Just A Little Catch Up

Well what have I been up to lately?... Not a lot!..... Another "bowl" sits ready to be felted....

Then ended up with my kneck "out of sorts" so after a couple of weeks decided I should visit the doctor - a pinched nerve was probably the original culprit - maybe take a break from knitting! Who would have thought a tiny knitted bowl could cause so much inconvenience!!

So no crafting is happening here but I have been reading and now another challenge can be ticked off my reading list...... "A book written by an author with the same first name as you". Well.....there were very few books that fitted that category but while searching came across this  book - "Asta's Book" by Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rendell) and what a good book it was!! "Obsessively readable" said one review and it certainly was!!

I bought the book through Fishpond for $8 - it came through their 2nd hand book warehouse..... the book was reasonably well used with the original sticker on the back showing it had been bought from Dubai Duty Free.... I wonder what tales the book could tell as to where it had journeyed from there to me!!

While not doing any crafting I did spend time in my sewing room - tidying, looking, thinking.... and am contemplating this project next - have some larger ones but thought a smaller one - achievable within a month might do for now.... (not started yet though!)

Then last Saturday arrived and I decided after a week of miserable weather (and work) I NEEDED some retail therapy so I took myself off to my favourite local patchwork shop.....

....and some lovely flowers came home too.... :) 

That's about it for now....the knitting and sewing are sitting there to be worked on but I'll give my kneck a bit longer to recover...

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

Snippets from the past month!!

Has it really being a whole month since I was last here!! Well, what have I been up to......

 I have been catching up with friends over dinners, lunches and coffees some of which were put on hold while I was stage managing the latest Bay Theatre Players show... now finished with a lovely flower arrangement received as a "thank you".....

Then it was off to Canberra for a "Winter" wedding at this lovely chapel......

..... Hayley and her partner Mark travelled down from Burleigh Heads where they now live and work to attend the wedding....

and here I am with Hayley.....

Canberra Winters can be a bit bleak......

....but I'm not sure what this little tree just peeking out was thinking - had it forgotten it was Winter or was it a bit of wishful thinking!

A bit of retail therapy while in Canberra....these are the important purchases! 

While Mark had to return to Burleigh, Hayley spent the following week here at home as the following weekend marked the 1st anniversary of the tragic accident that took the life of her dad and another loved father in a plane crash here on the South Coast.... the anniversary was noted by a flyover of 14 small planes, followed by a barbeque all organised by the local aero club....here's Hayley about to take off (as a passenger!) in one of the planes....

During the past few weeks Megan celebrated her birthday in Munich so I just had to "send" her a present - via Face Book - with a donut and candle for her and a donut each for Hayley - who was here then - and me....

...she told us we could eat the chocolates - she plans to be away for at least a couple of years!

A finish- this book - really enjoyed it!

By the middle of June I had my blocks for Nature's Journey finished - I'm sure they were in my previous post .... and thought - "Great! I'll get a head start on July".... did that happen? No :( so here I am with just the centre block put together....

.... am now back working on it....every spare minute - well nearly! 

Meanwhile I continued crocheting my blanket .... when little "miss" here hadn't claimed it as a really cosy spot to sleep during this cold weather!

and have finished this table runner - eventually!! 

So that's the month that was!

Am just about to head out the door on a chilly night but joining friends for a night of stitching beckons......

Will be back sooner rather than later... next time!

Happy Stitching...

Asta

Catching Up

My flowers in the house for the past week have been these beautiful carnations.....

After some days of rain  and rather dismal weather - fortunately not as severe as in Sydney and the Hunter Valley - it was lovely to be welcomed by a little sunshine in the house this morning......

...and it was still shining on my way home from work.....

Have been busy stitching the Stitch a Long project but the 5 blocks here became 3 after unpicking my little bug appliques as I had sewn their wings on under their little bodies instead of on top - I guess you could say they were flying upside down! 

