Rainy day fun...

Pouring rain here, and gale force winds...the best kind of weather for a spot of sewing. I had a play with a Fig and Plum Jelly roll. I was hoping to get to the basting this afternoon, but it's too wet to even wander over to the sewing room!

Good weather for playing board games though...especially my latest birthday present.
My lovely quilter friend, Robyn, surprised me with this little delight on the weekend, have you seen it?

Stitcher's monopoly! How great is that! The counters are a thread cutter, cotton spools-you get the idea. And the properties are all stitch instructions.
........Now, if I could only convince DH how much he would really love to play!!!

Quilt gift-and blogiversary!

I have that happy, but completely exhausted, feeling that you get when you know what you did was worthwhile....like giving birth but mercifully without the stitches!

We are shearing here and I am feeding the whole shearing team hot morning tea, roast lunch, dessert and afternoon tea. Around that and the kids I also had to work on my friend's 70th quilt-that was still a lot of blocks short by Wednesday's mail! I had to present it as a top and I will add the missing blocks and quilt it as a work in progress. Thanks for everyone's input, I was a little strapped for time so didn't go too elaborate, I kind of split the difference and went for a 2 1/2 inch finished sash.

By staying up a considerable amount of Thursday night and enlisting the kids on their day off as kitchen apprentices I managed to get it into a satisfactory quilt top by the time I had to serve dinner then race to town to the handover lunch.

Here she is.. and do you think she minds that it is still only a top??? I don't think she would have minded if it were just the squares! She couldn't believe who I had tracked down to contribute a square.

She just kept crying, even an hour later we were having a quiet coffee together and tears were running down her face. I sent her off up the street to get tissues clutching her quilt box tightly before she headed away with the family to her daughter's. I spoke to her daughter last night and she said the crying had stopped but she was still clutching the quilt!

I love giving a quilt to someone who appreciates it, that is really why we do this crazy cutting up of fabric! Makes it all very worthwhile.

My batteries went flat, I'll get you good pictures when it is done. This is Valda's DIL and grandson at the left, and Valda and I on the right.

DH finished his day in the woolshed and went to bed with the flu so i spent a fairly sleepless night on the couch which did nothing to help the tiredness!

I had to stop and let this echidna past on the road on the way to town.

The dress making bug has quieted for a few days, here are the girls in their dresses...and baby Born's to match.

We have taken some Canola photos, if you saw how many it took to get these! The models were far more interested in chasing each other through the crop than cooperating, but that's all fun as well.

Just realised it is my 2 year blogiversary. I think we better have a giveaway, don't you? I haven't got any elaborate idea organized so I think we will stick to the tried and true...leave a comment about something you liked in this post or in the 2 years worth to go in the draw...and I guarantee the prizes (s) will be something worthwhile. I'll cut it off and announce the winner by wed nesday, 22/10-hopefully shearing will be over by then!

Have a great day, I am off to draft up sheep with a DH with the 'flu...oh what unbridled joy!!! Tracey

Of gardens and quilts

We have results from me smelling spring in the air.

I picked up my 7 new roses last weekend that I had bought through the School fundraiser. I had great plans, it was time for the space next to my sewing room wall to be cleaned up and transferred to a rose bed, too easy...bring roses home....employ a very handsome gardener who lives to dig and charges the very reasonable rate of 2 packets of footy cards to prepare soil and then sit back with coffee until ready to plant.

Oh, I love it when I plan.

Can you see that crowbar...can you????

Guess what was under the 10 cms of beautiful dirt....

A bluestone floor!!!

Now I love that this was a stable, with what looks like a huge amount of bluestone right out behind the shed, but did it need to come up this close, and be quite this well laid?

A woman with smaller plans may have decided this was a good place for a pot garden, but I struggle with pots so 'ever onwards' was the call.

Unfortunately the call went out to no-one.

Digger boy took one look at the stones and heard homework calling, Dh went to bolt past in the ute and after much batting of eyelids he got the the first one loose then raced off to work up a paddock before it rained.

Doesn't he realise my plans are far more important than getting another 100 acres of crop in??? lol!!!

