View from my Verandah

We had some storms in our area this evening (we were on the very edge and only got a spit) and then the sun came out. The colours were spectacular. This is the view looking east from our verandah. The photo doesn't do it justice.

The sun was streaming into our lounge room and the glass in my "grown up cabinet" (no toys, cars, sewing bits and pieces in here - only grown up collectables like glassware and china) was just sparkling.

By the way, I don't collect amber glass!


A little bit later the sun wasn't as bright, but a double rainbow appeared. Beautiful.

On another note, tonight I made a call to the Isle of Man and confirmed our accommodation in Castletown. All is finalised now except the hire car. I'll look into that fairly soon. It's only 4 months till we go. I can't wait.

A January Finish and a Sad Machine

I finally have something finished! This was May Britt's Christmas pattern.

I did the stitching on a white background, but in the end thought it was too stark, so tea dyed it. I just made a little hanging, now I have to find a nice hanger for it. As I really wanted to finish the project last night I cheated and didn't bind it but just turned it through and then top stitched around the edge. Naughty me, but I felt I could get away with it on this one. The fabrics are scraps from a table runner I made a couple of years ago and were also used in a Christmas cushion.

My machine started getting rattly in the bobbin housing last night (it had done it a little while I was doing the Red Delicious Blocks as well). I gave it good clean and checked what I could, but it is not better. It got very rattly just over a year ago and I had to have it repaired. There is a great repair man in Orange, so it looks like I might have to make the time to go up there and have it looked at again. Unfortunately, that won't be possible for a about a month.

I got the Verandah View block traced last night, so I should be able to start that in my lunch break today.

Fun Weekend - But no Stitching

Another busy but lovely weekend. Yesterday after doing the domestics I headed to town to collect my niece who starts school in two weeks and we went shopping for her first school shoes. She was all dressed up and carrying the cute little handbag I made her for her 3rd birthday (a great way to make aunty feel good). After we bought her shoes we went to Annie's Ice Cream Parlour and had icecream (bright blue bubblegum flavour for niece....uggg... and boring vanilla for aunty) followed by time at the great playground in the riverside park. I don't normally have an excuse to play in a playground and climb on things. We had a ball.

Last night some friends from Sydney came for dinner and to stay over. It was great to catch up as we didn't see them over Christmas and New Year. Some friends from in town came out as well. So, it was a late night, followed by a very leisurely breakfast this morning.

Then, this afternoon we attended our first run of the year with the Historic Car Club. We took the sidecar. We just went for a 100km drive, stopping half way at a country pub for a cool drink, and then back to town for a picnic tea in the park by the river. This run is always really popular - there were fifty seven people there for the picnic. Everyone was just happy to sit in the cool of the evening and chat.

I had plans of doing a bit of stitching after our guests left and before the afternoon's run, but by the time everyone left there was no time. Oh, well, through the week I'll do some.

It's Been Hot!

I have been reading blogs - Canada -50 degrees C, Minnesota -20 degrees C.

Here, today it was +40 degrees C!! For this part of Australia that is HOT. Mind you, we do get a few days like this every year.

A change with some storms came through late this afternoon and it has now cooled down to the mid 20's. Much better. This is what the sky was like when I was driving home this evening.

The only plus is that being so hot I took my lunch to work and also my Christmas Heart stitchery from May Britt's blog (no photo yet). I have completed the stitching but am still undecided whether to do an applique heart in the middle or just stitch it. Also, I've no idea what I am going to do with it as yet. I'm sure I'll finally make a decision. Anyway, I'm happy with how it is turning out.

Thrifiting Again

I called in at an op shop yesterday (as you do) and came out with this little haul. I was most excited when I found the little house Christmas decoration. It matches another one I found at a church white elephant stall a couple of years ago.... and it was for the right price too..... "Oh, you can have that one, it's not worth anything".

The sweet little stoneware bowl will only hold about a cup - I've never come across one so small. It was a whole 50c.

The books are fascinating. "Standard Craft Ideas for Girls" was published in 1959 and has lots of sock toys and "kitch" is the only way to describe lots of the other projects. The children's sewing book is just giving tips and techniques, there are no patterns, but will be handy to have on the book shelf. The bottom three are just for fun. The centre book "Ribbon Straw" was published in 1967. I wonder how many things made in that style still remain. The other 2 are Japanese (but in English) and are for the plastic canvas that was so popular in the early 70's. If I went looking, I would be able to find the tissue box cover I made when I was about 8 using this technique.

