weekend preview

Just running out the door to go to work but wanted to post some pics from our wonderful weekend.
does it get any better than a royal wedding and quilting with your besties????? no not really I hear you say. tonight I will add the newsy bits but for now some snaps.......

Sew Fabulous.............look whats arrived

Does it get any better than this, the anticipation of purchases unknown, will it arrive, will it be what I wanted, what I expected but just 17 days later here it is my first ever fabric purchase from overseas. Well I think we should help all economies get back on there feet, not just ours, and when you think a fat quarter is 6 bucks here and you can get 12 little Amy Butlers sent here for $36, well why should we not help out. As you can see I bought a few lovely bundles and some extras for the stash and am super excited and hope I can bring myself to chop them up.
If you would like to help the USA economy I highly recommend you stop by  www.sewfabulousquiltshop.com  

Sew as Brisbane smiles into another long weekend I wish you all a happy one as I am heading to the retreat with some bff's and our sewing gear to watch the wedding and quilt away....

thanks for stopping by and happy stitching

Loving a long break...

Well I hope you all had a wonderful break over Easter & Anzac weekend. We go camping with some other families every year and the kids really love it nearly as much as the adults. We are very blessed that they all get on so well and play cards, swim, boogie board, the list goes on but no TV or computers yeah...... We had the most wonderful weather for 6 days and the heavens opened on pack up day, which is always a bummer to pack up in the rain. Anyway some afternoon sleeps were had, some hexagons completed and my crochet scarf got finished. Some holiday pics to view below. I hope you are all well and thanks for dropping by. If any one wants the basic pattern for the scarf just drop me a line I love to hear from you.

Cheers n Chocolate....  :)  
Stacey

 I took this pic off this little lane off the highway. I have passed this little church every month for 6 years and decided to stop and hang my scarf over the fence for some bloggy snaps. Its between Glen Inness and Inverell.

 who knew what kids could make with those funny strips of modelling plasticine and three hours camping. Arent they fantastic?

 Harry Potter even has his scar.

 You have to be the mother of invention when bike riding and heading to the beach. They hace those ocky straps on to hold the board onto there backs.

 can you guess were related?

 The kidlet Crew.

and waiting for the next set.


 Have a great day............Stacey

Happy Hexagon Stash

 Well can you imagine my delight when I found a stash of made hex flowers stashed away in a plastic tub......... So I have laid them out with the bulk of my hexagons that have been put together and wow I am happy with how it is coming along. Just for those of you that may not be happy that my end result will be a mismash of fabric, colours, and tones, for me it was a way of using up my scraps and being given lovely left overs from friends and family from there own projects. I look at some of these flowers and hate only a few infact I am going to take one out that has been sew in for a good 3 years and every time I look at it, well lets just say its going to the scrapheap once more. It is a lovely reminder of the journey of other quilts and travels with fabrics shared and coffee and melting moments shared...........you know who you are.

Well I was travelling home via the  Brisbane River yesterday and look at this.............. I managed to take this pic when the traffic came to a stop. You can see a boat with some blokes and the mast of a rather large Yacht that would have sunk in the floods in January. Anyhow I thought how lovely the city (behind the pole) and river is looking and thought my dad a yachty would like to see this.

Thanks for dropping by and please say hello. Stacey

Birdie and Blogs

Birdie Light from Loot, isnt it so cute

Well, I have been having so much fun reading everyone's blog and jumping from one persons to another that I get a little carried and then the kids are calling that we have to go and do this or that, and dont get around to the new post I have planned out in my little head. Like right now Miss 2 has just asked if we can go.... I promised to take her and 3 friends Ice skating to the evening session 7.30 -9.30pm so some more hexing will be done in some funny little cold cafe tonight. Well before I know it they will be driving and not asking me which will be sad, so I need to go when requested.
Also I found this cute little tea light bird in Loot last week and she is very happy in her new home, in fact she is glowing...... sorry could'nt help myself.
Do you ever get asked by the Man of the house for a present? not me and not often so when  a request was made for a present of a new little note book case I was straight into my sewing room looking for any non floral girly fabric I could find. and this is the end result, not to bad even though I didn't have a black zip, but was thrilled that I had a big chunky style one and it was the perfect fit. Another reason to always have a few extras on hand.

Thanks for stopping by. Stacey

Did I say ..............