-and here it is the next day.

Now I know you can see I left some stone in place: we shall say that was because I wanted a path, or perhaps I kept it as an ode to the work done previously-yes, I like that, we'll go with that...... and never suggest that some pieces of bluestone may have been fine to lug around 100 years ago when this place crawled with workers...but don't scream to be relocated by little old me!

Remains to have the watering system added and a few more succulents at the front. I also am feeling the desire to paint a big back feature "something" to go on the fence, but it may be a little too public for DH!

But with the completion of that little project the weather has turned and gone straight back to winter, so these next items have been made or finished.

I think they should be called patchwork blankets rather than quilts. None have wadding, all flannel backs and just turned, pillow case style and topstitched around the edges-with a basic amount of quilting to keep them together. I have a lot of babies they can go to, but I've been asked to take my cards to the new farmer's market next Saturday and I think I will stick a price on these as well if I have to sit there. I can always make more for the babies!

All except the bottom right corner have chenille as the white blocks. The most fabulous quality DB size one for $2 at my favourite shop!!! The bottom left has about half a charm pack of 'all you need is love' fabric mixed with the chenille.

Busted a nice amount of stash.

The stripy one is quilted via vintage pink ric rac...another 50 cents at the favourite store!

Have a great day, Tracey

Springing into action

The calendar tells me we are about to arrive in Spring. I didn't need the heads up from the calendar, I think the coming of Spring seeps through you, like an unbottleable new vitamin tablet? Why else do we suddenly dream of digging flower beds, planting roses and pulling out weeds. (though on a completely different note, last night I dreamt I felt a baby kicking, then distinctly remember feeling a whole leg!! Let's hope that wasn't from some mystery new vitamin!!)

DH has already been planting for a long time. here is how his canola crop looks on a nice winter afternoon. In a few months my kids will be being photographed amongst its beautiful yellow flowers. Archie is playing model.

Here is it with the mountain view.

I spring cleaned my office today. Don't congratulate me, it was a "have to."I have to give a talk tonight and another in the morning on 'encouraging a love of learning through play' (NOT playstation play!!!) and, of course, i reached for the trusty notes and folder this morning...and nothing!! What a crisis. I saw myself having to rewrite the whole thing, so i searched through every bit of paper I owned, throwing out a lot on the way-still nothing. After 2 hours I decided to check the filing cabinet again, though I had checked it 4 times because I knew i had put it there...and what do I find, the file had slipped down under all the others, there all along! I think it was a sign that I needed to do the rest of the office!

Remember my little pet lambs, here they are, showing you how quickly the season has passed. They are meant to be eating this long grass on the edge of the canola paddock. We can't cut it because of house drains underneath. They were good for about a week, then slowly started creeping onto the canola. At around $700 per tonne of canola seed these babies could end up very expensive pets!!

I have finally given into the apron thing. it was stop wearing a lot of black clothes or make an apron. At my quilt retreat i only had black slothes...so this apron was born. I love it, the pocket holds all those things I usually put down and can't find again. i used the cotton tape that comes around quilty goods for the neck and elastic for the back, I don't even have to stop and tie...and it wont care how big I am! I used that basic idea of one big square of fabric, just with a contrast added at the top and pocket.

Have been working on this that i started this at retreat as well, the whole quilt photo wont upload, but it is a farm cuddle blanket for my nephew. I love the little machinery blocks.

Off to practise my talk, have a great day, Tracey

New olympic sport...enter here!!

How do you know the Olympics are really on?

-When you watch 3 and a half hours of women's softball, including 5 innings of extra time, to only see home runs you could count on one hand...then the Australians lose anyway!!

Now, if it were George, Brad, Orlando, perhaps Harrison and a young Paul Newman playing, (preferably for the skins side!!!) it may be a different story.....but that is how you know it was the Olympics!

But I do like softball, really. When the three of us friends played in the High School winter sports against other high schools over 20 years ago i think I may have once even got to field...well, I know one of us once had a run!! maybe it was me...oh, the happy sporting memories.

