These are photos of Jeannie's knitting folder cover - she does beautiful work and buys most of her knitting patterns from designers and downloads them - the folder is to keep the patterns in so she knows where they are!

This folder is for a student of mine who is continuing with her French in year 11 this year - Bonne chance, Lauren! Her favourite colour is purple, so this is what I came up with.

I've also made 3 aprons - mum size, child size and dolly size. Unfortunately, the photograph does NOT want to play nicely, so I'll take a new one tomorrow and upload it again.

On a different note, DH and I had a wonderful weekend in Victoria in the middle of January. We stayed in Geelong and on the Friday evening, took a train trip to Melbourne to see Mary Poppins which was unbelievable! Yes, Lynda, now I understand the almost perfect comment :)

On the Saturday, we drove via Queenscliffe and Barwon Heads, to Torquay to Apollo Bay. We'd never been along the Great Ocean Road before and found the scenery amazing. But this is what blew me away!

People and beach shelters EVERYWHERE! It's a bit hard to take in after Tassie beaches, let me tell you!

I'll add some photos of our visit to Ballarat tomorrow!

Australia Day, January 26th 2011 ~ Celebrate!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

or a more upbeat version of the traditional way!

Who cares? It's Australia Day 2011 - have a great day with your family and friends - but don't forget the aeroguard, your hat and sunscreen! We're having Sam's butterflied lamb on the BBQ with friends so I'd better get everything organised.

In case you're wondering why we're celebrating at home?????????????? Well, by the time I remember to pack all the things I need to take, the day will be over. At least here, I just come inside for sunscreen for the others who forgot!!!!!! Oh yes, and I'm here first!!! Everyone wins :)

Now ..................where are my thongs???????????????????

Here are some bits and pieces...........

2011-01-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

I have been spending time with family and friends over the past few weeks, but I nearly always have something in my hands to work on. Thought I'd share a few photos.

Beret for an order

Inside so you can see the pattern and the effect on the rim.

Scarflet to match ~ these are now in Chamonix skiing with their owner!

Building the Eiffel Tower!

Last week I had a 2 hour session with the local Janome dealer, learning how to use the Janome MC350E which school bought last year. Apparently sewing will be a part of my teaching load this year - once we come back from overseas in Term 2 - provided that there are enough students in Grades 7 and 8 who want to learn. Thought I would take advantage of the holidays to borrow the machine and I have had a ball!

My friend Jeannie and I catch up for coffee when we get a chance - this was on the apron I decorated for her birthday.........

I embroidered this delightful little cupcake on the pocket!

Last Friday, Christine and I travelled to Sarah's via Calico Crossroads, for a stitching day. Here are some pics of what we made..................

Christine had completed one little purse earlier and had 2 more stitcheries ready to attach to the purse outside.

Sarah chose a printed fabric for hers.

Here's the inside of mine - was quite fiddley to attach the lining.

One side attatched to the zip - fabric range is Blush by Moda

The finished purse ~ resting on my new ironing board cover - used this tutorial

I am working on my FIS blocks at the moment as well as some knitting - pics to follow shortly!

Would you be able to help out?

2011-01-11T15:16:00.000-08:00

The girls from Gumtrees have put out a call for help for our crafting colleagues who have been affected by the shocking floods in Queensland, which are continuing to have a devastating effect. Please click here for more details on how you and your crafting groups might help.

What am I doing with my holidays???????????????

2011-01-11T04:27:00.000-08:00

I've been working on FIS blocks and hope to finish the last few tomorrow. Got a nasty surprise when I looked because I thought I only had 4 to make - well I did - in October!!! Made 2 yesterday, was out all day today and have knitted not sewn. Piccies tomorrow night, with any luck! :)

Happy New Year and welcome to the "new look"

2011-01-08T18:19:00.001-08:00

I thought a new year, no resolutions and the arrival of summer here in Burnie might be the time to change the look of my blog - but not sure. What do you think??????????

New Year's Greetings

2010-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

Personalize your own digital greeting

Catch up part 2

2010-12-24T00:07:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the photos of the GGCS swap parcel which I sent to Michèle in France. I put in some extra goodies for her son, daughter and of course her DH. Can't leave him out when it's Australia to France after all!

Bronwyn Hayes with a little franglaising! The ribbon has Merry Christmas and Joyeux Noël printed on it. Found it in a gorgeous shop in Burnie called Spoil Me Gifts.

The fabric pack is of Aboriginal designed fat quarters.

Winter in France with heaps of snow. Got to keep those drinks hot!

All the photos in the local calendar were submitted in a competition, the winning one being the cover. All proceeds go to local charities.

Hope a certain family member doesn't decide to look on my blog tonight or tomorrow - all nieces need to keep comments to themselves till Boxing Day, pretty please. Vest is for my sister and was started when I was in Queensland in September.

I found some gorgeous snowflakes when I was in Spoil Me Gifts and made a second Christmas decoration which found its way onto the FIS Christmas swap present when I wasn't looking. Obviously it believed that it would find a good home where it has gone.

Yesterday I met up with Christine, Sarah, Roseanne and Sarah's Mum Gail at the Cherry Shed at Latrobe. We ate too much, laughed heaps and generally had a great time. Razzy gave us all a special little present from Santa's reindeer. I was a little sad because I have really tried to be good this year and hadn't even had a please explain on my Christmas list - but at least I wasn't forgotten. Christine gave us each a gorgeous quilted bag with 4 yummy Christmas cakes inside. She said they would last for 3 months, but boy, have I got news for her LOL

Here we all are outside - still laughing about Sarah's butt dance - and helping Christine hide the strawberry stain she got on her pretty blouse when she helped me pick enough strawberries to send down to Hobart today. There were lots of really mushy ones as a result of all the rain, so it was a big effort to find enough that would travel well. Her eyes are shut because she had danced so hard she needed a rest - Sarah that is!

