Oh my ... Where so I start ...

We left Toowoomba one week later than we originally planned too, as our bus was going to take a wee bit longer than the mechanic thought ... so on the 12th October when we finally handed in our house keys to the real estate to climb into our bus and head off into our first sunset .... our bus was still nowhere to be seen ... still in the repair shop .... and us with a heap of stuff to go into a bus .. and nowhere to live ... oh my .... 55 years old and homeless .... well not entirely ... we had the choice of being homeless or moving in with our kids .... Thank God my son loves his mum and dad .... he arrived at our Toowoomba house early in the morning with their 2nd eldest boy and his ute and trailer ... and between them they loaded all my worldly possessions into their vehicle .. tied it down and hugged me and set off for the 4 hour drive to their place ... we didn't get there until close on 9pm .. and his wife had a meal sitting there waiting for us ... how blessed am I ...

bit of a role reversal really .... the kids are usually the ones to return home .... haha ...

now to try to condense this a little ... the bus we own is old .. very old ... but we both fell in love with it when we saw it ..... but being old .. parts are not so easily found ... and the chap who was fixing her found heaps wrong with her .. cos she is rather old .. and possibly not been as loved as much as we love her ... and so the last people who owned her didn't really fix her or even tell us that she was in need of so much TLC ... and so many $$$$$ .... haha

so far she has had major overhaul of her brakes .. which is good cos we do need them to work for obvious reasons ... and the springs that work as suspension needed to be pulled off and replaced ... or repaired ... and that took ages to do cos they ended up getting repaired ... big job and there is only one place in Queensland actually doing the work these days ... just about everything but the motor and gearbox has been pulled out and has either been replaced or repaired ..... oh my aching pocket .... lol

the gas tank needed changing .. big story there .. and way too convoluted to try to put into words so let's just say that was done and took around 5 weeks to find a gas tank for her .. and the last thing that is stopping her from coming home is her wheel bearings ... they needed to replace 6 of them ... and could only find 5 here in Australia ... the number 6 one is coming from the UK ... it was supposed to be here monday 2 weeks ago .. but somehow has not arrived yet ... maybe it is on a slow boat ... having a wonderful time sitting by a swimming pool sipping on iced tea and getting a tan ... who knows ... the chap fixing the old girl has no idea ... and nor do we ... but once it arrives it will take them half a day to put her all back together and tidy up a couple of bits and we can go get her ...  pack all our stuff on board and get on down the road  ...

we have been here at my sons place for 7+ weeks now ... and i love my son and his wife and their children ... but i also love my life and want it back ...

i have been able to do a little sewing over the past couple of weeks but it is not my home so i don't want to make things too difficult for the DIL as she has her life and her way of doing things which sort of differ from mine in some ways ... and i would like to continue to be on friendly terms with her in the future .... which means i really need to get my home here ... and here fast ....

Photos of what i have been doing ....

a table topper and 2 placemats for the bus ... 

4 Christmas Coasters that i am sending to a friend

a Christmas potmit for a friend

another Christmas Mug Rug for a Swap .. 

 A 'silhoutte' themed MugRug for a swap ... 

these are MugRugs I received in the above swaps ... 

this one from Karen .... who lives in Boronia Heights here in Qland 

and this is my Silhoutte one from Jen in Pennsylvania ... can you spot the love in this one .. 

 This is the Owl Quilt Maddy and I made ages ago at her house when we had a playdate and i had a sleepover ... it was such a fun weekend ... would love to do it again .... i am not sure if i have already posted these pics or not ... sorry for the repeat if I have ... 

and also photos of the cushion I received from the QBSA cushion swap ... 

and with everything that has been going on i was unable to complete my part of this cushion swap ... but darling Sue B said she would do it for me ... so i sent off the fabric i had for Pat's cushion and Sue made the cushion cover and sent it off to the US ...

and Sue had also made me a cushion like the one she made for my partner ... apparently I sent enough fabric for 2 .... and this is what Sue made for us ... Isn't she a sweet and generous lady ... what a great friend i have ... mine is just a bit different to Pat's .... mainly just the outside border .... I do love this cushion ... 

Couple of late blocks arriving from Margaret T who lives in Denham Springs in the States .. 

thank you Margaret .. they are perfect .. 

and ... a block each from 2 angels ... I am blessed ....

\

i really have to start posting more often ... haha ... this is such a enormous post .. sorry about that ... but i hope you enjoyed the read .... maybe i should have started out with .... grab a cuppa cos you are going to be here awhile ... ..... 

thanks for popping in ... 

