Plugging along

 I have been up and down the stairs this last week, bringing up books to go back into the book case, several have gone in a box to go to the op shop, I have decided I can live without them. (Or maybe it gave me less to carry??)

One afternoon in the week I stamped and cut out lots of cropped diamonds from fabric offcuts Jill gave me, they are now in the bag ready to be sewn.

progress has been made on the Panda quilt,

I made lots of Churn dash blocks this week, bits sewn ready to iron.

We have had some fine times in between the rain showers, so I have had a few bike rides along the foreshore

Lots of wattle trees are now in flower around our area, spring must be on the way.

Lovely pile of cut trimmings

Gives me lots of churn dash blocks ready to sew together. I thought I had cut enough pieces to make the total number of blocks I needed, but found I was 2 short, so I made another two and then found

these bits underneath the machine!! Oh well, now I have spares.

Once I had finished all the blocks I found this pile at the back of the desk, I knew I had counted right. Oh well this will be a block for the back. I had more 4 inch squares cut than I needed so have sewn them together and they will go into a backing too.

A lovely pile of Churn Dash Blocks for 

organised by Chooky. I think I have enough for the quilt top now.

Wednesday I made an Anthology block, am slowly getting them done.

Here are the blocks I made this week. Love all the brownish/orangish batiks.

Saturday morning a sea mist rolled in and lasted for about an hour and a half, you could see the waves of low cloud gently moving past us, everything went very quiet. Later in the morning the sun came out and we had a beautiful day.

This afternoon I sandwiched a quilt out the front, there was a breeze blowing but not enough to be disturbing. I didn't make this top it is one donated for the Oncology programme.

I have some jumpers I washed this morning to get off the line and then we are off to Adam and Beth's for fish and chips for dinner.

Happy stitching.

Quilt In Bacchus Marsh

 Yesterday Maria and I went up to Bacchus Marsh to attend the Quilt In there, the speaker was Leesa Chandler, there were lots of pop up shops, I got to catch up with Tracee and most of the City Girls, Marina unfortunately couldn't come but she was there in spirit 😀

Well blogger has reversed all my photos for some reason, one of the Thought Bubble blocks, slowly progressing

another Thought Bubble block

Leesa Chandler and one of her quilts, her talk about producing her fabric line was very interesting.

Marina went with Elyte to make a cuppa

She had a chat with Barb

did some fabric shopping

enjoyed some chocolate, she had a busy day actually!! 😂

I did get an almost group photo, but the ladies were all listening and looking to the stage. Not good timing on my part!

a beautiful quilt seen during show and tell.

Some serious looking conversation happening with Robyn and Maria.

The quilt covered car out the front - once we saw this we knew we were in the right place. We had a great day and managed to get in and out of the car between rain showers. 

I am progressing with the Aussie hero Quilt, the pieces are all pinned in place, it has been sandwiched and it currently being quilted. I am attaching the pieces using free range quilting, so the attaching and quilting happens at the same time. I like the way the body pieces puff up as you sew them.

I had better be off and do some more on the panda.

Happy stitching.

Anthology

Today is getting back to Anthology blocks day

two more to add to the collection, I think I have 45 to go now. 

The cropped diamonds are slowly growing, I am about to join the two bigger blocks together,  then it needs a good iron.

I have started on an Aussie Hero quilt today so had better get back to that.

Happy stitching.

A long catch up....

The renovations are all done, just one bench top to be replaced

this used to be an open space above the fridge, now we have a cupboard, we asked for doors

we now have doors and three shelves. I am thinking the rolls of batting I have downstairs could fit up there 👍

Bathroom all done and plants installed, it is a lovely relaxing place now.

we have had some beautiful days, with amazing clouds about.

I went to a Wendy Williams workshop two weekends ago and stayed the Saturday night before with Tracee and Phil,

here is Justice getting some loving from his Mum, he is a beautiful dog.

This is the Wendy Williams project I am making, it is going to keep me busy for a while!

The workshop was at Daylesford at 320 Create, the retreat owned by Mary, who has the quilt shop in Gisborne. I didn't see any kangaroo around this time, but did hear many kookaburra's.

One of Wendy's beautiful quilts

some instructing happening

Wendy was giving tips on how to make the quilt behind her.

Last week we had Adam and Beth, Hank and Tira staying as their new doors were being painted and made the house really smelly - oil based paint can do that!

we walked the dogs most mornings

the love being down at the beach, but are not happy the grand parents will not let them off the lead - maybe if we were sure they would come back things would be different.

Another beautiful morning at the beach.

My usual walking view, bringing up the rear with Tira trying really hard to get in front.

the wattle is coming into flower.

Last Tuesday I went with some of the Bellarine Quilters to the Portarlington Golf Club. They had advertised they were giving grants to a local community based group that gave back to the community. We were very luck to win a $2000 grant to go towards our Quilts of Comfort, so it will be used to purchase wadding and maybe backing fabric. Some of the donated quilts were taken along to show what we make.

One cheque presented

Beautiful view from the function room out onto the golf course.

Miss Tira visited again on Saturday evening, she is now 1 year old.

This is what happens when you give Shane, #2 son a camera to take a group shot!! Love that happy face and that of his brother in the background.

Here we all are. Shane and his partner Rilla are off to Canada next month, so they came down to visit and to bring some things to be stored. Hopefully we get to see them again before they head off.

One the way home we had to stop for a photo of the moon over the Bay, luckily Shane and I love taking photos, so we leapt out to have a look while the others stayed in the car.

The dogs enjoyed wrestling with Shane

I have been doing a little sewing, mainly hand sewing, it takes a long time sewing the cropped diamonds to have anything much to show!

My sewing room is still not completely unpacked and reorganised, but hopefully soon.

I had better away and hope to do another post a little sooner and not have so many photos!

Happy stitching.