And today, I have been getting tomorrow's ham glazed, wrapping presents and generally being busy - found time to make this for a friend's one year old, because his parcel was too difficult to wrap with paper. Now, all she will have to do is release the wooden bead to get the toys out and push it up again to tidy them away to bring home. Our boys had one similar and it still holds the Duplo blocks.

Hope all my blogging friends have a wonderful Christmas and a safe, healthy and Happy New Year. I'll be back to show off my FIS swap present tomorrow!

Lots of news!

2010-12-23T02:27:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been ages since I have had the time and or the energy to post lately. End of term was madness and I had a trip to Hobart for 4 days as well. When I got home I wasn't feeling 100% and ended up with a virus which quickly became a bacterial infection, so my end of term was a week earlier than everyone else's. Feeling heaps better now, thank heavens as DH had his checkup on Monday in Launceston following his second round of cancer treatment. Just waiting on the test results to find out whether there are still cancer cells in the urine.
We have decided that we are going OS in April, regardless of the results, so after Christmas we start to plan our trip once again! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee
On the creative front, not a lot has been happening though. I posted swap presents to Michèle in Alsace, France and have received mine. Just check these out!

The snowman is painted on and the decorations are embroidered hanging from the arms. The girl's plait is actually plaited and moves as you walk - just the most beautiful work.

I have read half of the book, used my bag and am planning to make Christmas cookies tomorrow morning while the ham is being glazed. I also have a snowflake cookie cutter which I used to make some of the Bredele cookies which are made in Alsace at the beginning of Advent. The FQ is a very fine linen, made in a factory in Alsace as well, so a wonderful French Christmas for me, without the cold of the weather :)

Here's a sneak preview of the FIS parcel which Santa delivered on the big island yesterday.
Still some photos of my weekend at Exeter as well as a few other bits and pieces I have finished this month - I'll post them tomorrow.

Skin of my teeth

2010-11-30T02:37:00.000-08:00

Just skated in by the skin of my teeth with another OPAM finish! We have our Material Girls' breakup next Tuesday night and we are taking a Christmas decoration which fits into a very small box - everyone has the same size. I've based mine on the decoration we made at the Retreat at Hagley!

Birthday party

2010-11-28T00:31:00.000-08:00

I don't know about Azzy's parents, but I am exhausted after her party today, LOL. We went to the Don River Railway, which is about 35 minutes from here, at Devonport. The trains have been rebuilt by volunteers and run from the Don to Coles Beach, about 10 minutes down the line. I used to travel on a train like this to birthday parties when I was a kid in Hobart - just as much fun then as now, probably a lot cheaper though :)

Azzy came dressed as a fairy today - her clever mum made her a blue tutu with lots of big sequins and found some beautiful blue wings.

No matter what I try, this photo still comes up sideways , grrrrrrrrr

She regaled us all with information about where the train was, where we were going, etc and when the train arrived, she jumped up and down with excitement. She is a wonderful hostess, went from guest to guest all day and spent time with everyone.

It was fine, not cold but a bit grey at the beach when we arrived. Azzy lasted about 10 minutes dressed.
She ended up wearing her favourite outfit, her birthday suit!

This is one of the feature's of my new camera! Cute, isn't it???????

And the pram was a complete hit - her first words were, "pram not in baby shop Mumma!"
She hadn't brought her baby with her today, but she received an octopus as a present - I would be really worried if I looked in a pram and saw this!!!

Happy birthday, little princess!

Still around

2010-11-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

It's been a very busy few weeks since my last post. DH has finished his treatments and now we wait till we get the results from his checkup procedure on Dec 20. Not worrying about it, because we have done all we can at this stage anyway!
Reports for my school students are completed and it appears that I only had one significant mistake, as only one teacher emailed me to change anything .... phew! Still have to write my online reports, but that is Tuesday's job. All certificates are done.

Monday is our GD's second birthday and we have bought her a pram, complete with tray underneath and a bag for the "mummy." This morning I have made a mattress, sheet, blanket and tiny quilt, so it's ready to go tomorrow. Will post a photo later in the day. We're going to Don River Railway tomorrow for her party - she had a ride on a train a while back and loved it, so we are off again. At the end of the ride, there's a beach where we'll have a picnic - provided the forecast rain holds off.

I put the finishing touches to my gift for Michèle, my GGCS partner in France, last night and am very happy with it. After "talking" via email with Lynda H, I used a 640 iron on pellon on the front and back panel of the bag - it's okay, everyone gets a Christmas bag - and a 630 for the side gussets. Easy and effective to make it stand up, but NOT easy putting the thing together. I won't tell you whose design it was, but many of you will guess that if it had to be altered, it was someone we all grumble about, LOL. Can't help but love the designs though :)

I'm off to meet my DH for a coffee date as he is at work, so will be back to update this later in the morning - or afternoon, if I decide to do some Christmas shopping.

Paper Bag Swap

2010-11-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when I got home on Monday night to find my parcel from Kylie at the door! Because Kylie was moving at the time of the swap, we negotiated a different finishing date and here it is!
I sent her two fabrics, which are the same as I have previously used to make a block roll and a stitching bag, as well as a Bronwyn Hayes' stitchery - which I did ages ago - a button and some ricrac.
Here is what I received!

A matching block holder - about 9 1/2 " - and a notepad

Close-up - looks so gorgeous!

Already in use as you can see!

Thanks so much Kylie. I am thrilled to bits with them both!

I have received 24 blocks to stitch already from the Life is a Celebration BOM - so a very long way to go yet :D

What on earth........?????????????

2010-11-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

I think the photos speak for themselves! Following the pattern instructions to handstitch the handles onto this project wouldn't have given enough strength, but by this stage, almost finished, this was the only way out.

