Wednesday, September 28, 2011

A quick trip, project half done and roses

I have just been to visit my Mum for her birthday. I don't usually jump in the car and drive for 2.5 hours to deliver a bunch roses from our garden. It was a lovely surprise for Mum and Dad. Dad sister Betty was there also, coming up from Victoria for a weeks holiday. We spent the afternoon with granddaughter and great grand kids, daughters, sisters and brothers. We sang happy birthday three times and had lots of chocolate cupcakes and many cups of tea. What a lovely afternoon we had together. I am so pleased I went up.

Roses for Mum


A trip home and a sewing get together with Heather and Margaret, boiled eggs for tea tonight and quite time in front of the TV working on Ufo's. I found a few blocks from a friendship swap that a group of us did in 2005. I would always look at these blocks and wonder what I was going to do to finish them off. When I laid the out on Monday I knew straight away how the quilt was going to be finished, even right down to how I am going to machine quilt it. Bit of a shock to think it all came to me just like that. Still amazed. Now to find some time to do it.
Friendship flower baskets

This weekend is the right time to plant leafy greens in the moon phase. Mr J and I are going to the Brisbane Organic Fair this Sunday to learn more about growing our vegetables and herbs. I am looking forward to
Caroline checking out Foleys water tanks
seeing what they will have available.

My sister Caroline and I went to the Nambour Garden Show in July and had a great time checking out all the stall and workshops. We went and listened to Sonya Wallace talk about worm farms and composting. We also listened to Leonie Shanahan talk about make a no dig garden.

Leonie and I

Since then I have made a no dig garden and have two zucchini plants that are producing very well.

I have had some help with the garden planning, out the front of our place is a large common area that has a few native trees. The trees are becoming rather tall and spindly, so I asked  Simon form Go Green Nursery if he could advise us on what to plant under the older trees. So far I have planted nearly 20 natives, and plan to plant about 10 more this weekend.  So that's the weekend taken care of. 

New plants

Grasses for the birds

The front garden is just lovely at the moment all the roses are in full bloom and the perfume is amazing. 




So this weekend, if you can, take "thyme to smell the roses" and  let the love grow...................<3

Thursday, September 22, 2011

I have my fabric

Just a quick note to let you know that a friend has found some of the spot fabric for me. A little patchwork shop in Bunbury in WesternAustralia called Craft Collections has saved the day..... I will be able to finish the blocks for the sampler quilt that I'm teaching at Kimz Sewing Center next year.



From the garden how beautiful is this yellow rose.......

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Textile and Sample quilts

I made it to the textile group on Monday late of course and had to leave early. It was great to see so many ladies there. Margaret W is doing a fantastic job for the group, she has organized so many visitors to come and advise, critique, encourage and take us out of our comfort zone. At the last meeting Margie P came along to talk to the girls about their work, to help us with future projects, and Noel is going to show us composition and colour in up coming classes.

The girls have been working on a colour challenge/project. We could choose from Earth, Wind, Water, and then each month we repeat our blocks in split complimentary, monochromatic, shades of grey, complimentary. analogous, triadic. The challenge started in July, I am way out of my comfort zone, so I am still procrastinating over what I'm going to do. When I see the pieces that the ladies have done, I find even harder to start.



Junee, what can I say this is unreal

Just amazing

This is Jo's work but not part of the challenge


What do I need to do get going with this challenge!!

I have so many half done projects and now the new/old  machine. I feel as though I'm sinking in a sea of stuff. My way of dealing with all this is to go and play in the garden.  Well there is my answer, finish half done projects and get rid of useless stuff.






Some of the completed blocks

Anyway talking about half done projects, I have been working on a sample quilt for up coming classes. Most of the blocks are done, now I have decided to do an applique border and  I change one of the fabric using the red fabric in the block.

I have searched high, low, locally, interstate and afar to no avail. So I'm hoping someone may have seen this fabric in a store. I only need a half a meter/yard.


Help ............where can I find this fabric.
I just love this pin cushion...........

This pincushion is my type of challenge, I had so much fun doing the free motion stitching..............

Sunday, September 18, 2011

A new old machine

It has been a while since my last post, there has been so much happening in the garden and my studio. This year I had my 50th birthday and had the choice of a trip to New York and the Grand Canyon or a Longarm (who's a lucky girl). The holiday was my first choice, of course. It was a fantastic holiday and I can't wait to go back.

At Monument Valley what an amazing place.......

 On Brooklyn Bridge



Over the years I have been to Quilting Festival to do workshops and workshops by Sharon Schamber in Brisbane. In Sharon's class recently she mentioned that I would have a longarm soon. I brushed that remark away, but 2 weeks later a old machine was up for sale and I had first option.  My friend Sandra works at a curtain and soft furnishing business and they had the longarm there that was not being used and decided to sell it. We did a little homework and contacted Nolting in America, they said the machine is 20yrs old. It may be old but she goes and is solid as a rock. So I bought it and then we realised that it would not fit in the Studio. So after talking to Kim at work we have set the machine up in the shop. It is so big, the table is 4.3m long and the arm is 30" wide. I am in the process of changing the wheels, I don't think they have been replaced since the machine came off the production line. Also the hand grips need to be updated and starter switch is a little sluggish. I can't wait to get her going and start quilting.


Machine and table loaded up and ready to go to the shop

Unloading at the shop

Mr J, Sandra and Nic



Sandra is always there for support

Stacey helping out also. 

Sandra and myself

Kim checking out the machine




So before the machine came into my life I have been busy in the vegetable garden. I have all the garden beds ready to go and I planted out about 200 seedlings mixing flowers and vegetable seedling through all the gardens, and everything is growing really well. I have already picked spinach, lettuce, zucchinis and celery for our meals. We are enjoying been able to be a little self sufficient by growing some of our food and having chooks in the backyard.  When you can pick and eat it within an hour, the flavour and taste of the food is incredible. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.



I had a get together yesterday in the Studio. Sandra has finished her Sample quilt and stitched some hexagons and Lorraine started the Pickle dish quilt from one Kaffe's book and bought along her finished wall hangings, they look great.


I raided the scrap basket to try out a new template that I bought from Kimz shop. I have also finished the top of a couple of quilts so that I can practice on the longarm. I think I have about 5 tops ready now, I have been offered many tops to practice on by friends too.

Lorraine's wall hanging

Lorraine version of Dianne Johnson pattern


I have nearly finished this quilt
I hope you enjoy the photos from our garden 











Cheers Cathy