Tracey~ ozcountryquiltingmum

Summer holidays nearly over.

2012-01-31T20:58:00.013+11:00

School holidays almost over here, back from the beach again. I'll do a quick recap of the month you missed... boating at the lake,

harvesting,

more harvesting,

family at the beach,

Breakwater jumps at the beach,

lizards in the backyard...and boy distracting Archie from taking him on!

13 chickens hatching...on the shed roof!

and lots and lots of photos!

That's about enough photos for tonight, tune in tomorrow night for the next installment!

Hope you are great, Tracey

She sews...and sews some more!

2011-12-30T18:43:00.012+11:00

This exciting thing is a sewing machine...with fabric! I am doing my annual pre-New-Year -panic-get-organized-and-throw-stuff-out routine and found this hancock's black and white jelly roll in a safe place. As a reward for the previously mentioned attempts at controlling the objects that invade my home annually I got the machine out yesterday to sew.

The previous day I had picked up a double bed woollen rug at the op shop

(yeah, yeah, I know, I was meant to be throwing stuff out!) for $4! I decided to cut it in half and do a bit of a string sewing arrangement, but with the whole width of the strips to save time and wastage...seeing I wasn't having to work with scraps.

Then I just cut 8 and a half inch blocks from it when i had some strips down...wanted to see how it worked, but ALSO, had decided I really liked the fabrics and had a plan B! I sewed the blocks I had done into a groovy pillow sized cushion for my couch...with some of the wool blanket on the back...works for me!
Then I addressed Plan B, string skirt for me!! I really like it and intend wearing it at my New Year's Eve party. Forgive me for the knees!

It's funny, if DH cleaned out the office, it would not involve sewing, i am completely different...as he often shakes his head over, I like new ways of storing stuff and creative ways of utilizing what i have.

I hate the fact that there are curtains in front of my computer, would prefer something useful like a notice board, well today i converted them to storage!! This is very much a WIP photo, The plastic pockets are sewn on the bottom, but pinned into sections..I am waiting to see how functional it is before i sew the sections. The little ipod pen holder is also only pinned on, though the actual thing is sewn completely. So far I am liking it, so handy for photos and notes and...anything!

Grace i the Us has received and opened her SSCS swap parcel, so I can show you what I sent here, The big wall hanging has plastic pockets (sensing a theme?) for displaying her cards and photos. I put a few cards in there, Then there is a stirchery bag and various miscellaneous items.

At the beach on Wednesday, ready to spend some days down there with the family, loved this little fellow.

And this was my Christmas morning sunrise, Looks almost like a Stairway to heaven i thought. Was my reward for feeding all my animals at 6.30 am!

Hope you are getting in the New year spirit, want to share your plans or preparations? I have 35 + coming for the pool! Cheers, Tracey

Christmas!! Again..

2011-12-26T00:20:00.008+11:00

Merry Christmas!!

Some of you Northerners may only be just getting going, but for me it is already Boxing Day. I have performed in a Church drama, driven a round trip of over 200 kms to my family for lunch and hosted DH's extended family here for tea...looking forward to a restful day of Australia in the Boxing Day cricket tomorrow while eating left over prawns and desserts! bliss.

Can't go to bed without showing you the lovely gift i received in Chookyblue's SSCS this year, it is from Andrea, Welsh quilter.

Beautiful work, Andrea, and perfectly chosen, Thank you!! Can't show you mine as it may not be opened yet...soon!

Some other shots....My girl made two Gingerbread houses, from scratch!

The poopin reindeer helped demolish this one!

A true "family" shot of my brother with nieces and nephews...some stubborn, some uncooperative, some happy, some sad. it takes all kinds to make a family, but all equally as important. Hope your day was great, back soonest! Tracey

Christmas is a step closer...

2011-12-13T17:25:00.018+11:00

My present has arrived for Chookyblue's secret santa swap, it is from Welsh quilter, Andrea, who i have known a few years on here. I have only opened my ornament, as requested, and am waiting for Christmas day for the rest, thanks Andrea, very excited! Here is the ornament.

Onto a few photos for you..

A gymnastic caterpillar on Queen Anne's lace...

My SSCS presents!

A present i made for our Quilter's breakup, it is a card holder with plastic pocket.. shocking pic!

My son came into tell me there was good light and ladybirds piggybacking...

Gotta love an inch long baby praying mantis

And here is my shearing photos in "Downunder" magazine. They have asked for some more.

Some black and white succulents

...and a hatching chicken....lots of those happening around here, 13 today!

I have now photographed almost 25 woolsheds for the book, so staying well out of trouble. My kids broke up school last night, boy is deputy school captain for next year and DD won the service award, so everyone was happy.

have a great day, catch you very soon, Tracey

Leave you with this year's decorated hay bales at our local annual laternenfest.

Sheep and more sheep

2011-11-10T20:06:00.014+11:00

Hi, anyone still out there...can't believe that it is 6 weeks since I last posted already. If I tell you what i have been busy with will you forgive me?? The camera!! So many photography jobs to be fitted in around the normal stuff. The only sewing is for Chooky's secret santa swap and of course I can't show that....oh and some chook wheat bags and pot holders, but forgot to photograph them...amazingly!
Shearing has been and gone for another year. I took a lot of photos and posted a few on the net and now have a two page layout in a magazine in December. Very excited about that. That has started another photography project...I finished cooking for our woolshed, loaded the wool and the truck and I headed off visiting other woolsheds...with an idea of a book. Have done well over a dozen sheds already and am getting very good responses to my photos so in about a year....or 100 woolsheds, hopefully a book!
Here are a few of our of ram shearing to give you a preview.

Not just taking photos of sheep though, a few other things thrown in for you...

Getting close to summer at the beach...

Last night's sunset after my boxing class.

My frizzle rooster who is belted up and friendless in my chookyard...well except for me.

And a dandelion...big one...from the back of our lake

Also found and relocated this young fox.

I'll leave you with a woolshed photo i can share because you can't see a face...hope you are all great....Tracey

It's spring...again!

2011-09-21T11:01:00.015+10:00

Do you think you realise you aren't a teenager anymore when you hear yourself sounding like your mother??

"Where has the year gone, where have the weeks gone...where do the days go?" "Time just flies by!" "Soon be Christmas already, where'd that year go?!"

I don't think she had the answers and I sure as heck don't have! Spring is here already, there are many signs in the yard...

baby ducks

baby kangaroos

and bees

but most importantly Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas swap. I missed last years...and believe me, i really missed it. Christmas didn't feel quite the same. I am back for this year, think that will make it 4/5. Seems like the 5th Spring I have spent as a blogger, once again I can feel those quotes of Mum's coming on...

So, what's life thrown since last post....it has finally stopped raining and by working around the clock the past 3 weeks DH has managed to get over 500 acres of crop in, at least 500 acres more to go in, but shearing is approaching rapidly and we may run out of time. It is really too late for the crops we are planting, but you can't give up, we have to hope the rainy conditions may last into summer.

I have therefore been checking sheep and cattle, chasing around after kid's sport and taking all the football club photos...with some paid ones for the local paper! Big news also, was my girl winning Coaches trophy at netball presentation,

My boy and I headed off to Mt Buller for a week on school snow trip,

...and my boy playing on the Melbourne Cricket Ground at half time on AFL match day..

With the local football season coming to a close last weekend, i am very hopeful of lots of sewing. Here are some optimistic recent purchases...can you tell hancock's had free postage???

Little golden book cats, cat fabrics, trains....

I love the black knitting sheep! And the chooks of course.

Of course, the only question now is where to start????

Have a great day, back soon, I promise!

Colourful Fridays...leaves.

2011-07-29T09:07:00.011+10:00

A quick post this morning, massive week and today isn't much better. Snatched a few minutes to take some photos for Daisy Quilt's, Colourful friday challenge. today is leaves. A little bleak for good leaves around here, so this was the best that I could do...
The underside of a leaf ...think a young ivy.

More ivy...with some digital enhancing for fun!

Next in the search I found all this growth on what is probably a century old fruit tree. Hidden amongst the lichen are some leaf buds...which hopefully gets this in on a technicality. The lilies are sending out new leaves. And on the final note, we get to Archie and one of the cats...

And that is what i had better do, cheers, Tracey
...just found the typo in the above pic but haven't time to fix it!

It's ugly but has personality....

2011-07-17T16:54:00.011+10:00

I LOVE making quilts out of used items. The joy of seeing a heap of old shirts turn into a quilt can't really be described to someone who isn't a quilter. I love finding fabrics from Op shops and rehoming them into a useful item. Of course I also like making extra pretty quilts, with all the latest fabrics that match..but they generally disappear to some raffle donation or baby or niece.

The scrappy quilts tend to stay here, normally because a little bit of extra love has gone into the making. There is a new addition made for my boy's recent birthday. He is a big lover of quilts, always likes to be wrapped warm and cosy and takes a big interest in the construction. He liked the clothes string quilt I made his sister for her birthday last year, and I have been racking my brain to work out what to do for him. Most of his clothes were unispiring to me and were passed to his cousins and my friend's boys. I started collecting up his t-shirts and in June at retreat i got serious!

I cut the front from all the collected t-shirts, then pinned them to a pre-quilted foundation piece. To give stability i crazy (string) pieced parts of his cotton shirts in the corners, using some of his Dad's shirts as well, one he is holding him in as a baby, another he wears in a date photo with me. I found an old football jumper from his team...in it went....his last ribbon from the local show found a spot..and I transferred some favourite sport photos onto fabric as well. A few boy type strips went in for good measure. I did some basic trimming to get at least some of the blocks to the same width and it turned into kind of t-shirt eye-spy! It has a very warm flannel backing and I added a polar fleece cuddle border to the top. Like I said, it is ugly from a purely aesthetic view, but he doesn't think there is anything more beautiful, 'cos it has personality! We have to keep cuddling under it and he keeps explaining to me why his is better than his sister's!

Here is hers, just for the sake of equal parenting. i love hers, it managed to be pretty, but then it didn't have to have star wars and geelong t-shirts in it!

Hope your day is great!

Colourful fridays...(quilty) triangles

2011-07-15T19:29:00.012+10:00

Another colourful Friday hosted by Daisy quilts. This week's theme is triangles. I haven't been outside much, far too wet here for wandering around in search of triangles (i might sink!)...so I stuck to inside. Sewing related triangles were the only ones I found. I'm sure when i follow the links to everyone else's photos in a minute i will see great ideas! These traingular chooks (chickens) have always been favourites of mine, therew should be table runners just of them...but whoever gets time for tablerunners for themselves?!

I have made hundreds of these little chooks for school and Church markets, these are the ones the kids wouldn't let do. Triangle beaks!

My daughter made this one...a little differently.

This is in my site heading picture, starting to fade I noticed when i took the photo. it is no wonder it lives on the kitchen couch and wraps at least one family member every day. Was made from my very early stash, 8 years ago, lots of triangles.

And another oldie. This hangs in my kitchen and is tiny. Made from a the small centre verse, a gift from a friend. I look at these traingles and shudder...but still love it. I think i only owned about 10 fabrics then! Do you have favourites like that?

So, step over and enjoy some more colourful Fridays at the linked blog above. Cheers, Tracey

Colourful fridays...red and green

2011-07-01T08:45:00.002+10:00

Joining in with Daisy quilt's colourful Fridays today, it is almost too much for me..I can only choose one photo! So this Oriental poppy wins the job.

I love these poppies, have them in all colours around my garden in spring, I love seeing what new variations the bees have assisted in creating. They are my kind of flower, one that comes up itself ..and more of them come when you never tidied your garden after the last lot of flowers! Negligence in this instance, is golden. (Or red...or purple with single petals..or pink and fluffy!)

My boy has been sick with tonsils this week, back ay School today so i have one day to get his quilt finished for his birthday....can't stay, must run!

Well and truly winter.

2011-06-24T21:10:00.007+10:00

Cold wet, miserable weather here. I have been working on my boy's t-shirt quilt, should have a finished pic for you in a few days. The only other main finish is this pot holder and bag for the local tea rooms' 7th birthday party. The lovely owner has a party and then closes for a few weeks winter holiday. She always had these ladies as paper serviettes but can't get them anymore, i found the fabric at Hancock's and surprised her.

This quilt is on loan to me from a friend. I am organizing a Church ladies day, the theme is "Finding Jesus in the Everyday" and this quilt is the central image for the advertising. Isn't it amazing, I will be sorry to give it back!! They are tiny little inch blocks!

It is a cold wet winter that is suiting no-one.... except the swans. There is always a silver lining for someone....they have been nesting constantly for 9 months...well, different ones I presume! Making up for many years of drought.

These photos are from sunset tonight, and you will see i found a nice surprise to justify my damp toes...

And then on closer inspection...what have we here?

Aren't they beautiful? I am pretty sure they will be added to the slide show for the Church day. Which is your favourite? I can't decide.
....Have a great day, Tracey

Colourful Friday- blue and orange

2011-06-17T14:37:00.017+10:00

Back for a colourful Friday, I love this game, hosted by Daisy Quilts. I have gone back through the archives again for photos that (sometimes loosely) suit the theme. Some are chosen just 'cos they bring back good memories really! Give the pics an airing, I say. Then the last 2 flowers were taken today, turns out I did the Church flowers with orange last Sunday...lucky because flowers are thin on the ground here this winter.The log cabin above was sewn for my "Summer" four season s swap a few years ago.

This was a good-bye gift for a minister's wife.

This is a friend's Bird of paradise, i just love these flowers.

A blue kenworth at sunset, I love harvest time!

A little boy that seems to belong to a world away...he lived in orange and bright colours as they helped me to find him when he escaped...which was often!

Blue with autumn leaves, they grow up far too fast...probably 7 years ago!

Same day, running up our driveway. I loved that bright blue on my girl. As much as I loved orange on her brother.

Poser! The light only does this down our driveway for a few weeks a year.

Dancing the night I got my first digital camera, a little kodak that I thought was marvellous!

Last ones are oriental lilies, (I think) taken today. can you pick a favourite today?

If you follow the link to daisy's blog you can visit all the other blogs who participate today and see their take on orange and blue..it has made me want to make a quilt in that colourway.

Cheers, tracey

Some quilts from quilt retreat.... and winner announced.

2011-06-06T21:34:00.008+10:00

Safely home from quilt weekend, so back into normality after 46 hours of patchwork bliss....and two winter ocean swims that seem to have really helped the dermatitis on my hands. I got a few things done, the tops I showed you last post, and also the Madeira throw pictured in the middle of the very sunny picture above, and most of my boy's 11th birthday t-shirt quilt. Can't see them all that well here, I might show some closer pics next post.
Also, forgot to announce that the winner of my week of blogging prize is Quilting fitzy, she will get some fabric, some cards...and hopefully a nice surprise! Perhaps I should hold her to ransom and say she doesn't get her prize until she resumes her blog, I miss her. After all these years of blogging I miss my friends when they disappear...that goes for you too, Dawn formerly of Korea, you make me laugh!

Robyn got her horses together, very fiddly blocks but they look fantastic, her girl will love her horse quilt.