Then, when we went to the Car Club meeting last night, one of the fellows gave me this. It was lovely of him to think of me. Now this is a UFO that has been around for a while. It was in a deceased estate he has been going through. There is a "Woman's Day" magazine from 1980 with a crocheted bedspread pattern, four completed blocks and 33 balls of Patons Gem 4-ply cotton to complete it. It is a lovely sage green. I don't know if I would want that colour for a bedspread, but it would be nice as a throw rug. I'll have a look at how involved the pattern is....one day..... I don't think it will get finished for the challenge this year. There was also another vintage crochet pattern book to add to the collection.

A Busy Weekend

We've had a great weekend. Mick has been wanting to go for a ride on the bike as we haven't been on it since the beginning of November. We decided to go to the "Bronze Thong" bush races at Wattle Flat. We've heard they are good, but have never been before. There were some stalls, but nothing grabbed my attention (or money). There was the good old wood chop, and what better setting than in the bush.

This was then followed by the foot races - very comical. There were sprints (if you could call it that), piggy back races, wheelbarrow races, backwards races. All very good for a laugh. No, I did not have a go!

Then there were the horse races. As you can see, it is a really rough bush racetrack, but they gave it their all.

It was a nice day, not too hot, pleasant breeze, not too dusty. We had a nice picnic salad (we picked at it with our fingers as yours truly forgot the cutlery - but not the hand wipes) and then it was just nice to sit in the dappled shade (with the eyes shut).

We didn't stay for the end of the races, but went up some very narrow, rough, stoney, corrugated roads/tracks and ended up in Sofala for a milkshake. Then we high tailed it home as we could see storms brewing. We got home and the washing in just before a downpour with a bit of small hail. Good timing.

Also, I tried out my new summer bike jacket and it is perfect.

Yesterday our patchwork group started back after Christmas. It was nice to catch up with the girls after the break. While I was there I did the hand sewing on Red Delicious, so now Blocks 1 and 2 are completely finished. Bring on the 15th.

I then started the embroidery on May Britt's Christmas Heart. I don't know what I'll do with it, but at least it is started.

When I was finishing off all the ends on Red Delicious I was quite taken with the back of the blocks, with the outline in blanket stitch. It would look lovely in redwork.

The finished blocks don't look much different to my previous post, but here they are anyway.





Yesterday afternoon I finally treated myself to a friand baking tin and had my first go at making raspberry friands. I was very happy with the result. Now I have a good use of the eggwhites when I make lemon butter.

Happy Dance!

I have my car back!! Yay!! Finally, after delays and the wrong radiator being sent, my car is fixed. What apparently caused it was me crossing the river through water a bit deep. The last couple of times I crossed the river to get home it was up a bit. Apparently, if you go through deepish water and the car's fan is going, the pressure of the water will cause the fan to be sucked up against the radiator. Well, that's a trick for young players. I will now watch the water level a bit more closely, and only cross if it is very low, otherwise I will go the long way round, or make sure the air conditioner is off, so the fan is not going.

My second reason for a happy dance is that last night I booked accommodation at Kiama on the south coast for three nights on the Australia Day long weekend. We haven't had a few days at the beach since 2002!! We've been on a beach, but not to actually have a swim. We have been "going to" go to Kiama "one day" for a few years now. Some friends recommended a motel, but it was booked out. We found another one in a good spot. When I phoned the lady (another Janice) she said they only had one room left. It is upstairs with a balcony with ocean views, only it is a bit dearer - would that be OK? Well, what do expect on that weekend?? Of course we are happy with that. Anyway, her "a bit dearer" was actually less than I expected to have to pay. We will decide closer to the time whether to take the car or the bike. I can't wait.

Too Much Choice

Now that the New Year has commenced there are heaps of new blocks of the months, swaps, mystery projects and challenges. I'd love to do lots of them but as I want to simplify things a bit this year, I will be restrained and just stick to Red Delicious and the Redwork Cushion Swap.

Capricorn Quilts has an interesting block of the month, I've just found that Helen at Hugs'n'Kisses has a holiday mystery and it looks like Willowberry Designs will be having a stitchery block of the month. I might just have a look at that one. The first sample looks interesting. We'll see.

