Progress

 I have been doing a lot of ironing, cutting and preparing this week, getting ready for Scrub Stitching

Fabric cut for one quilt

two quilts

#3 quilt, more fabric is coming in the mail, I hope it gets here before the weekend. I am doing fat quarter blocks for these quilts so they should come together quite quickly . (She says hopefully!!)

When I was in the kitchen this morning  I could hear and see a galah outside, I thought it might nave been interested in the vege garden below but it's mate was in the tree just a bit further along feasting on these red berries, it was not at all bothered that I went out to say hello and take some pictures.

I spent quite a bit of time on the kitchen this morning preparing the figs for some more jam, there are so many figs on the tree, the birds are having a feast, I watched a silver eye demolish a fig about the same size as its body when I went out this morning.  I have made 10 jars this season so far. 

The Churn Dash quilt is finished - Ready for show and tell at Scrub Stitching

This scrappy quilt is finished, thanks to Joan for the quilting. Joan did a spider web design and it looks amazing.

and the Foundation Paper Pieced hearts are finished.

Two more blocks have been done for Anthology, sorry blogger decided they had to be turned around!

I was given these blocks, they are the last of Kates things, Judy, one local quilter has, 

I am going to add them to the sides of this quilt top started ages ago and never finished, it is long enough but not wide enough, this may just solve the problem.

I had better be off and sort the mess in the sewing room.

Happy stitching.

Today

 has been another beautiful spring day, I have had a walk, sat out on the back deck and read a book, listened and smelt the grass being cut - that is the smell of summer to me, fresh cut grass. Probably more spring here and summer in NZ as it gets much hotter here.

Monday I had to go to the chemist so asked hubby to take me there, he was going that way anyway, and then I walked home, it was a windy day, luckily the wind was behind me heading home.

I found St Leonard's Spoonville, I hadn't heard of this before so had to come home and look it up, it is a great idea, but I am not rushing back with a spoon!!

the last two weeks Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks, I realised when I went to put the orange on on the left away that I had already made that block, but had forgotten to tick it off in the book! Mmmmm...it has now gone in a folder of orphans, but might come back out to make up numbers later on!

Tuesday I went into Geelong to the SJOG hospital for an iron infusion, so took the opportunity to deliver 15 quilts, this was the view out of the window

I thought I was going outside into dull and maybe wet weather but it was sunny and quite pleasant. I met two ladies who had been given quilts, they were both so happy.

On my way outof Geelong I stopped at Eastern Beach for a short walk, thru the park, 

past the fountain, along the waterfront, up the hill and back to the car! It was lovely to get some (masked) fresh air.

Late yesterday afternoon a few more flying geese joined the family

the Kevins and Kathleen are all together in a quilt top.  The blocks are all quilted before you add the Kevin Koala so now I need to add strips of wadding along the sashings and border. That was supposed to happen today but I sat outside and read a book in the sun, 

then came in and made this block for Sylvia's Bridal sampler for this week. This one nearly did my head in, joining the rows together should have been simple, I had them all marked, but I got the top and bottom rows the wrong way and it took me a while to work out what I had done. Thank goodness I hadn't sewn them on!! Next week I might attempt Wedding Ring 2. Maybe!!

I had an email in the week saying Big W had a book sale on, so guess who got sucked in and ordered books, they arrived today. I have some reading to do!!

I had better go and get the washing in before the sun goes completely and the mossies attack me at the clothes line.

Happy stitching.

Spring

has appeared in the garden, the blossom is coming out

the Weeping Flowering gum is flowering

The plum tree has blossom

the lavender has bees and blossom despite hubby's pruning attempts!!

I made a few Flying Geese last week

then as football was on went and made a few more after dinner

I passed this fairy establishment on my walk recently

We have had fine days

and not so fine days, typical spring weather. We had beautiful weather Friday, and Saturday so I spent time in the garden pruning and weeding, tiring but gives you a good feeling when you can see what you have done.

Yesterday I made some Kevin Koala's, might have to come up with some other names, Keith, Kobber, Kel, I need to think on that! Can't be calling them Kevin's all the time. This is a Wendy Gratz pattern from Happy Shiney People, I love Wendy's patterns,  they are so happy.

The quilts are finished and ready for delivery.

A few more hearts were sewn together last night

I nearly forgot last weeks Anthology block, I ended up making two. Double Spot above

and facets. I don't seem to have a photo f the Sylvia block so will fix that later. I am off to sew some details on to the Kevin blocks.

Happy stitching.

 

Friday once again (photo heavy)

 I am not sure where this week has gone, despite being at home the days are zipping by.

We have had some beautiful weather which has been ideal for walking along the beach

down near the yacht club

I spied a container ship coming into the bay

I also found a new Little library, not far from us, they are a great resource when the library is closed.  I had a call from the library yesterday, I have 4 books waiting to be collected and they are going to be posted out. The Geelong Library service has introduced and new click and collect where you can order books and they will post out once a month. Great idea. 

I have been out on the front deck putting quilt layers together, this day was ok, but the day earlier was super cold and windy.

The orchids inside have all decided to flower again, this is the third time this year for this one.

Playing out in the garden with gum blossoms and the sky and sun.

Tuesday I decided I need to sort out the heaps of fabric bits that were on the sewing desk, so I cut into squares and then on both diagonals

And I have a collection of pieces ready for the flying geese.

The smaller bits left over were cut down for little stars epp. I have some left over bits from the stars and they will be stamped and cut for the little hand sewing project. My enthusiasm for sorting deserted me after cutting the others. 👩

In the week I made a chewy fruit slice, a favourite for us both.

Wednesday saw the making of another Anthology block, this one needed some creative trimming!!

Thursday I made some kiwifruit jam, hubby had gathered kiwifruit from where we used to live, which  surprised us as one of the vines has died and you  need a male and female plant to get fruit. The only thing we could think of was there was another plant nearby.

Such a pretty colour and pattern.

I am using the recipe from my Mums cookbook, the photos are back to front, this is the chutney recipe

this is the jam recipe, it has been a long time since kiwifruit have been called Chinese Gooseberries.

Very happy with my jars of jam and it has set!!! WooHoo!!

Now a mix of kiwifruit chutney is on the stove, I might have added too much vinegar, I guess I will now when I taste it!

I still have this many kiwifruit left over, they are very tart, but I might try having them for breakfast.

Yesterday saw the making of this weeks Sylvia's Bridal Sampler block, this block has been languishing in the tub for a very long time, I had problems fitting the inside curved seam and had to unpick many times. I was too scared to try the outer curved seam so it went into the tub. Yesterday i git brave and decided to just do it, and it has gone on ok. It looks like there is a tuck near the top, but the seam is fine, it is just the shadow on the photo.

So I did a second block again with foundation paper piecing, it felt like it took ages but came together very well in the end. Hopefully I haven't put you to sleep, I am off now to put the binding on a quilt.

Have a wonderful weekend and happy stitching.