Life has been busy (photo heavy)

The last month seems to have flown by but there has been a bit happening.

We had a week staying in Melbourne, David had day surgery and had his DBS battery replaced. All went well and after a hiccup with the Neuro's adjusting all has settled down.

While in Melbourne it was my birthday so we had lunch with Shane on the day

Then again on Sunday when we planned a BBQ with both boys and partners, sadly Adam and family couldn't come, we still had a great time with Shane and Rilla

It rained all Sunday so we cooked indoors

Birthday flowers

Birthday cake and candles,  first time in years!! 

A couple of Wallies! 😁

A lovely old church near where we stayed 

tree lined street the church was on.

I went for a walk around Caulfield Commons which is on the centre of the Caulfield racetrack. I was following an Adventure Lab and it had me zigging and zagging all over the place. Lots of people were walking their dogs.

this baby magpie followed me along the footpath calling for food, it was joined by several other magpies.

Back home I have had a few walks down the beach

And then last weekend Bellarine Quilters had their Biannual quilt show, I was helping with the Devonshire reason

My long forgotten waitressing skills came back to me 

Me with the finished Bear quilt

Jill's quilt, beautiful embroidery, all made with wools.

Pat's tea towel challenge

My portrait challenge

Wendy's quilt tops

Flowers  arranged by Mary, acquired from neighbours gardens. Mary had flowers on every table in the tea area, they drew lots of positive comments.

Tuesday Christine came around with a pile of sandwiched quilts. Christine finished 4 quilts using serpentine stitch and I did meandering on another three.

The fabric in all of these quilts was left in a scraps bin at the retreat, first it was given to me and then I gave it to Christine 😀, so far she has made these 3 quilts and has more blocks at home to make another one. Great use of throw out fabric.

one of the Bellarine Quilters had a bag with wonderful fabric

great sayings! 

I will fix up the sideways photos on the lap top once this post loads (done) and I have had dinner .

Happy stitching.

A retreat week

 I spent last week on retreat in Gisborne with the lovely retreat ladies, sewing was done, not as much as usual, I think the sewing mojo for some of us stayed at home! Still we had a great catch up and had a lovely High Tea lunch to celebrate big O birthdays.

the tale looked very impressive before we started.

Some happy lunchers, Abby the retreat host joined us for a while, then we went to her studio to check out what was on sale.

Margaret laid out her blocks before they were joined together, this is an Irene Blanck pattern.

Working and pondering

Carleen has finished her Peas in a Pod top

I made a quilt top to send to Jenny, this is for a friend of hers who is undergoing cancer treatment, she has the same message from the centre of the quilt on a T shirt. She loves the beach as well.

Karyn beginning a quilt top made with French General fabrics

A Maria made quilt top

Carleen beginning another quilt top, this was finished but I didn't get a finished photo sadly.

Maxine was working on these blocks, the centres are machine sewn and the flying geese are hand sewn.

Margaret put together another quilt top, this one an I Spy

I finished off this quilt made by Jan, quilted and bound, I added borders to another quilt of Jan's but cant find a photo, will have to go and search!

morning walk in Gisborne

Love the spring early leaves and blue sky. 

I finished two KOGO blankets and they have been delivered to the chemist depot

I have another 3 to finish.

I have also finished the art challenge from Soma she is planning on doing the same again next year

I found it interesting to do.

Spent some time with this little man early this week. 

I have been quilting Under the Sea and managed to catch the backing while sewing which has resulted in some interesting addition to the back of the quilt, mainly 'cos I didn't want to unpick and do it all over again

Luckily it is a wall hanging and will be against the wall!!

That brings me mostly up to date, I have three quilts to bind, two hanging sleeves to sew on, a challenge to finish - the Bellarine Quilters have a quilt show at the end of the month, so I need to get my skates on. Next week we are in Melbourne while David has surgery to have his DBS battery replaced, so I will not have time when we get back home to finish the quilt show things then.

Right I am off to do things!!

Happy stitching.