A MIXED BAG

I have been so busy lately . so I didn`t have time for blogging. Today I have some free time and I have also done some sewing and decided to give you a look.
My sister has raspberries and blackberries growing on their property and she phoned to say they were ripe. After climbing up and down small hills and getting scratched by the prickly bushes I picked 6 kilos of the blackberries and probably ate another 1/2 kilo, back to the house for a drink and rest and then I picked the raspberries. These are not as plentiful but I still managed to pick 1 and a 1/2 kilos, and they are not prickly. I made some of each into jam, ate some fresh with icecream, very yummy and froze the rest for making into pies when it gets colder. Hope to go again tomorrow.

I have finally started the DONT LOOK NOW sew along and have finished 11 blocks. I cover the petals during the day and find it relaxing to sit at night and sew them onto the backing. I think I have 11 more to catch up and then I have to sew them into rows, Hope I can be on track soon.

I have been sewing this quilt along with my friend Veronica and last night I finally finished embroidering the last block. This morning I decided to sew them together, I now have to get some fabric for the last border and make the cornerstones to go around the centre block before doing the quilting. the quilt is from Cindeberry Stitches and is called Truly Scrumptious.

Bye for now and I hope it won`t be too long before i blog again.

QUILT USA TOUR

Hi everyone, I have exciting news, I am off to America in April and I will be going to 3 quilt shows as well as lots of sight seeing of historical sites. I am taking DH as I am not brave enough to go on my own.We land in LA(3 days) do sight seeing then onto the Grand Canyon. Next we head to Las Vegas for gambling and sightseeing staying here for a couple of days. Next we head to Yosemite National Parkand stay at Fresno. Head back west to San Francisco for a 2 day stop and sightsee places like Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman Wharf etc.A flight onto Chicago and stay 3 days. Here I go to THE INTERNATIONAL QUILT SHOWand hope I can join a class to learn something new. Shopping as well and I hope to get some bargains. Sightseeing and Dining out to taste the flavours of the region. Next onto Arthur..Amish country. Here we visit a traditional farm and eat lunch with an Amish family and then lots of craft stores to visit.We also go to the ANNUAL ARTHUR QUILT SHOW and I am looking for ward to that. Next day we visit Paducah, quilt shoppers heaven. More sightseeing to do. April 23rd we visit THE AMERICAN QUILTERS SOCIETY quilt show at least 400 boths to drool over. On to St Louis and then Washington DC. Sightseeing of the Whitehouse, The Pentagon, Lincoln Memorial all those famous sites we see in the movies. Philadelphia is next to see Independence Hall, Liberty Bell etc and then New York. More sightseeing and shopping for 3 days then back on the plane to home. Sorry no pictures but watch out when I get back to Australia.

Short Kapunda Break

Last weekend we went to Kapunda for a short break with our DD, SIL and their two children. We stayed at the local caravan park and explored the area although DH and I will go back later to see and do the things we didn`t have time for. It was very relaxing and each morning we were woken by the warbling of the local magpies and the screeching of the galahs. We saw a lot of birdlife and I put this down to being the attraction to the man made storage dam that is used to water the sports oval and golf greens. the water is recycled grey water, which I thought was a good idea. Here are a couple of residents at the caravan park where we stayed

We went to the local play park so the kids could burn off their energy. The train was the star attraction as far as Brooke(my GD) was concerned.

Another scene of the park.

Having a ride on a twisty thing, it made me giddy.

Messing about on the climbing frame, I`m only a kid at heart.

The huge statue of a cornish miner to commemorate those that emigrated to Kapunda to settle and do the mining. DH is 6ft tall, so this gives you an idea of how big it is.

A short history on the miner.

The hearth of one of the original homes.

Some of the pottery shards found at the old sites and put on display. Some of them are very beautiful in design.

Although we only went for a short time we had a relaxing break so if you need a short break Kapunda is only a short distance from Adelaide, we did it in just over an hour drive towing our caravan. Hope you didn`t get bored reading this long entry and will post again when i have something interesting to tell. Bye for now.

sewing companion

This is the sewing companion I recieved from my Secret Santa and forgot to add to my last entry.

Xmas gifts

I had a great xmas with my family and we celebrated it down on the farm and stayed for 4 glorious days. All my children and their Hubbies and kids were there and we ate, played and opened lots of gifts, it really was a great family time. My DH and I escaped to our caravan when we needed a rest and believe me when 6 kids all want Nanny to play with them it gets very tiring. My DH gave to me this gorgeous bracelet along with the rotary cutting board and it works a charm and saves time when cutting small pieces of fabric. He also gave me a cupboard for my sewing room and now it is much neater and I can find things easier and every thing has got its own place.

I have used the board already and it is very handy.

On Xmas Eve Melans sewing and fabric shop rang me to tell me I was a lucky winner of their free Xmas raffle, I won the above lovely sewing basket with some embroidery scissors and 2 reels of machine embroidery thread, very handy. My GD already has here eye on the basket to replace the old one she has at the moment. I think it can stay with me until she gets a little bit older.

I also recieved underwear, chocolates (yummy), buttershortbread biscuits (my favorites), Oven mit and pot holder (always welcome), bathroom mat set( my others had desindergrated) and a lovely hand sewn sewing companion book and sewing items from my secret Santa at our sewing group.

More Sewing

Today I finished 3 pair of oven mits as xmas gifts for my 3 daughters. I chose an Australian print because it is a little bit chrismassy and being dark coloured they won`t show the dirt so easily. I have lined them with "insul Bright" and wool wadding to give extra protection. Each year I try to give them something I have made to try and encourage them to take up sewing, so far it hasn`t worked I think they enjoy the anticipation of what mum will come up with each year. Now only a little bag and 2 place mats to finish, but first some lunch and a much needed cuppa.

Xmas sewing

Here are some of my Santa Heads and below the dolls for my youngest GDs.

I have been busy sewing Xmas gifts. The little Xmas heads are destined for GDs kindy teachers as well as some for the rellies, they are so cute and easy to make. The pattern comes from
freebies for crafters set up by Sew Prim Khris and you get allsorts of free patterns, so check it out.

The little dolls are just perfect for little hands so each of my three youngest GDs will get one.They are 18 month old twins and their 1 yo cousin. I enjoyed making them but they are a little bit tricky to sew in some places and mine are a little bit wonky but I am sure they will still be much loved.

I still have to finish two more placemats and do a surprise for each of my 3 daughters, I will be sewing in my sleep I think to get it all done. But then I can settle back with a drink ( lemonade of course) and enjoy the rest of the year.