Making the most of the weather

 Today has been one of those special days: perfect weather and an opportunity to go for a drive with a friend.

Our destination was Sorrento at the southern end of the Mornington Peninsula: about an hour from our home.

It is a beautiful seaside village and we were delivering paintings for an art exhibition. (not mine).  Afterwards we checked out the shops, had coffee, explored an op shop and walked through a beautiful garden.

 

 I did a bit more painting and put this corner of the room back together this afternoon.  The room is looking good although there is lots more to do.

 

After a gloriously warm day we have a beautiful,  clear, mild evening and the moon is so bright.


 


 

A stranger in blogger land

 I feel like I have been away from blogging for months: not that I haven't wanted to blog.  I often think about what I will write and then the days fly by and no writing is done.

 

Up until a few weeks ago I was spending three days a week minding the twin girls from next door.  It was a real labour of love and I was terribly disappointed when their mummy gave up her job to stay home and look after the little ones.

I decided I would make the most of the time and renovate the room downstairs where I do my craft work, keep up with the office work and where the twins had their toys and cots etc.
It is a big room (imagine double garage) with a kitchen in one corner and a bathroom attached.





 Not to be content with plain walls I have decided to paint the bricks in a soft chalky grey (vanilla quake) which is lovely, and then to add some yellow (pale daffodil) in a diamond pattern.



The brick walls and wood panelling made it look very dark and gloomy.



I will paint the wood panelling last as I think it will be the easiest.

So you see I have been busy but I am really missing having time for sewing or other craft projects but it will be worth it. 

By the way isn't the clock gorgeous.
 

    
 

Serendipity

I have not been doing any stitching worth showing here but thought I would tell you about an incident that happended at our textiles group on Friday.  It is an informal group and we tend to wander around and chat about projects being worked on or even ones that are just in the planning stage.  As I walked past Margot's basket I noticed a piece of fabric like one I bought last Sunday.  Mine is black & cream and Margot has navy and cream and burgundy and cream - in the hope of making a French themed quilt sometime in the future.   Margot engaged me in a conversation about the fabric in her basket and mentioned that Keitha (another member) needed some of the same design in  black and cream for a quilt she is planning,  but that when she went to Spotlight in Frankston  on Tuesday they had sold out.  Of course they were out of stock - I bought the last 2 metres on Sunday in the sale!!  

How is that for a coincidence. 

Anyway I popped home and brought back the fabric and now Keitha has what she needs to commence her project and I have one less piece of fabric in my stash.  

The pieces I bought on Sunday are for future cushions - no real plan so I was happy to be able to give Keitha the piece she needs and we have discussed an appropriate payment in kind.  

 I think that is the shortest time a piece of fabric has stayed in my stash.   

Spotlight End of Bolt Sale

Today I decided to take advantage of the Spotlight End of Bolt Sale.  30% off if you buy whatever is on the bolt. 

I am planning some curtains and cushions for our downstairs room: the room where I sew and work on creating and where I mind the twins.  

I am so pleased with my purchases as now I have a clear idea of the colour scheme of the room and can undertake the sewing in the winter.  Meantime the walls need painting


 As I was having a last look around I saw this Pellon Rainbowspun which I think is the same as Lutrador.  Anyway each pack has 10 sheets 60cm x 60cm for $8, which I think is irresistable value so I bought aqua, green and yellow.  Just for the stash.

  

needlebook

 At the recent exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront Festival I was asked to make a needlebook for a lady who loves pinks and lilacs.

 Fortunately we were able to discuss the fabrics and colours and these are the ones that took her fancy.

The fabrics are hand dyed by Tina Whitely.
 
 

 It is to be a small folder with some pellon for padding and some hand quilting and embroidery and beading.

The pages will be made from this pale green felt.

As well as this I am to make a matching scissor case too.

I do hope it pleases her. 

Fabric finds

Over the past few weeks I have been picking up some lovely pieces at the local op shops.


These doileys are old and a bit worn but they look great. 

 The embroidery is very sweet and the edging is beautiful.

 This pretty supper cloth offers Greetings from Australia and lovely floral design.

 The linen in this large cloth is in good condition, the design is simple but striking.  













 

 I couldn't resist this piece of beaded emerald green satin.

And this pretty floral poly fabric would make a lovely summer blouse.



I am amazed at how much linen and fabric there is out there in the op shops at present.

Yes, I am still here.  It has been a very busy start to the year and a lot of time has been spent painting the exterior of our house.  There is still a lot more to do but it looks better every day.
Tonight I thought I would pay tribute to my parents-in-law:  50 pound poms they were known as, those migrants from the uk who were encouraged to come here in the 1960s.

Maurice and Margaret left the little village in Cambridgshire where they lived with their son Michael and daughter Christine.  The family was settled there with family and friends nearby and work and schools in the neighbourhood.

I cannot imagine what it would be like to pick yourself and your family up and move to another country, remembering that in those days very few people traveled by plane and they would probably not have the chance to go back for a visit and having a telephone in your home was a luxury.  The phone calls to overseas relatives were expensive and reserved for special occasions (Christmas) or bad news. 

There was no email or facebook or blogging.  Just thousands of miles between home and family.

Maurice and Margaret did this primarily to provide their children with more opportunities for the future and I am privileged to be a part of that future.

The photo above shows Maurice who is now 88 years old and some pics of his great grand children, Ally, Ben, Michael, Matthew and baby Chloe.  Sadly Margaret is no longer with us but I know she would be pleased with the decision that she and Maurice made so many years ago.

As a third generation Australian I have no idea how anyone could willingly leave the country of their birth but of course Australia is made up of just such courageous people.

I know this is way off topic but I wanted to share these thoughts.

Hopefully I will be able to write about stitching soon.