Which brings me to the next question...when are they going to bring in things I can do to the olympics??!!! Make them real I say; softball is going out-let's replace it with something great!!! yes girls, the move is on, ENDURANCE QUILTING EVENTS IN 2012.
And think what it would do for world peace and communication...a whole stadium full of quilters for days!!

....i'll start a petition, sign up here!!!!Now what is juan Antonio's address.?......



As you can tell, no quilting actually happening here at present (maybe i am just tapering the training in preparation-that's Olympic talk....all those viewing hours do pay off.) But I have to share this email I received with you....you gotta love a singing governess with a sense of humour,

Have a great day,

from Tracey, future Olympian!!

Julie Andrews Turns 69, this is hysterical To commemorate her birthday , actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan 's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'. Here are the lyrics she used: (Sing It!) - If you sing it, its especially hysterical!!! Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting, Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings, Bundles of magazines tied up in string, These are a few of my favorite things. Cadillacs and cataracts, and hearing aids and glasses, Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses, Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings, These are a few of my favorite things. When the pipes leak, When the bones creak, When the knees go bad, I simply remember my favorite things, And then I don't feel so bad. Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions, No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions, Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring, These are a few of my favorite things. Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin', Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin', And we won't mention our short shrunken frames, When we remember our favorite things. When the joints ache, When the hips break, When the eyes grow dim, Then I remember the great life I've had, And then I don't feel so bad. (Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. Please share Ms. Andrews' clever wit and humor with others who would appreciate it.

A quilt with two different thicknesses.

Ideas most welcome on this project please.....

Tomorrow I am getting ready for my quilt weekend.

My husband has a request for a quilt, he has had the same request for a few years.

You see, he likes hardly any blankets and I like to be very snug and warm. We manage best with quilts that I have made rather than eiderdowns/doona/blankets but even with quite a light weight batting he is hot...while I am on the chilly side.

Now, of course, we could go out and find a partner who likes the same set up but I have just got him about trained right (cough, cough, choke. choke!!) so I am considering that isn't the best option.

...well, we have the toilet seat dilemma sorted......lol

The second best is making some kind of differently weighted quilt.

I had thought about just joining a really light batting to a heavier one, but the unevenness and difficulty of making it in any way unifom and neat looking has put me off. But I think i have come up with an idea to try. He quite likes one woollen blanket in weight. I hate woollen blankets, but I am thinking I could make a string quilt where I cut up the foundation blocks for his side out of a woollen blanket and for my side out of the weight of batting i like. This should eliminate and obvious batting difference half way down the middle of the bed and all I will have to do is back it at the finish.

Can you see any obvious problem with this, or have you ever tried to make a quilt to solve a similar problem?

All input appreciated before I start cutting waddings and strings tomorrow,

love Tracey

Future planning!

I have been busy carting pea straw today...and that tends to get your mind wandering to enjoyable things.

I remember a while back there was some blog discussion about how great it would be to have an international retirement home for Quilters-how happy our families and ourselves would be to know we were going off to do and talk exactly what we loved with others who were similarly abled!

I still think there is a market for that one!! I would not be beyond it being situated in the South of France, suuny Queensland, -but actually, would it matter?

As long as they had good power, lots of good quality light, easy access to the internet and fabric sellers...and preferably a continuous quilting machine because my hands would probably be really had it by then...who would care where it was!! We could even be almost self funded...I could happily churn out quilts to sell for them all day!

But that is a pipe dream, so here is a better dream, a dinner party of international quilting bloggers, wouldn't that be fun? Well, here we go, I had this emailed to me and I think it is the perfect venue......

It is an elevated restaurant, supposedly in Belgium.

I see only one catch.......disaster will strike when we all get excited and get up to display our show and telll!!

-And no international quilter's dinner party would be complete without that!!

Are you in???????LOL Tracey

---

Makes my day

Okay, I can do this, I really can-it's just like pulling a band aid off, or pulling teeth or doing the farm paperwork ...do it quick, do it straight away...and it'll be painless!