Lise, the Chocolate cat, got her quilt top together. Great colours, her S.I.L should love that.

Janine stitched all weekend on these blocks.

Helen finished hand quilting her first grand-daughter's quilt.

The gorgeous Kerrin is full of energy after her recent health hiccup and finished her quilt top and got it pinned. She should be justifiably proud.

Jane finsished her quilt top, from the Awesome range, I think! Kerrin is helping display it. (Hope that is Jane and not Lise' range, I can't keep up!) Also, Jane informs me I gave her the credit for Lise's stitched apron gift, it was made by Anne.

And here we all are after cleaning up and before a closing lunch down the street. We have booked the same house again for next year and I am looking forward to it already!

Quilt retreat progress.

2011-06-05T08:12:00.000+10:00

Hi from the winter wonderland of P*rt fairy. I am on quilter's retreat with another 10 girls, The chocolate Cat included. I am up early blogging after a light night working on a new quilt for my boy. I have taken a few progress photos up until last night, and will take final pics for you this afternoon.

Here is me and Lise, the Chocolate Cat at friday night's birthday dinner, Lise is wearing her fabulous birthday apron from Jane, here's a close-up...it would suit all of us I think! She better make sure that is packed or she may not see that again.

I had been looking at all these twister quilts before I went, I think Dawn was doing them. I couldn't possibly get hold of a ruler between Thursday's discovery and Friday's departure, so i made my own and had a play. I just marked a square ruler and worked my blocks accordingly!

Robyn is working on her sheep... and some great hoses I'll have to put in next post.

Lise was working on her SIl's quilt. Fabric range is Simple abundance.
Jane is working on this, will have to check the name when she gets up.

I finished this little cot size pink and cream.

I love this painting of P*rt fairy in the passage way...do you think anyone would notice of it were gone?

I got warmed up on Friday by sewing this jelly roll together, playing the jelly roll game I think it's called. 3 hours exactly.

This was originally going to be what the twister quilt was cut from..liked it too much to cut it up!

heaps more progress overnight but have to run...no animals to feed and sewing to be done...bliss! Dh is worried I wont come home!

Colourful Friday-sunsets

2011-05-27T17:07:00.019+10:00

Daisy quilt's colourful friday theme of "Sunsets" is quite apt today, as I have had to go to a funeral. I actually wrote the colourful Friday date on my calendar, as I love sunsets photos, anybody's sunset photos, it is just a great light.

I have probably gone overboard, but found it hard to choose a favourite sunset, perhaps you can do it for me!

Have a great, sunsety day!

Here comes your block, Nancy.

2011-05-26T22:17:00.010+10:00

Nancy, near Philadelphia, is making a cow quilt from donated blocks from bloggers around the world. There was only one cow I could do for Nancy, and that is one who mimics my 'cows in quilts' photos, so here is Nancy's block, almost ready to go.

Stitched with a hand that has a shocking case of dermititis, I wont spoil your meal by showing you, but something has upset my right hand, could be milk powder, or wheat dust, or from picking figs...even my hand cleaner. Whatever it is, it's all cracked and sore...but no trouble stitching for you Nancy!! I managed to go to boxing tonight by putting some emu oil on, but has anyone a good natural remedy?

And also, still, any feedback on the musical sequel to Phantom, Love never does? Should we go?

I have also finished this little play, i was trying out my latest ruler purchase, now I just need to work out how to make a whole quilt with the block. fabrics came from my scrap bag, love scrap bags.
Any good tutes anywhere for this spider web look?

I like it, intend using it for a table runner.

A few little dragonfly photos for you, I have never seen a year like this for dragonflies, so much water I suppose, but amazing to see.

Congratulations to Margaret, lucky commenter who gets to choose from the chook sewing tool organizer, or the quilter memories one.

And lastly, prayers please for my little niece who is spending a few days in hospital with an unknown temp and tummy pains. Hopefully a heap of tests and lots of iv antibiotics will get to the bottom of it...but it's just another reminder of this...

'cos we never know what's around the corner.

Tracey

Felt, farm and family.

2011-05-25T18:14:00.001+10:00

Almost forgot to share some recent wool felting. we did these for the school market, beautifully soft and warm. Love the bright colours. They are just done with the bubble wrap, warm water, detergent and lots of rolling method.

Migraine headache ended hopes of getting too much done today. On a better note, just got a call to say I have a football photo in the rural newspaper, The Weekly Times, today. I am taking a lot of sports photos lately...another time sucker! But lovely to see people's reactions to the photos. They usually go in our little local town newsletter, and in the local football program.

Here's a few of my boy from his last game...love how he "thinks" with his tongue, my grandfather used to do that too

Everyone loves a bit of affection? Well, these two do! This was the bright spot of my morning!

And to leave you..with your busy lives, take a minute to view a traffic jam in my world. Thsi was us shifting cattle yesterday across the main road! And also, congratulations to nancy in Philadelphia, my daughter drew your name, now you need to choose between sunflower charm pack and the Bluebonnet trail! Next one drawn tomorrow..and remeber all commenters are entered in the big one!

Can you help me, anyone seen musical, Love never dies? Dd loves Phantom, should I get tickets for this?

And the daily blogging continues!

2011-05-24T23:49:00.000+10:00

Do you know, this daily blogging for a week has really been fun..and the week isn't even over yet! I completely remember why I have kept the blog for nearly 5 years..and almost 500 posts! A diary with feedback..(.other than the time you got a LOT of feedback when your Mum found the one under your bed!!)

Loving the comments, especially the sunflower ones, isn't it funny how we all like something different, i adored the silhouettes, but almost didn't include the one I posted, yet that is some people's favourite as well. Keeps me motivated, but also shows me why I have to have a big card range, everyone is different!

I was going to sew all day today and have heaps to share, but I had to sort cattle and freeze my behind off in the paddock all day instead. A good job done...but only 30 minutes for sewing, though I had a lot of fun in the 30 minutes!

I have been catching up on a lot of blogs, and I have searched back thru my history but cannot find where I found this, but add it in the comments if you know who recently posted a picture of these handy sewing caddies. Suffice it to say, NOT my design, someone clever thought of it and I have played with my version today.

They are little tool keepers, especially good for when you go to classes, etc. I think fabulous in the office for pens-heaps of uses. They just slip over a standard acrylic phoot frame, too easy am going to make some more tomorrow, have a few ideas of my own to add...I would definitely need a pincushion somewhere as well (and my family would agree...pins end up EVERYWHERE !!)
Seeing I am right back in blogger mood, lets make today another giveaway day. A lucky commenter will win one of these two!! I will also announce the sunflower fabric winner tomorrow.

Notice one has chooks, the other quilter memories, well here are a few of my real chooks for you. They have multiplied hugely over the summer...a great season.
I

One of my frizzle hens
hens with the frizzle rooster

Oops, one of yesterday's 2 missing sunflower pics!

...and the other!

A pekin bantam crossed with a frizzle. Don't tell anyone, but she is my favourite!

A very handsome rooster!

Who was your favourite?

Have a great day, Tracey

Sunflowers..and a giveaway on Giveaway day.

2011-05-23T22:25:00.006+10:00

I planted a lot of sunflowers this year and have had 2 months worth of fun from a $5 investment at the animal food seeds shop...much cheaper buying your seeds there in bulk (nobody made me sign something to say that it wasn't going to be fed to birds!)

I just love them, they are such a happy flower, the kids agree, but did suggest that perhaps there wasn't a need to photograph them again! I must have disappeared into the backyard with the camera a lot. But it was like an elephant in the room...and you can imagine how often i would photograph that! I wanted them in all the different lights..and much more fun to take a photo of a sunflower than keep walking to the clothesline to hang another lot of washing. Here are a few for you...can you pick a favourite...and perhaps even win a charm pack? There are 12, with the firs being #1...and so on down to 12. OOps, editor's note, blogger has stolen 2! So only 10!

I am hoping to add a new sunflower range to Tracey's country Cards, if you list your faves from today's photos for me, with the idea of the photo lending itself to a card, it would be a great help. Anyone who does comment today, on what seems to be blog giveaway day, will get an entry into the commenters prize of a charm pack. You can choose whichever you like from these two florally themed ones. drawn next time I post, so hurry!

The blog every day for a week prize is still on offer as well for all those that comment this week.

Have a great day, Tracey

I know I am a softie!

2011-05-22T23:01:00.000+10:00

But how could you leave this beautiful, abandoned baby to risk the elements!!

Home wet, cold and with a splitting headache from a long day in antarctic conditions at the football carnival, but still have to do the jobs...headed out between showers to check my sheep. I have made a conscious decision to walk around one lambing mob so i am combining a job with exercise. Takes me around 40 minutes at a brisk walk to do this one paddock, then I do all the others on the motorbike. I love the walk, especially with the camera, but any day

Archie has been just waving me good-bye from the fence with his ageing body, but came with today...he confuses the heck out of the sheep!

I found this little one just about had it, now I ask you, could you possibly leave it there? No, you couldn't and I can't either!

It has come home to join these two

and this one...

Didn't it have a snug walk home...just keeping it real so you know I am hands on!! (i hate it when my text attaches itself to the pics and goes coloured, can i edit that once it happens??)

The lambs are joining my 7 big babies (to say nothing of the ones in the house!!) These are now 3 weeks old, but still sucking up as much of my quilting time as milk!

Very messy at that they are, as well.

Was talking about the new additions the other day at Bible Study, (but not for Bible study!) most of the other mums are younger than me, still having babies and thus at home for day time Bible study...unlike me who slides in off the motorbike with a lamb rather than a baby on the back!! Something then got us onto James herriot books, I adore James Herriot...funnily enough!! The other girls had seen the BBC shows and read some of the novels but never seen the kid's books of the best stories.

Home to dear Google, I found they were out of print, but thanks to my other friend, dear eBay, these ones are all on their way here. I have some, like the Market square Dog, Bonny's big day and Blossom come home (personal fave!!) but I have wanted the rest...including the Christmas day ketten whose pic didn't want to upload, for ages, and I was very pleased to get them reasonably. I am planning on giving the copies of the ones i already have to the girl who hosts the study, for the sheer fact her enthusiasm means I only ever have to slide in, not clean and host!!

Anyone else seen them? They are truly beautiful..and firmly ensconced in my section of the kid's book library that never gets handed on forever.

My relationship with ebay brings me to another good friend today. I haven't been on Ebay for probably 18 months, but as soon as I got on the other day, twas like I'd never left! From searching for james Herriot I moved to fabric, to interesting quilt tops, to a few favourite authors, and before I knew it my friendship with ebay was refreshed! This hasn't just worked with eBay, reconnected with my lovely friend Suse the last few days, and just like eBay, but much, much nicer, it is just like old times!! Handy that she has kept up via the blog, but just lovely to have a friendship you can recapture so quick! love ya Suse!! And promise to stay in touch!!

Betetr go to bed, still battling to feel warm after today, remember commenters are in the draw..and have a great day! Tracey

Update 3...just!

2011-05-21T23:07:00.009+10:00

Okay, will get in by a few minutes to make this a third daily post.

Kids footy and netball team had the bye today, so made a quick dash to my sister's.

She has a beautiful new dog, has been rehomed by the breeder due to circumstances. And boy, has it fallen on its feet, very much adored by her little family. She knew a pup was out of the question at this stage, with the kitten monster still on the loose, so it had to be a grown dog. So well trained, wont even eat until you tell it...perfect! My sister wants me to go on the breeder's list, for when Archie passes on-I can't imagine no Archie, and am just taking him to the vet next week to see what we can do about his arthritis...he is NOT being replaced!

Doesn't the dog look loved by the kitten monster!

Been having a little play with the new florals, and finding them a little tricky, how often matching florals are...to me!! The creative one in me wants to bring in hot pinks and a bit of out there colour, but this is only meant to be a simple, quick play, resulting in a very basic shabby chic baby rug....why am I mucking around with it then!

Pink chenille or white...see why I'd like a hot pink border around each block...they seem lost...but that is the romantic fashion.

I stopped pulling my hair out and just whipped upthis one for a bed, cute, huh.

NO, just jokes, not really, that's Barbie in there!! Sleeping in the Doll's house, she has standards, so got a new quilt, this is it's star quilting below.

Now, you were getting more photos tonight but blogger is playing up and cutting out, so there will be some farm pics tomorrow, got some cuties to show you. I am off to see my boy play in some rep. football matches tomorrow, am taking sewing and the camera, should fill in the day!

Hope your day is great, and remember, a comment in my 7 days of posts, enters you in the comp!

Day 2 of catching up!

2011-05-20T15:41:00.009+10:00

Have to share these pics with you! I went to my cousins house on Saturday night for my Uncle's special birthday. My cousin is a quilter..and felter..and cushion maker and doll maker!! She let me steal some photos for you in her lovely house, I love the felted bags, her own designs, other thinks you may pick a designer for...but not these! i just know how you all love MORE inspiration for projects! She even made the hanging tree with her wood router.

And here is a taste of her quilting. Which is your favourite thing?

Very talented. I also have the beautiful bunch of flowers school gave me for market organizing to share, and a great present from them...a bobbin saver! Don't you love it when people know just what you need??!! thank goodness no chocolates!! Though we did get a lovely slice filled morning tea!

Better run to the bus...this daily blogging is hard to fit in...more tomorrow..and remeber all commenters for the week fo in the draw!

A hectic month...but a blogging week to come!

2011-05-19T14:49:00.008+10:00

Another month where i intended to blog more...and actually it was less!! But today is the first of 7 days of blogging, i am going to bring you up to speed on some sewing, some patchwork, some family news, lots of new photos, some new animals around the place ..and a bit of life in general. unfortunately for those with a love of gossip...no, I don't have a secret love child i am about to reveal! Sorry, my life hasn't been quite that exciting the past month...unlike some others! For a start, from Shabby Fabrics, "Delilah", by Grand Reveval. I think Grand Reveival did the Barefoot roses range as well, a range I never tire of and have used in so many quilts. Of course, now I need to sew it, not look at it and fondle it lovingly...who will be Delilah worthy I wonder??

In the past month my girl was confirmed into our church after 12 months instruction. Had 45 here for sit down lunch last Sunday after the service. This is her cake, made by a very good friend of mine, was chocolate and caramel cake inside, delicious!

And here is my little church adult and myself. How did she get so close to my height already!!

School market was the week before. As long time readers know, i co-ordinate this event. Did a very rough time tally, because a friend insisted, and I put in somewhere in excess of 180 hours. Including making the above raffle prize from my Roman Holiday stash. (With its happy recipient) Well worth it, this year's was amazing! I did my first one 5 years ago, we made $5000 and were excited, by last year we were upto $9000 profit and this year close to $14,500!!! From a 4 hour school market. We had shifted venues and the entire town came, we worked out it averages $1.30 from every town resident, and we never asked the businesses for one dollar or one donation-proud of that!!

Berst thing about the market, I was too busy to eat and lost 5 kgs in the 3 weeks leading up to it, 4 1/2 of which have remained off. Feel like I should be paying to be in charge!

