My Garden...the best place to be...in the summertime...

Today I went to the local nursery and bought a beautiful new bird bath...bought it home and filled it with recycled water...I also splashed out on some new plants for my garden to go with my magnificent roses...I have chosen plants that flower prolifically and have the same colour palette; either pink, purple or white...they look so pretty....

my scented roses...

New flowers for my garden...

Christmas has come again...and gone again!!

Isn't is amazing just how we spend weeks planning Christmas; our gifts; the Christmas meal; wrapping the presents; only to have in one day, it totally demolished.... I had a very heavily ladened tree this year, with gifts for cousins, nieces and nephews, sons and daughters and for my husband...only for it to be all gone by Christmas night...is it worth it she cried...ABSOLUTELY YES!

My greatest joy is to give...to give of love, family and presents. To bring family together to celebrate at this time of the year...

I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and have a fun filled New Year...

This is my tree after the event...it's looking a little sad...and one of my most favourite decorations this year....

A beautiful beaded bird...

Our City Tour

Tony and I spent the day today in our beautiful city - Melbourne! Our friends (the city buffs) took us a backstage tour of some of their favourite haunts and sights in and around Melbourne.

We started the day at Nth Bawlyn Cemetery, looking at the mausoleum of the acclaimed Elisabeth Springfield, who died over 100 years ago. In his grief, her husband created the most magnificent shrine to his wife...it is definitely something to see.

A Celtic Cross at the Cemetery...

We then travelled by tram into the city, stopping at Flinders Street. By the time the tram got to the city it was packed full off race goers, all heading off to Derby Day. We walked from there up to Degraves Street where we stopped and had a well earned cup of coffee and a muffin, at an outside eatery. I was entralled by the people and the sights that past before my eyes, I could have stayed and watched all day, just wondering where and what these different people, were doing and where they were going.

This is a photo across from where we were sitting....

We visited the State Library, looking at the exhibitions that were on show at the time, mostly about our history of books and literature and our history of Australia. It was fascinating just to look and to read about our history and just spend time - quality time reflecting on our pioneers and how they forged the country that we live in - it was quite humbling.

The writing on the wall... the beginning of the literature exhibition...

Artwork on another wall...

We travelled down some side alleys and lanes and came across some beautiful and very artisitc graffiti....

We had a great day and were thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day... it's kind of great just exploring your own city...we have so many unearthed treasures...

Fresh New Quilt....A Slice of Heaven II

I just needed to quilt..it has been awhile since I created anything...and I felt the need to create! This quilt uses some of my favourite fabrics in a simple square in a square design...couldn't be easier to make and gives a quick beautiful result. This quilt was featured in the Homespun Magazine Vol 9, No 9 Page 79, but in a different colourway. It is a design I created called "A Slice of Heaven", because any work that you do just on a whim is a slice of heaven!!!

Glenharrow Gardens Stitch In 2008

Wow! The sun is shining and warm, and we are again sitting in one of the most beautiful places, with only one thing to do - that is to stitch! My friend Nancy and myself spend Sunday past at Glenharrow Gardens in Belgrave at the Spring Stitch In 2008, with Rosalie Quinlan and Leanne Beasley. We have been given 2 lovely stitcheries to do, or if we don't get to finish, which is highly likely, due to all the talking, we get to take them home to finish. Lunch consisted of the most magnificent food I think I have ever had. We had a most satisfying day and are both thoroughly refreshed and totally inspired! Here are a collection of photos that I took during the day.... And thankyou to Rosalie, Leanne and Nell for hosting yet another enjoyable Stitch In...

Our Inspiration...


My friend Nancy's work...in progress!

A Beautiful Blue Peacock....

The Stitching Room... Full of Inspiration of Every Wall...

The Barn Area... The Room where Lunch was Served....

Vanilla Slice... Yummy!

And more Stitching after Lunch...... Well Maybe!!
Lots of talking and catching up with friends and just a little stitching...

A Slice of Heaven - My 'Homespun' Profile!!

Homespun Magazine Vol 9 No 9 Page 79 - 84

Just wanted to share with you all my profile that has just been released in "Homespun" magazine - it is very exciting to have had this done and together with a project, it's a great feeling to finally be out there - sharing what I love to do the most and that is create and share. I believe that we are designed to be creators - but ultimately we must share in that creativity. I hope you all grap a copy of the magazine and have a read.

Cherry & Coconut Pudding

For those wanting a quick and easy pudding...that tastes great...try this...we had this tonight for dessert and was scrumptious...
INGREDIENTS

600g jar of sour cherries
1 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk

Pre-heat oven to 180C...
Place cherries in oven-proof dish...

Mix together dry ingredients...