So going to make this ......

it is not quilt related ... but gee it sounds like it could be a lot of fun....


from a friend.. 


CHRISTMAS CAKE RECIPE..

Once again this year, I've had requests for my Vodka Christmas Cake recipe so here goes. 

Please keep in your files as I am beginning to get tired of typing this up every year!

(Made mine this morning!!!!) 

1 cup sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 cup water, 1 tsp. salt , 1 cup brown sugar, Lemon juice, 4 large eggs, Nuts, 1......bottle Vodka, 2 cups dried fruit.

Sample a cup of Vodka to check quality. 

Take a large bowl, check the Vodka again to be sure it is of the highest quality then Repeat. 

Turn on the electric mixer. 

Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. 

Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. 
At this point, it is best to make sure the Vodka is still OK. Try another cup just in case. 

Turn off the mixerer thingy. 

Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor, wash it and put it in the bowl a piece at a time trying to count it.

Mix on the turner. If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver 

Sample the Vodka to test for tonsisticity. 

Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something. 

Check the Vodka.

Now shit shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. 

Add one table. 

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. 

Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. 

Don't forget to beat off the turner. 

Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the Vodka and wipe the counter with the cat.



now doesn't this sound like it could be a blast to make .... LoL

What have I been up to ....

Hmmm .... Not as much as I would like to have done .. but I have been getting bits and pieces done ... 

I had a sleep over with my friend Maddy ... and we did a bit of sewing .... way into the wee hours of the morning .... and then did some more till near on dark .. then I think our sleep deprived bodies got the best of us ... so I packed up my toys and went home ... now that was the weekend before last .... and Friday just gone .. I went back over to Maddy's place and did a bit more on this lovely quilt top ... and when I say a bit I mean ... just a bit .... family called and I had to go ... but it was ok ... cos .. I did some more today .... now ... you can't see what I did cos I have not taken any pics ... but Maddy did .... and you can see them here ...

I did manage to get some other things finished and sent off in the mail ... 

A mugrug .... this I made for a dear friend ...  

This mugrug .. also for a sweet friend but for a swap ... 

this was made for Kristy W .. a block swap partner .. 

and this floating flying geese block was also for a block swap ... this one is going to live in Denham Springs in the US .... my first attempt at such a block and I was very very happy with the result ... and it really is not as hard as I thought it would be to do ... love this one .... 

I will be opting out of all my online block swaps as time is getting away on me and we will be soon leaving the delightful Toowoomba region and climbing aboard our bus for parts unknown ...... driving off into the sunset ..... but somewhere on board will be my sewing machine and a decent stash of fabrics .... he is not getting rid of that stuff yet ... or ever really .... if i have to throw away all his clothes to fit the fabric in .. I will ... there are priorities in life and his clothing is way down on my list ... haha ... 

I have a few hand sewing things I will be taking ... not that I do a lot of that at the moment ... but then I have television ... internet .. and a rather spacious sewing room here and hand sewing is not something I really need to do .... but .. stuck out in the 'never never' .. who knows what I will be forced to do for entertainment ...

Well I have to go ... there is a grandson waiting for his Nan to pick him up from work ... less than 2 weeks now before he sits his test for his license ... hopefully he will get it and then Nan can stay home and do her blog ... or sew something .. or maybe even pack and clean some stuff .... ready for her big adventure ...

out with a friend ...

I am a couple of days late with this post ... but ... 

Thursday .. I went on a play date with my friend Maddie .. we had a lovely day out ... buying some much needed fabrics ... and then to lunch at The Angel Cafe .. 

if you go to Maddie's blog .. Woomb Woomba you will see her pics of the delicious chicken dish and coffee we had .... oh what a fantastic meal ... and very reasonably priced too ... 

More shopping after lunch at ... Precious Time ... where we purchased fabrics and also a very cute Owl quilt pattern ... I don't have the pattern to show you ... I left it at Maddie's place

This is the fabric I bought for the owls eyes .. I do think it will look ok ... 

This fabric I will use for the borders on my block swap D9P quilt .. I am not sure if you can see it or not .. but the little red and blue things are bandanna's ... so I think they will very good with the blocks ..

and these I bought .. cos I liked them ... I will eventually find something to do with them .. I expect ... haha  

I received some beautiful blocks this week too ... 

6 inch block swap Australia group 

These came from Mary C ... who lives in Ontario in Canada .. 

thanks Mary I love them ... 

the Christmas Quilting Block Swap Australia Group .. my partner was Sandra who sent me this very festive block .. which I think is wonderful .. 

