Winter is on it's way.....

This is my one and only finish for May....

One Christmas Item and One Project a Month combined in an evening!

These are all the little ornies I have made so far this year... I managed to squeeze out a bit of extra from the left over felt so there will be some duplicates... 

I continue to do a bit of hand-sewing in the evenings and I have another 4 postcards finished....  I'm looking forward to a me sewing day to start putting more of these into blocks....

My latest Flowerville stitchery is completed.. and also waiting for a me sewing day to get the little Dresden's made.... 

One more stitchery to go.... 

 The weather has cooled quickly this week.....  and a large pot of soup has been made....

… and the log fire has been lit.... 

Some of my favourite things about Winter weather.... I know we have a mild Winter here in SE Queensland but I do enjoy wooly slippers, tracky pants, etc for a couple of months... (soon I will also be enjoying hand made socks too!)

Righto, Gotto Go... I have a day at home and some quilting jobs to get to.....

May FNSI

Thanks Wendy for gathering us together......

… well for me it was a FNKI

...and I finished my first sock....

I used a sock wool from Bendigo Wool and I am learning via Jane from UK doing her workshop and a lot of online assistance....

I did drop a stitch and picked it up wrong.... so I have a little kink on the underneath of the sock... proves it is handmade???? 

… and my toe end has a bit of a nipple... so we will be having a chat about how to deal with toe-nipples next week.

Otherwise it is a perfect fit and I have started the rib for it's partner...... 

In the garden I am delighted our Cooktown Orchid is flowering... there are 3 spikes on it and it has just begun.  Michelle gave us this bit and Hubz has been the carer…..

Saturday afternoon I treated myself to a chickflick and got out my crochet blanket... it's been a full on May for me ..... I watched Ladies in Black, an Australian film set in 1959 …. great to have a glimpse of life then and how women had to forge new lives.

Righto, Gotto Go..... a beautiful Sunday needs living.....

MIA

Last week I have been best friends with

and cold tablets and cough mixture

This week I have been best friends with this cover (still snuffly but feeling ok but shamefully I shared my lurgy with Hubz so he has been off work)

During elections I have for a while done 'election day' but this time I asked to do some after work for the rest of the week.  We live in such a democratic country and I must say I do enjoy learning about the process.

As a result not much stitching has been done.....

… but my first sock is growing and soon I will decrease for the toes

In the garden the zygo cacti have been flowering....

I love this bright pink colour

These pale pale pink aren't as dramatic but I think they are even more beautiful.... so soft and dreamy 

Righto, Gotto Go.... get back to that sock knitting.  I do hope you can avoid colds, coughs, flu …...

A weekend away......

Hubz and I went for a weekend away with friends from way back ….. a couple of hours drive for us to Stanthorpe (the one place in Queensland that can get snow) and home of "The Big Apple)

I took this one with a vehicle in it to give you an idea of the size.....

I might have played around a bit.….

Once we met up with friends off we went to find sustenance.... not sure about Hubz choice!

There are heaps of places to pop in and visit..... I kept forgetting photo's....

candles.....

Olives.....

 … fudge....

hand made pottery, wineries, breweries, cherry icecream, etc..... something around every corner almost....

Beautiful days and cool nights, the log fire was very welcome....

We have heard a lot about drought and how it has effected farmers.... a big affect has been felt by the vineyards and olive groves.  One olive place we visited didn't manage to get a crop at all this year and vineyards production was halved...

Here at our accommodation it was clear that a lot of mature trees had died...   

WE stayed at a vineyard and were able to take lovely walks..... amongst the vines.... 

 … and up into the granite rocky areas....

Huge big 'flat rock'.  Gus the resident dog was just delightful and led us along.... 

We went for a long hike the next day ……. 

 It's not called the Granite Belt for nothing....

My calves certainly felt it the next day... so many steps!  and sustenance was needed after.... 

WE also visited a home pottery and I loved this little possum tail hanging out the box..... 

We did visit several other wineries and breweries, had more walks, lovely meals and home made icecreams…. I forgot to take pictures most of the time....

This is the winery where we stayed (this is not our cottage but where they do tastings and events).  The Twisted Gum..... 

of course some came home with us.... 

I did do a few rows of my crochet in the evenings.... not much though, early beds after walks and wines.... 

Righto, Gotto Go, I also brought home a cough and cold so I'm feeling very sorry for myself!  Off to dose up and mix up some lemon and honey.....

Something new.....

For many years I have promised myself a luxury item.... hand made socks!

My friend Jane, in the UK, is a whizz at making socks and is running an online workshop.... it's just so great for me who has no idea with needles sizes, 4 needles at a time etc as she is there to answer all questions...

I ordered this beautiful sock yarn from Bendigo Woolen mill and went in search of sets of double ended needles.  Luckily I found an odd needle the same size as I needed 5 needles and not 4 for this part...…

I had this lovely bag given to me some years ago which is just the right size for the needles and yarn.... 

Yarn is still thread... right???? 

I finished another needleturn block for Wings (by Michelle) …..

I couldn't make ChooseDay sewing this week but I did sneak in a bit of me sewing time to keep up with this months Garden Sunshine blocks...

The beehive

 … and some flowers....

These are both 12 1/2" blocks... so much quicker and easier than 3 1/2"!!

As you can see I have managed to do a bit more of my sock! 

Meeting up with friends this weekend...... I hope I will get a bit of crochet done in front of a log fire in the evenings.....

Righto, Gotto Go.... my donation towards the weekend needs to be cooked!