Mix together eggs and milk in a jug and then add to dry ingredients, mix well...

Pour over cherries and bake in oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown...

Serve with cream, icecream or both!!

Pure New Blue Wool...

Yesterday Tony, Hannah & I spent the day wandering around 'The Dandenongs' again!! There are some beautiful shops to explore... I found the "Sassafras Wool Store" had some exquisite wools and I just had to buy some...this blue yarn is hand spun and smells just like real wool. I think this will knit up into a lovely cosy scarf...

Vintage Twist

Thought I would start a new cardigan - to knit that is!! The wool is 'Vintage Twist' in a variegated shade of creams & beige. It will be very 'IN' for the spring/summer season as the colours for this season so far are showing the real soft vintage colours of pinks, creams and beiges. Very feminine and very pretty!! This cardigan has a three-quarter length sleeve and so far is very quick to knit...It has a lacey pattern that is so easy!! When it is finished I will show you all with a photo...

Shabby Rose Tapestry

I came home from work on Wednesday and my beautiful husband had bought this vintage rose tapestry from the antique shop in Mt Dandenong. I had eyed it off a few weeks ago on a day we spent browsing the shops of Mt Dandenong, and mentioned that I liked it, so when he was there working during the week, he bought it for me.... It is just perfect and I love it...

Given 2008 - Women's Conference

On the 1st & 2nd of August, I finally got to put together all the months of hard work. The Given Conference was finally here and we spent the whole day on the Friday decorating the church building ready for 350+ women to come together; to spend time with each other and in the presence of God.

We created an 'Oriental' theme, with banners, cherry blossoms, a ricksaw, lanterns, and even an japanese garden....

I would like to thank my team for all the work they did to help me pull this off... here are some photos that will do it more justice than my words!!

She Is Given

Today I spent the day making banners for the Women's Conference 'Given'. My girlfriend Leeanne and myself are doing the interior decor for the conference and we are going with the Oriental theme and the banners are She Is Mother, She Is Daughter, She is Strong, She Is Princess etc.. we painted the Chinese symbols for these on large paper banners... we had a fun day doing this...we also made 16 cherry blossom flowers...here are some of the photos of our hard day at work... thanks to Frank for all his work in producing the lettering under the symbols...the finished banners look great!!

Wedding Quilt Completed - "Sweet Like Chocolate"

Wow, what an accomplishment, I have finally finished the wedding quilt that I started some time back for friends of ours that got married in April last year.

Today I made the quilt label and tag and made a bag to store the quilt in when not in use.

Tonight I gave it to our friends who were thrilled with it, these guys are also this week expecting their first baby - she is due tomorrow!! I wanted to make sure she had the quilt before the baby so that on those cold nights of feeding, she would have a beautiful quilt around her to keep herself warm.

This is the ultimate gift - to be able to give someone something that you have made yourself and that you enjoy making and then giving away!

This is an adaptation of Lynelle Slade's quilt "Perfectly Peppermint" Patchwork & Quilting Magazine; Vol 15, No 4 Page 40...

Labour Day Weekend...

Labour Day Long Weekend was a very productive weekend. I managed to complete two projects that I had started even as far back as August last year. The first one I finished was Rosalie Quinlan's "Springtime" bag....

and the other project was Rosalie's "Love Is" quilt. I at least got the top of this quilt finished, now I only have to quilt it properly and it will be finished...

I felt as though I had a great uninterrupted weekend and got lots done...it has only taken me a week to get the photos on site...but here they are...

New Beginnings and New Fabrics!!

Well, it definitely has been a while since I have had the chance to sit and type... I have had many things that have been occupying my time of late... not to mention the promotion I have received at work... I am now the Store Manager of Lincraft Eastland... and with that comes more fun and much more responsibility.

This though has not stopped me from sewing... I have a deadline for Homespun magazine; a project that will be out in October... I have finished the quilt "Perfectly Peppermint" and some other smaller projects, including handwork and knitting samples and displays.

Just to let you all know I have a project in the next (April) issue of Homespun, so grab a copy and check it out!! It's called "Licorice Allsorts".

Recently I purchased these lovely fabrics and they have been sitting on my work table, just looking at me and waiting for me to use them. Now that I have finished some work, I might just be able to make something just for me. These fabrics definitely have been an inspiration, so who knows what might evolve from them!!

Perfectly Peppermint...

As you can see, I have been busy stitching lately...this is a quilt that is adapted from one designed by Lynelle Slade...only I have changed the fabrics and colours to suit. This quilt I have made for friends as a wedding present...they we married last April...so I will just beat the 1st Anniversary, if I can get it quilted on time... It has been fun to make as it is purely just squares...I managed to piece it together in two days...Now onto my next project....