Here are some of my jams and pickles...thanks to everyone who helped me with fig recipes.

I have lots more to show, but you had better tune in tomorrow. Anyone who comments during catch-up week will go in the draw for a few prizes...not just from Tracey's Country Cards, but including!! And anyone who comments on every post will get extra entries.

This last photo is me releasing a green balloon on Kael's funeral day. Friends released green balloons all over the world in his memory. I was very emotional about the fact they draped kael's coffin with his leukeumia quilt from me, they removed it and have kept it as a lasting reminder.

If it was a tough day for me 1000's of kms away, i can't imagine how the family did it.

Hope your day is great, Tracey

It's hard work being a a cat! Take 2..hopefully with pics!

2011-04-15T10:35:00.003+10:00

Hmm, why would blogger steal the photos, how odd! We'll try again!

Magnum, "oh fertile one!" has just had her 3rd lot of kittens in 7 months, we keep missing the window for the snip! She gets pregnant too quickly.

Anyway, these are her new babies, I want one of these for a card, which is your favourite?

And if a catchy caption comes to mind, well I'm always very appreciative of those! There's even Mother's day coming up, if any appropriate ones jump out at you there.

Have a great day, Tarcey

It isn't all happy endings..

2011-04-14T20:19:00.003+10:00

Sad news this week, the little boy who received the Quilt for Leukeumia quilt back in September passed away. I have been fortunate to be a part of his family's struggles since September by way of Facebook, and I can only pray that it is never anything that I have to face first hand.I am also very thankful that I could help to bring comfort and support to this great little boy. Cancer is a terrible thing, and medical research in this country needs to be gaining more money, not potentially be cut in half as is currently suggested. No-one should have to watch their little boy suffer like that. As they say, what a wonderful thing it will be when we need to have cake stalls to fund a war and hospitals and schools get all they need.

On a lighter note, and mainly because I don't want to leave all sad and political, fruit's in!! I have made my first batch of Clare's fig and walnut chutney (with home grown figs and walnuts)....looked BAD prior to cooking...slightly offputting, but beautiful after, haven't got a pic, I'll take one the next batch. I did it in the slowcooker, worked a treat!

This is my Mother-in-Law's ripe tomato chutney potion!! It is my family's favourite thing and pressure is always on for it to be good. A 6 hour cook, boiled down even darker than this third pic and is beautiful. Gotta love the smell.

Back soon, more stuff cooking. Hug your babies tight, love Tracey

Real love...or a great scratching post!

2011-04-05T12:20:00.007+10:00

Archie and Shaggy spend every day like this, hard to get photos...the glass distorts them and if I go outside they both run to me. But I had to share these few I took.

Any good ideas for a suitable caption???

Archie waiting patiently for Shaggy to return!!

Quilts and walnuts and calves...

2011-03-29T20:28:00.006+11:00

Where do the weeks disappear to? We had a great weekend away in Adelaide a few weeks ago, (Holdens won.) The only trouble was coming back to the cars after the race and we were one short!! Luckily ours was back at the holiday park, but it meant we bought a few extra dejected passengers home. Sad when you work your whole life for something good and others see it as a reason to steal. They've had no news so insurance is stepping in.

I finished another quilt...amazingly! I did most of the top last year at quilt retreat, an old friend wanted a quilt recently and this fit the bill, I finished it off to suit her and added a free pieced version of her daughter's name to the back as a surprise. It was made from a batik scrapbag from hancocks, I love the colour effect.

I have just about worked out a walnut routine, has been a lot of trial and error, i have a great husking machine...want to see?

Efficient, green energy...and cute as well!

He just loves pounding those walnuts and we have fun doing it together...think the finished product looks fine, I am freezing them all for Claire's fig and walnut chutney. The figs are late, probably the tricky season, just starting to ripen this week..and no chutney from them, they've all been eaten by me.

We are still trying to get the linseed off, one paddock done yesterday, it would be VERY nice to get the harvest finsished. It should all be getting worked up for the new planting now!

The agronomists are all doom and gloom about all the greenery and weeds the rain have caused, it is going to cost a fortune to spray it,.. and then hopefully it will burn. The agronomists say if we can't burn we can't crop. That would get getting serious!

Dh hurt his back the day after we came home from Adelaide, it's finally coming good but I have had to help him mark the calves that are being born every day...that involves an identification tag in one ear (see here on the left) and a number in the other if it's a girl, as this one is. If it's a boy it gets a ring on it's nether regions...none of which hurts the calf. I wish I had photos of me running across the paddocks to get the active ones...and turning them over to mark. The funnist bit is me attempting to lok nonchalant in front of Dh and act like the little blighters aren't hard to hold!But they are very cute!

Taking my girl to her school deb ball tomorrow night, a lot of friend's kids are in it-and a lot of her school frinds will be there, have to dress up...lets just say she is much more enthusiastic about this than me....but at least I'm happier than I would have been 8 kgs ago!!

Better run, I have a market to prepare for in the morning, hope you are great and bloggers, hope to visit!

Burning, birthday... and bieber!

2011-03-14T22:21:00.003+11:00

Trying to get my house organized enough to disappear for school adventure camp with my daughter for the next few days, then be back home only a night before heading off to Adelaide for my annual dose of fuel injection...the Clipsal V8 supercar races.
A note to card order people, markets had really lowered my stocks, the card business has been crazy, new stocks arriving this week and al cards will be delivered asap.
We have had a few warm days so all the cereal grains are harvested, only the linseed to come. We have started burning the stubbles. We try not to burn much anymore but given the wet seasonal conditions it is the only way to get rid of the rubbishy weeds, fungi and secondary growth in the paddocks.

Darling daughter is now a teenager, had a dozen girls over for a party, they had to make their own cupcakes, decorate cupcakes and gluten free pavlovas (I'm an equal opportunity party holder!) and her birthday cake...also pin the hair on a bald Justin Bieber!

The highlight was the chocolate fondue fountain, we only get it out a few times a year, always makes me feel like the Vicar of Dibley!! It really should be illegal.

I'll leave you with a rose from this week, the roses are loving this wet summer/autumn. Better run, have to clean out the car to get kids in....heaven help me!

One quilt done!

2011-03-09T22:58:00.006+11:00

It's 11 pm here, I am waiting for 6 slabs of apple strudel to be cool enough to freeze and 3 egg and bacon pies to come out of the oven....and I draw the line at the "Embarrasing bodies" show the TV is offering, so i finally have a minute to blog.

Emma's 'Quilts for Leukeumia' quilt is all finished and mailed. I photographed it in my favourite March light, which probably makes it a touch on the orange side, but I don't think that matters. It was all foundation pieced on a thick wadding, so tying it was quite enough quilting. Has a fabulous red and white spot backing and I, of course, would have loved it here! But that's the fun of quilting. I know a little 4 year old in New Zealand needs it more than me, and of course my name is NOT Emma!.My darling Archie dog helped as always... you get a rare pic of me here...a la naturale! Well, not THAT natural, (you aren't being punished!) i mean, in farmwife mode. Arch is 8 and starting to have a few morning arthritis issues, I hate seeing that, it reminds me he can't keep me company and scare the foxes away from all my free ranging chooks for ever.Look at him begging for a scratch.

Had 2 warm days this week so managed to get a bit more crop off, now we only have a little barley and a lot of linseed to battle for. All good fun. Better run now, oven is going off...thanks to all my walnut helpers, have realy appreciated the continuing advice, struggling to get good ones, today was about my best result. i don't think I will be getting rich from walnut farming! Have a great day, Tracey

All clucky here!

2011-02-12T15:35:00.005+11:00

Quality control with your hen eggs is very important. You really need to be able to guarantee a perfect egg every time. I can do this...pretty much every time! I start to have trouble in my chookyard at this time of year. late Summer I seem to get so many eggs..and so many clucky chooks. I usually try to have all my clucky chooks separated so no-one lays on top of them, but have a look at today's walk in the chookyard and you'll see why everyone can't be isolated!!

Yes, you're right, there's 10 sitting..and that's just the ones I can find! Actually, notice 2 are hatching, found that out when i went to take your photos! They sit anywhere, even in the top of the wood saw...in a yabby net! (middle above) Any dark corner, bit of hay...they really don't care!

If I collect the eggs a few times every day quality control is good, I find all the fresh ones, leave the others behind and the world is good...but if I miss a day...or heaven forbid...go away, all the trouble starts. What happens then is that we have to keep any doubtful ones that may have been sat on a day or two. I break them into a cup before using them, so can check. I also keep all the small eggs, here, from the bantams and pullets. On these days we eat a lot of quiches and egg and bacon pies...so do the district!

I have a new favourite recipe that I thought I would share. It is SO easy it is embarrassing, but incredibly cheap!

Here's what you need, basically!

-Eggs...however many you want,

-shoulder bacon, ham, normal bacon...whatever you have really. I use three pieces of the big shoulder bacon, lightly cook it in the pan..with the onions/garlic
-an onion, cut up small and cooked lightly, can add a bit of garlic in..natural flavours!

-Pita bread,

-grated cheese

To make: Just line a casserole dish with the pita bread/wrap. (Don't cook it, just as is- fresh)

Throw two pieces of the bacon in, folded so it fits. Then just break 3 or 4 eggs straight onto the top and a fair bit of the onion. Cut the last piece(s) of bacon and layer on top, add some more eggs and rest of onion. Could add a shake of S&P if desired, then just a handful of grated cheese sprinkled over the top and cook for around 40 minutes on medium oven until eggs are well cooked through. This is amazingly cheap, Aldi has a 5 pack of the Pita bread for $1.29, the bacon to make about 6 for $7, cheese enough to make 6for $4 ish, even if you buy the eggs, it's not dear. So I make a few of these at once, they will freeze but aren't quite as nice....need more chutney on top at serving! There's just something about it fresh. It is fabulous cold! Best 'Take with' quiche type thing because it is quite solid, good enough to stay together for school lunches. Replacing the pastry with the pita bread makes it a much healthier version as well.

Last Monday we had lemon chicken with scalloped potatoes, the next day i put the left overs into the pie, layers of chicken and potato worked beautifully...just made it thicker.

Here's one I prepared earlier

All ready for a bite!

Got to run..and sew..and write a children's address for Church tomorrow, and plan 2 meeting agendas, but here's my new card thanks to my very clever blogging friends!!

Thanks for all the walnut advice...who knew it was that tricky!!! I can't wait to see if I can get some to cooking with stage. Have a great day, Tracey

He giveth with one hand... (and walnut advice please!)

2011-02-09T16:33:00.011+11:00

Bit of trivia, when it rains inches and inches all summer long, many things grow really well, I have never seen my belladonna's look like this. (Neither have the chooks!) Your fruit trees especially do well. The farm we bought next door has a walnut tree, probably planted 50 or a a hundred years ago... I didn't see any walnuts on it last year, but this year it is loaded.

Being a quilter, you know I can't bear to see anything go to waste, so I am trying to work out how to properly harvest these walnuts. I googled (of course) but they wont quite tell me exactly waht i want to know, so if you can assist, feel free! Do I pick them pretty big, and mainly all green, then dry them, then take the outside husk off or do I pick them with a bit of black and just rip the husks off somehow..then perhaps let the walnuts dry out somewhere in their shells? I always thought you just let them drop to the ground, then when the outside went black you got the walnut out...but the ones that have done that themselves under the tree are soft and rotten. These are some that have just started going black and when i pulled some skin off some it looked like a proper walnut underneath, so I have bought a few kgs home to do something with.
But have left all the rest on the tree. Some like the photo previous, some like below. What to do next?

O also foresee a LOT of pickled figs..actually i think I am really going to have to master fig jam, it's never been my talent, but there has a to be a good recipe out there somewhere!! Look at this for a fig tree...

AndI think the correct word is "laden"

Of course, all rain is not joy...as many Aussies know!!
Rain makes lots of thing grow, especially weed. Look at this great paddock of weeds...

..oh, wait, that's not a paddock of weeds, that's a paddock of early barley that should have been harvested about a month ago but we couldn't get on it. Now the joy is trying to get un-weedy, viable barley seeds out of there. i'll keep you updated on THAT challenge!!

Have a great day, any walnut harvesting advice or "What on earth to do with figs" will be greatly appreciated! Tracey

Some good reads...

2011-02-06T18:39:00.001+11:00

I have lived in Australia my whole life.....but I cannot believe the past few months here. Torrential and unseasonal rain, heatwaves, floods, cyclones and now serious fires in the West start to make you think...is it climate change, is it something ort of the book of Revelations...or is it just everything Australia has been throwing at its people for thousands of years and it has occurred all at once. I don't have the answers, I just can't believe the country.

This week we have managed to get some more crop off, we were very fortunate that the 4 inches that occurred around our state due to the tail of the cyclone didn't occur here..or we would have had to park the headers for the rest of the harvest and write it all off, with only a quarter of the seeds off. We have already had to buy a chaser bin to get the grain out of the paddock, but still could not do almost a quarter of the latest paddock.chaser bin is the middle one, pulled by a mud friendly tractor!

On an entirely different note, I have been doing some book purchasing..and received a few... in the last few months and haven't shared! Tonya Ricucci's Word Play quilts arrived, thanks to postage free Book depository. I LOVE it!! My word quilts should be far improved now...no excuse!! It is with Skinny quilts and table runners. I saw a beach quilt made out of this in Chookyblue's SSCS wrap up photos and loved it..even though I'm not a big pattern girl. It has some other fabulous quilts in it, very happy with that purchase. It was also available at Book Depository.

Searching for a 2011 quitling diary at Book depository and ended up following links to the 7 minute difference. It was perfect timing, I love to try and be more organized, especially starting a new year. The book gives you heaps of good ideas..and the diary has heaps of room for planning and organizing your priorities..and day.

A little bit of spiritual food as well. Quilts from heaven is a great little patchwork related devotion book and Francine Rivers Lineage of Grace follows the stories of the women in Jesus line. It is written in a novel type format and is fabulous, we studied the stories at Bible Study.

My gorgeous friend Robyn bought me The Elm Tree quilts book for my birthday, not realising that Anne Ida's quilt is featured in it. I have always wanted to read "These is my Words" and bought it for self for Christmas!

I bought myself Billy Joel's biography as well, I LOVE him. I have spent January with his all time greatest hits collection on the car CD stacker and I am proud to tell you my children now sing all his songs in the house...now that it 'good bringin' up'!!! I adore my boy's rendition of 'I a-aa-am an Innocent m-a-aan' in the shower"!!

His hairline foot fracture and raging tonsilitis (that both combined to force a week on the couch) have improved, and I can safely say I never want to see that lion caged again!!

And finally, and very importantly, my sister gave me the Pioneer Woman Cooks for my birthday, what a beautiful woman .... and book! She is currently doing press for "Black heels to tractor wheels" which is being released. I have been watching her live on the US today show. Funny to hear her speak after following her writing so long. Great books! Amazing to think her writing career came from being bored one day and starting a blog! Chance may have started her, Talent got her to where she is though!!

