Leading up to Christmas.....

Only a few more days and the festive season is upon us..... one of my favourite parts of this time of the year is decorating the house...... with a little help!

This year I have not added to my Santa "family" - about 52 at last count - but decided to add some lights to "brighten up" the scene.......

What else have I been up to since last here? Well, early November a "like-minded" friend and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Gerringong Quilt Exhibition....some of my favourite quilts.....

A few books have been read......

..........This book based on facts from those that new Anne Frank was very interesting 

though very  moving.

and one of my favourites......both funny & light-hearted ......inter-mingled with a few spiritual lessons 

At the end of November Hayley left the warmth of Burleigh Heads for a weekend and came south to attend a friend's baby shower.... we did manage to enjoy some quality time together as well - including sharing old family recipes - while devouring a bag of chocolate mint balls....and a bowl of chips! 

On the creative scene.... another pair of socks was knitted up (wool bought on my holiday) and were then packed up in a Christmas box heading to England for a certain someone about to have a cold Christmas.....

And a Christmas present to myself.......... this inspirational book..... SO many  lovely projects in it - I think the Tilda fabric range will now have to be added to my stash!! 

And that about brings me up to date - once again..... 

While Megan will be spending a "Winter" Christmas in England with James's family, Hayley & Mark will be having a sunny warm Christmas in Queensland and I will be in Sydney with other family members............all that is left is to wish my readers a "Happy & Peaceful Christmas" spent with their loved ones....may 2018 bring lots of good times and creativity your way.

Happy Stitching

Asta

Catching Up......

Has it really been 3 weeks since my lovely holiday came to an end?!! Well.... where have the last weeks gone - it's definitely time to catch up! 
A first stop in Sydney visiting mum & dad, then to pick up my sister Linda on the mid North Coast and we were on the way....an overnight stop in Grafton was needed as we had an extra long lunch stop with a friend in Nambucca Heads.....with the weather slowly deteriorating......here just past Grafton the following day.......

 But..... a few hours later from our apartment at Burleigh Heads! Nothing but sunshine!!

The following few days were spent with these 4 wonderful people.........a rare photo to have all 4 of them together!... James, Megan, Hayley & Mark

........... Mini-golfing

........ Breakfasts out

......... exploring Burleigh Heads National Park

All too soon our days together came to an end..... time to say goodbye ......

Megan & James flew back to Sydney for the weekend before flying back to England......

.....Hayley and Mark continue their idyllic lifestyle in beautiful Burleigh Heads! 

Linda and I made our way back to her place where I enjoyed another relaxing week....

........ Visits to an amazing nursery

..... a picnic or 2 - this one at Flynn's Beach in Port Macquarie - we had family holidays at "Port" in the 60's and 70's and used to go swimming here at Flynn's with our rubber surf boards!! 

........visits to numerous "Op" shops

........afternoon teas out - delicious lemon myrtle cheese cake at this one! (Miss Nellies in Kendall) 

.......... and the occasional walk.

All good holidays must come to an end and it was time to pack the car and start the journey home....... plants and all!!

.... with a weekend in Sydney on the way ..... celebrating Dad's 95th birthday!!......

...... enjoying an outing with mum - while dad rested at home after all the birthday excitement......

And..... then finally home!

Now....did I do any stash shopping while away you ask? Of course - how could I resist......

and have I been busy creating? Well....not a lot but these socks have been finished - another pair has been started with the wool bought while away .....  

So ....back to my knitting.... certainly has turned cool enough to be knitting again!

Happy Stitching!

Asta

On Holidays!

Yes, I know, my absence must have been noted for those that read my blog but I have not been on holidays - yet.... now I am on holidays for a couple of weeks and thought I MUST update before heading off to hopefully warmer parts - not that it has been particular cold here on the South Coast! 
So....here is a quick update - as I still have to pack and this blog update is on my "to do" list before leaving!
I had been doing some secret stitching for the Fat 1/4 Birthday club I'm in and my "secret" birthday girl's birthday was in September so now I can show you what I made for her.....

Pattern: Vicki Porter

 I have read a few books..... this first one based on a true story and because of that I found it quite moving - a review said "Agnus will stay with you long after the last page is turned" and I did find this to be true.....

 Time then to read a more "light hearted" novel.....

Followed by a Di Morrissey book.....

And....another jigsaw puzzle finished.... a little "ginger"...ummm wonder why I should choose that one?

 Time for a very belated birthday lunch (not mine)..... with some very dear friends at St Isidore.... a lovely restaurant with it's own produce garden and through which we wandered after a very delicious lunch!

 Here.... looking back at the restaurant from the garden.

And..... a very special person arrived home a week ago with her fiance for a short visit (only 2 weeks) but so lovely to have them both here.......They  spent their 1st week here.... even cooking me dinner one night (both chefs!) 

I am heading off this weekend for the 1st week of my holiday to Burleigh Heads visiting Hayley and her partner - picking up my (mid North Coast) sister, Linda, on the way and.... how great is this .....Megan & James are also heading to Burleigh Heads for the 2nd week of their holiday (though they will be flying) and going through Bundanoon first to visit her other Aunt & Uncle - looking forward to this coming week and being together with both my girls and their partners - doesn't happen very often!!

I think I'd better go and pack - heading off to Sydney first to spend some time with mum & dad as well! 

Will be back when I return with some holiday "snaps" 

Till next time

Happy Stitching

Asta

Birthdays & a Quilt Finished

We had a lovely family get together in July when my sisters and I got together in Sydney to celebrate our Mum's 88th birthday!! .....

 .... we laughed so much and took so long to take photos this is where the candles got to by the time Mum was blowing them out.... we all thought we'd be eating candle wax! 

With a little help (?) from Dora I managed to stitch the binding on this quilt - a belated birthday present for my sister Vivien and was able to give it to her when we were all in Sydney.......

 And.... as Vivien is a book designer we decided to take an "artistic" shot of the quilt!.........

Also finished one of my many knitting projects.... a lovely warm scarf.....

.....read a couple more books and finished another jigsaw puzzle (my new hobby)................

And....then August arrived ....and my birthday! Amongst lovely gifts from family and friends I also received these from my fellow "Fat Quarter Birthday Swap" members ......

....a lovely selection of greens as I'm collecting greens to be used for a quilt I plan to make (one day!) that will remind me of the lovely green forests we wandered through when I was in Europe last year......

This past weekend was spent with a little more hand stitching and decision making about the next quilt for a special person!  ...... fabrics being sorted and deciding on a pattern!

Till next time....

Happy Stitching

Asta