Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Monday, 25 December 2017

Christmas and end of year wrap up.

 This year I have been dedicating my time to finishing off some UFO’s. I am quite proud of my achievements and now only have four quilts to finish. So I will be also going into 2018 completing these quilts s as well.
Even though I have finished quite a few of my UFO’s, I have also made and completed a couple of quilts as well as doing some small projects in between.
As I have mentioned before, I make a journal cover for my diary every year, below is my diary cover for 2018.

Where has the time gone, it is now April and we are about to fly out for our big trip O/S, we will be away for 7 weeks, the countries we will vist are Seoul, South Korea, Prague,Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Lativas, Estonia, Finland and Russia.
A few finishes for this year.
My Tessalation quilt is all done, now in the process of hand quilting it.

I picked up an old grandmothers powder chair, that was pretty shoddy for $10 and covered it, I am pretty pleased with the result.
This year there are a few O birthdays dedicated to family and friends, so I have been quite busy making a few new quilts as well, the first being one made for my little sister who turned 50 in February. I purchased some orphan blocks from the Springwood quilt show, done by Oatchwork fun a few years ago and made them into a quilt, called "Web of Dreams"
My friend VIv also turned 70 in March so in collaboration with our sewing group, I made this quilt for her, I used Kaffe Fassat fabrics in the front and an Alexander Henry fabric for the back, design was from Modern quilt Studio. VIv has recently just completed chem and her cancer is in remission, so I called this quilt "Longevity"
The front.
The back.
Recently my DIL finished her PHD and was awarded the status of Dr and was successful in gaining  a position as senior lecturer at The Canterbury University in Christchurch NZ, this move has meant that my youngest son will also be relocating to NZ as well. THey have recently purchased a house, so with a new house, come a new quilt, as my DIL asked for greys, I called this quilt "Shades of Grey"
January, this year we travelled to NZ with our son to spend a week with them both, look at houses to be bought and familiarise ourselves with Christchurch again, as we will now be regular visitors across the ditch. We also caught up with friends made on our travels, spent some time in Rakai and Blenheim.
Whilst in Christchurch our DIL purchased tickets for the beer festival and the Comedy festival.
Fun was had by all and we got to meet these two amazing comedians from Biriminham, a great 2 hours of entertainment.
We also visited Akaroa and I was fortunate to spend a few enjoyable hours at The Giants house, never before have I seen so many mosaics in one place. All done by one lady who was a sculptor, after buying the house, found many broken china pieces when transforming the garden, so decided to use them, 20years later, a masterpiece and like no other that I have seen before.
The front page f the house
Even a grand piano has been covered.
These statues are all through the garden, too many photos to post, I recommend a visit.

I attended a quilt guild meeting in March,hosted by the Blue mountain quilters and had the opportunity to attend a talk by Jenny Kee, who I showed my La Pascaglia quilt too, very inspirational lady.
The next day, I ticked off one from my bucket list by doing a workshop with Marg Sampson George, dare I say that I have commenced another hand sewing EPP quilt, Mrs Peach.
Needless to say it is only April and I have already completed three quilts and in my spare time, I have been going to dressmaking classes and have completed a lightweight jacket, I am pleased with the result.
The front
The back, next is a dress!
My other exciting Nes is that we are going to be grandparents to identical twin girls, my DIL, is now 26weeks, although there has been a few challenges with the pregnancy we are costing along nicely and we are hoping for a good delivery and no more complications. Two little sisters for our little grandson, Logan, such a bundle of energy.
 
Our twin granddaughters, via U/S.
That's a wrap, will be posting from our trip away, take care.

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

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

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Christmas and Family

 What a frantic year 2014 has been, Xmas has appeared to creep up on me without me knowing, I have hardly had time to think, prepare or make any gifts for Xmas. My quick recap of my Year from
2013 to the end of 2014. Xmas   2013, I worked at NETS and in the evening celebrated with my family and 2 days later jetted off to Chaing Mai and Hong Kong with the family to celebrate NEW Years eve. 

At the time I thought bring on 2014 and now we are nearly at the end.
Hong Kong Disneyland.
On reflection 2014 has been a very productive year with lots of completed quilts, travel and events.
Febuary saw me complete Lucy Boston, "Patchwork of the Crosses" after 19 months and enter for the first time into a quilt show at Springwood. Quickly followed by completion of Polka Dot girls.
Competed Polka Dot Girls!
"Birds in a basket"

My version of the Anne Levens quilt
1,640 hexagons later, now for the borders.


Our trip to Egypt, Greece, Turkey and Dubai, to celebrate DH 60th, in April and May and June.
June and July was busy with organising our inaugural quilt show.
August, my DH turned 60, we celebrated in style at "Osso's".

September, "Quilts on the Downs had a successful weekend, we raised $1,500 for staffy rescue.
October and November,  DH and I travelled to Texas to have 2 great weeks and again visit the Houston quilt show.
November 29th, my eldest son Nigel got engaged.
December, getting ready for Xmas, and our time away in Toowoomba with family.
What Have I been working on with the lead up to Xmas, a few journal covers for friends and family.

This one was made for DH, his choice of photos.

I also made an appliqued sampler, hand quilted and framed for a dear friend for Xmas.
Have a very Merry Xmas and a safe and happy New Year.
Why not leave a comment for the end  of 2014.
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