AHQ THANKYOU

Our patchwork group made and posted overseas more than 50 laundry bags to our service men and women. It boosts their sports, brightens their day and shows that people back home care about them.

It's not very often we get a reply but one day I received this.

How thrilled was I to pass it on to the group.

This is why we do it.

Good morning Jo.

My name’s PTE Annette.  I am currently deployed to Malaysia, –rotation, as the Finance Clerk. I have been here since 03 Sep and I am due to return to Australia 30 Nov.

Firstly, I must apologise for taking so long to send a reply, but the work here has been keeping me extremely busy. I am writing to thank you for the beautiful laundry bag that you all made and sent over for us to use – they have certainly come in very handy! I selected the lovely blue, black and white abstract design, which caught my eye over any of the others.  I am quite artistic and dabble in a number of creative pursuits, so this is probably why I selected this one.

I really appreciate all of the wonderful things that are sent over to all of our deployment locations, as I’m sure all other personnel do. It is such a lovely thought and a wonderful feeling to receive something from home, that was made from the heart and is so useful!

Could you please pass on my thanks and kind regards to all of those involved with the project. I wish you all every happiness and I karma comes back to you ten-fold…as you all deserve great things for the kindness you’ve shown. I don’t currently have a picture to send through, but I will endeavour to get something to you in the immediate future.

Take care and thank you again!

Kind regards

Annette

Rememberance Day Challenge

Our quilt group was doing a challenge for the 100 years Rememberance day display at the local information centre. It was hard to come up with an idea.

It was only to be A3 size. This is the size we have been making for MEALS ON WHEELS placemats for Xmas.

Put 2& 2 together and double up.. A placemat for a challenge was made. When the display is over it can be given to someone for a Xmas gift. Hopefully to cheer someone up.

So a design came together.

My poppies are cut out and ready to put into place.

All ironed on and ready to stitch

This is what I have used as the backing

More wildlife and our last MEAL together on this trip.

A Possum up a tree above where we were sitting. He got the last of our bread. We enjoyed sitting there watching him eat.

WOW, what a dinner. Roast beef, mash and fried up veggies.. YUMMY.

Look at this camp fire and dinner is cooked.

A roast meal fit for a king and we were feeling like kings and queens that night.

A cute little echidna waddling on the side of the road...

The last day of our trip was extremely bad dust storms, thunder and lightning.

We decided to stop an hour from home and treat ourselves to a night in a motel, a feed at a club and a great nights sleep.

Refreshed the next morning for the hours drive home, unpacking and a trip to the grocery store.

Then back to work the next day.

Xmas tree decorations

I took a class at my local quilt group. Each year they decorate a tree at the Visitors Information Centre. I chose to show how to make these cute Santa heads, sewn by machine.
I foundation pieced them and they were so quick to make.
The tree will look lovely.



AND THESE XMAS WREATHS ALL HAND STITCHED.

This covered everyone in the group that wanted to make them and join in on the fun..

These are made with wooden curtain rings, 6 Suffolk puffs, some ribbon and some felt.
How pretty do they look.

These decorations will look great hanging on the Tree.
Or they are really good gifts too.

MORE ANIMALS AT AUSTRALIA ZOO

AUSTRALIA ZOO ANIMALS

GIANT TURTLE



WOMBAT
This guy is so solid.

KOALA
These guys are so cute



I just love watching the koala..

CASSOWARY
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassowary

Here is a BROLGA
Remember back in a past post I mentioned the brolga.
The funny story that passers by were calling it a flamingo. Well, it definitely isn't pink..



CROCODILE

The situation in the rain is more dangerous so the guys didn't get too close to them.

Victoria's quilt

My friend Victoria started this quilt many years ago back in the U.K. Even before we met.
At some point she realised she didn't know how to finish it. There wasn't enough fabric in the bag and no drawings to help out. In the end, with a lot of discussions, we made a plan.
Now, about 20 years later her quilt is complete and on her bed back in the UK.

THIS HAS BEEN ALL BEEN STITCHED BY HAND AND QUILTED BY HAND.
The squares were done by English Paper Pieced (EPP) method. Then all appliqués on to the background fabric.
This was Victoria's 2nd quilt to be made.
Have a look at the story here
https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2016/01/basting-with-friend.html



The first was her Hexies which took about 30 years to complete. Handed down by her grandmother.
This was also all done by hand. It is on a King size bed. You can see that finished one at this link.
https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2014/01/grandmas-flower-garden-hexagons-go-go.html

She has done a wonderful job and is now deciding what to work on next.
All we know is that it will be an EPP.

AUSTRALIA ZOO

Well, we made it to Australia Zoo.
It was amazing. I think the best zoo I have been too.
The enclosures were just so natural.
It was the only day of our trip that it rained but the show went on.

Rhinos are so amazing. They just wandered the grounds in the same enclosure as the giraffes.

I just love watching Meerkats. They are so funny and make me laugh.
Look how tall they stand.

A NEW ZIP FOR AN OLD SLEEPING BAG

My brother had this beautiful sleeping bag that is so heaven and rated at a very high level of warmth. It was a shame to throw away when the zip was damaged and couldn't be used. So I wasn't losing much by giving it a go. Off to Spotlight to by a zip by the metre. It is a plastic chunky zip.

I'm not sure if ts as strong as the metal zip but the small teeth get jammed up easily.

 At least he can give it a go before replacing it.

Pinning the zip to the edge of the bag.

Making sure not to get the lining or outer side of the bag tucked under the zip.

As the lining is very slippery I had to be careful not to catch it anywhere.

Old zip cut off. Damaged in a couple of places.

It's a great heavy, warm sleeping bag lined with cosy flannelette.

Now my brother has a sleeping bag to use.

NO REPLACEMENT NEEDED

Silos

Look at the great pieces of art that are turning up all over the country.

THALLON SILO MURAL

Location: Thallon, QLD 

Another beauty in a small central western town of Coonamble, in NSW

In Coonamble, the town’s 26m water tank was turned into an art work recenlty by Lightning Ridge artist John Murray, Bob Barrett and local Coonamble resident and Aboriginal painter Sooty Welsh.

https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/4791423/silo-art-is-drawing-tourists-photos/

Placemats are done

Here are the last of the placemats I have made for charity. 

These are being given to MEALS ON WHEELS recipients for Xmas.

They should be ok for the guys. 

They have wattle, gum nuts and gums leaves printed on them. Very Australian.

I made these up years ago when I first started ruler work machine quilting.

They were practice and sample pieces of each of the rulers. They are not fantastic works but I'm sure they will make someone happy.

I have now made about 20 to donate and this finish has made a space for me to pull out another UFO.