Quilting Block Swaps Australia partner .. Karen P .. sent me this gorgeous Shabby Block 

I do love this block .. 

and this most beautiful bag was made for me by my dear friend

Maddie ... who has this blog Woomba Woomba

now I have been very norti because Maddie made this bag for me a while ago now and I have only just realised that I did not post here about it .. ... 

so folks what do you think ... isn't is a most beautiful bag ...

Today ...

Today I finished off a mug rug for a swap I am in here ..  this month the swap was Buttons and Bows .. 

Now I have tested this .. and it does work .. although I am thinking maybe it would be just a little over decorated ... Maybe ... haha ... I did have fun making it and I just hope my partner enjoys it .. 

And these cute little blocks I made for Mary C who lives in Toronto ... 

these were for a 6 inch block swap here

 I really enjoyed making these little baskets .. hope Mary likes them ... 

I love my block swaps ..

So far this month I have done a few swaps .... and have loved all of them ... 

Today I finished my Christmas in July Candle Mat Swap .. and my Christmas Block Swap for this swap group .. Christmas Quilting Block Swap ... I also received my Candle Mat from my partner Jan today too .. and I just love it .. beautiful bright yellows and greens ... will go so well in the bus ... 

isn't it lovely ... 

this is the one I made for Jan ... 

and the Christmas Block swap was for Pat S in Oregon USA .. 

Pat wanted a Christmas tree ... and here it is .. 

I also completed my swap for my partner in the Block Swap Adventure group ... Sandra R asked for a Maple Leaf block in batiks ... .......... ...  and here is what I have sent to her ...

where did my weekend go ...

This post was supposed to be done on Saturday ... haha ... always late ...


I was on track to do it and then received a phone call from a very dear friend .... she was passing by and wondered if we were home ... It was so lovely to catch up .. we have been friends for many many years ... since our mid teens and just don't see each other enough ...

I had a wonderful time seeing her and her hubby .... I do so love her ... and realise that I need to make more of an effort and stay in touch with my family and friends more than I do ... so if you feel that I have neglected you .. I am sorry and I promise to try to be a better friend ...

ok ... now here is what I did for my FNSI ... 

I worked on a couple of things ... first I did 2 more of these 'stack n whack' blocks ... I have so many to do and the more I do the easier they become ... but it is just setting aside the time to do them ... just one more of many UFO's to complete ...

I also got this quilt top finished ..... it was almost done .. I had to put 4 rows to it and also the borders ... it too came together very quickly ... it is a single bed size .... and now I can pop it in the tub which contains all the tops ready to be quilted ... I have collected these 6 inch charms for about 5 years I guess ...so great to see them in a quilt top at last ... I made this one for my youngest grandson ....

and a close up of some of those fantastic charm squares ... 

I also got these blocks sewn together ... they are soooo quick to do ... and they are for a lotto block swap/raffle here ... 

And that was my Friday night ... looking at it there doesn't seem to be much to show for it ... but .. I think it was a great night ... 

Hope you enjoyed yours ... 

have a great week everyone ... 

FNSI ........

I am getting ready for my

come join in the fun

Another gorgeous day ....

July has popped its head up with a gorgeous day .... what an absolute corker ... 

Hubby is going to get another ride on his bike today ... and the lad will probably go for another walk .... and me ... I am becoming a 'shut in' ..... so I will be sewing ... 

My darling is in the kitchen at the moment making me a cuppa ... love the sound of the spoon on the sides of the cup ... tinkle tinkle tinkle.... and then he taps it 3 times on the top ... apparently that is the love part of making a cuppa .... 3 teaspoons of love in every cup .... haha ...  Thank you darling .... 

He has now disappeared outside into the sunlight to kick the ball around for the dog ... I may go join him ... and grab a little vitamin D while out there .... and have my cup of love.........ly coffee ... 

Have a great day everyone .... 

July block for Karen P

I have finished my block swaps for the first half of the year ... yay!!!! and am now into July on a positive note with one swap already completed .... 

Here is Karen P's block .. she asked for a Plaited Block from Quilters Cache .. It was an interesting block to do .. and half the fun was finding the 'bright' colours that Karen asked for ... hope you like my choice ... 

The weather here today was much nicer than we have had for ages ... hubby took his motorbike out this afternoon for a run ... he was gone for about 3 hours and is hoping for another nice day tomorrow so he can go out again .... once upon a time we were both right into riding the bikes everywhere and the weather didn't bother us too much at all .. but these days I don't go on the bike and he has become quite the 'fair weather' rider .. apparently that happens when you get older .. haha ... so I am hoping it is a nice day so that he can get out on his bike ... there certainly are not many days through winter that are nice for riding ... and .. if he is out then I am free to do whatever I want ... and that is ... of course ... sew ... 

