Busy in retirement and 2017

Hi Well here we are up to May and my what a busy few months it has been. 

I worked casual at NETS from July 2016 to Febuary 2017 and then made the decision that work was colliding with my social life and that it was time to cut the strings from a career that I loved.

Onwards and forward for me, I still continue with my first passion, quilting but it is amazing at how busy life can become once retired.

First of three UFO's completed

 In March  after a good clean out of excess goods that I had purchased over the years, had to be gone, so we had a Garage sale  and although we were rained out, I did manage to get rid of a lot of stuff, we will have to repeat the sale when it is better weather. All booked for Third week in April.

Just some of my collectables for sale.

In Sydney we had constant rain for 6 weeks where flooding occurred in some parts of NSW and QLD. 

Some lives were also lost, so tragic.

A second finish for March, my "Jungle Safari" quilt.

In March a group of friends and myself travelled to Lake Burrendong for our biannual quilt camp, fun and productivity  was had by all.

Sandy with her completed rope bag

Viv with a half completed Irish chain.

 I myself this year was dedicating my time to finishing off my UFO' s, having completed three already, I then felt that I could allow myself to start another one, not a wise decision as I have not picked it up since quilt camp.  

My Storm at Sea Quilt commenced.

My third finish for March, this jelly roll quilt stacked log cabin, I had commenced at Quilt camp last August.

In April I had visitors from NZ, Marg and Marc and we had a fun filled three days and got the opportunity to showcase our beautiful blue mountains to our NZ couple.

DH and Marc enjoying the sculptures exhibited in the Blue Mountains

The third weekend in April we repeated our garage sale and managed to get rid of a lot more stuff, so after a donation to the Op shop, we are all sorted and more space has been created.

My newly recovered wing chair, a great use of tapestries and collectable fabrics.

The last weekend in April is also the Springwood quilt show, where I always try to enter a few of my quilts each year, this year, I entered two.

"Eden" hand appliqued

"Frida" an attic window design and all my collectable's from my trip to Mexico, Frida Khalo a very modern woman before her time and I am fascinated with her life and paintings, this quilt is a tribute to her and her life.

A couple of tuffets whipped up

My completed rope bag, now sold, what a chore and a challenge to make.

 I entered two and also had the opportunity to be part Of The Unique Treasures stand, a very busy month in April, sorting through all my fabrics to destatsh, make bags, brackets, cushions, pin cushions, get rid of linen that I had collected over the years to do something with, but never did, time to have a clean up.

The quilt show as always was a great success, quilts were of good quality workmanship, food was good, stallholders are of a high standard and all the committee works very hard to deliver a great show.

Now on the countdown for our big trip in June.

Retirement continued !

Father's Day celebrations commenced with breakfast at home with the family, three generations were at the table, our little grandson is the apple of Poppy's eye!

After working as a nurse for 42 years, I decided in July to retire, I worked for NETS as a retrieval nurse and clinical coordinator for 18years. Leaving a career that I absolutely loved was a very hard decision, but after losing a couple of close friends who were only in their late fifties in a matter of a few weeks apart, I felt that there was more to life then work.

I had a wonderful afternoon tea with my sister present, many friends and colleagues.

My gift was a gold watch for my years of service, very touched by this sentiment.

August I attended the Hunters Hill quilt show which is held biannually.

In September I went down to Melbourne to have a sister and niece weekend, lovely sister time except for the vomiting from a gastric flu, which DH decieded to share with me.

We visited some fun stores, but did not go to the quilt show and we were right there, but not feeling well, I made the decision not to attend, maybe not the right decision, apparently it was amazing.

In September our daughter in law graduated with her PHD and now has the title of Doctor to her name.

Our little grandson had his naming day and first birthday

I will sign of with another quilt completed, Chris Jurd's,snowball quilt. This quilt is another large one, it is done with a lot of Tula Pink's fabrics, aptly named "Tula Snowballed"

Next post will be from India.

Retirement and OH my what a busy year.

Oh my! where has the year disappeared to!. I have not posted since my quilting retreat and Mothers Day.  I have been so caught up in what's been happening on the home and work front, time has got away from me.

Sometime balancing work, home and what life throws at you, can at times be overwhelming and it can be hard, to get an even balance in life.

As usual I have been very busy creating my own little masterpieces and finishing off a few hand sewn quilts as well as a few little projects along the way.

2016 has been a year of finishing off quilts that were started by hand the previous year.

My 365 challenge has been put on hold, it has been very hard to catch up after being on 7 weeks holidays. I will complete this quilt but not in 2016.

My version of Lorene Uriate, Opal Essence, is completed, I called my quilt, "Tumbles" all paper pieced, took 18months to finish and will be a Xmas gift to my son and his partner.

I also made myself a jacket from my leftover Frida fabrics.

DH requested a Doctor Who quilt for his birthday, so this is what I came up within a week, now quilted bound, and being used, I must say hubby was thrilled with it completion.

My first whole cloth quilt, fully appilqued and hand stitched, custom quilted by Rigebell Quilting and a Lynne Alchin design. This quilt was a small one for me, very pleased with the result.

My version of Kathy Dougherty's Garden Party, I have called this quilt "Blooms and as you can see it is another large quilt. Hand and machined pieced. I commenced this quilt in 2015, doing all the background, then putting it away for a number of months, then slowly worked on hand piecing the dresdens, wheels and star flowers. My design evolved with adding birds and critters to my design,  this is the end result.

Onto making more lace journal covers, a great use of doilies and lace.

I made a variety of items to take in August to a camp in Lake Burrendong at Ridgecrest Christian centre, a fun time had by all.

A new group of friends made and fun had by all. The camp was in August and very cold.

My project commenced was a stacked log cabin, still not completed.

I als commenced my La Passcaglia quilt this year, my progress so far, I just love fussy cutting fabric and getting some wonderful designs from my fabric selection.