Nowra Quilt Show

The Nowra Quilt show was on this weekend so time to head up the highway and enjoy another wonderful show and catch up with friends..... The show didn't disappoint with some outstanding quilts on show..... 

But this one was amazing......

.........1000's of 1/4" hexagons!! 

A few shops had been set up so a couple of purchases were acquired......

...... not too much as I'm currently re-organising my sewing room and well.... need I say more!

For years I've been attending this show with my dear friend, Alison, from Nowra..... over time Deb and Vicki (both from Sydney) have joined us for our "day out" and this year Fran came up from Tasmania.... though only 2 of us actually quilt (Alison and myself) the connection is that we all met working for the Sydney Waterboard (I think it's now called Sydney Water) in 1972!! Over time we went our own ways - mainly due to re-locating through marriage but have always kept in touch one way or another - though the 5 of us have not all been together for quite some time...... a photo taken at one of our earlier reunions in 1982......

....and one taken on Saturday (note sitting in the same position) .......

We all had a great time - reminiscing, catching up with family news....... and at the end of the day headed home with promises to get together more often! 

Back on the home front another snake has been spied in the garden by Miss Dora and myself - slithering away into the neighbour's yard.... some years ago I had a BIG python which was removed by the "snake catcher" this time it's a black snake - they do tend to keep away if you make noise which I'm hoping is the case....but... Miss Dora is a more indoor cat than usual at the moment not venturing much further than the front doorstep! 

Not a lot of creativity happening at the moment - socks from my last post are progressing but that's about all....... till next time....

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

Catching Up!

A fortnight since my last post..... the weeks seem to fly by.......
Last weekend saw a day of mixed emotions as I attended a "farewell" for a lovely fellow who was part of our local theatre .... I had had the privilege of stage managing a couple of shows which he was in and over the years had got to know his family as well..... 
The evening of the same day..... and I was heading off to a birthday celebration for a work colleague -  it was fancy dress! So.... here I am in disguise as a re-invented "hippie" .... wig and all!

Sewing has been happening as well.... with a start made on the binding of the Nature's Journey quilt...

... I enjoy doing the binding by hand but really with temps gradually climbing to 40 deg there wasn't a lot done as the week progressed!

A UFO has also been brought out of "hiding".... so far back I can't even remember when - possibly 15 years ago? - this quilt was put together.....

and is now finally being  quilted - simple quilting I'm doing by machine....though progress is very slow as Miss Dora seems to think it makes for a very cosy sleeping spot......settling in very quickly before I move the quilt around! 

Catching up with friends during the past week was on the agenda.... dinner at a Thai restaurant mid week with a few friends..... and yesterday catching a movie ("Carol" starring Cate Blanchett) with another friend followed by dinner at one of our local clubs with this as our view....

And.....during a busy week managed to finish another book.....

 ......so I can now tick off yet another reading challenge...... "a book with a blue cover"

Hopefully a cooler week lies ahead........ as I'm typing away here I hear rain has started falling..... time to head to bed with another book!

Happy Stitching!
Asta

My Weekend.

Weekend spent catching up with friends - Saturday a movie "Last Cab to Darwin" - I really enjoyed this Australian movie - followed by dinner (no photos though).....
Sunday lunch to one of my favourite restaurants at Cupitts Winery  with a couple of other friends - the view from our table....

 .....and our desserts!

........and some outdoor entertainment.......

Some stitching also did get done, though not as much as I'd hoped - the outcome of which is that my August block for Nature's Journey quilt is not yet finished.... but -  there has been progress and  I hope to have it finished by the end of the week.....(just a note that the diamonds on the side are not sewn down yet - just been put into place so still a bit to do!)

.... And one small project finished for OPAM this month..... a fabric basket...

 Another working week underway, though, I will be on holidays the following week :) !!

Happy Stitching
Asta 

A Hint of Spring!

A hint of Spring in the air this weekend! ... and I was out gardening very early on Saturday morning so this (from my previous post).....

became this .......

where later in the day I enjoyed afternoon tea while reading.....

......time was also spent deciding on some of the colours for the Nature's Journey quilt...

....a walk down at one of my local beaches.... 

...and the weekend finished off with afternoon tea in the company of a good friend at our local Botanical Gardens.....

A weekend making the most of the warmer weather while it was here.... 

Happy Stitching
Asta