Hope you see some thing that interests you, if you have any more recommendations that suit me, drop me a line. Have a great day, Tracey

MY New year start!!

2011-02-01T23:10:00.005+11:00

My year is about to start!! Doesn't quite work in with January 1st, my timetable, I can't get into New year resolutions and schedules while the kids are on holidays and expect me to spend time with them, not doing my own stuff (how rude, really!! LOL) But,I am now getting myself ready for the approaching school bus and the 'freetime" (sometimes!!) that brings. Bought 'the 7 minute difference', and the diary from one of my Book depository sojourns..and it's working wonders already. Was looking at my patchwork goals and thought, MUST get more done than last year, which really felt like a sewing desert. As part of the prioritising I looked at what i had achieved..and was actaully quite surprised, so i thought i would share for historical reference...there were a few weeks there after my computer died when it looked like this blog was one of the only receptacles of my photos!!

Quilt tops, finished quilts, skirts, bags, santa sacks and aprons. Fair bit of variety. Everything has gone to someone else except the couple of unfinished quilt tops. Hopefully all those quilt tops will be finished this year, along with a few in the UFO stash. There are also a lot of quilts I want to make...SUCH a long list. I'm lookin forward to the challenge. What are your plans for patchwork in 2011, maybe posting what you've done might motivate you as well, I know many have done it already or continually update in their sidebar. i have been trying to work out what i like the best, what's your favourite from my year's work?

The header was repaired ready for a good go in hot weather today. For those interested, it was a rotor bearing (i think)! We are only onto our own third paddock of wheat (we work with the rest of the family) so harvest is going to go well into February and close to March for some crops. The joys of the weather!

have a great day, Tracey

Summer...

2011-01-31T22:04:00.000+11:00

Beach time these holidays has been great, we made the most of Mum camping down the beach by sleeping at her house and utilizing her caravan campsite 20 metres from the ocean during the days...the perfect setup as far as I am concerned...proper beds and showers! Stole nearly 2 weeks of beach time that way, without having to leave Dh at home by himself for longer than a night a time. (January is NOT a cropper's holiday time, so we have learnt to make the best of what we can get!)

The closest beach was struggling to cope with the aftermath of the floods, the ocean looked like coke (but we still swam!) and the foam was amazing...

This is at the breakwater, all foam!

Foam or no foam, the local racehorses still had to be exercised, this is a great way to fill in an hour or two at the Warrnambool foreshore. (why has this just underlined itself??)

My sister decided that seeing I had taken in excess of 1000 photos of the kids at the beach there had better at least 2 to prove I was there!

I had a delivery to make as well, my sister enlisted my quilting knowledge and asked for a baby blanket for her new nephew. Another paid job that financed some more Hancock's purchases! Her kids just hand me everything that needs a stitch or button, funny!

So, signing off for the night, Dh has had a header breakdown and shown up prior to midnight...better talk to him! Cheers

One of the many things I have in my boot!

2011-01-27T18:56:00.003+11:00

In Australia we have a "boot' in our car, think this is the trunk in the US. I keep a lot of stuff in my boot, never know what you will need on the road, DH calls it my mobile office!. This is just one of the reasons my DH has his own pristine car and I have my 'far-less-that-pristine' vehicle.

This was proven just recently when I was putting stuff in the boot and I spotted a little grey thing crawling, presumed it was a mouse who was a good climber, but turned out to be this little darling!

Now, don't you think this little bat is cute! Only mouse sized, i caught him in this coffee cup and took him around for show and tell, note to self...bats can climb and push coffee cup lids off in cars! Lucky I love creepy crawlies! He was very happy to be free an hour later and hung around on the lawn with me for half an hour for old time's sake!

Now, vote, cute or not cute...any ideas for a card caption for the coffee cup one appreciated too, it's got to lend itself to something!! back very soon...beach and injured kid is distracting me!

Of water and sea...

2011-01-13T13:29:00.005+11:00

Back from the beach, haven't felt much in the holiday mood these past few days, the floods and devastation in Queensland are enough to get the toughest of us to shed a tear. It's awful. We are comparitively fine. Three inches in last couple of days with another 3 or 4 expected. It's hopeless for trying to get crop off, so far the only thing harvested is the canola. But, like I said, comparitively to Queensland we are fine!

On a bookwork note....Some winners for my card caption-

Chook, for "faith, hope and love" on card1.

Ozjane for "it'll be ok, mate" on card 2

Needled Mom for "Bon Voyage" on Card3

kerry for "give Thanks"

These girls will all score 10 cards of their choice, with a special extra pack going to Margaret. Drop me a line girls. Took a few photos at the beach, had fun playing with my sister's youngest on the beach here...

All the cousins had fun burying each other!And on one day the wind made the entire bay flat and all the sailboats came in and treated it like a lake, uncommon in Warrnambool.

Am off to take my girl to see tangled...am sick of looking at and hearing the rain...as half of this country is!!

Sewing and some book purchases next time, Cheers and stay safe, Tracey

Quilt for leukeumia progress

2011-01-07T08:04:00.005+11:00

The strings are all sewn and attached, so thought the quilt needed a freepieced name. I have it all done as above, but can't decided whether to just have it all white like above and maybe applique a few stars in the space next to the A, or to attach a sashing like below.

I would imagine I'm only going to attach a red binding to it for the last step, so any ideas are welcome.

Also, well done on the prayers!! They are pretty sure Kael has not relapsed, just a problem due to an infection, and he was to be realeased from hospital yesterday!!!

Off to the beach for a few days, so you actually have time to think of a caption for me for the photo comp. So far it is far too easy to judge, so go back a post or two and give it a whirl!!
.I'll leave you with some linseed pics....it flowers with beautiful blue flowers. It has been looking like a wavy ocean in the breeze. We are a bit worried about that breeze though, it is predicted to come from the North today, strongly, and the north has a terrible locust plague, they would love this crop and our late (still green) barley. All the other ripe and dry stuff should be fine. The joys of farming!! If it isn't rain and drought, it's locusts! Wouldn't be anywhere else, though!

Have a great day, Tracey

Quilts for Leukeumia sewing

2011-01-03T21:42:00.007+11:00

Clare at Quilts for leukeumia is in need of a quilt for this side of the world, so i worked today on a red and white string. This is the progress so far, it will get bigger than this, my friend Robyn is making me blocks as well as the ones I have to finish. of course, like all the quilts I make for others..I'd like to keep it!!

I showed you a few months ago the one I made for a little boy called Kael.I used my version of Tonya's letters in this, Tonya and friends do them SO much better...and now you can purchase her book! Word play Quilts, by Tonya Ricucci
I have orderd it already and can't wait for it to come, I have been following Tonya's blog since I started on blogs, well over 4 years ago, and it's great.

I have been very fortunate to keep track on Kael and his family and their cancer battle via facebook. This can be a bittersweet joy, I have loved seeing the pictures of him comforted by his quilt, but I have found the medical logistics of even a remission patient to be heartrending. Today there is news of a chance of relapse, I would ask any of the pray-ers amongst you to join me in praying that his wednesday blood tests will only indicate infection, not a relapse...and for his family to keep strong.

Cuddle your babies... Tracey

ps Oh, think my competition may be too hard, lots of visitors, few comments. Come on, give it a shot...you have until friday!

Photo competition

2011-01-02T22:39:00.008+11:00

PHOTO 1. CHICK KIT

PHOTO 2. CONFUSED DOG

PHOTO 3. TASK WEARY DOG

PHOTO 4 BEGGING DOG

To celebrate my return to blogging, plus a belated 4 year (!!) blogiversary, I have a little bit of fun for you.....

I have chosen 4 photos, and your job is to come up with a suitable caption. (A caption that would lend itself to a card would be especially useful!) You don't have to do all four, just whatever jumps out at you. I have been uploading some of my latest cards to my Tracey's country cards site tonight, a few more to go on there tomorrow. Winners, for each photo, will be chosen on what my judging family think... and emails are welcome if you are blog free. Winners will get to choose 10 of their own favourite cards from the 175 + now on offer and may get a few other surprises as well. I have new gift card packs, and some other lucky enterers, will be chosen randomly for these!! if you send anyone over here, tell them to mention it in their comments and you'll get another entry in the random draw.

You have until Friday to think of something and enter it in the comments under the appropriate number/title (so i don't get confused)!...have fun!

Competition tomorrow...

2011-01-01T17:21:00.006+11:00

New year's day for a competition was a good thought, but I need a little while on the computer to get it organized and that aint happening, harvest (finally!) waits for no man..or woman!

A few swan shots is the best that i can offer you today....a couple more recent prize winners. The recent late rains fortunately came after all the nests hatched, so their flooding wasn't a big drama, just meant a few babies slept on the shore.

'Tis hot, darn hot!!!

2010-12-31T16:07:00.000+11:00

Must not stay here long...20 due here for new year's eve pool party in 2 hours and I'm just home from the beach, got to above 38 degrees here with shocking winds.

Thought I'd quickly share some onset of summer pics from my garden, can't decide which butterfly one I like best, can you??

What about my dragonfly, thought he was cute!

The quilt went to my boy's retiring school teacher/ head teacher. My daughter had her last year and adored her, so we felt she was quilt worthy!!! Not everyone is...as you quilt makers know!!

Hope your New year's eve is wonderful...and safe!!

Tune in tomorrow for a little competittion to celebrate the new year and the fact I'm back to blogging...think there was a 4 year blogiversary I missed as well!!! Cheers, tracey!!

And out with the camera....

2010-12-29T00:01:00.000+11:00

Just a note to start... WOW! I am amazed how many people have kept popping in while I have been gone! I was thinking that noone would notice if I disappeared, but I managed to reaccess my statcounter account today after the loss of my main computer, and all I can say is "Thank you!!" Also, with the loss of my main computer I have lost all my favourites that I had set up when bloglines was going/gone. I have noone's address unless I crawl and scroll and search and visit, so if you are a friend of mine from lots of years of blogging, a comment or email would save a lot of time and would be great to get you on this computer. Inoticed some addresses I did have on here are gone and that makes me sad....you're lost!! I'll see who's still out there! Also, Chookyblue did her annual Christmas swap, she has posted the near 100 ornaments so far and the gift photos are still coming, well worth a look!

I love the Spring.....soon I even hope it may change to summer (38 degrees expected here for New year/s a shock after highs of very low 20's all month!)

Lots of new babies and life in the last few months here

I'm a little proud of this one, it won best farm animal shot at our photography show, against tricky opposition!

\
We have had some crazy phenomenons(to do with the crazy weather, I think) including these spider webs that appeared all around the local lake, very eerie!

More kittens as well!!! we will have to do something about the promiscuity of Magnum, she is lowering the farm's tone!This is one of her latest babies preparing to wine and dine a chicken!

Archie is asking people to join him in calling for the sterilisation of one whose children are disturbing his previously peaceful life!

And, why did the echidna cross the road?? So I could take his photo of course!! How cute is this fellow!
Last but not least, a gift idea for you... A good friend has kids my age and is spending ages every night at sports. The worst is the swmming training, the main seats are concrete bleachers, she was telling me this the other week so i made her a discreet quilted cushion/bag. Noone really wants to cart a cushion everywhere, but this is magazine carrying size, then if she just takes her stuff out it's comfy cushion. I lined it with chenille and it's fully reversible so if she doesn't want to sit on the outer she can just turn it inside out. She loved them and wants me to make more. The basic bag is my quited tutorial one in the sidebar links. I gave it a side handle here, up to you on the handles.

Have a great day, Tracey

Not dead!

2010-12-27T17:38:00.009+11:00

How does it get to be 10 weeks from my last post? Lots of ways...my desktop hard drive died, most of the country got washed away in floods, including lots of our crops, so then they all had to get sown again, (and the water just keeps coming...where was it the last few years when we needed it!) time spent off the computer meant that another 6 kgs disappeared, getting me down to my lowest weight in the last 4 or 5 years, eldest daughter graduated primary school, boy took up proper cricket, with 5 associated hours of watching accompanying it...school swimming program came my way to run as did local photo competition and animal nursery, husband went away up north trying to harvest the almost unharvestable, did what feels like the whole district's photo taking, Sunday school nativity as well...and suddenly today is the day I finally have "nothing " to do!! So, hi!!

There has also been some sewing, this was made for my friend's daughter's wedding. It was all gift cards and money suggestions, and i am afraid that didn't excite me. i knew from watching her mother make the wedding cake that the whole theme was peaches and cream, so i managed to find some peaches and cream in my stash and make her this.

It is about a metre and half square, hanging on the oldest moreton bay fig in Adelaide, where we stayed to go to the wedding. The funny thing is, that about 4 days before, it looked like this...

-just a whole pile of layer cakes

-And 3 and a half days before the wedding it looked like this.

i got it together enough to hand quilt, yes, that's correct, hand quilt the butterfly/love hearts at wednesday night's cricket match...I was not letting 3 hours of enforced stillness go to waste, much to the other mother's amusement! And on the 5 hour trip to Adelaide On the Friday i completely hand stitched the binding and finished the last butterflies.

The bride loved it, especially(of course) because she had a whole house of money and gift cards...all very fine, but all very cold to cuddle up with new husband under!! (That's really a life lesson isn't it, money's all very good, but very cold to sleep with...)

These have been this week's projects...delivered Christmas Eve by the skin of their teeth! They are quilted santa sacks..and santa could almost fit in them, ok, well, a small child could use them as a sleeping bag. They were a paid job that has covered nearly a year's worth of hancock's purchases in one lot of sewing! They're also fun, i love the idea that these little children will drag them out every year, fo maybe the next 70 years, to celebrate Christmas.

Hope you all had a very Merry christmas with family and friends, hope you aren't all freezing in the Northern winter, that looks major!! It's not freezing here, you just need to be able to swim..over roads!

I'll leave you with some of my newest babies, and promise to be back again much sooner...cheers, Tracey

shopping!

2010-10-16T13:52:00.004+11:00

Hi, our dollar has reached parity with the US one, and Hancock's of Paducah had a free shipping link on facebook last night. Had a look, they have some great stuff on sale which basically means that we can get it here at that price, ie,specials @ $2.98, $3.98, $4.98 etc!! Have to spend $75. If you can't find the link or ad for free shipping, drop me a line for details.

Rain, rain, everywhere here...life is beautiful! well over an inch, SO perfect for all our late sowing, seems that rolling was well worth my efforts, the crop is all coming through already!

Gratitudes today, these gorgeous children, one who has spent all day baking for shearing! Rain....the fact the man I like at the camera place had the good sense to "die" at a school yesterday where a well trained teacher bought him completely back!!... and free shipping!

Aprons, and shaggy quilts..and tractor work!

2010-10-12T21:26:00.005+11:00

The rain has finally stopped long enough to allow the rest of planting season VERY late! This past fornight has seen us get the barley and linseed in and last night was cropping 'cutout"....only a few weeks from the hay season! Due to start shearing here in the next few days, so it is seriously all hands on deck!

I spent a couple of days in the tractor, rolling the newly sown crop...not necessarily what I'd like to be "sewing" but that's what pays the bills! Have to roll everything this time of year, it helps keep the moisture in coming int a time when there wont be as much.

