Not Much Stitching Happening

No progress at all on my Gingham Girls and very slow progress on my BFF blocks.

The canvas collage of Elizabeth and Matt's wedding photos arrived a couple of weeks ago - it's turned out really well and looks great on the wall with Michael and Peta's wedding photo.

 Had a quick shopping trip with Elizabeth two weeks ago - came home with a new handbag for summer.

And I've bought luggage for a holiday next year - a little wheelaboard bag is inside this large bag.

No 1 Baby Girl's birthday tomorrow, so am looking forward to lunch with her tomorrow.

Bag Swap

An extra-special person had a birthday this week:

There she is on the left with a fellow-teacher/friend who shares the same birthday.

Our on-line group had our bag swap opening on Friday night.  We had to make a bag and include 5 things that would be found in that type of bag (2 to be hand-made).  I received some beautiful presents from Leanne:

Sewing Pouch - Photos from Leanne's blog

Needlebook

Pincushion

Chocolate, threads and trim

The fabrics, stitching, sewing and quilting and beautiful - Leanne chose so well for me.

My other partner was Vicki - Vicki and I are long-time internet friends and I have met up with her a few times over the years.  I asked Vicki if there was a particular style of bag she would like and she said something to take to the gym that she could throw her towel, sunglasses and keys in.

I made Vicki a bag from last year's bag series in Homespun using Amy Butler fabrics and bag pattern.  The sunglasses and keycases are from "Zakka Style", the makeup purse is a Sue Daley design and the purse is a new pattern called "Flower Garden Wallet" designed by Pretty by Hand.

This photo shows the inside of the purse

The bag has a clasp for the keyholder as well as loads of inside pockets

I really enjoyed making some new-to-me designs.  I will definitely be making one of those purses for myself (one day) - they are large enough to hold an i-phone in the outer zippered pocket.

I need to start some more secret sewing in the next couple of weeks.  The last "Gingham Girls" block is coming along so very slowly and I'm not doing much lunchtime stitching at the moment either - too busy at work and on weekends.  2 weekends of the eisteddfod to go and it will be over for another year.

Busy, Busy, Busy

That's how life is at this time of year - so much happening at work, weekends at the eisteddfod and not much time for anything else.  No stitching at lunchtimes over the last week or so and very little crossword success.

I have managed to send away my secret sewing - it should arrive at Vicki's place in time for Friday night's opening.

My present from Leanne arrived last week and it's still unopened!  I'll be out on Friday night, so will miss the opening fun.

Last Saturday I went to a baby shower - Kellie, the mum-to-be, had a great time.  I really wanted to make the "Sit Me Up Donut" but didn't have time - I'll try to make that for when the baby is born (due in 4 weeks).  Instead, I machine embroidered a towel set - very cute.

Yesterday John found a photo that's been missing for 9 years - when The Schoolgirls and Jan (my dear friend from UK) went to Melbourne for our "zero" birthday trip, someone kindly took a photo of us all together and it's been missing ever since.  One lovely friend thinks I look younger now - not so sure about that, but she is a fantastic friend!

A couple of weeks ago someone took a photo of the eisteddfod committee - this eisteddfod has been running for 22 years now.  We're hoping to make it to 25 years.

We have a break from the eisteddfod this weekend so will be going to Sydney on Saturday afternoon to visit Elizabeth and Matt and Sunday I might put a quilt on the frame.  That would be wonderful.

The Chair

Horn emailed excellent instructions and I was able to put the chair together.



Very comfy and a great height at the sewing table.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Present to Myself

Two packages arrived yesterday

Too busy to assemble it last night - out having dinner with friends.  Maybe tonight.

Spring is in the Air

My favourite time of the year is almost here.  I love spring - the warmth in the air and lots of sunshine.  Very busy each weekend for the next two months helping out at our local eisteddfod.  Lot of baking, not much stitching/sewing.

Elizabeth and Matt came to visit for lunch yesterday so that was an extra-lovely Sunday.

Almost finished the first BFF BOM block - maybe finish it off at lunchtime today.

Hope to do a bit of sewing over the next couple of weeks - have some secret sewing ready to start as well as making this

for a baby shower later this month.

Melbourne 2

We had such a great road trip on last Thursday when we travelled east of Melbourne, we decided to go on another road trip on Saturday heading north west of Melbourne to Ballarat.  Not so many photos this time.

First stop was beautiful Ballarat Patchwk - I loved this shop - so much more my style of fabric, patterns etc.  I bought some wideback for my Oh Cherry Churn Dash quilt and some beautiful baboushka linens.

Next stop was Gail's Patchwork Emporium in Sebastopol - what a shop!  The range of beautiful trims and gorgeous floral fabrics is unbelievable - Helen was in heaven.

We headed on to Mill Rose Cottage in Ballan and had lunch at the restaurant next door.

Ploughman's Lunch at Mill Rose Cottage

Mill Rose has a huge range of beautiful fabrics.  Last stop was Patch and Quilt in Gisborne - another lovely shop.

Sunday morning flew by but, of course, we managed to fit in morning tea at Laurent Boulangerie.

I definitely need to plan another trip to Melbourne even if just to explore all the laneways and arcades in the city.  Thanks Helen, Jenny and Noreen for a wonderful few days away.