Secret Squirrel Stitching and a Dead Iron!

It's true......I killed the iron......!! I wasn't even using it at the time.....I was stitching away madly at my sewing machine when I heard some crackling......which sort of sounded like twigs snapping.....since there are no trees in the sewing room I guessed it was something else....quick aren't I!!!! LOLOL.......The iron had given up the ghost and smoke was pouring out of it in lots of interesting places while the crackling noise got worse......my first thought was "save the stash"....so I moved the dying applicance to the bathroom and put it on the tiles where it sputtered it's last......just goes to show though....don't rely on cut out switches - if you think you've left the iron on ...go back and check!!

I was in the sewing room finishing off my projects for the Christmas in July swap....the posting date is looming and I will be away next weekend so needed to get everything finished .........and I am pleased to say it is done.....! I can't show you the finished projects as it is a secret swap....so here is a sneak peek....................

I wonder whose feet these are....................

Of course working with Christmas fabrics in winter is something different .....and the Prince thought since I was stitching Christmas goodies he would bring me something we usually have on the table in December.......cherries.....all the way from California!! .......and they survived the trip really well......they were delicious.....!! ........and went well with the title of Natalie Bird's new book which I bought while I was on holiday......anyone who knows me knows that I love stitcheries so this was the perfect book for me.....

But....it is winter and I am enjoying the winter weather we have been having lately.......it seems over the past couple of winters we haven't really had many grey days with rain - we have had instead lots of frosts and clear sunny days....and we need the rain! This was the sky the other morning when I was leaving for work.......and more of the same this week.....which is great!!!

Whatever colour your skies are I hope you have a fabulous week!!

'Til next time....................Lorraine

Sometimes sharing isn't all it's cracked up to be!

........especially when it comes to sharing germs!! I was the "lucky" recipient of some germs - which manifested themselves in the form of a head cold......I am starting to feel better now.....and have been able to breathe thru my nose for the first time in a week........the box of tissues which has been my constant companion can now be left more than an arm's lenghth away.....along with the nasal spray, throat lozenges and Panadol!

I felt quite cheated when the weekend came and went and I didn't get any stitching (or anything else for that matter) done!!! But....it is soooo good to feel good again and there is another weekend coming up soon......!! My Christmas in July swap needs to be finished and the requirements for a weekend of stitching with Anni and Natalie at Loxton next weekend need to be gathered.............!

So no news of stitching completed......or wonderful goodies in the post..but watch this space! LOL

'Til next time.....................Lorraine

To Resist is Futile.................

Ok......Ok......I am admitting it....I have bitten off way more than I can chew.........but hey I am going to keep on chewing!! LOL.......I have tried to resist but then I see something like this.............Stitchery of the Month.....from Under the Mulberry Tree.......and I start to crumble............

I found the Heart and Home BOM in the Quilt Basket in Victor Harbor while we were on holiday.............I have fought hard against this one though.......I first saw it months ago and fell in love with it...but resisted......perhpas it was because I was in holiday mode.....my resistance was low.......so the first block arrived in the post this week!............

I have also been lucky and have won a a couple of giveaways........this ultra cute pattern from Melly & Me................just as well I won it - or I would have had to buy it....LOL...........

........and this Jelly Roll from Sarah who had a giveaway to celebrate the launch of her new venture SEWN......A Kathy Schmitz fabric.....Redbird in the Bowers.............and speaking of Kathy Schmitz...........I bought this pattern a while ago and have finished.....you thought I was going to say finished stitching...LOL....NO! .....I have finished TRACING it ready to stitch..........

Whilst I may not finish any of these anytime soon I know they are there waiting for me when I get some time to stitch.......and I like that they are..........I am a bit time poor at the moment with working full time........and as superannuation isn't such a fabulous investment at present I have chosen these (and my other BOMs-in-waiting) as my "super"! .........they will keep me busy in retirement....which I have to say won't be happening anytime soon......maybe if I could resist buying "stuff" and going on quilting weekend workshops it may happen sooner......! LOL.......but I am having WAY too much fun to stop yet!

'Til next time...................Lorraine

Bears on the move.............

The bedroom is next on the list for a makeover so today the room was dismantled and the furniture moved to various locations (read for that....wherever it would fit!) around the house.......these guys (and more of their friends) usually reside in the bedroom so they were on the move today.................

They are now wedged in the sewing room along with a clothes rack and all my shoes....! Not a lot of room left in the room for any sewing activity though!

Thought I would share a couple of "before and after" pics of the passage...............

and lounge room floors.......

The results to date have made the reorganisation of the house worth it............and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel ....let's hope it isn't a train! LOL.......a few more weeks and things should return to normal...whatever that is!

Apart from the renos there isn't much happening - I hope to get some stitching done during the week.......make that I NEED to get some stitching done! .......and given that we are now back in the lounge room where the heater is I may even stay up later than 8.30....!

Have a great week .....................'Til next time.............Lorraine

THe week that was........

As usual the working week flew by..............unfortunately there was no stitching done :( but today I spent the afternoon with my little stitching group.....it was great to catch up with the girls and Cheryl (no blog) served a delicious lunch which included a rhubarb and apple crumble pie for dessert.......with custard AND cream! I spent most of the afternoon tracing a stitchery pattern I bought at the Victor Harbor shop when we were on holidays......"Peace and Plenty" by Kathy Schmitz.....and deciding on one of the projects for the Christmas in July swap which has a fast approaching deadline.........July 18 seemed such a long way off when I signed up for the swap!

