Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you! We have had chocolate for breakfast, and brunch at a cafe on the marina, so we are all very happy here.

The boys have gone fishing now so whats a girl to do? Stitch hexies of course.

It was a glorious day yesterday. We spent a lovely day at the beach with family. Not quite warm enough for me to swim, but the boys and hubby had a great time snorkelling.

More overcast today, but still great weather. This is Little Beach where we are staying.

And this what I'm doing at the beach! It's a hard life!

Susan x

Floral Beauty progress

I am really loving working on my Floral Beauty quilt. Some recent blocks......

One of my favourites so far.

And half way through.

Enjoying some time at the beach with family today. Hope you are having a good long weekend too.

Susan x

Happy mail

My 2012 blog book arrived yesterday. I picked up a few packages at the post office yesterday thinking they were for my hubby. I didn't even look at them until late last night, when he opened one and said I don't think this is mine!

I love looking back over the year in print.

Hope you have a happy and safe Easter break.

Susan x

GDITC shopping

What weekend away is complete without a few purchases? I must admit I was on a bit of a mission to buy fabric.....I've been teased for having such a small stash lately.

The Cottage on the Hill had lots of fabrics to tempt, and some lovely reproductions. Lynnette Anderson's range Follow My Heart was very popular. I bought some fat quarters to make this caddy. I admired Dawnie's at GDITC last year and still haven't made it.....but now I have the fabric and the pattern so no excuses.

Some fabric for the Traditional Nine Patch swap.

Just because....and a vintage needle holder.

More just because, and a Prairie Rose layer cake.

All rather predictable choices for me, but what can I say, I love red and cream fabrics!

Susan x

Safely home......

.......from a fantastic weekend in Nundle. I am so tired I can hardly think, but we had such a good time together. It was wonderful to catch up with friends from last year, and some other bloggers for the first time. I love that feeling of meeting a fellow blogger in person for the first time, it's like you've known them for ages.

We had a great group of girls at our table. Here is Dawnie and Trish...........

.....and Lea, Alison (guest blogger), and my travelling buddy Deb.

And Cheryll (lovely to finally meet you), Lea and Dzintra.

I didn't take many photos over the weekend, too busy enjoying myself.......so I'll have to pinch some from the other girls. So I'll leave you with two more little hexie flowers that I made last night. Still not quite sure what they will become, but that might have to wait for another weekend.

Susan x

A romantic afternoon on the verandah

What better way to end a day of stitching than to enjoy a wine with friends before heading out for dinner.
My roomies Deb and Dawnie.

Susan x

My efforts for the day......

Seven little 1/2" hexagon flowers made in Prairie Rose. Today's projects were a butterfly box or hexie notepad cover, but I decided to be a rebel and do my own thing. I'm not sure what these will end up being but I also bought the layer cake.

It's been a great day with great friends. Looking forward to next year with Lynnette Anderson!!!

Susan x

Gditc

Having a wonderful start to GDITC at Nundle. Lots of goodies, patterns and beautiful projects. Luckily, I managed to swap some rather bright fabrics for the more sedate Prairie Rose.......and here is my first little hexies ready to stitch.

Hope you're having a great day too.

Susan x

The generosity of quilters

Today I had the absolute pleasure of collecting some quilts from Elizabeth in Mudgee for Chookyblue's quilt drive.

  

 

Two queen size and two singles.........all from reading an article about the drive in the local paper.

It has really set the mood for my weekend of stitching at Girls Day in the Country in Nundle. I hope I can sleep tonight!

Susan x

March nine patches

I love the quick results from strip piecing. There could be a two tone nine patch quilt in my future.........it's just too hard to choose the fabrics.

Susan x

Hexie purse finished

Last night I finally got around to making the strap for my hexie purse. Wondering if I should have used darker red, but for now it is done.

I always keep an eye out for rabbits.....in any shape or form. Saw this one in a shop window when we were in town this morning, and my sweet hubby snuck back and bought it for me.

I'm spending the afternoon making my March set of nine patches, and prepping some more Floral Beauty blocks. I hope you have some sewing time too.

Susan x

GDITC swap

For the swap item at Girls Day in the Country this year we are making a case for embroidery scissors. I could do with one for myself too. I had a wander around blogland and found a picture of the cutest little scissor case (and plenty of other lovelies) at Cuppa and a catchup.

What followed next was a frenzy of cutting and sewing, using my zipper experience from all those bags at Christmas, and here is my little scissor case and mini pin cushion for the swap. It measures about 3" wide by 5" tall. Nova had stitched scissors on the plain side.....I wanted to make sure it worked before I added stitching so I'll do that next time.

I love the feeling of being swept up in a quick, small project.

Susan x

Floral Beauty

I was very happy to spend some quiet time with my needle turn last night. I finished another Floral Beauty block and found a couple of others that I haven't posted yet.

I can't believe how relaxing it is to do needleturn these days........I used to avoid it at all costs. I am really enjoying making the blocks for this quilt.

Have a great week.

Susan x

A finish

Today I have finished sewing down the binding on In Full Bloom by Lynette Anderson. It's only a small quilt but the stitcheries are lovely and were so enjoyable to work on.

As it was a BOM I had some leftover fabrics, so I used those to piece the back. I hand quilted it, which was a bit hard in places with the pieced backing.

I need to get going with some secret sewing too....here's a sneak peek.

The boys are mowing, the housework is done so I'm off to my room to sew. Hope you're having a great weekend.

Susan x

All finished

Another big day of painting and rearranging, but my sewing room is finished except for a notice board.

When I looked at the photos I thought "where's my stash?" Well it is all there in its containers in the white shelves and some under the desk. There is still quite a lot of stuff on the ironing board in another room too, so in just a few minutes it won't look so tidy. But it is finished, it's mine and I love it.

Time to squeeze in some sewing before the weekend is over. Hope yours was great.

Susan x

FNWF

For FNWF I was quilting my In Full Bloom. It's almost done, just need to decide what to do in the borders.

Today I was in Bathurst visiting my dear Dad in respite care. I needed a new chair for my sewing room so went by the secondhand shop while I was there. Funnily enough, this chair matches our old dining suite.

And after some fun with the staple gun.

I know you won't believe me but I went to Hatched and Patched too, but only for ONE fat quarter to finish a swap project. Anni was on the phone whilst I waited to be served, and who do you think it was? There is only one Dawnie! Of course I had to say hello........and she tried to do some hard selling on Anni's behalf.......but I was strong and have not signed up for the Tillies Lane BOM.

I am hoping to finish off painting my sewing room tomorrow and move everything back into place.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Susan x

Another birthday and FNWF

It's a busy week at our house. Happy birthday Daniel......14 today.

After all the birthday cake is eaten I will be joining FNWF. I'm working on finishing the quilting for In Full Bloom, hoping to have it ready for GDITC. Pop over to Cheryl's blog to sign up.

Hope you have a good weekend. We will be taking Mr 16 for his first drive out on the road as he got his learners licence yesterday.

Susan x