July Update

A quick update for July before moving into August..... The month of July always brings our mum's birthday and time for another family celebration in Sydney but unfortunately due to lockdown that was not to be so a "virtual" birthday cake was sent and a shared cup of tea.....

.....Mum received her presents by post including this one I finished in time ........

Apart from this little bit of creativity have, as always, been reading......This was a book bought at Storyfest this year .... a biography about Elizabeth von Arnim - an early twentieth century author...was interesting.... 

"Happy" mail arrived during the past week....time to knit myself something - let's see how long it takes as the last garment took 3 Winters to finish! 

And while we can't really travel too far Megan & James in England went mountain bike riding in Wales - Megan's new found sport and Hayley in Queensland spent a few days camping with friends in Girraween National Park - well known for it's boulders! 

So that's about if for July......maybe August will bring a little more creativity, some more reading and warmer weather which for me brings more motivation! 

 

Christmas Wishes

I really have not been very productive over the last few months..... but did finish a small "Mandala" as a gift for a friend's "special" birthday.....

Over the last few weeks we have had some terrible fires down my way - which are still burning - thankfully our area did not have loss of life but property has been lost and countless wildlife has perished or become "homeless".....roads had been closed and some still are.....I have boxes packed - just in case I directly was going to be affected by the fires....... and I found that my usual enthusiasm for Christmas decorating just wasn't there.... Then Megan in England sent a photo of her decorated tree and when I told her how I felt her answer came back.... "You shouldn't let the fires burn the spirit of Christmas"...... so out came a smaller tree, some tea-light candles, 7 of my 68 Santas and some Christmas cushion covers for the lounge.... and it became my serene spot to sit and take in the Christmas spirit.....

I hope to be spending Christmas with my family but as of this afternoon the highway up north has been closed again so will have to wait and see what the morning brings.......wherever you, my readers, are spending your Christmas may it be with loved ones sharing this special time of the year and have a healthy and happy 2020! 

Happy Stitching

Asta

Sydney Weekend

A family celebration last weekend in Sydney when the family gathered for Mum's birthday......

"Happy Birthday" was sung to the accompaniment of my sister playing her Ukele!

And....just to keep my "blog diary" up to date..... these cottons and fabric......

were finished a few weeks ago to become.......

.....this embroidered "Mandala".... a birthday gift for Megan in England and,  following on from her holiday in Morocco and Portugal just prior to her birthday, I decided to use "Moroccan" colours! 

A book has been read........this was the 3rd in Cormoran Strike novels written by Robert Galbraith (aka KJ Rowlings) ....enjoyed the read but found it a bit more gruesome than the previous two novels..... 

.....Catching up with friends down from Sydney and their (local) neighbours..... over a "bush" barbeque on their lovely (holiday) acreage!

Also.... some fabrics have been taken out for a quilt........

And... a word of advice..... if buying a kit and you don't plan on making it up straight away check your fabrics before putting it away in your stash! I had this kit for some years (!) and when I took it out one of the fabric lengths was short by 20cm! I did find something similar to replace it with and further progress has been made.... but more on that in my next update!!

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

Snippets from the last (and a bit) month!

Oh dear... has it really been that long! Excuses? I don't really have any :( .... sometimes it was because honestly, I just didn't feel like sitting in front of a computer after a day at work... much rather sit with a bit of stitching, a book or anything else! 
So... starting from where I left off - and mainly through photos - I'll do a bit of a catch-up....would you believe my last post was FNWF way back in November! 
During November our local "Handmade Market" was attended.....

My Tuesday night embroidery group finished off the year with a Xmas dinner at a local Thai restaurant....... 

A Xmas shopping trip to Canberra saw me make a "slight" detour to Hobbysew - quilting thread for Nature's Journey quilt and just a couple of little extras...love the 30's Playtime!

Xmas stitching was started...... only a sneek peek at one though!

Some decision making on a few other gifts currently being worked on......

My sewing room which has been a "work in progress" for some time and has been mentioned in earlier posts has now gone from this.... when all my crafting supplies were gathered up from various "hidey holes" around the house to one spot....

to this....... amazing what you can do when you are in the "mood" to tidy up! 

Meanwhile a couple of books were read...... I'm sure most of us are familiar with the first one...and I also enjoyed the movie....

 ...the 2nd book was interesting - followed the lives of a (fictional) family settling in Sydney in mid 1880's - was written in 1929.

By early December it was time to post Megan's Xmas box if it was to get to France in time!

....meanwhile Les Gets (in the French Alps) had its first snow fall for the season and Megan's home for the next 6 months went from this.....

to this......

My Xmas this year will be spent at my sister's in Bundanoon... it will be the first one ever (!) not shared with Hayley (now living in Queensland and one when she was living in Canada) and Megan so... the house is a little quiet with them not coming home this year...BUT this was no reason not to decorate so here are some of my "special"decorations 

Santa collection - 39 of them!

A smaller angel collection

And my candle mat ........

also a slightly smaller tree than usual...... but it brings the spirit of Xmas to the home! 

So now I should be up to date!! 

The next week or so I will be busy finishing Xmas gifts but will be back soon to show you what I have been up to...... 

Till then

Happy Stitching

Asta

A Sunny Sunday!

Well, after a week of very cold - return to Winter - sort of weather the sun showed itself today so whatever housework hadn't been done was shelved and it was time to sit on the back deck with some stitching....

.... a bit of Xmas stitching - getting organised this year!
Took a wander around my garden as well ..... a white lavender that seems to like it's shady spot....

and one of the clivias showing off it's beautiful orange colour....

....and while Dora had a  nap after all the activities of a sunny day.....

 I made a start on cutting out all those 400 x 2" squares for the Nature's Journey quilt!

Hope everyone also had a productive weekend with some relaxation thrown in!

Happy Stitching

Asta

A Productive Sunday

Here it is February and I have had a busy day finishing a couple of (small) projects!

I have finished a Gail Pan pattern from her lovely book " Patchwork Loves Embroidery"....

... the fabrics are from my stash and the thread is a Cottage Garden one called "Bush Christmas".... I think I will be keeping this one for myself :) .... I'm sure I'll find something to put in it...














Then another.....fabric basket. This is the 5th one I have made of these and I believe all the recipients are finding them very useful... this one is a gift for my sister....

...and stitching got underway for SAL 2015.....

Not much more stitching to be done tonight - off to watch the tennis... shame I haven't got any knitting to do - that can be done while watching TV!

Hope everyone has had a productive start to the month!
Happy Stitching
Asta