Here's my work environment ...with Georgette heyer historial romance audio books and the latest janet Evanovich loaded on the Ipod and a bottle of water, the only thing missing was the ability to have the tractor drive itself so I could stitch at the same time!

And here's the view...

Tricky thing is not falling asleep! All that sun coming in the glass and just going around... and around... Was very concerned about falling asleep and waking up embedded in the cyprus trees! Not sure Dh would have seen the funny side of that...for at least 10 years!

Some sewing has been managed, lots of aprons..my sister has worked out these are a great gift for all her girl's friends birthdays-

I love this paper doll fabric, about the only place I could still find it online (because I've used my stash and want some more!) was at the fat Quarter Shop. Just a little aside here, with the Aust. dollar almost on parity it's probably time for some feedback. There are a lot of good websites for fabric and I have tried my share.....Hancock's are good -and try to minimise shipping as well, but the fabric does take ages to come to Australia, often over a month; there's an "e" one out there with a great range, but boy, oh boy, watch the postage; same with one that has the almost the same name as the shop I am getting the paper doll fabric from...but with "quilts". But Fat quarter shop ALWAYS deliver, usually to Australia in a week, and they do their best with every aspect of minimising shipping while maximising your shopping. Australian girls, if you have any more good sites to offer while the dollar is even, feel free to comment!! But we wont specifically name names if we criticize!

Have made 5 baby shaggy's in the last few weeks as well, seems to be baby season. this is back and front of one that got handed over this week.

On the farm it's new baby season as well. Here's first duckling and chick here to welcome in Spring... May it be sunny enough to lift the spirits and make to flowers grow, and wet enough to finish off these late crops! have a great day! Off to bake for shearing!

Join me to ban dressy functions for the over 40's!!!

2010-09-17T21:56:00.003+10:00

When I was 20, there was nothing better than dressing up and going to a formal or semi formal event....New dress, shoes, hair taking an hour and makeup on, even though in those days little trowelling was required to cover up!!
Now, at "over" 40, the idea of attending a function like this is just a pain 'cos....
- I forgot to get miraculously skinny this week and now I have to go out with a heap of 20 something netballers. And no, it is not good enough for the soul just to keep imagining they wont be skinny when the netball stops and the babies come!!
-I can't be bothered wasting perfectly good fabric-buying-money on a new dress when there are a few I fit into already in the cupboard (that are only worn once or twice and not cotton so I can't cut them up- so may as well wear them!!!)
-The one dress that doesn't make me run screaming to the pantry to madly throw all the food out requires a FAKE TAN! Do I need to say more!
-It is cold here..and I want to be warm and cosy all night. I don't own a formal dress that keeps me warm and cosy and I draw the line at a Cardy! Fake tan does not keep me warm!

So...
...pass me the chocolate....
fixes everything!
And join my new dressy function ban!
ED. Note!! AND the fact that i hate that I am spending more time choosing the right suck-it-in underwear than the dress!!!

Bits and bobs...

2010-09-16T22:39:00.010+10:00

After missing so much blog time I seem to have a good few photos floating around to share!

Aprons have been the in vogue item, I made this one a month or more ago for a friend of my sister, my girl has made one that it hopefully close to arriving at it's stitchery swap destination...and here is the one she received from her lovely partner, Angel.

Perfect for her, she is the cupcake queen! I will show the one she made when it arrives at its home.

The kittens have been fun, the final one is still here, the long haired black is the one who has stayed to look after us.The others all have homes.A cute family...hogging my couch!

My lovely friend Robyn was here stitching this a week or two ago. A very long labour of love, I thought it was worth sharing, it's a cross stitched Christmas stocking, it hasn't got its black shading stitching yet, but doesn't it look great!

And, it wouldn't be my blog without some farm shots, SO many rainbows this year, quite like this one!

And more overcast skies, this times with galahs in my tree.

And, to leave you on, this little fellow was voluntering to be next when we were lamb marking. Pick me, pick me!!

Hope you are getting some sewing done, cheers, Tracey

ps sitting up watching the AFL footy show tonight, well done to Shane Crawford who has run almost 800 kms in the last 10 days for Breast cancer, over $400,ooo raised. Well done Crawf, you are a legend! Between him, and Jim Stynes cancer battle story, I am feeling quite emotional! Inspirational men...

The warm..and the wet!

2010-09-10T16:00:00.001+10:00

Where do those weeks go?

But look, at least one completed quilt to show you, this needs to go in the mail for Quilts for Leukeumia, I love the red and white!

Can't believe it has been so long since I was around the computer! Work finished...boy, I give a lot of credit to all of you who work full time with kids...and quilts,..and husbands..and whatever else as well, it's crazy! Then we headed off for a much needed break to sunny Queensland! Helped lift everyone's spirits, it has been awfully wet here, the crops are all sodden and have been underwater now for over 5 weeks...not good! The rest of the state is having major rainfal as well, lots of flooded towns. That's the joy of this country, "of droughts and flooding rains!!" Such apt words Some years too dry, some too wet!

Here's the warm weather...of Queensland... me.Me and my boy on the beach

Me and my boy "helping" dad cook the BBq on the rooftop, unfortunately it had a distracting spa!! And i am sure I am only holding a can of softdrink and a book!

And here is what home looks like...

This should be a cropping paddock!

And this!

And this should be a road!!

Lucky the holiday was fun because the DD is not a a happy camper about his farm!

I haven't taken too many pics because it's too depressing and NOT what we want to remember! But, of course, many on Australia and Pakistan are far wetter and far worse off, Pakistan really puts a loss of income into perspective.

Hope you are all well, Tracey

Back online...finally!

2010-07-30T19:39:00.005+10:00

Guess what, I have been away in Africa on Safari...missed me?

Saw this...and these....

Okay, okay, we actually visted the Werribee Park Open Range zoo actaully. No time for overseas trips for me!

No, real reason I have been away...again. Never live in the internet eqivalent of the outback!! Well, only 20 minutes from a largeish town really! But we only get mail 3 times a week and I have been off line on and off for 10 weeks, and 6 weeks basically off. I now have my 4th modem in 6 months (industrial strength!) plus a big antenna on the roof...and if you have read the Stephanie Plum books you will remember their views on the cable companies from the book with the taxidermist, well, I am with them!!!

So, what's new...well, I have just worked my first full time week teaching for lots and lots of (probably pre baby) years! I have 3 weeks to go, so not a lot of quilting at present, binding to go on this weekend, then something to post!

A few more shots form the zoo...

Loved the next 2 photos, they made me feel skinny!

More news, turns out I shouldn't have blindly believed the man we got DD's kitten from last November, turns out Magnum never developed the right things in the right places, but ended up the proud owner of these....

Now, we knew the real Magnum was pretty impressive, but would like to see him manage this!!

Of course, we are adoring them, we weren't quite so excited about her commencing the birth process on the kitchen floor, Dh drew the line and put her outside, she had them on the door mat with 2 very interested young observers not missing a minute of the process! We transferred her into a cosy basket and she has spent the rest of the time being a devoted mother in the middle of my kitchen! Why, oh why, does everything end up in my kitchen?

Daisy niece loved "boos, boos" we had a hard time teaching her how to be gentle! But SO cute!!

Anyway, hope you are all well,and yes, I know I owe emails..I have only managed the odd 5 minutes on other computers. Here's to extended service! Tracey

10 years of (mostly) joy!

2010-07-01T23:04:00.004+10:00

The sun sets on 10 years....

10 years of often very hard labour!

10 years of constant cuddles..

10 years, the first 4 years of which he did not sleep all night for!

10 years of blonde rascal cuteness

1 year (the last) of being able to raise one eyebrow to get his own way!

10 years of constant activity

10 years of love

10 years of preferring not to wear clothes, or as few as absolutely physically and legally necessary!

10 years of noise, now often focussed as singing...and the ability to remember the tune and words to every song he hears.

10 years of the muddiest knees I have ever seen!

10 years of preferring to not be separate from his mother!!

10 years of forgetting me once he's with his friends!

The last few years of attempts to 'work" me with frequent compliments of, "have you lost weight, you sing beautifully mummy darling, wanna cuddle on the couch gorgeous..."

_______________________________________

Where'd those 10 years go???When did I stop having to watch Bob the Builder (and start doing it just by choice..hee. hee!!) Now I want those small years back, it all went too quick, did I make the most of it? Who knows, with no sleep, 'twas all a haze!

Happy birthday DS, I'd do it all again...well, not now!!! But theoretically 10 years ago!

Remember, this week you have a chance to win some cards....off to wrap presents, boy, hope I have a card!!LOL!!

Introducing my new giftcard range!!!

2010-06-29T21:03:00.006+10:00

Hi, yes, finally getting to this! Lots of school holiday distractions at present.

These are the new giftcards, about half the size of my normal cards, 10.5 x 7 cms or 4.5 x 2.75 inches. Still professionally printed on glossy card. No envelopes with these. The pictures show how they look before they are folded. I am stocking these in 5 shops, in packs of 2.

Big news...anyone who commented in the last week since I began posting about my Quilt retreat, wins at least 4 of these cards posted anywhere in the world, I will try to email you all in the next few days. If you have missed out, don't worry, i will choose a few commenters between now and the weekend to win a pack of 10...or two!

So today, tell me why, in this day and age of instantaneous communication..why you send and /or like to receive a card..... or even what one you like.

For a closer look, these are all over at Tracey's country cards, along with the normal notecards with envelopes.

Ed's note: oops, forgot to say that for this week, you can buy 5 of these giftcards and have them posted anywhere in the world for $5!!! An extra card thrown in for Aussies to make up for the postal difference.

My quilts made on the weekend...and a chance to win!

2010-06-25T22:39:00.011+10:00

I think we have seen all of the girl's quilts from the weekend, so here are mine. Three made from scratch, and then Kael's and the stack and whack were over half done when i got there. Lise, janine and Anne are helping me hold them up.

This is the stack and whack, with Heather Bailey fabrics.

Took a scrap bag of Robert Kaufman strips with. There were 30 x 2 and 1/2 inch strips in there, with a black border it got to quite a sizeable quilt top, I love how it looks like the black is curved. The colours are magnificent in real life.

In a previous post you saw Anne's daisy quilt top, this is mine, as different as could be. All blacks and reds, with the white contrast. I cheated, of course, cutting up charm squares was not on any agenda I held, so I cut out 5 inch strips instead, it ended up a good size as well, a good groovy baby size.

And finally, had the other things done by Saturday night so i tipped out my collection of chicken fabrics, (well, the ones I had managed to locate in the mad rush before I left anyway) and started putting them together into something for me

This was the layout about when the socceroos were starting their Saturday night game against Ghana...(was it?) I watched it until Kewell was red carded then decided the game was too technical for me, I like a free flowing and scoring game, kinda like my patchwork, nothing too "quilt policey"!!

A chook quilt was the intention when I began collecting these fabrics 10 years ago, and i have noticed more and more disappearing into other people's quilts, so this one is my turn. As you can see, by the time we left at lunch the next day, it was together...sort of...the sides aren't even, it will grow in width now it's home, there is more fabric to addin and I am determined to get a taste of it all.

The other thing I noticed when I was putting these photos on is how handy the backing width black on black was that I threw in the car...it has got in all the quilts...bar Kael's red and white.

So, what do you think, pick your favourite, tell me about your most productive quilt weekend or just say Hi here, or on any of this week's posts, and go in the chance to win some of my new card range, being launched later in the weekend. Yes, emails are accepted from my non lurking readers, I'll put them into the draw for you.

After over 100,000 hits and 450 posts I could probably do with a little motivation to keep posting!

As thanks in anticipation, here's some cute farm shots, just in case you have been missing the sheep!

Traceyxxx

Gratitudes...that I wasn't given 4 at once!!

Retreat quilt show, part 2

2010-06-24T21:01:00.007+10:00

Ok then, more progress for the quilt weekend.

We were invited to join in group projects if we were interested. Three girls completed their shnibbles one, myself and Anne did the Daisy one, (shall have to check the name!) They were recommended for charm packs.

Jane's version
Helen and Heather's versions...all very different.
...but the same!

Anne's is here, light is abit harsh, but it's in beautiful pastel florals.....mine comes next post...

Robyn chose a very intricate pattern that would have been the death of me, I could never be this detailed and precise, she got 2 done for the weekend. The blocks were very time consuming, 3 to go for her horse loving daughter.

Chris worked on her Kaffe fassett jelly roll quilt, the colour organisation took a lot of time.

Jane has retired this year and is enjoying the extra quilting time, she added borders to this on the weekend.

Almost forgot to show you what I made for my 5 yo niece's bday a week or two ago.

II copied the Russian doll from a colouring book and appliqued it to lightweight interfacing, then ran around it with normal machine stitch to put it on the shirt- much easier than machine buttonholing onto a readymade top. I like the paper doll "M" one, she is at the age when it's all about her name and letters.

Remember, big card launch coming and comments this week could get you something....

See you soon with my retreat progress, Tracey

Retreat quilt show Part 1.

2010-06-23T15:01:00.005+10:00

Wow, 2 posts in two days! You can tell I actually have some quilt content for you...I will go through some of the show and tell before I get to the weekend's work. I thought these were very nice and you may be interested. The Japanese one is showcasing japanese fabrics..I think from a trip to japan by Jenni. She was trying to decide the best quilting, not sure what the final decision was but heard a fair bit of "fan" discussion.

Anne had also worked long and hard on this beautiful red and white quilt. She has the name and pattern, but not at the retreatm so i could probably get it for you.

A lot of stitching really adds to this.

Ten year quilt group member, Chris, has moved to the big smoke. We had a farewell for her and she received her stitched hearts quilt to remember us by. I also searched back through the archives and made her a photo book of all her quilts and quilt group memories.

Robyn was cuddled up under her thimbleberries quilt.

And finally, sharing a photo I may get in trouble for.... This is Lise, the Chocolate cat blogger, who was relaxing on retreat in front of the ocean view...she needed a good rest after weeks of winter flu.
Better run, spent the day drafting cattle and am tired to the bone but the housework fairies STILL have not come...sigh!
Also, noticed I have gone over 100,000 hits and 450 posts. I am launching a large range of new cards this weekend...when they arrive! Quilt ones, farm ones, native animals, flowers, etc, etc. Just a heads up that comments this week when I actually have a lot of posts to do may be more than worth the effort!

A change of scene at Quilt retreat!

2010-06-21T20:22:00.008+10:00

Headed to the historic fishing town of P*rt fairy this past weekend for our quilt retreat. Went with the best of good intentions to blog progress at frequent intervals, managed to get my online footy tips on before the power ran out and I realised I only had half the charge cord!! So much for that plan, but I still took lots of photos! And I now have a justifiable reason to post for the next few days!
The scene was fabulous, right on the beach, we even had these dolphins swim past,

and gorgeous oceanic rainbows...it is very cold and winter down here!

It was cold, under 5 degrees in the morning, but so appealing that I actually swam! Didn't stay in for long, but it invigorated me for a few big days of sewing.

