Back into gear.

Hello dear friends,
I am late getting on here. I have been busy with some Grandmother duties and should be back into gear after tonight.
I have lots of projects planned and need to get up to date this week.(that doesn't mean finishing all my UFO's) I have to have some of those on my shelves as they make me think I am so busy.
My new fabrics and projects will arrive next week.  I am always happy as long as there is a new project on the horizon. My Wonkey Donkey quilt is nearly finished. I have finished quilting it and this afternoon will be starting on the binding .

Some finishes and near finished projects from lovely friends at quilting class.
Barbara has finished a happy colourful quilt for a dear little boy she knows.

Vickie has embroidered some lovely blocks for her sewing machine cover. I am sure it will be the loveliest machine cover ever. It will be so pretty.

I will have to show when the cover is finished next post.

Lynne has been putting to use some embroidered blocks of the ladies from Red Brolly.
A very pretty Tote bag.

Sondra has started putting the blocks together for her  Owl quilt. The fabric she chose is great and the owls all look so cute.

There is plenty of inspiration at our weekly class. I must add and lots of fun.

Here is an update of our little bird Milo.

He says a lot more words now. He says  "What Poppy do, Come on, Where are you, Get your blanket on. He does say other words too. He is a little character and a naughty one sometimes.
  Well I must away and do my binding.
Happy sewing .
 Jen x

Winter Blooms in Australia.

Dear friends ,
I would like to show you this shop I came across when on our last trip touring around the countryside.
It was huge and full of fabric. Rows and rows of fabric, so much as it was a bit daunting as you could hardly pull a roll out it was so crammed in tight and a big mess everywhere.  Another lady was in there shopping and I said "I can't believe this shop. I haven't seen so much fabric. She said "when I get visitors I always bring them to have a look. They can't believe it either, fabric everywhere. It is laying in the aisles all piled up high.
I sneaked 2 photos.

 5 rows just like that.

Some rows you couldn't walk down because it was stacked on the floor.

Here are some of the blocks I am working on at the moment. My Wonkey Donkey quilt is nearing a finish .This next week I hope to do the quilting on it.

 

 

My friend Robyn has finished the top of her flannelette quilt. I love the colours it looks soft and lovely to cuddle in. I need it on me now it is 18C.

 Winter in Australia.

Out in the paddocks.

 Some of the lovely blooms winter brings to our gardens.   Magnolia  Iolanthe.

 

White Fairy. Primula.

 

The Golden Wattle. It grows in the wild and was proclaimed Australia's National Flower in 1988 .  We have it at our front door across in the bush

 

 Camelia .My favourite shrub. I have four of these in my garden.

 Cyclamen. I usually have one of these in my big bathroom for the winter but I have a African Violet at the moment.

 

 Daphne. A sweet smelling winter favourite. I have a Daphne in my garden.

The word busy was  last week, so hopefully a quiter week comeing up and some more sewing will happen.
Stay happy and well.
Jen. x

Christmas in July.

Hello Everyone,
Since our holiday I have been making progress on my Wonkey Donkey quilt. I am enjoying all the applique and fun colours  for  Dillon, Dave and Doris, Dick and Daisy, Leaping Donkey and lovely big Carrots. It is a fun quilt. That is the project I am focusing on at the moment.
The Cricket Ashes are on the television in the night and I love watching the cricket.
My knitting had come to a standstill  with only one sleeve and the band to complete so out comes the knitting again while watching the cricket. This cardigan seems to be going on forever. I must stay determined for a finish !!  I love the  knitting rhythm so as the cricket gets exciting I will knit faster that way I will get it finished. haha.  I hope I don't make a mistake while watching the cricket as I don't want to have to frog the last sleeve. I will never get it done if I have to do that.

My lovely sewing friends from class have been creative and Lynn has finished her beautiful quilt  with an unusual pattern showcasing the beautiful fabric she has chosen. The soft tones of the selection of fabrics are lovely.

Lee is setting the mood for Christmas in July sewing 2 beautiful Christmas runners and a Christmas decoration. The embroidery element is a lovely highlight on one of her runners. The Christmas tree runner is lovely also . I think I will have to make the tree runner for myself . On Tuesday  in class Lee is giving us a tutorial to make the Christmas Decoration. I am looking  foreward  to being able to make one.
We are so fortunate to have Lee as our class Quilting teacher and dear friend for the last 10 years.

 Hanging Christmas Decoration.

I will finish this post with some more holiday photos.
This is dear hubby with biscuits in hand to feed the sheep at the Blackall Wool Scour Museum.
The all came running when they saw the biscuits.

Wind Farming.

Our road trip caravanning to part of outback Australia. 7,000 kilometeres  ( in black)

I am told that Australia's population is the size of New York.
We have so much wide open space to travel, sweeping plains, far horizons. Some words from www.dorotheamackellar.com /mycountry  Poem. Have a look ,my favourite poem.
Happy sewing week.
Jen x