NOT easy, BUT it worked thankfully. Since this is for the FIS Christmas swap, I can't show the project yet, but have included a sneak peek for now. The dark bit at the bottom is my shadow, LOL

Rain, rain, go away - we want to go out and play!

2010-10-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

But, since the rain isn't stopping any time soon, I've been stitching away. I operated on my butterfly's belly and took out some excess fat, then restitched the snail in 1 thread. Nearly there - then I remembered that I had intended to decorate the butterfly wings, so I've done that too.
Finally, here is everything for the Stitching Round the block swap, ready to be mailed off to Fee.

Will put in a piece of the background fabric in case there is any more stitching then off it goes to Brighton for Round 2.

I've nearly finished the stitcheries on my FIS Christmas swap present - just 4 more little ones to go. Hopefully will get them finished tonight and tomorrow [public holiday here!] I can start putting that together as well as the GGCS bag which is going to travel to France sometime next month, ready for Christmas Day at Michèle's house. These are my priorities and then I can get on with some other bits and pieces that I have been planning for ages - like making Faerie Noël for this Christmas!

Hope you've all had a great weekend in spite of the weather ☺

Camp and Sydney

2010-10-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

The Launceston girls organised a Tasmanian retreat last weekend at Hagley Farm School. Aside from the Friday night, when I couldn't go, the weather was lovely, the views were great and the company was wonderful. Some great work was coming from very busy fingers!

View from the kitchen window

Fee at work

Thanks for the smile :)

We all made Marg Lowe Christmas Decorations from our Gift bags

This is as close as I got to a picture of everyone there ☺

And here is my dinner visitor from Sydney on Monday night!

It is definitely time to invest in a new camera as the most recent inside shots of people are not good - will check out the ones Lynda sent. Unfortunately, we don't have a photo of Lynda's friend Karen who came along for the evening. ☻I was sad to see them head off in their little car at the end of the evening, but hopefully we will get to Sydney again soon to see Jersey Boys and we can catch up for longer!

Better, but still no Karen - who was there, behind Lynda's camera!!!

Peg invited me to join her group in the Stitching around the block which Helen Stubbings is running. Here's my stitchery ready to be sent off to Fee for the next round!

Mutated looking head on that snail - back to the reverse stitching!

Finished!!!!!

2010-10-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Here is the quilt that I have been binding this weekend. Finally finished it this morning and am ready for the big reveal. Hope Kerry gets to see it soon - Pauline saw it yesterday with 2 sides hemmed. I am absolutely thrilled with the end result!

Now, it's time for me to start work on a special bag that I am making for my partner Michèle in France as part of the GGCS. I do love finishing things but even more I like starting new ones, LOL.

Yesterday we had our local Friendship Day here in Burnie. There were almost 100 ladies and 1 gentleman - I was MC and am pleased to say that there were no complaints and everyone had a wonderful day. Lots of gorgeous show and tell, beautiful work being done and lots of chatter of course. Pauline, Debbie and Julie and Michelle from Well's at Latrobe as well as our own Christine from Stitchery Do were there with their goodies on sale. Lots of little brown bags sneaked out of the hall at the end of the day, to make their way to someone's sewing room - yes, and mine as well, LOL.

Hope everyone has survived the horrendous weather we have been experiencing over the last few days - what a Spring! Today, I am going to Penguin to sing with Segway at Arts on Fire at the local primary school, so hopefully it will be much warmer there than it was singing outside on the back of a truck at my school last Sunday. Off to "Wild Café" for lunch with friends afterwards - lovely way to finish off the weekend.

Travelling again

2010-10-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

Just when we thought we were on top of things, DH's recent test results came back on Tuesday and we are heading back to Launceston after work today to begin another round of treatment for the next 6 weeks. The upside is that we will get to see our sweet little fairy on Fridays after the treatment and who could be sad about that? So, I have my new quilt from Kerry's recent Tassie workshop back and am about to head into the sewing room to stitch on the binding so that I can make use of my waiting time tomorrow.
We have our Friendship Day here in Burnie on Saturday, so have been baking as well as stitching bonbons for our gifts - had to make another 6 because our numbers had hit 90 yesterday and we only had 78 made. That brings my total to 18 in the last few weeks and believe me, if I never see another one, I don't think I will be too upset, LOL

Paper bag swap DONE!!!

2010-10-10T03:10:00.000-07:00

It's finished and I am very happy with it. Will get to the post office tomorrow or Tuesday am Kerry. Hope you are pleased with the finished result! And that's another one to tick off my list this month, hehehehe

Update

2010-10-09T03:09:00.000-07:00

Our stall looked great today and we had heaps of wonderful comments - didn't sell as much as we would have liked, but we did sell 50 raffle tickets, which was excellent going. Back for another go tomorrow.
Finished off the other 5 bonbons and have now claimed them in my October OPAM - total of 38 items so far now. I stuffed Giddy's head and will work at finishing him off because he has been sold already - unfinished as he was, LOL.
Started Kerry's paper bag swap article tonight, but can't concentrate, so that is a job for tomorrow when I get home.
Btw Razzy, this is a highly unusual month and you shouldn't hold your breath waiting for me to do it again :)

Expo day is here!

2010-10-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

It's early yet and so Daylight savings does give a bit of a false idea on the day, but at present it is just lovely, although still a little nippy outside.
I have everything packed, ready to go, so thought you might like to see my finished efforts - the unfinished ones are in another bag for me to work on during the day - just little finishes here and there.

I have another 5 bonbons to do and buttons to put on, etc. So, whilst I didn't have many finishes for the last few months, I think I have redeemed myself this week, LOL. 28 completely finished and the rest to be added once I have!
My partner Chris has heaps of beautiful appliqued teatowels and we have some scrapbooked cards, a bag, runner and a great flannel quilt from another friend to boost the look of things. A wonderful friend from Hobart come up with some gorgeous purses, clutches and pencil cases on Thursday. Should be great!
Added to that, we have a teddy quilt to raffle. Proceeds from that are to go to Heart Kids - Chris' daughter made it and Chris quilted it by hand after the GD died as a result of a heart virus which went undiagnosed just over 2 years ago. Hope we sell lots of tickets so that we can donate a great amount of money.

