1 down 4 to go!!

I finished the first of the stitcheries from the "Rebel" pattern I bought at "Totally Patchwork" a few weeks ago, this one is "Harmony", doing "Rebel" at the moment. I'm working with a thread I haven't used before and I love it ... Threadworx - that blue/lilac mix is 1026, it's really nice to work with. Hope all is well in your part of the world.

Joy :o)

Busy Bees and our day in the Country

I noticed when I said goodbye to DH yesterday morning as he went back to work after 4 lovely weeks holiday [sigh] that there was a strange 'buzz' in the air. Our native lavender bushes were covered in dozens of bees - they had started work much earlier than either of us!!!

This one was a lucky shot ... I didn't realise he was there in the middle until I downloaded the piccies ...... he he ... the flight of the bumble bee!!! And the one below - his little thighs were so laden with pollen I was surprised he could fly at all ... they really are amazing little guys, fascinating to watch.The recent rain has really given the garden a lift, it was looking so dry and tired before. The roses are loving it too!!! DH pruned the ones in the background (on the right) quite harshly recently, I was worried that it was too much, but I should have had more faith in his green thumb because they are all coming back beautifully too. Now if I'd pruned them I reckon it would be a different story ... we'd be pulling out their poor little carcusses and starting over!! No prizes for guessing I'm not very good in the garden.This shot is a little overexposed ... but you get the picture ;o).

DH and I had a lovely day out in Laidley last week, even though it rained it was nice to be out of the rat-race and enjoy a more laid back day in the country. It's gorgeous out there, if it wasn't so far away I reckon I could live there ... but the kids, Mum, family are all nearby to where I live now and I like that :o). We saw this sign on a pub on our way ... I love this gorgeous old pub ... but it was the sign that caught my eye ... "Scrubbers B & S ..." LOL - (that's "bachelors and spinsters") - It was all happening last night so I bet there are some headaches this morning LOL!!!

Bought a few things on our travels - got some pumpkins at a roadside stall for just $1 each, what a bargain!!! Mmmm, pumpkin fruit cake, pumpkin scones, baked pumpkin, mmmmm. A delicious lemon slice at a cake stall at Forest Hill. And we found the perfect birthday pressie for MIL - if she doesn't like it I'll definitely give it a home LOL!!! Isn't he adorable!?!??!And a mirror that I've been after for a while ... needed to find one that matched our tallboy and as luck would have it we did!!! Doesn't it match up well!?!!I'm thinking I'm not going to get an awful lot of stitching done next week as it's the Craft and Quilt Fair and I've bought tickets to go for 2 days!! What fun!!! I like to shop on the one day and then do workshops on the other day. I'm sure I'll manage to squeeze in a few hours here and there at the sewing machine though :o). I might find some fun gifts for my (far away) partner in the Polka Dots and Rick Rack swap!!!!

Quilt Giveaway

Elizabeth at Pigtails and Snails is giving away a quilt!!! How incredibly generous is that!!?! Yep ... not just the pattern but the actual quilt - and it's beautiful!!!! You've only got til Friday night to enter so run on over to her blog, or just click on the piccy on my sidebar and get your entry in quick!!

Another smile :o)

I know I've been a bit quiet in blogland - sorry 'bout that. I've had a worrying couple of days with a sick friend - but now that most of the worrying is behind us I'm back again :o). I did manage to get a bit of stitching in while waiting for news from the hospital ... you guessed it ... ANOTHER zipper-pouch - LOL - I've made 8 so far ........ yep, 8!!!!!! This one isn't for me though ;o). I did this cute Bronwyn Hayes stitchery a little while ago and this seemed just the right project for it.
Again I discovered this afternoon that even when I'm worrying and a little bit down ... there's always something to make me smile ... and this time, while DH and I were taking some time out and doing this ... (he's the speck just left of the middle LOL it took me ages fumbling around trying to get my camera out of my pocket!!)
we came across this little fella.

...isn't he cute!!!??!!

He clearly wasn't bothered by us being close by at all ... so I'd say he was pretty used to humans being around. I must admit though, I didn't like to get too close, I used the zoom on these pics ... but he was still only about 3 or 4m (10 - 12 feet) away. Here I am saying "He" when I haven't a clue whether it was Mr or Mrs (or Miss - or Ms!!!) Koala ... no matter - it was sooo special. It's not often you see these guys in the daytime so we were feeling very priveledged ... AND... as luck would have it ... I had my trusty camera with me!!! I don't usually tote it along when we're bike riding but for some reason today I grabbed it before we left. Hmmm, makes you think ;o).

Always something to make me smile :o)

Some days things don't seem to go quite as planned. Nothing really bad has happened, I shouldn't be complaining at all, and I'm not really. They were all just niggly little things to put a spanner in the works.

