What a Month We've Had!

Last week saw us attending the March Out of our son Nicholas, with the Australian Army.  He has completed his basic training and is now in the process of learning his new trade of Australian Soldier.  We were so excited to see him and our time with him went far too quickly. 

Here he is with his brother.  Of course we are very proud of both our boys and I can see a proudness in Nic by the way he carries himself now.  Amazing how they can grow up so completely in such a short time. 

His quilt was completed a couple of weeks before and I couldn't wait to give it to him.  It is now with him to keep him warm and remind him of home.

Chris and Amy arrived home from their honeymoon a couple of weeks before the March Out and here they are at the airport with Lucy (their baby).  Amy's sister Kate made a sign and brought her to the airport.  I don't think I have ever seen Amy so excited as when she realised Lucy was there.  5 weeks is a long time away from the people/dogs we love.

Remember this quilt?  I finally got around to having it quilted and got it back yesterday.  Rose did a wonderful job with the quilting and now I have to make another binding.

I have also been doing a little machine piecing and this is the start of another quilt, Washington Sidewalks.  This was a pattern from Patchwork on Stonleigh's fabric club.

These are the latest Irish Circles blocks. 

Sue-Anne xxx

Melancholy

It has been very strange, these last few weeks.  We are all feeling the effects of Nicholas not being here - poor Buddy is lying on his bed  feeling sad that his "Big Bro" isn't home and I have decided (shock horror) that I don't like having an Empty Nest.

And after waving the newlyweds off on their honeymoon, things have been very quiet.  They are having the time of their lives travelling through Europe and as they visit each new country, I think of all you wonderful bloggers I have become friends with over the past year. 

I been distracting myself with some sewing.  This quilt top is from the latest book by Kathleen Tracy and is called "The Soldier's Cot Quilt" .  How appropriate for my soldier boy.  I will give this quilt to him at his March Out parade next month, to keep him warm and remind him of home.

And speaking of Civil War quilts and soldiers, this is a quilt I made a long time ago for Christopher's 21st.  It is called Civil War 2 and is designed by Susan Smith.  I finally grabbed it back before they left for their honeymoon so I could get a couple of photos of it.  Oh my goodness, there was a LOT of sewing in this quilt!

I haven't spoken about Browne Sisters Sampler for a while but I have been putting a few stitches in every now and then.

And these two album blocks (one from Jan and one from me) are on their way to Linda from Quilts in the Barn.   They are going to be part of the raffle quilt for this year's Quilts in the Barn exhibition.  The guest artist is Jo Morton and every block will be made from Jo Morton fabrics.  Can't wait till September!!!!

The weather was beautiful over Easter but it has finally turned.  It is snowing at Falls Creek and I can feel the icy chill in the air.  I think I will go sit in front of the tv with a quilt over my lap and sew a few stitches into my clamshells.

Sue-Anne xxx

A Perfect Day

Saturday, 16th April was the day we celebrated the marriage of our eldest son and officially welcomed Amy into our family.

Here are the boys waiting for Amy to arrive (Chris is on the right).   They scrub up ok don't they!

Saying their vows to each other.

Some family photos.

Congratulations Chris and Amy.

There Has Been Some Changes In The Wind

What a month I have had!  This is my beautiful boy Nic.  Last year he applied to join the ADF as a soldier.  It has been a very long process but he got a phone call and 13 days later, on Tuesday, we had to say goodbye to him for a while.  Our home feels very empty, as he is the last child to leave but we are very proud and happy for him. 

Another change that is going to take me a while to get used to is the closing down of Patchwork on Stonleigh.  This shop has played such a huge role in my quilting life over the last twelve years and I will miss popping in there each week.

We were lucky enough to get in one last Irish Circles class before the shop closed and this is my latest block.

Here she is!  All quilted and all I have to do now is hand stitch the binding down and attach a label.  This is the biggest quilt I have ever made and even with the clothesline wound all the way up, the quilt is still dragging on the ground.

It has been a while since I have mentioned clamshells (sorry Jossie) but I have been adding to them.

I went to my friend Jackie's open garden today.  This is a view from one section of her garden through to the next.   She does a lot of companion planting and her garden is functional, as well as beautiful, with all the produce that she grows.

This beautiful blue flower is "Morning Glory" and is growing all over her archway.

We are on the home run now to the wedding - only two more weeks.  So much for me finally getting a photo of all of us together, with Nicholas being unable to attend.

Well that's about it from me today.  I have been enjoying all the "Red & White Quilt Show" photos that have been displayed in blogland.  What a magnificent exhibition and now I really want to make a red and white quilt!!!

Sue-Anne xxx

Time To Move On

The time has come to redistribute this basket of fabrics into the larger overall stash.  I feel a little sad saying goodbye to this collection as I have been working with them for the last twelve months and know each piece of fabric intimately.  You see, this is my Swan Lake basket and she is finally finished.

