Hey ho

 In Melbourne and Victoria I am sure it is well known that we can have all seasons of weather in one day.

We had some spring weather that changed back to winter on the weekend and this morning we had an earthquake, I was standing near the couch when the door to the loo started creaking, then the rocking chair started rocking and the house swaying, it was a bit scary! I have felt earthquakes in NZ before now but not as strong as this, and the epicentre was many miles away from here. No damage at all just a scare! I soon got back to the day 😀. I walked down to the PO and back this morning, it was overcast but not too windy thank goodness.

So, what I have been up to the last few days

The first Minions quilt is finished

The kids are all clothed

We have had some interesting clouds going by this week

One evening I caught sight of the full moon just as it was being covered by the clouds

The Star quilt is all together and has gone to be quilted

todays Anthology blocks are done

The squirrels got me this afternoon, I found these bears already cut out, I think they came with a fabric collection I bought a few years ago, I gave them borders and now they are Santa Sacks, they need their draw string, I will get that from the hard ware shop tomorrow.  They will go to Jan Mac once I finish the other Minion quilt and dress the two sloths that came home with me yesterday 😉.

I can smell dinner cooking so had better go and give it a check.

Happy stitching.

Retreat day 1

It js beautiful here and the view from my sewing spot is very distracting

We did enjoy a swim late in the afternoon  it was cool to get into but wonderful once in.

Ingrid has everything set up, cutting table on the left, iron in the far side of the room and sewing at the dining table.

I completed, after some unsewing ,this quilt top, the borders went on after dinner, so I need to take a photo this morning.

This is the view from my bedroom window, so nice to wake up to in the morning.

Quilt top finished.

Off for a dip and then some hand sewing I think.

Happy stitching.

Ingrid's birthday

This week was Ingrids birthday week, we had a lunch planned for the day, the balloons were delivered just before lunch, which was very good timing

We had a great lunch, lots of chatting and laughter, but the best was we managed to surprise Ingrid with two birthday cakes. One for eating and the other for keeping.

We got a sewing/Quilting themed cake, it was made by Leanne Rhodes of Leanne's Cakes Geelong and she did a fantastic job making this cake.

The cake had so much beautiful detail

I had sent images to the cake maker of Ingrids favourite fabric line and it was incorporated into the edging around the cake

and also there is one of her favourite designers quilts under the needle.

The machine is polystyrene covered with fondant so should last a long time.Ingrid has a glass dome the cake will be going under at home.

This was the cake for eating with Nicks cheeky message!

I gave Ingrid the One Block Wednesday quilt for her birthday, Jasper moved in for the photo!

This quilt has gone to a very good home!

I also made Ingrid a handbag with fabric left from the quilt, it was a BIG challenge for me, but I did get it finished and then forgot to take a photo!! I had handles go on after this photo.

I also made this project bag with left over bits, it has strips on the back.

I had a finish yesterday

A top made with half square triangles, there was supposed to be a snail trail at one end of the blue triangles but that got lost in the pinning and sewing somewhere. So we have a couple of straight lines going nowhere!

I also made the final foundation pieced block for the Star Quilt that has been underway for years and sadly neglected, the purple piece on the bottom is not straight so some unsewing needs to happen.

These are the blocks so far.

and to finish off here is wee Jasper.

I am off now for a walk and then when back will cut wadding.

Happy stitching.

More photos from Nick.

The happy birthday girl.

A couple of Palmers.

Jill

Nick and his cheeky birthday greeting.

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.

Out and about

We are having a few days in Queensland at Peregrine Springs. Hubby is happily wargaming and I am being taken to the beach. 😊

 Late yesterday we went to the Coolum Life Saving club and sat on the deckmwatching for whales.  We were lucky to see several plumes and some large splashes which we claimed as whales!! The humpbacks are migrating back to Hervey Bay in the north to mate and calve.

Today we have been for a walk along the local Peregrine Beach

Coming back we passed several walkers, doing either a  30 km or 60 km walk. Talk about keen!!

A little bit of stitching has happened, one star was finished on the plane trip and another last night, I was too tried to finish the second.

Lunch is now finished and packed away, I am not sure what we are doing this afternoon , but I think a little more stitching might happen.

Happy stitching.

Yesterday

the weather changed and we were straight back to winter! Cold wind, rain and even some hail

some fearless fishermen were out on the jetty in the rain and the wind!!

Sunday we had a storm pass over, very heavy rain and strong wind and then at the end this amazing rainbow! It lasted for quite a while.

The Aussie hero Quilt is done and in the post

my helper kept popping over the top of the quilt, makes it hard to take a photo!!

I did some baking today

paleo biscuits which tasted sensational, none left now!!

paleo banana loaf which tasted horrible...needs some serious help!!!

a few more stars have joined the family

the quilting is done on the doorway wall quilt, now to figure out how to do facings..

pieces are cut for three rows of the row by row quilt

and I have started to trace off the kookaburra for the next Aussie Hero quilt.

It has been very noisy here today, tree loppers have been next door all day, they arrived at 7.30 this morning and worked until 4pm. One big gum tree is gone but the machinery is still here.....I know they can drop branches and can be dangerous, but I feel for the galahs who have made their home there.

I had better go and rescue dinner, two hours is probably long enough to cook the spag bol sauce!

Happy sewing.