broderie

more beautiful things

congratulations to linda at quilts in the barn and all those concerned for the beautiful exhibition of quilts held last weekend at her home. over $10,000.00 was raised for breast cancer research and if you go to her blog you can see how you can still contribute to this fundraiser and also see all the quilts and share in the pleasure that those of us who were able to attend enjoyed so much.

i am going to also share with you some more of the new and finished projects of some of my stitching friends.

the prince meets his princess, dianne has finished both of these embroideries, they are going to be made up into lovely cushions

 
he came with bird in hand, i wonder what he asked her and what answer did he get

 
the centre of a new quilt started, always gotta start a new one, but sharyn has finished this red and white, i love the block with the bit of blue, in a red and white quilt, i love this quirk

 
then jenny has embroidered these lovely monogrammes for two different friends, all three of them have special birthdays this end of the year

 

 
as is often the case, these cushions are made from beautiful linen tea towels, they are a favourite of mine, i encourage the use of them, why not when the result is like this

 
jan has done these, tea towels again, monogrammed, and being sent to hungary as gifts for some newly found rellies of her partner

 
and my liberty bits that i have been collecting for years

 
and this is not the final line up, i was just wanting to see how far the rows i have stitched covered my bed, still a few to go, but not many

'quilts in the barn' afternoon

we were going yesterday, but melbourne produced a terrible day weatherwise and it seemed as though today would be no different, but then the sun came out! off we went to wonga park and quilts in the barn to see the exhibition organised so well by linda and her team of helpers. here is some of what we saw!

 
i made a new friend instantly and his shadow shows the sun was out and all was well

 
our driver was already way ahead of us and paying for our entry, he is so good to us girls

 

 

 

the morrell quilt by di ford, jean , i weakened and bought the pattern !

 

 

 

 
ever since i have been sewing, all my life, i have wanted to make a house quilt ! and i haven't done it yet !

 

 
i loved the colours in this, and that is not someone going to slash it with a sword ! part of the props !

 

 

 
the detail of this appliqued beauty was incredible

 
it is still being quilted

 

 
this is a blackbirds design, another house pattern mmmmh !

 
i loved these gorgeous colours, pink and yellows

 

 
and these diamonds were a another favourite, 'drayton hall', again by di ford

 
and this beautiful echium ! thanks to all concerned, a lovely afternoon spent with friends and the amazing stitching work of a group of women.

threadbear ,at castlemaine has most of the patterns for sale, if like me, you just have to have one or two and thanks to linda for making all this possible !

all in the basket

a friend of mine and member of our sewing circle has a basket, just a big shopping basket the she puts all the projects she is working on, in it and rotates what she works on. it is a system, she makes the rules and so she can break the rules also! yesterday she got the basket out, there is only supposed to be 10 things at a time, well they kept coming yesterday!

 

 
the beginning of the civil war bride quilt

 
a quilt for a grandson

 
this is a promise for a neighbour's grand daughter

 
a little influence from me here, but two identical tops being made here and we are hand piecing all of this work also

 
and two of these, yes identical, for another grand son

 

 
shopping with another friend, they saw king david's crown , by michelle yeo and bought the pattern and all the fabrics

 

 
these circles made from the 'camelot' pattern by trish harper are now getting their background fabric put on them

remember this is all out of the basket

 
and this lies along the back of the couch, a snowball with an embroidered central panel

 

 
just a bit of cross stitch too, don't know where the knitting and crochet were?

 
and some canvas work for her daughter, there must be more than 10 things! we were over the basket, yawn!!!!!!! not really, we are all good friends, but i am working on getting her back. at least my friend will be able to look her to see what is in the basket!!!!!!!!!!!

i will be back with some other work over the weekend, some other friends and some of mine! there were lots of lovely bits that had been made up while i was away.

coming home

 
this is someones home in battery point ! 
 
'be not long away from home' read the little sampler at hobart cottage and just as we all went away, some of us like me are now home, however my friends are still on their way today. little children always want to go home, my friends are also looking forward to being home, it is so nice to go travelling, but your own bed and comfort zone are a very strong part of our lives. i was in two minds, very comfortable where i was and loving what i was doing and enjoying the company of family and friends, but am also happy to be home! 

daylight saving has also started in the last week here in this part of the world and it was a perfect sunday in hobart to start the next six months, here are a few captured pictures of that sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 
from battery point to salamanca and down to the river, people and even the dogs were out enjoying this beautiful sunday. walking, sailing, swimming and paddling !

 
 

 

and i took so much sewing down with me to do while i had sooooo muuuuuch time to do just what i wanted ! well i did get quite a bit done, but the prize for me was finishing a project that i have enjoyed doing ! now it is in the pile to be quilted by hand ! here it is just spread out over my guest bed. i will always remember that i started it 01/10 and finished in hobart in 10/10.

 

 

talking of 10/10 go and look over at linen and raspberry , my friend jean had a birthday yesterday on 10/10/10, see what she has been up to, gorgeous things !

i am happy with my very scrappy quilt top, i have enjoyed all the drawing out by hand, cutting out by hand, and stitching by hand and using lots of bits that probably would still be in the cupboard ! happy enjoyable hours !  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

hobart cottage update

apart from house sitting for my friends, i have been looking after their holiday letting cottage here in hobart. if any of you are thinking of coming for a stay down in this oh so pretty city, minimum two days to how ever long you may like to stay hobart cottage is a great choice. i can assure you that you will have a very welcoming and comforting stay. the colonial cottage is gorgeous and the garden is just delightful, fresh seasonal vegies and herbs to pick during your stay or places to sit and enjoy the scene, read a book and just take in the fresh air. let me show you through !

self catering in the bright and well stocked kitchen if you want to cook some of the time

a sunny spot to sit

or a cosy, comfy spot

and so to bed, either here or here

with a cot or trundle if you require it

those of you who read this blog will remember these cushions, this is where they now live

the scarecrow looks over the vegie garden

do you like broad beans ?

these crabapples will be in full bloom very soon, as will the columbines 

and also the clematis

so go to the website to see more of the cottage and area. i can highly reccommend it as a lovely spot to stay.

yesterday one of my new neighbours came to have a nice cup of tea and brought these lovely yellow tulips for me, thanks beth !

and another friend came today and brought this magic potion

'drink of the angels', it was a very nice new taste !

  

   

game on again!!! and hobart

well the grand final of the afl finished last week in a draw, only the third time in all the years they have been playing this game here in melbourne, and of course it has now spread to other states of australia. i barrack for the saints !

this is the ground, the mcg, packed last week and it will be full again tomorrow. i was not flying above it, i snapped it off the television ! the captain of st kilda has a house down here in tasmania.

if third time lucky is a good omen, they lost the grand final last year, the drew last week and have a third chance tomorrow. go saints!!!!! and i am house sitting for a collingwood person

hobart this week has brought some snow on the mountain on tuesday

new blossom trees now in full bloom and falling, notice the bright pink one at the back of the tiers and i picked the last of these double daffodils

and snapped the first of the sweet peas

and i just loved the pattern of all these various green plants, all so different, nature's patchwork really

and me, well playing with a bit of sue spargo in fabric and wool, very basic at this stage ! and continuing with all the other bits. update soon !

a happy week, sun, snow, lovely views, meetings with family, not so good news for one, contemplation, friends home safely from a trip overseas, house for sale, a swap of cars, a sleep over party for the birthday girl and drawing the blinds on another calm evening here in hobart. all in all a good week, maybe it will end tomorrow with the saints winning and i finally get my hands on the chicken money !