Quilting Times Ahead

Christmas Day and first on my agenda was my SSCS gift before breakfast. Christmas Wishes and a big thankyou to Cherri, I'm now the proud owner of a LizzyHouse original print. I'll be keeping an eye out for a suitable frame and hanging it in my sewing room to admire. Also a set of Lizzy's Cathedral Cards. To top it off Cherri also included four fat 1/4's of lovely fabric.

A special thankyou to Chookyblue for taking on such a huge task. It was so much fun having a gift under the tree from a new friend.

I was also lucky enough to be gifted a couple of quilting rulers (I've been hinting) and more fat 1/4's from family members.

As promised here is my first finish for Finn's Challenge which is quickly coming to a close. The idea was a wall hanging for me to practice machine quilting, with and without a walking foot, traced and free motion.

As I'm getting more confident at playing around with my blog, I'll be having a face lift for the month of January. I've also decided to tidy my sidebar and start fresh with icons for 2009.

Fingers crossed the building storm clouds will bring some much needed rain this afternoon. So far we've missed out on all the storms going round and the paddocks are desperate for a drink.

Here's to a Happy, Healthy New Year and a wet one for those who need it.

Merry Christmas to All

Finally managed a finish yesterday, my Rainbow Wall Hanging. First finish for Finn's challenge, hanging on my wall and I'm very happy with it. Will show a pic after Chistmas. I've been trying out my maching quilting on it.

Also helped make plans yesterday for our groups shopping trip in early January. That would be patchwork shops of course, can't wait!

Only one sleep to go.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas.

.

Christmas All Wrapped Up

I've done it! This morning I wrapped my last gift and popped it in the mail. Of course now I have that feeling that I've missed something. There's still food to prepare but that's last minute stuff.





So what to do when all the gifts are made?





Break out the UFO's!





For a short moment I thought about making something new, but then I decided that there wasn't much left to do on my Rainbow Wall Hanging.




I have now FINISHED the quilting and unpicked the basting. Just a few (hmmmm?) threads to tie off, and the binding to go. Looking good for Finn's New Years Eve Challenge.



I've been enjoying all the photos of snow on blogs, it helps make our heat bearable.



Wishing everyone a Safe, Healthy and

Merry Christmas

Snow Flakes

Visit here to make your own snowflake for a bit of fun.

http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/

Christmas Ornament

Another green Parcel Notice in my letter box on Friday and a trip to town today to collect . . . what did I find?

This lovely china heart ornament all the way from London. Thankyou Lynne, I'll treasure it! Hope my ornament arrives at it's destination soon.

I only hung it outside for this photo, I'll hang it indoors now on my Christmas Tree. It's about 4 inches high.

Merry Christmas

Good Intentions

Saturday dawned and I had good intentions of getting some sewing done as part of Niki's Last Push Quilt-a-thon. The thing is, DH also had good intentions of getting some paddock work done ... and you know the old saying ... work before pleasure.

I did manage this little fellow while waiting for him to get things ready. It's just a sneak peak of a Christmas Gift I'm working on.

At the end of November I was lucky enough to win this "Old Fashioned Favourites" Pattern from JoyPatch and it arrived in the mail last Wednesday.

These will have to wait till after Christmas but then DD and I will have fun making them all up. She's keen to make the oven mit and declared she needs an apron cause she tends to be a messy cook. Thankyou Joy, we're looking forward to it.

Sadly I didn't achieve much sewing on Saturday, and my attempts at having even one finish for Finn's New Years Eve Challenge are looking grim but there's still time. So I'm going to jump in and join the 'Get It Done Challenge' for 2009. I already have a WIP list on my sidebar along with a list of projects that I have the kits or fabric for so there's plenty to choose from. 2009 will be my year for WIP's, UFO's etc etc. (I hope!)

The heat has been almost unbearable yesterday and today so I'm off to sit in front of the fan and finish a second butterfly. I need to get cracking or Christmas will be here. At least I now have six weeks of not travelling to work so there should be more time for sewing.

Wishing everyone a Special Christmas Time.

Christmas Mail

I had a parcel notification in my mail box yesterday. Luckily I was going into town this morning so didn't have to wait too long to find out just what? ... or who from? My SSCS all the way from overseas. I have been a good girl and placed it under the Christmas tree ... can't wait!