Don't get me wrong, I will be including in my next Christmas card that I was nominated for the "make my day award", it's just the, "Yeah right...I am flat out picking a fabric, let alone only 10 blogs that "make my Day!" You all do, or I wouldn't read you, and comment to you and reply to your emails. So, on that score I will attempt to respond...oh wait, if you have received 3 nominations do you have to pick 30? Until someone speaks I will do 10.........Waiting, waiting, speak now or forever hold your piece..too late you running up the aisle waving, it's 10.

The awards rules are: “Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on. Beware! You may get the award several times! :-) "

Susan, Lou-Lee and Christine, my nominators, are a given.

Atet. feels like a friend around the corner.

Dawn. Ditto.

More Dawn. So many projects!

Ruth. Double ditto who has slotted a baby into crafting life effortlessly.

Patti. Paraphrasing Jack Nicholson in As good as it gets, her work and high level of organisation, "makes me want to be a better person."

Kim's big quilting adventure. Makes me spill my coffee.

Donna. Enthusiastic and gets things done.

Joyce. Great attitude and wows me with her work.

Tonya. Makes wonky work.

Libby. Just 'cos she is simply libby.

Finn.'Cos I want to be her when i grow up!

There, I am done! Now down to some other business, do you subscribe through bloglines, or use some other way? I just have everyone in my favourites and go through them, but it is a waste when people haven't posted...should I have a better plan?

Now, finally, a story about a kitten; a kitten that lived a fairly quiet life with a 7 and 9 year old and could still sleep, even if carted around in a pram, here is the vision of restfulness......

And here he is now......

Yes, he is now "Dizzy pusscat" and the proud owner of my gorgeous almost 3 year old niece....life, as he knows it, will never be the same!

Have a great day...and if you click on the coloured blog owners names you will be magically transported to their domains, enjoy..and thanks! Tracey

with 14 days 'til Christmas...

Other than being busy, I have been a little quiet on the computer front this week as I checked my usage and I had racked up a $45 excess bill! We are on satellite so it already costs a fair bit per month....I wasn't sure I was going to be able to convince DH I wasn't having an internet affair so thought I had better cool it off. He would never understand it was an affair with quilts and fabric! I think that all the security updates suck it up as well. Well, we will keep putting it down to that! Thankfully today is a new month so I am good to go!

I had the most fascinating visit to Melbourne on Saturday for DD's tummy; the only thing missing was Obi-Wan's voice calling...."use the force!"
The lady we saw came highly recommended as "worth a try" so we did. She used kinesiology and muscle testing and reflexology and bells........I was way out of my depth. She told me something at one point and I quizically said, "you reckon?" and was very soon told that "I don't reckon, I know"! I felt like that old 70's song Mum had on all the records that also had Dolly Parton and Kenny doing duets ..."get out non-believers or the rain will never come, someone keep that fire burning, somebody beat the drum!!"- especially as DD has then had her first fully good week in a few months!
She was funny, she walked out of the place and got in the car, then said, "Mum, I have a question, was that lady using crystal balls... because we aren't into that?" I said, no, she was just using her God-given talents to fix you up and then DD announced it had worked, she was better.
I am still more likely to be kicked out than asked to beat the drum, but it is great to see her feeling good especially as the doctors were all just telling us to 'live with it, she may grow out of it, or not.' So I will keep you posted.

Just when I had overcome the aero bars...or they overcame me....I was given this at School yesterday for a year of story time...sigh...now I have to eat them!
School finishes tomorrow and life should be far less hectic, plenty of time for quiet chocolate eating.

Took a photo of this at Ladies fellowship break-up for you, very cute and well loved.
And speaking of cute and well-loved...the day is coming when these are moving on to their new homes, but at the moment they are being dragged around in their Aristocats basket and the pram, being the babies for Mums and Dads'!

