National Mug Rug Day

Hey, did you know it is National Mug Rug Day??? Those little treasures that we all Love especially Shez, (Pop over and see her collection!!) Lol! ......she loves those mug rugs so much she has subconsciously gathered them to herself!! Lol!!
Mug rugs come in all shapes and sizes, I have made a few myself this last year .....

Woops got distracted by an upside down photo of Tupai...I iz cute!!!

Here is a Christmas mug rug

Here is proof that Shez has a mug rug collection......yes we, the Gisborne girls started this Shez...but someone else decided to run with the idea after that weekend......no doubt with your detective skills you will work it all out soon.....

.....butterfly mug rug!!

Thank goodness you have a wonderful sense of humour Shez, my friend, this has given us so many laughs!!

Happy sewing!

Collywobbles

I am working on this quilt top today, lots of straight seams...I like that!!! it is for Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags.......the person it is going to wanted a Collingwood quilt....

flimsy done....now to appliqué the flag on....I was working on it when DH walked by....of course he had suggestions........

......so now I am to appliqué the flag onto a piece of black fabric and then attach that to the quilt top.......I wish now I had thought of putting a black strip across the body of the quilt top, but not to worry, this should work ok. Maybe I should have asked DH before I started sewing!! Lol!! He often seems to be the colour/layout  designer in the house! Off to cook dinner now I suppose, then back to the sewing machine!

Happy sewing!

Week 3 of 52 word photo challenge

The word this week is bright and as I took my photo this morning it is another one of the sun...well today is heading for 39 deg C, so I guess it is appropriate!!

This was in the park this morning about 10 am. You can see the other bright photos over here at Alsha's Place.

My local quilt shop

I was back in the local quilt shop Patch n Quilt because I NEEDED fabric for a new project...as you do!! Lol! I was asking about washing fabric before using, I am using black, and was concerned about getting the creases out after washing, Mary said not to iron damp fabric dry as it stretches the fabric and another customer said to put a little white vinegar in the washing water......never heard of that one ......and that is why I love the quilting community, there is always someone around who will help with their ideas and knowledge!

Happy sewing!

Bloggers catch up

Well, I have had such a good day, great company, great food, lots of laughs, giggles, chats, I am so lucky to have met all these wonderful ladies!

We met up at the quilt shop in Gisborne, which has recently moved to new premises, lovely light airy shop, and lots of goodies to look at! Some serious discussion going on here.....

and here.......

maybe even here.....

serious purchasing happening here!!

here we are a bunch of happy quilters....Elyte, Anne, Robyn, me and Marina.....then we headed off to lunch at Tracee's place....

the tables were set beautifully for lunch.....

we had baked spuds with lots of different toppings and salad....have a look at the desserts!!! And can you see Tracee's flowers? made with circles of woollen fabric...

...show and tell with Tracee's Perry's Place quilt...the binding is going on!! Tracee has worked so hard on this through last year, she had to do so much blanket stitching on this quilt and it looks amazing.....the quilting  is fantastic too and looks amazing on the back......

Tracee's 1600 quilt has also been quilted and looks fantastic! Don't the birds stand out? Beautifully modelled by Tracee and Tania of course!

This is what happened when I asked everyone to line up next to the post for a group photo.....

...you can't take this lot anywhere....well you can but then you have to apologise to everyone there!! Lol!! We had a giggle over pole dancing and splinter comments.....and then they laughed at me 'cos I thought the sign on the post said Dancer......then I looked again and saw Danger.....mmmmmm...no alcohol was consumed and I even had my glasses on!! Lol!!

Yep, the old me taking a photo of you taking a photo of me trick!! lol!

And finally a nearly serious photo of us all together....Marina, Robyn, Marg, Tracee, Anne, Elyte, Tania and me. Thank you for a wonderful day ladies.

Happy sewing!

52 word photo challenge - Inspire

I am late with last weeks photo as I have been away but it has to be this photo

Tracee, Me Tania, Marg and Donna

I am very lucky to know these wonderful ladies through work initially (Marg) and the others through quilting, they are an amazing group, do beautiful work and are always there with help and ideas and encouragement, and nagging (I will get to that block of the month I promise!), fabric when you need just a certain bit and just plain happiness to see you! I am truly blessed to know this inspiring group of women.