This is what the house looked like shortly after we started moving in, lots of trestle tables starting to be added to the beautiful house, I think the neighbors thought we were some kind of cut and run sweatshop! But 13 women with a mission need space!

This is my spot...also a few minutes after moving in. It did not look this good for very long! Nowhere I work ever stays clean for long!

I couldn't start anything new until I finished off my Quilts for leukeumia quilt, so it was first, I am hoping to get it all finished off and in the post soon.

Back to the real world today, groceries, lamb marking, feeding kids and workers, it's now after midnight and I have been watching to see if Roger comes back from 2 sets down but I may have to give in...just as he seems to be! So I will just leave you a snippet of the many quilts you will see in the next few days....

Hope life is good, have agreat day, Tracey

Lambs and scrap play..

2010-06-03T14:35:00.016+10:00

Thanks for all the info and emails about the neck and shoulder troubles, going quite well this week, but haven't done much sewing to test it out.

Instead, I've been busy with these....there are 9 now!

This is my newest little one, with uncle Arch, the japanese spitz, who is a photo hogger!

Deserved a solo portrait..

Then Uncle Arch moved back in!

I am liking these photos, reminds me of the lion and the lamb. I am thinking of a blurb for a card with the photo, feel free to help!

Time has been short this week...well, time is the same as usual, just not enough of it for me! I actually cleared my ironing basket yesterday, amazingly enough, and when I had done the non essential items..ie the family's clothes, I did some essential ironing....fabric scraps!

I pulled out green and pink ones to make some bigger, pretty log cabin chooks for my nieces....more birthdays this week! I had a lovely time making wonky log cabins, didn't trim any of the strips, just put them together as they came...very therepeutic!I have 2 ready to put together, was tempted to keep making them, 4 only took 42 minutes, so around 10 minutes a block, but i have so many 'have to' projects, i can't afford a 'like to'! They just need combs and beaks and I can get them together.

Have had an online book buying epiphany this week. Found my new all time favorite site for this, it is called the Book depository. It is based in England and it has, wait for it, FREE POST to Australia and despatches usually in 48 hours1 The other,"wait for it" moment is over 1500 patchwork books, including gwen marston's liberated quilting 2 which i have had my eye on and some of her older, hard to get titles. Noticed 'This old Quilt' there for a fabulous price as well-love that book. we are talking $10's of dollars cheaper than anywhere else for some of these books. Also Audio books, great kids books, all the Janet Evanovich catalogue, all the updated georgette heyer...the list goes on. i had been wanting 'the Pioneer woman cooks' but couldn't justify the amount of fabric it cost, well, in the twenties (Australian dollars) on this site. Have a look and tell me if it isn't great, do some comparing online, that's when you really get excited! Well, the most excited I get when it's not fabric play!

Have a great day, Tracey

Quilter's back exercises...

2010-05-29T17:33:00.006+10:00

A few little chickens, log cabin and plain, that I have made lately for gifts and fetes,

After 6 weeks of not being able to exercise, this week I am back!! I have been having more than the usual back and neck problems in the last year or two. My hands, especially, the left have been going numb of a night and getting painful and with less maleability generally
...the things I have broken would stock a house! Needless to say, stitching and keyboarding have moved to the backburner as well.

The shoulder pain is scoliosis related and has been going on since I was 13 but the rest is the last few years, I have often thought it could be the start of MS but when it got really bad recently I have seen 2 chiros, a doctor , a couple of masseurs, had x-rays and am now at the physio who is achieving great results. The x-rays were because they thought it was a pinched nerve or spinal cord, everything has come up clear so the physio is hard at work at

1. fixing the constant shoulder and neck pain.

2. fixing the numb fingers

3. stopping it all coming back

Has achieved #1, it all feels great and I am back to pilates, boxing and circuit training, but I have to do a range of specific exercises and the main two are really exercises for all quilters so I am showing you. DD is the exercise model.

This is a tennis ball in circulation stocking with knot at the bottom. This is for getting right into the shoulder blade and muscles around there. You just rub that up against the wall, working both sides.

These are stretchy physio bands. Grip these, with nice soft knees, not locked up, and pull your shoulder blades together, effectively sticking your chest out. This should be done very regularly when you have been sitting sewing. I have to do it 10 times +(x50) a day!

Nice easy ones, that may help your quilting back pain as well. yell if you have had similar trouble.

Have made a few things of late, My little niece, Daisy is two already, I had her bday last week, she scored an eyespy of all her favourite animals as her baby quilt. She is also wearing the little pik tutu I made her. i made her a couple of other little denim and applique skirts as well. She loves wrapping her babies!

She is cat mad and got a pretend cat for her bday, she wrapped and unwrapped that about 20 times!

i made her a little pram one with the scraps.

The rest of the time I have been chasing sheep and lambs...the head count for lamb pets was 9 this morning, but I conned 2 more onto a foster mother so I am back to 7! Thanks for the spider assitance, a banded orb weaver seems to be the consensus, with perhaps slightly unusual banding.

Have a great day, Tracey

Any idea on what this spider is?

2010-05-20T08:06:00.000+10:00

Going around the sheep in the fog this morning and found this spider in a tussock, anyone know what it is...it's big...at least maybe 3 or 4 centimetres.

Sheep, sheep and more sheep!

2010-05-18T21:10:00.007+10:00

The school market has come and gone, made $9500 this year, $1500 up on last year, which was $1500 up on the year before. Very satisfying result for the organizer...Now I don't have to think about the madness again until about next February!

The lambs basically started arriving about the day after the market. Dh puts the crop in while I handle the sheep, so here's a little explanation to where I have been of late...

A VERY rare photo of me...and holding my first 5 babies. Feeding them about 5 times a day at present...I actually did paid work teaching school today, so had to take the two youngest with.....the others could now last but 1 day olds can't! Kept them in the sports store in a plastic tub and got them out at recess and lunch to play with the kids and have a feed.....I felt like the olden days when I taught a few days while DD was a baby and I had to express to feed her at lunch! Well....okay, it wasn't quite the same!! These get formula!!

I go around the sheep on the motorbike, I have been blessed with great weather but still, with cold, frosty nights and clear days you get some orphans/neglected babies. I've been bringing lambs home for about 30 years, but I have never had a result like the one coming up...

I saw this fellow in the grass, dead supposedly. I hopped off the bike to see if he was missing a tongue...a sure sign of fox....and felt a slight sign of life. He was stiff but I jammed him down my vest and bought him home

warmed him all day in my kitchen window on a hot water bottle and under a light..

Still not a lot of movement..used a funnel to pour my home made colostrum down his throat and here he was the next night....

Out in the barn with the others, up and happy and drinking. I was a happy lamb rearer. (In the photo with me it is the one facing you second from the right.)

If I bring them home fit and well I try to foster them onto another mother, but if they are struggling that's tricky. I've fostered about 10.

I've now got you up to speed on where I've been...there's some quilty stuff next post...thanks for staying tuned! Cheers, tracey

An update on ANZAC Day.

2010-04-25T21:21:00.007+10:00

Hi, what happened to all those weeks?

Internet is now finally sorted, it seems to have been an aerial issue, not all the things every "expert" said it was!!

School market is the main item on the agenda at present,

So far there are about 160 jars done for it. The big new one this year is preserved figs...you preserve the fig whole and have it on your cheese platters...beautiful with camembert.

As of tonight I have about 30 foot of apple strudel in the freezer. Mixed a few apples with some figs too ripe for preserving tonight and ended up with this strudel version....and yes, it's a winner! There will be a few more of these going in the freezer I think.

I put the word out for apples and ended up with boxes.... and boxes.... and boxes...mostly ones people weren't even going to worry about picking that would have ended up wasted. One of the things I love the most about the strudels and all the fig things is turning something that would go to waste into something really useful...just like with scrap quilting (!!) but also the fun of getting rid of the real waste bits. I get a bucket full of ends, cores, and peels for about every 7 strudels and I just love taking it out to my chooks, they honestly think housescraps are Christmas....

I have also been doing a little bit of gardening...don't fall over! Again, it's for the school market. I saw a blurry picture of a round succulent hanging basket in a magazine and have had a bit of a go at coming up with a nice cheap version. (Rather than wiring 2 wire hanging baskets together.) These are the latest attempts...(made out of chicken wire ..amazingly!!) I have done nearly 15, I'm going to put a nice cheap price on for this year and if they don't sell I'll bring them home and add a year's growth, think that will look good. My only problem with them is the same as with my quilts...I want to keep them all! They are planted with little succulents at fairly regular intervals and the idea is that they will eventually be a hanging mass if succulents.

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia. We went to the parade and ceremony in town this morning, as School captain my girl had to march, it was a big day for her and she did well.-polishes up well when she is out of her farm clothes I think!!

At the ceremony this soldier was entertaining his horse behind me and I couldn't help but snap a shot...doesn't he look the real deal!

Reminds me of every Australian war movie and minseries I have ever seen...'Gallipoli' is my favourite, can't go past Mark lee and Mel Gibson... who's with me?

Anyway, it was a moving ceremony, and very well done...

Have a great day, Tracey

Birthdays and retail therapy.

2010-04-01T22:25:00.003+11:00

Almost Easter here, so much going on! The Australian Football league season has started, sitting enjoying that with a few friends after Church tonight, go Brisbane!. I have to be the narrator for the Church passion play tomorrow so have run throught that...and my brother has written a movie and is now producing it...very low budget, all the actors are camped at mum and Dad's old farmhouse for Easter location shots...so I had to drive 100 kms yesterday to fill the fridge and freezer as the catering isn't available Good Friday...and it is very low budget!

Went to Melbourne for a long weekend this past weekend. I visited my oldest friend who turned 40, changed my mind on the hexagons and got this finished by midnight the night before we left.

It's from the fig and plum range, a bit over a metre square.

She seemed very happy with it. After a night with her my girl and I headed off for the rest of her birthday treat, we went to a theatre performance of CATS. We both thought it was great, stayed in the city...listening to the sounds of the Melbourne formula one grand prix and shopped the next day before coming home. A great girls weekend.

Hancocks had free post last week. With the dollar so high the exchange rate is great...between that and free post i couldn't help doing a little more retail therapy. I got a few things on sale, but invested in the new frolic range as well.

I love the colours, which are nicer than this flash shot.

I am hoping to sew tomorrow, figure that's not work on Good Friday...pure fun! Would be nice to get 2 minutes to drop around my net friends as well!

Look after yourself, And Happy Easter, love Tracey

Same old, same old....

2010-03-20T19:34:00.003+11:00

Another week has just disappeared! Plenty to catch up on when you are away for 5 days, but it was well worth it. Our favourite, Garth Tander, won. He drives for (GM) Holden.

On the way home we saw his car carrier setup, thought there may be some petrolhead out there who'd appreciate seeing that!

Not sure if quilting and car racing are generally 2 hobbies that go together, but why not!

Came home to photographing the school athletic sports, getting the ball rolling for this year's school fete, getting back to the gym, buying a new bull and 13 stud angus heifers....amongst the normal!

Today I took family photos for a Church family at their farm...an actual paid job! I am very happy with them. Then spent the afternoon cooking Apple strudel and sausage rolls-my girl baked muffins

... I felt like my mother!- the only thing lacking was Dolly Parton on the radiogram! Instead I was watching Transformers on the big screen, my Mum wouldn't have imagined anything like that 30 years ago!

I bought a few things last week at the closing sale, the photo of the main bulk I accidentally scrubbed this morning making more room on my card...and by now everything is dispersed to where it belongs...pretty much!

I did have these photos of a couple of the panels I grabbed.

Hope everyone is great, I have lots of emails to reply to and posts to read...if only the world would stop for a day of two just to allow me to catch up! It reminds me of one of my favourite Helen Kelley quilting stories that I originally read in a a magazine and is in a selection of her work i have in book form as well... about the night she was given the gift of time...her clock stopped and she kept working most of the night!! It felt like such a gift...that's the kind of gift I need!

A holiday and a hex

2010-03-13T10:19:00.003+11:00

Hi from sunny Adelaide in South Australia! DH and I are on holiday...at V8 supercar racing! At least there is one other woman with our group this year, last year I was the lone ranger! She and I headed into the city for 7 hours shopping yesterday, well and truly made up for me missing the gym!

I am here for the car racing as well, but I love the proper racing, I don't need to trawl the pits and watch all the lead up races. I will glide into my grandstand seat, joyously shaded from the rapidly increasing temperature this year, just in time for the start. I may even take some pics if I can get more batteries for the camera this morning..was going to have a few hexagon photos but it's gone flat just after this dud! I made hexagon's all the way over here with a vision to making my oldest friend a special something for her 40th. This isn't the layout I am going with, I am thinking i will go with Libby's layout. She is actually lucky enough to have a husband who bastes!

I am about to head off to the stitch in Time quilt shop, used to be in Naracoorte and do a lot of field days, their email says they're not going to have a shop front anymore and are having a closing sale...would be criminal of me not to support them while I am in the area!LOL! Better go, would never be able to explain it if I came 600 kms and missed the race!

So, did it get presented on time.. and on budget?

2010-03-09T22:48:00.007+11:00

The "on budget', is of course a joke!! This is my lowest budget quilt ever...unless you count what 12 years of my girl's clothes cost me!! We could call it my Hurt Locker quilt..rather than my Avatar!~The foundation pieces are an op shop pre quilted cotton bedspread...cost $2! And the backing is some left over bright pj flannel I had in the stash.

But, yes, it was presented on time, here she is tucked up on the couch

after having it presented....

And here is a big picture for you...

She just loves it, what she doesn't recognise she loves hearing the stories about...about her mother's learn to sew process with her as the guinea pig. There are smocked pieces of baby clothes, the top of corduroy overalls, satiny nighties, stretchy pjs and the skivvy she is wearing in the first photos of her baby brother at home. Because I went so gung ho at it I have 9 left over blocks...and they're 13 inch. I have some strips left as well, so i am thinking I may just make a few more and the birthday girl's mother will have a little memory quilt to keep as well!!

All the leftovers are being put to use( I feel like I am going for recycle queen of the year award!) The leftover strips from trimming the blocks to size, though only a maximum 2 inches, looked cute so i sewed them into braid type strips for baby Born. Baby Born has a lot of this fabric in her outfits as i used to make them both dresses to match-so it was only reasonable that she get the keepsake as well!

And what was the picture from the last post? All of the leftover fabric scraps went straight into this old tablecloth I sewed up and are now being very happily slept on as Rosie and Archie's new dog bed...all those clothes...all those happy endings...I feel like I should be chasing Laura and Carrie Ingalls down the hill!

Happy Birthday to a great kid it was a pleasure to spend 26 hours sewing time on in the last 10 days! And hope your day was great, Tracey

One day til d-day..or is that b-day!

