Another Set of Mini Quilts finished

With the weather warming up the last week or so, it has been lovely sitting out under the trees doing my stitching. Pete has been going out fishing with his brother-in-law of late, it has meant I can really concentrate on my stitching and has enabled me to complete this set of mini quilts I have been working on for ages. This set is called 'Seasons' for obvious reasons.

They are made up of 4 x 7" mini quilts that can be either made up of stitcheries, patchwork or whatever takes your fancy. This completes the 4th set I have made over the last three years, with (at this stage) another 3 sets I have planned. You really could go mad and just keep making sets as you think of new ideas I suppose. My seven mini quilts will give me a total of 28 mini quilts, and I can then change them each fortnight and a couple of spares.

To date I have made a set called 'Celebrations' take in Christmas, New Year, Easter and of course a Happy Birthday one. Then there is 'Crafty Sayings', and 'Other Sayings'. The others in the planning stages are 'Travel', 'Uniquely Oz' and how can I forget to make a set of 'Teddy Bears'?

The little stand was made by Pete for me and the quilts sit nicely on a small coffee stand in our lounge-room.

Spring:

Summer:

Autumn:

Winter:

I am really pleased with the way they have come up and am looking forward to setting them up on my little table at home.

For now though, I must finish off - 'til next time .......

                                                                                            and thank you for dropping by for a visit.

Countdown to Christmas - September

Pete has been joined by his brother-in-law when it comes to going out fishing, so that has left me with oodles of time to get on with my stitching - just love it!

So today, it is time to let you see what I have been working on for this month's Countdown to Christmas.

I have been making some stocking fillers this month completing 3 hand towels and 6 tea bag sachets with the following message on them for Christmas Day.
                      'On Christmas Day at half past three
                       Brew yourself a cup of tea
                       I'll think of you & you'll think of me
                       While sitting round the Christmas tree'

I also decided that I really should take a couple of photos of the two stitcheries I purchased at the Pottique Lavender Farm the other Saturday, so here they are - mind you, they will be put away for the time being until I feel I have nothing else to do (ha, ha!) and then pull them out again.

Time now though to put the kettle on to make myself a cuppa and continue on with my project for the end of the month.

In the meantime ......

                                                                                                and thank you for stopping by.

 

Fishing or Stitching?

We have been out on the dam quite a number of times now, and yet ...... not much bait to be had and the fish ........ well Pete has caught several each day (bait permitting) but very, very few 'keepers'. Think it has amounted to three!

This one was just over 40cm, however most that were caught were under the required 30cm, then again, he caught a few cat-fish or some call them jew-fish. Ugly looking things with a face that only a mother could love. Oh they are gross!

Well, that is the fishing report for this week. Oh other than to let you know that Pete went out by himself this last Tuesday, and when he came back in, he told me we may be up for a new remote control for our vehicle. Oh? It appears as he was trying to get into the boat, with one leg over the side and, for whatever reason, the other leg just did not want to lift and get in the boat.  I must add here it was on the side of the dam in about 8" (?) of water. Now usually one (at times) trips/falls/slips out of a boat, but not Pete. It was very difficult not to smile, let alone laugh at this situation, but then came the bit about the remote - it was in his shorts pocket and of course it was that side that got wet, wasn't it? Being the dutiful wife, I just said OK, and today when we went into Murgon (nearest town) we called into the car dealership and Pete was told that as he had 'dried the remote out' whilst he continued fishing, and it appears to still work, all should be good. Thank heavens for that - I think a new remote is something in the vicinity of $6-700.

Now for my craft report - it has been a great week for me, sitting back and stitching away either under the awning of our caravan, watching the world go by, or out in the boat watching what the pelicans are doing on the water, or the cattle munching on the side of the dam.

I have also been busy inside the van where I set up my sewing machine and small ironing mat and away I go.

If you remember when we were on our trip earlier this year up to Darwin, we called into Mataranka and I purchased a lovely caravan purse, well, I decided I would have a go at making one for a friend for her birthday (she and her hubby have a van too), and this is a photo of my attempt.

I'm quite pleased with my effort considering I had to create a pattern for it, and put a zipper in it - not a job I like doing.

I am now onto my Countdown to Christmas project for this month and another project I hope to complete by the end of the month - busy, busy, busy. Who has time for fishing?

Found a new saying this week, and it is me to a tee!
'Til next time,

                                                                                                 and thank you for visiting my blog.

A Lovely Day Out

We have been a little disappointed with the fishing this year - more about that later - so decided on a day out to cheer ourselves up.

For a number of years, I have wanted to visit a Lavendar Farm nearby just SE of Kingaroy, and Saturday came the opportunity to do so. It is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am 'til 4pm. So off we went ......

It was a beautiful sun-shiny day with NO wind - yay!! And once you walked up the garden path, through the portico (on right of photo under the sign) you walked into another world of wonderful bits and pieces - you really could go nuts in a place like this, but I contained myself with just taking some photos to show you.

After having a cursory look around, we decided to order morning tea, and have a better look after the stomach stopped rumbling.

The gardens are so, so pretty with all the lavender, and the smell ..... just beautiful and of course the lavender flowers were buzzing with bees as well. Everything was lavender, including the cups, saucers and plates, and with our morning tea were a couple of stems of lavender that we could take with us. I have put mine between a folded up tissue and placed it at the back of the book I am reading - it is very thick, so the weight will be good for the flowers.

