Return to Vancouver

Back to the city and wifi!! We had a great time away, lots of earing and drinking and being entertained, not many photos as they are on the camera not the tablet here.
I had some great excursions, saw and learned lots, probably my favourite was the helicopter ride to the dog sled camp, followed by a ride on the sled..it snowed while we were there so came back wet and cold but happy!! I was expecting husky dogs but the dogs were a mix of many breeds, husky mixed with any dogs taken to the gold diggings many years ago, we saw an amazing glacier in the National park

We saw and heard several chunks of ice fall into the glacier

We spent hours looking out at the water hoping to see whales...we saw one Mum and bub, bub leapt out of the water and landed with a big splash, then we saw the tail go into the water and they disappeared. No camera on hand. We enjoyed excursions at each stop

Taken from the ship..we were berthed at the main road!!

Today I have been on  a huge walk around the wall track around Stanley Park with a professional photographer, we walked miles and took lots of photos, plus she gave me instruction on how to use my camera

This is a wonderful city to explore.

Off now to find some dinner.

Vancouver

We have arrived safe and sound after a very long flight from Melbourne to LA...I watched several movies but had to stop as the earplugs became uncomfortable!! It took and hour of queuing in two different places to get thru customs, we got our bags, put them on the conveyer belt to be loaded onto the next plane and then went in search of a bus to Venice Beach. Well the busses were not stopping where we were told they would and then we realised we had to change bus three times and it was in themorning peak hour traffic, so we got a taxi instead...so much easier!!! We had a great wander along Venice Beach, it looks more seedy than when I was there lastbut then that was 1978 and lots has changed since then!! After a cuppa and breakfast we went back to the airport and got the plane to Vancouver. We got to enjoy 2 22nd's of May this year, but spending all that time on a plane and in airports really wasnt all that much fun.
So the photos from Venice beach are on the camera but here I have some shots from the plane window as we neared and passed Seattle

Beautiful waterways 

Early night for me.

Quilt In

Last Saturday was the annual Quilt In for the Geelong Patchwork and Quilters Guild, a good day was had by all. The speaker was Chris Serong , she talked about her quilting and showed us many of her beautiful quilts

here are a few, most are hand pieced, a couple are foundation pieced

on the right is a coverlet bought in the US and on the left the version hand pieced in 18 months by Chris Serong....just beautiful.

Stunning quilt.

Happy quilters, Margaret, Donna and yours truly 

There was an amazing sky when the Supervisor and I went walking yesterday morning.

 The Snowball and Nine patch is finally finished and checked by the Supervisor, who will not pose but will happily walk thru a photo!!

and the back using a sarong from Bali and left over batik pieces.

and another hexie diamond is done, I am happy with how they are growing.

I am off on holidays with Donna tomorrow, we are heading for Alaska and Canada, and as WiFi will be hit and miss I am not sure when the next update will happen.

But we will be enjoying ourselves.

Happy sewing.

Today

the snowball and nine patch came back from the quilters, so I am sewing on the binding

Today I also finished one hexie diamond, am quite happy how it turned out

I have just had a look at the photo and realised I have sewed one  entre hexie in the wrong place!! Aghhhhh!! Not sure I want to unpick all the tiny stitching..I will have to think on it.

Off to sew the binding now

Happy sewing.

This and that

A little progress was made with the hexies

some circles were appliqued on last night, these are the last of what I had prepared so need to cut some more.

Today hubby and I went for a drive into Geelong and out the other side

to have a look at the art on the silos at the Old Geelong Cement works, they are painted by a local artist Rone,

from an interview by Rone,

The work consists of three silos each painted with a large-scale portrait of local individuals, Corinna Eccles, Cor Horsten and Kelly Cartwright.

Corinna works for the Traditional Owner Corporation, Wadawurrung Aboriginal Corporation and is a direct descendent of Queen Mary of the Wadawurrung. Cor is a former cement works employee having worked at the site for 35 years, and athlete Kelly Cartwright won two medals at the London 2012 Paralympics and represented Australia at Beijing 2008 Paralympics. “Corrina helps pay homage to our First Peoples, and Cor to our industrial history. Kelly demonstrates the hard work and resilience required to overcome disability to reach her potential – particularly relevant as Geelong shores-up it’s positioning as a centre of disability service excellence,” Rone explains.

