Colmar, France

On Sunday, the kids, DH and myself, jumped on a train for the short ride back to Colmar.

A very good decision by the DIL, Colmar Xmas markets were amazing and we had a wonderful day exploring and visiting the 7 markets on offer, my favourite was the artisans market, the talent of the people exhibiting was brilliant.

 Colmar is located in the Grand EST region of northeastern France, near the border with Germany, the town has cobblestones streets lined with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.

We visited the gothic 13th century, Eglise Saint Martin church.

My favourite was the ginger bread houses.

Beautiful icing, amazed by the creativity.

Colmar was a very charming town.

Carousel bar

Xmas decorations for sale

Medieval houses

Xmas decorations 

Cara and I in little Venice, Colmar

Our last meal in Strasbourg, a little French and German mix, pork knuckle and sausage with apple strudel and creme brûlée.

Colmar train station, adios!

Enjoying the beer and mulled wine.

Strasbourg, France.

After Basel we caught our train back to France and onto Strasbourg for the Xmas markets, they have been rated one of the best in Europe. The ride was less than 1 hour and two tram stops to our accomodation. Due to the shooting in Strasbourg, 4 days ago, at the Xmas markets, we could not get of at our designated stop,

We got of the tram at the first available stop, then had to go through security checks to get into the main part of town where the markets and our accomodation is located.
Our suitcases were checked then we head of to our air B&B, a good location in the heart of the markets. We dropped of the bags then off to explore all that Strasbourg has to offer.
First stop was lunch to sample the local dish, flammkucken, also known as a tarte flambé, it is a thin pizza base with creme freiche, onion and slices of cheese.

We of course had more mulled wine, I must say there has not been too many decorations that attract me, very hard not to convert back to our dollar and feel, I can get that cheaper at home, all the stuff is so repetitive, looking for the unusual. 

Strasbourg has the largest Xmas tree, over 30mtrs tall, 7 ton and a 12mtr span

The kids enjoying the ice rink.

 After an enjoyable evening at the markets, we retired back to our accomodation, the next morning we woke to snow, much to the kids delight.

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

Time Flies, when you are having fun.

Time is moving on we have under 4 weeks to go for our Quilts on the Down show. Signs will be displayed shortly, flyers have been circulating for months, Council sorted, menu sorted, wires hung to display the quilts, trade tables sorted. Quilt entry forms are rolling in and thank you to my blogger friends for advertising Quilts on the Downs. Staffy Rescue have also advertised on Facebook. 

 It has been 7 weeks since our return from overseas, since then it has been head down and bum up. I have purged, sorted and culled like a mad woman, it is time to move unused items onto a good home. This has been the perfect opportunity for me to get my act together to sort through my fabric stash and unused notions. The thing I love most about quilt shows are the  trade table, where you can buy fabric scrap bags and little handmade treasures.  In amongst the scraps there is always a gorgeous bit of fabric that can be used for the centre of a table runner, fussy cutting and or hexagons.

With this in mind I am attempting to make some items that will be for sale at our Quilts on the Downs days in September, being close to Xmas, hopefully we will be able to buy some handmade Xmas gifts.

Boxes of fabric for sale, their will be  a $ 1, $2, $3, $ 4 and a $5 

Quilts for sale!

Handmade goods, have been donated for sale, profits to Staffy rescue as well.

Patterns and stitchery's will also be for sale.

I have made some diary covers, and recipe Xmas notebook covers, which would make great Xmas gifts , just buy a diary/ A 5 book, insert into cover and give as a gift for Xmas. 

Also some Xmas decorations!

Great to include with a wrapped Xmas gift or to hang on the tree.

Plenty more on sale, we have six other trade tables as well, with lots of goodies, a great time to stock up on Xmas gifts.

On another note, what have I been up to besides sorting and organising a quilt show, the start of a new quilt, a peek preview! time to move away from reproduction fabric and play with Kaffe !

My occasional dabble into jewellery making! What do you think Chris Jurd?

Next holiday is planned.....

DH and I are booked for the Houston Quilt show, a great year to visit as 2014 is the 40th year anniversary and we plan to visit Dallas, San Antonio, Fredericksburg and Houston, this will be my second visit to the Houston Quilt show and I plan to do some classes this time, cannot wait.

Time is getting close, hope to see you all at this event, there will be at least 50 quilts on display from the quilters of Windsor Downs, as well as 20 quilts from our guest quilter, Chris Jurd

See you on the 6th and 7th September!