... and a Big Red Whale

Here are "Miss Bee", "Little Frog" and "Big Red Whale". Nothing much else is being done around here 'cause I love stitching these little guys.
How gorgeous is this bathroom? This is at Patchwork Angel - had to take a photo.

Fabulous Weekend

Last night John and I returned from the most fantastic long weekend in Queensland where the weather certainly lived up to its reputation: "beautiful one day, perfect the next".

As a surprise for John, I booked a PT Cruiser Convertible for the 5 days - he has always wanted us to buy one and this was a great opportunity for a test drive. The look on his face was great. Thursday we spent tootling around Brisbane (Powerhouse, Emporium, Patchwork Heaven in Clontarf), then we went out for dinner at Manx (Portside) with Paul and Lynette - delicious.

Friday we picked up Diann (who shall remain blogloess) and went to the Brisbane Stitches and Craft Show, where we met up with Helen and Jenny. So wonderful to see the girls again - we had a ball. Jenny spent 9 hours on the train that day travelling to/from Bundaberg. Didn't buy very much - had a shopping list but most shops didn't have what I was after. We were invited to Diann's daughter's home for dinner (Angela is a fabulous cook) and we met the rest of the family, including the 3 gorgeous grandbabies.

Saturday saw Diann and I take off to Eumundi Markets for the quickest visit on record (the traffic leaving Brisbane was dreadful), then we visited the Patchwork Angel - what a shop! Was able to buy everything on my list (and more). John and Bill rode to Noosa (where we were staying overnight) and met us there later in the afternoon. Lots of laughs over dinner.

A bit of stitching before breakfast at Main Beach Noosa, a drive around the Sunshine Coast (calling in at Peregian Beach Markets) before returning to the hotel for the boys to collect the bikes for their ride back to Diann and Bill's.

Spent most of Monday stitching and chatting before our trip to the airport.

Some of my Queensland loot.
A top, top, top weekend thanks to my brother, SIL and dear friends. Life is great.

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.