DREARY SUNDAY

Hope all mothers here in Oz, have had a lovely Mother's day.  The weather has been wet, cool and overcast here in Victoria.

The bare branches against a grey sky with a few sparrows resting.

Last Saturday, I heard a car in our driveway and went out to investigate and what did I find on my doorstep, but this ---------

A  parcel.

The contents.

This parcel came all the way from The Wool Warehouse in the UK and was my mother's day present from DD.  It is the Cupcake Pack for a crochet rug by Lucy from Attic 24.  I will be starting this during the long winter nights whilst watching TV.  I hope to finish this below before I start on the rug.

I had some hanks of wool from many years ago that I'd stashed away and some old knitting magazines, and decided to make myself another jumper.  The above is what is on the go.  The magazine is actually dated October 1986 and is a publication called SANDRA and the pattern only has charted instructions, which I've never attempted before.  It's all going OK, so now know that I can follow a chart.

This morning I put the second customer quilt on the machine.

Dog panels with sashing.

Closeup of quilting.

Done by 3pm.

It didn't take long as it was an easy Edge to Edge pattern she wanted on it, with bones.  I will deliver this tomorrow morning to our local quilt shop.

Whilst out one day in March, at an Antique & Collectables place, I discovered this little footstool and just couldn't resist, although it does need recovering.  Being on the extremely short side, I need something to rest my feet on and so far I'm wondering how I go along without it.  I hope to recover it sometime in the future, but you just can't hurry these things.(lol)

Footstool.

Another find has been given the treatment it needed  and is now hanging on the wall above my desk in the study.  This print was purchased in Ambleside in 2014 and has sat rolled in a postal tube.  I took it to the framers and they quoted me $150 to have a simple mat and frame and I just couldn't justify it.  On our little forays into A & C's (see above), I kept a lookout for a suitable frame and found this one with an old print in it, which only cost $15, and the thick cardboard for around the edge $4, was cut by hubby and we think it looks great for a lot less expense.

Aerial Map of The Lake District.

OK, enough of my ramblings today, but it made a dismal and misty afternoon go by quickly whilst posting this.  It is a jumble of bits I've been going to blog about and just haven't got around to.
Hope your weekend has been a good one and all take care.
Susan.

HOLIDAY CATCHUP.

First, I'd like to thank everyone so much for the lovely comments on The Scavenger Hunt Photos.  I'm sorry for not commenting individually, but I was slightly overwhelmed and a tad busy,  Thanks again.
Just a quick post with some photos from our trip to South Australia.
We left Bordertown on the Monday morning and headed to Mount Gambier, where we visited a few places we've been to before, but I'd not taken photos of .

The Blue Lake.
This is a volcanic crater, last active 5000 yeas ago and turns a beautiful blue each November, though no-one knows why.

Extensive views from Tower Hill.
You can see all the way to the sea from here.

Tower Hill.
And yes it is a "hill", as the only way up is to walk and the last bit is really steep.

Later in the afternoon we visited the Umpherstone Sink Hole, which was landscaped inside by a wealthy landowner many years ago and revitalised more recently.  You can view from the top and then take the stairs and explore the bottom.

Looking down into the hole.

One of the local inhabitants, a possum, which usually only appear at dusk or later as they are nocturnal.
They come down to be fed by the visitors and scamper along the walls with their nooks and crannies down near the bottom. He was so cute.

Next morning we left and back over the border into Victoria, where we made a detour and visited Princess Margaret Rose Caves.  We ended up having a private tour as we were the only 'tourists"
They are lovely, although not very extensive.  Anyone following my blog will realise that I posted a photo of them in the Scavenger Hunt.

Behind the pillar is a mass of stalactites, nicknamed The Chandelier.

Next, we headed into Port Fairy, a lovely little town on the Moyne River, just before it heads out to sea.

It's such a pretty place.

Then we headed for Warrnambool to stay the night.  We took a walk out on part of the breakwater and to a vantage point to take photos of Middle Island.  If anyone has seen the movie ODDBALL, will recognise it immediately.  It is such a lovely true story.

Middle Island, which is no longer open to visitors,

The story of the island and it's  Little Penguin inhabitants.  (If you click  and enlarge it you can read the story.)

OK, that was basically the end of our trip, as we headed to Ballarat for a night, then  for home.  Hope you find this small lot of photos interesting.
I'm off to get our dinner ready now, so all starting Wednesday, have a good one.
Take care, Susan.

SCAVENGER HUNT PHOTO CHALLENGE - APRIL

Linking up with Hawthorn at I Live, I Love, I Craft, I am Me,  for the challenge.

All the photos below, have been taken over the last few weeks, except for the Memories one.  I have had so much fun.  I was on the lookout for so much, that I surprised myself with other photos taken because I just love snapping odd things and lo and behold, there were a few that have made the cut and others taken with the challenge in mind that haven't been added,
And here we go.

ORANGE,
Berries on a pyracantha as it is Autumn here.

FEATHER.
This is one that was taken for the odd seaweed, but do you see the little feather.

