ANZAC DAY

 For those in both Australia and New Zealand, today is ANZAC Day, and we salute all those who have served in both countries, and thank you for your service.

It was to be a special ANZAC Day for both Peter and his son Matthew. Both were going to go to the Dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, followed by Matthew marching with his father in the main march later in the morning. Unfortunately this was not to happen.

We arrived in Canberra last Sunday (where Matt & his family live) only to have Matt back in hospital (for the third time) after having problems with a double hernia operation he had some 10 weeks ago. So from Monday morning until late last night (Wednesday) he was in hospital to supposedly have fluid drained off without seeing a doctor, and after having a few terse words (from Matt, and them admitting there was a mix-up in communication) a scan was done yesterday after lunch, with him only to be told they could not drain anything and Matt told them he was going home, not waiting for them to discharge him - he was going home!! To be honest, I don't blame him.

So today, ANZAC Day has been a quiet day of reflection, we have enjoyed some quality time with family.

Now having said all this I have to let you know that it is rather 'cool' down here in Canberra after us coming from Queensland. 

On Monday, which ended up a glorious autumn day, we met up with our daughter-in-law Trina's mother and her partner for lunch at the Southern Cross Yacht Club

It ended up a beautiful day and we sat our on the deck (the very far right of the photo)

This is part of the lake that they sail on and it was just lovely with the autumn toned leaves on all the trees. Hmm, thought the trees would show up better than this, sorry.

Tuesday was a day where Peter and I ran around Canberra shopping for bits and pieces we were after. Unfortunately Peter didn't have much luck with the things he was after, but for me, oh I was in seventh heaven going to four fabric shops and (as usual) I managed to buy quite a number of pieces of fabric, to which Peter replied - we only have the small car this trip! I have no reason to worry that they will all fit in for the trip home. Really, just how much room do little bits of fabric take up, I ask you!

A bit of trivia for you:

       Monday morning the temp at 6.25am was 3.4 deg c - but felt like 2.0 deg c

       Tuesday the temp at 6.35am was 1.7 deg c but felt like 0.0 deg c 

       Yesterday it was a heatwave - around 9 deg c!

       Today (Thur) at 6.45am it was 0.4 deg c but felt like -1.7 deg c. with ice on the windscreen and bonnet of our car. Have to say, although saying goodbye to our family is hard, I am looking forward to heading north and back home to Queensland where it will be warmer.

Well, as I sit here and write this, it is a tad cold, with the forecast of another chilly morning tomorrow, thankfully the car has a great heater in it.

Well, that is all for now, so .....

'Til next time,

June

More Hexagons and Another Mini Quilt

 After a little frustration I have finished another two hexagons to add to my collection. Had trouble deciding on a couple of colours in the sampler hexagon, but eventually got it done.

Happy with the shading I did on the rose. Here is a photo of all the ones I have done so far.

And to add to this display of work, I am adding another of my mini quilts.

Well it is time to put my feet up for a well earned rest after all that stitching for the time being, so ...

'Til next time,

June

Sewing Along at a Great Rate of Knots

 Our Easter weekend is all but over and I have to say I am very pleased with what I have achieved this 4 day break.

It began on Friday with me altering a fleece cardigan jacket that I purchased at the end of winter last year, however because I am only half pint size (vertically challenged), I had to shorten the sleeves, and the length of the garment came way below my backside - think it was about 3 3/4 inches (just over 9cm), then of course putting it back together again  - much happier with it now and ready for winter this year. Oh, and don't forget a hot cross bun for morning tea.

Saturday was a cooking day with me making some dinners, muffins and sausage rolls.

Yesterday (Sunday) after having a serve of chocolate, I then made a small bag to hold my small fan along with a folding LED light to take with me to my sewing group if required.

Still feeling in the mood for more stitching, I found that I had time to 'fix up' the fabric lining for my basket I take to my sewing group. The reason I had to alter it was that it came with my previous basket which fell apart some time ago, so I bought myself another stronger basket and the lining didn't fit it properly, so I unpicked it and made some alterations to the base of it and it now fits perfectly.

So as you can see, my weekend was put to very good use. Very happy with what I achieved.

