Ouch!!!

Not much happening here on the quilty front at the moment... it's the first week of the school holidays and it's done nothing but rain:o(

The chooks seem to like their new house so much!!! In appreciation they have been treating us with farm fresh eggs everyday, though one seems to appreciate it more than others...
The big one is from our friendliest chook 'Red' she is a red shaver and the little one is from our newest addition 'Speckles' she just learning the ropes;) But boy did Red put some effort into this one! It is huge! I wonder if it will be a double or triple yoker!!!
Sorry about the photo's, its hard to get a nice picture with all this grotty weather. I had great plans to get stuck into my gardens this week, with all the warmer spring rain the weeds are multiplying so fast! so if you don't hear from me for a few days you'll know where I am!

Watch this space...

My sewing room is currently unadorned, no curtains and nothing apart from a design wall on the wall, but I am planning to remedy that! I have been on the lookout for a special something!
But that changed the other day when I had a Aha! moment, check out his link... you may have to scroll down a bit to see it...

http://www.fionamarie.com/catalogue/kookaburrablocks.shtml

I am not sure whether to do it as a BOM or just buy all the patterns and choose my own fabrics yet, so watch this space...

Auld Ashlying...

Just a quick post today. I thought I would share something for all those gardeners/quilters out there. Each year our region holds a garden festival, well actually 2 garden festivals run in conjunction with each other.
This year a quilter friend is opening her home and garden for the festival, she is a very talented lady! My old quilting group 'The Quirky Quilters' are putting on a display of quilts and crafts in her American Barn. Read this link for further details...

http://www.taranakigardens.co.nz/feature.php?fid=6

I always look forward to visiting gardens each year, there is always so much inspiration and I come home with new ideas for my garden!
Last year we visited the garden of another friend and she had quilts scattered throughout her garden it was so lovely. Some gardens have picnic areas and supply tea and coffee!
Well off to daydream now...

Do you wash?

Fabric that is!!! I have always washed my fabrics first before using, especially reds and dark blues.

Today I have washed, almost dried, then ironed some scrummy new fabrics! Our local Spotlight had an evening for quilters last night with fabulous specials ranging from $2.50 per metre - $4.00 a metre. Between my Mum and my friend Catherine(with a C) we filled a trolley, Lol. Boy did we have fun! I bought some lovely butter yellow with white spots, a gorgeous red with white spots, a lovely blue with pretty aprons all over it, some yummy chocolates, a small rose print and the list goes on... The fabric in the photo above looks already pieced, great for a practice quilt!

Blessings to you and yours
Michelle

Quilt Exhibition...

A day spent with friends is a good day, especially when it involves fabric! My friend Catherine(with a C) met up with me in a little town called Eltham. A quiet sleepy place, apart from the main road that runs through it, it's only saving grace. The residents have fought to keep the place alive and have bounded together in all sorts of activities. They have recently had a movie filmed there! They have t-shirts emblazoned with I Love Eltham, Craft fairs etc. It is also becoming known as Op Shop Central, the reason for our visit! The shop I most wanted to visit had a sign in the window 'Gone to Hawera to do the banking' so we wandered around a few other shops, bought a nice little evening bag and some cinnamon/spice smellies for the burner. I would like to be able to post a scratch and sniff photo for all of you to enjoy too, but you will just have to take my word for it that they smell yummy! The shop was still closed so we decided to call in on our way back. Next stop... 'Stratford' and a Quilt Exhibition! Here are just a few of my favourites, A Thimbleberries sampler...

The photo just doesn't do this quilt justice, a lovely bright autumn toned quilt...

A lovely murky coloured quilt, I have been drawn to these colours lately, Mmmm....

This quilt is made from a jellyroll, the poppies are wool felt, stunning...

Don't you just think this pink and chocolate(not brown, chocolate sounds so much better) art quilt is yummy...

I'm not really into brights but I really liked this...