2010-03-08T23:05:00.001+11:00

I must have held my mouth right and have internet connection tonight, yay!!
Well, that is one big stack of trimmed string blocks, looks a good sign? Well, watch this space tomorrow to see if the quilt is handed over to my girl on time! They have ended up huge blocks, over 13 inches trimmed, I allowed for a lot of trimming and didn't need to do too much. Next time I wouldn't make them so big when using children's clothes, if I hadn't had a number of bigger recent dresses and a bunny rug I never would have been able to manage to get enough of the long strips in the middle of the strings blocks.

Very little of my girl's clothes collection will go to waste, even the trimmed offcuts have a job. Can you guess?

Had quilters here on Friday night, Robyn is making a braid one from the jelly roll book Dawn sent me in Chooky's Christmas swap. Virtually no waste and the cutting came together really quickly, I love the look of them, of course it's now added to the list! I am going to have to live a long, long time to make this list....Tonight there's only one quilt on the list that matters..so I better run! Have a great day, Tracey

Daughter's Memory quilt..Step 2!

2010-03-01T23:24:00.004+11:00

It looks much brighter than this, bright yellows, pinks and blues...her cat, Magnum, is helping!

We have an amazing amount of progress so far on the birthday quilt..especially considering the birthday girl has been home with a cold. As of 5 minutes ago there are 19 out of probably 42 blocks done, just needing to be trimmed to exact size later on. They're all around the 13 inches at this point. I showed my little boy and he was flat out telling me which fabric came from what dress, so if a 9 yo boy can pick them out, she should have fun!

It's late here, i am watching the olympics closing and the light is shocking for photos, but I still took you a few progress pics.

The strips are all cut, the next 23 foundation blocks are all cut and have 2 strips attached, so I am on the home stretch for getting it together sooner rather than later. When I get a chance to just sit and sew like this it makes me wonder why I don't spend more days this way...is there really much better fun than watching something bright and fun appear from a heap of now unwanted fabrics/clothes? I can't think of anything anyway!

Tune in soon for the next exciting installment..and have a great day!

Tracey

Memory quilt from my daughter's clothes. Step 1.(.the hard step!)

2010-02-26T17:34:00.007+11:00

Okay, I'm back on track, which is more than I can say for my internet! As I've mentioned, we swapped from satellite to broadband because our area was now guaranteed full coverage and it was so much cheaper with a much higher download...good theory, but the hot week a few weeks ago it barely worked then stopped again yesterday, after over an hour of vital sewing time spent on the phone to the tech today, I am now getting a new modem, interesting to see if that works!!

Luckily I have a pre-paid USB I got for the snow trip that works perfectly...though at a premium rate..so i can post!

Thanks for the health wishes, I am now back driving and feeling much better, apparently it has been quite a common virus around here...and everyone worries that they have a brain problem, high blood pressure..etc etc!!

I am back on track for my girl's birthday quilt..and I have made a big decision! I have decided it is time!

Back story recap here...I was not a sewer! I could not sew a stitch in high school, I had a mother who was a beautiful dressmaker and I was a failure, until around that nesting time, 25/26 when my lovely friend Robyn, walked me through a formal dress and introduced me to quilts. By the time my girl was born nearly 12 years ago I basically knew enough about sewing to make very standard quilts..more like blankets.... and make her some clothes...VERY badly at first!

During that 12 years I have kept lots of stuff with the vision to "one day". All her beautiful and important pieces are kept in her memory trunk, a lot of stuff is given away, but some of the cotton everyday things, many that I made, or she loved....have been put in a tub in the sewing room and today got laid out on the couch. So many memories, I almost piled them back in the tub, but I remembered the song words "what am I keeping this stuff for" and persisted. I think 12 is old enough to appreciate a memory quilt made from old clothes..and, let's face it, her daughters are not going to be excited about wearing an old home made cotton sundress...but may be about sleeping under it!

So, I laid them out, did some reminiscing ...and lots of ironing...and I have actually made a cut!

The cutting hurt, my kids seem to grow another inch every week, and she's not far off my height..(with bigger feet) but there is something very healing about the start of a pile of strips. Kind of like the start of the next step-in more ways than one! The fabrics are a big range, not all cotton AND I am down to 9 days, so i am thinking a sting quilt on foundation pieces. She likes string quilts.

Wish me luck! Have a good weekend, Tracey

This 'n that...

2010-02-22T21:56:00.008+11:00

Enforced slow down here at present, think it may be a middle ear infection but I just conned DH into a neck and back rub in case it's a pinched nerve. Feel a tad on the woozy side when I stand up. Don't worry, if it lasts until tomorrow I'll go to the Doctor...of course my kids would have been taken already! I am catching up on last night's end of series episode of Doctor Who, sad to see the end of David Tennant, but the new one looks alright...Good story, I loved all the updates and closure, a little bit Time Traveller's wife, a little bit Star Wars!

Have been spending lots of time with the new camera; publicity shots for the school, Church picnic yesterday, (we sold all the fruit and veg donations from the Harvest Thanksgiving and made around $400 for the hospital and Haiti.) And a card series for the local antique shop, uploaded a few for you, as there hasn't been a lot of time for sewing! Been designing alot of photo books for special occasions as well, everyone I know will nearly end up with a book of photos of themselves at this rate!

I am debating over a quilt project at this point, I have 2 weeks until my daughter's birthday...it's been about 5 years since she got her last quilt..she'd mad on cats..i wonder if I can bump her up the list of oh so many projects to finish and make her something. They both drag out their quilts for Tv every day, I'm sure another wont go astray.

I'll sleep on it! Maybe a good night's sleep will solve everything!

Have a great day, Tracey

An enlarged quilt

2010-02-13T16:13:00.001+11:00

Revisiting a past quilt today. Longtime readers will remember I made a log cabin lap quilt for my Dad's 70 th birthday, started (of course) on the Tuesday before the Friday party! That was 4 years ago, all the guests wrote or drew messages on the calico on the back. I thought I was done with that project, but then a good while ago it was given back with the suggestion it needed to be bigger, preferably queen sized for their bed. I thought about a whole new one but some of the signees on the back have already died and I think those messages were a main part of the quilt. ....I scrounged up enough matching fabric for what is the third section on the below picture-If you look hard you can see a slight colour difference,
that makes it q/s width, then hit a dead end with no more fabric and no clear idea how to add in a whole new concept. It got thrown in the UFO drawer and if not forgotten, then only guiltily remembered! They recently got a king size bed so i gave up and made what i had into a big lap quilt in time for his 74th birthday celebration last Wednesday. He was more excited to get it back than he was to receive it!

Looks cosy doesn't he!
I am continuing my house spring cleaning and organizing mood. I worked on the kitchen bookshelves yesterday and pulled out all these quilt magazines. i like all these magazines but I'm finding that some of them are here because of the added subscription deals and are hardly being opened anymore, there is so much fabulous inspiration on the net. Also, I want more techniques from my magazines...techniques and interesting articles/stories. Not just 8 often bland patterns. Some of these do that better than others. What do you think about the magazine situation, still getting them, which inspires you? Fill me in.
The other problem is storage, i am putting these over with my LARGE collection in my sewing room. If there is really only one thing that I like in the mag I often cut it out and keep it in a plastic display book, last week I got quite ruthless and sent at least a few to the local high school to inspire them.....what do you do with them??Love to hear your thoughts, and don't forget to visit the quilting gallery this weekend to vote on the valentine Quilt comp. my cards are sponsoring, or visit my card site by Sun night and leave a comment to enter to win a pack of 15 of the cards.
Have a great day

ps, been watching the winter games opening ceremony, loved all the colour projections, especially those whales!

Fw: WE WERE BROUGHT UP PROPERLY

2010-02-11T11:29:00.004+11:00

My Mum sent me this, thought you may be interested in it. I would maybe beg to differ on a few of these things not causing problems and /or repercussions...some of them may only be showing themselves now!!
Funny how the olden days always look good in hindsight...

Those were the days,
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE
50's, 60's and early 70's !

First, we survived being born to mothers who drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, raw egg products, loads of bacon and processed meat, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes or cervical cancer..

Then after that trauma, our baby cots were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle....

Take away food was limited to fish and chips, no pizza shops, McDonalds , KFC, Subway or Nandos.

Even though all the shops closed at 6.00pm and didn't open on the weekends, somehow we didn't starve to death!

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy Toffees, Gobstoppers, Bubble Gum and some bangers to blow up frogs with.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of old prams and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and dens and played in river beds with matchbox cars.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo Wii , X-boxes, no video games at all, no 999 channels on SKY ,
no video/dvd films,
no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms...........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no
Lawsuits from these accidents.

Only girls had pierced ears!

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

You could only buy Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns at Easter time...

We were given air guns and catapults for our 10th birthdays,

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!

Mum didn't have to go to work to help dad make ends meet!

RUGBY and CRICKET had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! Getting into the team was based on
MERIT

Our teachers used to hit us with canes and gym shoes and bully's always ruled the playground at school.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!
Our parents didn't invent stupid names for their kids like 'Kiora' and 'Blade' and 'Ridge' and 'Vanilla'

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ALL !

And YOU are one of them!
CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.

And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.

PS -The big type is because your eyes are not too good at your age anymore

Bushfires remembered and an update on your generous donations...

2010-02-06T22:24:00.004+11:00

Hi to everyone. In about an hour it will be the 1st anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires in Australia. Those of you who follow my blog will know that blocks were sent here from all of you lovely supportive quilters all over the world. I haven't made a big fanfare as they have all quietly been being completed and in many cases dispersed...I don't think any of us made our blocks to be made a fuss of, just to wrap our quilts of support around those affected. But these are a few photos that have been snapped of quilts in progress and I thought you may like to see how some ended up. There are still a few big ones in progress, there hasn't been a huge hurry on these last ones as a lot of people are still in temporary housing...the quilts will in many instances be a new house present.

I would like to again thank you all for making these blocks in the first place, and my quilt group for helping put them together, well done all!

And tonight I would like you all to remember the victims in your prayers, and the many people still waiting for a new home...add that to your Haiti thoughts....Stay safe, Tracey

Gotta love a kaffe fassett border

gotta love those circles

Why don't I make more scrappy churn dash quilts?

And this as well...

*****Late edit*****Just visited my lovely friend dawn's blog and she'd just found out her hubby is being deployed. Usually a fabulously funny read, maybe not so much tonight, but well worth a visit to say hi ...

New cards, quilting gallery sponsorship and your chance to win!!

2010-02-06T20:36:00.002+11:00

Back in the groove for the New year, harvest nearly over, kids back at school...so a range of new cards is appearing. You can see the whole range at the sidebar link to Tracey's country cards.
I am sponsoring next week's quilting Gallery quilt competition, you can win a pack of 15 of my cards. You can enter a quilt at Quilting Gallery for next weekend's vote or to share the valentine's day love, you can also comment anywhere on the my blog between now and Valentine's day. I am offering the same prize..(at least !) for my competition-a pack of 15 cards of your choice! Have fun and remember, enter by valentine's day! Good luck!

I've found the blame!

2010-01-25T22:05:00.001+11:00

I have lost 6 kilos twice in the last 6 months, and after the Christmas season I am probably going to have to lose them again. Enough to break your heart! Imagine the results if I'd just lost the 12! I think I have finally found the problem...
I bought these yesterday for my Dad's birthday,
he feels the same about Lindt as I do, and Lindt Easter eggs...there's NOTHING better.
Now, I had the best of intentions, figured I am 40 now, I can buy my favourite chocolate when it's on sale and keep it for 2 weeks...I'm 40 now......I'm 40 now...I'm 40 now (if I say it enough it may sink in or start to take effect!
Well, here's what's left...

Three lonely, uneaten chocs and I don't like their chances of lasting the night!
I cannot have chocolate or anything bad in the house-it plays on my mind, my husband definitely thinks it's like alcoholism!
So I may as well eat it now and we'll both be put out of our misery...and no more storing chocs in the house!...just go back to the singles I buy myself as a reward once a week for grocery shopping! Speaking of exercise, I ran into my auntie at my nana's funeral, she had been going great guns at hand piecing the last time I saw her. Asked her how it was going and she broke the bad news that with her type 2 diabetes the doc told her she had to give it up, there was no exercise in quilting!!! I think surely there must be a happy balance in our lives? Next week the kids will go back to school after 8 weeks and I will go back to 4 exercise sessions and a more scheduled family life.....there has to be room to fit exercise and quilting surely...that 6 kgs will just have to go again, but surely that doesn't mean the vastly more that 6 kgs of stash has to go as well! What do you think about the balance?

Stitched this for a little project this week, will show you the follow up in a week or two.
Have a great day...and find YOUR balance!
...

Bags, skirts and cameras...

2010-01-20T18:31:00.010+11:00

Have had a few days with the extended family holidaying and celebrating my sister's birthday. I can safely show her present now. It is a bag made from what i think is known as mexican oilcloth. It is lined in coordinating polka dots, same oilcloth. Tricky sewing this stuff when it's lined with the plastic fabric as well. I use a teflon foot and leather needle, makes it much easier. I wouldn't mind getting onto this stuff direct so if anyone knows a good lead, yell out.

Made my niece another skirt, more Heather Bailey.

After my husband discovered you can buy a lot more than fabric direct from the US, I had a little look at cameras...and found out I could save about 40 % by dealing direct. I have just about worn mine out- I bought the latest model of the same thing...why spoil a beautiful friendship!! The 17th street photo shop in New York very kindly sent me this....

I was very impressed with their deal and service.
I got the extras pack as well, a tripod, charger and rechargeable batteries, card reader, 2 gig memory card and camera bag. I would recommend them to anyone. Have a great day, Tracey

card display unit and a skirt.

2010-01-16T23:00:00.004+11:00

Home long enough from the beach to do some sewing.

A shop wants to sell my animal cards so I made them up a little display unit to show their selection.

Just used clear vinyl as the pockets. I have made a few of these for home and they have ended up in shops, must add it to my list again, would be handy for notes, cards, to do lists etc. I have no idea how I just underlined this, oh well....

Also been dressmaking. This little skirt is a design I am working on for my 18 month old niece, elastic in the back, none in the front. I even sacrificed some Heather Bailey, but with her being this cute who wouldn't!

Off to her mother's birthday tomorrow, just finished her present and will take a picture of it in good light in the morning, have a great day, Tracey

Love that beach!!

2010-01-10T18:59:00.001+11:00

Apparently you friends in the US and Britain are experiencing extreme winter conditions and here in oz it's hot, darn hot. 40 today and yesterday and 43 tomorrow. Perfect weather for yesterday's effort...5 1/2 hours on the beach achieved this...

Half the beach people either came to dig or came to take photos.

Look at howthis second picture makes our work look a little like Australia.
The ocean eventually won the long battle, but it was great fun...haven't worked that hard with a shovel for years. The kids loved it, their uncle and Mum working along with them, you can't buy that fun at an electronics shop......
Of course there was only one downside, I spent so much time concentrating on the kids sunscreen that, while I had that long sleeve rash vest, hat and face sunscreen, i seem to have neglected the legs...I wont put you off your meals by posting a pic, but just get a mental picture of beetroot! My husband can't believe it as I am the sunscreen police!!