FRESH.
Fresh flowers.  Two stems of orchid from the florist and camellia from my garden.  This is the one I had most trouble with as I just couldn't find what I'd thought of..  I took the photo this morning and the light is atrocious today as it has been raining a bit.

HORIZON.
A storm brewing out to sea at Warrnambool.

WET.
Water flowing over some mossy type foliage in the Umpherstone Sink Hole at Mt. Gambier.

CRAFT.
Two little wallhangings quilted  this week.  They were both made a long time ago and just need binding now.  Aah done at last.

GROWING   -  SLOWLY.
A stalagmite and stalactite trying in vain to connect in the Princess Margaret Rose Caves.  Maybe in a few thousand years.  

MEMORIES.
There were so many I considered for this, but here I am sitting on the Cow and Calf looking out over Ilkley.  Special memories indeed.

STICKS.
We found this on the beach at Inverloch and I thought, aha, another stick photo, but this one made it on.  It's from driftwood on the shoreline and I wonder who built it and why?

ANY SUBJECT!
One of the rays that swim regularly around Inverloch Jetty.  They are so beautiful and graceful, that I couldn't help picking it for my other subject.

Photos 1, 3 and 6 were taken on a local walk and at home.  2, 4, 5 and 7 taken on our trip to Bordertown in early April, 8 whilst on holiday in UK in 2009, and lastly 9 and 10,  Wednesday this week whilst on a day out to the coast.
I'll try and do a blog post in the next few days to catch up on the last leg of our trip away, but next week may be slow going as I have "two customer" quilts to do.  Luckily, both allover patterns which are quick and easy, so shouldn't take up too much time.
Well I think I'm finished and look forward to what may come next month and seeing everyone else's interpretation.  THANK YOU Hawthorn.
Have a great weekend all and take care.
Susan.

OH DEAR!!!!!!

Yes, it's been a month since I last posted, and I'm not sure there's been too much happening to write about.  Health wise, I'm still struggling with pain due to back and ribs, but we are working on that.  I suppose that is the main reason for being so quiet for 3 weeks, but the last week has been a little adventure and that is why I'm sitting here now.  I had no internet access for 6 out of the 7 days away.
We set off last Thursday in this.

Our caravan.

 We were travelling to Bordertown in South Australia so I could have a little retreat time with a lovely group of ladies who all operate computerised long arm machines similar to mine.  This is organised by Judy at  News from Jude blog.
The first night we stayed at Ararat here in Victoria and we took a leisurely stroll around the lovely small town and as we passed by an Op Shop (charity shop) I saw something in the window that caught my eye and we walked away with it and a freebie the young lady threw in.  Can't show the freebie till the 29/4, but can the other item.  We also had a lovely coffee and scone.

An inexpensive framed print with quilts outside an antique shop, which I thought quite appropriate to our trip.  It will hang in my sewing area. 

Next stop was Keith, not far from Bordertown where we stayed for 3 nights and I went back and forth to Judy's.  I'm sure I'd forgotten to take my brains with me, but did a little stitching on  a binding and started another of my own quilt designs.  I think I just talked too much and learnt so many new things about using the computer side of my machine.  I sometimes feel a bit of a fraud going to these retreats, as I don't quilt for customers anymore, but it was lovely being with like-minded people.
The only photo I took was the one below, as I forgot the camera the first day, but they were all busy doing some of the greatest things, which I didn't photograph, though Judy did.  Permission has been granted to post this.

The "girls".

OK, just another few pics and I will post more about our trip over the weekend.  Been a busy day with lots of washing and grocery shopping as we only got home yesterday.

The derelict gatehouse for the old gaol in Ararat that also housed a ward for the criminally insane.   It is now a technology centre, but there are tours which we may do one day. 

Beautiful golden tree, as it is autumn here in Oz.

The sun going down, taken through the windscreen.

Hope to post again with more over the next few days.
Have a good weekend all and take care.
Susan.

BIRTHDAY BOY, BUSYNESS AND BIG PILE.

BIRTHDAY BOY.
Tuesday saw Hubby have a birthday and we went out to for the day and have tea on our way home, something we don't do very often. We drove to Geelong, had a wander around an Industrial Vintage Market, ate our homemade lunch by the water and visited another couple of places we'd planned without much success and then came across Port Phillip Bay on the ferry to our side of Melbourne.
Ugh!, the ferry is way more expensive than it used to be, and,

Swans and ducks on the water, whilst we ate lunch.

The car ferry and not the best pic as the wind was even blowing my camera around.

we didn't see any dolphins, which was quite disappointing.  It was an extremely windy day, so that may have something to do with it.  We had a nice meal at a hotel and were home in time for bed.(giggle).  We enjoyed.

Views from ferry.

BIG PILE.

Quilted.

This is some of what I've been trying to get done lately.  As I've mentioned before, I've an idea for a book and have made a number of quilts for it and now have at least some of them quilted, 2 fully bound, hand sewing another and 3 waiting for their binding.  In between doing these I did the big star and a bed runner for a friend which also has to be bound before flying off into the wide blue yonder.

