A feast of finished quilt tops...

Plenty of patchwork eye candy for you today. No, not all from me, seems that having a big B & S themed birthday in your own woolshed does entail some preparation ....so patchwork is a little scarce, but my quilting group girls are all go!! Maybe by next week I will have my own sewing time...a late birthday present to myself!

The girls and assorted assistants have put together some more quilt tops, please especially comment if you see any of yours!

These blocks had the big brown based floral print added, a brave choice that i think has worked well.

The same lady put together this one, love the stripy sashing fabric.

Helen has put together this star themed quilt.

Christine decided that her Kaffe fassett would add to these blocks. There is a new bushfire kindergarten that we are hoping to assist with the fitting out, we are thinking this may suit the kids.

Christine has worked hard with these circles and has them all together. This may be another one that would be good for the kids.

Remember the jelly cake that the Fat Quarter Shop were kind enough to donate? Christine has turned that into a lovely shaggy for our original family.

The girls were very interested in the stack and whack bushfire quilt featured a couple of posts ago. I had a practice play at quilters using some of my shirting fabrics.

We are intending all making our own at the next Quilters in september.

Seems I am on the 400 posts cusp, which is an interesting variation on the coming birthday. I am a big believer in sharing the birthday joy amongst more than myself, so look out for a competition close to the weekend...off to make mini quiches....

Have a great day, Tracey

Of exercise, finished quilts and a fast approaching big day!

Wow, has anyone tried to fit in a good amount of exercise into their life lately? Really sucks up those few precious "spare" hours that I would normally have stolen for sewing. I wonder, in the comments, whether you think it is difficult to be thin-ish and a quilter as well, do the two go together?

Now, why would I do such a silly thing as sacrifice sewing for exercise, well, 1. It's good for all of us AND 2. I have tried and tried but cannot invent a suitable machine that I can exercise on as I sew. But the big point number 3. is that I have only 2 and a half weeks left until I hit a very big birthday...and I can't keep calling it baby weight if the baby just turned 9, can I??? So, since about last birthday I have been doing the odd gym class, definitely got fitter, but haven't appeared magically slim. How much of a miracle can occur in less than 3 weeks...probably not much! Luckily clothes size doesn't make the man...or in this case, woman!

The cards are keeping me busy, thanks to all those who have ordered, many on their way and more being mailed off hopefully tomorrow..Narelle!

raining again tonight, but we had enough let off this last week for Dh to get back on a few more paddocks to get some more barley sown.

When shifting him from paddock to paddock I spotted a few unexpected visitors,

I tried to get nice and close to these Brolgas, but this is the best I could do. They hang around in pairs, around wetlands. I don't think thse are nesting here, still flying around deciding where to settle.

And these black swans are doing the same thing, back through the same wetlands, except there isn't enough water for them here, this can be a full swamp. DH hopes it doesn't fill because that means a wet year for croppers! There are plenty of other lakes for them to nest in around here, they build fantastic nests in mounds in the swamps, last few dry years it is a race to see what happens first, the water dry up enough for the foxes to get to them..or they successfully get the babies hatched and away.

Bushfire blocks/quilts continue to call back in here and disappear again-to many homes. Kath from my quilting group recently gave these to me, anyone recognize their blocks?

A star block stack and whack.

Kath's sister-in-law donated this post and rail in muted green shades.

Now, were these start Libby's? Think so,I will have to check, look fabulous as a table runner.

Well, quarter to midnight..again! Even without cricket on I am up too late! Shouldn't mention the cricket, a heartbreaking loss last night, oh well, 3 more tests to get it right!

Have a great day,

More beautiful bushfire donations

An update on the bushfire blocks.

I have had 2 lovely parcels arrive recently and they are far too beautiful not to share.

The log cabin quilt tops have been made especially for the cause by Rita in Belfast. It's funny, Log Cabin is one of the quilts that originally "got me in" and i have made one for my Dad, but never for me, after seeing these beauties it has definitely gone back high on the list!!

The multitude of new blocks have and post and rail top have come from Sharon T in WA and the Pieceables Guild in Lynden, WA.

Lise, the girls and myself will put these to good use. Thank You.

It is 100 days since the fires, and many people are still living in temporary accommodation with little space for extras. It wont matter that their quilts aren't all there yet, just that they arrive in time...as some already have.

Kerrin, from our quilt group, has finished 2 tops -here's the one I remembered to photograph.

Made from someone's orphan quilt for a cure blocks. Thanks Kerrin.

Friday night quilt group.

Our Friday night quilt group is normally a fairly relaxing affair; we catch up on the month's news, share show and tell and husband stories, find out what each others kids are doing, eat too much chocolate supper and drink a lot of coffee or Robyn's essence of Dandelion tea...then realise it's midnight and we should go home, problems of the world all fixed for another month!

Laast Friday night's quilters was at my house...and there was no time..nor room for that matter...to relax!

The girls were confronted with hundreds of blocks and quilts and proceeded to continue the sort...

..and continue the sort..

I wish I had taken photos of every group of quilt blocks that were grouped, but here are two...

We found this late in the night in a bag of fabric from Darla in the Blue Mountains, it had slipped through the initial ID process, the circles are all sewn on and in strips. This appealed to Chris as a project so has gone home with her for the holidays, as have a few others. In fact all the girls took sorted blocks home that appealed to them to sew into tops...Well done girls!

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We were having fun with stars here, eventually came up with a full star quilt..

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-that I think went home with Kath.

Kerrin, on the right of the previous photo took home a mainly pink and blue assortment of blocks. She has already finished the top and called for more blocks!(Her husband was away on a fishing trip!)

The girls couldn't believe the generosity shown,...so many beautiful blocks! Lise and I were more than happy to share the sewing.......

The next morning I had a market to do. Took the cards and had a very successful day.

