This and that, could be photo heavy

We had a great speaker at the Guild, she talked us through her stitching journey, showed us loads of her creations, she is mainly an embroiderer but is fascinated with how younger people tattoo themselves

This amazing creation was covered with embroidered plants, flowers, animals, birds, was stunning to see

Loved this cloth with old sailor tattoos, did you know sailors had a pig tattooed on one foot and a rooster on the other? Live stock were most likely to survive after a ship wreck as they were in a wooden crate, but the sailors saw them as good luck and so had the tattoo. Most sailors back in the day could not swim.

The 3D cars were amazing, they came about when she worked with people with disabilities.

I went to visit Adam and family, Finn was helping cook dinner, curried prawns with rice! 

I was up early one morning and saw this beautiful sunrise 

I have had a few beach walks

Some prep has been happening for Baradine

I was given  a heap of I Spy fabrics ( you know those ones that appear at sewing group and you can't leave them behind??)so they have been trimmed and laid out to be pinned.

The strip quilt is finished.

The Guild have been asked to make small Christmas quilts and stocking for one of the hospitals in Geelong, they will be given to children and families who have to spend Christmas in hospital. So I thought I would make this one up.

Another project cut and ready to go, I was given this year's ago to make up for the Oncology dept, so now is the time to get it done!! 

The pelicans were waiting on a fisherman to clean his fish, they always get a hand out. 

I followed this man along the beach this afternoon, his dog (white and far right) was having a great time running around.

I Have been stitching away at the mandelas

One finished one being stitched.

Are you still awake?

Tomorrow we are off to SJOG to the Parkinson's support group,  they have a watercolour artist coming in to teach people with Parkinson's to paint a double coloured tulip. David will really enjoy that. I will go for a walk and take stitching and a book.....

Happy stitching.

Gisborne retreat day 2

Lots of sewing and fabric appreciation has happened today

my blocks are all finished, tomorrow they will be sewn together

Tonight's dinner, will have  to fix the photo at home

Maxine's show and tell today, a beautiful quilt top she is still working on.

Maria has made a heap of progress with her quilt top started by her daughter 20 years ago.

Margaret has been making children's quilts to go to Jan Mac for children affected by the fires...front

And back

Another Margaret quilt, front

And back.

Maxines wall hanging, it is now finished.

The back of another Margaret quilt, I missed the front. I have managed to have a walk morning and afternoon today so made my daily steps, pretty happy with that.

Time for bed for me now, more tomorrow.

Happy stitching

Gisborne retreat day 1

Scrappy strips made by me, more to be made tomorrow, they will have different centres as I have run out of the orangey/red

Maxine is working on her zig zag quilt top, a little unsewing has happened as some of the blocks jump around the wrong way 😉

Christine is putting these blocks together, loving the colours.

Maxine has been also working on this wall hanging.

Off to bed now to get up the strength to sew up a storm tomorrow. 

Happy stitching.

November

 Here it is nearly the end of the month....this year had flown by!!

Today at Bellarine Quilters we gave 53 bags with toiletries to the Vincent De Paul group who support women leaving a domestic violence situation.  

Last two bags I made with odd bits of denim and left over felt and fabric.

I hope to get more photos soon.

The FB photo came in just as I was doing this post, here are all the donated bags ready to go. (Mine are on hold until next time as all the toiletries were used up this time)

I delivered several quilts to the group to go to the Oncology ward at Geelong Hospital, made by Judy and Christine. Good feeling when the finished quilts go to where they need to go.

we had a sunny afternoon one day last week so I sandwiched and pinned the Thomas quilt

and the strip quilt

Both quilts are now quilted and the strip quilt has a little more binding to sew down and both will be finished.

The Peas in a Pod blocks are coming along, I think I will get another 12 blocks from the black and gray fabric, then the joining together starts. They should have been finished but a friend visiting in the week said, next time I see you I want to see the Thomas quilt done! So of course as I am seeing her tomorrow off I went quilting and the Peas were left on the desk. Hope to get back to them soon, although we have a busy week coming up, lots of appointments and up to Ballarat on Friday to see the neuro for David.

I had better go and get veges in for dinner, I lashed out and bought a cooked roast of pork at the supermarket today - that is what happens when I don't have lunch before going to the supermarket and I am hungry!! Still makes for an easier dinner and will do two meals.

Happy stitching.

Lots of procrastination

 is happening here, I am supposed to be preparing for the retreat at Baradine and I am finding other things to do!! I have cut fabric for two Twelve Fat Quarter quilts (I am limiting my quilts to 12, the pattern is for 16!)

After cutting the Cat in the Hat Fabric I had the selvedge edges and other bits left over and decided I couldn't throw them out and had to make some kind of bag

I lined it with some  Tim Holtz fabric left from another project (double win, no scraps!!)

I did have to add three patches in places my sewing had missed where it should have been.

While looking for fabric to take I discovered this panel I had forgotten

it now has sand coloured borders and will be a perfect child's quilt one day. Not what I was planning to do today 😀 but happy it is done.

Yesterday I sewed the piano keys border and added it to the strip quilt

Another finished quilt top - yay!!!

I have prepped more jeans bags from the denim legs I was given at the last Gisborne retreat. Hopefully they will be done at Baradine.

I also made this bag on the weekend, again using bits of denim I was given

and lined it with left over quilt backing. I can see a couple of holes in the fabric stash, just little ones!!

Last weekend was the North Bellarine Arts Trail

 I went to have a look at the local hall and came away with some lovely cards

These were by a local lady who did the most beautiful water colours,

and these done by a local lady who draws and does water colour and gelli plate printing.

I went to visit Finn and Beth yesterday and was asked to be the barber, which was surprising as Finn does not like getting his hair cut. We went through the (pretend) process several times and he was very relaxed, he didn't mind the pretend scissors or water spray, in fact I was reminded to use the water 😁, he didn't mind the clippers either. Maybe having this as a play game puts it all in place for him. Who knows how their minds work!!

I am off to have a little walk and then it will be dinner time!

My next post will most likely be on Raewyn's and my tiki tour to Baradine starting Saturday.

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.

A finish or three

 

Finn's Christmas stocking is finished...front

and back...

The strip quilt for Jenny's friend in NZ is finished, need to write a letter to go with it and it is off in the post.

and the second I Spy quilt is finished and also ready to go in the post. This has used up all the precut I Spy packs I got at the Quilt in in May! Yay!!

Right I am off to make a cuppa and write that letter.

Happy stitching.