I have taken all the photos from my nan's photo board and scanned them all into the computer to make a photo book for each of Mum's brothers and sisters. I especially love this one of them rabitting and thought you may like to see it as well. My mum is the little girl, my aunt in my late Nana's arms and her brother is there helping.
Too hot to sew today, hopefully Wednesday looks good for some serious progress,
Stay warm..or cool!! Love Tracey

Therapy report

2010-01-08T08:44:00.001+11:00

Nana, and Pa in his urn, has been appropriately sent off. The eulogy all went fine and the day went well...must have been the fabric therapy the night before.
After an hour and 10 minutes I had accomplished this much...

...very rough and completely unmeasured...breaking every "proper" rule actually!!

But it's amazing how a little bit of pressing and cutting to size at the finish can help...in the approximately 20 minutes I have had to spare since, we have got them to this stage,

The teddies one has really been made with the scrap bag dregs, i was determined to try and use everything. The greens are coming up as a cute table runner/centre.

Off to the beach today, hope your day is great, Tracey

What price therapy?

2010-01-05T16:09:00.000+11:00

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has left such lovely messages about my darling nana. The eulogy is all written and ready to give tomorrow, but beyond that I am ready to hide from my children under the bed...or run outside and scream!! Doesn't hormonal joy hit at just the perfect moment!!!
I hate to think what an hour's massage or therapy would cost me...and all too hard to organize a time and place anyway...but I have one clear hour before I need to start making tea and I am going for $2 scrap bag therapy!
I have tipped out the contents, I am not in the mood to trim or press anything at this point, or to search the stash for matching.... I am just going to sew for a solid hour and see what happens!! If I have to throw it out, it will still have been cheap fun!!
...and my husband thinks this hobby costs him money!!!

Categorically not the best New Year's day ever!

2010-01-01T21:41:00.002+11:00

A quiet New Year with friends last night and i ended up hypothetically sleeping on the couch so Dh could try to get the broken ribs cosy in bed...I say hypothetically because I don't think I slept at all, between barking dogs and their attempt to get a rat in the garden, the daughter's cat thinking I was purely there to replace the cat toys and the sheer fact it was the couch..I woke up feeling ordinary.
My 94 year old grandma is in a home 120 kms from here and took a downward turn at Christmas so I took the fact dh was having the day off as a chance to see her without making the kids see her deteriorated. Dh took one look at me and said to go tomorrow, as I hadn't slept the night before either as I kept checking him all night to make sure there weren't any undetected internal or lung troubles. But i didn't like to put it off. Got there and her respirations were a lot stronger and she didn't seem absolutely terrible but i thought I didn't want her alone so i would stay until some of the others returned...and all of a sudden at about 2.45 pm she drew out her breaths and passed away with me holding her hand...not in the script when her daughters had spent the last 2 nights with her expecting this, then left to sleep because it didn't seem so likely! So an afternoon of ringing the family, talking to nurses and waiting by myself sitting with my late grandma for others to get there meant I only got back here at 7pm.
Now, it's bed...and heaven help the dog, cat, kid or husband that disturbs tonight's beauty sleep!
RIP Nana, after a life that completely revolved around your family.
Everyone else, Have a better day..and a good sleep! Tracey

Forecast...no change predicted here!

2009-12-31T13:54:00.003+11:00

40 degrees here, with hot strong northerly winds...there's nothing cool about north winds in this area of the Southern hemisphere!
Another year about to depart...almost 2 pm, a few due here for New Year's...(perfect for the pool)..I have just got home from groceries, food to prepare,tidying to do and a wardrobe to sort because I decided today was the day to get that organized so the contents are all over my floor! I have realised that with the best of intentions the New Year will bring no change here! I am always full of good intentions and attempts to be more organizedand nothing will be different! But really, when life is good, why make too many changes!
We have had a little extra excitement here and perhaps a little extra to be thankful for as we leave the old year behind.. my darling husband was in too much of a hurry yesterdy between fixing a windmill in the heat and trying to cart loads to the silo and came off his quad bike. Of all the days he had his phone on the charger and I was returning niece and nephew to my sister, so it was very fortunate he managed to get himself up, get the bike back up and get home, of course he went back about his work and only went to emergency a few hours later when breathing got tricky!! turns out there are a fair few broken ribs, a dodgy arm and leg but he's dosed on painkillers and back working, harvest stops for no-one. They are closing silos early so he promises he will be home to put his feet up. I shudder when I think of the eventualities if he had been knocked out or the bike had fallen further and unbalanced onto him in the table drain as it threatened to, with noone home and noone with any idea where he was..in 38 degree temps!

Here is a harvesting photo from the other night for you.
My dh has become a bit of an online shopper lately as well, I started it with the fabric, but I have a feeling he got just slightly carried away! here's his purchase...

Gotta love those husbands!! Have agreat New Year and see you next year, love Tracey

Christmas round up

2009-12-27T17:02:00.018+11:00

I am laughing at myself here..I read how not to put your weight back on over Christmas and it's apparently important to not keep eating like it's Christmas day, just to leave the excesses to the one day...well that may be fine if you hadn't made up 2 separate dip and cheese platters for the 2 different family Christmas day parties...and came home with about half of each of them! I don't know about youbut I cannot let beautiful cheese go to waste...or caviar dip for that matter...so am slowly working through the platter(s)...this is exactly what happened after my 40th as well, and it is amazing how quickly the 6 kgs I lost crept back on!!

So I am heading out after blogging to resume my mini triathlon training regime, a couple of kms up the road on the bike..a couple of kms run/walk and 25 laps of the pool...surely that will negate today's debauchery!

I photographed my first paid wedding job yesterday, i was to provide the alternate view. How cute is this little fellow..

Christmas day meant that I could finally open my SSCS parcel. Chookyblue Donna ran this swap again this year, Thanks Donna, it was great. This is the parcel from Dawn that tempted me for weeks..and it was well worth the wait!

Here are the contents...

Gorgeous dawn..I love the wallhanging..the fabric and the book is brilliant, you clever shopper! I think the jelly belly pooping reindeers (not shown) were nearly the hit of my kid's Christmas...seen nothing like that around here! They loved all of it and want me to send you money for more particular candy they liked!They only see lots of animal's real thing!

My parcel went to Norway, to Anne-marie, here is what she received..

a plastic coated moda bag and purse, Roman holiday table runner, an apron and some of my cards

My girl also received her Christmas swap from Fairy girl, Chookyblue Donna's girl.

They had to include a needle case. This is hers, it's beautiful. The other things were eaten and dispersed by the time I got the camera out!

My girl had jessie girl, daighter of Oh sew busy. She sent this parcel, we tried to make the needle case look like a bag (Left)...and added in a real bag to match.

That is the Christmas round-up and if I am to get off my ever-so-slightly-getting-rounder-as-we-speak-behind and exercise, i better go now!

Hope christmas was great! Tracey

Happy Christmas from Australia!

2009-12-25T00:25:00.005+11:00

Oh boy! How did it get to 12.20 am Christmas morning already!! I have to get to bed! Lunch with one side of the family, tea with the other for Christmas, a busy day! Kids were in the Church Nativity tonight, DD was a narrator and did a great job, her brother was very good as chief wise man...obviously not method acting!!
I am looking forward to opening my SSCS and i actually think DH may surprise me as well...who says they don't change!!
I finished a santa sack for niece Daisy in the last week, probably getting filled as we speak...got Magnum kitten to model for you!
I also had to make smaller versions for all the pets!!
Thought you may like to see them....

The things we do for our kids...knowing our luck, next year i'll probably be appliquing over the top of the names!! Should be more optimistic.

The first 2 canola paddocks are done, the hot fortnight has affected them, 0.75

tonne to acre in one and 1 tonne to acre in other. Not fabulous but fine~we're definitely not cancelling Christmas! rained today so DH actually had a sleep on the couch, a beautiful early Christmas present!

Wishing everyone a fabulous Christmas, wherever you are around the world...we are hopefully changing our internet in the next few days..in the hope of reducing our costs from in the hundreds every month to more like $50..and with a lot more downloads~ I may get around to everyone!! Stay safe, Tracey

Linseed and coffee...break?

2009-12-15T23:06:00.005+11:00

As the harvester arrives to do the canola, our linseed is just flowering. I love these blue flowers, unfortunately they don't last like the yellow ones.

If it rained they may last a week, but it's to be 39 tomorrow so they will only last a day. Our linseed has struggled to get to this unimpressive height, got too much heat when it was in it's early stages. Does look great when all the flowers are open, like a blue sea.

I made a few things for my girl's coffee loving teacher to add to her present. A wall hanging and pot holders.

The kids are at their grandparents tonight so I have wrapped, organized and generally sorted all the presents and they are safely under the tree with a week to go...now doing the Christmas cards..in the traditional way!! and just got a call from the kids wanting to come home and it's a 2 hour round trip...think I talked them round. I thought we were past this! We even bought a Nintendo wii for the grandies. Note to Grandies, don't keep the kids up past bedtime or it all goes to.......

Hopefully i have a day to sew tomorrow before picking them up...hopefully!!

Have a great day, Tracey

Christmas everywhere!

2009-12-08T11:13:00.006+11:00

Such a busy time! As I have discussed a good 3 times in my bloglife...Christmas is very trickily scheduled here! (That's if you realy consider Christmas "scheduled"!) A winter Christmas would be a lot more restful!

It is summer time and the kids breakup from school here tomorrow, the hay harvest is almost done, but the canola is ready to go as soon as the harvesters get here from the warmer northern regions where they have already harvested..within the next day or two; EVERY organisation has a breakup for Christmas/holiday break...so I have been out almost every second night...and in there somewhere you are trying to fit in Christmas..and even some sewing! I am heading over to my sewing room in a minute to work on a special Christmas present for a patchwork admiring school teacher..no pressure, i have until tomorrow!

I have received my SSCS parcel form my lovely friend, Dawn...who used to be in Korea and is now back in the US...doesn't it look exciting..I am being so patient and waiting for Christmas...there are even gift bags for the kids! This is the decoration that I am allowed to open!

Thanks Dawn! Anne-Marie in Norway has received hers from me as well, it is always nice to know they have arrived safely.

We had our quilters break-up lunch on Sunday. I had been on the run after attending my High School reunion the night before...(such an interesting evening...to see people after all that time!)

We had a Chris Cringle and here are some of the gifts...

There are some good Christmas gift ideas there..the suffolk puff Chrsitmas tree, machine sewn fabric cards, the rustic card hanger...to name a few..

Off to sew, have a great day, tracey

More finishes...

2009-12-01T21:22:00.003+11:00

Still on a finishing roll here, this little chook panel is hand bound and off the to-do list, it reminds me so much of my girl out feeding the chooks.

I have another "finish", regular readers will have seen this finished before, but I wasn't happy with the big expanses of gold left next to the star and I am not a confident enough hand quilter to make that a feature in the space, so I added more diamonds and ouline quilted them, also outline quilted some of the main lone star as well. Now I think I'm happy...every bit done by hand except the initial attaching of binding to quilt edge...you can't do that by hand!

Here magnum, the kitten, who is ruling the house after only 9 days of owning us!
About to sift through all the year's photos for entries in our local show photography competition on Saturday, that will be a busy night's work. I am also running the animal nursery, and have my "we're all 40" high school reunion that night, the the week is about to get busy!
I haven't seen most of these people for 22 years! My two best school friends wont be there, one doesn't get back from Kuala Lumpur until the next week and the other is lost at sea, perhaps drinking carona on a Castaway island somewhere, but I think that's a pipe dream. So it's lucky I'm not shy, just hoping I will be wearing the "right" clothes and it doesn't feel like high school did!!
Have a good day, Tracey

We have sewing!

2009-11-28T17:59:00.001+11:00

I have been in a finishing mood this week..finishing a few of my own projects, not just b/fire ones!
The Secret Santa Christmas parcel is safely mailed away, to be shown to you after Christmas. I have also delivered a few bag orders and last night I had a site at the local German festival and sold over 150 cards, plus baby blankets and bags. Best result ever!
The finishes I have taken a photo of already are the 70's clothes scraps string quilt for my best friend's Mum. Yes, i know you all saw it ages ago, my BFF is in Kuala Lumpur and about to shift home, so that was the motivation to declutter that UFO.
As you may know...from a lot of photos of quilts on animals...I love Jim Shore. I bought this panel a year or two ago and now it is a finished UFO as well, why is it so hard to get a binding attached, because it is so nice to see these things finished!!
Note to self, weaned calves are NOT the best models for quilts!
#1. They don't want to come to the yard
#2. They don't like 2 dogs barking at them
#3. They see no motivation to get their head from the bucket and
#4. They REALLY don't see the funny side of blankets thrown over their back!
I should show you the "deleted scenes!"
So this is the best we can do today...

I have to run today, my Dh is showing up at 6 pm instead of 11pm as it has rained here and you can't bale in the rain so, much to my emancipated sister's disgust I am sure, I am off to get out of the tracky's into something respectable and put some make-up on for drinks...a girls goota make an effort!
Have agreat day!

Lots and lots of photos...and a new kitten!

2009-11-21T21:26:00.000+11:00

Back again, and after those nice words of encouragement I promise I will never again consider deleting the blog! If you are happy for me to call in when i can then that's fine with me!

Arlette was the lucky commenter drawn out by the slaves, Arlette will get her prize in time for Chrsitmas ...like a few other belated ones!! Drop me a line Arlette!

I have actually had some sewing time...and can i share? No, not until after my Secret santa Christmas swap person opens her parcel on Christmas morning. How different her Chrsitmas will be from mine, parallel opposite probably! It has been so terribly hot here for November, after being so wet! It went from Winter and straight to Summer, my garden was lovely for a week! DH has been working 18 hours a day cutting, baling and raking hay...what joy!

So with no sewing i can show, i thought i would take some pics at the little country show we went to today.

This wedding ring quilt is on my list, think I will need to break a leg to get to everything on my list! It was hand quilted and needless to say, made a first place.

Another first for this, great use of photos!

I'm a sucker for a pinwheel and a kaleidoscope, loved this...received a second.

Thought the cross stitchers would be impressed with this height chart. I was! Could only snap this through the wire.

Snapped a few animals while I was there, I have picked up another shop that wants my cards, a pet shop! So i thought I had better have a few ones particularly for there to join the animal ones I have already.

Like my horse?

I loved this pig...

And this pig..

and more of this pig...

and I also have a new peregrine falcon shot. I have adored peregrine falcons since I first read Catherine Gaskin's Falcon for a Queen when I was a teenager, anyone else read that, it is fabulous! I even forgive them for the occasional chicken I see them fly away with!

This was the favourite animal of the day. After 6 months of grieving over poor drowned Tom, my girl has had another try...this is Magnum PIC, (pretty impressive cat or something like that!)... and yes, there's very few 80's TV shows she doesn't like!

I will leave you with a job...seeing I am packaging up and posting cards and SSCS gifts, I may as well add some more. I think these two last photos lend themselves to some kind of saying/verse and they may well end up as cards..or not! Give me a something suitable in the comments to go in the draw for some cards,
have a great day, Tracey