Long Time No Blog

Well I can't believe how long it has been. I haven't even been into my sewing room this year!  Unbelievable yes!  It has been such a bad year for me health wise, and because of that I am going to go part time for the next 6 months (two days a week) then I'll see after that, maybe finish altogether. 

But for now my new big challenge is to get my life and health back on track so I can get back into doing what I love and doing it with the people I love.  

To this end I have signed up for the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation Program.  Already the hard stuff has started!  My first challenge?  Make one small change to my lifestyle.  I've decided my change will be to drink my 2 litres of water per day.  Not so hard I hear you say?  Believe  me, this is HUGE for me.  I don't drink any water at all! Bad I know, so this will be a not so small change for me.

Holidays start next week and the first couple of days I am off to Melbourne to catch up with some old friends. Oops, I can hear them already, "not so much of the old, thank you!"  I can't wait to see them and hear all,their news.

After that, it is going to be nothing but positive changes for me and hopefully I can post soon about my exploits with the sewing machine!  Would you believe that my gorgeous granddaughter is almost one and I haven't even made her a quilt yet!!  Well, that is about to change, I promise.

Until then, I had better get myself organised for the last two days of school term, and gear up for the 12WBT challenge.  Look forward to posting some positive results. Cheers All

A.W.O.L

I know I haven't posted for ages, but this has been the month from hell!  I am still off work with a bad back so haven't managed to get any sewing done lately and my new embroidery machine is just sitting there mocking me!
This is just a quick post to let everyone know about the fabulous Christmas swap that will be starting soon.  Santa Sack Swap (http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com/2011/04/join-in-santa-sack-swap.html) promises  to be a lot of fun so check it out.

Keep safe and happy quilting.

Toy Story 3 in the Park

After a great day spent with a couple of the ladies from my sewing group, hubby and I went with his nephew and family to a film in the park this evening. Toy Story 3 was very funny and it was wonderful to see the number of families that spent the evening in the park with the little kids running around before the film.

Part of the morning and most of this afternoon I spent fighting with my embroidery machine. I may have won the battle, much I think the machine won the war! I am going to need a lot more practice before I become proficient on it so I will be going to The Girl's Shed on a Saturday from now on to do just that. We are lucky that Sue allows us to use her sewing shed, and that we have Vicki to help us with the embroidering. Thanks goodness I have a reprieve on the due date for my Sunbonnet Sue blocks as they are embroidered! Although the reason for the reprieve is a sad one as Christine lost her grandmother and an uncle this week and needs time with her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Christine at this sad time.


Christmas Block Swap

This is the beautiful block I received from Linda. The colours are gorgeous and the block is like a mini I Spy quilt! I really love it, thanks Linda.

Pastel Card Trick Blocks

I received my 6 blocks on Thursday from the very first swap I took part in at the beginning of the year. Aren’t they lovely? I must admit I wasn’t too thrilled with the blocks I made when I first started them, because I tend towards more vibrant colours, but I am really looking forward to putting these blocks together in a little baby quilt. Thanks to all the lovely ladies who participated in this swap.

Finally, this is a sneak peek at the mug rug I will be sending off to Hilary after having 3 goes at getting it right - I hope she likes it !

EVADING HOUSEWORK!

Well I am at it again (or should I say not at it again!).  It is Saturday mornng  afternoon and here I am sitting at the computer again (still in my PJs), when my house looks like Cyclone Yasi came through WA instead of Queensland!  I am having visitors tomorrow and really need to get cracking, but I am itching to get into my sewing room.  Duhhh... I know the longer I sit here the longer it will take for me to get there but I am a born and bred procrastinator to the bone!

This is a peek at the beautiful piece of fabric that I am going to be using for my mug rug for Hilary.  I have had it for ages and have never come up with a project for it.  Now it is perfect for Hilary who loves, blue and paisley!  I have been fiddling with a design for the mug rug this morning and think I have got it.  Now to get that pesky housework done (or at least enough to stop me feeling guilty and my guests from gagging) so that I can get on with it. 
I got the name of my swap partner this morning for the 6" block swap  and am itching to get into that to.  Here is a list of the current swaps I have on the go:
1.  Sunbonnet Sue 12" Block - 12 blocks DUE 21/3 - (I haven't even started!) (http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-quilting&tid=61595)
2.  12" Block - March 1 block (http://quiltingblockswapsaustralia.blogspot.com/)
3.  12" Xmas Block - March 1 block  (http://christmasquiltingblockswapsaustralia.blogspot.com/)
4.  Birthday Fat Quarter Swap - March - 2 per month  (http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-quilting&tid=61404)
5.  6" Block Swap - 2 per month (http://6inchblockswapsaustralia.blogspot.com/)
6.  Mug Rug Adventure x 1 due April (http://oneygirl-myquiltingadventure.blogspot.com/)
7.  Friendship Postcard Swap x 5 due April
I have also registered for a Hot Pad swap and should be getting my swap partner details any time now.  So you can see that I should not have to worry about the housework! I need to be in my sewing room.  I have committments! 
I am also itching to start a new baby quilt for a very, very special baby (details soon!)  I should have had my Mum's photo quilt almost finished now (yeah right!).  I also need to start a quilt for my daughter's partner for his birthday in May.  I might have to re-think this one and put a slightly different spin on it ???

Anyway, I absolutely cannot put it off any longer.  Hubby is due home from work any time now and I should at least look like I have been working hard. And now to make matters worse my little man Ollie has just come in looking for some lunch and he can be very persistent!

So ... keep safe and happy quilting!

YIPPEE! I GOT MAIL

I received 13 beautiful quilted postcards today.  They are all totally different and incorporate a variety of methods in their making.  Thank you to all the special ladies who participated in this swap.  I am raring to go for the next one!

Now I just have to come up with some way to display them properly.  I am thinking maybe a shadow box frame? 

Another Late Night at Work

Left work just after midday today to attend a troubleshooting session with other Registrars and School Officers in our district.  It was really informative and I learned a couple of valuable things today.  Got back to work at about 4.20 because I needed to finish my end of month and I still hadn't balanced!  3 hours later I finally cracked it and was able to call it a night.
My year started off with really good intentions and I was sewing like a mad woman until I had to go back to work after the holidays.  Now we are into week 6 of the school term (and this has just reminded of something urgent I have to do tomorrow, so better email myself straight away before I forget)..........
Back again.  That is what my brain is like - always going off on a tangent.  It is no wonder I always have so many things on the go!
I am going to make the Christmas block for my swap partner tomorrow night, then start on my Sunbonnet Sue blocks.  I only have 11 days to do 12 blocks!  Then I can start on the mug rug for my new swap partner.
I am feeling a bit unloved because I haven't received my mug rugs from the first swap yet, or my postcards, but I suppose they do have to come a fair way.  My mug rugs are coming from Canada and my postcards from America.  Then I have new postcards to make for the friendship swap.  I love doing these little projects - I get a real sense of achievement really quickly and I love sewing for other people.  I should be in my sewing room now, but I am so tired I don't think I would do much good.
Anyway, I should get back to bed and try for some sleep - morning will be here soon enough and another hectic day at work.
Keep safe and happy quilting

On my way to Michael Buble

Just getting our gear together and tidying up the kitchen before we're off to the Swan Valley to see Michael in concert. Fantastic!  Then we will be spending some of the weekend in Two Rocks with our daughter.  We are going to take Ollie with us so I hope he is still ok in the car - it has been a while.