What a little cutie!

2010-10-03T01:30:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share! We had a wonderful afternoon at Bell's Parade at Latrobe today. Addison kept us all amused and we've come home exhausted but I believe she has her second wind, LOL.

Just a couple of things so far........

2010-10-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

More to come

Part 2 - because blogger doesn't like uploading my photos!!!!!!

2010-10-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

Trying to show you my quilt as it grew!

Border 1

Border 2

Adding next row

With last row and final border
Believe it or not the final border is actually jade in colour not just blue!

Now, to today's efforts - I have made 3 small wallets, 2 scissor chatelaines with snowmen, a humbug purse and completed 2 mug cosies - and that won't make even a small dent on the table next week! Just as well I still have the weekend - but I have decided that the scissor chatelaines are too fiddly and not making any more of them except for presents in the future! Photos to come.

Kerry's workshop

2010-10-01T04:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the workshop, as promised. A few shots of Sarah and Christine working on their quilt tops and several of my quilt as it grew. The best shot is on my mobile phone and I can't find the adapter to download it at the moment, so that one will have to wait a bit longer!

That was a crack up, Christine!

Dinner with Kerry at Georgetown

FIS paper bag swap

2010-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how remiss I have been in putting up photos and blogging lately. Nevertheless, second post in two days - here are the contents of the bag which Kerry sent me. The Toblerone has disappeared of course but the plan for what will be made has come about - now just to sew it. The bag in which everything came - including the peeper Kerry borrowed last year at the workshop - is featured in one of Kerry's recent swaps and is made from selvedges - really cute!

My mum gave me a cute little tutu and fairy wings last time I was in Hobart and guess who is wearing them in this photo? She came to stay overnight a fortnight ago for the first time ever and we had a ball - mind you I slept like a log and her parents had the devil's own job encouraging her to go to sleep! You would never have guessed if you had seen her pushing her auntie's doll's pram around doing "serculs" that she would have been too excited to sleep! LOL

Don't you just love the flannel PJs under the fairy costume?

Laughing cos she forgot her wand!

On the Friday I picked up Christine and we drove to Launceston to see Leanne, Sarah and Razzy. Leanne was busily working so she missed out on our wonderful morning tea, but we called in to have a chat. Our main reason for the trip was to go to Calico Crossroads to pick out our fabric for Kerry Swain's 2 day workshop. Razzy just couldn't help herself and chose 18 Fat quarters, because she could!
Sarah and Christine both loved Luna Notte and chose 13 very similar fabrics, but had a different background fabric each.

Sarah's choices

Christine's fabrics

Here's what I chose - Civil War Reproductions. My background is on the left - could have gone with the safe option of cream, but decided to bite the bullet and go with something completely different.

More pics of the weekend later! Worth the wait, I promise.

Well yes, we did come back to the coldest part of Australia!

2010-09-30T00:48:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful time we had in the sun - 2 weddings, 2 gorgeous quilting shops, lots of walks, great food and meeting up with an FIS friend at Robina Shopping Centre! I managed to knit the front of a vest for my sister whilst we were driving, read two large books with smallish print and finish 3 small stitcheries for something special. Came home feeling relaxed and ready for anything - well that changed, cos I was so relaxed I was almost horizontal and didn't do too much of anything when I got home, LOL!

Thread and Ginger at Victoria Point

Goodies from Faeries in my Garden and Threads and Ginger

View from Eagle's Nest looking towards Surfers

Finished "doing lunch" with Teresa

View from our bedroom, bathroom and kitchen window at Burleigh Heads!

We have an Arts and Garden Expo coming up at school on 9/10 October, so I have been busy doing bits and bobs for that. All my finishes for this month are for that weekend and I need to use every spare minute of the next few days to keep working on it.

Tomorrow is a public holiday for the Burnie Show so I am going to be flat out cutting, stitching and finishing off stock for the stall next week - so I shouldn't be online!

Here we come, Brisbane!

2010-09-01T23:37:00.000-07:00

Just about finished packing, so fingers crossed that the weather is fine and warm for the next week and a half! Am taking my trusty little netbook, some mini stitcheries, my knitting and a book - wonder if I will actually get to use any of them though??????????????
Now just to wait till DH decides he has really done enough work to warrant this holiday and off we go to Launceston before we fly out in the morning. Yippeeeeeeeeeeee

Here I am...............

2010-08-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a month since I have had time to post about anything else other than the Conference I was organising! Conference was wonderful, everything went as it should and I am just paying the last few accounts and sending out thank you letters to our great sponsors.
Now that it's over I thought I would have sewing time, but no, hasn't happened yet, except that I managed to mend my daughter's bag, put up hems on her trousers and repair her dress all before she heads OS in September. At least I know that the sewing machine still works! I have managed one finish for the month - jumper for DH's birthday last week. Looks great on.

Look who's peeking out behind DH!

I have joined the Great Global Christmas Swap and received the first reply from my partner - I was so excited that she understood my French and replied in English, but mostly in French. Some of the best things about speaking another language are the opportunities to meet and talk to others outside your own country. I am now looking at the possibility of including Alsace in our trip to France next year. What a shame that students can't be convinced of this! Some of mine have never left the state and many state categorically that they will NEVER leave Australia - hopefully their attitudes will change in the future.

I have just come back from school visits to NE and South of the state, so here are some photos to share of the snow that has fallen in place of the rain over the last few days. Looks beautiful, but very cold especially with the wind blowing off the mountains.

