Shhh I'm back

Seems like a very long time since I have been seen in the neighbourhood so thought I should use some of my holidays in catching up.
I have been having a very relaxing time at home, pottering in the garden and not much else. I went for a walk around Lindisfarne Bay this afternoon in between a few showers and saw these wading birds. I didn't take any photos of the new play park but it is amazing.

I had some very happy mail today from the lovely Fee. I love these and need to think of a fantastic project to use them. The bottom ones are Lollipop by Sandy Gervais and the top cats are Prisma Cats by Ingrid Slyder, I have enough of Lollipop to make a baby quilt but only 4 fat quarters of the Prisma Cats so may have to stash them for a while, I just couldn't resist buying them!

Finally a few of my hellebores. One of my favourite flowers and you can get such a variety of them these days. Here a 4 of mine. The top left is one I stole (lol not really) from my mother's garden and I always think of her when it flowers.

I will be back to show you what I have been sewing SINCE MARCH just as soon as I can sort through my photos. It does feel good to be back. Wonder how long it will take MBBIM to notice, at least he won't nag me anymore.
Till next time,
Lib

Happy days

On Friday I picked up my daughter and son-in-law from the airport an we all went down to their new property,  Kibbenjelok.

It was fanatic to look around for only the second time.  The garden, although a bit neglected at the moment, has so many beautiful plants.  I must admit I did more looking than taking photos yesterday.

We had a first look at the second house, moved to Kibbenjelok by the previous owners,  Gay and Kees Klok, from the area where the Springfield Interchange is now.  I wish I could say I remember it as I lived in the area for about 12 years. 

We did a bit of walking around, this panoramic shows part off the paddocks, with the Derwent River in the distance. I wonder who owns the cattle,  really hope they don't come with the property! The panoramic didn't upload so will have to show that later. I did get a few more photos of plants.

There a couple of old apple pickers huts on the property too. Not really sure that I could have done that job.

I had to take a photo of my favorite room!

And maybe we just had to celebrate our first day at Kibbenjelok with a glass of Tasmanian champagne at the top dam.

Yesterday was sewing day!  I set of early to drive up to Latrobe and the Cherry Shed for a bitch and stitch sew and chat day with my boggy friends, Vicki, Sarah, Cathy,  Leanne, Razzy, Christine. Katherine, Gail and Marina came along too,  not sure if they have blogs! The Cherry Shed is a fanatic venue, we have an upstairs room all to ourselves AND the ice cream is heaven.  What more can you want!

Vicki,  Katherine and Cathy all took stitching.

Gail and Sarah were sewing up a storm on their machines.

Razzy having a serious moment, not many of them I can tell you.

 I took my pin cushions to show Leanne, who designed them and had them featured in the Patchwork and Stitching magazine.  So of course we had to have a photo.

I blogged about this last post

I am having a long weekend so back to Kibbenjelok today, maybe with some gardening tools!

PS the best laid plans,  I had a message that my back fence is going to be done tomorrow so I had to move the back shed - also delayed this post!

Pin pillows

I just love this pin pillow,  designed by my blogging buddy Leanne and in the Patchwork & Stitching magazine (Vol 15 No 1).

Armed with some beautiful French General fabric, I set to,  following the very well written instructions.  They are so easy to make,  OK I admit I didn't do the embroidery, but this is a project that you can finish in a night.  I found the perfect place to hang it as well. So handy when I am stitching.

So what did I do,  some more French General and a second pillow made! Really love this pink French General but probably should have fussy cut to get the beautiful pink rose in the centre.

The prefect place to put some special pins.

Thanks Leanne,  loved making these! 

It's a pretty bag but......

I started this pretty bag a week ago after a bag magazine jumped into my hand as I wandered around the newsagent. 

I love the material but not over happy with the pattern,  oh well it used up some of my Avalon stash and someone will love it!

The veggie garden is still producing,  I have been picking zucchinis and cucumbers,  how about this big one,  picked today with another one taken home by my son.  Can't wait until I get some tomatoes and capsicums though.

On a roll

A beautiful bag magazine jumped into my hand at lunchtime so I had to get started on another bag tonight.

I dragged a charm pack of Avalon by Fig Tree & Co out of the cupboard.  I have to say I am a bit worried that I bought it for another project but too late now!

I laid out the squares then moved them around, and moved them around again..... And again, as you do.

Here the squares are sewn together and the rows are all stacked ready to iron and  sew up but off to bed now,  maybe tomorrow night.

Busy weekend

Last weekend was a long weekend in Southern Tasmania and I managed to pack so much into it.

I started off on Friday night to make a bag, finished last night.  This bag is HUGE! All your sewing bibs and bobs can be packed in here ready to head of to a gossip sewing day or maybe it could be an overnight bag for a weekend getaway.  I downloaded the pattern from Martingale,  absolutely free.  It is called the Fat Quarter Bag by M'Lissa Rae Hawley.

I managed to fit in a bit of gardening as well, so pleased with how it is going.  Of course I had another trip to the tip,  my seventh! I had dug out these poles a while ago but what a job dragging them out of the garden,  had to flex the muscles I can tell you.

I went off to the movies to see Philomena,  fabulous movie,  very confronting and so sad but well worth seeing.  Of course my son and the grand dog came around for a meal as well.

Then yesterday I delivered a birthday gift to my sister-in-law,  another bag, this time in Indigo Crossing by Minick and Simpson, love that fabric.  I tucked a couple of little surprises in it as well.

What a weekend, I had so much fun. 

Wind storm

Luckily I missed most of the wind (apparently up to 130kph) by going to see Philomena at the State Cinema this afternoon.  When I went in the temperature was about 35°c and when I came out it had dropped dramatically and was raining.  I didn't realise how bad the wind had been until I saw the back fence!  Luckily quote to replace it received and accepted a couple of weeks ago.

BTW really enjoyed the movie.

Reporting back

Well I decided to make a fat quarter bag last night as my FNWF project. The pattern was a free download and I really had no concept as to how this would turn out and still not sure as I didn't get it finished.  Looks like another sewing night coming up. 

6 fat quarters needed, this bag is going to be huge!  All laid out ready to sew. 

A few scraps left,  hmm bin or keep........

And this is as far as I got (sorry not a very good photo but getting late! ), the lining attached and now ironing ready to do the top stitching.  I will need to come back to show you the finished bag. 

Friday night with friends

Tonight I am going to join with all the other ladies and get out my sewing. So pop over  here and see who else is coming.  I am off to find the chocolate! 

Update - all ready to go, couldn't find the chocolate so had to choose another ch product.

Sewing

Last night I made a gift for a work colleague who is leaving to go to another job. We will all miss her cheerfulness around the office so I thought Giggles by Me & My Sister would be the prefect fabric for her. Popped inside is a little travel bottle of Molton and Brown body wash.

Gladioli

Where did this come from?  I am sure I didn't plant it. I did have some in another area of the garden but never any gladioli here. What a lovely surprise!