Sail boats and wintery weather ...

These are the blocks that I did for the 6 inch swap ... Sue B was my partner ... she asked for these sweet little sailboats ... pattern from Quilters Cache 

I have not been able to get do much sewing so far this week .. the weather here is shocking and we have had people coming and going for the past couple of days ... 

It is a present blowing a gale outside .. and raining cats and dogs ... and it is so bitterly cold ... and for me to say it is cold ... it really has to be cold .... I just check the local weather site on the net and it says currently outside at midnight it is 9 degrees ... and also says it feels like it is 5 degrees ... our outside thermometer says it is 6 degrees here ... and i reckon it feels like 3 degrees ... 

Now I know to some of you .. that is not too bad at all ... but for here in 'sunny' Queensland they are saying it is the coldest 'snap' we have had in 5 years ... so you will have to excuse my whinging ..hahaha ..  I am just not used to this sort of thing ... and honestly do not particularly like this sort of cold weather ... 

But it will pass .. and it will be summer soon enough ... and guaranteed .. I will be back whining about the heat ... .... yep .. there is just no pleasing me ... 

The men folk don't mind this sort of cold snap though .. cos I tend to cook and bake when it is like this .. the heat from the oven helps warm the house up ... tonight they had home made pies for dinner .. and then for sweets .. a nice serving of bread and butter pudding ... with lashings of cream .... i had a small serving without the cream ... but did enjoy a lovely chicken and vege pie ... 

sorry no pics .. they ate it all before I could get the camera out ... 

more blocks ..

Here are the blocks I have made for Leena ... 

This is the replacement Spool block .... this time using the right pattern ... 

and her block for the Christmas Swap ... 

There will be more blocks to come ... would have liked to have done them tonight .. but I am just a little tired and my wrist is more than a little sore .. lol

here's hoping ....

I am hoping to get some sewing and quilting done in the next couple of weeks ... I have been rather busy with an added extra in my household in the form of an 18 year old grandson ... and a couple of broken bones in my wrist ... the wrist is probably the lesser of the two as far as not being able to get stuff done ... 

I never realised how much time gets taken up running kids to and from work and feeding them ... OMG .. I forgot just how much teenage boys eat ... and eat ... and eat ..... haha !!!

Our Ricky will soon have his drivers license and will no longer need me to 'supervise' his driving ... which is a plus for him and a very big plus for me ... it is just a good thing that I love this kid .... 

Over the next 2 weeks hubby is home on holidays and said he will run the lad to and fro so that I can get some time in my sewing room ... so I thought I would start today and catch up on some block swaps .... it is all a bit slow going due to the wrist pain ... but I am getting things done ... 

This block I did for Noelene F .... my QBSA partner from May ... oh aren't I norti ... 

And this one I did for Leena who is my QBSA partner for June .. 

but .. it is wrong because I did not read the email properly... not the 'spool' block I was supposed to make .. so it is back to the machine and cutting board to do the right one .... 

I also have another block to make for Leena ... for the Christmas swap ... and ... a 6" swap to do for Sue B ... and then there is a couple of quilts I really have to finish ... so off I go to do them now ... but will still be interrupted soon to feed the menfolk ... but I should get one block made before that happens ... 

see you all soon ..... with more photos .......

My FNSI ...

Well I did not realize it has been so long since I posted in here .... way too long really ... but life does seem to get in the way of having fun ... Hopefully my life will settle down enough that I can get back into my sewing room and get a few UFO's finished ... 

Last nights FNSI certainly helped ... 

I managed to put together a quilt top that I started ages ago .... well now it waits to be quilted .. which could take another age to get to ... can't rush these things ... I posted last about this top back on the 5th December ... it is a tube quilt pattern .. and I got the inspiration from BubzRugz Blog ... hers was just so pretty ... made me want one of my own .... I do think I will need to put a border on it ... but which colour to do it in ??? ... there are so many to chose from ... 

I also put together a few blocks for a "leaders & enders" quilt ... it is coming along nicely ... 

and should not take too long to do at all .... I have everything cut out ready to piece them as they come together ... 

I will need 70 8 inch blocks to complete the top .... I have 25 done so far ... so I am off to a great start

Also I made a block for Holly ... she is my May swap partner for Block Swap Adventure ...