Taken from Esk Highway between St Marys and Avoca

Amazing the difference in the landscape!

How gorgeous is that!

Fingal's view of Ben Lomond and Mt Barrow.

View from my sister's front garden at Perth.

Greater Launceston from Waldhorn Drive into Grindelwald.

The ski slopes have been having a wonderful weekend with many of the tows working for the first time this winter!

DH and I are off to Qld on Friday for 10 days during our school holidays. We are going to De's wedding next Saturday and a friend's third son is being married the following weekend. Hoping to catch up with some FIS friends during the 5 days we are down at Burleigh Heads. Bring on the warmth!

Pounce pad quilting

2010-07-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

After seeing Peg's results with her Pounce Pad I decided to get one and try it out - liked it and now I actually have another small, finished quilt!
Used the pounce pad to do the border as had already hand stitched around the animals years ago when I made it and have used a clear thread to quilt/applique the leaves at the top of the quilt.

Meet new friends

2010-07-27T02:17:00.000-07:00

I tried to get into Blogger earlier today and it wouldn't play nicely at all, so it's taken until now for me to get a second chance.
Here are Patty and Duddles sitting huddled together on top of the heater in our lounge room. Patty was made by Karyn from FIS group as part of our Softies swap. These new friends are both first Softies efforts and I love them! Karyn did a great job with Patty, don't you think? Love her hair!

And here are some of the other completed items on this month's list!

Firstly the knitted hat for my great nephew who is coming to visit his grandparents in Tassie for the very first time next month - since he lives in Darwin, I thought this might be useful!

And here are some photos of the flannel quilt I started when we were in Bicheno! It's been back from the quilter for weeks, but I have only just managed to put on the binding and complete it. It works too - had a snuggle and a long nanna nap on the couch yesterday after work, all warm and cosy under it.

The corner blocks are made up from the offcuts of the bigger blocks and not wanting to waste them.................
Still need to take photos of the little quilt I finished using the Pounce pad and the new mug cosies.

My current project isn't likely to be completed before the end of the month - but will be by the middle of next month because it is for my DH's birthday. Almost half way up the second sleeve, so only the back and collar to knit after this and then of course, putting it together........ LOVELY!!!

At last..................

2010-07-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since I blogged and just as long almost since I finished anything - but here I am!
Firstly, the FIS group I belong to has just had a softies swap and I am finally able to post photos of what I made for Sue.

Dudley is a Melly and Me design, made with some Civil War Reproduction fabrics.

Since this was to be my first softie, I made one for me to try out the pattern - mine is called Duddles and is made from I believe in Santa by Nancy Halvorsen - so different from Dudley!

I used PVA and water mixture to make the tail feathers stand up as the pattern didn't call for stuffing them - I did do so with Sue's though and it was a shocker to do, but well worth the effort. Look pretty cute!

Softie finished

2010-07-11T05:04:00.000-07:00

Sarah's laughing at me because I was running sooooooo late with my last swap - but this time I have finished already and I've even made 2! Of course, can't put up a photo yet in case my partner comes in and has a peek before opening day.......... soon though.......

À la mode

2010-06-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love this?

You can hear her thinking - look how great I look in Mimi's vest, my boots from London and the lovely bag Mummy bought for me at Salamanca!

Psst... I keep my monies in that and I know how to undo the zip now!

And two more finishes

2010-06-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

What a busy week at our house! Started on Sunday with lunch with friends at Longford, dinner with family in Launceston then a 5am alarm to ensure that we were at the hospital by 6am on Monday. Great news, DH doesn't have to see the specialist again now until September, so the treatment has worked! I think we have only really just realised that this is the case - been in some kind of euphoric state, not alcohol or drug affected either, LOL. Monday night was full of phone calls, text messages and BIL who stayed overnight. Tuesday I felt like I had been hit by a Mack truck after a full day in the classroom - first in 11 weeks, so as you can imagine I fell into bed and didn't move all night :) Wednesday was reasonably normal, but Thursday I started school visits and then had a Conference meeting from 4 which only ended at 1835 when I left to meet DH, DS, DIL and GD in Ulverstone for an unexpected meal. After that we visited some dear friends who have just had illness diagnosed and a brand new grandson arrive. By Friday I was ready for some stitching and my Pounce pad arrived in the mail. Opened and examined it and it is still sitting where I left it, since I ended up working on Conference stuff most of the day and then putting the finishing touches to my very first softie. Looks great, but boy, so much work in putting him together - still have to make my partner's now that I have trialled the pattern.
Here's another one I made yesterday for a young friend who's having her baby shower next weekend - another Melly and Me called Dee Dee. - from Australian Homespun, Vol 10, No 12.

This morning I have completed a cute little MILO knitted vest for GD using leftovers from her red riding hood jacket. It was knitted from the neckline using a circular needle - a first for me. It wasn't the easiest pattern to work with and I didn't like the fact that it gave no indication of length, etc, but I am happy with the finished result. I wanted to make the owl a feature, so only did the one rather than a strip as you would a cable design.

So, two more finishes for June and sadly, Quilt Pounce Pad hasn't had an outing....YET!!!!! I have found a little quilt that I made years ago though, so you never know!

Catching up!

2010-06-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

The last day of the holidays, Auntie and I went through to Launceston via Exeter where we met Sarah and Razzy for a cuppa before we called in to see Pauline at Calico Crossroads. Imagine our surprise when we left the Exeter Bakery to see this right in front of us! Had to take a photo because I'm sure noone would have believed us otherwise.

Christine and Razzy swapped cars for the trip to Launceston so that we could catch up with our blogging friends. I was very proud of the fact that we found a free park in George Street and Razzy and I were feeling very virtuous about our extra walk into town. We met up with Cathy at The Quilt Patch and then we did a bit of individual shopping in town before heading off to meet Leanne at Esmes at Kings Meadows and have lunch just down the road at Peckish.