First thing happened early this morning when DD2 was getting ready for school and couldn't find part of her uniform (??). Not a big deal but definitely a nuisance. Problem was solved without too much fuss - good thing I'd already had my first cup of coffee [phew]. Next, as I'm printing up some patterns for orders I got yesterday, I realise that the first run of printing I did for my newest pattern "Ric Rac and Roses" has gone out with a page missing!!! Eeeeek!! I phone shops, email/phone people who've bought/won patterns. All missing pages are now on their way to where they belong [again ... phew] - problem solved. THEN ... this is the 3rd and hopefully the last for the day ;o) ....... we brought home our tiles for the kitchen walls and they were 5cm larger than quoted so they don't fit under the power points and will be a pain in the proverbial to fit!!! So I got on the phone to our friendly tile shop lady and she says she will have the tiler man cut them back for us so they will fit :o). Another problem solved .... just didn't want to deal with all of that in one morning!! Topped up with another coffee :o).

Then ........... my day got brighter. The mailman brought me a present!!! I'm smiling. In fact I'm smiling from ear to ear!!! Look what I got :oD!!!
It's the last package from my Stitcher's Angel!! And it's filled with LOTS of goodies :o).I haven't made one of May's bags but I just love it!! And didn't this one turn out beautifully!! I mentioned last time about my Angel's fabulous stitching ... teeny tiny perfectly even stitches. Very clever lady. But there's more ...
She also sent me a stitchery, a "Troll" pencil - a most adorable pin cushion (don't hink I can put pins in that dear little hedgehog ;o), must watch my aim!!!) .... and lastly ...
... lots of lovely fabrics!!! There are some lables, some wonderful Noah's Ark fabrics for my BOM from here and of course some Angel fabrics. I'm feeling very lucky - I just love all my pressies, and now the waiting is over - I know who my secret Angel is ... thank you so much Laila - you really are an Angel :o).

Take care,

Joy :o)

Cupcakes and swaps!

My DD2 is having a lot of fun with the new oven. Here's the latest batch of cuppycakes. They are all pink for October - Breast Cancer awareness month. We bought the Green's packet mix from the supermarket because they donate part of the price to Breast Cancer research and we even decorated a couple of them with the bow ... cute huh?? We had the family over on Sunday afternoon to see our new kitchen and the cakes didn't last long ....... very yummy :o).

The decorating is all but done .... the floor didn't get a look in but hey, I'm not that worried - the tiles have been sitting there for 2 years - what's 1 more ;o). DH has worked hard the first half of his hols ... time for a break :o).

Nothing really to report. I've been stitching my cot quilt - nope, that doesn't mean I have fabulous news of a new arrival LOL ... just that I want to make a cot quilt :o) ...... but hey, you never know what the future holds - best to be prepared :oD!!!
I did manage to send off my second stitcher's angel pressie - I hope she likes it!! I'm wondering if she's guessed who I am??? I haven't really given any clues except that I'm from Australia ... and that's on the envelope anyway he he. This is pressie number two ... so if ***** visits my blog she will most certainly know who I am LOL!!!I put in a few little extras ...... an aussie choccy - Caramello Koala ;o) and a couple of other little things. This is such fun :o). All I know about mine is that she's from Norway - no clues other than that yet - I can't wait to find out who she is though.
Speaking of swaps ... I'm also in the polka dot and rick rack swap so I've been sorting out my polka dot fabrics for that. I've made a couple of things and I've got another couple in mind - I've still got a few weeks before I have to post that one and it's going far far away too :o).
That's all for now ... enjoy this gorgeous Spring weather ...
Take care,
Joy :o)

Kitchen Done!!! :o)

Doesn't it look pretty!!! My new kitchen is done (all but the floors!!). The only casualty being a few tiles that bit the dust as the bench was being put in ... no biggy ... now we buy new tiles :o). I have pork chops in the oven cooking away as I type this. The oven is superb!! You can actually see through the window ... imagine that (tee hee)!!! The cooktop is all clean and shiny and new too .... oooh I'm like a kid with a new toy!! Want to bake a cake ... and biccies ... and cupcakes ... and a roast ..... and......!!! Hold me back LOL!!

Don't panic, I really don't think this fascination with my kitchen is going to be long lasting. Not that I don't like to cook ... I do, but just not that often. I have to be in the mood ...... I get an urge every now and then to bake a cake, or to create some pretty cupcakes - but it soon passes LOL.

DH is still painting. The laundry got some much needed TLC again today. The old tubs have had a coat of paint and the doors are looking like new. Even my sewing room door got painted today too!

I did manage to get some stitching done today too :o). I've finished 4 out of 5 appliqued blocks for my new cot quilt pattern - then just the pieced blocks to make. I'm loving the colours ... piccies coming soon :o).

Gotta get back in my kitchen .......... :o)

Take care ...

Joy :o)