My weekend with friends and scraps

 I had a great and busy time over the weekend.

I saw a fun scrappy quilt on line and decided to have a go. A couple of friends came over to sew along too.

Sewing up our scraps into 9 patches, then making fancy blocks.

Doing the extra stitching row on the stitching and flip corners makes a bonus 2.5” square. Trimming them and making another pattern was exciting. I will end up with 48 or 56 squares depending how big I make my quilt.

Then we moved on to make a plastic front pouch.

I taught them how to make these using your own measurements depending on the fabric you have. It is done in a way that there are no exposed seams. Here are the 3 of them completed. Everyone was happy.

I made mine with a scrap of orange so I could link up with RSC .

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2025/06/scraphappy-saturday-orange.html

I celebrated a birthday and caught up with friends

 I celebrated my birthday a few times this month. I had a lovely lunch with Maxine who bought me some flowers.

 We had a good catch up.

Tony and I had a good day out meeting up with Judy, Barry, Pat and Allen.

We met half way at Murrayville. Had lunch in the little Cobb n Co cafe.

It was a great catch-up all be it very warm. BUT.

I handed over my quilt, backing and wadding for Judy to do her magic.

Sewing with friends

  I had some friends stay for the weekend. 

We had a mini workshop making our Kris Kringle gift for our Xmas break up dinner. We were to make a mug bag and mug rug, following the same pattern.

Here is what we made following this tutorial.       Mug Bag & Mug Rug Tutorial

We had fun making them and can’t wait to see what everyone receives.

It’s been a month and what have I done?

Yes, the title says it all.

My last post was a month ago. It isn’t because I haven’t done anything but my motivation is lacking. I have been reading posts but not doing any myself. So her is a long overview of what I have been up to. There might be some more posts about a few things if I feel up to it.

First up back in July I went down to Melbourne and caught up with some friends to see the stage show 9-5. It was great but the the sound wasn’t quite right.

Over the next 2 days I attended the Melbourne Quilt & Craft fair. It was wonderful and I did a bit of cash damage.

 

It was good to see this Sashiko quilt because it is the one I did a class on a quilting cruise with Jane MacDonald. I have not done much of it but I think it is time to get this of the shelf. I think I have most of the hexies done.

A little while later, when hubby returned from his around Australia trip, we headed back to the Macedon Ranges for a weeks break together. We caught up with a great friend and enjoyed the day together. We had lunch at The Top of the Range Cafe, a very special place for us, did the tourist walk through Kyneton and did a drive by of the filming and building sites in Gisborne for the the tv show THE BLOCK.

The main reason for the break was for me to attend the Kilmore Kwilters 25th Anniversary luncheon. I was part of this group for many years before I moved away. It was fantastic to see them all again.

I then spent a sewing day with the Gisborne group but forgot to get a photo. I do miss those Mondays. The week had come to an end and the locals came out by our cabin to say good bye. They were very happy grazing in the morning while we packed up our car and headed home.

On the sewing front I have done very little. I have been working on placemats for charity. We make them for Sun Assist to give to meals on wheels recipients at Christmas time. We have now made about 60 but would like another 100 by end of November. I am not sure we will end up with that many though. The girls are getting a bit burnt out. I haven’t got a photo of them all but here are some in progress.

Then I tried to crochet a little beanie. It didn’t take long but the yarn isn’t very soft.

Next I knitted 2 little snuggle bunnies. I am yet to fill the head and embroider the faces. My concentration span hasn’t been great of late.

I have now found a great ginger biscuit that my hubby likes so I have to make a batch every weekend. They are full of spice and real ginger chunks. I bake them a little longer as he likes the darker colour and them being hard. Better to have with coffee. The batch makes about 36 small biscuits.

Ingredients

• 200 g plain flour
• 2 tablespoon dry ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarb)
• 115 g Butter
• 115 g castor sugar
• 30 g golden syrup
• 250 g uncrystallised ginger diced

Preparation steps

1. Preheat oven to 170 deg
2. Place 200 g plain flour, 2 tablespoon dry ginger and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarb) in bowl and mix 
3. Set aside.
4. Cream together 115 g castor sugar & 115 g Butter then add 30 g golden syrup and mix. 
5. Add 150g - 250g uncrystallised ginger diced (to your liking)
6. Add flour mix. Beat until mixed.
7. Roll teaspoon of mix into a ball and flatten with your hand. Bake in 170' preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. I check mine from about 14 minutes so they don’t burn and they turn out hard and crunchy.    Cookies will harden on cooling.

We also love these Parmesan crisps and as my brother was coming for a visit I made some for our snack.

I sent him on his trip with a batch too.

So that’s about it. Yesterday at my sewing group I actually got out a ufo which is about 8 years old and worked on it. When I unpack that bag I will take some photos and do a post. Today I am going to do some hand hexie work. ( these are nearly finished too).

Have a great week every one.

My big trip and dinner with FAMILY

I have set off on a holiday and first stop on the way is from Mildura to Melbourne to spend a night with my daughter and her family. A work friend came with me for a break and my great friend Christine drove over to meet me for dinner.