There are still 14 days to Christmas...fortunately...as I have decided to make my Dad a whole new Q/S bed quilt instead of just enlarging his other one. I found this great fabric that is just him, even the same tractor, motorbike, dog and woolshed...and he is the quintessential Australian stockman and shearer, always with his wide brimmed Akubra hat on.... this fabric just has to turn itself into a quilt in a fortnight, plus I need to quilt my sisters shirt top, and Roman Holiday pieces and make a few other things...surely all achievable...if Icome up with a plan ...and don't sleep!
Laila's Secret Santa Christmas Swap gift from me has arrived in Norway, thank goodness! For details on what that swap was, visit Donna at Chookyblue.
Have a great day, Tracey

Aint no Roman Holiday here!
........Though I do have a blue motorbike, just not a Vespa.

There seem to be many and varied animal visitors that appear at my front door. Luckily there is room at the Inn as there were a few more this week.

Here is the latest visitor, thankfully only to Tracey's half way house, not the bed and breakfast.

My MIL caught this in her bathroom, had made a hole in the flyscreen. I was asked to handle it. It is a Ringtail possum, an Australian native. See the tail-hence the name.

They are very cute, the tail is for climbing. DS and I took it away to a nice house less farm, doesn't he look happier now....

Unfortunately Sigmund the calf has also joined the ranks, on a more permanent basis. He is called Sigmund because I think he will have mother issues... and Oedipus was too tricky for the kids.

Last farewells, apparently a torn uterine lining in a cow is a fait accompli.

Here's one last pic to really tug at the hearts on today's episode of 'The Bovine and the Beautiful."

There's a poppy that I have managed to acquire as a cross between pink fluffy and red single-that is SO my pink. It is meant to lighten the tone.....

And so is this, more midnight madness, made this one while watching Sabrina Fair, I love Audrey Hepburn...I am working around all these secret things that I am making but cannot post pics of.

Used up more of the Roman Holiday Charm pack...and a bit of the extra stash. I think it must have been 2 charm packs, it is going a long way. I used the 3 fridge magnets again to stop it blowing away.....just because you cat lovers have been good.

-and here is one more, just because you had to get the bad news about the cow....

They are two weeks old on Sunday, so just getting used to opening their eyes.

Recycled batteries.

I am still here, apologies for the break. I had to work on Monday, teaching DD's class which was fun. Have also given two talks promoting literacy, taken the kids to the dentist in another town, continued weeding and sewn for a few hours. The weather here is more late Spring than late winter, makes you want to be outside, right out of the box.


Today is Meals on Wheels. It is Church's turn to pick up meals from the hospital at lunchtime and deliver them around to the elderly who order them in our local town. I would love a lengthy period in the sewing room but it will come when everything else is done...is everything else ever done?

On the day we travelled to the dentist I picked these up.

If you are thinking they don't fit in with my beautiful, spoilt chooks you would be correst.

They are end of year layers from an egg farm. I want to inject a little more egg laying ability into my girls so effectively purchased these from the end of season bargain bin!!

The kids were with me and quite excited to see another chook farm. I half prepared them for the reality but nothing could really have fully prepared them for 150,000 birds in little cages , who poked their heads out when they heard us...like a real entreaty! I was only going to get 8, the kids wanted to recue 20! We settled for 12. They came home and just sat on the ground of their new shed and were still there in the same position the next morning, but with eggs laid around them!
We have never eaten battery hen eggs, number one they have pale yolks that aren't a beautiful rich orange like our free ranges but mainly number two, because we can't bear the chook's lifestyle, so I'm not sure what will happen to these first few eggs.
We are giving them the royal treatment, the weeds from the garden, the house scraps, but they just don't understand, and are mainly just standing in the corner, looking dazed about the sunlight. Tomorrow I will introduce a few of my chooks in to teach them what to do and where to lay.

Found this great apron in the $1 bin at the Op shop when searching for the kids concert costumes. I am presently working out what to turn it into.
Here is a peek at my stitchery swap. I have cut the name off to protect the innocent. Hope to have it made up and in the mail by Monday. Oh, the big red stitches around the outside are the basting to the wadding, that's how I hide my knots and the back of my work when stitching, it also gives you a slightly quilted look that I like.