The Holiday is Over

It was back to work today. Back to reality. I could quite easily get used to liesurely starts of a morning and then doing a bit of housework and a bit of sewing, then relaxing.



It's a pity life isn't like that. Today was the first day back for our office. We opened at 8.30am and the phones started straight away ... and of course nothing was simple and everything had to be done NOW.



Not only that, the local bakery and the place where I normally get my morning coffee are still on holidays and are closed.



I've had my winge now......



We made it through the day & I'm sure that by the end of the week we will be back in our usual routine. It was nice to catch up with everyone after the break.



Bring on the weekend.

Dad's 90th Party

Dad's party is over and was a great success. We had over 70 people attend. Dad is one of nine, and eight are still going strong. There were four of them at the party. Two travelled from Towoomba and one from Lake Cargelligo. Not a bad effort for their ages. The other four all live in northern New South Wales or Queensland, so it was just too difficult for them to travel.

My generation consists of fourteen cousins. One passed away a few years ago, but ten of us were there. Once again, not bad considering the distances involved. One cousin did not reply to the invitation and has never attended a family event before. Just as we were starting to eat lunch he walked in. We were gob smacked and so pleased to see him. I had only met some of my cousins once or twice. Some cousins were there that had never met each other!! My brother and I are the babies of the generation, so it is amazing that first cousins in their mid 50s are meeting for the first time. It was great getting to know them a bit more.

I did a bit of a talk at the party on Dad's life and lots of people want a transcript. Unfortunately I don't have one. It was just stuff that I knew. I think I might have to write it down, and hopefully get Dad to flesh it out a bit. I still don't know whether to raise the subject of his time as a POW or not. We'll just see how it goes. Getting his life down on paper might just have to be a project for the coming year.

I wore my new black and white skirt and was happy with it. It was nice and comfy.

Mum and Dad are involved in their local church, so we held the party at the church hall and the church ladies catered. They did an absolutely marvellous job. The hall was decorated beautifully and the food and service were great. One of the ladies did the most amazing floral arrangements. It was also good to be able to involve their friends this way.

Dad has been having bad back pain for the last few months and yesterday had a further injection in his back. This provided great relief, so he was really able to enjoy his day. He is really fit and well for his age and was in his element among all his family and friends.

A lot of the family are having dinner together tonight, but Mick and I have just came home after it all. I don't have much in the way of photos as yet, as I didn't really have the chance to take any. A family friend took a lot and is giving me a disc tomorrow. Once I get some I'll post a few here.

Red Delicious Started

I've finally made a start on Red Delicious. Yesterday I traced all the pieces for Blocks 1 and 2 and fused them to the background. I'd forgotten how time consuming this is, thank goodness I am on holidays. I am just using machine blanket stitch applique and have completed most of Block 1. I will try to get the rest of the applique on both blocks done today. Then I will just have the hand stitching details to complete, which shouldn't take too long. At least they will be finished before Block 3 is released on the 15th. I'm looking forward to seeing what "Love Apples" looks like.

Our two cats have been hastled most nights lately by a feral ginger tom cat and as a consequence have both had trips to the vets with abscesses. We have borrowed a cat trap and after just two nights have caught the cat. It was a monster..... and cranky!!!! It has now been disposed of and the local pet cats and native wildlife will be much better off for it's demise.

We have done the last of the organising for Dad's party and today will see most of our relatives arrive in town. They all have quite a distance to travel. Many will be traveling over 1000 kms for one day before returing home. It will be good to see them all. A few cousins are coming that I have only met a few times in my life and probably won't even recognise. We didn't expect as many to come, so are delighted.

A New Year and a Finish

Happy New Year. Let's hope 2009 is good for everyone.

We had our 70's party last night and it was great fun. Everyone got into the spirit of the era. I think full marks have to go to one couple who came wearing their own original 70's gear. John had a body shirt, maroon velvet bow tie and pale blue jacket (he just couldn't do up the jacket). Shelley wore her going away outfit and she is still as slim as she was then.

Another friend came in a caftan she bought in Fiji in 1975 while on a cruise. It is a lovely fabric, printed on the islands and it still looked really stylish.

