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'

I am still around.

Or is that going around the bend?????
Sorry I have not been posting but I have been somewhat busy looking after DH after his operation. All went well he had 5 by-passes which was a rather large shock to us all but he is recovering well and if he doesn't want me to nag he goes for his daily walks and does all his exercises.
I have also taken on looking after my wee grand daughter Zoe for 2 days a week. She is 5 months old now and such a delight and so contented..
I have no computer at present seems it wanted to keep blacking out so it is in for repair I am sending this message on DH's computer. I hope to be back in action next week when I can post some photos.
(((HUGS))) Roz.

Another Tuesday Treasure and a Thank You

To all you wonderful bloggers who have wished us well with regards to my DH thank you. We now have a tentative date for the operation the 7th. October. The family are all very positive so now we just wait. Greg has gone away this week to Adelaide with his mate so I was happy that at least he did not have to cancel this trip but unfortunately the doctor won't let him go on the Camp Quality car rally he is really disappointed but his health has to come first.


Today (a day late) is my special Tuesday Treasure. This beautiful dolly has had a very exciting life. When my Mother was a young woman around 16 or 17 she worked in a butchers shop. Each week an elderly lady would come by and Mum would give her bones and bits and pieces to feed her beloved dog. Being the Depression and no money this lady was so grateful to Mum that she would bring in little gifts and this celluloid doll was one of those gifts. She had told Mum that she treasured this doll and that she had had her for a long time and she knew Mum would treasure her also. My Mum thought that the lady would have been in her 80's. We don't know how old the doll is we know that she is German made and from celluloid containing gun powder.

When I was about 3-4 years old Mum gave her to me to play with and I promptly bit the dolls nose of her face. Poor baby had to go to the Doll' Hospital for a nose job. I never saw her again when she came home Mum packed her away. Just after I was married Mum gave her back to me and for 40 years she has had a very happy life.

Today I have given my dolly to my eldest daughter Danielle. She has always loved dolls and I just know she will treasure this dolly as much as I did

I have dressed her in the Christening gown that Mum had made for my eldest brother and I. I believe the petticoat is made from parachute material.

A photo of my precious grand daughter Zoe Grace. She is such a good baby sleeps and eats how perfect is that and great for her parents.

Another UFO out of the box. About 8 years ago when my first grand daughter was 2 I started this little smocked dress but never got around to finishing. Now with a new little girl in the family I had to finish and would you believe that all I had to to was put 3 buttons down the back. How slack is that. At least one of my grand daughters will get to wear it.

A busy week

This has been a very stressful week. On Monday I spent the day at the hospital with my DH having tests on his heart and unfortunately after meeting with the heart surgeon on Wednesday he has told us that open heart surgery is the only way to proceed to correct the blocked arteries that were found. How can you feel really good with no symptoms of heart problems have a very full life and now we are dealing with a major operation probably within the next few weeks?
Just another of life's hurdles I guess.
Well aside from all that I went to the North Rocks markets last Sunday with my daughter Danielle and found this cute little mirror to add to my mirror wall in my lounge. I have been on the look out for quite some time for one the right size and this one fits perfectly.

I also came across this cup and saucer. I can hear you saying it is only a plain white set but upon turning it over to look at the maker found that it had my name Roslyn as the maker on the base. I asked the seller how much it was explaining it was my name on the set he gave it to me for $2. what a bargain.

If you look carefully you can just make out Roslyn Fine Bone China made in England. I googled the maker and found that it had been made by Staffordshire pottery between 1958-1963

Over the past few weeks have been refashioning a few t-shirts. I bought 2 skivvies a while back for $7. each but didn't like the way the neck sat so after looking at a few blogs I decided to refashion them.

Firstly I removed the neck and cut of the sleeves, these I used for the decorating of my new t-shirt.

The first 2 photos are of the skivvy ready to refashion

My finished and first t-shirt refashion. I am so happy at how they turned out.

Two new tops for Summer.

A close up of the neckline of the white t-shirt.

My second cream refashioned t-shirt.

Tuesday treasure

I am trying my hardest to be here each Tuesday for Clare's Craftroom Tuesday Treasures.
Today my little treasure is this kookaburra that belonged to my Dad. I don't know how old it is but has been around for as long as I can remember. I actually saved this little treasure from being thrown away a long long time ago. Dad tells me that at one stage the beek was broken of and that he used his spit to glue it back on and it is still there to this day. Now can you believe that???
Oops the photo is sideways. Finished the binding so another quilt finished. I am slowly getting through them but often get diverted to do other things I find along the way.

