Away on retreat at Lake Cullulleraine.

 I was lucky enough to be away on retreat recently with 25 ladies from our quilt group. We went from Thursday to Sunday and I had a great time.

It was very productive. Unfortunately I didn’t get many photos so they will be posted about when I get some work back.

No. 1…..  Machining on the binding to this panel charity quilt for someone else to hand stitch down. 

No. 2….. Putting on the binding onto this cute baby quilt which will be gifted in March next year.

No. 3….. Assembling all my embroidered blocks, attaching sashings… Done. another post to come.

No. 4 & 5….. Group blocks made and assembled into not 1 but 2 great scrap quilts. These are now with others for quilting. Will do a post with them when the binding is finished.

No. 6….. More embroidered quilt blocks made by my friend Sue. These are sunflowers. I have got them out of the old packed away boxes to get them done. I’m so glad the pattern was with them as I had no idea what I was up to. All the pieces are cut except the navy. They only thing was the navy fabric wasn’t with them. So I have to go searching so I can get it finished.

No. 7….. After lunch on Sunday I just sat and put through a heap of scraps through the go cutter and cut piles of 2” strips. I have another idea for a scrap quilt and this will also include string block. More on this project later.

I have not unpacked any of my things and I have been home for 10 days now.

It was a great time and I even stopped by and joined in Chooky’s zoom for a little while. Not long though. I had to go and eat breakfast otherwise I would miss out.

Mildura floods.

 We have had so much rain and more to come. The floods are rising.

Here are a few photos for you to see the changes over the last couple of days.

Lock 11… then

And today

Next is the playground near the cafe, which has been relocated.

Apex holiday park on Friday

And today

This is the dock where the paddle steamer leaves from. As you can see the water level is extremely high. No access at all.

This was Lock 10

Now it is covered. This shot is showing where the Darling and the Murray Rivers meet at Wentworth NSW.

Dockside cafe 2 weeks ago.

And look at it now. The garden beds are completely covered as is the bottom dining deck.

We are expecting it to get much higher over the next week or two.

Luckily we live at the other end of town and are not affected at all.

Another scrap project in works

 With some more of scrap blocks being assembled I will have another quilt together soon.

These are some blocks that have been made.

Now I am assembling them… They will make a great top. 

I’m sure there will be lots of areas that will need quilts now after all the flooding.

Junee, part 4. The Train Roundhouse.

Scrap sewing for Charity

 I have been asking my group for some help sewing some 2.5” scrap blocks. Once made I will sew the blocks together to make some tops.

My first top is together. I was also given a bag of fabric scraps and there was a big piece of fabric that will do for the backing. Now to cut the wadding and pass it on to a member who will quilt it.

Out to dinner and an Elvis tribute.

 It’s been a while since my daughter and I went to dinner and a show. We used to go to a few when we lived in Melbourne. This was the first time in a while. We enjoyed a lovely Chinese dinner at Andy’s. 

Then got to the theatre for a glass of wine before the show. A Wednesday evening at 7.30 pm in October. A beautiful evening with the flooding rain on its way.

Next we were entertained with a lovely trio of Elvis impersonators.

Wow, no. 1 was 100% fantastic. He could move and sing. It reminded me of my Saturdays watching the Elvis midday movies with my mum. I could have watched him all night. No. 2 had a good voice but his moves and actions were strained and a bit jerky and forced. No. 3 was a great entertainer. He could sing and got the whole audience to participate. He even did a tribute to Olivia Newton John who recently passed away. 

Mildura floods

 Here is an update on the flood situation… Chooky did a post about her part of the country and I will follow on with mine. Chooky’s floods……

My hubby and I went out for brunch last Friday to a lovely cafe that opened during Covid. We are so lucky to have this lovely spot?

It was about 1/2 hour drive from home and on the way we followed the river. Here we stopped at Curlwa boat ramp. See the black box sticking out of the water, that’s the rubbish bin.

Then the Wentworth, NSW, boat ramp. You can see what was the seat for viewing. That black long rectangle on the right of the photo.

And the table and chairs for a picnic. No not today, Thank you.

Next we went to the park at Wentworth where it is covered in water. 

There was the playground and you can see a little sign in the middle of the photo. This is where you usually stand to get great photos.

Then there is that log at the edge of the water. I was told today that the log is now covered in water.

We drove a bit further to lock 10.. Well a lock is usually at different heights but it is now just one level. The river and lock is the same height.

You might be able to see the trees in the centre on the left of the photo and the two rivers meet and are different colours. That’s the Darling and the Murray rivers that Chooky mentioned.

I was told today that the water levels are now even higher.

I have been sewing hexies.

 Moving on with a UFO. I have been working on my Japanese hexies.

I am on the last one. Then I will get out the sashiko blocks and work out what I have to do next.

All my other mystery surprise hexies are done. I can’t show them yet but please be patient.

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.

HELP PLEASE …… Temperature Quilt help….. ALL SORTED

 Our group might be deciding to make some temperature quilts but I need help.

If you have made one or are making one could you please comment and add a link to the pattern of block/quilt you are making.

I think I have an idea for myself but would like to see what others have done….

EDITED…….Thanks everyone for your help. Janet sent through this link at Canuck Quilter blog. https://www.canuckquilter.com/search?q=temperature+quilt

Joanne has a great post about her temperature quilt, how to go about starting and explains the whole procedure of making one. She also has a free pattern for anyone who wants to make their own. So go have a look see and enjoy reading about other projects she makes.