Mothers Day and quilting Retreat

On arrival home after holidays, another Mother's Day dawned, the children had arranged for me to see Fiddler on the Roof at the Capitol theatre, an amazing performance, then a week later Cara and I saw Georgie Girl, all about The Seekers, another great show. Jetlag persisted for a couple of weeks, so pleased to have some R &R at home.

So pleased to be home and enjoy this little charmer, my grandson Logan

I made a recipe folder for my son's partner, Sarah for her first Mother's Day with enclosed family recipes.

Time to get back into my 365 challenge, being 6 weeks behind, need to catch up.

Half way through the year and finishing off three quilts.

I am calling this one "Blooms"

"Frida" which I have hand quilted using pearl thread and I loved doing this, this quilt is not as large as I usually make them, so easy to mange.

"Eden"

We all had fun at the our quilting retreat in Ferndale, I felt very decandent eat, sleep and quilt, very impressed with two older ladies and the quilting they do.

Isobel Lancaster and Alma, gorgeous souls and great quilters.

A big thank you to Lynne Alchin, a great person and teacher, who we all had the pleasure to have her  company on our retreat.

Ferndale a great spot for a quite getaway. I commenced this post a few months ago, but forgot to post, have been very busy with life, so will post very soon, what I have been up to, until next time.

A fresh New Year 2016, 365 block Challenge.

New Year's Eve was spent with my children, after I finished work, we had woodfired pizzas, a game of cards and an early night, to return to work on New Years Day, Happy new year people. 2016 is proving to be a busy year.

Wood fired homemade pizza's from Alex's oven

Yummy

My contribution, NYE pav.

Where has the time gone?, I have started the year off by accepting a challenge sent to me by a FB friend, the challenge is to do a 3inch block every day for a year. What an amazing idea and I could not wait to commence making the blocks. I might add, the blocks started off being easy, but as we progress into the challenge, the blocks are becoming a little more challenging, hence the name of the challenge.

First of many, just love the birthday cake block.

My first completed week.

After 3 weeks all my blocks completed.

4th week

Tiny capital "T"s this little block, lots of pieces and the first real challenge.

More blocks completed. 

In between blocking, I have this gorgeous little bundle to look after. Logan.

My new year diary cover, completed.

My quilting cabin, all painted and ready to move in.

The floor laid, by my gorgeous son Alex, and wonderful daughter in law, Cara and DH.

Shelving by DH, a wonderful idea, so Lucky.

Work is progressing on my version of Lorena Uriate "opal essence" quilt, I will be calling it "Tumbles", so will refer to this quilt asTumbles 

All coming together nicely, just love the 3D effect.

Finish of with week 7 completed, 365 challenge.

Very busy, getting ready for our three day comedy cruise with the family and only 5 weeks before holidays, yippee!

End of year wrap up, Part 2

After a week in Toowoomba and some quilting lessons for my sister who I am trying to convert, I flew home and onto finishing some more UFO's.

My sisters completed table runner, a small quilting lesson in cutting, stitch in the ditch, binding and a little hand quilting, not a bad job sister dear.

October...I had my cabin built which I hope to use as a quilting room, actually It was built to hold all my fabric! And I hope to be able to quilt as well in the cabin.

It took 1 month to be painted, as it was raw timber,  and needed 3 coats each of undercoat and top coat.

Now for the electrician.....waiting....waiting.

I painted the inside a soft blue.

I also completed my version of the Springwood quilt show 2012  raffle quilt, "Homage".

I have called mine " Heathton" named after our house and the name is derived from the combination of mine and DH names.

I found this little treasure at a flea market, when I pulled the seat apart to recover it, I found newspapers from 1936. The stuffing was kapok.

A nice read and very interesting furniture.

Nearly completed, being restored, I now need to find a tassel fringe to complete the basket.

I also dabbled with some garden art, from some great op shop finds.

November, I completed this quilt as a gift for my sisters 60th

The label.

Completed a few diary covers

I painted a sign for my daughter in law, added a sketch of their puppy "Knuckles"

December

I Gave my oldest sister Jenny a 60th birthday party, with the help of my sister Esme and brother Peter on the 5th December, a great time was had by all and the perfect opportunity to catch up with some relatives, not seen for awhile.

Memories

And by the look on my sisters face, she was pleased with the quilt

A time to bid farewell to a very busy year, here's to a healthy and happy new year and I cannot wait to see what the new year has in store me.

Great aunt Esme with little Logan, not a bad backdrop either!

My gorgeous grandson Logan who is now 4 months old, time is passing so quickly

Farewell 2015 welcome in 2016.

End of year wrap up

What a busy year 2015 has been and how rapidly the years are passing us by, in no time at all it will be Xmas and then the end of 2015 and into the new year. 2016. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and an even more wonderful New year.

My year has been quite productive and eventful with lots of travel and many quilts completed, as well as the birth of our first grandchild, I have a lot to be thankful for. On the work front, changes are being made, in the middle of 2016 NETS will be relocating to Bankstown, a further distance to travel for me, looks like my day will be starting even earlier now.

Let's look at what quilts and travel  I have completed this year.

January I travelled to Japan and visited the Tokyo quilt show.

February, I finished Field of Dreams and Birds in a basket, I picked them up from the quilter in April just in time to be entered into the Springwood quilt show.

Field of Dreams

Birds in a basket.

I traveled April, May and June to France, spent time in Nantes to attend Pour L'Amour du Fil, then onto Paris, England, Wales, Scotland, Spain ,Portugual Morrocco and Abu Dhabi.

Lots of hand sewing with 6 pointed diamonds and tumbling blocks, for my "Heathton" quilt.

I made a panel quilt for my grandson, first of many, his  mummy is fascinated by monkeys. 

June 2015

More monkey's

Pinocchio 

Beatrix Potter

Woodland Creatures.

Many more followed, Woodland Creatures, made for a friend.

July, I finished my version of MSG, Anne Levens quilt, 1740 one inch hexagons and 16 lozenges, quite a large quilt, 2.9 mtrs long.

My red and white embroidered quilt, bought as a quilt top from Houston last year, I had it quilted and then put the binding on, I am delighted with the finished product.

July also saw me finish my version of Chris Jurds strippy sampler.

July, I made a quilt for my niece Nicholle' s birthday, this quilt only took me a week, aptly named

" Henry", oh and can you tell, she likes cats.

August I dabbled with Zen doodling and made a couple of cushions for presents.

August the 15th our gorgeous grandson was born, pure contentment on Sarah's face.

I Picked "Geisha Girls" up from the quilter, I actually completed this quilt in April as well, I had it custom quilted which took 4 months, now bound and completed.

In September I travelled to Toowoomba for Festival of flowers and visited 3 quilt shows as well as spend some quality time with my sister.

To be continued....part 2 coming soon