We had bikies, hippies and Hawaiin shirts. Mick was in his Goodies t-shirt and wore an afro wig all night. I was in my bright yellow dress. Sorry, no photos of us were taken. Unfortunately our record turntable wouldn't play, so we had to resort to CDs, but we still had plenty of 70's stuff.

Today, after the last visitors left we did the big cleanup and then I made another skirt. I used the same pattern, this time in black and white. I'm once again happy with the way it turned out. I made this one a bit longer and took the waist in a bit. It fits nicely. I'll definitely wear this one to Dad's party.

On Tuesday afternoon I went into town to meet up with the lady organising the catering for the party. My car sounded a bit rattly when I pulled away from the traffic lights and then the "Check Engine" light came on and the temperature guage showed "HOT". I pulled over straight away and called the NRMA Roadside Assistance. When he got there he informed me that there was no fluid in the radiator, but he didn't think the engine was ruined. A tow truck had to be arranged. Of course, my mechanic is on his annual holiday until the end of January, so another mechanic was arranged and my car delivered. Apparently the radiator is ruined and another is on order. With a bit of luck it will be there tomorrow, otherwise early next week. There couldn't have been a worse time for me to be without a car, so Mum to the rescue. I have borrowed her little Corolla. Hopefully I can return it to her tomorrow.

While spending time browsing blogs yesterday I came across Happy In Quilting. I enjoyed this blog and was delighted to see she collects green depression glass. The number of comments from other ladies who like green glass was great. Here is a sample of mine. There is much more. I don't really go looking for it now as I have no more room to display it. Mind you...... if I come across something special.......

My grandmother had a cake plate and vase that I always liked as a kid. I received my first pieces as Kitchen Tea gifts back in 1986, when it cost about $2.00 a piece, after I had shown a friend a photo of a collection and commented how much I liked it.

People keep asking how many pieces I have and who manufactured it etc. I can never answer either question. There would be over a hundred pieces and I am not a technical collector. I just like it and put it on a shelf.



The sun was shining nicely on this dresser yesterday. This was my grandmother's dresser and she embroidered the runner in the 1930's. It was passed on to us as a wedding present.

New Banner

Do you like my new banner? I have finally worked out how to crop a photo to the correct size. Thanks to Dutch Blue I have been able to use Picnik to add the text.

The background is an old fabric. In the late 1920's my grandfather bought a chair at an auction sale. It was old then. It became my grandmother's chair. It was reupholstered twice by my grandmother and mother, the last time in the early 70's. To make up for being saggy old jumpers and newspapers were stuffed in it. In the 80's it was relegated to rot in a shed.

In the early 90's I was able to claim it. Mick and I took it back to the original upholstery which was the fabric you see on the background of my header. It then languised in our shed for over 10 years as I could never find a fabric I liked for it.

Eventually I found a fabric (although I still don't know if I really like it, it is rather overpowering) and we dragged it out to arrange for professional reupholstering. We took off the old original fabric. Mick was for chucking it out, but I saved some of the fabric off the back which was in fragile but not too bad condition. I cut the best bit to A4 size and have preserved it in a plastic sleeve in a folder. The photo is a very small portion of that piece of fabric.

We then started taking out the miriad of tacks and nails. The horsehair etc. was in such a poor state that we ended up taking it back to just the timber frame and springs. I don't know what the upholsterer thought when I turned up with it. He did a good job on the chair and now it sits in pride of place in our lounge room. I remember Grandma reading books to my brother when he was little in that chair.

This and That

This post is a bit of this and that. Firstly, this is the skirt pattern I used for my blue floral skirt. I now want to make it again using a predominantly black fabric for the top section and predominantly white on the flaired section. Worn with a red top, it should look good.

These are the vintage ric-racs that Mum gave me. They are a nice little addition to my collection of stuff.

For the 70's party I had grand plans for an orange tie dyed t-shirt for Mick. Here are the raw materials. When I opened the dye packaging and was able to read the instructions I discovered you need a fixative that you have to buy as well as a lot of salt. Cath called in at Spotlight on the way out the other day and they don't have any. Not very handy when you are selling the dye. Therefore, when I did the dying yesterday I just added lots and lots of salt, hoping that would work. No, after I rinsed it and gave it a hot washing machine wash, as directed, it is nearly white again. Oh well, I'll just wait until I can get some fixative and then will get more dye and have another go. He won't have a tie dye t-shirt for the party, but I still want to do it. Fortunately, he has his Goodies t-shirt which will do the trick.