A little knitting of my cardigan has been happening too - but no photos and not a lot achieved - there was some unpicking with that too as I had incorrectly read the instructions! 

The postman dropped off this little purchase from The Home Patch.......

..... and I finished reading......

.......  set in China and Japan from 1903 - 1942 and following historical events of the time it tells the story of a young English woman living in China then in Japan after she leaves her daughter and husband following an affair with a Japanese soldier - quite a good read.

Off to search through my "unread books" bookshelf for my next book......

Happy stitching

Asta

My Weekend...

Another couple of days spent at my sister's place in Bundanoon... a few months ago I took an Autumn photo of her front yard, just as a reminder here it is again....

I missed winter up there but here is the same tree waking up to spring.....

On the way home a new pair of shoes was purchased - perhaps they will do some walking during my upcoming holiday to Hawaii - the colour does look tropical!

And some some balls of wall from Jukejema Quilting Barn in Nowra - will be addded to my growing pile of wool to eventually be made into granny squares!...

Sunday morning was spent finishing reading my current book....

 ....... and later in the day some more secret sewing... that's about it for this weekend...

Happy Stitching

Asta

The Postman Came....

....and this is what he delivered!

Well.... the temptation was too much when Patchwork Plus advertised a 4 day sale the other week! ....

Happy Stitching
Asta

Hello...back from Sydney

A  relaxing week was spent in Sydney last week - catching up with my mum & dad - one in their 80's the other in their early 90's.... and still in their own home!

I did do some stitching, reading and knitting while I was away - as you would have seen by my earlier post I was certainly prepared for whatever I felt like doing... lunches out with my mum and some shopping......
Here... a haberdashery shop which my mum went to when a teenager - still owned by the same family! 

 And here..... Cottage Quiltworks at Warriewood....this was the display that greeted you as you walked into this lovely shop.....

 There were so many lovely fabrics and I did buy a couple of pieces but this was my "special" buy - I have always admired Brigitte Giblin's work..... goodness knows when I will do one of the projects from this book - meanwhile I may just have to add to my stash!

A few finds from a Vinnie's store - always good for a poke around.....

 And...home on Saturday via lunch at my sister's place in Bundanoon (Southern Highlands) where the trees are all "dressed" in their beautiful Autumn colours - even though it was overcast....

Back to work today :( ..... 

Will be back again tomorrow to post my OPAMs for the month.....nearly finished!!!
Happy Stitching
Asta

Detour Home....

End  of a busy week at work and late night rehearsals.....thought I deserved a pick-me-up and detoured home via my local patchwork shop Stephs Fabrics...... added to my stash......not that I really needed anything but it did make me feel so much better as the week came to a close!!

May not get much time (again) to sew this weekend - am still altering costumes for our up and coming theatre production.....oh! if only it was a paid job!! ......

Am off now to watch The Doctor Blake Mysteries and do some knitting.....love the authenticity of the show - set in 1950's - and seeing Craig McLachlan - remember him from all those years ago? Channel 2 8.30 AEST

Happy stitching

Asta

Mail Delivery & More

The postie delivered a couple of parcels this week.....my "to do" list is now a little longer.......

The 3 patterns are all from Anni Downs and the charm pack is from a new range of French General fabrics - La Fete de Noel......I thought I'd be good and only get the charm pack - I'm sure I have some of every range from French General - just haven't cut into them yet!!
"Inspirations" and "Love Quilting" came home with me when I called into the newsagent on the way home from work.....then found "Homespun" had arrived in the mail......Dinner and then a lovely cup of tea is in store while I browse through these......

Tomorrow I'm off to Nowra for the"Airing of the Quilts" Exhibition (held at the St Michael's School Hall, North St, Nowra) over this weekend......I go each year to see the lovely quilts on display and catch up with a couple of friends whom I've known for about 

40 years!!....

I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend....whatever you are doing.....

Happy Stitching

Asta