A couple of finishes.....,

Actually its 2 Christmas finishes ......

feeling very pleased with myself.

Firstly is my "Christmas Belles"..... there is a bit of a long story about this quilt so rather than bore you to death I'll cut it short....

This is my second version of the quilt, the first was in 2007.... I decided to sell the quilt at the time as I didn't really want it for some silly reason and I was told by my friends " you will be sorry "  I do hate to say they were right. After a lot of thinking I decided to make it again ( I never make a quilt twice.... till now) I wanted to use all the same fabrics, after 7 years I was lucky enough to find nearly all the original fabrics in my stash and scrap box but the border did prove more difficult so many hours of googling went on and yep I found it at the "Quilter's Store" not far from home as it turns out.

 I needed 1.2 metres for border and binding but when I looked at the bolt of fabric I didn't think there was enough so the lady measured it...... and ....... there was 1.25mts on the bolt..... I couldn't believe it so naturally I snapped it up.

2014 

2007 

This quilt is for Gavan's chair at Christmas time of course..... I don't think he sees the point of changing his chair quilt but it just doesn't fit in at that time of year... not a man thing.

A simple Jelly Roll quilt.

So back to normal sewing now..... I'll give Christmas stuff a miss for the time being.

A little outing and other stuff......

We decided to go out for a short drive today but it turned into a very long day......  it was very enjoyable though..... here we are driving up to the Spring Mountain Cafe.....

Beautiful scenery but sadly not captured very well on phone camera

A few cows in the paddock next to the cafe...

Whats an outing without Devonshire Tea

 Tuesday we had another Birthday celebration  it was Laurels day and of course we had pressies and lots of food.

 Teresa did a wonderful job making the cake and yes it was good.

Another  Christmas Belles block finished.....

Top section is altogether, its great to be joining the blocks as we go.

I really must get a design wall .... its not good to be using this quilt to hang blocks on.

Very naughty.

Another "Trick of the Cards" block completed.

Lovely mail came today, backing fabric for Twilight Garden so no excuses now.

 2nd block of Libby's Mystery Quilt BOM arrived as well.

Well that's it for today as this little chick is tired and needs a lovely cuppa.

Lots of catching up to do

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter...... mine was a bit up and down but generally happy.

We have been enjoying family birthdays..... 

Corinne had a lovely birthday dinner at Wagaya in Brisbane, first time at a Japanese restaurant for a few of us and it was great..... I'm sure we will visit there again.

Gavan didn't go and its probably just as well really as I don't think we would have got him out from the sunken table but it was such fun...... loved it.

My beautiful grandchildren.

Jake 17, June 16, Corinne 22 and Clayton 14.

Funny to see the tiny one is the eldest. 

Gosh I think they get their looks from me ....... hahahahahaha ......I could only hope.

Heather and Liz .... they won't be happy I put this photo on my blog.

Liz managed the chop sticks well but I didn't ..... a fork was called for as I would have starved to death.

Then it was Gav's birthday.... his choice was Pizza at home.

Obviously Gav was mucking around and put on a silly face for the camera.

On Good Friday we were so lucky to see Thomas (Robert 's son)  but sadly no-one including his Dad gets to see him very often ......... it was Easter 2 yrs ago that we saw him last so this was a real delight.

Boy the concentration on their faces, they were playing snap.

Thomas is now 12 yrs.

We also played  Disney Memory game and Thomas won that ... mind you my memory was put to the test.

The Disney game was given to my kids by my sister June when they were very young so it was great to have it out for Thomas to enjoy, the other grandchildren played with it when they were little too.

June (g/daughter)  showing Thomas  and Auntie Liz her horse.

Sadly I didn't get anymore photos but hopefully we will get to see again in the near future.

There hasn't been much crafting going on here .....since Easter Saturday I've had an awful sinus infection and it really knocked me rotten but I'm getting better as the days roll on.

Another 2 blocks from the "Christmas Belles"

Its good to be sewing them together as they are finished.

Another "Twilight Garden" block, I just have to add some silk ribbon to this block but I will leave that till all the blocks are completed.

I have had a little hold up as I ran out of thread but it should be here this week so I can get on with the last 3 blocks...... woohooooo

Our online "Friends in Stitching" group has a birthday swap and I had to make for Cathy, the theme was a black and white embellished bag with a couple of goodies inside so I chose the "Frilly Dilly Bag".

You can just see the little bag hanger, I have one so I hope Cathy likes it as much as I do mine....I hate placing  my bag on the floor when I'm out and about.

Well I think that's everything I had to report but I probably forgot something..... if I did I'm sure it will wait till another time.

Block update and Sunday Stitchers

Woohoooo another Twilight Garden block finished........

also more blocks finished  for Christmas Belles, keeping up with the plan.....

A terrific fun filled day with the Sunday Stitchers..... these girls are doing the Gossip in the Garden BOM

                  Maree, De, Teresa Jeanette and Cheryl.
                  someone didn't do their homework...... hmmmm Cheryl ?

                               Ooooops yours isn't finished either De........
       we thought it was done but having a closer look.... not quite
                               so they are both in the naughty corner.......

 Just a short post this time.......I'm off as there is a cuppa waiting.

A newsy catchup

No blogging going on here but I have been sewing even though I have little motivation at the moment, I will get these blocks together soon as its been under construction for some time.

Spider Quilt

I've done a bit of online shopping..... not as a reward for all my sewing as that would be a stretch of the imagination...... just because....... I love this little bag as its only big enough for a phone, tissues and money for those times when you don't want to carry a handbag.

Yes another purchase for me...... ummmahhhh very naughty but I am having fun with my tablet.

I needed a coffee break as all this techno stuff is doing my head in........

This is history repeating itself...... I made this quilt "Christmas Belles" in 2008  then decided to sell it and my friends said " You will be sorry you know" and as much as I hate to admit it they were right, its the only quilt I have ever sold and it will be the last.  I've made a plan of action so it will be finished for Christmas this year..... Sandi, Tereasa and Norreen are joining in with me this time so I look forward to seeing the same quilt in different fabrics.

I'm using fabric from my stash as I did the first time so there isn't any fabric buying to be done, I'm also trying to keep the fabrics as close or the same as the first one.

That's my lot for the moment and hopefully I will have more to show next time .......