Retaining Wall

 The beginning of our new retaining wall which goes around our new shed. Once completed we get to plant more garden. Should look very colorful come Spring.  Fingers XX  (crossed)!  There will be room for a  trailer and small car for No. 2 & 3 son will be sharing come mid year.   Will post  again upon completion.
You may just be able to see a row of small hedging plants along the fence line, which son.4 help plant.  We all cannot wait until hedge reaches full hight ,then we can remove the ugly timber fence.

FNSI

Finally had time to post about my Friday night FNSI project.  Continued with the lovely project we were given to do on Sunday at the Girl in stitches Day Out.  Designed by Nikki Tervo beautiful book cover with extras, such as pin case, needle case and note book cover which l am determined to complete in time for September Girls in Stitches, for show and tell.

Scarf Season Is Fast Approaching.

Quick little posts got myself some of that Ruffle Yarn (Elicia)  Thought l would have ago.  Only took my about 1hour to make this little scarf. Surprisingly comfortable to wear.  Great project for your next friendship get together, matching scarfs made over a cuppa.

Hey here is idea make it for the Big Cuppa Tea Morning, a sea of pink scarfs.

On the Village Green.

Went to the Girls In Stitches Day on Sunday, held at the Village Green in Highfields just 20 mins out of Toowoomba.  Absolutely fabulous weather for a fantastic day of stitching.  Arrived early giving  me the opportunity to take photographs with out disrupting  anyone else. Walked in to this very pretty girly marquee complete with two crystal chandelier.

 Small sample of work of  Nikki Tervo  from Brandy Gully, marvelous stitchery's and patterns plus her beautiful buttons which she is more well known.

The day was relaxed fun and as you can imagine at times full of laughter and chatter. When you go to these events you meet a wide range of ladies. You never know when you strike up a conversation with the person next to you that you may have just made a new and lasting friendship.

One challenge for the day was each table had to have a name, there were some real tongue twisters.  Another challenge was to decorate a shoe, so we pooled together what we had and started to construct.

Some made flowers out of the serviettes and added beads, to this motor cycle boot. Others added buttons, ribbons, broaches, flowers out of the garden and off the table.  It was a complete stress-less day and much enjoyment was had.

When l think of Village Green l have this picture form in my head of Mid Sommer,  well it is nothing like it.

Bags Galore!

 Where to start (sigh) it has been very busy around here the past week or so.... Son No. 2 starting work as casual shop assistant, Son.No 3 Off on camps with the Ventures and becoming patrol leader. Off on another camp this weekend to Crows Nest. Son No. 4 vegging out, not really he was helping plant out the garden. Which all will be revealed in another post.

Making more bags this one is for my youngest sister she love blues.    Trying to get to local sewing groups. Finishing off projects as quickly as possible, so l can start new ones.

Framing up the Kookaburra stitchery well stretched over canvas.  Framing has become to expensive, for every stitchery.  Son No. 3 has promised to make me a rustic frame.

This little oringal plastic bag is for my mother who has been waiting patiently in the wings for a new shopping bag. Recycled handles form another bag which was past repair.  More bags to make for friends to come. This is going to be another year of making bags, quilts and garden

My Green Bag!

That's right more of that green fabric!  I know you are asking yourself, how much did she buy??  Well this is close to the end ...... except for the crazy patch ovenware l am making next out of the scraps.
This was suppose to be my FNSI  project l did have it already cut out on Friday afternoon,  but we had visitor so l started it on Sunday.
This bag is for ME.








Have started planting my lush tropical garden, has a long ways to go.  Just love the shape and colour of this leafy plant.  Added a couple of orchids and a bird of paradise still in their pots waiting for retaining wall to be started and completed.

Thread Catcher.

This is my thread catcher, it is attached with velcro to my sewing machine mat, so it will be easy to remove it to be emptied.

May go looking for some nice green very large ric-rac.  Attach some fabric bows etc.  That is the last item for the sewing machine.

