660 Kilometres and 8 hours

That's the distance and time it took each way to get to Nundle ( NSW) from where I live. Was it worth it? You bet it was !!!!! It was a bit scary being a new attendee and going on my own but everyone was so friendly and we had so much fun I didn't need to worry.

Girl's Day Out in the Country is a perfect description of what it is - a day of chatting, sewing and sharing. Run beautifully by Kerry and with Leanne and Rosie to guide us we had a great time.

Here's Leanne showing how to do her applique project....

which looks like this...

And Rosie's projects were also beautiful...

Oops, sorry about the sideways view

I worked on Rosie's punch needle on the day as well as some of the little stitchery for the needlecase.

Here's the hall where we were working...

And this is the early morning view from the cabin where I stayed...

And here is a happy group of bloggers...
Thanks to everyone for a wonderful time.

One of the reasons...

This is one of the things which kept me busy recently. There were wisdom teeth removed from my 16 year old, a lost filling (mine) and this...

The cast now has a nice blue covering (with green stripes). He is off to the hospital again tomorrow - I don't know if they are going to change the cast or not. He's adapted fairly well which is good and he has loved the attention. I hope that he doesn't think that this is a good way to get attention all the time.

BQL February Challenge

Okay, so I know it is March but this is one of my February catch up posts. I have been participating in the BQL ( British Quilt List) yahoo group challenge. I have been really enjoying it too. This is the one we did for February which was based on a string piecing design.
I was trying to get a rainforest feel however it seems to have more blue in it that I planned. The fabric was from a scrap bag I bought at a local quilt shop.


To try and get a leafy feel I decided to quilt eucalypt leaves on it. I looked at photos of the type of leaves I wanted and drew a few rough lines on the quilt and then filled in the rest free hand( or rather machine).

I actually am quite happy with it and and am enjoying the challenges presented.

The top for March is done - so when it is quilted I will be able to show you that one too.

Just a quick one...

I still have heaps to write about but I have a few minutes on the computer. Now I don't usually put these things on my blog but I did this one this morning and this is what came up.

Your rainbow is shaded blue.

What is says about you: You are a tranquil person. You appreciate friends who get along with one another. You share hobbies with friends and like trying to fit into their routines.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Edit: I have no idea why the colour thing in the box isn't working. However it don't matter - it just makes for a plain old blog post today.
Now, this is just relevent to my life at the moment. Firstly the colours are definately my favourites. I'm not so sure about the tranquil person bit but I'd like to be so that's fine. The next sentence comes very close to home although I'd like to put family in instead of friends ( just an extended family issues that I wish I wasn't involved in and hope it will resolve.) Or maybe it applies to my upcoming trip to Nundle for the Girls Day out in the Country - of course we will all be getting along famously, I'm sure.

And then it says about sharing hobbies with friends - How did they know? Sometimes you wonder how these things like this get something right.

I'm working on my BQL challenge piece at the moment. I haven't even posted about the one for February. It's definately catch up time.

February Apologies...

I'm sorry. I just didn't get to write this month. I know there are people out there who check often and I have some swap photos I still need to show. It will happen I promise.

Here's hoping that March will be easier to keep up to date.

Warm wishes to everyone.

January finishes...

I am sure that most people by now and have seen something about the One Project A Month Challenge, being organised by Kris and May Britt. They have a mammoth job ahead of them to keep up with everybody and it probably doesn't help when people like myself don't post about it too much. So for my own benefit I am writing about the things I finished in January . There wasn't a lot of activity here - most of the month was school holidays and everyone was feeling a bit slower than usual. It wasn't a month for finishing too many older projects either but I am going to be working on that over the next few months. ( I'll talk about the things I have been digging out to finish as I do them).


The first finish ( and it was a start too) was the challenge quilt for BQL ( British Quilt List - yahoo group). This is for a monthly small quilt to be used for a calendar. This was my effort. I used all Stargazey fabrics from my stash and I don't mind it at all. I tried and learnt some new things and at times I didn't think my choices were working but in the end it is fine.

There are two other things which I made and finished too but I can't show them here yet as they are for a Valentine Swap. And there is one more little bag but I will post a photo of that next time.
There are lots of lovely new ideas and patterns around which I would like to do too, but I am going to try to include one item which was not started this year in each month. That's just a personal challenge to myself.



Now, how do I list the mending that was completed as well - just to make the sidebar list look more impressive?

Where are you?

