Leaving on a Jet Plane

John and I are flying to Queensland tonight to spend some time with my brother and SIL, Paul and Lynette, and also to visit with our friends. Be back next week with some photos (hopefully). Hope all the lucky people going to Nundle this weekend have a fabulous time.

Our Weekend

John and Jenni took the new toy out for a run on Friday afternoon while I took the opportunity of some free time at home to start pin basting "Sharon's Roses" (that's my name for this quilt that is based on Rosemary Makhan's "Rose Sampler Supreme"). Yesterday John rode to Sydney to show Elizabeth and Michael. I had no idea, at the time of starting, of what I was letting myself into. This baby is huge. I bought the fabrics in January 2003 and started work on it pretty much straight away hoping to have it finished by February 2004 for my dear friend Sharon's 50th birthday - yeah, right. Think it was a case of "ignorance is bliss". The quilt top was almost finished in time for the birthday (just a couple of border swags to be appliqued) and, I'm sorry to say, the quilt top has sat in my sewing room ever since and I've been quite daunted by quilting it. Made a decision that this was the weekend to make a start and I've ditch-stitched some of horizontal sashings. Am hoping to do some more this afternoon (after the ironing). Miss Gigi Scrumptious was stood up. "Bubbles the Fish" and "Thomas Turtle" have won over my affections for the moment and now "Big Red Whale" is waiting to be stitched.

3 sleeps until John and I fly to Queensland for 5 days - we are visiting my brother then I'll be going to Brisbane Stitches and Craft Show with Diann (who shall remain blogless), Helen, Jenny and maybe De . Diann, Bill, John and I will also be visiting Eumundi Markets, hopefully stopping at The Patchwork Angel on the way. Can't wait!

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them

Laurence Binyon 1869-1943

Lest we forget.

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia - we will never forget the sacrifices made for our peace and safety.

Gotta Love Pink

The last 11 blocks for "Ruth's Quilt" are finished! These have been my lunchtime/travelling stitching for the last couple of months and, as much as I love all of these, I'm excited to start something new.

Might have some time over the weekend to start stitching some of the blocks together.

This is the pink "Sweet Pea's Quilt" - it's turned out to be very pretty and I'm especially happy because the fabrics for this and the bright version have come from my cupboard and scrap box.

Have a date on the couch with Miss Gigi Scrumptious.

These are the fabrics Elizabeth chose for her "Travel Quilt" and they arrived today. Think they will be going into the cupboard along with the other recently purchased fabrics because I've enough on the go at the moment.

Another "Truly Scrumptious" block is finished.

And these are the "Sweet Pea's Quilt" blocks (not sewn together), designed by Cinderberry Stitches. Tonight I'm hoping to trace some of the stitcheries onto the white blocks. I love these bright colours. This is for our new great-niece/nephew who s due later this year. I'm also piecing one in pink/white/cream for a friend at work, who is having a daughter in September.

Tonight, when I was leaving work to come home, this was waiting in the portico of our building. After the Ebay success and the offer of a wonderful trade-in on his current bike, John couldn't resist and bought his Suzuki B-King. He is one happy boy.

But, there's still a large number of bikes to be sold, taken to the wreckers or tip. I always live in hope.

"Everyday Angels"

"Everyday Angels" was finished last night - binding sewn down and label attached. Mum stitched the label for me 4 years ago so I had to unpick 4 of "2004" and change it to 8. Wishful thinking all those years ago.

Made this wallhanging early last year (I think) and realised yesterday that I hadn't taken a photo. I love Bareroots designs - this one is No 64 "Lovenotes" and hangs in my sewing room alongside another Bareroots wallhanging.

Ebay King

Today is the Ebay King's birthday. Hard to believe I am married to someone so old, but he is aging pretty well. Sharon & Gary and Mum joined John, Jenni and me for dinner. We'll see our other children on Sunday when we go to Sydney for lunch. Birthdays are always extended celebrations at our place. Sharon and Gary bought John some new motorcycle gloves.

