Dinner Guests

With lockdown in Melbourne now a thing of the past and vaccination rates nearing 90% two doses for those aged over twelve, we are allowed to have guests to our home again.  It is nice to have the table set up.  The table runner was make by Kathy at Tamarack Shack.

In my dining area I have these three paintings by my very talented sister.  There is a story about how I came to have them in my possession.  

I had always admired them, but obviously my sister didn't realise how much.  Several years ago she was moving from Melbourne to Perth and was downsizing.  I walked past my local Salvos one early evening and to my shock and horror saw them in the window.  She had donated them without asking me if I wanted them.  The shop was already closed, but I noted the opening times. 

The next morning I was standing at the door 15 mins before opening to make sure no one got them before me.  As soon as they opened I immediately bought them.  Then I rang my sister and told her I had to buy her work.

I chose quilts to display next to them in colours that match.

Perth Visit

With no COVID community transmission cases in Victoria for nearly two months and the border to Western Australia open after being closed for most of the year, we felt it was safe to visit our nephews in Perth.

Unfortunately after we had been in Perth for four days there was a community transmission in Victoria, and Western Australia put all Victorian visitors that had left Victoria after the 21st of December into fourteen day self quarantine.

Given that we would be allowed out of quarantine on the day we were scheduled to fly home, we didn't see the point in staying and brought our flights forward and came home yesterday.

At least we got four days.

Wedding Quilt for my Sister

I finished this quilt towards the end of last year and gave it to my sister and her husband before two years had passed since their marriage.  So not too late.......

I wanted to make something more contemporary, and love the colours. They are able to put it on their bed in either direction depending on which way they want the stripes to go.

All the strips reminded me of layer cakes so I decided to call it Chocolate Layered Wedding Cake.

I custom quilted it by ditch stitching all the strips, feathers in the wider strips and setting triangles, a diamond pattern on some of the strips and CCing the small squares.

My sister and her husband love it, and it is now on their bed.

The Blue Mountains

Last week for Paul’s birthday we went away for the week.  Most of that time was spent in the Blue Mountains.  Although I had to be careful due to my ankle injury, I was keen to do some hiking.

We got up early one morning and the views from the Gordon Falls Lookout were impressive with the mist in the valley.  

We then took the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.  Below are some pictures of the trail.  Given the uneven ground and steep gradients, I was very pleased with how my ankle coped.  I did have some trouble with balance on the uneven stairs, some of which were very steep, and the rock hopping in places.  I was fine if there was a railing, but when there wasn’t Paul let me lean on him.  

What is very pleasing is that my balance has greatly improved this week, which I think was result of last week’s work out.

The views from the lookouts were spectacular.  This photo is from the Majestic Lookout.  

If you look closely, in this photo you can see the Bridal Veil View Lookout on the top right.  We were there earlier in the walk.

This is also from the same lookout looking down at the Bridal Veil Falls.  If you look closely there is also a lookout at the top of the falls with some ant sized people. We were also there earlier in the walk.

A bit further on was the Copelands Lookout.  I was getting a bit tired and grumpy by this stage, and didn’t really want to take the detour to this lookout.  But Paul insisted, and the view was worth it.  

We also passed a very interesting rock formation on the way to Copelands Lookout.

On Paul’s birthday I took him to Scenic World where we went on the Scenic Skyway.

Towards the bottom of this photo you can see where the Scenic Railway ends.

The Scenic railway is at a 52 degree incline making it the steepest passenger train in the world.  It was originally built to take coal to the cliff top, but now has been updated into a tourist attraction.  

And finally a picture of the iconic Three Sisters at Katoomba.  Paul walked the giant stairway to the bottom and then came back up again.  I chose not to accompany him as I don’t think my ankle would have handled that very well at all.

Many years ago Paul rock climbed with friends up the side of the Three Sisters, but it is not permitted now.

Quilted Pictures

My sister, Kathleen, made these quilted pictures as she plans to illustrate a story she wrote with them.  

My favourite is the little boy that looks just her son.  She took a photo of him and then drew him on the fabric using the photo.  He needed to be sad for the picture, but Kathleen had trouble getting him to look sad in the photo as he kept on wanting to smile.

   

Possum

On the weekend Paul trimmed back the vine on the back fence.  As he was doing so, he found a possum hidden in there.

 

It was quite tame, and nibbled on the piece of bread he gave it.  It was very cute, but I wonder if this was the one that got into our roof last winter and was disturbing my sleep.  I didn’t think it was cute then.  

Paul didn’t cut the vine back too much around the little critter’s home so he wouldn’t disturb him too much.

Australian Christmas Quilt

This is another quilt I did way back before I broke my ankle.  This is made by Carol and I love the design.  

  

This is my favourite block.  The mother kangaroo’s expression seems so tolerant with her pouch stuffed full of presents.

Nearly two weeks ago I went back to the hospital for more x-rays, the cast came off, and I have graduated to a boot.  I get to wear this lovely fashion accessory for six weeks as I learn to take weight through my ankle again.  I am now ‘furniture walking’ i.e. hobbling between pieces of furniture, and using a cane.  This is lot better than crutches as it gives me a free hand to carry things.

I am slowly catching up with the allover bookings, and many of my wonderful customers have allowed me to postpone their custom bookings until after Christmas.  I am still quilting sitting down, it is slower, but I have worked out a routine that helps.  

I am learning patience........

Broken Ankle

I broke my ankle on the 11^th of September, and I am now hopefully almost half way through the healing process.  I don’t have an exciting story as to how I did it.  I fell down the bottom stair, and my foot got caught between the stairs.  Of course I did a good job - I broke both bones, one of them twice, and dislocated it. 