After Razzy and I had a lengthy wait for the RACT man - having discovered a flat tyre - we were extremely peckish after dropping off the car here............

for two new tyres! That put an end to the quilt shop splurging I can tell you - you can buy a lot of fabric for nearly $500 :<
Christine and I had a very smooth trip home though, so it was worth it - how dreadful it would have been if we had had a puncture on the highway on a Friday afternoon, last day of the holidays and the start of a long weekend. I consider the timing to have been annoying but thoughtful really, hehehe - oh yes, and I've told Christine that she drives next time!
Before I went to Launceston I had started cutting out strips to make my DD a flannel lap quilt to keep her warm when she is sitting watching TV - it was meant to be made whilst she was at Uni to keep her warm whilst she was working in the cold study, because the heating was always off over the weekend to save $$$$$$$$$$$ - personally I think that with what her course cost at University, the heating should have been on 12 months a year, LOL. I saw a pattern that I liked and decided that I could make it easily enough from memory - the book was quite expensive and there was only one quilt in it that I even liked.
Home I went, cut and stitched and then decided I had made a huge mistake. Couldn't work it out at all, so here is what I ended up with - a slightly rearranged version of rail fence block.

The borders are made from the extra inch that I had to cut off each of the strips and the corner squares from some other off cuts - makes it look like I went to a lot of trouble to mitre the corners. All machine pieced and quilted by Monday night. Took all Tuesday evening to hand stitch the binding down though!

School is back but I have still managed to get some sewing done after tea the last few days. I've managed a second pair of pants for GD - mirror image of the previous pair. Both will go with the Red Ridinghood jacket and the recent pink jacket which I have knitted this year.
The QS flannel quilt I have made for our bed - which I started piecing at Bicheno - has been back from the quilter for a week. The binding is all ready to go on ... but I'm having a break and making a softie for a change of pace.

New toy and first project!

2010-06-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

Has been a very busy week at my house - finishing off UFOs, tidying the table for the next project, visitors..........
Finally unpacked my new machine on Thursday afternoon and more visitors. Admired it as I passed through yesterday between visitors, phone calls and shopping, BUT TODAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY - I've threaded, even checked the manual and have now completed my first stitchery!
Here's the photo Sue and Razzy from FIS requested :)

And this is the first project!

Close ups of the stitchery - this is a Rosalie Quinlan design which I started at the Quilted Crow's Gathering last October.

I love the combination of the wool applique and the stitchery - this hanging will get its first outing on July 6 for our Material Girls Christmas in July at our place.

The new toy

2010-06-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Have just unpacked my new machine and set it all up to have a play. Couldn't find the cord to the foot - oh dear! On talking a closer look, it has a retractable cord in the pedal - that was the only difference I could find between it and the Elna, other than a couple of extra stitches. How pleased am I!!!! Bonus!

In between posts, Bicheno and first finishes for June

2010-06-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

I was so keen to put up the photos of Sarah's laptop bag on Sunday night, that I forgot to make a post about our 5 nights in Bicheno. We didn't arrive till after tea, so it was dark and quite cold - but the next morning was glorious. Breakfast, long walk, coffee in one of the cafés, reading, stitching, snoozing.......... all the ingredients for a great break!

We drove to St Helens on the Tuesday round lunch time and then to Binalong Bay to check out the lovely Angasy Restaurant where the deck looks out over the Bay and north towards Ansons Bay. Well, the view was wonderful but being a Tuesday, the Restaurant was closed :( The Scuba shop next door also served coffee and bits - well, we WERE thirsty, but we won't choose to go there again!

Called in to Annie's Cottage Craft and Supplies at St Helens on the return trip. Annie is a delight and has a great range of fabrics, patterns, beautiful samples of work on display and some wonderful Christmas ideas all year round. Sadly, I only managed to find a couple of pieces of flannel that I needed this time around - and a Christmas hanger and a Penguin wall hanging that Annie had ordered in last November for me. Must have known I was coming though, because it had only recently arrived as a back order!

Much to my daughter's disgust, I packed my sewing machine and supplies into the car - flannels already cut, ready to be stitched. How happy I was to have the time to make all the blocks and have them ready to assemble when I came home. This morning I took the quilt top to the quilting lady - and yes, I could have quilted it myself, but this year I have made up my mind to FINISH things as I go.

Looks a big orange, but it's deep terracotta.

I still had to work whilst we were in Bicheno and was lucky enough to be able to work at the Primary School there. Having my own laptop, I only required internet access for the time I was working with my online students - so just took up some space in the Library. Had a few students pop by to say hello and check out what I was doing talking to myself, hehehe. SKYPE is a wonderful tool - as long as the internet access is good - you can use it from anywhere really!
So, Hobart was the final port of call - spent a few hours checking out sewing machines with my sister - and YES, finally succombed to purchasing a new Janome machine. I have been thinking for ages about buying one with a wider throat so that I can quilt more of my own things. The deal was so good that I couldn't pass it up - friends collected it for me and brought it through to the coast on Saturday. I've been so busy finishing off stuff, that I haven't even opened it yet - looking like tomorrow at this rate! I just wanted to finish off some other bits and pieces that I had started before I play around getting to know it. PS: Did you know that Elna and Janome are now made in the same factory. There is hardly any difference between my new machine and the Elna 7300 [except the price!]
Finally, my first two finishes for June! First finish is GD's pink cardigan which I started at Bicheno. The light was dreadful at night, so couldn't stitch at all. It looks a bit big yet, but better than just fitting her.

The buttons are the same pink with a tan and yellow outer ring - different!

Second: the hand-dyed silk yarn that Beetle gave me for Christmas has finally made its way to the top of the pile again - finished it last night when I got home from Material Girls. Beetle was most impressed when she saw it! Couldn't wear it today though - believe it or not, it was too warm for a scarf!