BUSYNESS!!!
Is that a word?  Well even if it isn't, that's what it's been like.
A few medical appointments, birthday outing, car club meetings, buying some downlights and new sheer curtains, as well as finishing the chest. Tomorrow we have the electrician coming to fix the lights over our kitchen benches, so that we aren't working in our own shadow.  Next week is nearly as bad.

Finished chest.

On the design wall.

Ruler and book.

I am going to try and use some of my specialty rulers this year and pulled this one out to start with. The pansy fabric was leftover from a quilt I made many years ago for my parents, so am now playing with that and have made the above blocks so far, but it probably won't be much larger as now have very little left.  You'll have to wait and see what I do in the end.

One more little bit.

Granny squares.

I've been doing these on our hot nights to keep me occupied, but hopefully the weather will start to cool soon and I can get stuck into those bindings.
It is still 32 deg here and nearly 5.30pm.  March is supposed to be autumn!!!!!!
OK, enough from me and the mixed bag from this last few  weeks.
Take care all.
Susan.

HAREWOOD HOUSE

Sunday saw us set off reasonably early for our day out to Harewood House open day.  This an old homestead, extended and lived in by the Lyall family, Scottish immigrants to the area in the mid 1800s.  It is not large, but is very interesting.  There were old handcrafts on display, Jaguar cars, Highland dancing, a Pipe band and host of other bits. The first photos are the house, which was very hard for me not to include people, so I've only a handful.

Front entrance.

Rear view.

Side view with a kilted man taking a snap.  Sorry, but there were a lot of men running around in kilts.

The gardens are not stunningly beautiful due to the fact the land was once the Koo Wee Rup Swamp and was drained for farming.  There are some lovely old trees, which meant plenty of shade on such a warm day.  The photo below was quite fascinating, even though I'm not particularly fond of cactus.

Flowers

It was huge.

I do know that cactus flower, but had never seen one like this actually flowering.

 DISPLAYS

The display of Jaguars.  Maybe not our favourite, but impressive.

One of the cute Shetland ponies.

.
A lovely day out.

Not a lot has been happening, as it's been so hot.  It is 5pm and 33deg as I write this and is extremely uncomfortable.(warm & sticky yuk).  I'm just wondering when it will cool down.

Hubby has made some bookends for DD and we both worked on some for me.

The A & Z made by hubby and the ones on the right are the black brackets I picked up at a Vintage market and we've repainted them and made the timber supports.

This second hand chest of drawers I purchased cheap is being given a facelift and will be used to store my cones of cotton, quilts and backing waiting to be finished and other bits and bobs that I use for my machine quilting.  The cones have been stored in a plastic tub for many years and just end up getting all muddled. so am going to enjoy having them neat and tidy.

Well that's it from me, so take care all and have a good week.
Susan.

BTW,  The house is called "Harewood" as it was William Lyall who introduced hares into Australia.

EXTREMELY SPOILED!!!!

A GIFT FROM AFAR.

2 bobbins from an old spinning wheel.

My blogpal, Hawthorn, from I Live, I Love, I Craft, I am Me, sent me these, after she'd found them in the back of a cupboard, as she thought I'd love them.  They belonged to an elderly lady and still have wool she spun on them.  Beautiful items and such a sweet story.  Thanks so much Hawthorn, I do love them.

Just for now they are sitting alongside my recent purchase of the large one and 2 small cotton reels.  The one on the left was made by hubby, when I first gave him his lathe and the other was bought at The Stott Park Bobbin Mill in the Lakes District many, many years ago.

AT THE SHOW.

My other spoiling was at the recent Flower & Craft Show, in which I placed a few entries.  I do feel that my wins, shouldn't have really happened.  I put 3 quilts into 2 categories and won first in each and a second.  BUT!  Mine were the only entries in this section, along with 3 other quilts in slightly different categories.  Pity there weren't more.  I also entered 2 arrangements in the flower section and also got a first and second.  There were some other entries in this, so I was competing with others.
It is such a shame that these shows don't get more exhibitors.  All in all it was a lovely display of different crafts, produce and flowers.

My friend Janette's quilt with it's First Place card, along with some other items,, which also won prizes.  Aren't the Santas cute.

My prize cards pinned in place when I arrived there.

I am wondering if this card below, was the start of my love of entering into shows, although I don't do it nearly as often nowadays.

There is a year written on the back which reads 1954, so I was all of  5 years old.

It's been hot again with temperatures around the 30's and higher, which is not helping me get things done.  I've now quilted 5 of my so called book quilts, one completely bound, another two awaiting hand sewing and 2 that need binding found for them.  I have another ready for the machine and this is the backing it will have.

Pretty spectacular!

Hubby and I have been working on something I hope to be able to show next week.  Once it cools a little, I hope to be able to get back into some knitting.  I found some hanks of wool, I'd bought a long time ago and hubby helped me wind three balls from one of them and I've found a pattern I really like, so can't wait to start.  Some granny squares are being worked on occasionally of a night, along with bindings.
Just a quick midweek catchup and hope everyone is having a good one.
Take care,  Susan.