I have also finally picked my fabrics for the 4 seasons quilt swap. Decidedly un-maverick choices, they are from the Sonnet range. I am thinking of making my parents a quilt in this for Christmas, so it will be good to have a look at how they turn out for this as well. Do you have a favourite Sonnet? Mine is 116, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments." .....Though plastic surgery is actually working hard to overcome the efforts of time on rosy lips and cheeks. I wonder what Shakespeare would think of that.

One step forward and one step back.

During a fairly quiet post-camp slump yesterday I did manage some progress on my roses, but I am just giving you a tease because I am close to a finish. (I also managed to lie on the bed and slowly re-read a good portion of Harry, but we wont mention that!)

DD has just gone back to bed, the tummy is really not great today, so much for the usual 8 week window between troubles, this was less than 3. We'll keep hoping it is tiredness related and will quickly go.

Very wet and miserable today, I am meant to trek to town for provisions but at the moment that doesn't look at all inviting, neither does a walk-Harry is once again looking the goods!

This is the camp hexagon that had all the girls wanting to learn, out of my LQS sample mailout, can't find the sheet to say what they were.

Have a great day, Tracey

Some actual sewing...and a meme...and a thanks!


Is there anything nicer than a day with bright winter sun, a sewing machine, a whole heap of cut up shirts and a sentimental movie? Yes, it would be the addition of a package in the mail!




We will start there! After doing a trifling service for ATET, I received this lovely package in the mail today......





Spoilt my little darlings and me! Aren't those fat quarters divine, I am not sure which ones to walk around holding up to my face first, the pretties or the gorgeous blues/browns. I'll go the lot! Thankyou so much, love them!

Now she also tagged me for the meme Finn originated, I like this one, so after giving it a night's thought here goes.

5 things to do before I die

~outlive my children EDITED!!!NO, NO NO!!! Typo-that they outlive me!!!
~See the Lady of Shalott painting for real. Missed that experience in London, now shall have to go back!
~Watch a test cricket game live overseas, my friend Robyn and I have a penchant for a West Indian one.
~handpiece and handquilt something.
~put stuff away after I use it-on a regular basis!

5 things I can do
~Talk!
~ 2 finger type a lot faster than when I started blogging!
~parallel park, it's easy when you have to do it every time you shop.
~dress poultry-and i don't mean in clothes!
~tell stories... for a long time, with no notes, on anything a child asks me to include. Doesn't make me rich but makes me a popular mother at school! My kids think I am close to famous.

5 things I cannot do
That I admit to-
~function if the bed is not made.
~go into things half heartedly...if I am involved, it is fully.
~hand quilt in a manner resembling appropriate.
~always put stuff away.
~walk past an Op (thrift) shop without going in.
Family would say-
~patch clothes and sew buttons on quickly even though she has a whole room to do it.
~sing
~say no to people who ask her to organize things
~live without the computer and the phone
~ cope without going to quilters

5 things that attract me to the opposite sex-
hmmm, there's a difference about attracting me and keeping me attracted, I'll split the difference.
~a ready smile
~a generosity of spirit
~good with children
~adoration of me!!
~the ability to ignore my faults! So, so , so attractive.

5 celebrity crushes, with some specifications.
~George Clooney -in Ocean's 11,-13 and ER
~Harrison Ford-as Han Solo and Indiana.
~John Corbett-as Aden in S*x in the City and Chris in the morning on Northern Exposure.
~Sean Connery-pretty much in everything!
~Cary Grant-in pretty much everything!

5 people to tag
Not sure who hasn't done it already but I will take a stab and tag: Gail at Quite Quilted, Kim at Kim's big quilting adventure, Dawn in Korea, Cheryl at Quilting Hollow and Fiona at scraps in progress.

Here is the patchwork I promised, I have been working on shirts. This is only a few sleeves so far.

I am toying with the idea of adding in the red blade type effect, what thinkest thou?
I am also playing with the offcuts, a real scrappy look that I forgot to photograph!
And finally, the only downside to my day, I just dedicated 2 hours of my life to message in a bottle and Kevin Costner dies at the end...does no-one do happy anymore???? I think I'll put Northern exposure back on! Or take a peak at my Indiana trilogy, maybe even that one that has Indiana AND sean...yeah, now that's a plan!