Four, five and six

I finished these a couple of weeks ago but not gotten around to taking the pics.

So here you go.

I think the one above is my favourite so far

Bye bye Angie my little love bug...

Whilst it is extremely sad today and will be for sometime, I give thanks that I had her for so long. What joy they bring to your world ~ Miss Angie ~ even you have run out of purrs and head butts your love lives on in us all.

The first picture I have October ~ 2002 she came to my home as a nine month old from a breeder who had her in a run with the others ~ she just wanted a home which is what she deserved, she gave un-abounding amounts of affection which I will miss.

Goings on...

Been very busy over the past couple of months, mostly was nothing that I was not expecting with a conclusion of a major project at work.

However the past week has had some goings on or not goings on which are a little less pleasing. My poor little Angie is not doing well again and is costing a small ransom in vets fees. But when you see them suffering you have to do something, to a degree so long as we are not causing harm or prolonging suffering the cost is secondary.

Here she is recovering from her 'procedure' last week. I promise you that you do not want to know more. Things are not moving the right direction at the moment even tho she is not losing too much weight (I am having to fee her with a syringe ~ most trying I can attest to).

Tomorrow off for some x-rays and some more tests so fingers crossed.

Now we just need her start eating and pooping on her own and we will be OK again for now at least.

In other news, not a tremendous amount of sewing I am keeping up with block of the month and have finished 4, 5 and 6 just need to take some photos and post them soon. Might even see if I can get some secret stuff done for Christmas.

October - Block Two and Three

Have had a bit of a sewing blockage and not really been doing very much ~ don't ask about the apron as I am sure someone will remind me soon enough. I have no idea where the year is running to at the moment either... but

Anyway I did enjoy the BOM this month even if JK is evil with the one on the right!!! Circles in Circles of a circle with squares!

Leigh and I have been going to a few Orchid shows of late and picked up a couple of these, some in flower others with 'promise' of maybe flowering if we neglect them the right way next year.

I have had the one below for about 10 years now it has been potted once. Sometimes watered, weeded when the onion grass is annoying ~ so here is the result - every year without fail so far it is covered in white flowers. Will post as soon as they come out which will not be that long.

Sunday was a lovely day in Melbourne! one not to be waisted and we didn't! We took a run up to Taggerty to see some friends and had a lovely picnic on the way home on the Black Spur.

Block one - The Circle Game

This was a bit easier than I thought - even tho the points in the middle were a bit tricky - nothing that a good dose of steam will not fix.

Now that I have dealt with this I had better do the apron as promised.

Let the game begin...

I had a lovely surprise yesterday - the first package for the next BOM arrived.

'The Circle Game' by Jenny Kingwell of Amitié.

This leaves me with one issue - do I make the apron as promised or jump straight into the 1st block....

Photos Green Tea Sweet Beans

Good morning, it is not a good day for photography - I can not get the the line to hang this so that you can get a good view and hanging against the window doesn't work as - 1 not enough front light or 2 to much back light.

I did like the flower garden at the bottom

Do you like the combination of the backing? I think it works very well...

On the bed - this may not be the its final home - shh that might be a secret...

GTSB BOM finished...

Great to put the last stitch in place, will get some pics over the next couple of days if our weather is fine enough.

The binding drama was resolved by just joining it all even tho half of the fabric was on the other angle. bloody 45º things...

:)

Weekend workshop - Updated

Well a little more than a weekend - I booked a day of annual leave so that I could join in on the 2 day workshop. Exploring the textural concepts and stitching with all manor of fibers.

Head is still spinning about the possibilities, to couch, coral, Double triple doozy stitch. Where can I 'steal' I mean acquire more interesting threads and fabrics in quantities that are one not going to break the bank or two be so much that I will not ever us it all.

I think I will be getting some occasional packages from Sue directly, I hear that there is a store in Melbourne that may make some notion packs to get some interesting items as well...

Does the collective blog-land know of any good simple and easy to understand tutorials of stitches? of the online variety of course. If so please post a comment so that we can share them all.

Results - nothing like the depth that Sue Spargo does, however that does take some time. I think this will be a nice little sideline project to add to other projects in-between some of the larger quilting activities.

Many thanks Sue, the gals in the class and the team at Amitie for making this well worth undertaking.

