I have decided I really must get some of my unfinished projects out of the box. So I decided to start with the smaller items to get into the swing. I had made this bag some time ago for a workshop so decided to make the pincushion (pattern from Polkadotpineapple.blogspot.com) and send them to the Quilters Guild for the recent flood appeal for sewing items. I made some extra pincushions from the same pattern.

My next project to finish was my Christmas wreath again a pattern from Polkadotpineapple.

It took me a year to make all the leaves and lucky for me I received a glue gun for Christmas so was able to put all the leaves on, that took me some time not being used to this glue stuff, but I am just so pleased at how it turned out so many thanks to Arlette for this great tutorial.

The school holidays came and went and we had the grand kids stay over a few times oh except for the one who lives here she always stays over. They will sleep anywhere. Here is Kaitlyn curled up on her doona on the family room floor where she often camps out. This time she had Bobbin to keep her company.

Last Saturday we headed off to Terry Hills to watch our grandson Ryan compete in his pony club gymkhana with his horse Silver. Although this time he didn't win a ribbon he did so well considering he was the youngest there and had the smallest horse.

And this is Zoe now 8 months old and I think a budding star at the computer.

My other completions so far were 2 small table toppers I had started as samples for a workshop.

Whoops the photo went sideways. This was a satchel bag I had started at a quilting retreat last November. A little complicated but after reading and re-reading the pattern it finally sunk in and I was so glad I got it finished.

Lucky last. This cushion was 11 years in the making. I had made my friend Rhonda a Little Red School House quilt for her 50th. birthday and this block was left over so 11 years later I made the block into a cushion and gave it to her for her 61st. birthday.

I told you I was determined to get some projects finished.

Where oh where have I been

Well literally to the back of Bourke and back. And what an absolutely great time we had. We set out the day after Boxing Day our first stop Young. Our travels to Bourke included stopovers at Lake Cargelligo and Cobar.

Whilst at Bourke New Years day we went shutter shopping not a place was open all well secured with roller doors. The photo below is of the main street.

A beautiful building the original post office.

The flooded Darling river. We were very fortunate that we were not caught up in any of the floods but we did have to rethink our travels not to include going into Queensland.

We spent a few days in Bourke a very hot place in the middle of summer which did not both us too much it was the giant mosquitoes that were a bigger problem.

Because we had to change our travel plans we then headed South through to Nyngan, Warren,

Coonamble, Gilgandra, Gulargambone, Warrumbungles, Coonabarabran then as our original plans were to go to Lightning Ridge we set out and travelled North again. Then we headed for home stopping at lots more caravan parks. I certainly will not bore you with the 500 plus photos just to say we had a wonderful holiday travelling over 3,200 kilometers.

Variety Club Youth Choir Flash Mob 'I am Australian'