I can't believe i've finally done it!

last night i put my final stitch on my pinwheel quilt.

this quilt was a huge challenge for me.

from the piecing (boy did i unpick a lot!!!) - to the machine quilting on my trusty machine

and finally the metres and metres of binding

but it was well worth every stitch :)

l
x

Picnic in Pt Wakefield

On Monday we decided to visit my niece Karen.

Those of you from South Australia might know Pt Wakefield. It's a petrol station mecca and it's the last stop before Adelaide. I've been through it so many times - but I never realised there was more to it - just a long strip of petrol stations with lots of trucks and cars. Karen moved there quite recently and she is still finding her feet there but she mentioned a few times that she had found a happy spot so we decided to have a picnic lunch there.

One of the best things about Pt Wakefield is the bakery - yummo! We got pies and pasties and juice and sat down in this beautiful little oasis.

It's hard to explain, but the drive up was very dry and dusty and Pt Wakefield itself is very dry and dusty and barren so to find this little water inlet and to sit in the shade of some trees was just like finding a piece of paradise.

After lunch the troops had a bit of a walk and then it was back to Karen's for a coffee and a chat before making our way back home again.
You know it's been said many times before, but the simple things in life are often the best!
:)
cheers
l
x

lookity look it's a giveaway

if you love giveaways as much as me (quite doubtful) then pop over here and leave a comment :)
l
x

Easter

We have traditions in our family.

Every Good Friday, we make chocolates with Oma. This has been going on for as long as I can remember. This year we invited some friends along to take part as the number of grandchildren participating is becoming less and less.

Then on Easter Saturday we get our Easter baskets ready. This year we coloured in eggs and hung them around the baskets.

Here are our baskets ready for the hunt in the morning.

Then we get up very early.
In fact, this year the boys started waking up from 3.30am!!! Louis woke up almost every half hour after 3.30am and asked us if it was time to look yet. In the end we put the boys in our bed - Louis slept for a while but Julian didn't so naturally we didn't either }:(

When we eventually get up, we put on warm clothes as even though the days are warm at the moment, the mornings are very crisp (well, crisp for us).

And then the hunt is on!

There is even a hunt at Oma and Opa's place and one at Grandma and Grandpa's place. We have an Easter breakfast at Oma and Opa's house with lots of hot cross buns, and some dutch treats and, of course, chocolate. Then we head to the Barossa Valley and have lunch at Grandma's which is a traditional roast lamb - and perhaps a bit too much good wine :)
We love Easter alot :)One of our very special Easter traditions is that we can have chocolate before breakfast. On Monday morning Julian came in to me and said "technically it's still Easter as it is called Easter Monday today. And so technically as it is still Easter we should be able to eat chocolate before breakfast again"......
Technically, he should consider a career in law as he is very good at finding loopholes!!!

l
x

Missy Mack's Paperbag Swap

I'm thinking.......maybe a.......

I'm participating in Missy Mack's Paperbag Swap. I need to make my swap partner something from these items. I have some ideas, too many ideas in fact. I will have to narrow it down somewhat :)
cheers
l
x

The Engagement Quilt

There's a story with this post.
A few months ago, David came home with an invitation from a friend at work - it was to her engagement party. I had just bought some beautiful Heather Bailey fabrics and so I decided to make her a quilt.

About halfway through making the top I asked David if he thought she would like it to which he replied "Yeah....I think so". That was confirmation enough from me - so I kept furiously sewing - I was a woman on a mission.

When I had almost finished the top, he happened to comment that a lot of work went into it. I agreed and said that I really hoped she would appreciate it and not just put it in a cupboard somewhere - to which he replied that it might not be her taste. So, we mulled it over and decided that it probably wasn't best to give it to her. We don't really know her that well and what David knows of her suggests that she's not really into handmade (not everyone is....) So, I kept sewing but we bought her something else instead.
Anyway, every time I started working on the quilt, I referred to it as 'the engagement quilt' and a friend remarked that it should be kept for the next person who got engaged......

I have been inundated with offers.
My niece Madi was prepared to find anyone to get engaged to in order to get the quilt - "you just have to be engaged, not stay engaged....right??"
My other niece Karen, who lives with her boyfriend was prepared to get engaged for the quilt. But then Emily came home from work and told me that the quilt was for her - that she was engaged to someone at work - but I wasn't to mention it to him as he is a little shy - in fact I wasn't to talk to him at all........hmmmm "But Emily, shouldn't I, as the mother of the bride, meet your fiance"?
and she said
"Just give me the damn quilt - OK!

So, the quilt has been put away until someone gets engaged - or married.

cheers
l
x

There has been a lull in my blogging again - I've had a really busy week and I've hardly found time to get behind the computer. Anyway, this is a look at my latest project - my new winter bag. I came up with the colour scheme on my way down to my quilt class. I love the fabrics - love, love, love them. My fabulous quilting teacher helped me, once again, with making the bag. I think I remember how to make it now. Feel free to click on the photos to get a better look - they are not the best photos though (sorry).

Well, I'm off to do some more sewing now. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend as much as I am.

cheers
l
x