Now on to another book cover & maybe a bag or even oven-mitts or pot stand.

The Girls In Stitches Day Out....

The annual Girls In Stitches Day is fast approaching.  Held March Saturday,10th & Sunday,11th.  I will be attending again this year to both events held at the Village Green  in Highfields.   Wonderful time had celebrating & meeting new and interesting women of like minds. Event held by the Quilting Angel patchwork store. Guests: Debbie  Maggee (Always Stitchin) & Nikki Tervo  (Nikki Tervo Design / Brund Gully).

Sewing Machine Table Mat.

 Matching fabric for my Sewing machine table mat.

 Don't you love it when everything coordinates.    I have attached the binding to the mat.



Next the mat completed, bound & quilted.
Placed neatly under machine, only thing missing now is the thread catcher, which has not been forgotten.  Still in progress.

Looking rather well dressed if l do say so.  Fabric brightens up the whole sewing room area.

Valentines Day Dinner.

 This is what is on the menu for our Valentines Family Dinner.  Roast pork with apple, raisin stuffing, horseradish & garlic gravy.  With roast potatoes, pumpkin and steamed broccoli.  Recipe from the Coles Christmas magazine 2010 edition.


Homemade Cassata ice cream always the children's favorite.      Recipe from the Australian women's weekly Home Library Italian cooking class.

Lemon curd tarts recipe from the Coles magazine again.  As l had six egg yolks left over from the pavlova  l made two nights ago.

What would be Valentine's Day without a heart or two.  Shortbread biscuits decorated with mashmellows and jaffas. Made by my No.2 son.

Going to really need a good work out after this meal.

Thank goodness son's girl friend is coming over to dinner to save me from eating too much.

Great success!!

Sewing Machine Cover.

Saw this great fabric when l went to Warwick last Wednesday.  

Fabric rage is "Bag It!" by  Fabri-Quilt,Inc. 

Clean, fresh just what l needed for the new sewing area.   Was easy to make this machine cover, with ties on the sides.  Sometimes the simple things in life are the best. 

 Purchased enough to make a number of items.

...Memories...

 Memories are funny things...you remember people, situations from your past in a different light.... as years go by.

I was looking though my recipe books looking for a certain cake l wanted to make. (A simple tea cake).  When out of it's pages fell this little picture my DS2 drew.  An" idea" came to me, l would make this into a recipe book cover for my Mother for Christmas this year. So she could collate her favorite Christmas recipes and hand them down after she is no longer with us. ( Which hopefully will not be for a long time yet).  I went off to Officeworks to have the original enlarged as l was not sure how l would tackle this project.   So l have decide to make my mother a wall hanging also.

My sister Wanda past away in 2009 from the big "C". She was only 52yrs old.
She had a hard life after marring young and having two children a pigeon pair, her marriage broke down, after postnatal depression, nervous break down  turned into schizophrenia, for many years, a treatment on medication and  shock treatments.  Then after she finial come off her medication the big "C" came along with all its treatments.  Makes me very emotional just thinking about a life lost.

As a young girl growing up she was a bit of a Tom boy.  Full of mischief , fun and a great sister to have on your side. Always there to lend a helping hand if needed.  As the years past on into high school she showed her talents with sewing , music and drawing.
This is when she drew this picture for my cookery class.   Each year l made a Christmas cake for the family and this year l had chosen to do something a little different.  Hence the sketch was drawn onto the cake. I was so excited for getting full marks for having an original idea.  Thanks to my sisters help!

Now the same sketch will be used again, keeping her in our thoughts always.  These are the memories we leave behind for our loved ones.  It was great to be able to remember Wanda as l stitched this small project together and will not be the last time l will be struck by memories.

....more quilters / man cave.

That's right l am already taking over part of the shed. Hehehe!  I have not quite got half but it will all come in time.   I was given 1/3rd as long as DH was allowed to put in a false ceiling for storage. Which also works in with my plans.  I think my part needs a name.