While in town I picked up the latest Down Under Quilts magazine. The winners for Bernina Blankets of Love are featured in this edition so here is a pic of my little quilt which I called Project X at the time.

I'm proud to say that my BFF has her quilt shown in the mag but I'll leave that up to her to share.

I'm now working on a little something for someone for Christmas and will show a peak next post just to tease that someone.

I have a couple more items to arrive in the mail so will share those when they arrive.

We were very thankful to receive just over an inch of rain on Sunday evening as we had spent the day putting out fires right up until the lightening got too close. Why were we still out there when the storm was so close? Because often the storms pass right round us and we miss the rain.

This weekend I hope to be doing lots of sewing!

Quilting Wishes

November Post Card

My Fabric Postcard for November must have got held up along the way judging by the post date stamp but it arrived yesterday.

How cute are these dancing frogs?

It's just tooooo hot here today to consider doing much at all. Especially after a late night last night at our school concert. I'm thinking today will be a rest day with lots of quilting plans going on in my head.

Cool Quilting Wishes

It's a Quilt Marathon

Niki is holding a Last Push Quilt-a-thon on Saturday the 13th of December. Here's an opportunity to get some of those last minute or almost finished things completed. For more information click on Niki's graphic on my sidebar.

I'm not looking to good for Finn's New Years Eve Challenge at the moment so this might help me along. Now if I can only arrange to have the day all to myself?

Here's a pic of my last postcard I made for November. The theme was applique.

I'm off to have a coffee so I can make it through the remainder of the day.

Quilting Wishes

PS: I've also taken the plunge and purchased some red fabrics this week (I don't have much of a stash) and am looking forwarding to making a start on 'Red Delicious'. I just can't help myself.

It's Beginning to Feel Like Christmas

While blog hopping the other night, I found this most generous giveaway being hosted by Daisy Quilts to celebrate her 1st year Anniversary. Head on over and take a peek.

I so adore her little bag/bucket and pincushion and ..... well you'll just have to see for yourself!

Welcome to an Aussie Summer!

AND THE WINNER IS ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

OK, so the way I did the draw was to put numbers in a container to coincide with each of your comments.

Then I asked DD to draw a number from the container . . . and the number was . . .

# 2

So CONGRATULATIONS goes to Chook (Beth). I'll be contacting Beth by email.

Thanks to all who left a comment, I've enjoyed visiting your blogs in return and hope you continue to visit mine.



WOW, Summer is here in all it's glory. While some are busy mopping up after the

fierce storms and flooding rains, others are still waiting for the first drop to quench the burning ground. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have giant hoses to deliver the waters from flooded areas out to those who are still bone dry.

We had a lovely surprise visit from my parents on Friday afternoon. Mum brought along her box of goodies she received from Sharon Z all the way from USA for ALQS2. She is so thrilled with her little quilt and now that she's finished showing it off, it will be going up on the wall at her place. So from Margaret to Sharon, a huge THANKYOU!

While they were here we had a scheduled power outage most of Sunday so Dad, DH and DS worked outdoors while us girls did what girls do . . . shifted furniture around. Well only one piece but it was my china cabinet which was of course full of STUFF!

Myself, Mum, DD and DS's GF removed everything, cleaned everything, moved the cupboard and replaced everything. Then it was on to Christmas decorations. I usually wait till December but we were after all only one day early so now on the 1st of December we are ready for Christmas. I still have room for a couple of new decorations though.

Once the power returned, DD decided to make some Gingerbread People to take to work.

Meet Mr and Mrs Gingerbread. She made 8 couples and perhaps one left over, then some stars and Christmas Trees.

Aren't they all just so sweet! . . . and yummy! Well we did get to sample some.

Quilting Wishes

Lucky Me and More of Nature

What a wonderful surprise email I received the other day from Willow Valley Store. I was one of the lucky winners of Catherine's new patterns and they arrived in the mail last Friday. They are just gorgeous and I don't know which one to do first.

Here are some more photos that I was unable to upload the other day.

I also noticed a lot of red happening in my garden.

If you haven't entered in my 100th post giveaway yet you still have till the 30th Nov my time. Please leave your entry comment on this post.

Quilting Wishes

What's Your Name

I saw this on Gina's blog and thought it looked like fun!

