Back in to the swing

Well Christmas has been and gone, the turducken eaten, the boys visited, presents exchanged, catching up done and now we are heading to New Years Eve!
I have been getting in a little sewing,

This quilt top is finished, it is 60 ins x 60 ins, so perfect for an oncology quilt. I read the pattern, noted there were five and a half inch squares used in the centre, grabbed a charm pack and sewed them together. Made the star parts and them wondered why the star parts didn't fit to the centre!! Duh, five and a half inch squares required. not 5 inches! So after a bit of math I added a small border, added the star parts and the top is finished! Next time I will read and digest the instructions!! 

Hank has been visiting for 3 days, it is next to impossible to get a photo of him as he is always on the move, if he is not moving, he is wagging his tail and the front end still moves! We had a good time with him and he enjoyed his many walks along the beach.

Some time has been spent here, reading, watching the world go by and the occasional dip.

Two days ago I had the urge to do a mosaic, I had broken crockery and an urn in the garden, I am not sure working on a curved object is the best but the pieces have dried into place, so all good so far.

Some reading has been happening over the past few days too.

Yesterday and today I started sewing this quilt top and once again did not read the instructions properly. The instructions said to sew the black squares on diagonal corners, which I did, but it also said as per the picture. I just picked up the blocks as they came along and so can not get the whole quilt with the fabric running horizontal and then diagonal. So I decided on just getting the black squares and triangles to meet up......mmmm.......didn't learn much from above did I!!

this is how it should look.

Ah well, I will know for next time. This quilt top takes 20 strips of a jelly roll, and I have a few I have been given that are that size, so another might be tried soon.

The southerly breeze has picked up here so it is pleasant to have the doors and windows open once again. Another super hot day (for us) is forecast for tomorrow and then a cool change in the late afternoon. We might even get some rain!! Fingers crossed.

I am off now to get those blocks sewn together.

Happy stitching.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a safe, Happy and healthy New Year. Thinking of all the fire fighters who are out working fighting fires today, hoping they keep safe and get some time to be with their families.  Thinking of the farmers and their battle to survive, hoping they have rains soon.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2020.

Sue.

Busy days...kind of

The last few days have been busy, I feel like I have managed to get a lot done, but I have also managed to get some reading in too.

Belinda gave me this collection of fabric last time I was at the oncology ward, to make into more quilts! There are some beautiful fabrics there.

I started my clean up, these strips of fabric were stamped and cut out, some other fabric was put away and then the wheels fell off

and I started cutting fabric for more Advent blocks, I mean why put the fabric away if you can cut it ready for blocks?? Oh dear!

these squares were given to me at the Guild, a mystery gift as no one knows who they were from! The bag had the squares and a hand drawn pattern, so I made the half square triangles, they are now awaiting attention. Not sure how they will go together, we will see.

I mixed up some white Christmas using the freeze dried blue berries, raspberries and black berries, there are also white chocolate buds in the mix, they are now in little muffin cups in the fridge downstairs. We have done some taste testing and they are yummy.

I finished up 8 advent blocks, that orange one is a bit bright!!

Yesterday I mixed up fruit cake mix, apricots, dates, figs, sultanas, cherries and brandy, it smellt amazing.

another 3 advent blocks, because I laid them all out and was two short for the quilt top, hubby declared the orange block had to be removed, it stuck out like dogs ----, his expression, not mine.

Blocks all laid out. It took a bit of rearranging, making blocks with random fabric you have been given, doesn't mean they will go together! But I think they look good now.

These little guys are cake mix, the left over bit that didn't fit in the cake tin this morning, I put them in muffin cups, ?, is that what they are called? Having a taste test later.

The quilt top is finished as of 15 mins ago!! Happy quilter here.

And finally, the fruit cake is cooked and cooled, I have made this for a present, so I hope it tastes ok. Smells and looks ok, so fingers crossed.

I had better go and see about some dinner, hubby is snoozing on the couch, so no great rush, but I know he will wake up hungry!!

Happy stitching.

Bits and pieces

Well today we are heading for 39 deg C....I will be heading for the beach this afternoon!
I have been around the garden this morning and filled the birdbaths

this one is a bit dirty but the birds don't seem to mind!

this one was emptied yesterday by a raven having a bath,

and this one had bread dumped in it, the birds have been giving it a soak before eating.

Breakfast was on the back deck this morning after I came  back from a walk.

the horse quit is finished and delivered to Belinda at the Oncology centre. She loved it!! (Phew)

This is the back of a quilt made by Ingrid

and this is the front. This quilt was given to a new oncology patient yesterday. He is from New York State in the US, Ingrid's favourite place in the US is New York State! The patients wife is from the UK, they both love a white Christmas. The autumnal leaves around the quilt remind them of the patients home, could not have wished for a better match!! There were lots of tears all round !!

Santa was in residence in the shopping centre, his bell was ringing while I was having some lunch

must have been a quiet morning.

I called into Lizzies Quilt shop with this pattern and the charm squares, and found the yellow and green fabric in the $5.00 sale section. Bargain, all I need for the quilt for $15.00.

But first I need to get into the sewing room and ......yep.....tidy!!

Happy stitching.

Great Ocean Road.

The next day we started to wend our way back home along the Great Ocean Road,

We had a look at the Arch

Then London Bridge, which used to be a bridge until the centre fell into the sea, leaving two people stranded out on the piece in the sea, fortunately they were rescued and no one was hurt.

We stopped at Lavers Hill for a cuppa

and I got some photos of the locals.

They were not bothered by people looking at them at all.

From there we drove out to the Cape Otway Lighthouse, on our way we came around a corner and found many cars parked on the side of the road.

This was why, I am not sure who was more interested, the koala looking at us, or us looking at the koala!

We saw three in the area

This one was further away. The the camera battery went flat so no more photos for me on the camera. I think I have a light house photo on the tablet, will check soon.

I took Ann back to the airport on Friday morning, after enjoying a sewing ladies lunch on Thursday.

We walked along the cliff path to get a view of the light house .

On the way back we had a quick stop at Apollo Bay

We enjoyed the sunshine after a few cool days.

This week I have quilted  and bound these two quilts made by Ingrid

She has donated them to the SJOG oncology ward, which is very generous of her. I hope there is a patient who loves Christmas!

Happy stitching.

Catching up once again

Life has been busy the last couple of weeks, I have not made it to the computer to do a blog post, but today is the day!
Last week we had Ann staying, we went for a tiki tour down to the Otways and returned along the Great Ocean Road. But first we went to Queenscliff to show Ann the 360 tower

View from the top of the tower, the ferry in the photo is the one that goes over to Sorrento.

and the look out to the ocean, sadly no big ships were coming or going at the time.

The next day we stopped for a cuppa on the way and had a look at the war memorial, the gardens were beautiful, red roses and rosemary.

Then we drove, in a round about way, because of road works, to the Otway Fly, where you can walk up in the tree tops in the rain forest.

Here we are on a cantilevered section of the walk way, and yes I hung on all the time!! It was 30 metres about the ground.

On the way back to the car we saw this beautiful bird.

Another fortifying cuppa and back on the road.

Our next stop was on the Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles. The rock formations break away from the cliffs, some have collapsed with the wear and tear of the sea, now there are about 8 and a half left. But we were told more will form as bits leave the main cliff.

We ended out day in Port Campbell, I was waiting for the sun to set but after 20 mins of waiting realised I would be there a while so went back to the motel.

The sun shining on part of the township.

Before we went away I did finish the Aussie Hero quilt and got it in the post.

More soon.

Happy stitching.