Our trip home, shopping and silos (photo heavy)

 Next up is to show you what we did on our way home.

First was a coffee stop.

The toilet block is covered in a beautiful mosaic tile picture.

It is amazing how the artists get these so real like.

The kids painted here are so good.

The painting goes around the sides but it hard to see the design.

Next we headed to Karoonda but the quilt shop was not open. We did get to visit the craft shop next door though. Yes we did make some purchases.

I am into goats milk soap atm so this was a nice one to try.

Next I saw a little coin purse that also has a spot for a few cards. Something little for when you don’t need a whole bag of stuff.

2 sweet little girls aprons. I thought these would be wonderful for my granddaughters Xmas present. For $12.50 each it was so much easier to buy them. They are very sweet with their matching head scarves.

There was also another silo to visit across the road. These are just amazing.

Our lunch stop was Loxton and another quilt shop. Vaughn’s.

More purchases. I saw this beautiful panel which makes quite a few zippered pouches. One day I will get around to cutting in to it and make one. It is not a thin cotton fabric but a heavier weight. It will make a solid pouch.

A new pin cushion for sewing machine needles. Hopefully this might help me keeping track of the needles I have taken out of the machine. I am yet to set up a system to help me with this.

Some fat quarters I may need for a swap.

I have been watching Anorina make her Kawandi work.I find it fascinating. I saw this thimble which I thought was a good idea and I want to try Kawandi. I’m hoping this will help both with Kawandi and Sashiko pieces.

Overall we had a fantastic weekend.

My shopping and winnings from Judy

 We did have a great time and here are my lucky dip winnings. We were told that none of our gifts were to stay at hers and they must leave the building and go home with us. 

This was my haul. An assorted pack of 32 strips 1/2 wof @ 2.5”

Next up was 2 metres of this pretty blue fabric

Here is a pretty coordinating pack of 3 fabrics.

Look at all these fun goodies.

2 dvd’s, a pack of eyelet-lace, cake of soap and a sewing pattern.

And I bought enough of this pink fabric for my binding . It is the same fabric as in the centre squares of my kit quilt.

And here a some lovely fabrics we need for a few swaps.

I just had to buy this beautiful 21 fat quarter pack.

Once again. Thank you Judy.

Jude’s Cornerstone Creations 21st - Black and Bling - Celebration retreat for Breast Cancer.

 WOW, what a weekend. My friend Maxine and I headed off to Bordertown for a special retreat at Jude’s Cornerstone Creations. We were lucky enough to take up the last 2 spots for this weekend. It was a fundraiser for breast cancer. I have been a blogging and zoom friend of Jude’s for a few years now and we were finally going to meet. How exciting.

You can read all about the $ raised and the stories over at News from Jude.

All we needed to do was to take our clothes, sewing machine and accessories. Our kit was waiting for us.

On the way, just out of Ouyen we saw a funny sight over in the paddock. A dried salt lake field with a tin man running for his life as he was being chased by some tin sharks. It was a good start to the day.

Then we stopped for an early packed lunch break at Murrayville. There was even a little old quilt shop which we stopped in and spent a few $.

This was the toilet block all covered in mosaic tiles. Very pretty.

We arrived safe and well and on time too. The car was unpacked and the fun began. We played quilt bingo  to determine the winner and who got first choice of their kits.I think I was last. Doesn’t matter, there was plenty to choose from. Around 40 kits had been prepared. This was what I chose. The pieces were already all cut out too. Amazing. A stress free sewing weekend. Brilliant.

Maxine made a start on hers. Precisely sewn and ironed I might add. She did a wonderful job too.

Dinner was a beautiful cold meat and salad. So yummy and fresh.

Now for sewing time

The next morning I had a friend that was in the same town drop by to say hi and to see what I was making.

Ooohhhh she was tempted to spend but refrained.

I continued on with my sewing. My blocks were finished.

 

Then it was time to go and dress for dinner. As this was a themed dinner evening. BLACK and BLING was the way to go. We all looked lovely. 

The table was set.

And we even had a 21st birthday cake. Beautiful.