Magnolias and a small sewing problem

Happy Sunday - After the expected dismal efforts of the major parties this weekend. There is a chance that this maybe a positive outcome for the election - so long as Mr Rabbit is kept in his burrow, I thought that I would try a positive blog.

I am always encouraged by this time of the year when we have our Magnolias in flower. There is something about the clarity and colour of the blooms against the winter sky.

~ I didn't notice the mower boy...

Now for the sewing issue!

Anyone - can you see the problem! I do hate cutting fabric on the bias - never really works for me... next time I will do it at a shop so that I don't stuff it...

I am joining in for a class with Sue Spargo at Amitié next Friday and Saturday - here is the homework... done... Tick to me.

Pambula

Well it is amazing what a few days away will do - pics speak for themselves I think.

Green Tea - the Backing

After much ado attempting to correct the wayward behavior of the Pin Thief (we think this is a lost cause). The sewer of the house has managed to finally finish Green Tea and Sweet Beans.

If our whether would be a little kinder in the next day or so I will take a bigger picture and post. I spent a couple of hours examining 67% of the available stock - no was not that bad but always a lot of fun to go this or that or maybe this..

Here is the selection to-date .. now to decide if the Spots are in the center or the Flowers are in the center or if I will change my mind completely.

~ Update - Thanks for the note Andi, I was not that clear I am planning to use both of the fabrics. Whist you are correct that it was a lot of work, in the end as it was measured and delivered as a BOM it was not that overwhelming. I am looking forward to the next one...

Ever lose Pins and Needles?

I am normally very careful to try to avoid leaving Pins and Needles in places that will cause effects of injuring others or myself. This afternoon I sat down to do some more of the boarder for the Green Tea and Sweet Beans quilt. I have 2 sides done, working on the third now would be nice to have this completed next weekend as a trip to buy some backing will be in order sooner... any way I digress.

Normally I use the arm of the couch or the pin mouse, first reached to the arm of the couch for them and nope nothing zip ~ not a pin to be found! hmm most strange, OK some new ones from the mouse then, note a pin was in it... not wanting to accuse of the two legged members of the house, that would just not be fair! no not at all...

:)

This was most puzzling until a few minutes later I saw the culprit...

Thief, ever so innocent!

Miss Tigga jumped up to offer her assistance! sitting on the arm of the couch! yes this is like 'The Cat sat on the mat'! Carefully she pulled one pin out.. and spat it out fortunately it landed in my sewing bag, then another and another and so on! I even found a needle with thread beside it on the floor in front of where I sew most evenings...

Although she thought it was a great game... not so sure the sewer in the house...

Update: 07/06/2010 ~ found yet more pins today on the floor that I had missed

Under the Kitchen Sink

Completed ~ only slightly over due ~ Christmas gift to Leigh. I must confess that I didn't select any of the fabric with the exception of the back as it was a Kit that was on sale at Amitié sometime last year.

The happy recipient!

Even Miss Pangie was pleased ~ or that she was watching the Magpies feast on the Pork roast leftovers in the back yard... I do love the Feathered Magpies...

Pillows

There is a class that is being held by Sue Spargo, later in the year in Melbourne. This is a must do for me, kitties love them... or was it that the couch was drenched in sun! :)

These pillows were from 'Secret Santa and the Easter Bunny' not made by me...

Even tho they swapped sides..

Amitié BOM - looking great

There has been a lot of sewing happening over the last 12 months ~ even if this is not reflected on the blog....

Following are some pics of the Block of the month that I have been doing from Amitié in Melbourne. I choose this as a project as it had many very interesting blocks that I can learn how to sew better from.

This is now just missing the boarders which have not arrived, I will of course blog about this and the sneak preview of the XMAS quilt that I must finish for Leigh.

De Wildt Cheetah Centre

After being collected by our hosts and taken for Breakfast to a Botanical gardens, this included a nice stroll around to see waterfalls, eagles, weaver bird nests. Very nice way to start a Sunday morning indeed.

Following this we collected some provisions for the afternoon, and drove to De Wildt Cheetah Centre. I am a little tired this evening and find it hard to express the experience today so the photos can do the talking today, will consider an update sometime depending on the schedule.

Cheetah, Cheetah, African Wild Dogs and Impala..