I had to go into town again yesterday. I seem to be spending half my time in town. I have to go in again today to meet the lady organising the catering for Dad's party. Yesterday I picked up all the photos of Dad I had copied. Originally I planned on just having photos stuck on cardboard as a collage. However, I discovered this great frame. It came up really well and I was able to make the photos fit in OK. He is lucky to have his mother's old photo albums, so I was able to include lots of photos of his early years.

Yesterday afternoon I started trying to tidy the office and spare room in readiness for people staying over for New Years. What a nightmare. I should have taken before photos, but it was too scarey. I'm gradually getting there. They will be passable (just). I'll get all the food for the party today and will just have to do the final cleaning and the cooking tomorrow. It always seems to come together in the end.

What is this - a ham sandwich?

Ham on Christmas day, ham and salad, ham on toast, ham and mustard sandwich, ham and potato salad sandwich, fried rice with ham (from left over rice salad), ham and cheese omlette. I'm running out of ideas..... but I'm not running out of ham!!!

Mind you, the ham is beautiful. It was boned until nearly at the hock and is lovely and moist. Any ideas for more ways of using it up?

I didn't do any sewing yesterday. My friend Cath came over and we had the afternoon chatting, picking more berries and she brought over some 70's records in readiness for the party on Wednesday night. It was just a nice, girly afternoon.

Today a friend from up the road is coming to do some sewing. I had a few friends around 3 years ago and showed them the basics of patchwork and we made a table runner I designed. Barb never quite finished hers, so finally, we have been able to arrange for us both to have some spare time for her to finish it. She has done a bit more patchwork since and needs a few pointers, so we should have a nice morning.

Lazy Days

We've had a couple of lovely lazy days.

On Boxing Day I had grand plans of starting Red Delicious. I found all my reds. I had purchased the large piece for sashings and some white for the background. The others from the stash should be enough. I traced the pattern and then went to get my Vlisofix. I purchased this a few months ago - it wasn't Vlisofix brand and the adhesive has come away from the paper. Totally useless. Not happy. So, consequently, I got no further. Instead, we both did next to nothing.

On Boxing Day evening we travelled to another niece's place for another Christmas feast. This time it was a barbecue, salads and lots of sweets. Mick's sister worked on Christmas day so her kids went to their partners' for the day and her family had their get together on Boxing Day.

Yesterday, as much as I didn't want to go anywhere, I went to town in the morning. I had to buy some Vlisofix. I went to Spotlight and they had 20% off everything in the store. I bought the Vlisofix (yes, the real stuff), some thread and of course I had to look at the fabrics. I came home with a couple of blenders and some juvenile fabrics. I don't know why, but I thought they would look good as bibs. I've never made a bib. I don't know of anyone having a baby soon, but someone will eventually need baby things. On the way home I called into mum's and she gave me some bias binding to use and a bib pattern.

When looking for bias binding I was drooling at all the lovely vintage bias binding she has. She just looks at is as stuff she hasn't got around to using yet. She also has oodle of lovely ric rac. I have brought home the vintage ones on the "ric rac" cards like on Ric-Rac's blog header. There is heaps more as well. I know where to go to if ever I want to use some. Like I said recently, she can be very handy at times.

I also bought some fabric to make myself a skirt. I don't normally wear skirts, but there are some lovely bright summery skirts around this year. I got a pattern a few weeks ago, but couldn't find any fabric I liked. I had another look yesterday and found one with large blue flowers on a white background. Very much out of my comfort zone.

When I got home I pulled out the skirt pattern and took my measurements. The pattern is from size 6 - 14. When I buy clothes I am normally a size 12, so thought it would be fine. According to the pattern I am a size 18!!!! Not happy. Anyway, I added quite a bit onto the pattern and shock, horror, I made a skirt yesterday afternoon. I even figured out how to put in a zip. It is amazing what is filed away in the deep dark recesses of your memory. The skirt is completed except for a hook and eye, which I have to find in all my stuff. It is a tiny bit big in the waist, but as there isn't a waist band, as such, I can easily take it in. The best thing is that now it is made I like it. The main reason I stopped making clothes (like about 20 years ago) was that I went to all the effort and I didn't like the finished product once I put it on. I'll post a photo of my skirt when I can arrange for one to be taken.

