End of the month

 This is the last day for the #1 challenge for the Chook shed Stitchers challenge.

as seen in my last post the scrap quilt top is done, 840 two and a half inch squares, plus op shop fabric plus fabric from the scraps box at retreat.

The scrappy batik strip quilt top is done, mainly at retreat, all from strips left from other projects.

a scrap cushion cover is in production, this has left over piano key border pieces from last retreat,  I think I am going to try big stitch quilting on this one

and this cushion is finished, my first with a zip in the top. Made from scrap strips of Japanese fabric.

One of the ladies at Guild has asked people to make a cushion to enter in the Geelong Show in October, so this is my effort!

I am happy with my results for this months challenge.

Wonder which number we will have for the month of August?

Happy stitching.

Gisborne Retreat

Lots of sewing has been happening, lots chatting, lots of laughs, I have had one finish 

this is 840 two and a half inch squares, all from bags I have been given, plus one square from the throw out boxes here.  The light border was from an op shop find of Maria's and the main border also from the throw out boxes here at retreat. A truly scrap quilt.

Next project  has been started

Another strip quilt, the bag is huge and very full so lots to make.

Back to the machine

Happy stitching.

End of another week

Thus month us zooming by quickly, I am sewing scraps, I just found another bag 🤔, so they have been packed. I am off to retreat in Gisborne tomorrow, so have my usual pack more than I will probably do, but I have lots of choice.

Two weekends ago I wandered down the M1 and went to Colac to see an exhibition

I didn't take many photos but have a few

These two beauties were silk, wool and lots of free motion quilting and hand stitching. 

I will have to go on the lap top and fix up these photos later

This had an eco dyed background, light timber front with paint and scrunched fabric on it, and lots of birds with interesting faces

It was called I am not a gossip so I will only tell you Once. In the background was a tape of whispering voices - so clever.

This was interesting, the shadows created a while new art work

This was more red on the top and had black white and red fabric sewn into a kind of honeycomb.

These birds were made by local school children, you write a wish inside and sew the pieces together and hang, apparently it is a Japanese tradition.

I have spent time with this little treasure who is now 18 months old! We had a great time making cups of tea.

Finn, Tira and I had a walk together in the week, first time we have taken Tira with us, she was good, a bit scared of the pusher but she went well. I was tired when we got back, the others weren't!!

We had a happy game of goal, not sure Finn understands the concept, I think his Dad says it during the football and Finn proudly repeats!

I was given a puzzle last week

One of these where you don't know the picture you are making, it is what the judge can see.

Makes you think!

I had better away and get more packing done

Happy stitching.

# 1 challenge progress

 I have seen sewing away with the many squares and fabric pieces

I still have this mess, but it is organised mess!!

all of the four and a half squares are sewn together, I used rectangle pieces I found in the box to add the border.

the fake hexie quilt is now quilted, just more endy bits to sew in and then the binding,

the last bag of squares from KOGO are sewn together and the crochet edge is done, the 4 blankets have gone for delivery to KOGO.

a little progress has been made on the mosaic, I have run out of glass pieces so a trip to Bunnings has to be made today

Earlier in the week we visited Finn and family, he had fun giving Tira pieces of wood to chew.

We had the dogs for the weekend so long walks were in order so they would sleep at night!!

one of the mosaic pieces made by one of the ladies already in place in the garden, love the frog on the top

another piece in place.

Right I am off to get ready to go to Bunnings before the day is over!

Happy stitching.

Chook shed challenge

 Another month is on us and it is July already!!

My #1 has been completed so instead I am going to try and make some headway on using up scraps I have been given

Well this is upside down, but you get the idea, a heap of 2 and a half inch squares, a heap of 5 inch squares and some at 4 and a half.....hope to have the bags emptied by the end of the month.

Also by the end of the month I need to finish a mosaic pole for the garden at the Drysdale Seniors building - the quilters were asked if we were interested in helping with a community project, making these poles to go into the garden. I finished mine, or so I thought, went back after the holidays to start the grouting only to be told mine was too dangerous to go into the garden as some of the glass chips I used had sharp edges. I was miffed as I had asked about using the chips and was told yes go ahead. So I brought my pole home and on Monday scraped all the chips off, today I have sandpapered it and another day I will stick on more chips that are user friendly, and complete the grouting.

I have been told I also need to find a top for the pole to seal it off, maybe a plate from a microwave as it is heavy glass and safer!! So I will go explore one of the Drysdale op shops next week.

I am off to sew little squares together after I have made a cuppa.

Happy stitching.

Final holiday photos

An afternoon walk along the board walk and for 1km past it to answer more Ad Lab questions at Coolum

Lots of bays and little beaches

Lovely trees

poems about trees

the walking track I followed - the sign is a bit weather damaged I think

great views

the sky when I got back.

Back to Mooloolabar the next day to do another two Ad Labs

the memorial to HMAS Brisbane, the ship is sunk off an island up the coast and is used for diving.

looking out to sea

a memorial to military dogs who were killed on active service

a memorial to fishermen - there was another one I didn't take a photo of, it was a memorial to a Russian explorer who rowed from South America unassisted and landed on the Sunshine Coast. Amazing feat.

views walking around the headland on the other side of the canal

looking back at Mooloolabar

the water tower at Point Cartwright

I loved the whale reflection in the bubble in the clam shell

the Woolemi pines are symbolic of this area and were included in the painting, along with turtles, whales and the osprey and other fish

view of the beach from the water tower

and so our holiday came to a finish the next day

the hire car was returned to the airport

and off we flew - there was a lot of cloud so this was the view of the coast line I saw once we were up quite a way.

A little sewing happened while we were away, not a lot but every little bit helps

some bits for a new project

and some stars of a much neglected project, that had been in a tin ignored for a very long time!!

I had planned to sew on the way home but found a book in the airport so read this

which I enjoyed very much.

Have a wonderful week.