Looks fantastic teamed with the handcrafted shawl pin which I bought from Nicholas and Felice.

Now - I am working out what to do with this finished stitchery -

- Peg and Lynda have both suggested a wall hanging and despite the fact that I don't have incredible amounts of wall space, that is what I plan to do with it. Cup of coffee first, then getting onto it this afternoon! Lynda fell about her computer laughing at my comment that this is the Rosalie Quinlan design which I received at the Quilted Crow Gathering last October at Campania - complete with Vixisms - you know, the bits that you just have to put in to something to make it yours! It's Christmas in July at our place next month for our Material Girls group, so better get it ready to have its first airing!

Now I can post, LOL

2010-05-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

I've been saving up some other photos until I had handed over Sarah's bag - from FIS swap - before I posted again - so here's an update in the world of Vix!

Addison has scored a new pair of pants this week and there's a second pair - in reverse - to come! Also a pretty pink cardy which is nearly complete.

I have finally completed the Jet jumper I made at the end of last winter and have even worn it twice - very cosy and worth the wait!

Here's Sarah's bag - I finished the stitchery - it's a Wendy Briggs angel - whilst we were at Bicheno the week before last. What I had chosen to make, a Bonbon Bag by Monica Poole, was not the right size and shape for the stitchery, so between Razzy, Sarah and me, we worked out something else - a laptop bag for those occasions when you don't want one of the black ones.
You can see by the look on her face that she is surprised - but it wasn't the type of bag, just the finished bag, I'm sure!

Here are some close ups of the stitchery and the bag itself - complete with a little mouse/camera or mobile bag at the back.
I've never really tried to do any machine quilting, but I was quite proud of this little effort! Pity it's on the base where you can't see if, hehehe.

Here is a better photo of the vest that I had posted a few weeks ago - colour is better , but more importantly the focus is heaps better!

Thank you!

2010-05-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

Came home on Wednesday to find a package at our front door, addressed to Glenn.
No names, no idea where it had come from - so he opened it - as you do - here's what was inside!

and closer...........

Thank you so much to Sarah and Denis, Razzy and Ian - who made DH very happy and made my efforts to lose weight even more difficult, LOL

And here is the vest in its real colours - taken from my mobile phone! Colour's right but photo's not so fantastic :(

That's better!

Getting through the pile..........

2010-05-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

Whilst Glenn has been having his treatment, I have been knitting away - and I have just completed the vest I started for myself. I bought the wool the first week and started it as soon as I finished GD's little red riding hood jacket. Like the end result - but the colour is NOTHING like the photo - it's really a mulberry shade.

Close up of the cables

My flannel stash - bought several years ago with the $100 I won in the Quilt Shop Hop - it's about to get the chop!

I wonder what it will become......................???

First finish for May

2010-05-04T01:08:00.000-07:00

Friends from Brisbane came to visit ANZAC weekend and there was constant chatter from all parties. Anne had made a wonderful bag and she wrote me out the instructions - well, was interesting making the pattern, putting it all together and then finding that one side was 1cm taller than the other and everything was completed except for putting on the button. Where there's a will, there's a way and a pair of scissors, an unpicker and a few choice words describing my stupidity, and it is as good as new! Taking it for it's first outing tonight!

It has 6 pockets, 3 inside and out, all very secure too. Plenty of room to fit in an empty wallet, glasses and whatever else - hehehehe - oh yes, managed to make it all from my stash - just had to buy the button! Got to like that, don't you???

FIS blocks 3, 4 + 5

2010-05-02T04:14:00.000-07:00

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee - I am finally up to date with my Friends in Stitching Block of the month.

All done and here they are - singly and all together.

Addison's new jacket

2010-05-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

Just received these photos from my DiL of Addison in her new jacket having a lovely time in Launceston the other day - just had to share them with you all!

And this one was taken a few weeks before the weather started to change - I made this little cream top before Christmas from Bamboo I think it's called. So lovely to knit and very comfortable to wear. Also made her a long sleeved version in pink for the cooler days.

Christmas bag, Mark 3.

2010-04-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

Here's the final bag to go back to London with Dawnie on the early flight out of Melbourne next Monday.
This one is for her Mother, so since she does more lugging around than the rest of the girls, I've made hers into a real tote bag. The Santa is from a panel which I appliqued on with a straight stitch and gold thread. Stitched a fair bit of extra gold to highlight the gold in the picture itself, then some gold ricrac which I have had for ages to trim between the patched section and the appliqued piece.

Back and sides are pieced as well as the section underneath the Santa. The recipient is shorter than me, so I have knotted the straps for a slightly different look - AND to save me adjusting them since I didn't find that out till it was all neatened up - OOPS!

Finishing off some more bits and pieces - but no blocks yet!

2010-04-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

This is the little "Red riding hood" jacket and hood which I have been making for Addison for a few months - I have enough of the fluffy wool left to make cuffs for next year - atm it is like a coat on her and just the right length in the sleeves with them rolled up - she looks so cute, but took it off quickly as it was too hot the other night and she was a busy girl!

Dawn is waiting to hear whether she will be leaving Australia at 0010 on Wednesday morning for London - of course, we don't mind one little bit if she gets to stay on for longer, hehehe. She and Chris have done some walking this weekend - over the Saddle down into Wineglass Bay at Freycinet and yesterday went walking at Cradle. Must get some photos from them.

Here's the second bag in the Christmas instalment for London. If the flights get cancelled for much longer, she could very well have the third one to take home as well, hehehe

We have had a great week, DH is doing very well, not quite so tired and lots of energy!

Astounding!!