The silos are painted on the back so you have to park the car and walk along a track to the other side, but it is well worth the walk.

this was the view from the silos over the valley, lots of development and new housing going in there.

Off to sort more hexies.

Happy sewing.

Out in the fresh air

This morning after loafing in bed late, I decided to go for a bike ride, it was a lovely calm sunny morning, so I went to the pier and then on the return did two circuits of the lagoon.

Nearly at the pier

coming back thru the now empty camping ground..I managed to do seven kms by the time I staggered back home! It was great to be outside.

Another KOGO blanket was finished  last night, ready to send back for distribution.

Some hexie tracing and cutting has been happening this afternoon, # 4 of Doing the Rounds.

The boys came down for dinner last night after their soccer game, it was great to have a catch up. The Supervisor, of course had to get in the photo too!!

Off to do some more hexies.

Happy sewing.

What a difference a day makes!

We sure have had a change of weather here in Victoria

Yesterday morning the Supervisor and I wandered along the beach

the sun was shining and the water was sparkling

today we have heavy rain showers and howling wind and the temp has dropped to 13 deg C as I am sitting here! The rain is most welcome. just not the storm that has come with it! We are ok here, but Hobart has flooding, not sure what is happening in Melbourne.

I have had a busy day, I took a quilt the quilters this morning, then came home and worked on the quilting for the owl/fox quilt , which is now finished

and ready to go in the post tomorrow, then because I felt like it, 

 I made a cover for my passport...just one of those things!! I have other things I should be doing but this what  felt right to do today!

Now as it is a cold evening I am off for a soak in the bath, with a G & T and a book before the pizza fairy arrives with dinner.

Happy weekend.

Hexies

are on the go again...I went to sit and sew this morning and managed to get these five hexie groups together

These are half and inch hexies and are for #4 on Doing the Rounds.

This afternoon I went into Geelong to see this movie,I remember the book well. I really enjoyed watching this..great movie.

Yesterday I started on a simple quilt, a panel, to go to a friend who is taking donations for a fundraising event later this month. The money is to go to a fund for 2 little children left behind after their mother was brutally murdered. So very sad. I hope this will bring someone happiness.

This morning I made a list

and this evening I am pleased to say all except one, have been crossed off, so I am feeling pretty happy with myself!
The rubbish bins are emptied and the bins ready to go out, washing is done, dry and in, spring bulbs are planted, Aussie Hero Quilt finished, clam shell quilt finished...

Tesselaar's up in the Dandenongs had a sale of their spring bulbs, so daffodils, freesias and peacock iris are now in the garden. The ground is very dry so I hope they do ok.

Sharkie just needs his label written on and a letter and a packet of Tim Tams and he is off in the mail.

All quilted and bound, the clamshell has a couple of endy bits to thread in and that is done. I tried free motion quilting over the top of each clamshell, in some places it is more free range than free motion, but it is a cuddly quilt and I love it.

Yesterday was UFO day at Bellarine. I talked and  listened a lot and talked some more, so the quilting I was supposed to be doing finally got done at home!

Sue J made these wonderful blocks for a QFO she is helping to make.

When I got home yesterday this rainbow drifted along the Bay

and this gorgeous face was waiting for me!

We spent the evening on the couch together

today we went for a morning walk, it was a lovely calm morning.

Last night I finished up anothee 4 hexies for Doing the Rounds..these ones are half an inch.

Best wishes

for a very happy week.

Well

this week has flown by once again!
I have been up to Gisborne and caught up with Margaret and Tracee

Margaret's dog Misty and I had a morning walk, I was the slow one!!

we spied a few kangaroo easing into the day

and having breakfast

this beautiful tree was on our way

I have started on another KOGO blanket and have to knit up some fillers

you can see the strips are all different lengths, so need to even them up. The multi coloured wool should fit in ok.

The Aussie hero quilt is quilted, I removed the single tooth, he is a bit less comedic now.

Off now to trim and begin the binding.

Have a great weekend.