I then went on to make 2 bibs. They just need a velcro tab for fastening. I've never made a bib before and was happy with the way they turned out. (Sorry about the side on photo.)

I must say that I didn't expect to have made a skirt and 2 bibs this holiday.


While I was in town I also visited Home Patch, home of Hatched and Patched. I had a gift voucher from my birthday last January which I hadn't used. I now own a really large cutting mat. My old one is only 11 inches wide, so it has always been awkward cutting wide strips of fabric. Now I have no excuse. I also came home with Anni's latest books "The World as it Should Be" and "Simple Pleasures" and a fabric pack for a bookmark. We are so lucky to have Home Patch as one of our local patchwork stores.







Consequently, Red Delicious is still not started. I don't think I'll get much done now, as I have to get the New Years Eve party organised and still have lots to do for Dad's party. Hopefully I'll be able to sneak a bit in.

Merry Christmas

It is now Christmas evening and we have had a lovely day.

Here are a few of our decorations. This is my very small collection of vintage decorations acquired at the local church white elephant stall a couple of years ago with a newer Santa and bears.

The gold and red bauble on the left is my oldest decoration. I received it when I was 5 years old. It was so luxurious compared to our other decorations. It has lasted really well. The gold glass decoration on the right was new last year.

Here is the table set last night in readiness for lunch today. I love the way the table looks all dressed up. We are lucky to be able to fit everyone in the lounge room.

Mick played Santa as usual. There are so many presents under the tree when we all get together. Mum liked her armchair caddy. Mick liked the several books he received, so he will be engrossed for a few days. I gave my sister-in-law a cookbook created by a local school to raise funds for breast cancer research.... and she gave me a copy. Great minds think alike. Now we'll both have to use it.

Mick spoilt me - he gave me a summer bike jacket which is something I have been wanting. He chose it himself and it is ideal and fits well. Very happy. He also gave me a new maximum/minimum thermometer, as our old one isn't terribly accurate after about 20 years.

This is my niece with the new pedal car. She was having a great time riding it around the verandah. Her little sister will get use out of it when she is a bit bigger. Both our nieces and our nephew were with us today and they had a good time.

We had 15 family members for lunch. I didn't have to do all the cooking as everyone contributed something. For the first time we didn't have a full roast. We baked the ham and turkey, but had lovely salads to accompany the meat. This was then followed by plum pudding, pavlova, trifle and lemon meringue pie... and best of all... I didn't have to make any of the sweets, just enjoy them.

This photo shows me on the left and my sister-in-law on the right with the spread of food we created. If anyone went hungry it was their own fault.

After lunch everyone was happy just to sit around and talk and let our lunch settle.

This evening we are just having a lazy time.

In the lead up to Christmas we rush around, get stressed, wonder why we do it, say we'll never do it again. But, in the end, everyone has a wonderful time, family gets together, and it is all worth it.

Merry Christmas.

Only One More Sleep

Twas the day before Christmas.......and so much to do.

Yesterday was my first day of holidays. Yay!!

I had plans on getting lots done, but you know what they say about "The best laid plans of mice and men". First of all I had to take Felix to the vet. We had heard a cat fight on Sunday night and he was a bit under the weather on Monday, but yesterday morning he had a very sore leg and was off his tucker. He has the start of a abscess, so had injections of pain killers and a big dose of penecillin with tablets to take for a week. Hopefully that will nip it in the bud and he won't have to have a drain in his leg. He picked up a lot yesterday afternoon and got his appetite back. He seems OK this morning too.

So, instead of having a quick early trip to town I didn't get in there till mid morning and it was after lunch before I got home. Fortunately I could leave Felix at Mum's while I was in town. It's very handy at times having a mum in town. LOL

It was a bit stormy yesterday, but at about 6 o'clock last night a really ferocious storm hit. We were going to sit on the verandah and watch the weather, but when it hit it was just a wall of water, some small hail and gale force winds. There is apparently quite a bit of damage in town and the winds were the highest recorded for some years. We didn't have any damage and received just over an inch of rain. Mick will have to fix the tinsel on the tree he decorated up the drive - it will be spread all over the place. We were without power until nearly 10 o'clock. Therefore nothing got done last night.