With this feast finished Peter took a photo of me seated amongst the lavender pots before we went into the actual lavender shop.

Oh my goodness, what a delightful place, and the perfume was heavenly. Here is where my shopping started and ooh! Lots and lots of lovely items, and the prices weren't too bad either.

They even had a corner for Christmas.

Decisions, decisions, what to buy .... I thought I had everything I wanted, after being reminded (yet again) that the van had weight limits, and took my lot up to the counter, only to have another lady say she must get a bag of lavender, ahh ... I hadn't picked up a bag of lavender, OK I had a Senior's moment, so off I ducked to pick up a bag - shopping done.

The drive home was pleasant as well, although the countryside is so very, very dry. However, without the wind it was quite nice.

Back at our caravan, out came my purchases, and, yes you guessed it, our van now smells of lavender, makes for a nice calming atmosphere.

Time to pack it away and get on with some stitching, so until next time ......

                                                                                                     and thank you for dropping by.

Bear Making Time Again

As you all know I have this you-beaut fancy-dancy craft (fishing tackle) bag and it was all packed ready to load into the caravan when we got word that some friends were in quite a distressed state. Quickly before we left home I traced off another one of my bears, and added it to my collection in the bag.

I don't make great numbers of bears like others in the Facebook group I belong to - I don't have an embroidery machine - but I hand stitch the embellishments onto them. Anyway, I find it incredible that it seems I no longer have finish one lot, than I hear of someone that is in need of a lift/smile, and so I am into making another bear to give someone a smile.

Today I sent this little guy on his journey to Perth, I hope he enjoys the trip and arrives safely, and is in readiness to put a smile on the faces of our friends.

Oh by the way I changed my coffee cup for another one in my bag and am thoroughly chuffed with my new bag. My smaller sewing machine got packed as well.

For now though, remember ......

              
                                                                           and thank you for popping in for a visit.

What a Difference a Day Makes

The weather around home had been awful with horrendous westerly winds combined with a dust storm over the weekend, and this was the time we set off again a fishing trip up to Bjelke-Petersen Dam near Murgon in the South Burnett area of Queensland. As we left home you could see the dust hanging around.

The journey was terrible with both car and caravan being buffeted around continually, but eventually we made it after 3 1/2 hours.

Have to say it did not help your eyes see straight with the dry dusting weather around, but the dust blew away but the wind continued for the next few days - not nice and consequently no fishing. There is very little bait available too.

The dam is very, very low at just 5.5% capacity, but the guys were able to head on out this morning for a spot of fishing, but only caught 3 bass but had to throw them back as they were undersize.

Whilst the guys were out fishing, a friend and I busied ourselves with stitching etc. and enjoyed a break.

More later as our fishing trip continues, in the meantime ......

                                                                                        and thank you for stopping by.

A Day Out on the Brisbane River

I had a lovely day out yesterday with a day trip down to Brisbane and lunch on board the 'Kookaburra Queen' paddle boat as she plied the Brisbane River.

There was 37 of us on the bus and were dropped off right at Eagle Street Pier with a short stroll down to the wharf where the 'Kookaburra Queen' was moored.

It is a beautiful old girl and has been doing  cruises up and down the Brisbane River for over 30 years. They not only have lunch cruises, they also have High Tea cruises and dinner cruises. The interior is beautiful and very spacious.

Our 'package' included our meal of a seasonal contemporary buffet including yummy desserts, along with a choice of a soft drink, juice, sparkling wine or a choice of selected beers. There was also live entertainment that was at a level - not overly loud - that complemented the meal.

The weather was absolutely beautiful for the 2 hour cruise, and the water sparkled as we made our way up the river.

There are quite a number of bridges, either foot or traffic or train, that cross the river to help people get from one side of the river to the other.

The above photo shows the Brisbane Wheel that is on South Bank, originally the area for Expo 88.

Brisbane's answer to Sydney's Harbour Bridge - designed by the same engineer (?) - Bradfield. There are also numerous ferries that ply the river as well. This is one of the smaller ones.

Time to head back to the wharf after a wonderful day. Then back on board the bus for the trip home. A snooze on the way back was definitely a must. It's hard work relaxing on a river cruise.

A very light dinner was all that was required on arriving home, then time to put the feet up and relax
before heading for bed feeling a great day was had by all.

'Til next time .......

                                                                                                 thanks for dropping by.

Post Script

Today I went down to my hairdresser to have my hair done, and so I took down a box for delivery to her.

In this box was my special bridal couple that I have been working on for the last few weeks, and thankfully it would appear that no 'hanky-panky' occurred whilst they were in their box.

Sarah absolutely loved the bears and immediately sent a photo of them to her mother. She made the comment that she much prefers 'personlised' gifts and the bears definitely fall into that category..

She showed me some photos of the wedding held on a property up near Toowoomba - apparently it was a homestead/property that one of the earlier Governor's of Queensland used to visit quite regularly for breaks.

Now to set to and start a couple of other projects that are lined up on my sewing table ready to be started.

For now though,

                                                                                                          and thanks for stopping by.