Secret Sewing & Reading

"Good Morning Sunshine....."

The warm Autumn days are still with us - inside and out..................

 What have I been up to over the last couple of weeks! Well..... all "secret" sewing which is still ongoing!

 .....and reading..... this book being another challenge ticked off - "a book that is to be a film in 2016" ...... I found this story a bit slow to start off with but ended up not being able to put it down - a surprise ending! 

 The next book has been started - " must have a number in the title" - this is another Agatha Christie book I've kept from way back when I spent my summer school holidays reading her books - note the price 60c!

 Another trip to my local patchwork shops Steph's Fabrics...... firstly enjoying a coffee from the cafe bar while overlooking all the temptation in her shop.....

 .....leaving with a new knitting book and ball of wool as there was a pattern I plan to knit up... it will be a another "secret" project..... and the original purpose of my trip - the material for the border of the "secret" quilt which will soon be finished (note the fabric tucked behind the book)..... this quilt is not being "gifted" till June so will be a while before it appears here!

So for the time being everything here is very secretive!!..... I do have projects to work on but at the moment the secret ones have deadlines! Till next time......

Happy Stitching!

Asta

The Past Week

 Even though Hayley's visit last week could best be described as a "flying visit" it was lovely to catch up again and also have time to enjoy a scrumptious (and healthy) breakfast at a local cafe before she headed back home to Queensland ......

Later in the week these 2 parcels arrived - and on the same day!

from 2 of my favourite shops (unfortunately too far to get to but then again that might be a good thing otherwise my stash would be HUGE!!) ....and what was inside?.......

I love Anni's patterns but am starting to think it's her fabric choice that draws me to her patterns...but whatever the reason - well, do you really have to have a reason? And the Mon Ami charm pack is for the pattern I bought the week before from Steph's Fabrics....

...the one on the right which uses Charm Squares - I already had a few pieces of the Mon Ami range and together with these charm squares and pattern will be "stashed" away for the time being as I have "secret" sewing I need to be doing at the moment.... will endeavor to start something that is not "secret"!

Off to make a cup of tea and watch the final episode of Downton Abbey.... 

Happy Stitching

Asta

Relaxing Weekend!

This past weekend was a quiet one with just a little mix of this and that.......
Saturday morning decided take a drive down to my local patchwork shop.....Stephs Fabrics - just for some freezer paper - well - who would have guessed that a couple of extra purchases would come home!....had been deliberating as to whether to purchase Anni's latest book and as I walked into the shop...there it was!! The other pattern? Well, it just caught my eye! 

 This lovely bunch of daisies also found their way to my home.... to brighten the day!

 Over the rest of the weekend time was spent doing a bit of "secret" sewing......

 ....another book was finished and now "a book that involves the ocean" can be ticked off my reading challenge.... I had not read a Di Morrissey book before - thoroughly enjoyed this one...."The Winter Sea"....it was set on the South Coast - not far from where I live - an added bonus to the story line!

........and a start was made on writing up copious notes for stage managing our latest local theatre production.... unfortunately it can take up quite a bit of time and that, together with working full time, leaves not a lot of time for other more creative pursuits.....but... after this show I plan to take a break for a while..... as with all voluntary organisations it always seems to be the same people that put their hand up!

 These 2 were having a bit of a tiff on Sunday as to who had the chair with a cardigan to sleep on... the solution was found with a second old "round the house" cardigan found!

 The postman should be bringing a couple more "retail therapy" purchases this week....and... Hayley is arriving from Queensland for a few days (unexpected) visit - will be lovely to see her and spend time catching up over cups of tea!!...I do miss my girls!

Happy Stitching!
Asta

April - FNWF

Surprise! Surprise! I'm back and it was only a couple of days ago that I updated my blog...... but I thought while I'm still enjoying my cup of tea I would update my (virtual) FNWF and show you what I have achieved......
The embroidery group I belong to is run by Fiona and during our Xmas break we get given "homework" .... usually a block to embroider that will be made into raffle quilt or such like....well I have been (very) slowly plodding along with mine and decided it was about time I finished it so.....

with only the outline of the heart to do..

....... it was finally finished off.....

My finished block will now join the others already finished -  this year they will be made up into a few wall hangings for our local hospital. We have about 70 ladies in our group (there being an evening and a daytime group) and each of these embroidered hearts is different! 

Hope others had a creative night.....doing whatever you enjoy!

Happy Stitching

Asta 

March is nearly over!!

Well, here we are nearly at the end of March! And....before the month does come to an end I'd better do a bit of catching up!! 

