Some Creation Inspiration

A week ago or so Chookyblue posted about her plans for the Stitch-A-long blog.  I really did have plans to join in but didn't think I could committ to so many projects even if they were small.  I already have  "Some Kind of Wonderful" on my bookcase but I really did like the look of "Red Home" by Natalie Bird. I follow this blog so when  I started to see all the lovely goodies being made from this book, of course I went straight on line and ordered the book.

It arrived today......

This is the little pincushion that decided it for me

and of course I love the quilt on the cover

 

A Chat on the Porch

It is so nice to see my give-away bowl fill up with names.....and I have climbed to 89 followers.  Yay for me and thank you for all the lovely comments which I so love to read. If you don't know about my "Runs all Year Give-Away" click here

I found out about a new link-in today, when I caught up with Debbie's blog, called Chats on the Farmhouse Porch.  Mmmmm....I don't have a farmhouse and I don't exactly have a porch, but I do love to chat so I am joining in

Patrice asks the questions and then you answer and link in to her page.

What was your biggest fear as a child?
I lived in Africa and I was terrified of a terrorist attack. At the time there was a war raging on the Angolan border (hundreds of kilometres away). I heard talk from other kids who said the small town where we lived had a bunker for people to go to if there was an attack. I didn't know if it was true or not and it worried me that if it wasn't, where would we hide. It was a very small quiet community and occassionally military planes flew low overhead, I would dive under the bed terrified.  It is so sad that so many kids live like that today.

Who taught you to cook?
My mum taught me to cook simple things like mac cheese.  I cook very differently to my mum so had to teach myself a lot.

Do you have a lot of books in your home?
I love books and have cook books, sewing books, photography books, dog training books, gardening books and tons of novels.  In fact my bookcase is groaning.  I don't ever think I will adjust to the concept of E-readers.

Do you like carrot cake?If you like that cake, what kind of frosting do you like best?
Yummy, I LOVE carrot cake especially with walnuts added.  Lemon flavoured cream cheese frosting is my favourite. In fact the last cake that I baked was a carrot cake back in October for my hubby's birthday.

What's did the last funny t-shirt you read say? (It doesn't have to reflect your personal feeling about the topic, just be funny and family friendly.)
You know I can't remember! I guess I don't take that much notice.

Errrr......seems I linked into the wrong week so had the wrong questions...will get it right next time.

Doing some work on My Garden and my Creation Station

I was quite shocked the other day when I walked into my Creation Station to find it looking like this. I am aware it was getting to this stage but just kept turning a blind eye.

During the Christmas season, this becomes a dumping ground for items that I "just want to put out of the way". No way any sewing can get done in here at this rate so time for a quick tidy up.

That done, I set up my machine to do some sewing but alas, an error kept coming up on the screen.....aaaarghhh!!! Might be time for a service.  Thank goodness I have my Pfaff as a back up.

With that all set up it was time to do some sewing........but not before I unpicked one of the blocks that was annoying me.

Yep, all those one inch strips had to come off because I had not sewn them on correctly and it became very evident once I had sewn this block onto the completed rows.

After I sewed it back together and reattached it to the completed section, I started on the first block of row 3.

And that is all I got done in about 3 hours while also watching a few episodes of "Fringe" (Season 3). The fact is, I had to keep leaving the room as it got too hot and I had to retreat to the living room and sit under the fan for awhile which is not a bad thing as it gave me a chance to also catch up on some blogging.

 

A Good Read or Not?

One of my non quilty goals this month was to finish my current novel "Voyager" by Diana Gabaldon.                                               
                                      Mission complete.

 I havebeen reading the series of books that started with Crosstitch  since 2009 when I bought the 6th (?) book without realising that there were ones preceding it. When I read Crosstitch, I couldn't put it down and wolfed through it like a person starved of food.  Then I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, Dragonfly in Amber.  This was a little slow going and then it got interesting and then slowed down again but I couldn't wait to find out what was in store for Jaimie and Claire so I went out and got Voyager.  Well after the first few chapters, I knew it was going to be a slow one again.  A good story, but just too drawn out.  It has taken me 18 months to finish this book.  I sort of feel committed to reading the other books in the series as I have already got the 6th one but for the time being, I will be reading something a little different.

It has taken me 3 months to read this last little bit alone

Blooming Beauty

Hasn't been much of a weekend for sewing here. I was awake quite a bit on Friday night due to a migraine that developed while I was asleep and then I woke up on Saturday morning with no voice. So I slept quite a bit during the day. I took 9 paracetemol during a 12 hour period but the residual headache stayed with me all day.