Last post I was proudly skiting that I had lost 2 sport trips a week.............. well not so fast. Just been informed that touch football  training and game"s are just about to start and I think Mum I am going to try-out for Rowing. if any of you have been a rowing mum you know my hesitation. The kids train about 12 hours a week and let me tell you the girls train in terms 2 and 3 of course its cold and dark at 4.30am when I looove to leave my warm bed to start up mums taxi service. oh well ho hum such is life and they will be leaving the nest in the blink of an eye. putting on my happy mummy face now. Maybe I can come home and sew for an hour while the house is quite??????

Life and the school run

 I need to finish the quilting on this quilt can you give me any advice other than dont roll it up so tight, look at those creases. The plan is to do a scallop edge and that's where i am upto in the quilting any suggestions? please comment below. Mum that includes you................xx Mum sewed the top for me thanxs mummy darl,

 discovered this new thread which is great for sewing hexies. Its a coffee colour and blends really well. It actually a bobin filler type thread.

 A pic of Alphie all grown up .

 My darling man repotted this last weekend and created a hanging arrangement for this fav bergonia of mine. I must say I bought this little plant nearly a year ago and it has not stopped flowering and being a total delight.

Well I don't know about you guys but it get pretty chaotic around our place, what with 2 teenage daughters-need i say more and the school run, sport run, work, life, Retreat etc.  Anyway I guess I wouldn't change to much of it. We now only have 7 sport runs a week as Miss 2 has just finished water polo or should I say Rugby in the water. 3 of these sport runs involve a half our travel each way and when the training is for 2 hours, well it seems rather silly to turn around and drive home for an hour and then go back. But alas that's what I will be doing this week and next as my partner in crime is working away and he is my driver of these sport events. when its from 5.30 to 8.30 someone needs to cook dinner and I don't really like to leave the 13yr old home. Well i had to work last weekend for my real job so I didn't get much sewing done, but here's what I did the week before and my man on the weekend too.

have a happy Wednesday. and thanks for dropping by.

Quilt Retreat @ Buderim

Well how exciting this weekend just gone, I got to go on Quilt Retreat up on the Sunshine Coast at Buderim.

Circle Retreat and as expected we all had a great time. Its the first time since buying the property last September that I have gone up to the retreat with Quilting girls and as you would guess we sewed all day and night with a few stops to sit on the deck enjoy the views with a  cappuccino and cake, champagne and nibbles and a few of us swam or had a sit in the hot tub. Are you going green with envy??? Want to book your own retreat? well please do and visit www.circleretreat.com.au  Well I cant wait to go again, and get some more UFO's done and start some new ones. Some of the girls went up to Eumundi Markets on the Saturday morning, and there are some wonderful artisans producing original work. I got to stop into see Penny at the Patchwork Angel and add some fabric to my stash I am meant to be on fabric diet but who cares about that right? And as a little bonus to top off my weekend I met the lovely  Kellie  from Don't Look Now who was doing a workshop. I have booked in for her next one with Penny.

Circle Retreat

Ohhh my new water bottle cover holder thingy this is from the fabric i bought from Penny. too Cute.

A few more seats completed from the old fabric stash., some old Debbie Mumm  is in the mix..

Dot and her Bright challenge quilt- looks Great

Lunch on the 'Deck

Hand stitching and lots of chatter.

The never ending placement debate.

This is the lovely Karla  who I met at Eumundi.

 

 

 

Karla has a lovely business called  Hark Home and Karla is going to make me a wonderful poster for the Retreat. So if you need something wonderful made for home or gifts, she has some wonderful ideas and will customize for you. Thanks Karla

Thanks for dropping by and feel free to leave me a comment or hello.

milk crates and stash scraps

Sweet seats

Well I had this idea the other day, and up at Buderim there is room on the deck for some extra seating in a casual, relaxed setting. So like I said this idea came to me about recycling and patchwork and I came up with a sweet seating option and a great way of using up a few dodgy pillows that have got a bit lumpy and out of shape, the odd milk crate that well we have plants in out the back. Anyway what do you think? this one is my trial one but i think it will be a good way of using up some of those old country fat quarters I have got in the stash, buried in the bottom basket.

 Well this is my log cabin scrappy top for my seat, sorry I forgot to take a close up of the seat finished but here it is ready and waiting with my cappuccino ready and waiting, anyone want to join me? Sorry Mum no melting moments close by.

Oh and this some of the other lovely china I found when I was out & about the other week. I just couldn't resist. maybe I might make the cups into cupcake pin cushions...................