And last but not least, this lovely pastel star quilt...
Sorry there is not a photo of this quilt as a whole, it was a huge quilt, very pretty!
From there we dined at 'The Casapequena', did a little window shopping and headed back to find a new sign in the window... Back in 45 minutes;) Hmmm... We waited and waited, then decided it was time to drive back to reality, groceries, pick up kids etc... So you know what this means??? I'm just gonna have to go back next week and try again:o)

Little of Lots...

I have lots of little things to talk about today, the first being the new chook house! Ta Da...
I think they like their new home, much roomier than the last one, and we collected three eggs without having to search for them! And not to be left out of the action...Pebbles 'Take one of me Mum please, I promise to be good this time'...
Unlike the other day, to my dismay she decided my herb tubs were a warmer spot for curling up in!
Oh and that reminds me, the latest family project...
And on to other news... Mum and I spent a wonderful day together on Friday, just hanging out. We did a little shopping, a little laughing, a little... ok maybe a lot of chatting(we haven't had a day together for a while) we lunched, laughed a little more, chatted lots:D Here's what we bought...
A pack of 30 Robyn Pandolph fabrics layer cake style, so pretty. Mum bought the charm squares and plans to make a raggy quilt, I haven't decided yet;) Unfortunately there are no other photos from the day as it was miserably wet, I didn't even get my walk along the beach;( We will have to plan another day real soon Ok Mum?

I have finished 3 projects for my Angel swap, not sure if I should post a picture here yet, so you will have to wait a little longer. I plan to mail them in 2 lots, so hopefully she will receive a parcel real soon.

DD2 is outside painting pet rocks she collected this afternoon, in preparation for Christmas pressies. Much more organised than her Mother!!!
I did buy some border fabric for the scrap quilt I plan on giving to ................;) for Christmas!

One more thing I just wanted to say a big Thank You to those that leave comments on my blog and for those who don't, come on don't be shy I'd love to hear from you!

Ho Hum...

I love to read other quilter's blogs, there is so much inspiration out there, not to mention meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. But sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed, I don't seem to actually accomplish much, while others seem to whip up something new each week!
In saying all this, I do enjoy what I do and am thankful for whatever chance I get!
I have managed to do a little stitching on my stitcher's angel project, I really wanted to keep up to date, but am lagging a little behind. I plan to remedy that this evening!!!

My boys have started a woodwork class run by a young man in our church who owns a joinery business, they are having such fun! While they are there I pop over to the VW's(Virtuous Women) craft group. We noticed there were many of the younger woman who couldn't sew, knit, crochet etc... so this group started as a way to teach and fellowship with other woman and share our different talents.
Some of them are knitting socks and others like me are making children's shirts for children in Vanuatu. This is the fabric I chose...
Leftover from a dress made for DD2. Now to get it finished before October!

Who's been a naughty boy then...

Look what I received this afternoon, not one...
but two lovely roses...
AND...
Aren't they gorgeous!!! Now I wonder if it's because he loves me or does it have anything to do with that comment uttered just after he gave them to me 'Honey I think it's time we bought a new computer' well he didn't have to buy me flowers for me to say 'YES' but we won't tell him that will we;)

Picture This...

The house work forgotten... a fine spring morning... a swing seat... a cuppa and a stitchery...
Mmmm I needed that ;)

The birthday girl...

My beautiful daughter 'Olivia' turned 9 yesterday(she'll always be my baby)
We had a wonderful day, we invited a few of her friends to share the special day with us(birthdays are always special no matter how old you are!) We had the most gorgeous spring day not a cloud in the sky:o) lots of food, party hats, balloons, pressies and pony rides What fun!!

It's official...

It's spring, its the 1st of September here in New Zealand and one of my favorite seasons.
I love all the new life, the spring blossoms...
rhododendren blooms...
newborn calves and curly tailed lambs...

It's also RAK(random acts of kindness) day here as well, my random act of kindness today...
MMmmm... yummy Magic Slice. I baked for my family today, I think this counts!!!