Like this cute owl family. At my patchwork group over the past few Tuesday evenings some members have been bringing in their owls either handmade or purchased so I wanted to join in on the fun. This was a Japanese pattern I found on the net after googling fabric owls.

Thanks

To all those that have put a comment on my blog for Tuesday Treasure. I enjoy reading them and am thrilled at least some are interested enough to make a lovely comment thank you all.
Over the past few weeks I have been doing my best to get some UFO's finished. Another quilt is now having the binding put on so I am well on the way to another finish.

Last weekend my DH and I took my dear parents on a mystery day trip. We headed for the Central Coast and visited Budgiewoy where as a young family we spent many school holidays at the camping area. We had a very large army tent that was divided into 3 rooms. I can remember the ice man visiting every second day to keep the ice chest cold, the bake house where we got fresh bread everyday and ate the middle out of the bread, the hessian walled toilets and a dose of caster oil every few days but the best part was we could swim from dawn till dusk it was a very safe and fun place. I think we will always treasure those memories. Whilst having morning tea this pelican wanded over for a visit, I think he was eyeing off our biscuits.

We went for a walk to see if we could recognise any landmarks but everything has changed so much. When we camped the water was about 2 metres from our tent with lovely sandy shores now the land has been filled so no lovely white sand and the camping area is set well back from the lake. Oh well I guess that is progress but it is nice to have those memories. My parents had a great day reminiscing and having a lovely walk around the area.

Tuesday Treasure

I have again joined in on Clare's Tuesday Treasure. I wanted to share my wedding bouquet. Silk flowers were becoming fashionable 40 years ago so I chose them for my wedding. They still look as fresh as that special day. Thanks Clare for continuing the Tuesday Treasure.



I have made these pot holders for a friend who gave me some old jeans recently. All I needed was the hems and side seams but after seeing similar on Teresa's blog I decided not to waste any of the denim. Jill has just moved into a new house, I hope she likes the gift.

My Grand daughter has decided she wants to sew. I started her stitching a strip pieced block and she took to it like she was a professional. Her lines were so straight, the concentration on her face and her determination was amazing. I hope she continues to enjoy.

She didn't like the ironing part of the process but got used to it after a while.

A quick post

I have finally finished my dresden plate quilt. I put the last stitches in the binding on Wednesday night and am thrilled with another UFO out of the box. This quilt will go to live at my daughter Danielle's home I am so happy she loves the quilts I make.

Finishes

Just where does the time go. I seem to be busy all of the time trying to fit more into a day than is sometimes possible. I think I should start keeping a day to day record of what I do and achieve.
I have had a bit of fun making a few little head bows for Zoe Grace. I think they are so cute on a babies head and these few looked lovely on her black unruly hair.

Woops I think she moved as I was taking this photo.

The cot quilt is now completed and the bed quilt now has the borders on. That will be sent to the quilters soon so then all is finished for Zoe's beautiful room.

Out of the left over fabrics I made a little wall hanging doing an Amanda Daly pattern called "Blooming" Although you can not see in the photo the centre of each flower is beaded which makes the quilt quite pretty.

When I had my first baby a long time ago my Mum made me lots of little matinee jackets and nighties she had purchased from "The Stitchery" I found them at the last quilt and craft show and bought this little matinee jacket. I did the embroidery and stitched it together and a very dear friend Bev did the crocheting for me what a treasure.

I have also made myself a new brooch

There have been lots of little UFO's hiding in my craft room so my thoughts today was to get a few of them finished. Once I got started I was on a roll. The first one finished was this little free Christmas block from Gail Pan designs the embroidery was finished before last Christmas so it was time that it got finished.

These two little embroideries belong to my very dear friend Pat who is going through some bad health issues at the present. She loves to embroider but can not use a sewing machine so I bring them home to finish with the borders and hanging loops. I have lost count of how many of these Pat has made, all little gifts for her many Grand Daughters.

The binding is finally going on my Dresden Plate quilt I showed in a post quite awhile ago. I sent the quilt out to be quilted so that took 8 weeks and when the quilt was returned I could not find the binding fabric I had so carefully put away. I have been looking for the fabrics at so many patchwork shops and being a deleted colour of Fossil Fern I had almost given up on ever finding it until I went to Patchwork Products at Rydalmere. I was so delighted to find she had the exact fabric I had taken weeks to find. To this day my binding fabric is still missing but I am sure it will be found one day. Hopefully by the end of this week another quilt will be finished.