Here we all are out for dinner at my daughters local club where they love the food eatery week.

It was great to see them all and give them a big hug as we don't see them often with me having moved away from the area.

Now on the plane for our trip to Perth

Here is the start of a long awaited trip.

A tick off the bucket list.

I have been away for 5 weeks starting with a relaxing week in Mandurah with my hubby, brother & a work friend. Then hopped on the back of my hubbies motor bike and rode with my brother up the west coast of Western Australia and over to Darwin. We stayed with another brother in Darwin for 5 days. I came home very tired.

Hubby and my brother rode to Perth, up the West Coast, over to Townsville and down the East coast of Australia down Queensland and NSW them home. About 14,000 kms. My part on the bike was about 5,000 kms. 

We met up with Maria from LIFE ON THE BLOCK , saw lots of great places, did lots of things, camped by the side of the road in tents, in caravan parks, stayed in cabins, booked motels, stayed in a resort and expensive apartments. 

We had a blast. I loved all the different aspects.

We didn't have much internet and when I tried to comment on some blogs and send emails but they don't seem to have posted. 

I am going to break up my trip in between sewing posts. This will give me time to settle back into home. Get some sewing done before I start back at work and catch up on some blog reading.

Pink butterflies

I'm helping out a friend who can't do her own machine quilting.
A while ago she passed two quilts on to me to finish off.
Mmmmmm. Not just stippling. It needed a bit more.
These cute butterflies needed something a little bit more.

So I added little rosettes in the centres of all the intersections.
These were done with the Westalee quilting rulers.

I drew lines from one side to the other and cross hatched the centre.

I stippled all over the butterfly printed fabric..

I have made a continuous butterfly quilting pattern for the border.

Stitched it with the machine without cotton to make holes in the paper. 

Pounced chalk through the holes. (Which didn't work too well)

Then I had to draw over with FRIXION pens. I love these pens.

A great weekend

A beautiful friend was up visiting for the weekend.
So of course we had to show her the best.
Of to lunch at the beautiful TRENTHAM WINERY in NSW

Look at this yummy lunch.
The duck

And I had the Kangaroo steak.
Sorry peoples but it was delicious.

The pork.

And who could refuse dessert.
Banana crepes...

Robinswood Homestead High Tea at Robinvale.

My friends and I headed out for the day. An hours drive later and we arrived at Robinvale.
ROBINSWOOD HOMESTEAD.
A beautiful home with lovely gardens.



It was a lovely homestead. Situated on the banks of the Murray River.
We had a beautiful day out. 

Look at this yummy chicken and veggie soup that was served for lunch.

Having a day out with friends...

Look at this amazing spread. All these beautiful cakes were what were included in our entry ticket with a cup of tea/coffee.

A relaxing visit with friends in Jan Juc

Over looking Torquay golf course.

The view of the beach from the deck

Having a game of Monopoly with the grandsons. 

Yes, Nicholas won...

Exciting Slow Stitching Sunday

What I project I'm working on today....
A few years back my good friend made me a scrappy quilt top for my birthday. I wasn't into using scraps or repetitive designs so I just love what Sue has done.... it sat in the cupboard for 3 years not knowing how to quilt it. Sue thought I didn't like it....

Isn't it lovely

The sashings were done in the shade of green that was my mums favourite colour. I have always wanted to quilt with perle thread.

When we cleaned up mums house I collected a whole tub of bits on rolls, new rolls and lots more. So decision made... This quilt will have a bit of mum in there too.

I cleaned off my table and got to thread basting it. I prefer to thread baste rather than using pins when I am going to hand quilt. I'm not sure how long it will take me to quilt and I have seen other projects damaged by the pins. I also don't like my thread getting caught around the pins when I sew...

I am basting through every square.
So that means about every 2 inches.

I have added a label already and it will be quilted in. This quilt is mine and I don't want it going missing.

My special label of thanks

All the basting is done and the quilt is trimmed down. It looks so much better when you trim it. It feels a lot better too.

All trimmed ready for quilting

Now for the quilting design. I have chosen the BAPTIST FAN design. I followed this great tutorial to  help me out
http://quiltyfolk.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/part-1-learning-how-to-make-baptist-fan.html
I have drawn the design on and now for the threads....
I am using frixion pens to mark this design with. I will draw a few fans, stitch them, lightly iron the pen mark off then draw on some more... I have a lot of colours to choose from and so far it's the blacks that seems to show up the best

My circle maker and frixion pen

Here is the tub of threads to go through.

Look at what I get to choose from

Here are some to start me off. I'm continuing the scrappy feel and just going to finish off some of these rolls...

The threads I am starting with

The end of the day and this is where I am at. I haven't stopped.

Baptist Fan hand quilting is started

Sue, this is for you. Thank you for my lovely gift and now you can see my progress.

I am linking up with Kathy for SLOW STITCHING SUNDAY . This link is for Kathys home page but very Sunday she has a link up...  Go and have a look through to see what others get up to for a relaxing day of stitching.