Back in 2007 there are a number of bloggers who participated in a siggie swap. Actually I think it was my first taste of international swapping. Some were efficient and there have been some lovely quilts made - I just can't find any blogs with photos of finished ones at the moment.

After the swap closed I was contacted by Connie who had missed out, and we went on to do an individual swap. Others did the same and you can see the blocks she received on her blog . ( Scroll down a few posts.)

Even though I did say I was going to try and keep the amount of swaps down this year I have signed up again because it was fun last time and a little different.

So here's the point of the title... I have just checked the list of swappers and there are only 2 Australians. In Connie's latest post she says there are only 7 more spaces - how about it Australians... we need a few more of us.

The information is here .

I just thought we needed some more representation - but I think you will have to be quick.

Thank you Connie for doing this.

Fashionably Late...

The wonderful Chookyblue has posted all the photos of the Secret Santa Chrsitmas Swap but I thought I would put up my personal photos as well. My partner was Sweet P and she sent me this lovely collection. The table runner is just perfect and in my favourite colours. The blue items are placemats and have a great bag to keep them in. ( If you saw my linen cupboard you would realise that that is a big help.) All the fabric shown in the container was what was used to wrap everything in. I'll be thinking of something special I can make with that too. Not shown in the photo was the chocolate and I'm sure you can guess why that isn't there. Yep, it's gone! Thank you so much Sweet P - it was a lovely Christmas surprise.

This is what I made for my partner Debbie. I have to say that this something that was really hard to part with. Luckily though I have enough fabric left to make another one, and I can always use different fabric. I just have to find the time.

And of course Chookyblue did a wonderful job, especially as there were so many more participants than last year. Thanks, Donna !

All is quiet...

Happy New Year to everyone, even if it is a few days late. I'm afraid that the time since Christmas has been quiet here as I have been fighting some sort of cough and infection for ages now and it all seemed to cause me to crash after the busy family days. Anyway things seem to be looking up and although I still have to post a photo of my Secret santa swap parcel opened I thought I would drop in and start the year off by posting two things I made last year but didn't get to talk about.

This is a photo of a tote bag I made for my Sister-in-Law last June but didn't get to post. In case you didn't realise, she likes frogs. This is a simple pattern with no wadding, just lined. I am working on a smaller version using charm squares - maybe I should make that a January finish.

And this little zipper bag comes from a Lazy Girl pattern - Purse-Nickities - which was fun to do. It started because I wanted to try quilting with a Serpentine Stitch for a little quilt I was making. ( You can see the quilt back underneath the bag - the rest is another story coming soon). These bags are a great way to try out new quilting designs, and there are three different styles in the pattern so I can see some more of these being made soon.

It's summer School holidays here so I don't know how much sewing will be achieved, however I am making a bit of a list of things I want to finish in the next few months. I am working on being prepared and ready to go when I find the time.

I am not really going to make any official resolutions - however I do need to continue to try being more organized and it would be nice to finish a few things I've started in the last few years. Seems like a reasonable plan to continue for 2009. I might even try to keep up to date with my blog posts too. It can't be too hard, can it?

Merry Christmas to All...

These photos were taken at the Christmas Tree Festival at St. Luke's in Toowoomba. There were so many trees which had all been decorated by groups from around the city. There were lots of ideas and so many things to look at.

If you had been saving those little tags off your bread bags you could have made these interesting wreaths. I know that with the number of these tags that I throw out I could have decorate the tree all on my own. Still I had to look twice to see how they were made.

One of the embroider's groups had made these beautiful ornaments...

And so I wish everyone a peaceful and happy time this holiday season.

P.S. There is an Australian Christmas Carol called The Three Drovers. This picture below shows one interpretation of that. I am a bit worried about Action Man though. It doesn't seem like he is looking after the sheep very well.

I've just realised that it is after midnight and Santa is about to come. I'm off to bed... or he mightn't bring me anything.

Sewing, well yes...

I've been suffering from a cough which is driving me crazy and as a result I haven't felt like doing anything much. Of course there is a lot I should be doing, but instead I have been doing this...



You might have seen the pattern here

Instead of doing french knots ( which I don't like doing) I used Mill Hill beads.

I am a rather disappointed with the photos I took - but they will have to do for now. The green fabric is not really that dark and I got some strange shadows. I think I need to go and read my camera instruction manual a bit more.

Secret Santa arrived

I am very happy to announce that my Secret Santa arrived the other day.

The box.....


And this was inside, which is now under my Christmas tree.

Have I peeked? Well maybe that's another part of the secret.....

