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

A Quilt Finished!

Trying to keep up to date so not too many weeks go past before my next post!

I have actually finished my batik quilt during the past week and with fabric left over spent Sunday making a couple of pillows to go with it.....

Also during the week my Nature's Journey quilt came back from being quilted by Jenny - a lovely lady who is a member of our embroidery group......

...umm - probably should have closed the blind first so you could see the whole quilt...

...... so a visit to Steph's Fabrics was needed to purchase some binding fabric.... and thanks to a very helpful shop assistant I came home with one I didn't expect to get.... I had in my mind a brown and came home with the one in this photo....

lined up along the edge here....

....it is one of Anni's fabrics from "Under the Mistletoe" range.....now to cut it up and start sewing.... nearly there!

And another book has been finished......

so another challenge can be ticked off the reading challenge I'm in...... " a book set somewhere you'd like to live"..... who wouldn't like to live in Provence? .... I read this a few years ago and enjoyed it just as much the 2nd time! 

That's been my past week / weekend..... off to do more reading, cut up some binding and start watching the last series of Downton Abbey.

Happy Stitching 

Asta

During the Past Week......

It was really lovely having Hayley home from Queensland - even if it was only briefly.... a week between a friend's hens night and wedding... her partner Mark arrived (with these flowers)  a couple of days later....

 Told her I would sneak this photo in of her with her face mask the morning of the wedding...

and here they both are at the wedding....

Meanwhile, the senior member (17 yrs old)  of our feline family had not been very well but after a couple of days at the vets he started to recover.... here is Mezzie convalescing on my lap - on top of the batik quilt I'm now sewing the binding on.... getting there!  

And... Megan sent some more photos over from Les Gets - she is now half way through what she calls her "French Alps Adventure" .... her contract as chef finishing at end of April,  I think! Here are just a few of the photos....

Today the postman delivered this......

.... after 2 years of blogging I decided to have it made into a journal that can be enjoyed as a book....it was interesting to look back and see what I've been doing and stitching. 

I've been asked to stage manage the next production for our local theatre group.... it is voluntary but is something extra to add to my agenda - at least for the first few months of the year with rehearsals usually taking up time on weekends and after work..... valuable stitching time!..... never mind - they were unexpectedly left without a stage manager.... 

Not a lot of stitching over the past week but time has also been spent reading and I should add that my Nature's Journey quilt is ready to be picked up from the quilters so will be back soon to give you an update! Till next time.....

Happy Stitching

Asta

Quilt Top Finished

Yesterday was a sewing day! ..... and with a little supervision......

my Nature's Journey quilt top was finally finished.......

 

now to make a decision about the quilting.... to machine quilt or to hand quilt.... maybe a bit of both? 

Sunday, and a very neglected corner of the garden needed some urgent attention! .....

.... yes it was in rather a bad state! Even Dora (the explorer) had trouble navigating the jungle!

A couple of (hot) hours later .....

......am deciding now what to do with this little corner - maybe scrape up all the little crushed stones, lay a weed mat down and replace with some new stones?

The afternoon was enjoyed catching up with a friend over coffee and cake at a local cafe (no photo though) 

And while all this was happening Megan (daughter no 2), after travelling through parts of Europe and Eastern block countries since April, was settling down in a little village in the French Alps......

getting ready to start work for the Winter months as a sous-chef at a ski chalet. What a life!

Well, time to find another project to start.... or maybe one to finish! 

Happy Stitching
Asta

A Sewing Weekend!

Spending time on my Nature's Journey quilt was on the agenda for this weekend.... and that was just what I did!...... The 2" blocks (cut up last weekend and partially sewn together) were finished off on Saturday.....

 .... while fighting off the beginnings of a cold :( .... also taking time to sit on the back deck with a book must have  helped as Sunday came around and was feeling a lot better :) ......now to move onto the next border - all the applique blocks done earlier in the year .... and here is the progress so far - blowing in the wind late this afternoon! 

Two more borders to do and the top will be complete!

Happy Stitching
Asta

Catch Up

A visit to my sister's place at Bundanoon a couple of weekends ago - catching up with mum and dad as well who were also visiting from Sydney..... Vivien, mum and I hit the Bowral shops for a bit of retail therapy.... and they don't even have a patchwork shop! Followed by a leisurely afternoon back "home" - enjoying a cup of tea and starting a new book - the film starts shortly and I prefer to read the book before seeing the movie!

 A stroll around my sister's garden.... she has one of those wonderful rambling sort of gardens.....

Saturday night and it was time to head down to the local Bundanoon hall and listen to a wonderful piano recital by Gerard Willems it was amazing! The "Arts Bundanoon" group bring in musicians to play at their local hall...... the poster on one of the shop windows....

And a photo of mum with Gerard.... she is a retired piano teacher (retired t 80!) and was "over the moon" after having a chat with Gerard!

 I had taken stitching to do but returned Sunday with not a stitch been done!

And must mention that my dad pictured here with mum celebrated his 93rd birthday during this past week! A real milestone and still going strong!

A week later and this book is finished...  a thoroughly enjoyable book with a surprise ending! ... now to wait for the movie. 

Also have been to see the movie"Oddball" what a great "feel-good" Australian movie based on true events! 
 ...and I am back to the Nature's Journey quilt which I haven't touched for couple of weeks - just seemed to have lost interest in it for a while - just needed a break? - anyway, I am back enjoying the "journey" again and there should be more regular updates on the progress! 

That's about it for now....
Happy Stitching
Asta