Here I am……

OH my goodness it’s been a long time between posts….I feel like a lifetime of things have happened since my last post, so where to begin…..maybe I’ll start at today and work backwards.

 

Today the 7 July is our 17th Wedding anniversary.  Greg and I had a coffee date to celebrate.

  

                 

Life has been so busy since I started full time work, I think I have almost got a handle on it, and my supervisors seem to be pleased with my efforts.

The challenge is to get my stuff together at home.  Cleaning has taken a back seat, and that is really difficult for me to get my head around. I just have to keep reminding myself that I can’t do everything!

Especially as I still want to have an active social life and manage a few hours in my sewing room.  I’m sure I will get used to allocating a little time to the most important things so I can keep a healthy balance.

I’ve been doing a bit of knitting and some reading on the train each day and it is a real treat to just relax knowing there is absolutely nothing else I can be doing, and it’s not the drama I was expecting it to be.

Here is my latest finish a scarf using Merino and Possum yarn. Beautifully warm and not scratchy, the ultimate test for my sensitive neck!

Recently I went to a Quilting retreat at Mt Alford Lodge, it was a spectacular weekend and I was quite productive and managed to get a few projects completed.

The weekend before I did some cutting of fabric to get a head start but this little lunch bag just wouldn’t wait…..

 

I cut fabric for a cot quilt for a friends grandson.

 

Today it is all finished and ready for gifting!

I backed it with a very nice purple and white spot flannel.

 

I had to replace my every day bag, I managed to wear it out! This one is using a heavier fabric from the furnishing section at Spotlight.

Oh yes another bag, this one was a panel, the instructions in Japanese?? Thank goodness I have made a bag or two, and I was able to work it out! This one is perfect to carry a magazine to read at work.

This clear vinyl pocket was perfect for my rotary cutter, except the blade slid out just a tiny bit and cut through the plastic! I’ve since changed it to another cutter that locks closed, problem solved!

These tiny fabric baskets now hold my 1” hexagons.

 

Wanting to do a little card making at Retreat I decided to get ahead of the game and make birthday cards for Brooklynn and Quinn for later this year. There are three more of the hand bag card, I liked them so much.

I had a splendid weekend with these wonderful women and I am counting the weeks until 2014 and we can do it all again!

I think that is more than enough blog up dating for now, although I probably can’t sign off without a photo or 3 of my delightful grandchildren…..

Brooklynn and her collection of sticks.

Quinn is now 6 months old, has 4 teeth and is crawling!

Thanks for visiting,

Julie xxx

It’s May already……

Another busy few weeks, where does the time go?

 

A finish for this wall hanging.  I enjoyed the machine quilting, so perhaps I’m beginning to feel more comfortable doing it?

These orphaned stitcheries have been waiting for just the perfect application. Recently while trawling Pinterest, I found some ideas for fridge magnets and originally I thought miniature pieced blocks would look great, then I remembered these stitcheries and the rest as they say is history!

 

These are two more orphaned stitchery blocks, and with a few ‘tools’ and a couple of pre stretched canvas frames, another two UFO’s are finished and ready for display during the festive season!

I’m really on a roll with these canvas frames, I found a great art supplies place close to work and I picked up a few more to take another couple of stitchery blocks in waiting!

  

Our grand children are growing so fast and keeping us entertained at the same time.  Brooklynn says the funniest things and Quinn is very ticklish and I love hearing him chuckle.

A few more covered coat hangers to add to my collection.

A stitchery that has become a tray mat.  Perfect for taking my tea and coffee outside to enjoy in the beautiful autumn sunshine. I think I will tea stain it before I start using it, then the real tea and coffee stains may not show quite so much!

This is the view from the window where I’m working at the moment.  What began as a 4 day assignment has turned into two weeks.

It’s really busy and the work is very interesting. It’s in the city and I am enjoying the train commute as I get to catch up on my reading on the trip to and from.

A ten minute walk from the station gets my step count up and I love going out at lunch time to browse the shops or have my lunch in a nearby park, this autumn weather is very addictive!

That’s about all my news for now, thanks for visiting,

Julie xxx

Here I am…..back to my Blogging

Phew, life has been extra busy this year…..What’s happening, well since my last blog update, I have finished another temp assignment and have been to a couple of interviews.  I worked up until the week before Easter and fortunately my time off has coincided with the end of Jordan’s school term.

Easter was exciting for us here, now that the Easter Bunny knows to deliver goodies for our beautiful grandchildren.