1. ROCK STAR NAME - Mitzi Triton
2. GANGSTA NAME - Rum & Raison Thong (Flip Flops)
3. NATIVE AMERICAN NAME - Blue Cat
4. SUPERHERO NAME - Purple Bailey's
5. NASCAR NAME - George Edward
6. STRIPPER NAME - Charlie Fudge
7. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME - Bryce Brisbane
8. SPY NAME - Autumn Rose
9. CARTOON NAME - Strawberry Shorts
10. HIPPIE NAME - Sausage Blue Gum

How did I come up with these names? Well the guidelines are
1. first pet name / current car
2. favourite ice cream flavour / favourite type of shoe
3. favourite colour / favourite animal
4. second favourite colour / favourite drink
5. first names of your grandfathers
6. favourite perfume or scent/ favourite candy
7. 5th Grade teacher's last name/ City that starts withthe same first letter
8. favourite season/ favourite flower
9. favourite fruit / an article of clothing you are wearing now
10. what you ate for breakfast / favourite tree

Sewing and Nature

Well I had the most lovely day yesterday when my best friend and her beautiful daugther came for a sewing day. Sometimes you just need these days, no planning, it just happens. I finished my November Postcard but photos of that when it has arrived. Then made a good start on another Christmas Table Topper ... see previous post for similar item and giveaway. As DH and DS are out all day, I get another sewing day. The dishes are done, the house is tidy, so I have the whole day ahead of me. What a wonderful feeling.


I can breath again now, my ALQS2 has arrived safetly to the home of Barb. It's always worrying, waiting for them to make their journey far across the seas. Thanks to Kate for organising, it must be such a mammoth task keeping it all running as smoothly as possible.



When the October issue of AP&Q arrived I had a quick thumb through and as soon as I saw this little quilt I thought it would be perfect for my parnter. It was designed by Ruth Buchanan to celebrate Australia's floral emblem the wattle and has lovely yellow Suffolk Puffs. I exchanged the yellow for a burgundy to suit my partners preferences and now I'd like to make another for myself with the yellow this time. Another project for my 'wish list'.



My thoughts have been with those families who have suffered much damage from the raging storms this past week. While we still wait for some good rain to fill the dams and creeks and freshen the grass, we don't want the destructive winds. Nature can be harsh but it can also be beautiful.

I truly admire the photography of some of the girls' blogs I visit and attempt to be better with my own pictures but I have a long way to go. Yesterday afternoon I noticed this view through my kitchen window so grabbed the camera and ran up the back. This is to the South West of us.



This was taken earlier in the week looking to the North East.


My computer is on a 'go slow' this morning so I'll show more photos next post. Time to get sewing.

Quilting Wishes

I'm Back With a Giveaway and Show & Tell

I didn't mean for me to take this long in getting back, but that's how life goes. Since my 100th post I've enjoyed our quilt retreat, met some deadlines, been to town, busy at work, another day in town and attended our local races yesterday, plus all the usual stuff.

So without further waffle ~ I'm having a giveaway to celebrate my first 100 posts!

Just leave a comment on this post and I'll pop your name in the hat to win this Christmas Table Topper (28" square) or one very similar. I'll ask DD to draw a name from the hat on November 30.

Before I could enjoy our retreat, I needed to finish my quilt for ALQS2 but I will wait to show a picture till after I know it has been received.

The Christmas Topper was my project for the retreat and I finished hand sewing the binding at home this week.

This is my table at one of the tidier moments.

I also managed to make another Quilters Mug Bag for a gift. It just needs the top binding hand stitched and a draw cord. See here for the finished drawn effect.

We had five very industrious ladies who spent a wonderful weekend sewing, chatting, relaxing and enjoying the good company.

I've still managed to read some blogs and make progess on my #1 item for Finn's Challenge. I might only manage this one, but that's better than still being on the WIP list.

The heat today is something shocking, fingers cross for some good drenching rain tonight.

I feel like there's something else I wanted to share but can't remember now, so there could be another post following soon. I'm off to prepare some hand applique for my November postcard.

Quilting Wishes

Swap Mail and Giveaway

Yippee, my little quilt for ALQS2 arrived in the mail today.

It's gorgeous and I love, love, love it. Alicia from lucysquilts has done such a wonderful job on this little beauty. The colours work so well together and the pinwheels are 3D, how clever!

