Now this is a budding quilter in action. GD 8yo at a Schoolies class at the local quilting shop. Making a bag - for all her quilting bits - was project #1. DIL cringed when she saw the colours that were chosen - by GD - but she has proven to be a wiz with future colours choices. There are more pics to follow.

We live on the outskirts of the city - population 15,000 - and so we get the benefits of wildlife in our 'backyard!' This is the view from the back of the house, but I have been sitting at the front of the house and a kangaroo has gone past the window. I am not sure who got the biggest shock! They come down the main road and turn into our property and bound through the paddock at the side of the house, then sit in this area and munch on the grass. On this day he didn't turn quick enough and ended up hopping past the window.

5 month drought from blogging

During the last 5 months I have been busy but certainly not with my blogging. I have a collection of blogs that I have been following and have been continuing with my research of quilting machines. But it all seems to be happening, so now that my mind is clearer I am able to get back to blogging!

I am busy doing lots of research with my quilting, but as for actually getting any stitching done.......? And I always feel like something is missing if I don't get even 15 mins completed daily.

"I cannot count my day complete
til needle, thread and fabric meet."

I designed this window for our new house, and now 20+ years later, I still feel the same about it.
I should try taking a photo with the sun shining behind it - it was taken at night with the outside light on - but I still love it!!

This is DD's second raggy quilt...and these are the colours she wanted originally.


She managed to do all the 5 x 7 blocks, so was very happy with her progress. Maybe next time she will feel confident to attempt the borders. I haven't achieved anything with my quilting of late due to feeling 'under the weather' as an after effect of a new medication. BUT that is no longer being used! I do feel I am missing something when I am not able to attempt some stitching most days.

As I have't got a quilty pic to share with you, I thought that I would show you our Shitzu "Oscar" doing HIS routine, though he is normally pretty frisky. I thought that he would jump of as I lined up the camera, but no....today was my lucky day.

Wow! Blogger has finally let me post. This is officially the first quilt that I have actually done the quilting. I have 3 tops waiting, but I wanted to practise, practise, practise. Oh, I have done 3 QAYG, as in raggy quilts and I have helped my daughter with 2 raggy quilts, and am helping her friend with a raggy quilt. The colours are nearly true, but thank goodness for digital cameras!!!
My stitching has almost been a non event this week, as my Mum was in a car accident and has cracked her sternum and after being in hospital for a few days, is now home with lots of rest.

For the last few weeks I have been sewing 'Bush Fire' quilts. It is easy to see - from the background wall....3 different shades of the same brick - that the colour isn't true. My quilt hanger is certainly handy for displaying quilts, but not helpful in showing the true colours. All the materials were either donated or made from materials purchased from money donated for the Victorian Bush Fires. And the help came from many different areas. The red quilt was started by tourists who visited our local quilt shop - Patchwork Pear - and wanted to be able to help. (They are quilt-as-you) The winter has been cold already, and is only just starting.

Our local Quilters Guild have finished our quilt contribution and they have been packed in to a vehicle to be delivered to Victoria by some of our Rotarians who are going over to 'lend a hand.' It is an amazing thing to read on the internet about ALL the quilts that have beem especially prepared - from all corners of the globe - for the people of Victoria who lost soooo much due to the bushfire.

This took me a lonnnng time to complete.....I think from memory that it was 4 years!....the hibiscus has been my Mum's favourite flower for many years, so when I found this design I new that it would be for her. And I did the framing, but now my shoulders will not allow me to produce a frame of the standard that I am happy with.
I have been working on some bush fire quilts, and nearly finished the last one - that should happen tomorrow - then I will be able to show them in one post.

This is from the balcony where we had our breakfast/lunch today. The surroundings, the company AND the food were great....the food was prepared by my niece.

What an amazing 4 days it has been with the weather for Easter. Yes, we do need rain but - as it isn't raining - we may as well have great living weather. So many local people camp, in fact it must be crowded, so the campers would have made good use of the 4 day break. We had family staying with us, and also 40 mins away at Coffin Bay. A great time was had by all as we enjoyed each others company - here with us and visiting with them.

Well, this is my first raggy quilt - made for my daughter - and she helped me where she could. It has certainly has tested out my new machine.The colours aren't quite as they should have been, but you get that with pics. She actually wanted it to be in pinks, but had to settle for these colours. She 'has the bug' now and wants to make more and is encouraging her friend too. They aren't at all confident with the cutting as 'you don't get a second chance!' So I am doing LOTS of cutting!

Where has the time done....it has been 3 months since I have 'blogged!' Mind you I have found time to read my regulars and be motivated by them BUT restructuring our businesses has been very time and energy consuming. I will have some pics VERY soon, so I have been able to do some quilting. I have been 'assisting' my daughter to make a raggy quilt...it is finished and she has it washed ready for show...I just need to be able to take a pic....actually I haven't seen it finished!!!

I am so pleased with my quilting efforts this week. Tuesday I started and then finished the top today, Sunday. For me that is quilte an achievement as previously my work commitments have always prevented me from the luxury of doing this. The major restructuring of our work has moved us on to a totally different phase of our life....AND given me - almost daily - the time to quilt and Hardanger. Sure the top isn't quilted, but it is just waiting patiently for me.