Wow

I wandered around the garden after coming home from camp and everything is blooming, the plants are responding so well to a little bit of weeding - well OK they were smothered!

My wisteria is the best it has ever been!

This orchid was given to me by a good friend - 2 spikes this year!

Banksia rose clipped to the bone but still flowering

Double white Banksia rose

Clematis climbing the fence

Isopogon - Candy Cones - new this year and I love it!

I struck this one - it is growing well and looks so good

Don't know what this is - bought it at a fair a couple of years ago...

Just Joey - my first bloomer this year

Dug out, cut back but this creeper is still blooming

No there aren't any weeds here, poor miniature lavender it is all overgrown... 

Couldn't believe my rhodohypoxis were already flowering!

Must put some more camp photos up!

Camp!

Back from camp and it was such fun. We talked, ate and stitched! Vicki invited me along and while I didn't know anyone else it didn't matter, all were so lovely and as I arrived the night before Vicki they all welcomed me and I felt as if I had known everyone for ages. I love my swap from Pauline, the stitching is superb.

Pauline made this and I was so lucky to get it in the swap

Mine is bigger than yours!

Meridith spent all weekend hand quilting, isn't it magnificent?

hmmm whose feet are these

Well I didn't get much done this week end :) but who would expect Ted to sew?

Yes I did venture outside at least once

Hope we all can go again next year, Hagley Farm School is a lovely spot and the accomodation was great. I also met Cathy who is going to be working with me next year. Thanks to Sarah and Cathy for organising everything.

Royal dresses

M and I had a big sewing day today but that's not all!

We decided to have a break after lunch and went over to the Barn at Rosny to have a look at the Bonsai display. Loved the plants they were fantastic, so beautiful but I decided I would resist as I know coming home with me would not be good for them lol.

We went over to the Masonic Hall to look at what we thought was a textile display and found a dealers' market but enjoyable any way. The display frocks were gorgeous, it is nice to know that Queen Vic was fatter than me. The good on sale were lovely too, some amazing stitching.

Bag I made for J's birthday

One of the display gowns

You can imagine someone slaving over this for days and days

What better view could you have while cutting out! Even with rain on the window.

M's dyed, printed, embroidered material - a bag coming up!

Sewing busy busy

I have been very busy sewing - even while I was watching Collingwood win the Premiership. Good old Collingwood yay! Burnie High are having a big weekend and I promised Vicki I would make some goodies for her. We have a Campus meeting at Campbell Town tomorrow so I will take them with me to give to her.




Here they are! Fun making them too



Love the little cat button I 'found' in my cupboard

A few pencil cases

Out of the weeds!

I know I have a lot of weeds but I do have some beautiful flowers as well.

Mum's favourite flowers

So much better in the garden

Miniature daffodils

These are like weeds, they multiply so much every year, everyone in Hobart has some

Visitors!

R and J came over from Melbourne for a weekend visit. We had a great time doing the tourist things, Richmond, Oatlands, Salamanca, Cygnet. Busy weekend but such fun.

Richmond Bridge

R and J on the bridge

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Salamanca treasures

The Mill at Oatlands in use after 100 years

R enjoying the company and food at The Red Velvet Lounge.

Craft fair

The quilt fair saw me spending lots of money but I am very happy with my purchases. I bought a light box, cutting mat and lamp. No excuses now!

I loved this quilt, I spent a lot of time wandering around although there were only a few that impressed me.

I think it must be my 'Asian' period....

Home again!

Well at N's in the Hunter Valley anyway, closer than China. I don't think I want to go home but tomorrow is it...
The last day in China was at Du Fu Cottage, a park in honour of an ancient poet. The trees, plants and ponds were magnificent. We also visited a brocade factory before into the plane again.

Stunning

Then we went to Hong Kong for a couple of days, so hot and steamy but really enjoyed it, didn't do much shopping but of course I bought some material.


Hong Kong boat - fishing or washing?



View from Peak

The flight home was fantastic, my beautiful daughter gave me points to upgrade, now I need to become a millionaire so I can fly like that all the time!

Chengdhu

Echo picked us up last night and today we went to see the pandas! So cute but we were a little disappointed in the information available. I was in agony with my back but was OK when walking or sitting, it was getting up and down that hurt.

Not just pandas at the panda park!

How cute

In the afternoon we went down to Leshan to see the standing Buddah. On the way we passed tea terraces but couldn't stop - we were a bit disappointed as it would have been quite easy to diverge slightly. We chose to go on the boat to the buddah but would have been great to walk up, darn back! Tea was great, went to a local restaurant and Echo ordered for us, we then went on to the Sichuan Opera. Amazing....

Sichuan Opera

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BROTHER