Luckily it was early in the morning, so when my husband took me to emergency it was quiet, so I got treated straight away.  I have never been in so much pain in my life.

I ended up spending eight nights in hospital waiting for the swelling to go down so they could operate to put in a pin.

This is a picture of the third cast I have been in.  And if you think this looks big, it is the smallest and lightest so far.  My mother-in-law knitted me the little foot hat to keep my toes warm.  In two weeks this cast comes off and then I am in a boot for six weeks.

Last week, I started quilting again with my machine lowered, so I can sit while I work.  I am slow, but it is great to feel productive again. 

I have never had an accident like this before, and it has made me realise how lucky I am.  I could have hurt myself so much more seriously.  I live in a country where I have access to excellent health care.  My family have been so supportive – cooking, cleaning, driving me around.  My customers have been so understanding.  I will definitely not take my health for granted in future, and be a lot more careful.

Starting Young

I had my nephew stay with me last week, and decided to let him have his first turn on my long arm quilting machine – he has watched me quilt several times, and expressed an interest.

At this age he has no fear of the technology, and with careful concentration he just started stitching.  I know I am super biased, but isn't he adorable? 

 

Quilt Teacher

My seven year old niece has been working on her first quilt with me.  She chose all the fabrics from my stash, sewed every single seam, and quilted it herself on my long arm machine.  I am so proud of her.

She is coming for another visit this weekend to finish it - only the binding to go.  

Turning Three

My gorgeous nephew turns three today.  He is having a little party at a local pancake parlour with family members tonight.

Here he is on a quilt I made for him, which I finished couple of weeks ago. He helped me pick the fabrics and watched me make it when visiting my place.  

My sister has told me she has already had to wash it.  I am sure that will be the first time of many washes as it is loved and used.

Feeding the Kangaroos – Part 2

I don’t think this video of my nephew feeding a kangaroo is as cute as the one I posted a couple of months back (click here to view it).

But this still is pretty cute (yes I know I am a very biased Aunty).  I can see how much he has grown in the five months between the two videos - kids change so fast.  

He is having a sleep over with us this weekend.  I can’t wait. Hopefully the weather will be nice so we can go to the park, or maybe the zoo.

Celebration Cake

We had lunch on Sunday with Paul’s family.  My mother in law, Angela wanted to celebrate the success of my quilt Ruled by Chocolate at the quilt show.

This was the gorgeous cake she made.  She went to so much trouble to make the rosettes, and the lines of chocolate coated macadamia nuts symbolise the name of the quilt.  

I am so lucky to have married into such a caring family.

Family News

This is what my lounge room looks like when my nephew comes to visit.  Actually, this is tidier than usual because I have an ice-cream container full of fabric scraps which he likes to scatter all over the room.   

Over the weekend I cut and laid out a little lap quilt for him.  His bed quilt is too big to drag around and I want him to have something smaller for when he is watching TV.  He helped me pick the fabrics for it, and he understands that I am making it for him.

 

I am using those nifty numbers again (thanks Janette).

Anzac Day

Yesterday was Anzac Day, which is a public holiday here in Australia and my beautiful new niece was born at 9.47am.  My brother and his partner haven’t decided on a name for her yet, and are calling her their ‘Little Anzac Cookie’ for the time being.  I think the name Cookie might stick.  I can’t wait to hold her for the first time.

In the afternoon we went to see the Collingwood-Essendon football match at the MCG.  It was a sell out game and we were in the third from last row, right up in the nose-bleed section - but the view was still good.  The weather was perfect for it, and I am glad we were in the shade as it got quite warm in the middle of the day.

My sister brought my nephew Xavier with her but he didn’t have a seat of his own so the four of us shared caring for him during the game.  But as Paul is the current favourite, Xavier sat on his lap for three quarters.  I am sure Paul didn’t mind, but there were times when the game was getting tense and Xavier was making it just a little difficult for him to see what was going on.   

There were a couple of men behind us who were extremely loud and Xavier found their yelling very fascinating. He spent most of the first quarter just watching them.

New Wheels on my APQS

This morning we had brunch at my sister’s place.  I took the opportunity to take a photo of the quilts I had made and given her, which I will upload to the my quilts page when I get a chance.

In the afternoon Paul helped me install my new M & M wheels on Bertha, my APQS Millennium.  It was pretty straightforward – especially as we have done much more serious maintenance in the past (like changing the motor).

Bertha was removed and upside down as we changed the wheels on her.

 Paul is installing the new wheels on the carriage.

Feeding Kangaroos

My nephew feeding kangaroos.  I am a very biased and doting Aunty, and I think he is absolutely adorable.  Just too cute!

Ballan Quilt Show

Today Paul and I got up early and headed off to the Ballan Quilt Show.  It took about an hour to drive there, and it was well worth the trip - such beautiful quilts.  

This is a photo of Paul and my nephew Xavier at the quilt show in front of a gorgeous fairy quilt, which unfortunately you can’t see very much of. 

We were in Ballan a couple of months ago to have a delicious lunch at Mill Rose Cottage.  Sue the owner gave us a tour of the former Masonic lodge next door which she and her husband were converting into a patchwork shop.  Yesterday was the grand opening, and I had great pleasure looking at all the yummy fabric (and bringing some of it home with me). 

Xavi enjoyed helping me pick fabric.  (And Paul kindly took him for a walk so I could have some alone time in the shop).

They have done a great job converting the building into a light and spacious shop with a fantastic classroom area.  Don’t you just love the old floorboards, and the ceiling (and all the fabric).