'Til next time

June

The Easter Rabbit is all But Here

 Goodness what a week, it began earlier this week at my local Ladies Sewing Group with me winning not one, but two of the prizes in the Easter raffles held and drawn at morning tea time.

The first prize (the red parcel) was full of chocolate easter bits and pieces, along with 4 balls of mohair wool, 4 fat quarters of fabric, plus a plush rabbit on a lovely tray.

The third prize (green parcel) was another 4 balls of the mohair wool along with 4 fat quarters of fabric.

I was quite over whelmed and found it hard to concentrate on my stitching after that. It made my day considering I had had a very bad start to the day.

Now, here is my Happy Easter mini quilt:

Peter is going to do quite well this Easter with all the chocolate coming his way - me, well .... I don't miss out, I stocked up on plenty of dairy free chocolate, so all good for quite a while to come. Too much at once and I am in trouble, so I have to behave myself and, what do they say ..... eat in moderation. How can you do that when chocolate is one of my favourite things? Oh, and of course there were the hot cross buns to enjoy as well.

To all, may you have a happy and healthy Easter.

'Til next time,

June

Rudolph Stitching Day - March

 I have had a lovely time finishing off the first of the three embroidery panels for my Christmas Table Centre project. So .... 1 panel down, 2 more to go. Then it will be time to put it altogether.

I am still deciding if I should use shading on it or not, or whether there will be enough colour in the tartan fabric that will be the backing fabric. 

This weekend has been an interesting one, particularly with a band of rain coming across from the west and dumping plenty of 'wet stuff' just when we didn't need it. You see Peter intended to do put in another driveway off the main one so we could get our second car into the garage. Peter ordered all the components to do the job including hiring a cement mixer as well. How did he go? Well, first section done on Friday with some rain, Saturday, the rain was a little heavier, but he managed to get the next section done. Today, yes well, 100% rain, but Peter, being Peter, soldiered on and yay .... got the job finished. Quite comical in some ways when we bought out the gazebo to keep the rain off the laid concrete until it 'went off' a bit. A job well done, thank you Peter.

Personally, I think he enjoyed (?) playing in the rain.

Looking forward to Easter next weekend where we will be able to have a good rest and the work done. Lots of chocolate too.

'Til next time,

June

Another Mini Quilt

Time to change my mini quilt with a saying for this one. Quite a well known one and definitely well worth acknowledging.

Have a couple of projects in the pipeline, and another one to add to my pile of 'to do' bits and pieces today with learning at our sewing group that we are going to be taking part in a mystery Christmas Stitch Along starting in the coming weeks, guess we will find out more soon.

For now though, I have to  finish off as we need to get ready to 'hook up' to chat with friends from the UK who will be visiting again at the beginning of May - they were here last in 2019.

'Til next time,

June

Hello Autumn

 Today marks the first day of Autumn, but sadly the temperatures and humidity do not relate to said season. Today was around 32 deg c and the humidity was up around 75%. Looking forward to some cooler temperatures coming soon.

However could not continue on without letting you see my Autumn Leaves mini quilt.

At least the leaves have begun to fall in the backyard.

An update on the skin cancer on my leg - the pathology results show that all the cancer has been excised - all good!

Off to my hexi group tomorrow, so in the next week or so will have the next pair of hexagons ready to show you.

'Til then,

June

Rudolph Stitching Day - February

I have had the last 4 days with my feet up and doing nothing but stitching. I had a rather nasty sun spot cut out of my leg last Wednesday, and oh my gosh, did it/does it hurt.

Yes, there were a few times when I went and laid down on our bed to give me a bit of  extra relief.

Although I did not do my Rudolph Day stitching until today, I have been busy with some other stitching, and Peter has been wonderful getting meals done (I had prepared quite a few dinners beforehand and put in the freezer), done the weekly grocery shopping etc for me. 

Anyway, today was my day to do my Rudolph stitching. I had gathered my supplies and sat comfortably in my recliner chair and stitched  the day away. Here is what I achieved today, although I have to say that I didn't get as much as I would have liked to done.

I still have the holly leaves to do on this panel, and then another two panels the same before putting my Christmas table centre mat together - then again I have until Christmas don't I?

Tomorrow I head back to the doctors - to have the stitches out I believe. That will hopefully feel better and not 'pull' as much as it does as present.