The backing fabric has been joined, she is now at the quilters and I feel a little lost without her. 

Whilst I feel that not a lot has been happening in my little part of the world, I have been busy with Irish Circles and have managed to complete another 7 blocks over the last couple of weeks.

They have been fun and quite challenging at the same time.

There is also something else that is starting to consume my daily thoughts.  Chris and Amy are getting married in April.  I am starting to get really excited and have already bought a new pair of purple shoes...

now all I need is an outfit to go with them!

Sue-Anne xxx

What A Week!

Well what a week it has been in our beautiful Australia.  We have had bushfires in Western Australia, the worst cyclone ever in Queensland, Sydney is having a massive hot spell and here in my little part of Victoria we have experienced humid tropical weather, followed by two days of non stop rain caused by the cyclone in Queensland! At least, after all that rain, it is much more pleasant today.

I still have a couple more little bits to do on Swan Lake but I have also done a bit of work on Irish Circles.

These are the two latest blocks completed.  The second one is my favourite block.

These are the final hexagons for Swan Lake.  They are all sewn onto the quilt now.

I was also a very lucky girl to receive these beautiful charms from a friend.

This is on the back of the "Silly" charm - don't you just love it!!!

And here is a "Hello" from Milo.

Sue-Anne xxx

Queensland is Copping it Again!

This is what is bearing down on North Queensland and is expected to hit landfall by 10pm tonight - a category 5 cyclone, the likes of which they say nobody in Australia has ever witnessed in their lifetime.

My thoughts and love are with all who are in it's path.

Sue-Anne xxx

Happy Australia Day

Wherever you may be, I wish all Australians a Happy Australia Day!

Sue-Anne xxx

What Is Going On!!!!

Queensland, Australia is suffering from its worst ever natural disaster.  I have been glued to the tv for most of the week in shock at the enormity of the Queensland floods.  As I write this post, four of our States are suffering from floods!  This time last year we were in drought suffering from 40 plus temperatures and now there has been so much rain, that any area that gets a big downpour is at risk.  There are lots of ways we can help.  Donations can be made through The Qld Premier's Flood Relief Appeal .  Also, Make It Perfect is hosting an online Auction and if you click on the links, you will be able to find out all the details.

My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected in some way by this catastrophic event, especially to those who have lost loved ones. I fear that it will take years and years to fully recover from this  and there are still towns bracing themselves for the worst as this massive amount of water travels down our river systems.

On a brighter note, Swan Lake is finally together Yay!!! 

Even Buddy is pretty impressed!

I still have a bit of applique to go but at least now, she looks like a quilt and I am very excited to be near the end.

I also had the honour of viewing another Swan Lake quilt on Wednesday.  Pleas from New Zealand has "crossed the ditch" to come visit and participate in Patchwork on Stonleigh's Summer School.  We had a little Show & Tell at class with Susan's, Pleas's and my quilts.  Pleas has added some little dollies to her centre and it looks fantastic. 

It is a little hard to tell in the photo, but there are three Swan Lake quilts all laid out on top of each other!!!

I also received a lovely surprise in the mail this week, all the way from Cyprus!  Valentina sent me this wonderful diary from the V & A Museum.  Look at all the wonderful clamshells on the cover!!  Thank you beautiful Valentina!

Sue-Anne xxx

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Exactly one year ago today I decided to start a blog of my own.  I never imagined that I would make so many new friends from all around the world and I wish I could someday get to meet you all in person, what a wonderful time we would have! 

Christmas day arrived and even though there were a few "Kath & Kim" moments we had a fantastic day.  This is the only photo I took (slack I know).  Kellie's job was to bring the ham and because she had to work until 5 in the morning, she slept in and didn't make it till lunch was nearly over.  The Plum Pudding turned out well and my father told me that I have the job of making it from now on - don't know whether that's good or bad?  This year we finally decided to do Kris Kringle and everyone seemed quite happy with it except for Nicholas (the middle child, need I say more?).  He still thought he would be getting a present from his mum and dad and was devastated when he realised this wasn't the case - he is 24 years old!!!  I think these little stories are what makes each Christmas special and gives us a laugh when looking back in years to come.

The flooding has gone and the heat has set in and Buddy is bedding down for the duration.  I am not quite sure why he has started sleeping with his tongue poking out but it does look pretty cute.

I have cut out and stuck down all of the 48 star flowers for Swan Lake!!!

Here she is laid out on the floor and is now starting to look like a quilt - I am getting a little bit excited!!!

I have also stitched two more rows of clamshells.  It has been a stressful couple of months and this little quilt has been there to let me feel peace and calm whenever I start stitching.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year with lots of health, wealth and happiness for 2011!

Sue-Anne xxx