Hello, hello.....

Back from my break and had a lovely couple of hours reading blogs, I haven't commented on many I'm sorry (time constraints) but I do like to read them.   Blogging is my most favourite social media format... really because it is quite chatty between friends.

Last time I showed you our white Jacaranda.... it still has quite a lot of flowers on it.  A couple of weeks ago I went to a local park that has a yellow Jacaranda, which I have never seen flower so I made a special trip to go see.....

in typical Jacaranda style there are flowers all over the base....

this tree is tall and the flowers high up....

… must be so pretty up there....

  the label on the tree if anyone is interested....

… close up of the flowers in the ground... its blurry but you can get a good idea of the colour….

It's a lovely tree

We had a lovely visit by son and grandiegirl and widget and his mom managed to join us for most of the time too

We had time at the beach.... and the pool.... and Australia zoo..... and shared food, read stories, sang lots of MammaMia .... etc etc

I didn't take many pictures, I will have to scrounge some memory ones from the parents

My fridge is covered with new art work..... 

… and comfort food in the form of home made with real icecream and proper vanilla milkshakes were needed this morning....

They left yesterday morning and we had a quiet day at home, Hubz watched cricket after checking up on his plants... and I sewed..... (surprise, surprise)

I have a new pair of pyjamas made from a vintage striped sheet

the top and these tops were all made from the Bondi Top pattern

so 4 new tops for me, some of them Tilda fabrics.

The pattern is pretty simple but they are very comfortable and cool (and I think look okay on my shape) There is a bodice with a small pleat at the back which is great for movement.   The bodice is lovely in a contrast colour but I did all of these a single fabric.

I have completed these two small panels in my hand stitching time..... this is an Anni Downs pincushion pattern I am making....

So... back in the saddle, or rather the sewing chair.  I do find it relaxing as well as fulfilling to make something, and comforting in those times when I feel a bit sad.

Chez is going to run a WOOFA (working on or finishing a UFO) challenge next year so we can encourage one another to finish off projects.... 

If you feel like joining us all just pop over to her blog HERE and let her know

Righto, Gotto Go..... came home from the coast with a huge pile of washing.... damp towels etc that needs sorting and putting away now....

All sorts.....

You may have noticed I'm a scatterbrain... a bit of this and a bit of that... my decorating style is eclectic... just whatever takes my fancy... and my sewing is just the same.... a bit of this and a bit of that... always...

I have done the last of these blocks for my Wings quilt...  

.. and yesterday I sewed the blocks all together.

 

I am a little concerned my fabrics aren't going to last the rest  but scatterbrain here will put it aside for a while and have a think and chats to designer Michelle

In my garden our pink hydrangea is blooming beautifully.  we bought this as a small plant less than a year ago....  I have two others, still only with little buds and different colours ...

.. and our white Jacaranda is flowering... a little bit scint as it is suffering from not enough water

I did some grid quilting this week.  I avoid marking as it takes up a lot of time but it was needed for this one

Gentle waves from corner to corner

and back taking care of the directions 

remove the gridlines and apple core quilting...  

This could easily be done using a walking foot if you prefer

the quilting was for the back of cushions.... 

When I made the box pouch last week I quilted up a bigger piece of fabric... I couldn't throw out the piece I had left... so it has made up another mug rug for my house...

Hand stitching has resulted in another United Stitches 4" block stitched up....

… and something new started!

On Thursday my son and a grandiegirl arrive from UK for a visit....

Her new hedgehog quilt is on her bed and a welcoming committee have settled in...

I will be having a bit of social media break …..

Righto, Gotto Go... I guess I better make up a bed for her dad too!! haha...

Have fun, keep safe, special thoughts to those affected by the crazy scary fires....

Postcard flimsy.....

I already had some of the blocks sewn together.....

so it didn't take too long to join the rest and we have a finished flimsy.... it is 60 x 70" and fits nicely over my queen size bed

some wideback flannel has been ordered - and then I want to quilt loosely so it will be a soft and snuggly quilt for using in a cold climate....

One of my friends moved to Brisbane a little while ago and I was able to visit her last week.  I had this lovely piece of fabric which seemed perfect for a new home so I made up this little zippy box bag.

I'm not sure if it was my pattern reading skills but it was very fiddly putting in the zip.  I love the look so I will have a search and see if I can find an easier pattern to follow.  I like the quilted look (its not obvious but I used a stipple all over and a firm iron on bag wadding)

Another little Wings block is done.... the ladybirds are sweet 

I have been doing Jane's sampler course on facebook.  Each block has one more piece than the one before to make it increasingly difficult.

The last block in the series is the 12 piece woven block....

The next step will be the sashing.  I laid out my blocks together.... and found some light cream fabric to use for next time...

It has been a fun project to do... and it will be a sweet mini quilt at the end of it all....

Righto, Gotto Go..... Sunday morning coffee to be had.....

a few bits and pieces.....

I have had my blocks for Road Trip cut out and packed together for a while now.... (I take photographs for reference when I plan them) so my metimesewing at the machine has been working on these blocks this last week or so....

The fabrics are all flannels...

It's a great theme with all the postcards...

I do like a mixture of handwork and machine piecing....

The blocks don't take too long once all the pieces are cut ….

.. and now all the blocks are done....

Helen has hosted this No Fuss Stitchalong …..  it's always fun to see how others do theirs and the different fabrics chosen...

Being a passenger in a car has resulted in another penguin jumper... now there are 4.  I will keep going as I have a healthy stash of wool for them....

… and evening stitching has resulted in another block for Wings....  bird on a branch....

Righto, Gotto Go..... the day is started and there is heaps to get done....

FNWF

Thank you Chez for hosting us ...

FNWF  me time machine sewing I worked on some blocks I had started putting together a few months ago!

They are a loose weave muslin type fabric block stamped with designs - a New Zealand business that has since stopped I think

I had 6 rows already joined so I put the other 3 together and then joined them up.

I will back it with some white sheeting (which I already have) and do some loose quilting and it will make a nice light throw

I double dated last night with FNWF virtual and Friday night girls reality stitching where I worked on finishing off this little stitchery 

Righto, Gotto Go... after going to a big hardware/garden centre I have a bunch new storage boxes...  I need to clear up some space for my special guests to sleep and put their stuff!  Somehow my own stuff seems to spread all over the place!!!

Then I want to sew ...… but first I will pop over HERE and see what everyone else was doing last night