Spring is on it's way .....

August has been and gone with all it's sadness, gentleness, kindness and caring ....

This is the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring here in Australia and there are lots of signs of new growth in the garden, fresh nights and beaut days

Here are my finished projects for August's OPAM hosted by the lovelies Peg and Kris

These are :  

• OASS Spring swap for Tracey made using Allie's lovely pattern shown HERE
• Fathers Day mini made for Raelene seen HERE
• Patchwork and Quilted Christmas cards.... tutorial shown HERE
• Little Birdies quilt - a UFO from last year - more pictures HERE

Some signs of Spring from my garden.....

The Wisteria hanging on my veranda (soon you will think I come from Wisteria lane!!)

this is a climber Ruby ....... an Ausi plant and just so gorgeous at this time of year.... vines growing inside the shaded area ....

This is how it is looking from the outside ..... 

The jasmine scent is awesome in the early evenings..... this bush is outside the bedroom and the breeze wafts the scent throughout the house .....

my prunus is full of flowers.... and bees....

Wishing you all the best of happiness for Spring.... or Autumn .....

We almost always get a cold spell in September so I'm not packing away the woolly slippers and trackie pants yet!

Righto, Gotto Go, the sun is out, the birds are feeding ...... and it's time for a cuppa....

Having fun ....

Before I left for my holiday there were some swap gifts to send.....

I have been enjoying the 12" mini quilt club hosted by Cheryll from Gone Stitchin'

The theme for this last one was Fathers Day and I was partnered to send to Raelene who requested something with a car theme......

I don't know much about cars.... I have a red one..... and occasionally I have to put petrol in it...

.... anyway I thought I would go with a classic style and found a picture on the internet ... 

I did it all in back stitch and some wriggly quilting background ... I was so pleased to find some cheerful wheel fabric for the edges .... 

Great fun swap... not too big an item but enough to be a challenge....

This swap is not a 'regular' but there are several through the year - you can join the 'club' and participate in the swap when you can...... for more information just go along HERE....

I also posted off another set of parcels for Cathy...... I knew I was going to have a busy time so I sent some extra for next month...... and a special little one for opening straight away - the idea being to help resist temptation to peeeeeep.....

.... I won't spoil the surprise but it did include this:

The other regular swap I like to do is the Once A Season Swap which also happens to be co-ordinated by Cheryll and this time I was sending to Tracey who does all sorts of lovely work so I tried to think of something a bit different for Spring for her ....

This is a pattern from Allie, who by the way has just started her own pattern designing - do pop along and wish her well and have a look at her brand new design over HERE

Done in raw edge applique and back stitch for the words - in the ditch quilting....

Thanks Cheryll for organising the swap, thanks Allie for the pattern and thanks Tracey for being my swappie this season.....

I do enjoy the swaps but will be taking a break for a couple of months..... you see I have a big trip to take in October .... far away.... to see special peoples .... grown up ones and little grandie ones too.....

Righto, Gotto Go, there are some BOM's I have got behind with.....

In the box.....

... that's the post box I'm talking about .....

For some time I have been reading Jodie's blog Ric-Rac.... I really enjoy her sense of humour and she makes the most fun and unique softies....

I was soooooooo lucky to win a recent give-away that she had and my prize had it's cute cheeky little snout in my mail box when I came home.....

doesn't he just make you want to squeal?? 

and he came with a pattern.... Little Red.... perfect for Grandiegirl gifties I think... oh, and I would so love a matching pinnie with mushrooms on ..... 

thanks Jodie.....  I get a real kick out of owning a Jodie original!  ooohhh... squeal!!!

I had another reason to squeal when I saw my Fathers Day mini quilt which was made by none other than the wonderful Shez from Enjoying Life ..

isn't this just perfect... I love the detail.  

Shez has done this with applique and machine and hand stitching and now I think I need a dress made from fabric with writing all over it  

(maybe I can put mushrooms on the hem of that)

and look at that teddy dangling just like they do in little people's hands.... and the cherry in the cocktail - martini's anyone?

Thanks Shez - I love it to bits and it looks just perfect in my hanger... you sure know how to share how to Enjoy Life......

Righto, Gotto Go.......... squeeeeeeeaaaaalllllll

How lovely it was.....

Such a lovely break in the warm tropics playing with young Jack (and his dad who happens to be a wonderful son)....

the funeral for my nephew Chris was held during this time

very sad to be away from family

we have booked tickets and will be visiting them all in October

will plant a tree

gone but never forgotten

morning walks  

beautiful beaches

making turtle tracks .......

helping Nana sort (?????) the yarn ....

artwork and pelicans at the esplanade 

early morning chats on Nana's bed with the lovely doona cover....

being woken up by the kookaburra's....

buying new curtains for Jacks room....

mending Jacks rugby ball.....

loving the texture of the paper bark trees

sunrise on the early flight home.....

where some fun post was awaiting

will show you next time.....

Righto, Gotto Go.... why didn't the cleaning fairy take advantage of me not being here? - she could've done so much!!!! ....

Nana duties.....

Some things going in the post.....

Cathy's parcel for the Secret Santa Swap...... late for August but early for September....

and including an 'open today' little thing....

I had a couple of swap comittments for August..... my chook fairy light came to inspect....

this is a Fathers Day mini quilt going to the person written on the label ....

and this is my Once A Season Swap for Spring ... this one is going to a different person as you can see by the label ....

I am off to Tropical North Queensland for 10 days.... I HAVE to help with Nana duties.... tough gig...

I'll be playing with Jack

I will be taking a bloggy break - not sure about connection etc there but if possible I will show you some photographs of extensive beaches and warm ocean waves and beautiful forests.....

of course I will take some stitching to do - incase I have time!

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There is a bit of bushland above our house.... this time of year it is a cheerful sight....

The wattles are just lovely.... look at these little balls of yellow fluff

(I don't even care that they give me the sneezes) 

The lavender is looking wonderful too.... lots of bees in there

Righto, Gotto Go.... must find those shorts and sleeveless tops to pack.....  see ya in a couple of weeks

Birdie Stitches.....

Last year I made up the top of this very cute quilt designed by Little Miss Shabby ...

 I used a charm pack of Rural Jardin and had a piece for the border and binding... I bought the red sashing separately .....

Stitcheries were done using 6 threads.... quite hard on the fingers but I did like the effect...

My aloes in the garden are looking stunning at the moment.....

I didn't want to quilt over the stitcheries so I let my feathers flow over onto the unstitched areas of the blocks and the border ...

the cream thread softened the very bold red I had used for the sashing....

I haven't quilted such a large amount of feathers before.... I rather like it....

The posts showing the individual stitcheries I did in detail can all be found HERE and the patterns are still available on LMS page HERE

Another UFO finished .... yay

You know by now I am reasonably environmentally conscious.... there is a very good reason why....

Righto, Gotto Go..... I'm off to find some of that stuff I pay carbon tax for......