This next picture shows John sitting astride his Indian - he put the Indian on Ebay and the auction was finalised on Tuesday. The buyer collected it this afternoon. John dearly wants to buy a new Suzuki bike and the sale of the Indian has provided a huge deposit. I'm hoping against hope that John will now be inspired to sell off the rest of the treasures stored in his little hidey-holes.

Had some time yesterday afternoon to continue quilting "Everyday Angels" and finished. Tonight I sewed on the binding and started stitching it down. Another night or two stitching down the binding, attaching the label and it will be done - in plenty of time for my friend's 40th birthday. Another UFO bites the dust - started this in 2001.

Mum and Elizabeth enjoyed the Diana exhibition - Mum found it quite sad but was very happy to have seen it. Elizabeth was more interested in the Versace dresses.

Mum found out last week that she's going to become a Great-Grandma. I think it's a good excuse/opportunity to make Cinderberry Stitches "Sweet Pea's Quilt" using some lovely brights in my cupboard.

More Shopping

This package of lovely fabrics arrived today from Some Art Fabrics. I bought these for a "Travel Quilt" for my daughter-in-law Peta. They are all from a range called "Woodstock" and I think she'll really like them. The fabric on the left is also for the quilt backing.

I'm waiting for Elizabeth to decide which fabrics she would like for her quilt - she's narrowed the choice down to Amy Butler. Maybe I'll find out when I see her on the weekend.

I need to find time to practise on my quilting frame (The Doover) and I'm sure these Travel Quilts will be excellent quilts to put on the frame.

Another weekend coming up - yahoo - I'm taking Mum to see the Princess Diana exhibition at the PowerHouse Museum and Elizabeth is tagging along.

Shopping Has Arrived

The other fabrics for Jenni's "Travel Quilt" have arrived. Jenni really liked the orange squirrel fabric in the first lot of fabrics and hinted she would like a bag so I bought enough to make her one; the blue/brown argyle is for the backing (she loves argyle check). I really like the red leaf fabric on the bottom left and the stripe on the bottom right. Another goodie parcel arrived today as well- love books almost as much as fabric. I've been reading/collecting the "Elm Creek" books since "The Quilter's Apprentice" was first published and each year a bunch of friends and I read the latest Jodi Picoult - but I'm a bit behind, still have to read "The Tenth Circle" - might start that tonight. "The Friday Night Knitting Club" looked like a fun read.

UFO's Are Sometimes Finished

Believe it or not, they do. Years and years ago, around 1994, I attended a decoupage workshop with a couple of friends from work. I decided, in a moment of madness, to make decoupage door knobs for the louvre doors in our loungeroom.

Over Easter just gone we finally painted the doors, which meant that the time had finally arrived to attach the doorknobs. Of course, one was fully covered and the other only half done. Once that was completed, then came the umpteen dozen coats of lacquer. Yesterday they were attached to the doors. Fourteen years or so isn't bad for a UFO.

This cushion for my sewing room couch is made using a Cinderberry Stitches wallhanging pattern called "Some Angels" and this one is "Wishes and Lilies" by Leanne Beasley (with a few minor modifications.

More Free Stitcheries

Month 2 of Lynette Anderson's Noah's Ark Stitchery BOM has been posted, plus Janet Rowe of Wildcraft Farm has designed a free stitchery pattery which is available if you sign up for the Bee Sew Whimsical newsletter.

No photos to show from the last couple of weeks - haven't done any more quilting on "Everyday Angels". I've finished the stitchery for "Wishes and Lilies" - hoping to sew up the cushion this weekend along with a Cinderberry Stitches wallhanging design I've stitched that I'm making into a cushion for my sewing room couch. Am taking part in a Cinderberry Stitches swap, so have been doing the stitchery for that this week. Natalie Lymer's designs are so lovely.

Have also done the stitchery on my second last 365 Challenge stitchery block. Will write up the month soon and make the red star block. Can't believe the year is almost up!

Ruth's Quilt stitchery blocks progressing - 7 to go I think, then I can start sewing it together.

Looking forward to the weekend - dinner for friend's birthday tonight; lunch with The Girls tomorrow.