I'm not the best photographer . . . the sun was going down . . . and everything is sooooo dry, my lawn crackles when you walk on it. The first photo is taken on the lawn, it really is brown. The lumpy looking photo is taken on a bale of mulch hay. I need to get that on the garden as soon as possible.

Thankyou to Kate for organising, this is my first time with ALQS and I've enjoyed it heaps.

I can just hear the rain starting on the roof now, so fingers crossed.

I also noticed when I went to post that this is my 100th.

So .... Yes .... I will be having a giveaway ... pop back when I post next to find out more about it. I'm off to a quilting retreat this weekend so I probably won't be posting till after then, hopefully with lots of pics.

(This is the 3rd time I've edited this post, I can't keep the line spacings where I want them.)

Quilting Wishes

Time for a Change

Bear with me. I feel like a bloggy change and not sure what I want so this could be a work in progress or a disaster where I revert back to what I started with.

The frogs are croaking loudly tonight so I hope they know what they're croaking about, we could sure do with some rain. It's been a long time between drinks for the ground.

I should be sewing but my attention span is so short that I'll probably muck it up. So a good nights sleep and a fresh start in the morning will be the best approach.

Quilting Wishes

Swap News

Life is still in top gear so not much of the quilty stuff going on at all.

Just this morning I finished off my postcard for October ... before dashing off to work ... and popped it in the mail on my way. It is an even 6" x 4", just doesn't look it in the pic.



In Monday's mail I received this little beauty. Our theme for October was birds and/or insects.


Margaret (no blog) has her quilt ready for ALQS2 (photo taken with phone). Her Kangaroo's Paw will be on it's way across the wide blue yonder this week.


I'm off to a quilting weekend in 10 sleeps so I can't wait. Two whole days of quilting with friends.

Quilting Wishes

A Break In Sewing

Wow, life seems to have stepped up a gear or two lately and there has been no sewing what-so-ever. I barely have time to check a few blogs now and then. I do have the plan for my ALQS2 in my head and an idea for my October postcard up there to, just need the time. Perhaps this Friday when I can get a few hours at patchwork group.

Wednesday afternoon while feeding the chooks, I noticed the moon and grabbed the camera. Two shots and then the batteries went flat.

Thursday afternoon I grabbed a moment to head outside with the camera (after recharging the batteries) while waiting for the storms that just went around us. My two girls like to wander about with me and race up the trees just because they can.

DS surprised us with a visit this weekend so this morning when I wasn't required at the cattle yards, I did some baking. DS takes one cake and some biscuits back with him for the week, and I've made up a care package of biscuits to send to DD at Uni.

When I finished the ironing, I pressed some pieces of fabric ready to cut into 2.5" strips for a table topper I'm making. If I'm lucky I'll get those cut this afternoon. Another busy week ahead.

Quilting Wishes

Gardening in the Shower

Yes you've read the title correctly, I've been gardening in the shower. A shower of rain that is.


I got home from work yesterday around 4pm to find that the power was off. Quite a large area was without power and they didn't have an estimated time of return. It was so overcast that the light was fading fast so we pulled out the camping gear and candles, cooked a quick meal, boiled a pot of water to add to the bath, and we were "in bed with the chooks" as the saying goes.


So this morning I've been catching up on all the things that couldn't be done last night.


Getting back to the title, it's been showering on and off this morning so inbetween showers, hubby and I headed out into the garden to take advantage of the heavy clouds promising more rain to come. We've planted two new trees, transplanted one and removed one. The plantings involved the tractor and post hole digger as the ground is so hard and stoney, so while the tractor was in the yard it was time for the removal of one tree that has struggled for too long. Hopefully transplanting the other will give it a better chance at a life.


Of course we weren't quite finished when the next shower of rain came across, but it was a pleasant change to the heat and dry.


Just thought I'd share these King Parrots with you (pictures from google). When we were having lunch today, I spotted the female heading down a hole in the tree next to the house and the male was flitting about on the branches above. Obviously a nest down there so I'll be keeping an eye out for the young.

Female

Male

While you're visiting, link on over to May at Abyquilt for a smile or two at her Oct 10 post.

I spent a lovely few hours with the girls at patchwork yesterday and while I didn't actually get any sewing done, we did quite a lot of planning which involves a weekend of sewing so we're all excited about that one.

Quilting Wishes