A bit of this and that.....

Well....this is about "a little bit of this and that" since that's exactly what I have been doing......
Firstly a "1/2" finish - one of a pair of socks.......

 Another book finished.... this one... ummm.... not sure what I thought about it  - I would best describe it as a fantasy - it was interesting but I was pleased when all 465 pages were read and I could say it was finished!

Yesterday I spent time sorting out fabrics for some (small) projects I plan on starting.....

These fabrics have been accumulating for some time for a particular project and once the fabrics were out..... the empty box was a good spot to while away some time!

Some of the fabrics being cut up all ready for a 3rd project to work on......

It always amazes me that I take out fabrics for projects and it makes such a minuscule dent in the fabric stash!!! ... does that say something about what I actually have?? 

I also have a WIP (work in progress) which is sorting out my fabrics and sewing room - there will one day be a photo but only when there is a definite "before" and "after"!! 

Back soon with some progress on the sewing projects!

Happy Stitching

Asta

                          

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 

The Last 2 Weeks

Before we get into what I've been doing the past 2 weeks will just go back to a bit of "secret sewing" I can now show you as it has been gifted in the Fat 1/4 Birthday Swap......

.... a lovely pattern by Gail Pan, fabric by Anni Downes, sewing by me!

The mail man came again.... 

.... a journal of my blog over the last 2 years - this is the second one I've had printed and it gives me real pleasure to look back over the last couple of years and see what I have been up to.... 
A little something for myself was made......

and so here is "Florence"!

I always read a blog by Helen Philips and have loved her bunnies..... well what do you know!....I found her pattern in the September 2017 issue of Homespun! It has been ear-marked for a while but she's finally made! I plan on making some more for family - cardigans have all been knitted - now to find the time! 

Then decided I needed a project while watching TV so another pair of socks was started.......

....these ones being a gift for a friend who has a Winter birthday so have some time before they will be needed! 

And....my favourite season - AUTUMN - has finally arrived!! Love the colours and cooler days with a fresh "crisp" feeling! ....though they're not quite here yet.......

Happy Stitching

Asta

Last Week.....

Last week..... came home from work to find this parcel at my front door.....

Inside......

Yes....another project!

The same time last year I started a project from Lucy at Attic 24 - it was a CAL (crochet-a-long) - the design was called "Moorland" blanket...... I was drawn to the lovely colours she chose as they depicted the heather on the English Moors....this is where it is up to at present.....

The pattern was "ripple" design....... I had ripples everywhere - not just across the width but the sides as well!! It was starting to look like another UFO in the making!! I have decided I will go back to it - as soon as the weather cools off!! Meanwhile...... she has another CAL called "Woodland" blanket based on Autumn colours with the blue sky filtering through the trees.... as I love Autumn I just HAD to order this as well...... but am thinking when I do start it may just be rows of granny squares - something simple!! 

My "secret sewing" has also been finished this week - no peeking yet! 

Back to reading.... during the week I finished this book.....

....inside the dust cover of this book it describes it as a collection of "new and uncollected tales of murder, mischief, magic and madness"...... well, some stories I really enjoyed, others I didn't and the last left me feeling quite....saddened.... I feel like I now need to read a much happier and light-hearted book..... off to browse through my bookcase & see what I find......

I will leave you with a photo of Miss Dora enjoying a balmy Sunday evening in one of her favourite spots.......

Till next time...

Happy Stitching

Asta

A (Very) Little Trip Away....

After a very busy and somewhat stressful week at work I headed off to Canberra on Friday afternoon - a 2 hour drive dodging (unexpected) storms along the way!! You've heard of "storm chasers"? Well this time it was me being chased by storms - the black skies and lightning being very menacing but no photos - I wasn't stopping for anything!! 
Saturday was a much more pleasant day as I headed out for some retail therapy - including one of my favourite shops.....

After an hour of browsing - and being very tempted - I finally left with just these purchases....

The latest Homespun magazine has a lovely BOM using some of the Tilda fabrics but, though my initial reaction was "yes, I must make this", having some time to think on it while browsing,  I decided I had enough projects on my "to do" list and will be happy enough to maybe create a block or 2 ....perhaps some cushions?..... I did buy some Tilda fabrics though.......at this point in time I'm just adding them to my stash!!..... And a charm pack to make a "table topper" - also in this issue of Homespun.

Then a stop off to Myers - and new shoes came home with me!

Next stop to visit friends where I enjoyed a few hours lunching, having afternoon tea and catching up before heading home again - this time no storms! 

Sunday has been spent doing some "secret sewing", reading....this book was finished and again Kate Morton didn't disappoint - really enjoy her books! 

And so another week starts...... another book will be started, more "secret sewing" - it's not huge but it seems to take forever when I work full-time and enjoy my reading time as much as stitching time..... oh - for more hours in the day!! 

Happy Stitching

Asta

Sydney Weekend

A long weekend and a trip to Sydney, stopping at a lovely  park in Berry along the way

...........being a public holiday on the Friday my favourite embroidery shop and a patchwork shop I frequently visit on any trip between Sydney and home were closed - maybe a blessing in disguise?? Didn't even make it on the way home on the Sunday as they were shut by the time I was coming through....Oh No!!
The occasion for this Sydney weekend and for the family congregating at our parents place again was to celebrate my sister Linda's birthday with a Saturday morning brunch....... here we are with the birthday girl in the middle, our parents, my sister Vivien, her husband Graham and a very, very close family friend who is considered "family". 

And.... just to make sure we all keep the "innner child" within us alive - I made up lolly bags and our party "favours" were glow in the dark bracelets!

Now that my secret sewing has been gifted I can show you what I made.....an Anni Downs pattern......

the front......

the back......

the inside....

After an afternoon siesta a few of us headed into the city to see Vox Clamantis at the Sydney Recital Centre - the concert being part of the Sydney Festival and the group being Estonian (our family's heritage) made it a "must see"..... here we are enjoying pre-show drinks.....

The weekend wasn't over yet....a bit of retail therapy on Sunday morning for Linda & I - followed by a cup of tea - no photo we were too busy talking!! .....

The weekend over.... I headed home, Linda is staying for another week before heading back up the North Coast and Vivien and Graham are back home in the Southern Highlands....... till our next get together! 

I have some more secret sewing happening so will be back soon to update on the progress and "yarn" about anything else of interest!

Happy Stitching

Asta

The last couple of weekends...

Some lovely flowers inside...... and the last couple of weekends have been spent......

 ...... lunching at one of the delightful cafes in Mogo with a dear friend from Sydney....this was followed by some "retail therapy"! 

Another book has been finished - that's the 2nd one already this year!! 

And last Saturday I REALLY needed to pay a visit to my local patchwork shop -  Steph's Fabrics !

I did go with a purpose - I needed some fabric for one of my "secret" projects but it is lovely to wander around, get inspired - and then frustrated wishing you had so many more hours in the day!! 

Some more stitching did get done on my "secret" project..... and actually was finished but will reveal all when it has been "gifted"!

While I've been waiting for photos to download here I've started yet another "secret" project - but more on that later and meanwhile I will have to finish my 2nd "secret" stitching project.... all these secrets!! I do plan to start some projects for ME.... but they won't be secrets : ) 

And that's what I have been up to the last couple of weekends - apart from house work and some gardening - the latter leaving me with a swollen arm where something has bitten me - the gentleman next door has bee hives so I'm suspecting it may have been a bee!!

So.... till next weekend.....

Happy Stitching!

Asta