She sews...and sews some more!

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..

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...

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

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!

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.

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!