Clamshells & Armchair Stitching

Well I am more than a couple of days late with my clamshell report.  I have had a terrible chest infection/flu and it has really knocked me about.  I thought I was really lucky to not have caught it all Winter and then bang, it arrived late with a vengeance.  I have managed to complete 3 rows for the month.  This photo was taken with my iphone and I was mucking around with an app I have for photos.

I have also been busy cutting out shells and tacking over the edges so they are ready to applique down.

I have finally started the last border of Swan Lake.  Luckily I had all my hexagons covered and I was able to just sit in my chair all day and stitch them down as I haven't been good for much else.  When I vacuumed the floors yesterday I was thinking how filthy they were, then I realised I had not done them for exactly two weeks! 

This is Irish Circles, a BOM that I am doing through Patchwork on Stonleigh, designed by Karen Cunningham.  This is the centre that goes with the two blocks I showed on my last post.  I just couldn't leave it alone!  I had a lot of trouble picking the perfect fabric to frame the circle and not being able to make a decision, I decided to just leave it and concentrate on other projects.  Of course, that didn't happen and I finally made a decision and kept stitching until it was done.  There are a lot of little appliques to go around the blue circle but I can relax now that I have that centre done.

I also made some blocks for Lizzie (see my last post), and below are some flowers that have started to bloom in my garden.  

My lilac is finally starting to have some decent sized blooms, 

My big pot of pansies that are lasting a lot longer than I thought they would,

My first rosebud for the season,

and this magnificent Iris.  The colour is a deeple purple/brown colour with a pale yellow.  I was given a few different plants from a friend that had divided hers and it has been fun to see what colours they open up to.  I have never seen this colour before.

I haven't been spending much time on the computer over the last couple of weeks but I have been reading what everyone is up to and will slowly get back to commenting when I am feeling 100%.

Is anyone going to Quilts in the Barn next weekend?  Jan, Michelle, Helen and I are going on a road trip next Friday down to Wonga Park and then onto a couple of quilt shops in Melbourne, before heading home and stopping at our favourite Chinese Restaurant for dinner on the way back.  Just click on the link to read all about Quilts in the Barn.  I am really looking forward to seeing all the wonderful quilts from Di Ford and her friends from the Secret Sewing Sisterhood.  Maybe I might see some of you there.

Also, what is going on with Blogger!!!!!  I have had to upload my photos several times.  They seem to have changed the format for uploading and won't hold them.

Now I am going to make myself some lunch and sit down and continue to watch the big race - Bathurst.  There was a huge smash this morning on the first lap where the car rolled several times and virtually disintegrated around the roll cage and it was amazing that the driver got out and walked away.  There was also a kangaroo hopping across the track in front of several V8 Supercars bearing down on him.  Thankfully he got away and hopped back over the barrier without incident.

Sue-Anne xxx