Unexpected way to spend our leave

2010-04-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time between posts and a lot has happened! Firstly our Long Service Plans have been unceremoniously ditched as a result of my husband's need for weekly treatment in Launceston. The prognosis is good, but the word itself was a massive shock to us all. The first treatment was Thursday last week and continues Fridays for 5 more weeks, then a two week stop before more tests to see whether the treatment has been successful.
Chris and Dawn flew in from London last Wednesday afternoon and were at the hospital after the first treatment - it's fantastic to have such wonderful family support. Our kids have all been wonderful and our little GD has provided us with lots of "comic" relief.
Easter has been spent at home and we have had the whole family here for lunch on Sunday - the very first time we have had everyone here as Dawn hasn't been back since Addison arrived. Was a very special day for all of us and a real boost to DH.
I've actually managed to get some sewing in - finished off the black stripey bag and yesterday I made a pretty little Christmas shoulder bag to go back to London. Two more in the planning!

I also managed to cut out one of the 2 blocks for our FIS group and hopefully will get some more time in the sewing room today. C+D off to Launceston later this morning and DH has gone off to work - shorter hours, as in 8 hour days rather than 11!!!

And here is my swap present from Helen!

2010-03-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

This is just gorgeous!

Helen did the stitchery whilst she was on Norfolk Island recently - there's an identical one on the other side - so I'm going to call it my Norfolk Island Butterfly bag.

Here's a close -up of the front - or back, hehehe

I'm heading out for a birthday coffee some time this afternoon, so guess what I am taking??? Notice that I've changed the font colour to match the bag :)

Thanks so much, Helen. It's truly lovely.

Finally I can show you what I have been doing!

2010-03-20T16:11:00.000-07:00

The recipient of the FIS swap has just opened her parcel, so now I can put up some photographs to share. I made her the Leanne Beasely Couch companion - with a few little changes.

I loved the colours and changed the original from pinks to the deeper shades to complement the fabrics - actually that is a lie - oops! I had already done the outside section when I went looking for the fabrics, but I had a good idea of what I wanted. Mind you, the good idea underwent a few changes on the way to the finished product, as it does of course! The finished product was lovely and unlike most of my work, actually was completed before time and had a label on it. Australia Post only just managed to get it there on time though - even with Express Post!

Turns out that Dawnie made the same item for her partner and was tempted to make it for herself! Lucky, now she doesn't have to!

And here is what is on my sewing table at the moment - planning on it being finished before I go away on 11th, so will have at least one item completed in April! This one is going to be a replacement bag for a friend. The last "dilly bag" I gave her has worn out, so time for a new version. Love the colour way!

And a second finish!

2010-02-27T22:29:00.000-08:00

A friend and I have been busily building a Christmas stash - I already made 4 Christmas placemats and have plans to make another 2 to match. Today I finished 6 gorgeous mug cosies from the I believe book - am really happy with them.

I might even keep these and use them at the Christmas in July party! How good will that be in the middle of winter - of course, 6 won't be enough though, LOL.
Now just over 3/4 of the way to completing the stitchery for the FIS swap - have all the fabrics cut out now, so just need a few more nights and then a stitching day to put it all together..... looking great!

Phew, my official working week is over!

2010-02-24T22:54:00.000-08:00

I have been feeling really bad because I hadn't managed to finish anything this month - and THEN I looked more closely! I know that Christmas is a long way off, but here is the new apron I finally put together and quilted ready to cook again!

Meet Ellie, the other family member in this house. She is like Auntie's cat, Oliver Henry, who has to check everything out first! It's a little bit hard to see where Santa ends in this pose.

Here is a UFO that I found in the cupboard when I was clearing out the sewing room. It was a Material Girls' Birthday swap where everyone made two sets of 6 1/2 " blocks - we chose the blocks. I took it straight to the quilting lady and got it back on Monday after work. It now has the binding on and is clipped all ready for stitching - may have a second finish after all! It looks very festive with all the clips on it anyway.

Here's our sweet little GD who was proudly showing off how she says her lastest word - I found it so hard not to laugh at the tongue action, but since she giggled so loudly afterwards, I joined in.

The word? Golly-olly-olly-olly

The dribble was impossible to avoid with the massive tongue rolling, LOL

I am now well on the way with stitching my Leanne Beasley swap item for our FIS blogging group. I really love the stitching part, but I can see that I need to crank it up a notch or two over the next three days as I'm not at the halfway point yet! Here's a sneaky peek:

I'm off to organise a quick tea as tonight is stitching night at a friend's place - bet you can't guess what I'm going to be working on!

Yummy..............

2010-02-21T02:25:00.000-08:00

Guess how I spent my afternoon today?

Not only did my friend Christine and I go over to Turners Beach to pick strawberries today, but I also FINALLY got around to tracing off my Leanne Beasley swap and this evening I have started stitching. Got three stitching sessions booked this week, so am hopeful that I will get a lot done by Friday night.

Had a great trip to Melbourne, but only took photos of Geelong on Sunday as we went out without the camera on Saturday. Had a great time, pity had to spoil it all by going to work on Monday, hehehe

Last time I was in Geelong I was expecting Elysa, so I noticed many changes this time around.

Got to be quick!

2010-02-10T23:42:00.000-08:00

School is back, but no students yet - they will return with a vengeance on Monday morning bright and early. Have started my visits to students in other schools today - I teach them French or Indonesian from my base school and visit them all once a term.
Tomorrow is my day off and I am going to Melbourne till Sunday. Not sure what we are going to be doing, but I know it won't be sewing!
I'll make everyone drool next week with some photos - that's if it stops raining there, hehehe

Still a little bit of time left...........

2010-02-01T13:59:00.000-08:00

Two more sleeps before I have to go back to school, so I am trying to get a little ahead of things here ........... Made my second block last night for our Friends in Stitching group. The block is called Georgia Circle.

Despite the colours it shows here, the blue is actually really deep purple marble and the cream is the colour of thick clotted cream, much warmer colours than it seems.