Preparation

has been happening here over the last few days

Four packs of the Old Kaleidoscope Blocks ready to be sewn together

I have cut several strips of fabric ready to cut further into pieces for the One Block Wednesday blocks, I will get back to them shortly.

Yesterday the Supervisor went for our amble along the beach, is was a beautiful morning 

Little fairy wrens were bobbing around in the grass

the big gull was in residence on the end of the wall

the gulls were having a rest

or maybe doing the morning yoga?

the desert rose is flowering beautifully, it is so pretty.

The Supervisor had a little rest in the back yard when we got back.

I am listening to the TV as I am writing this and hearing about the shocking shooting that has just happened in NZ, it is so sad we as humans just can't respect others and get on with each other.

I am off to my happy place in the sewing room.

Home again (photo heavy)

Thursday morning we flew up to Sydney to catch up with some German friends we met in Samoa five years ago. We have visited them twice in Germany and they have visited us once here, they were only in Sydney this year hence the trip up.

Thursday afternoon we had a walk through some of the city, the old buildings are great to see.

We went in to the Queen Victoria building, what an amazing place and such beautiful shops, most of which I could not even afford to walk into!!!

this clock was hanging in one end of the building, it showed scenes of the Sydney area and the sailing boat (in between two scenes) marked the seconds. It was fascinating. Hubby found a shop selling war gaming figures so that kept him occupied for a while and along from that was a shop selling beautiful things from Turkey and Syria and Damascus. Two things came home with us...I will put a photo of them up tomorrow

this is part of a chess board, made in Syria, the young man told us this craft is dying as no one is learning to continue this craft because of the war. I could see quilt patterns!

the whole chess board. It was a beautiful shop with lots of treasures I could have brought home!

A beautiful window in the Queen Victoria building

and the ceiling dome.

another clock, hubby liked this one! The restoration in the building is stunning.

We had a wander and out dinner at Darling Harbour.

The nest day we went on the ferry to Manly

this man was entertaining, but sadly most people walked past and ignored him.

the Harbour Bridge as we pulled out.

The Opera House and a huge cruise ship in the background, I found out last night friends from NZ are on it.

Views on the way.

Once in Manly we went for a walk along the water front to a sheltered beach, this sculpture was by a swimming pool on the sea edge.

the obligatory tourist photo!!

Hansjorge and Edith chose this house to be theirs!!

It was windy but warm at the beach, we had lunch under some shady trees and then headed back to the ferry.

Best view heading back in to the city.

View from the train platform looking back outside.

After dinner at the hotel hubby and I went for a walk thru Kings Cross to find this fountain he remembered from the 60's.

this was just next to the fountain.

So we are back home and all is back to normal. I have had a kit to make a market bag for ages and seeing Fiona make hers has motivated me to get mine done.

I am giving it to my sister in law for her 60th and will fill it with wine, cheese, biscuits nuts and fruit and maybe some chutney and goodies like that.

I have some hexies to cut out so had better make a move and get them done.

Happy stitching.

I am happy

to say the circles are all joined together. I think I need to add a border to keep them all contained, they are a pretty loud lot!!

Hee hee putting it near the runner did not help at all!

The last couple of days I have been working on the sewing caddy that was the hand out for last years Scrub Stitching...I didn't get to go but Chooky kindly sent me the project. I thought it was time to get it done. The applique of the EPP is done and I am currently stitching the stitchery. It has only taken me a year to get to cut the fabric....way too long. Not to worry I am on the way now.

I am off now to create labels for raffle tickets for the Bellarine Quilters.

No rest for the wicked!

Catching up again

Last Thursday I spent a happy few hours in the sewing room cutting and making One Block Wednesday blocks, I got to the end of what was cut only to find one little square left over, mmmmm

then I went thru the blocks, this one is obviously not right!! So a little unsewing had to happen and then all was right!

Finished 12 blocks.

We have been down to the beach most afternoons this week as it has been so hot, it is a pleasure to get into the water.

Looking for a snack maybe?

Yesterday we went to visit friends of Davids, they all worked together at his last job, the house we went to was on the flight path for the airshow, but sadly I was too slow to get any photos other than this one!! We heard the planes, but couldn't see them, then would see them way off in the distance. It must have been incredibly hot for those people at the airshow, I heard the temp got up to 40 Deg C.

I got into the pool for a swim, the guys sat on the side and chatted. The dog wanted to swim but would not jump into the pool!

Just down the road from where we visited was a bird sanctuary, this emu was pacing along the fence line, the poor thing looked very hot.

And back to Friday, I decided to get out my circles and sew them together, I have circles everywhere!

Now I need to cut some fabric for a stitchery, hang out the washing, and a list of many other things, but I might just go down to the beach!

Happy stitching.

So

What has been happening this week I ask myself!!
Some gardening, some sewing, lots of work on the computer for the Guild newsletter, some dog walking ( read that as ambling) lets see

The blocks cut out the other day are done...just in time for this weeks to be done!

another Today's Quilter arrived in the post, my flash of  enthusiasm got me this far!!  

Sunday lunch was bacon and eggs for the males in the family , the Supervisor of course is a male and was waiting patiently for his helping!!

Shane stayed Sunday night and spent some time with the supervisor 

I cut and glued some of the kites for the first Old Time Kaleidoscope block

The first block of the Hand Pieced Sampler is finished, a bit wonky  but I am happy. I am hoping it is the photo angle and not that the block is seriously uneven, too scared to get the tape measure just yet.

the second block is well under way despite me cutting out the geese pieces the wrong way, there are some very scant seams in this block. Hand piecing is not my forte but I will continue on and have a go.

a few more kites ready for sewing, now I need to get brave and cut the directional fabric! 

I had better head off and get on with the list of things to do today.

Happy sewing.