Saturday afternoon I tried out the garden apron made from a t-towel that I saw on Stephanie's blog, came from calamity jane and click on her name to go to the Tute. I did very simple ones as practise for School market items. Great idea Jane!

This one has cotton rope threaded through the hem to make the tie. I used the cotton label tape that came with the t-towels as a logo.

This has that blue cotton tape as the binding and tie.

And finally, everyone I owe parcels too, look and be excited!!! All mailed today so, watch the post!!

In today's Who magazine ('People' in the US) they have a photo of one of 3 wrapping rooms in Candy Spelling's home. A good theory-if you have millions of dollars to spare, but the wrapping is not my favourite part of the gift, I'm not patient enough for fancy stuff! Looked like a good spot for fabric stash though to me!

Have a great day, Tracey

Block sorting fun! ..(or chaos unlimited!)

Block sorting fun!!

Well, it was lots of fun with company but I think Lise and I both ended up with slight headaches...she found out what sorting lots and lots of blocks feels like!!

DD was home for holidays and took a photo of us drinking the only socially recommended housewife cope medication for the middle of the day...(that's coffee!!) probably not what the job actually entails!!

Nancy from Philadelphia has generously sent boxes of orphans and specific blocks..-from a large number of donators. There is a huge range, here they come.....

The toe's a bonus!

On putting these on the blog i can see the patches match the blocks in the photo before last...enough for a whole top!

We have a lot of this range from a few our group did for 'quilt for a cure' so i can see a whole quilt of blue and white and yellow.

I see more of the star blocks.

Lots of interesting orphans here.

Pretty sure these came out of the boxes from Nancy as well.

Lise starting to be unsure about where anything came from!

Blocks from Vicki at My creative corner.blogspot.

I think this one was made by Marcie's friend at Patchalot more.

...ALL FEEL QUITE FREE TO CORRECT ME IN THE COMMENTS!!!

From Pam T in California, these lovely blocks and the amazing quilt top to follow,

And finally, Sally King sent these lovely blocks and some very thoughtful extras-most appreciated!

Alice in italy has sent some lovely re crafting items as well, thanks Alice.

I think that is nearly everyone's donations, if I have omitted yours drop me a line...

I am only human, or perhaps they are still to arrive.

Lise and I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts and lots of great ideas are coming in for the use of these quilt tops. We will keep you in the loop, have a great day, Tracey

A birthday and a donated quilt....

Started my daughter's birthday "week" celebrations yesterday, she passed one small rite of passage and had her ears pierced....hopefully we will again get her to wash her hair in the not -too-distant-future....but right now she is being very pedantic about ear care! She has been wearing her hair in a ponytail to highlight the ears. My sister took a pic of us this afternoon when she came for cake-you don't see many of me so make the most of it!! I prefer being behind the camera.

I love making a fuss of my kids' birthdays (there are a dozen little girls due any day for a pool party..sorry, should probably say young ladies, but they really ARE just little girls!!) But I would have to say the height of enjoyment of this milestone came after my sister and Mum had left and we were jumping on the trampoline, "you know what Mum, I was jumping before and I thought, I really love my life" I said that was what all Mum's wanted to hear and she said, "yeah, I'm pleased i didn't die when i was sick all that time!!" So am I!!

I hardly dare mention that it has been six months since the last serious bout of her irritable bowel/migraine trouble, she seems to be okay as long as she is well rested so we are hopeful that that particular 2 year phase is over. A very joyful lady informed me the other day that it will probably come back really bad when puberty hits.....that lady is extremely fortunate she isn't buried in my backyard!!! Nothing like looking on the bright side!

Speaking of looking on the bright side, I had some finished quilts dropped into me this week, more information and pictures will follow, but this one I just have to share.

This has been donated to the fire effort from a lady in the blue mountains. It is stunning!! And hand quilted as well. My job was to find it a suitable home and it has left already, it has gone to wrap a lady in love who lost the majority of her family in the recent fires. I had a contact for her and thought this appropriate as it seems a little like the light shining in the darkness.

I have received a huge amount of blocks this week, people have been very supportive and I am getting ready to start sorting and sewing. I am going to show you them all, but it takes me a while to get them all in order for you...especially after Tuesday......

Tuesday was almost hurricane like winds....in a tinder dry state! Not as hot as the very bad bushfire day a month ago, but windier! They closed almost 200 schools and closed down the Govt. bus service. i took mine to school in town as they were safer there. Before they went they had to tell me a few things for me to collect if I went anywhere. My girl was her quilts, Hannah montana doll and her cat!! The boy was his motorbike. I packed up my photo albums and everybody's donated blocks!!!! There was no way I was losing them.

I trotted off to Church ladies coffee in the afternoon with the backseat filled with everyone's most precious stuff. Interesting exercise that, when it comes down to it...what really matters but your family? Must admit i would have been a bit sad to see the stash go-but there was no way that was fitting in the car!

Needless to say we got through that just fine, but as you can see, everything got packed in in a hurry and some of my elaborate "ownership" system may have gone astray-but I will do my best. Since then there would be at least 2 or 3 more bags as big as that front one -full of blocks, tops and fabric.....a great effort!

Aside from turning 20 kilos each of zucchinis, plums and apples into pickles, and sauce this week, i also made this little quilt for a friend's baby.

Which brings me to the fact I have nearly done enough for the week, so off to bed I go.

But I didn't forget my competition winner, the kids drew out nancy in philadelphia as the Tag galaxy winner, I have a funny feeling a few of my Bible verse and quilting cards will suit Nancy, so well done! And the "Belladonna quilt group~beating the recession one recycled quilt at a time" idea? I am seriously considering starting that up as a forum for sharing your recycled efforts-stay tuned!

Have a great day

Tracey