PatchworkDreams

Well it has been a very quiet week as far as sewing goes but I have been doing some pottery patchwork???????

A jardiniere that came in to the Opp Shop in pieces and I played patchwork with it!!!! I will put it some where in the garden to give height to the garden then add a special plant.

Not sure where I will put it but where ever it goes in a few years it will be covered in foliage, our foliage grows over night!!!!!!! I will set it in concrete so it will not fall over easy and then find the right plant to add to it.

Another one that was dropped off at the shop, most of the workers will throw them in the rubbish bin but I enjoy the challenge of sticking them back together and using them in the garden somewhere. I worked putting this one back together this after-noon and it is now drying and by tomorrow it will be some where in the garden. It's just another form of patchwork??????

On the right hand side of photo at the back you can see a large jardiniere that I planted about 12 months ago it has nearly disappeared now but it was standing there on its own just with just the plant in it when I set it there in concrete 12 months ago?????? It has a aleovera plant in it they are slow growing so a perfect plant and does not need that much water. I also repaired this one so I could use it.

I have been also busy cleaning out over grown garden areas this after noon I cleaned the left hand side of the road footage, I have a trailer load sitting out there ready to be towed a way by Hubby or one of my boys.

Road frontage after been cleared of over gown tropical growth that seem to grow over night, I'm sitting writing this a s a Hugh thunder storm rages around me, I'm waiting for the power to go off?????? we have just had around 2inches of rain in the last 20 mins a real tropical down pour so it will be lovely and washed now and will look wonderful and clean tomorrow morning. It is 8pm here now!!!!!

I cut a large palm tree down after I took this photo, depending how it looks tomorrow I may take another out and add more broms with lots of red colour in them to give a little Zing to this area??????

Yesterday morning the rangers were covered in mist and the sun could not penetrate it, it looked so beautiful.

Hills and river covered in mist 5.45am yesterday, was beautiful to watching the sun rise behind it.

Taken this morning same spot same time but no heavy mist just wispy clouds around!!!!!!

Today I finished off reading 4 books I was reading all of them very different.

3 of the four books I finished to day!!!!! The Eighty Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts; The Adventures of the Amazing Alphabet by Pam Holland; Thomas The Wonder-word Book !!!!!! and the other one was The Chosen by Chaim Potok. All so different but all great books.

This has to be one of the funniest quilting books I have ever read and looked at, to day I pulled fabric to try making the I letter for my new grand daughter Indiana the colours are all strong and bright me to a T ????????

Other little bit of sewing was finally attaching the last two sides of a boarder to my friend in NZ quilt.

Finally managed to add the last two pieces of the last border to this quilt , now I need to buy some thick wadding and sandwich it to quilt then it can be on it's way??????

Thought I’d share this photo with you it shows you how hot and humid it gets here.

My cutting board all wavy I will have to buy a new one as it is almost impossible to cut on any more, it is about two years old????????

I did go to the beach this morning very early and it was so so beautiful walking along it with my friend. I left my camera and mobile on the dinning table so not photo’s??????

Hop[e you all achieved more in the quilting field than I did this week. Happy quilting all Glenda who is going to link with Esther at  http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com

My week is so full this week I’m pre doing some of my blog to link with Esther as I’m away from home every day this week.

Some weeks are red-letter weeks and some fly by and theres really nothing to write about, this week is the red-letter week for me. This morning Wednesday 20th for the first time my girlfriend and I meet up for our walk at 7.30am at the beach, first time for nearly 6 month. Life some times catches up with you. Well this morning was picture perfect

Is that not paradise?????

Looking North from the car. We walk from one end of the beach to the other and it takes us just over an hour, what more can you ask for!!!!!!

Looking South from the car where I parked it for breakfast.

As we did not see each other over Xmas as we usually do we gave each other our belated Xmas parcels,  mine was a beautiful lacquered plate

Up close photo of the design on the lacquered tray and the lipstick. All I see when I look at the tray is a quilt block waiting to be made!!!!!!

can you not see a beautiful applique block there?????? Takeko also gave me a large bag of Japanese fabrics that made my mouth water!!!!!!

lacquered tray with lipstick and silk Japanese fabric piled up behind. How spoilt can you be?????

Yesterday was my red-letter day, I received Pam Hollands much awaited quilting book, I have watched this book grow over the last 4 years and to have it now in my hot hands is wonderful. I laughed my way through the story this morning while having breakfast on my own at the beach, what a wonderful book to read beside the sea!!!!!! finally I  drolled over the quilt designs which all made me smile.  I will try and upload photo’s of it tomorrow for any one who wants to see it and will tell you a little more about this delightful quilting book that has kept a smile on my face for the last 14hrs!!!!!!.