After dinner some Chris and Kathy wanted to make my zippered placemats. Well they had no trouble at all. There was no excuses as there was plenty of fabric and Judy had bags of zips. Let the fun begin.

They got it straight away. Had so much fun that they were going back to their group and teach them..

Didn’t they do a great job.

Well done to everyone and thanks for the weekend. Maxine and I stayed an extra night as we had a bit of a way to travel. I am known to be slow on the side of getting out of my p.j’s. Well I don’t think I am the only one. We had our car packed and the beautiful host Judy and the fairy, Raylene were relaxing after a busy weekend. I was dressed before them and I have proof.

A big Thankyou to Judy for her hospitality and looking after us so well. Thanks to Maxine for travelling with me once again and being my room buddy.

I did get my top finished

My shopping buys and the trip home will be next to post.

Early February SAS and a pin cushion.

 Hi everyone. I am going to be playing catch-up over the next couple of posts. I have had a good and not so good month and have not done anything to do with sewing. So now I will start with.

WHERE AM I AT WITH MY SAS.

I have turned both corners and it is looking good.

I got another row sewn together and another block laid out ready to sew but that has been put on hold until Scrub Stitchin. I think this is what I will be working on as everyone there wants to see it for show n tell.

Also ready for scrub Stitchin is this little pin cushion/clover clip holder. Last year when I was there Chooky gave me a pattern to try. Well, I finally got around to it. It was a tiny log cabin, paper pieced block. What to do with it stalled me but that is sorted now.

I dug into my scrap basket.

Started to sew.

Finished the block and removed the papers.

A pin cushion was made.

Then my clover clips added, ready for my sewing bag to take to Scrub Stitchin. The pattern wasn’t wasted.  It measures 5” finished.

Thanks Chooky

It was about time this beauty was basted.

 I was in the mood to get this one off the wall and basted.

I needed the backing to be pieced. I used what I had and just sewed strips on, trimmed and sewed again.

Then I ended up with this..

Wow… it’s all basted now ready for quilting. The best part is I know how I want to quilt it. Amazing.

Now with the leftovers I will sew them all together and trim down to 2 1/2” strips, keep joining them again until I have enough for the binding. I am keen to use all these scraps up instead of putting them into the scrap bucket…….

SAS progress. Are you tired of my progress photos.

I think I need to take stage by stage photos of my SAS to keep me inspired.

It is a very long project that I could easily loose interest in. 

Ok… I have the ship block done - now to make the corner par to join it to. Here are the cut pieces laid out.

Now sewn into a corner block

Next are the sides blocks of the ship.

The left hand side

The right hand side all laid out.

And stitched

Then I sewed them all together. BUT OOPS. I think I forget the lower left hand pieces of the border.

Here, this looks better. All sewn.

Can you see how I am doing the outer edge in a darker navy so it creates a border. Once the blocks are sewn together in rows there will be nothing else to sew other than quilting it.

Black and bling

 The other weekend I attended a weekend retreat at Jude’s . A breast cancer awareness fundraiser.

Well Saturday night was to be a ‘black and bling’ night. So the weeks leading up to my packing I had to sort out a few things. I went through my wardrobe to see what black outfits I had that fitted me. That was fun but I did find something. Next was to sort through my jewellery. Also fun. I found a few things that would suit but I also found some that really needed a good clean. I only have the basic jewellery cleaner at home but that was a good start.

I found these 2 pieces that need some work.

First up was this lovely necklace. Very plain but special and very dull and dirty.

It really was a terrible colour. Now look at it after 10 minutes.

Next up was a very pretty bracelet. Not a very good photo though. Well it was supposed to be pretty. 

So some time was spent with soaking, rubbing with a cloth, scrubbing in soapy water.

Look at it now.

So I am happy that I spent a bit of time cleaning these. Now they can be worn again.

These have a bit of bling but will I wear these or something else.

Mini Christmas Wall Hanging is complete

 Yes, I have finished the wall hanging and it’s stockings,

They are very cute. After cutting the coat hanger and struggling to put it in the hanging sleeve, as I made it a bit to small, it now looks curved.

I may have to change the hanger.

The felt stockings look so cute and I now have a UFO out of the cupboard, finished and ready for next Christmas.