Happy sewing!

New Zealand

Hello!!

We are back from a visit to New Zealand, we go over to check on my Mum who is 88 and lives on her own....so we do odd jobs around the house and garden and drive her places she needs to go.......this time we were on a mission to get (of all things) two heaters and an electric blanket!! Not and easy mission in January! We went to a local Mega Mitre 10 store and found a lovely helpful young man who climbed to the high storage cupboards and found us one heater and an electric blanket, another electrical store found us a heater out the back in storage.....Mum was given 40% discount for having her Senior's gold card....I am still gobsmacked that a heater cost her about $38!!!! Anyway, while we were in NZ a tropical cyclone decided to head down from the pacific.....luckily when it got to NZ it was downgraded to a tropical low, so we just got rain, storms and wind....boy was it windy some days....we did get to the beach....had a picnic in the car.....so I thought I would share some photos..... I apologise for this being very photo heavy.....

love this add.....

Rangitoto Island from Mount Wellington in Auckland

a couple of tourists got photo bombed!! Lol!!

'Selfies' are not my forte!! But I have to try.....me and Jenny on Mount Wellington, one of many extinct volcano's around Auckland.....

Auckland city...and the Sky Tower....way off in the distance...

old tower from the mining days in Waihi...

Mmmmmmmmm........DH happily posing! Lol!!..

Waihi beach....the water didn't feel cold to put the feet in!   And of course I didn't take a photo of the beach did I!!! Duh!!

Ferguson Park in Tauranga....part of my evening walk....love this area...park on one side the harbour on the other....

Papamoa Beach....DH and Mum 'posing'! It was spitting at this stage of the day.....

view from the car where we had out picnic lunch....

Mount Maunganui......taken from Ferguson Park looking over the harbour...

On Mount Maunganui.....we walked around one morning....this ship came in the entrance as we walked along....

the Maori warrior who greets the ships...

part of the walking track...DH disappearing in the distance....

now around to the ocean side of the Mount...and to the surf beach..

love this camper I saw in Tauranga.....

and this quilt shop we went to at Bethlehem...an outer suburb of Tauranga....much fabric, many patterns, notions, lots of tempting goodies.....and very friendly ladies work here.....

nostalgia photo for me.....I had a wooden pull along buzzy bee when I was young....it's wings clicked as you pulled it along....one of those iconic NZ things....

NZ (the part we were in) was so green, I really enjoyed the 'greenness' after the dry and brown of Australia...

another of my favourite places.......Karangahake Gorge between Waihi and Paeroa...narrow road, hills on one side, river on the other....back to reality now....home and work....

Happy days everyone!

Finishes for today

I have made a couple of mats to put on the table for hot dishes to go on at Christmas time, these will go to NZ for my "Christmasaholic" friend Jenny!

Xmas table mats and some little hearts for another project.....

and it looks like the storm is coming in earlier this afternoon..thunder is happening already. Hope the air cools down!

Happy sewing!

Sit and Sew

Last night Donna invited us to her place....she has air conditioning!!!!! Yay!!!! As you can probably gather we do not, so it was an absolute pleasure to have a few hours in a cool place!

Donna made me this amazing drink! Yum! It had a mandarin flavour....

here we are enjoying Donna's house! Tracee, me, Tania, Margaret and Donna

some visitors came to the back yard....

Tracee was a hard one to get a photo of...she kept moving...maybe I need to change the camera setting to sport, then I would get her!! Lol!! She has a swish new haircut and looks lovely...Marg was busy sewing, Donna was checking out the visitors....

Tonight I found a different setting on my camera that allows me to take a split photo so I had to have a play...Tania and Donna...Donna was sorting magazines and trying to decide what to keep and what to send to the op shop..not an easy task!!

I was too slow to catch the elusive Tracee again but got Marg's beautiful smile! I didn't get any photos of what we were actually sewing...I was too busy chatting, eating, drinking...but then you do have to keep up your fluids on a hot evening!! And we have another one to look forward to tomorrow!!

Happy sewing!