Close up of one of the dark dramatic silk fabrics, back ground is a dark chocolate colour, really jummy. It is like a batik dye process.

Then there is this delicate fragile piece of silk screen printed!!!!!!!

Flowering in my garden at present is the most beautiful exotic looking fungus

This is what the fungus looks like when it is sitting amongst the wet vegetation??????? SO delicate and fragile but has the most powerful revolting stench??????

but it stinks like a very very unclean pigsty!!!!!!! This time of the year they keep popping up in the wettest part of the garden and the smell is so bad I have to go out and pick it and encase it in 2 or 3 plastic bags to dispose of them,

Every fly for miles around can smell the terrible pungent smell from this fungus!!!!!

yet still the flies can smell it in the rubbish bin?????

On Sunday after-noon a bush turkey set a Lace Monitor

Lace Monitor around 1 1/2 metres long from nose to tip of tail.

up one of our trees just off the corner of the house, these are beautiful looking creatures we are so lucky to have such wildlife right on our doorsteps.

We have lots of green bird-wing caterpillars eating their way through our mandarin tree leaves at present, it is so lovely to see then evolve. Grass hoppers are fighting for the same leaves too, so I catch them and put them in a container then when I take one of the dogs for a walk I let them go a couple of 100 metres up the road!!!!!!

Hows this for a colour combination

Our flowers are weired and wonderful in the tropics!!!!!!!!!! the purple flower is coming off the pink flower????????

Last week there was only one flower around the Buddha now there are 5?????? I've tried to take a aerial view.

Managed to sew two head caps for this week for my DH, he likes to wear a skull

type hat

My DGD wearing one of the hats!!!!!!!!

so he does not get sun burnt, I make them out of my patchwork fabric and he needs several as he wears a clean one every day, that’s the limit of my sewing this week.  I so wanted to finish Janet quilt top so I could sandwich it this week???????

This week the garden is teaming with wild life to day Tuesday I had 8 wood pigeons sitting in the tree just 5 metres from my computer desk, these are usually very shy birds but they just sat looking at me after eating the palm berries and watched the world go by for around 2 hrs. May be they are drugged from the berries???????

Womper pigeon It is all the colours of the rainbow and about 18inches high.

Womper Pigeon

My green birdwing caterpillars

Green Birdwing caterpillar about 3inches long.

are changing in to crystals now,

Caterpillar attaching it self to change in to a chrysalis

Chrysalis. In this photo you can see an ant on its back?

In this photo you can see the threads it has spun to attach it self from the side to the tree. They hang them selves under the leaves so to the naked eye they look like a leaf and are very very difficult to find.

Well if you are still reading you have good staying powers??????  Thanks for taking the time to read about a little of my beautiful world. Now off to upload this to Esther’s Blog http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com  I’m going to make it on time this week!!!!!! Cheers ALL Glenda

Valentines day and my wedding anniversary today. My wee dog personally delivered me a parcel from DH

My wee dog delivering me a special parcel tonight?????? It was a diamond and sapphire neck-let!!!!!!

She is the same wee dog that ended up been patch-worked earlier in the week.

KittySue ends up with patchwork patches stuck to her todayLOL

She was under my feet the whole time I was sandwiching Liam’s quilt

Liam's quilt ready to be hand or machine quilted, I think I will try machine quilting it as it will be mostly straight lines with cross hatching.

during the week. I had lots of the red fabric left over, this is used for nightwear for men in Japan or I should say was!!!!!! So I used that and some other pieces of fabric from sleeves

Now which pieces of fabric should I use for the backing of Liam's quilt??????

from summer Kimonos that I had in my stash.

I added a long 6inch strip of navy Japanese kimono fabric down one side as it was not quiet wide enough

My Vienna quilt has arrived safe and sound in Vienna, here is a note from Chris who is the new owner of it.

Vienna Quilt finished end of 2012

So, everyone will be pleased to hear that the Vienna quilt has arrived saftely to its new owner who is very proud to own something so lovely made by Glenda.
Yes, i am aware of how much time, energy and love went into its creation.
In fact that’s why I’m looking for someone locally to finish it cause I fear someone might try to steal it.
When Glenda was here in Vienna some years ago she taught me some lovely techniques.
When my quilt “first efforts” is finished I will send Glenda a pic so she can post it for all to see.
Until then, may all of you be well and happy!!!!!!