Time to go and have a bit of chocolate, so .....

'Til next time,

June

It's That Time Again

 Today it is time to share with you another of my mini quilts - this one says it all about my creative side.

I saw this design as a header on another blog, it took my fancy and I got in touch with the lady in the Us and asked if I could make a mini quilt using it. She gave me permission, and now I am sharing it with you.

The following photos will let you see all the wonderful work that our sewing group has been doing over the last 12 months and we would asked to display them - along with other craft groups - at the arts Centre.

This first one shows the items I made - the Snowman Gonk, the Snowflake Angel and the vintage red lace coffee table runner.

Here we have several quilts made by various ladies along with cushions and bags.

Quite a number of the ladies made a mystery wall hanging for Christmas and this is what it turned out to be. All from the one pattern, yet so, so different.

We have already been told of this years Christmas 'challenge' and it sounds interesting - will need between now and Christmas to find a design, yes we have to find our own design, and then create said item. More about that later.

For now though, it is time for a late morning tea, then onto some stitching.

'Til next time,

June

The Bears Have Arrived

 Oh my goodness, looks like it is 'bear time' around here - to add to this, I would like to share with you a bit of trivia. Did you know that a lover and collector of bears is called an Arctophile? Yep, so finally I have a title.

I have been quite busy of late as you have come to see, and this time I have begun working on a small cross-stitch fora friend who's daughter is expecting, I have made numerous ones of this pattern over the years - OK I bought the pattern some 25 (?) years ago - but it is lovely and different from the run of the mill birth notice designs you see around. Baby not due 'til May, but I need to get the bulk of it done, so that at the time I just need to add the name and date of birth to complete it, frame it and pass it on. It is one I truely do enjoy doing.

Time to go back to the crafting room to do a bit of mending - one of my pet dislikes when it comes to stitching - and give hubby back a shirt that needs mending.

'Til next time

June

Happy Australia Day

 Goodness me, two posts in two days - however can't go past another of my mini quilts. This one obviously is for Australia Day, it is one of the ones I did at the beginning of my mini quilt journey, so guess you can look forward to many more over this year.

We shall enjoy our day culminating with hamburgers for dinner. Now that has special significance to Peter & I. To everyone else - enjoy your day.

'Til next time 

June

Rudolph Stitching Day

 What is Rudolph Stitching Day you ask? Well, let me tell you. A friend of mine - Laurie -  from our local Ladies Sewing Group made a comment a little while ago about doing a Rudolph Day each month this year - OK I would be in that.

However for us, we will be stitching a Christmas project. Guess it will take the pressure off trying to rush around in November/December to get them done.

So, today, being 25th January I will begin the Christmas project I have chosen. I might add that this project has been hanging around in my project bucket for quite a few years, so this is a good opportunity to get it done.

This tartan and white fabric will become a round table centre. I began today by tracing the design on the white fabric, and all is ready to begin stitching.

Sorry to say the above photo is a bit pale, but I couldn't do the tracing too dark. Now to get to and begin stitching.

'Til next time,

June

Continuing with Mini Quilts & Hexis

 This year, like all others is flying by and I have been busy getting my projects for this year in order. To begin, here is my next mini quilt.

This one is where I have transposed our map of Australia that I had marked with our travels onto a mini quilt. Quite pleased with how it turned out.

I also have finished another two hexagons that will eventually be part of my quilt.

So now, that is 6 down and 66 still to go - ah, this project will keep me busy for quite a while.

Trust this finds everyone well - look after yourselves and take care.

'Til next time

June

A NEW YEAR HAS BEGUN

 Oh my gosh, where has the time gone? Yet again I seem to have been slack in my blogging the last few months. However I have decided that this year will be a better one than the last 2. 

So .... I will start off with a posting that I hope to follow up each two weeks throughout the year - my year in mini quilts.

The first one of course has to be Happy New Year

I have decided to focus on just a few projects this year - my days of going full steam ahead are done.

The main on-going project this year will be to make a push to make more of my Hexis that I began last year.

I have another two that are all but completed - coming soon.

A couple of other ideas are floating around my head to be sorted out over the coming weeks.

For now though I shall continue with my stitching,

'Til next time

June