The Easter weekend has come and gone...... pottered around home doing a bit of de-cluttering, a spot of reading & another reading challenge ticked off - " a classic from the 20th century" .... a sewing project has re-surfaced after being shelved when I started Nature's Journey quilt.... I feel this one could take a smidgen longer than NJ!! ....a small (secret) new project started so not too much to show there..... one (or more!) hot cross buns enjoyed..... a visit from a friend..... theatre rehearsal to attend.... a visit to a friend........

another "challenge" read

 a project revisted and .......

a new (secret) project  using pattern from Gossip in the Garden.......

and in between a few little goodies......

The weekend before Easter and a trip to Sydney was on the agenda..... time to celebrate my sister Linda's "special" birthday with a family dinner at La Botte - great Italian restaurant - the special day was in February but it took till March to get our (small) family together on the same weekend..... the disadvantage of living so far apart from each other :(

And..... my favourite season has arrived!!! Yes it's Autumn - the early crisp mornings were the give away as these 2 decided to find a sunny spot and discuss what they were going to get up to for the day......

Will be back in April with - hopefully - some progress on my projects and any other news of the day! 

Happy Stitching

Asta

A Finish and Nowra Quilt Show

I can now say that my Nature's Journey quilt is finally complete.......

 and even the label is on the back!

After some thought I decided to note it as finished in 2015 - the quilt top was completed then but it took me much longer to decide whether to hand quilt or get it machine quilted - by the time the decision was made Jenny had quite a few Xmas orders so I waited till January....then it became too hot to do a lot of hand sewing but eventually my binding was on!

During the past week I also went to the movies to see "The Lady in the Van" - a lovely movie with the lead played by Maggie Smith -  no-one else could have played the part!

Another book challenge was ticked off "A book to read in a day"

a "feel good" story read in just over 4 hours!

Then it was Saturday and time for my annual trip up to the Nowra Quilt Exhibition to catch up with a couple of "long time" friends.... this time a 4th member of our group was able to come....... it had been over 30 years since we had all been together!

(the one in pink was our "4th" friend......... the lady in the middle and her family moved to Tasmania)... we are now working on getting her here 

too!...so here we are, 4 of the 5, some 30 years later at the exhibition.....

There were some very inspirational quilts...a couple of my favourites...

this was called "Antique Sampler" the label said "Sue Daley" so I presume it must be one of her patterns..and a close up

....a stunning quilt in the Bargello design....

This year they also had a pillow exhibition (last year's was tea cosies)....this was my favourite....... 

And what show is not complete without a bit of retail therapy..........additions to my stash for "Gossip In The Garden" quilt.

Sunday morning.....some time spent at a theatre rehearsal and the day finished off with a short 5 minute walk from my house.....

down a little bush track......

to my local beach for a late afternoon dip

Autumn is very overdue so perhaps I may still get another swim in - though cooler weather would be very welcome!

Till next time

Happy Stitching

Asta

FNWF

The first Friday in March and it was time for a catch up with blogging friends.......

....but first I caught up with my friend Dzintra after work.....over a couple of drinks at a new local restaurant....

Earlier in the week I had met up with friends for a dinner at the same restaurant..... a lovely outlook over the river and our local marina....

...........this one from a distance

Back to Friday night..... I'm starting a"secret" sewing project so spent time doing some calculations for extra border fabric required - the rest had been "stashed" away for quite some time!

 Once that was sorted it was time for a bit of stitching - what else but my Nature's Journey quilt! The weather has been so warm that hand stitching with a quilt over the knees was not even a consideration so it has taken some time to get the binding finished but this time I was on a mission!!

with a little interruption when these 2 decided my lap was a very comfy spot to have a nap!

....the last stitch was in sight! ....though I still have the label to do for the back...then I will "announce" it finished! 

Saturday and it was time to head to Stephs Fabrics to purchase fabric for my "secret" project..... driving along the beautiful Moruya River on the way.....

Steph has now added a coffee bar to her "inspirational" shop....... opening onto the street and into her shop .....

One of Stephs assistants 

Steph on the the left and her barista

......What a coincidence that I should run into a like-minded friend, Mary.... Now I really had an excuse to stay and enjoy a coffee....the problem being that you can gaze over the lovely fabrics and contemplate whether you really need to buy more.... I did resist.... at least till next time!!

 A quick stop at an op-shop and another book was found for my book challenge "a book about an ocean".... pictured here with just a very sneaky peek at the fabric purchased....

Then time to head off to a luncheon date with a dear friend, Barb, but no photos - we were too busy chatting as we hadn't caught up for quite some time!  

On the agenda for the rest of the weekend? Dropping into a rehearsal for the play I'm stage managing - still not a lot for me to do yet....hopefully get my label made for Nature's Journey quilt.....maybe a spot of gardening - the "green" waste bin gets picked up this week so I feel I should fill it!.... And - checking in on what others were up to on Friday night!

Happy Stitching
Asta