Australia's Biggest Morning Tea

This morning at work we held our annual Australia's Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for the Cancer Council - a charity close to everyone's heart.  I made Retromummy's White Chocolate Rocky Road (with Turkish Delight, pistachios, baby marshmallows) and Peg's Malteser Slice (also had to make a Malteser Slice for Jenni to take to school for their morning tea tomorrow and another to leave at home for John while I'm away).

The organiser of the morning tea provides a prize for the most popular item and this year it was Retromummy's Rocky Road - what a lovely surprise.  Want me to put this in the post, Corrie?

Butterfly Garden

Block 5 was finished on Saturday night

Yesterday morning I sewed row 2 together

and then the quilt top (a bit windy outside yesterday afternoon).

The backing is ready:

Was hoping to have it pin basted but ironing had to be done.  Maybe when I come home from my trip to Queensland to visit Diann.  We are going to Kingaroy (The Quilters Rest) for the weekend - can't wait!

This quilt has taken a long time to get to this point and I've received loads of encouragement and friendly ribbing along the way. 

Little Kids/Big Kids

Yesterday was a beautiful day on the South Coast.  We were invited to Wil's first birthday party - we had a lovely time.

Little Wil with his Mum and Dad

Birthday boy with his Poppy and Nanny

Face painting had been organised for the children and some of the adults had to join in.

Wil's Uncle Shaun and Auntie Kellie bought him The Best Present - what every one year old needs in his garage:

Auntie Kellie, Wil and Uncle Shaun

Uncle Shaun had a fun time driving Wil around.

"Floral Bouquet" is now together - we've moved the clothesline to another area of the back garden, so I need to find somewhere to photograph larger quilts.  This quilt is 80" x 81" - I changed the setting a little bit by making two extra blocks, adding one row to the width and taking two rows from the length, so it now fits a queen bed.

Floral Bouquet

Progress so far on Butterfly Garden Block 5

"Butterfly Garden" Block 5

Books

On Wednesday night I had dinner with my dear friend Barbara.  She gave me these two fabulous books for my birthday.

So many beautiful things in each book to make or ideas to decorate other items.  Such a thoughtful gift from a non-patchworking friend.

Two more Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks: 

"Old Maid's Puzzle"

"Pinwheel 1"

I'm happy when Diann chooses easier blocks - nice change from some of the doozies we made last year.

Hooray it's the weekend - winter vegetable gardening class at Bunnings (have no idea how I was talked into this), hairdresser and then maybe sewing the borders on Floral Bouquet.  Tomorrow is our friends' grandson's first birthday party - Wil was one last Monday.

Yesterday

was my birthday so, along with mothers' day, I've had a fun couple of days.



I received some wonderful presents including new black ugg boots with swarovski crystal buttons from Elizabeth and Matt.  Jenni bought me a voucher for a facial and these very cute salt and pepper shakers (they are together in the photo above).

Vicki, from our on-line group sent me some beautiful "B" presents - this year we have to make presents for our secret partner which start with the first letter of where we live

Birthday diary/address book with machine embroidered birthday cupcake decorated with balloons, a blue fat quarter and blue variegated thread

The parrot head in the photo from mothers' day is actually this ...

A Mary Poppins umbrella from Michael and Peta.  15 sleeps till I fly to Queensland for a trip to Kingaroy with Diann (my present from John).

Our Weekend

On Saturday John participated in Ride Around the Lake - a bicycle ride around Lake Illawarra (~40kms).  My girlfriend, Lynell, and I were marshalls along the way.  She brought along water pistols for us to shoot at the riders.

The parcel delivery person came on Saturday to drop off this parcel - see girls, I haven't opened it yet - honestly.

Yesterday was Mothers' Day - a busy but enjoyable day for us. 

This is one of the presents John bought for me

A little greenhouse for our back yard.  Hopefully there'll be some plants in there before too long.

Mum joined John, Jenni and me for lunch and then we drove to Sydney to have dinner at Elizabeth and Matt's place.  Elizabeth is an excellent cook and dinner was delicious.

Can anyone guess what Michael and Peta bought me?

I love it!

Oops

Looks what happens when I'm paying enough attention.

Was easily fixed and now Block 6 is finished.

A close-up.

Block 5 is sewn together, stitcheries are traced and the applique pieces (5 butterflies) have been cut out - so, it's time to start the last block - hooray!

Lots of little tart segments have been cut and glued ready for car trips etc.

Cupcakes

Last Tuesday the Stitching Girls came over and I made cupcakes for us to have with our cup of tea.  Jenni bought these very cute silicon cupcake moulds for me last Christmas.

This sweet, little ball of fluff (Matilda) also came to visit.  She was very cosy in the pile of quilts.

Getting There

Butterfly Garden as at last night:


Block 7

Row 3

Progress so far ...

The embroidery is underway on Block 6, then a bit of applique and it's on to the dreaded centre block with all those needle-turned butterflies.  I'm so happy that finish is now in sight.

A Bargain

On Thursday night Jenni and I were shopping and I came across this seagrass blanket box at a great sale price.

On Sunday I went to the local hardware shop and bought a few cans of white spray paint

and now it's ready to hold my backing fabrics and other "stuff" under the frame in the sewing room.

One day I'll get around to lining it with some pretty fabric.  One day ...

On Saturday I went on a road trip with three friends to Canberra.  We visited Addicted to Fabric and a couple of other shops.  My shopping was very responsible/restrained - a glue pen and refills so I could start Pies and Tarts, which has been in the cupboard for about 2 years, some hexagon papers and some fabric for a swap present.

I spent most of Sunday afternoon cutting out Pies and Tarts

and then gluing the fabrics to the papers.

I had to make one pie.

Could someone who's made these blocks please let me know when the tails at the centre of the pie should be trimmed (if at all)?  Or, are they pressed until the centre lies flat?