The last few days

I have been getting ready to go on retreat to Woodend. But I have also been taking the supervisor for a walk each morning too, is good for both of us!!

Friday was a beautiful day, we had a walk at Indented Head

followed by a swim (and then a bath for Tupai...he was NOT impressed!!)

we saw a pelican sitting on a rock watching the world go by

back home I knuckled down and got some things organised

angels for the Christmas Row by Row......I then realised I forgot something important!! Their wings!! Duh!!!

Friday night I stitched together a hexagon

the wings are on now! Phew!!

and as I am not starting anything new......I am playing with these Barb Smith buttons!!

some  snow people are taking shape for the Christmas row by row

I am hoping they will look like they are being seen thru a window when I have finished, we shall see!

I have finished the tea cup bears into their hexie shapes, now to join them together, another lovely pattern from Michelle Ridgway.

today the weather is not so good, we have had some rain here but not much, it seems to be more towards the city

I thought this was a rock until I had a closer look, isn't nature clever!!I had better be off and get some things done, like house cleaning, not my most favourite job I must admit!!

Happy sewing.

Sewing

has been happening here this afternoon I am happy to say.

I made three foundation pieced Christmas trees for the Christmas Row by Row

one more Christmas decoration using a button from Barb Smith, love these guys out star gazing,

and the row is finished!!! Yay!!! Now I need to get on and make the present row, the angel row and the holly rows!! That should keep me busy!

Happy sewing

Surprise package

We had a busy day today, left home at 8.45 to go to Cabrini hospital in the city...over the Westgate Bridge and thru the tunnel...boy that was slow this morning....for David's appointment with the Neuro Dr. he had a little adjustment made to his DBS and many questions for the Neurologist...then we went up to Ward 2 where David was after his op and saw some of the staff, David wanted to say thankyou!  They all asked if he was still painting his little figures ......he must have made quite an impression on them, the figures are interesting but he also managed to get paint on the sheets, the chair, the floor, the table and himself!!!  We called in to Geelong to do some messages on the way home and finally got home at 5.15pm. I had to do a quick run to the supermarket and then home. I noticed a package in the letter box and when I got it inside saw it was from Barb Smith ,I didn't remember making an order , when I opened it up this was what I found

How nice is that!! Thank you very much Barb for your lovely thoughts and generous gift!! You are right, everyone needs a pink elephant!! There are some wonderful people in the world and Barb is one!

Happy smiles here.

City tour

Yesterday I met Donna in the city and after having lunch...I have to say Donna was enjoying a chicken burger when a seagull swooped from nowhere and took the top half of her burger bun!! Lucky she had eaten half of it! I have seen kookaburras do that kind of thing but not the local seagulls!! Anyway after we had recovered we met up with five other people and went on a tour of the alleyways of the city. Chris, our tour guide, is a graffiti artist and does the tour out of Blender studios in Franklin Street. It was really interesting listening to him explain the different types of street art and who had done it. There is art out there in Melbourne done by local people, people from France and the US...we even got to see two Banksies. I took heaps of photos but will only put up a few or I will put everyone to sleep!!

Recently several alley ways were painted over and over a four day weekend they were graffitied again....some of the art I remembered has gone....new things have taken their place.

ACDC Alley

and again

just liked this one!

a Banksie we are told

a touch of winter

this was done by our guide.....he said his paintings reflect his interest in mental health..

nearly a ChowChow!!

this appealed to me, it was quite small.

this was outside Blender studios, a work by two artists with very different styles to me, the white part represents a skull...

also outside Blender studios....Gina the Hutt...

Mr and Mrs Flip Flop...sole mates!! Lol!!

Donna venturing in to the unknown!!!

these pieces were part of an exhibition put on by one of the resident artists...his creations are all made from things people throw away....the little camera person appealed to me!!

Donna headed home from the studios, I went to the Sherlock Holmes and said a quick hello to Shane and then headed home....two trains were cancelled so had to wait 40 mins for the next one, just as well I had a good book!!!

Today I have been attempting to tidy the sewing room...that has kind of happened but then I finished off these two Xmas decorations.

I am happy with how these turned out....love the Barb Smith buttons.

Happy sewing.

PS We went here too!!

Monbulk Quilt Show

I have had a wonderful weekend, have stayed with Eve at Boronia and ventured up into the Dandenongs...it was lovely up there on Saturday, slightly misty with the sun coming through the huge gum trees as we drove through the Sherbrooke forest....I thought getting to the show at 9.30 would be good, and we might get a show bag...but no...the queue was out the door and down past the buildings to the road......everyone had the same idea I think!!!
We missed out on a goodie bag but were  given a free pattern for a door stop which  l liked.
There were some beautiful quilts on display...

There is some beautiful stitchery on this quilt

this was a joint group effort .....love the knitted poppies on the right hand side

For some reason this photo insists on being huge!!!!! It is another group quilt.

Love these teddies

Isn't she cute?

A very impressive round quilt

Love this one too! 

How cute are these polar bears?

Great colours here

Wow!!

General views at one end of the room

It was very busy so not easy to get photos although I managed quite a few!!

Isn't this beautiful?

And this....

Back outside in the sunny day again off to look at plants now!

And look who I ran into...the lovely City ladies out for a quilting tour day!! I interrupted them enjoying their scones and tea! Was wonderful to see all the lovely ladies and have a chat with them. 

Inside Barb Smith had a stall and of course I came home with another selection of beautiful Theodora Cleave buttons......

Just beautiful! Can't wait for Barb's new ideas book to arrive in the post!!

Well enough for today...

Happy sewing.