Spring

 has made itself felt here in out little part of the world, we have had some beautiful days, I have had some great walks along the beach

Calm and peaceful

Monday I got to take Hank for a walk, his parents both had to go to the office for the first time in months, so I was asked to call in and say hello. We went for a 5 km walk, I was exhausted, he got home and did mad zoomies around the back yard!!

Contemplating the water down at the pier, he came back to our house for most of the day and then went back home. Of course when his Mum got home he told her he had been home alone all day!!!! Big sook! Actually to be fair he is a rescue dog and has separation anxiety, so it was good we could have him with us for most of the day.  

Pelicans in their usual places

This one appeared to be asleep.

Sunday afternoon I got out in the howling wind and sandwiched this Minions quilt, I just got it done when the rain came.

The postcard for the Guild challenge is finished, I think we are having a show and tell of photos in one of the newsletters as we are not able to meet in the usual numbers.

This week I also made three Santa Sacks which will go to Jan Mack

Tow Anthology blocks were made today, the one on the right sadly does not meet where it should but the over all measurements are correct so I am not mucking with it.

Only one jumper has been finished, Panda is still waiting and another sloth came home with me this week.

This afternoon I sewed another few stars, I think I have another 5 to go and then I need to work out how to sew them all together. 

I had better be off I cam smell dinner is nearly ready and I need to make gravy.

Stay safe and keep well.

Happy stitching.

Zooming with Chooky

 Yesterday I joined in with Chooky and ladies from the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia for a great session of chatting, sewing and learning  lots of new things!

Different ladies came and went depending on the time of the day or night and their other commitments. 

I didn't realise how dusty the laptop screen was!

Chooky put up maps for us to see where every one was, this is the Australian one, sadly I didn't get a photo of the US one. It was good to see where people lived.

Well these photos have come up the opposite to the way I wanted them, but late in the week we had a beautiful big rainbow out over the bay

The colours were clear and stunning, I stood out on the deck for a while and watched it slowly travel down the bay.

Saturday the weather was good so I was out on the front deck again sandwiching. this quilt was made by one of the Guild members

as was this one, I have another 7 of this ladies quilt tops to finish off.

I stamped and cut out the remainder of the scraps on the sewing table during the zoom session, just a few batiks to sort now.

I also sewed the cream stars on the edge of these three star blocks during the zoom session until my thumb joints started to complain too much.

I am off for a walk now while the sun is shining.

Thank you Chooky for a very enjoyable day, hope the washing got dry!!

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.

FNWF and the weekend

I was  very productive on Friday evening, joined up two panels and made star blocks to go along side them, late Friday I was unsewing as I had put the centre strip crooked, so Saturday was resewing day!!

Assembled correctly

One of the star blocks

another of the star blocks

Yesterday I cut and sewed another 8 Advent challenge blocks.

This morning is the Aussie Santa toy run for the Children's Hospital,

I have spent a very happy half hour on the front deck watching the bikes go by

bikes of all sizes and shapes, quiet ones, loud ones, serious grunters and then a Vespa or two, I have really enjoyed seeing them.

Love how some of the bikes (and riders) are decorated

Last year there were over 1000 bikes, sounds like there will be much the same this year.

Today I hope to sew the star strips on the sides, then small stars need to be appliqued onto the brown strips.

I had better go and hang out the washing.

Happy stitching.