No pics tonight......the house is still in chaos.....waiting for the next chapter in the reno story......which will hopefully be happening on Monday......time to move upstairs to the study while the bedroom has its makeover.......so far it has all gone smoothly with no nasty surprises - hopefully it will continue that way! The washing machine gave up the ghost the other day.......the quote to fix it was about the same amount as the price of a new machine......so we are now the proud owners of a front loader which the Prince will be installing tomorrow......

It was a bit hard getting up for work on Monday but after day one it is always easier........feels like I have never been away!! Have a great weekend....hope someone, somewhere is stitching!

'Til next time...................Lorraine

All good things..............

....."come to those who wait"......or (in this case) "must come to an end"......the wonderful week away at the cottage followed by a weekend quilting reatreat is now but a memory!.....Back home tonight and getting organised for work tomorrow...........I think I can find everything ......somewhere in the chaos that is our house at the moment.....but ......the floors look amazing...will post some pics tomorrow...too dark tonight!

Friday we reluctantly left the cottage and headed to Mannum on the River Murray for a weekend quilting retreat with Sharon and Shontelle from Patchwork on Parade......and 19 other quilters......and to those Doubting Thomas' who thought I couldn't do the dorm-and-dash-to-the -ablution-block accommodation......(and I was wondering how I would cope) I did it.....and it wasn't that bad.....! Actually it was fun! The facilities at the caravan park were good......and really clean which is always a bonus! The weather was kind and not too cold.......the bunks (yes....bunks!) were reasonably comfy....made more so with the addition of a couple of quilts........

......uggies by the bed along with a torch in case one had to wander over to the loos in the middle of the night and the assurance of my room mates that they snored as well so my snoring wasn't going to be a problem.......

Before we got to Mannum we stopped in Strathalbyn for lunch......as luck would have it (gee who would have thought.........!) there is also a wonderful patchwork shop in the town........Kirkbride Quilting where Sally and Suzi helped me with a couple of purchases......

If you are in the area it is well worth a visit! Thanks to AusRose for the tip...and guess what...the girls remembered your group's visit! We set off again after visiting the bakery for lunch and arrived in Mannum to find the girls setting up for the weekend.......Sharon cooks a mean potato bake - here she is cooking up a storm in the camp kitchen........

........and here is the group this afternoon.....minus a couple of girls who had to leave early .....

.....and in case you are wondering.....apart from lots of talking and eating.........we did manage to accomplish some stitching............this is my hexagon top minus the borders which should follow sometime soon.............

Thanks to Vicki for being the quilt holder.......being tall certainly has its advantages!...I won't be able to watch the Ikea ad without thinking of you Vicki.....start the car!!!

Here is Jen's version of the same pattern.........

Another pattern on offer was a starburst pattern......here are some of Robbi's blocks.......

....and Fay's stunning red and white stars.........

so............a wonderful week followed by a great weekend.......thanks again to Sharon and Shontelle for hosting the retreat - looking forward to the next one!

'til next time.........Lorraine

One of us is relaxing!

The Prince has trouble relaxing.......it's true - he admits it! But he is trying...............and it is hard not to relax here at Pear Tree Hollow.....the view is wonderful..............

........it is peaceful with the only sound the birds and the sound of the wind generator.........the garden is fabulous and today the bees were out and about ......busy.......

.......nothing busy about our morning......we had a lazy morning before driving to the Deep Creek Conservation Park and checking out one of the short walks.......well it was a bit longer but we cut it short.....LOL.....it was very steep and I figured if it hurt to walk downhill it was going to hurt even more walking back up!!.....

This pic was taken from about halfway down to the beach......we made it to the part of the track which you can see on the left hand side of the pic.....I thought discretion was the better part of valour and looking back up the track I just knew if we finished the walk it was going to be after dark before we made it back up to the car........perhaps next time.......! kangaroos were everywhere in the park and this one didn't even bother to stop eating as we walked past.......

Apart from the kangaroos the park was deserted today but on the long weekend just past the camping grounds would have been packed.......it is a beautiful part of the world!

The Prince went to the city yesterday for meetings.........this left me alone in the cottage ....I had a wonderfully relaxing day......I read.......and read some more......went for a walk........enjoyed listening to the rain on the roof later in the afternoon.......finished stitching the binding on little Miss Ryley's quilt......and did I say I read? .....later I lit the fire and sat in the cottage watching darkness descend on the valley below....listening to Mozart.....it doesn't get any better......I know I have to return to the real world at the end of the week....but will be easing myself into it by attending a stitching retreatover the weekend!.....Monday I will be back at work and this little break from reality will be but a memory....but a wonderful one....!

Mark phoned earlier to say everything is going well at home.....the house is still standing which has to be a plus! .......and he remembered to put the bin out for collection today! The floors are being finished and he can't walk on them to get to the kitchen (which was the first room finished) so has been climbing thru the servery to use the stove and dishwasher......probably more the latter I would think!

I bought several stitcheries to work on while I was here but have been reading more than stitching.....I was pleased to finish the binding on Ryley's quilt and this was the view as I stitched yesterday afternoon............

The Prince accompanied me on a visit to a patchwork shop on Sunday and found a jigsaw for me .....I haven't started it yet...but may start sorting out some of the pieces tomorrow.....

Time I was getting back to my book..................I will leave you with a collage of pics from the garden around the cottage....................

'Til next time..................Lorraine