This is what Brooklynn woke to on Easter Sunday in her house,  then followed the prints all the way up our driveway……Not only was Brooklynn amazed but many of our neighbours too.  Most driving past our houses slowed right down to look and to try not to disturb the prints.

As it turned out, the flour was much harder to remove that anyone expected….. the faint outlines can still be seen on the road, after several showers of rain!

I made these really cute bunnies for Brooklynn.

This little bat was for Quinn.

Here are the patterns I used. I bought them at the recent Stitches & Craft Show, along with a few more paper and card craft paraphernalia!! I was quite restrained as far as fabric craft is concerned. Let’s face it, I probably have more than sufficient in that area… For now!

  

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I’ve been doing a little card making, and enjoying it so much.  Not such a big departure from patchwork really, just cutting up paper and cardboard and sticking it back together…..right up my alley really.

I’m still going well with my weight loss and fitness journey, having been at my goal weight since last year I am proud to say I navigated Christmas, New Year and Easter within budget!

A friend encouraged me to try a newer style of pedometer called a Fit Bit Zip, wireless activity tracker.

It syncs with my laptop when I’m in range and tracks my steps, distance travelled, calories burned and the all important……time!

It has really motivated me to keep moving, getting as much incidental exercise as possible along with my morning and or afternoon walk. I have set my goal of 10,000 steps and my distance travelled at 10km. The first day I passed the 10km I was amazed and it has given me the competitive edge I was looking for.

I haven’t let my lifestyle change keep me from baking, with extra time on my hands, I have been experimenting with a few new and not so new recipes. I’ve also enjoyed a few successes with recipes my friends have shared with me.

  

Old fashioned Chocolate Slice, Lemon Slice and a new recipe (to me) Fudge Coconut Slice. Custard Coconut Cup Cakes. Gail’s Beef & Red Wine Casserole and my very own Sweet Potato Soup.

 

Just to show you that I have done a little in the quilting area, here is where I am with this wall hanging. I’ve done a little machine quilting in the pieced blocks, and now waiting for inspiration on how to complete it.

I feel really productive in just about all areas of my life right now…… life is good!

Looking at these darling children just makes my day, and I love every moment I get to watch them grow, I am a very lucky Nanny!

Now for some couch time….with luck Greg will offer to make me a nice cuppa while we watch some TV and I will continue to knit a few more covers for coat hangers.

Thanks for visiting,

Julie xxx

Another Quilt Finish to share…..

I am making a concerted effort to keep my blog updated.  I have had a few comments from one or two followers of my blog mention I’ve been a bit tardy of late.  As I have confessed before I am a little addicted to Face Book and the fact that I can update my activities on to run and as they happen.

Here’s what I have to share with you…..

 

All three quilts I worked on at my Retreat in November have now been finished, right down to the washing…….I do love the wrinkled up look washing and drying quilts gives, that cosy, used look is really the look I love!

 

Last weekend I finished this Birthday Book for Brooklynn.  The stitchery comes from Cath Walker Designs where she gives so very generously of her beautiful drawings.

I completed the stitchery without any real idea of how I would use it, and then without warning I knew it would become to cover for The 20 Questions Birthday Book! 

The idea is to begin on Brooklynn’s 3rd birthday when I will ask her a series of 20 questions then on her 18th birthday she will be presented with the completed book as a memento of her favourite things while growing up! She turns three in October.

Earlier this months at my LPG (Local Patchwork Group) we did a mini workshop on making Decorative Poinsettia flowers from ribbon.  It was a fun evening with the usual madness happening due to the addition of hot glue guns!!!!”

 

Yesterday my sister Wanda and I had a “Sisters Day Out”…..we started our day with a 6:00am walk, then we went to West End to check out the markets.  The markets were very busy and there were fruit and veggies everywhere, fresh and reasonably priced.

We both managed to get a small stash of navel oranges, lady finger bananas, yellow capsicum, sweet potato, red seedless grapes, rockmelon and some divine Vietnamese bakery goods!

After taking those back to the car we found a kitchenware shop to explore before going to our next destination Mick’s Nuts where we purchased some Choc/Honey coated Macadamia Nuts and I also bought some Choc coated Coffee Beans, delightful shop with really good customer service.

The it was time for lunch and to decide where next to venture.

As you will have seen by the above photographs the menu held some tempting items, we both chose drinks and decided to share the Crisp Chocolate Tart…….perfect!

Today it is hot at 35C with luck it may be the last of the hot stuff now that autumn is upon us!

Quinn looks so much like his mother as a baby!!

Beautiful Brooklynn!

Thanks for visiting.

Julie xxx