I finally took a photo of our tree. It looks a bit washed out here. I'll try to take one tonight with the lights. That was planned for last night, oh well. My dad won the pedal car in a raffle, so my nieces will get a lovely present this year.

Blue Wren Armchair Caddy

I have finally taken photos of the armchair caddy I made for Mum for Christmas. I finished it a couple of weeks ago - very unlike me to have something done in plenty of time:-)

My SIL made one of these for Mum several years ago with applique of sewing items from a pattern in a magazine and it has just plain worn out, so Mum has requested a replacement. I couldn't find the pattern, so just took measurements from the old one and adapted it.

Mum loves blue wrens, so when I found the stitchery by Cinderberry Stitches I was thrilled. I then adapted it to suit the caddy and have used more traditional fabrics. The results should suit her.

We saw a blue wren this morning, it lives in our garden. We also saw a robin red breast. We don't see them very often at all, so it was nice to see one at Christmas time.

Ta Da!

The Christmas Angel decorations are finished for my nieces. They are very simple, but I think the girls will like them. I put their initial on the wing so they know which is theirs.

We are having a 70's New Year's Eve party with some friends. I have my mum's 70's evening dress, but it doesn't "look" very 70's - she is somewhat conservative - and I just didn't know whether to wear it or not, but didn't have a better option. However, that has now all changed. I called into a local op shop and found a canary yellow dress with white poker dots. I think it is newer than 70's as it is longer, but I'll take it up and it should look the part. It looks bright and summery. There will be plenty of fabric left to make a headband.

For the party, I will tie dye a t-shirt orange for Mick. I bought the gear to do this before I realised he could have just worn his "Goodies" t-shirt. Doh!! It will be fun having a go at tie dying, though - I haven't done any since school.

While I was at the op shop I also found a chest of drawers. They are appear to have been the drawers of an old desk and go a long way back. They have a masonite top covered with contact - bewdiful!! - and cost a massive $7.00. The drawers will strip back nicely and we will put on a new top and then paint the top white and they will be perfect for fat quarters and should fit under a cutting table in my sewing room. The cutting table and sewing room are still figments of my imagination - but hopefully will become a reality in the next year - fingers crossed.

Berries

Well, I didn't get the Christmas decorations finished last night. Maybe tonight........

What we did do was pick raspberries and boysenberries from our garden. We are going to have our best crop ever this year. We picked all these last night (and this is after we had lots on ice cream). There should be lots more for Christmas. It is always one of our treats at this time of the year.

The passionfruit vine we planted last year has flowered this year, so here's hoping we might be able to have our own passionfruit on icecream later in the summer. Yummmmy!!

While we were in the garden we saw two pied butcher birds, which we don't see very often around here, and heard two corellas. I always associate corellas with the outback and the Darling River. This is the second time we have had them in the last couple of months. The first time I heard them Mick told me I was hearing things, until we saw them fly overhead. I don't know why they have come this far east. Anyway, I'll just think of the outback whenever I hear them.

Getting Closer to Christmas

Just a quick post today. Here is a progress photo of the Christmas decorations for my nieces. The pattern was a freebie from Anni Downs' Hatched and Patched a few years ago. It is quick and easy which is what I want this year. Hopefully they will be finished tonight.

More Red Delicious

It is not yet 7.00am in the morning, but I have already started printing out the 2nd Red Delicious block. This looks like it will be a really spectacular quilt. Apparently there were over 11,000 dowloads of Block 1. I can't wait to start.
Yesterday we were able to get nearly all of our Christmas shopping done. There are just a few bits and pieces to get.

Last year I made a Santa sack for my youngest niece as it was her first Christmas. I found the applique pattern in a magazine (I can't remember which one) as a wallhanging panel. I had made the eldest niece and our nephew their Santa sacks a few years ago from a Hatched and Patched pattern and they are used every year. I was really happy how this one turned out, particularly as my machine was playing up at the time and I got rather frustrated with it all.