Thanks for dropping by, and have a super week, xx love n hugs

Bargin Hunt

I so love the TV show Bargin hunt on the wonderful channel 72. Anyway I was out and about last week and went down this obscure side street by mistake and what do you know... an Op shop I had not discover in 6 years of driving the main road every month. and I found a treasure trove, and felt a little sad that someone has cleaned out grandma's china cupboard but so happy that I was in the right place at the right time and will love it and give it new life.

 This is just some of my lovely bargains. This is Wedgwood pattern unknown at this stage it looks art deco but  I don't really know. I got 6 of the soup bowls and 6 saucers for them to stand on also all less than $20.00, not a chip to be seen but slight crazing in the glaze which i think would be the age. Now who could take these to Lifeline? I bet they have Maxwell  Williams like me and don't love the old vintage. My lucky day.

 And another border on the quilt with no name. Happy Weekend to all. xx

   

Sick in Bed with Mr Darcy

Well if you are going to be sick with a cold, runny nose and a box of tissues, you may as well be in bed with Darcy. To all you die hard Pride fans you so know that I am talking about Colin Firth and 6 lovely hours of BBC bliss, with a little bit of stitching along the way. I am feeling much better today, but still not back on deck so a little more sewing should make me feel better. A big thank you to my hubby who hosted morning tea for Sandy and her friday sewers up at circle retreat last friday, I believe that had a lovely time and have booked in there retreat for mid year. cheers n happy sewing.

Do you need an Easter Break?

 Holiday venue available for school holidays or Easter Break.................


Well I have realised that my new venture with Circle Retreat is never going to be busy in the school holidays with Quilters. So if you are in need of a five day mini break with some of your friends and family maybe you may like to go to Buderim, and have a wonderful relaxing time. So please spread the word I am offering a great rate, it sleeps 12-14 so please email me if your keen. circleretreat@iinet.net.au or please look us up on the net. Buderim is just 10mins to the sunshine beaches and 20minutes to Eumundi markets.

Home or Retreat?

 Home or 

 Retreat

I love the carved design on the top of this chair great op shop find.

I found this great chair on my country trip the other week. I'snt it great. It needs a lick of white paint and a nice patchwork cushion, but do I keep it at home? it has been great in my sewing room this past fortnight or does it go up to the retreat in one of the bedrooms? great buy for $15.oo got to love Lifeline. I will have to show you the great old suitcase next time.

I also found this lovely little store in Browning street just off Russell St in West End for you Queenslanders its rather cute and has the most wonderful little handmade items ranging from wooden brooches to linen teatowels. Thea and Sami should check it out maybe they would love to sell there wares.
Well I have had a busy few days, with Taylor hurting herself at Trampolining last Thursday, badly bruised her coxic? bone Madison falling over the dog-puppy, whom I might add is being rather naughty. I cant wait for him to settle into life and stop nipping our heels. My little quilting project from last post is coming along nicelyand has a row of Pears, and today I had a lovely phone call from Sandy who wants to come to the Retreat with her circle of friends. So I have put Mark on the job for meeting with Sandy and her friends for a viewing and coffee, whilst I have meetings at the office on Friday.  No prizes for guessing where id rather be. oh well as they say that is life.


 The Puppy Alphie 5  months old.

Happy Stitching Stacey xx

out and about

Well I have had a busy week, started a new project, opps but am using some great fabric from the stash and found some fabric puchased many moons ago fat quarter price tag still attached $3.50....... some of that great grandma grace 1930 reproduction from the 90's, i think anyway I was flicking thru this old home spun and found this pattern that i am going to loosely reproduce, anyway we will see how it goes and if it gets finished sooner rather than later. by for now, Stacey

Country Life

Add caption

This lovely house is in the NSW town of Tenterfield you know where the Saddiler lives..... time is a traveller Tenterfield Saddiler........

View from my little BnB cabin.

I stayed in this lovely cabin just outside of Glenn Inness dont you just love BnB's and lovely country hospitality

So for my Monday to Friday Job I travel for 3 days a month and I do love it. I get to see some of my very favourite customers and get to see this great land of ours. Tenterfield is actually a favourite of mine, Glenn Inness is freezing in the Winter and a few times I have just missed the seeing snow in this town- its got to be really bad for it to snow. Now that I would like to see, anyway just thought I'd share some of my week with you all. and I got some stitching done also. But sad to say 2 patchwork shops in a few country towns have closed since my last visit late last year. Have a great day and i hope you get some stitching done too. xx

I did get some work done on my trip but they do take a fair bit of time to make this little hexies.