Christmas came early .....

Hubz and I treated ourselves to a day-date adventure this weekend...  sort of our Christmas gift to each other ….

A train ride!

The steam train could not run ….

1.  because of high fire danger and sparks/coals flying around....

2.  because of the drought and the amount of water needed to run it.... some of these little towns are having to ship water in for their homes

The diesel was just as much fun (just different) and I just loved the old style carriages that a team of volunteers have worked to rebuild

Look at that gorgeous luggage rack.... 

Such a dry landscape.... we saw lots and lots of kangaroos which hopped away...

We were dropped off at Stanthorpe (the train went on to Wallangarra on the Qld/NSW border with other passengers)

Picked up and went on a lovely winery tour....

One winery does some wine in the Georgian fashion of huge clay pots underground.... (it was fantastic wine too)

… yummy lunch at another place....

…. gotta love a beautiful big gum tree....

… and even a brewery.... gosh that ice cold beer went down well after sipping wine for hours... (we visited 4 wineries and the brewery)

… back to the station to wait for our ride....

we were in the diamond carriage … called because of their windows …. 

… and from there watched the sun go down.....

dust and dry conditions do bring beautiful sunsets....

We just loved our day out....  

The volunteers run the service and are so wonderful, helpful and happy to be there sharing what they do and what they love.  People who lived near the rail track came out to wave, our wine tour was so well done (and included a lovely talk and explanation in the working area where they make the wine).  

Happy Christmas to Hubz and me....

A bit of housekeeping....

No reply bloggers.... I am getting a few of these recently... not sure if there are changes in blogger or what, but I always try to reply to comments so if you are not getting replies then that is why - very sorry but I can't find you.... I do try.... promise...

I have found homes for the patterns.... Narelle and Tracy..... thanks... there were some other offers and thank you... I wish I had more to send out. Let me know your addresses and I hope you have fun making them...

Evening stitching has meant another little block for Wings .... my bee looks a bit agitated... I think it got hay-fever from the pollen...

Since I have a small visitor arriving next month who hasn't got a big bed quilt from Nana I have been doing a bit of my own quilting....

… and sewing on of binding....

… and the last couple of evenings have been spent hand sewing the binding... still more to go!

… but I did take a short intermission to finish off these … cork, glitter felt, hessian twine and a bit of tilda fabric....  

Michelle gifted me these pretty panels a while ago and I have had them pinned for more of a while so today I am going to spend a bit more of while on them......

Righto, Gotto Go.... quilting is calling me.... 

Weekend is coming up... hope you have a lovely one...

Back to my own sewing.....

I am very pleased that I am still keeping to do a bit of my own sewing each day....

and the machine has been kept busy with my sisters.... this quilt has worked out 86 x 97 inches …. now it's going to the 'waiting to be quilted' queue.....

Hand sewing has meant another lovely block towards Wings quilt.  This is the little bird under the Umbrella flower....

I have been naughty about keeping up with my One Christmas Item each month so did up these last 3 ornaments that I had felt for.... 

I have had 2 kits of stockings... some I made a couple of years ago and then these ones have been this year... 

As a result I have 2 patterns to pass on if anybody would like....   I don't think I will be wanting to use them again.

Please note, these are patterns only … not the kits as described on them....  and they are in good but used condition.

If more than 2 people want I will put your names in a hat and do a draw.

Righto, Gotto Go..... I have another Wings block waiting.... 

Want another look at my Disco Dancing Diva's?

.... and more

I have another group of pictures from the Brisbane quilt show.... as per usual I won't say much about them... I have included the tags regarding the very clever makers...


Michelle also took pictures... some of them are not the same as what I did so if you feel like it pop over here and see some others....

Righto, Gotto Go....  I know I will never make on these grand scales and artistic talent, but I can still have fun... and there's lots of fun waiting to be done ….

Have a lovely weekend.... I was thrilled to wake up today to a lovely storm and 25mls of rain.... puddles on my dead lawn.  Not drought breaking but it is all hopeful that there is rain around.