I started making Christmas decorations for my two nieces yesterday as well. I know this is a bit late but they are away at the moment and won't be home until Saturday, so there is a bit of time. I have tried to make decorations most years, although occasionally they have been store bought. This is the one I made for the eldest last year. It was a kit I found at a market.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Christmas is getting close and today is the big Christmas shopping day. We are going to the Car Club Christmas party at lunch today and Mick and I seem to have developed an annual routine that we do our present shopping in the morning of the day of the party. We usually work out what we wish to purchase beforehand, but this year we are lacking inspiration. As usual, it will all work out OK.

This evening we will be attending our neighbourhood Christmas party. We have lovely neighbours and this is a great way to end the year.

I thought you might like to see what our Joey got up to last Christmas. Here's hoping he doesn't try to repeat it this year as he is quite a bit heavier now.

On a crafting note, I have finished Mum's Christmas present. I haven't had a chance to take photos yet, so will give more details later. I have my fabrics ready for the Red Delicious block of the month and hope to start after the madness of Christmas and New Year has passed.

I'm Back

After a long break, I think I'll have another go at posting to my blog.

I've been wanting to do a block of the month for some time and have just found Esther Aliu's Red Delicious Block of the Month.....and.... it is just starting. I usually come across them when they are halfway through, and often half the patterns are no longer available. So, this can be my big project for the next 12 months.

We went to Glen Innes last month to the Land of The Beardies Festival. I found these on the CWA Stall for 50c. They are both the same, a redwork scotty on one side and a lovely old floral on the reverse. The base is open, but they are not lined. They've got me stumped. They are too big for egg cosies, no good as oven mitts?? Who knows..... I couldn't leave them there for that price.

I've also had a bit of fun thrifting lately.

I went to one of the local op shops the other day and came out with 2 treasures. I saw this old motocycle helmet dated 1970 and in really good nick. I ummed and aahed, but for $5.00 I thought I'd buy it and if Mick thinks I'm daft I'll put it on the Swap Meet in February and hopefully get rid of it.

When I showed it to him he was over the moon. It is a Bell Super Magnum and they were apparently the best in their day, and he had one just the same in silver in his youth. He tried it on and it fitted perfectly, not that you'd want to wear it. It even matches the old Montessa 123 Trials Bike we have.

I found some 70's toy patterns at the local op shop which look like fun, and all the pattern pieces are there.

Our Trip to Townsville

Make a Smilebox scrapbook We took the sidecar to Townsville for the Ulysses Club AGM. It was a quick trip up - 3 days of approximately 700kms a day. The weather was glorious, big skies, lots of space. We met some other Ulyssians on the way and they were all friendly. We didn't have time to stop and look at much but did have a bit of a look around Mt Morgan. Once at Townsville we set up camp in the Showground with friends from Rockhampton. We took a day trip to Charters Towers, another to Magnetic Island and up to Paluma via Crystal Creek. We had a lovely few days. The weather was kind to us as well. We then had another quick 3 day trip home. We had intended travelling down the coast to Rockhampton, but the weather down there was feral, so we came home via the inland route. We still got quite a bit of rain, but not as much wind. It was a great trip, although not long enough.

Griffith Anzac Classic Motorcycle Rally

We took "Snubby" the sidecar to Griffith for their annual classic motorcycle rally on the Anzac long weekend. We last attended this rally in 1994, so thought, as Anzac Day fell on the Friday, we would go again.

Friday saw an early start, attending the Dawn Service with Dad at 4.30am and then home to get the bike and be on our way at 7.30am. We had a great trip down, not in any great hurry and arrived late afternoon to set up the tent.

The format was for a BBQ dinner on Friday night, a 180km run to a wier on the Murrumbidgee River near Leeton for lunch and voting for the bikes and then back to Griffith for a presentation dinner that night. There was a short run and lunch on Sunday, but we had to head home.

There were 180 bikes in the rally, ranging from a 1913 Rudge (Best of Rally) to the latest models, covering a wide range of makes and models.

The weather on the Saturday was lovely, but it was raining on Saturday morning, so we had to pack up the tent in the rain. It rained a bit on the way home, but we would have liked it to rain more to see how the sidecar will go in the wet. From about Cowra to home it blew an absolute gale. If we had been 2-up on the bike I would have been terrified, but it was OK with the sidecar. Likewise, going through some very greasy roadworks just after the water truck on the way down was much easier than just with the bike.

We were very happy with the way everything went.

The photo was taken just west of Ardlethon on Sunday morning with the rain behind us.