 Don't know what happened to my voice. I thought I was getting a cold as I had a bit of a sore throat for a couple of days. The family have had a good laugh at my squeaky voice so I am reduced to whispering only when necessary. Makes it hard to talk to my furbabies. Miss M made a crack last night about it when she cheekily asked hubby if it had been a quiet day around here. Cheeky Monkey!!

Still it is Sunday and I like to post my Blooming Beauty on Sunday.  This week I am picking a some pictures I took in Ireland 2011.

Lavender in a memorial garden near Dublin Castle

Iris in memorial garden near Dublin Castle

Found growing in the wild - Lough Key (Co. Leitrim)

  Hope you find some beauty in your day!

 

Setting Goals - January 2013

I have just come across a terrific idea on soscrappy that may help me accomplish more this year. Last year I had 7 specific projects that I was trying to get done by the end of the year as well as trying to finish 12 projects/ufo's in the year. This year, I am going to do something different.

 How about picking FOUR quilting goals to achieve every MONTH? Setting more manageable goals might just help me accomplish MORE and lets face it, I don't have to STOP at 4.....just as long as I FINISH my 4.  And while I am at it WHY NOT pick 4 non quilting goals aswell?


I have spent the whole day giving this some thought and here they are:

Quilty Goals for January 2013
1.  Get "Blue Hydrangea" flimsy sent off for quilting
2   Finish building rows for "Rusty's Quilt"
3.  Finish piecing "My Garden" made a start in week 1
4.  Complete block 3 and 4 of "Betsy's Closet"

Non-Quilty Goals for January 2013
1.  Lose 2kg this month  - 300g down in week 1 (hope I am not going to struggle to lose 2)
2.  Finish reading Voyager by Diana Gabaldon DONE
3.  Go and visit the dentist
4.  Complete my Pantry makeover

Would you like to join me?.....I could make this a linky party and you could link your goals and each month set new ones and report on achievements.

Here is something else I have planned for 2013.....A  give away that lasts 12 months.  Here's how it works.  Become a follower and comment on my blog whenever I post....I will put your name into a "hat" each time you comment and at the end of the month, I will draw a winner and mail off a little surprise to that person.  Might be some 5" squares or buttons or even a length of ribbon....as long as I can fit it into a regular envelope.  The more often you leave a comment, the more chance you have to win. I have already started with posts published so far this year. 


 

Something to treasure from Bobs

I wanted to show you this little gift that my 8 year old niece in Ireland,  hand made for me and sent to me for Christmas.

In the accompanying letter, she tells me that she had hardly any help making it.  I will treasure it always as this little girl (nicknamed Bobs) has had such a hard year, losing her dad (my brother) back in April 2012.

When I last visited her and her dad, I fell in love with the cat they had adopted and sat with it curled up in my lap the whole time so she knows that I like cats.  Infact something that she and I have in common, is that we both have a love for animals.

This is the cat, Lucy, asleep next to me. Can I just say the cat was called Lucy and then it was discovered that she was actually a he but by that time "Lucy" stuck. 


 

UN-decking the halls

I do like to have everything chrismassy packed up by the 1 January but since I spent the day at work yesterday, I will be getting it done today.

 I am a little sad this year as I really did love the red and white colour theme which is suprising as red is not my most favourite colour.

These white ones will make an appearance next year as I have already planned to team them with silver and blue as the colour theme.

My favourite decoration on the tree was this tinsel which I bought several years ago but never used until this year.

 Have you packed your Christmas Decoractions up yet?


 

Happy New Year

Midnight has just ticked over and I have been listening to the Fireworks that have gone on for the last 15 minutes. I am suprised that I am still up as I expected to have an early night, but since I am still awake let me take this opportunity to wish you all near and far, a very Happy New Year! I look forward to joining you in blog land for 2013.

May yours be filled with happiness, good health and much creativity!
 

Blooming Beauty

In the past this has been called Sunday blessings but I realise that more often than not, it is photos of flowers that make an appearance so I will be changing the title to Blooming Beauty.

Nothing appeals to my senses more than flowers. Receiving a big bunch of flowers will reduce me to tears (and not much else does)

These are some hibuscus blooms from our front yard....bright and beautiful, you could be excused for thinking I live in Hawaii!

I hope you see the beauty in your day and enjoy the last weekend of 2012.