Look who has come to live at our house...

It's Digby the Dragon.



One day Colly and I were travelling around the internet and we found a photo of a very cute dragon. Of course what 6 year old boy wouldn't want one ? And it was a giveaway... so we added a comment and didn't really think any more about it as I never win anything. SO you can imagine how excited we were to find that Digby (we named him) was going to come and live at our house. He is just wonderful and Jess (also known as Picklesticks) looks like she is going to make some more. I have to say that they are just beautifully made and would be a great addition to a family. I don't have any more details than that but you can always contact Picklesticks.


Digby was very excited to find that there was already a castle and some knights to go and play with ( otherwise known as my daughter's 2008 Castle Lego advent calendar.) It looked like things might get a little rough there for a while but really they all turned out to be good friends.

He did have to take a little bit of time out to go crusading with Colly.

Thank you so much for the giveaway Jess. We just love him. He is certainly very happy and busy here.

Sunday Surprise...

We had huge storm here yesterday. It was one of those storms which built up and then just hit with a huge bang. We have a reserve across the road - this tree is one example of what has happened in there ( the reserve is closed today because there are just so many trees like this) This is just across the road....

And our neighbour's fence ended up like this....

And this is three doors down...

We were without electricity for ages. Luckily we have it back now but there are still areas where it hasn't been restored. The school I worked at today had no power which made things interesting. And the school where my neighbour works ( the one whose fence is pictured above) was closed. Further down the street we had a tree fallen right over the road. Today in daylight the full extent of the damage to the city has become more obvious - there is a lot of clean up work to do. I heard that the army has been called in to help as well.

I am sorry the photos aren't all that clear - they were taken in the weird light after the storm.

Seems I wasn't the only one - Toni here has just posted some more photos of her area.

Remembrance Day

Lest we forget.

A field of poppies on a rainy day....

At the school where my children attend there is a teacher who is passionate about keeping Australia's battle history alive. He was my daughter's teacher last year so we have been part of this passion at close hand.

This year he got the whole school involved in making poppies - I think the plan was to have 1000 poppies - we are only a small school so each child had to make several.

Around the flagpole we have a memorial garden and it is here that all the school gathered to pay respects. One of the students played the Last Post on bugle and it was very moving.

Thanks Mr K. for encouraging the children to keep these important historical memories alive.

Another parcel in the mail...

I had a surprise parcel in the mail this week, not that I didn't know about it but just that I wasn't expecting it just yet. This is my Another Little Quilt Swap 2 quilt. And what a special one it is. Here's how it looked when I opened the parcel ( for once I remembered to get the camera and take a photo before I unwrapped it.)

The parcel came from Karen in Victoria who sadly doesn't have a blog. When you see the quilt I received you will see why I think she should have one - to show us all the beautiful things she makes.



And here is the photo of the actual quilt. I am sorry it isn't flat... I was trying to be creative outside but I couldn't get it to sit flat. The photos I took on the floor just look uninspiring so I'll stick with this one and give you close ups as well.






The pattern is Butterfly Garden from Leanne's House and it so pretty. It is one of those quilts I look at and love but then think I would never finish. But now I have my very own small version. This is the centre block...


and here are some of the other embroideries...

I have had lots of fun this year with swaps - not only making my own contributions but also seeing photos of other little quilts travelling around the world.

Big thanks to Karen who made this beautiful quilt and also to Kate who organized the swap.

Miniature Booty Swap.

I am a bit late with posting this photo but here it is. This is the beautiful little swap quilt I received from the humming cat. When we send in our names we can put some preferences and I usually put blue and green because they are probably my favourite colours.... although a little bit of everything is wonderful too. Well, this quilt definately fits that colour choice. The photo doesn't really show the vibrance of the colours, and in the close up below you can see the quilting which is in gold thread. Very effective!!!

Thanks you so much Andrea for my beautiful quilt and thank you Toni for running the swap.

bag pattern

There have been a few requests for the bag pattern I used. The pattern was bought last year at the Craft and Quilt Fair where this shop had a stall. The good news is that they will be there again in a few weeks. The one I made is the Mini Carry All. They also have patterns for the Everyday Carry All and the Quilter's Carry All.

For my last Birthday my step daughter made me the the Everyday Carry All so I have some photos of that here, showing you the interior where she added an extra pocket and also a zip in the middle section. Basically it is the same pattern as the one I made but larger and is great for going to workshops and larger projects. She uses hers as a nappy bag and fits so many things in it.

