The big smoke....

I am very lucky to be able to take advantage of a bus trip to the Craft Fair in Brisbane.  As a member of Twba quilters we get a very reasonable fare and it's wonderful being dropped and picked up at the venue and a lovely tea on the way added on....

Of course it's an excellent opportunity for some fun with friends...

Michelle and I had made plans to meet and play.....

... and a bunch of us gathered at lunch time.... every year Lynda and I go on the same day and not see each other - this year we made a plan!!   I met Liz from Victoria and lovely to catch up with Jeanette from Ipswich too....  thanks to Robyn who took the picture of all of us together....

The quilt display is hosted by Queensland Quilters and they include best ones from the other states too.....  they were wonderful to see... great great quality of work....

Michelle also has some pictures on her blog - but otherwise just scroll through here - I have done a few close ups...

this next one is by Sue Mobilia from WA - she's not blogging now but we have remained facebook friends and I have enjoyed watching here art works coming to life...

Rachaeldaisy won best on show in NSW with this one... stunning stunning and I could have spent hours looking at all the detail...

Uluru done in 3 panels.... outstanding....

It wasn't a shopping trip for me but when the others left I went to get a coffee before my bus trip home and passed this French General stall for the second time - I thought it clearly was a sign from above so these came home with me....

A fun day out.... 

I had a nice rest in the bus on the way home!

Righto, Gotto Go..... it's already the weekend coming up...   hope you have a good one!

The weekend....

Widget came to stay - and we watched the footy finals together.....

His team lost!!!!!

He lost a bet with his mom so he asked me for $5 to pay his bet.... sure I said....

... you gotta work for it.....

.... he had guidance from the trusted manservant and we have the beginnings of a new hedge....

This gorgeous little kingfisher hit our window and was very dazed....

... some other pesky territorial birds were teasing it so we moved it to a safer spot till it felt better and flew away....

Today was an unexpected free day so I spent it sewing .... of course!

I built my village of little pink beach houses.....

.. then I started placing fabrics to see what they would look like with the stitcheries... then I thought I would sew a few together.... and we have the beginnings of a quilt.....

... I wanted to catch up on my scrappy baskets so I patched and prepared the last 3 colours..... I still have to make them up but the day is finishing and my trusted manservant needs me to be a trusted maidservant and have food for him when he gets in from work..... sigh....

We have had an inch of very very welcome rain.....  it's drizzling again now and I hope there will be a bit more...

Another picture of this beauty... such a lovely colour....

Righto, Gotto Go....... time to forage for food....

OPAM, my blocks and a new book....

I had to go back into the recesses of my brain to remember the beginning of the month - gosh September disappeared!

The purse was finished in August but I couldn't show it till September and I just had the binding to do on the Japanese blocks quilt.... so at least I have something to show for OPAM.... Thanks to Kris and Peg for hosting and counting our thingies....

Thanks also to Joy who hosts Finishing Stitches to encourage us to complete our UFO's.... the Japanese blocks have been waiting around a few years to be made into something... so one UFO completed this month.

This week we got back into sewing Anthology blocks... a new record was set with getting 11 blocks done!

... and here they are with all the others....  this is not how they will be set but I'm just placing them up on the board for now....

Another Dutch Treat block has been finished.... this counts towards a UFO block finish in Finishing Stitches hosted by Joy.... thanks Joy...

I have done a couple more blocks for the No Fuss Stitch-a-long quilt.... they don't take too long and are so nice and relaxing to do when I just want to stitch but not think too hard about colour changes....

I was chatting to Susan and mentioned I am on hold as the thread had run out and I was waiting for new orders ... lo and behold she had some of the same colour and sent it to me quick smart.... so now I have some more I can do before my order arrives...  thank goodness for stitchy friends saving the day!  Thank you so much Susan.... xx

On Thursday evening I went along to The Quilters Angel where I met up with these 3 lovely ladies who were hosting a book launch for Lauren of Molly and Mama....  Marion, Lauren and new mum Steph...

The book projects were on display and looked just lovely - there is something about seeing them in real life and being able to touch them!!

beautiful roses in the room....

... and more beautiful roses in the shop!

... and nibblies to eat!

I finally bought my copy of the book and Lauren kindly signed it for me....

.... now only I can have this book.....

All in all September has been very busy .... I'm relieved to start October with a long weekend.... there are chores I need my trusty manservant to help with.....

Righto, Gotto go... that trusty manservant needs supervision (I wish!!!! - one can live in hope???)