A busy weekend.

While lots of people seemed to be off on sewing weekends, I was having a different sort of weekend. My youngest boy had a weekend of sporting activity and even though I prepared some stitching to take it didn't even get opened.

On Saturday his Under 13 Rugby League team played in the Grand Final. We didn't win but this team of boys have been winners all along - with their support of each other and their great spirit. They played their best for the full time and never gave up. He's number 10 in this photo.

And then on Sunday we had an all day Volleyball tournament. It was an early start in the morning as we had to go to the Sunshine Coast and then it was a late night home. But the boys won all their matches and so were the winning team for Under 13 boys. Here's an action shot of my boy in flight after getting the ball over the net.

I am so proud of him for his dedication.

I did manage something crafty though. On Saturday I managed to squeeze in a visit to a show put on by the Nundah Cottage Group Quilters. Afterwards I was off to our Final celebrations at the Clubhouse. It was lovely to see all the quilts and have afternoon tea which came included in the entry price. My friend Dianne had a few quilts hanging and I took this one showing her Abacus quilt ( pattern made using the Quick Curve Ruler). Dianne and I went to a class for this one a while back. Yes, hers is finished and mine, well.......

We had a rotten August with the flu - with my husband's significant '0' birthday a write off. We finally got through with the hope that September would be much better but now we all have colds - not as bad as flu but certainly enough to have lost my mojo for anything except sleeping. I am so looking forward to getting better.

I hope everyone out there is feeling full of spring bounce and not carrying the left overs of winter. Stay well.

 

A perfect Match.

At the end of June our Sunday Stitching group had a mini quilt swap. I received my swap from Alison who made me a beautiful little mini quilt with the teensiest of half square triangles and in my favourite colours of "blue and green and everything inbetween". These are not colours that Alison uses very much so I appreciate her effort to make something especially for me. She even provided the hanger.

About the same time at Sunday Stitchers, De had the bright idea of offering us mini quilt frames which she and her husband would make. When I say it was a bright idea, I don't think that they realised that just about all of us would want one which made it a much bigger job than they thought.

Last Sunday's meeting saw the delivery of our frames. What a mighty effort! And I have come home and fitted my beautiful little quilt from Alison to the frame.

It's a perfect match! Doesn't it look fabulous? I can still use the other hanger if I want to change things around and hang it back on the wall, but for the moment this is staying like this.

Thank you Alison and De for this lovely combination - truly a perfect match.

 

On retreat

I'm away on a wonderful week with great friends. We go to Glenrose Patchwork in Warwick and stay in the cottages there. The weather might be on the cool side but everything else is wonderful.

It is so nice to be able to sew and not have to put the machine away afterwards. We can set up and create to our heart's content. There has been lots of sewing and laughter and some lovely food temptations.

I heard a rumour that someone was surprised that I really did sew things. Yes, I do but I am not so good at photography so I never seem to have much to show to post about.

But here's what I have been up to......

There may even be some more productivity tonight.

 

A weekend in Nundle - no stitching in this post.

There are a lot of wonderful posts about going to Girl's Day In the Country held in Nundle (near Tamworth in New South Wales) and beautifully organised by Kerry Swain from Cottage on the Hill.

I went through my photos and tried to pick out some of the different ones I took.

A small group of us who arrived early went to the pub (Peel Inn) for dinner on Thursday night. We heard a strange noise and I went in to see what was going on. For some strange reason there was some sheep shearing going on in the public bar. The noise was coming from the round contraption in the back of the photo which I think was providing the power for the shears. Not something I expected to see on this trip.

The following morning we went out to Kerry's shop - before all the crowds arrived. Here's Teresa finding one or two things to buy.

And in the afternoon Cheryl and I did a bit of sight seeing when we went up to the Hanging Rock Lookout where we could look down on the town of Nundle. It is there in the middle of the photo and we could see over the beautiful valley.

The caravan park and cabins is one of the nicer ones I have stayed at and at this time of year all the roses are blooming and are simply beautiful. This one was flowering outside our cabin.

 

On the Friday night we walked up to have dinner - looking back at the pub and the sunset.

Good night Nundle.

 

Secret Santa Christmas Swap

This is the lovely item I received from Wendy for the SSCS. Wendy had said on her blog that she hoped I'd get a better picture of it as it was rainy when she posted hers. I'm not sure I did Wendy as it is pouring here where I am and I don't want to waste any longer posting this. The colours aren't showing up quite as pretty as they are but it seems to be the best I can do. There are two hangers on the top to hang this up as it is actually a pouch and if you look carefully across the width of the heart you can see there is a pocket for storing special things. And there are lots of pearls all around the edge and on the pretty pink doily. Thank you so much Wendy for making such a pretty heart pouch.

And also there was the Christmas decoration which I was able to open when I received the parcel. It reminds me of Harry Potter because it is a white owl but cute for Christmas too as it is snowy and sits in the tree perfectly.

Thank you Wendy for your lovely gift and ornament. And thank you Chookyblue for running the swap again. 

 

I apologise for being late in posting this. Christmas is always busy and spent at my inlaw's house. Then over the New Year period we go camping at Stinson Park where there is no electricity, phone or wi-fi. It isn't so bad but when I get home there is always catching up to. Thanks for your patience.