And if you actually own an old copy of Country Threads ( Volume 4 No 1 - from 2004 I think) there is a similarly constructed bag made from charm squares, which has slightly different pockets but the basic shape is the same.

If anyone is seriously interested in getting a pattern email me privately and maybe we can work something out, as they should be available at the Craft Fair in a few weeks. Otherwise I see that the shop does do overseas mailings.

My bag for the bag swap...

I don't think this bag has arrived yet so it is still a secret who will be receiving it but while I'm here posting I thought I would show some photos. You can't really see them but there are pockets also on the side.

The construction of the bag creates pockets inside as well.

And here is the stitching on the front pockets, which is a Red Brolly design from the book Flowerbed.

swap catch up photos...

The last two weeks I have been getting lots of work so there hasn't been much time for sewing or computer. Who would have thought that there would be so much relief teaching work? Of course you have to factor in the fact that I do live in a city and there are lots of schools around which means lots of teachers to replace for the day. Now it is school holidays and while I have to do things with my family I am getting a little bit more time to myself to catch up.

I apologise to the makers of these beautiful items for not showing them off here sooner. And big thanks to both Kathy and Karol-Ann for their time and beautiful work.

Here's my Doll Quilt swap quilt from Sawyers Nana (Kathy) in Canada. Isn't it sweet? I have been doing a little bit of foundation piecing but nothing like this ! So that's another goal for me - to try something more like this. I also need to try to do some machine quilting of motifs like in the corners here. It always amazes me how much inpiration there is for me when I participate in these swaps.

And while I was out in my garden taking photos I took a photo of this ....

which is the beautiful bag Karol-Ann made for me in the Bag swap. Can you see how she chose a wonderful combination of my favourite colours? There are pockets inside which is great and there were even goodies in the pockets, which I just realized that I didn't take photos of. Included was a pincushion and fabric , a candle and a cute beaded chilli keyring. The keyring has caused no end of trouble in our house - why is it that six year old boys always think that everything should be for them and that parents of course will just jump at the chance of giving it to them? Forget it, the key ring is mine!

Swaps

All I seemed to achieve for the month was my two little swap quilts, and some work on my bag swap. However I did manage to get them sent more or less on time, perhaps a little late. I had two swaps to do - the Doll quilt swap 4 and the miniature booty swap 2. As far as I know they haven't been received yet so I can't say who will be getting them but I can post post photos. The Storm at Sea one is for the Miniature Booty swap and the japanese one is for the Doll quilt swap. They are both about 20 inches square. I am not very happy with my photos - I think I rushed them just before I went to the post office. Also it was when I was sick and not feeling very creative. I certainly need to work on that particular area.

And I have received my quilt from the doll quilt swap - I'll post about that one tomorrow. Many thanks for that little beauty. ( but I'll do a proper post about that)

August went ......somewhere....

This is how I feel about August... head down and tail up... this cute little duck was performing for me at our Botanic Gardens a few weeks ago.

There were two major happenings in August for our family. Firstly, after a long long time being at home, I decided to enter back into the workforce. Way back in another life time I was a teacher, and so it seemed that a good possibility would be to do some relief work. The family has all had to adjust - just in the sense of timetabling and also the fact that Mum isn't always there to do what they need.
The second thing was a result ( I think) of the first. Of course - going around and working in classrooms where the teacher is probably away due to illness and the children are sick too - it is inevitable that I should get sick and then pass it on to my family. Over two weeks later we are all finally recovering.
hmmm... time for me to get organized...

Secret Santa Swap

Chookyblue's Christmas swap is on again ( yay!) but I think anyone who wants to be in it will have to be quick as it is filling up fast. This swap was the first swap I participated and was so much fun that I am jumping in again. I do have some ideas but nothing will be done until I find out who my partner is and I can decide what will be the most personal.

The picture above is showing you the table runner I received last Christmas from Sherry. While it is in Christmas colours, it isn't particularly a Christmas design and so I can use it all year round. I know that I posted about it before when I received it, however this picture shows where it is right now, because I just took this photo before starting the post. At the moment it is on my dining room table and to prove it isn't posed you can see the cord to my laptop at the back. So this has been an all year present which I just love. Thanks again, Sherry!

Thank you as well to Chookyblue for running this swap. I'm sure her email acount is running hot at the moment.


Another thing, and it gives thanks to Chookyblue again. I managed to put the pictures of the swaps on my sidebar. How ? Well, by following the instructions here. So hopefully I have done all my bloggy housekeeping for the moment.