On Saturday we all went up to one of the local farmers markets about 20mins drive from here, we came home loaded down with fresh veggies and fruit plus some more tropical plants for the garden, this is the flower to one of them

It is one of the helicon's it grows around 12 to 14inches high and 3 to 4inches across, very very heavy.

It is called The Mexican torch or commonly called the back scratcher!!!!!!

Each little segment is as hard as nails and feels just like hard plastic and the points are sharp, not some thing you would want to fall on?????? But Ohhhh boy what a bright splash they make in the garden and the bush turkeys don't dig them up or out?????? LOL.

I'm minding this for some one??????? What a beauty it is around 10 inches across.

I did go to the beach today around 7am, the first time since the beginning of Dec and you guessed right I forgot to take my camera, it was a perfect morning to stroll along the beach then eat bacon and eggs for breakfast LOL.  I also planned to do some sewing but my day is almost over and not a stitch done, but I have had some lovely emails from other quilters and seen some of their lovely quilts and I have a lovely sapphire and diamond hanging around my neck so I’m happy, oh yes another wonderful thing happened to day my Alphabet book by Pam Holland was posted to me today YAYYYYYYYY I have been want this book from the birth of the first letter many years ago. What more could you want???? Oh I know!!!! lots of links at Esther’s blog to read LOL.  Will finish now as it is dark and all the creepy crawlies are been drawn to my monitor and crashing in to me as they fly past??????  Off to link with Esther now.http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.comCheers ALL Glenda

MY !!!!!!! lisianthus

I have just come in side from the garden it is only around 28C it is so lovely out in the garden early in the morning, by midday it will be up in the 30’s.

What  have I been doing the last week????? Trying to find my sewing machine!!!! I still have not found my sewing table but I think I see a little light some where,

My sewing machine is buried under there some where????? LOL

I have been trying to put my sewing things away where I can find then and for them to be at hand not away up stairs.  The below photo’s are taken in front and behind me and to the right and left of me as I write this blog today.

Our breakfast table with more sewing gear I have to find a place for. My family will be so happy when I finally get there as I'm sure they are tired of it all over the place.

There is a computer there some where LOL It's my new apple iMAX that I'm trying to control but so far it is winning LOL All ready after 1 month we have had to replace the key board!!!!!! By tonight I hope to give you an update on my desk as thats what I will be working on today I hope.

My space is on our front veranda at present and I LOVE it, as I’m out side most of the time where I’m the happiest.

Yesterday I took time out to rescue a doll that had seen better days and had been handed in to the Opp Shop. I should of taken a before and after photo. She is now ready to be loved by another child after after a lot of TLC.

After a lot of TLC yesterday this darling wee doll is ready to be loved by another child.

Garden is still looking good as our wet never came,

This is a bunch of small Helicons that love the heat and grow like weeds, they are slashed back tot he ground each Sept then 3 month later they are like this.

this is not good for the rainforest or the people living here as the water table is so low their bores are not working which means they will loose there gardens this coming dry which is from March till Nov.

I will have to pop another block under my lovely buddha as she is disappearing in the growth

It also means they will be buying water all through these months for drinking. We are lucky as we are on town supply and not just relying on water tanks or bore water.

There is a wee Buddha in amongst the fast growing fronds, I will have to rescue her too.

Is that a snake I can see????? yes but not areal one all though we do have them and they are called tree snakes and harmless. My DGD helped me at the Opp Shop in the holidays and bought it for my garden!!!!!!! I'm loving having all the family home especially my DDIL. She is one lovely person to have close and I have missed her so much over the last 7 years while they were living over seas. .

Well thats what I’m up to and have been up to now I’m linking with Estherhttp://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com.

UP date 1pm still Wednesday down here!!!!!!

I have managed to clear up my desk don’t roll over in shock it does not all ways look like that just some of the time LOL.

Finally after moving my desk out on to the veranda and having the new iMax computer installed plus this and that added I have found MY desk??????? LOL

Reset my Buddha’s in their garden spots and they can see out again!!!!, I’m sure the big Buddha has a smile on her face now!!!!!! Planted out my Lisianthus and with luck she may recover, spent another hour in the garden as we have a wonderful breeze coming up the gorge below us to day so temperatures are down. Now to have some lunch and may be find my machine but don’t hold your breath??????

Cheers ALL Glenda

It is hard to believe it is only one day away from Feb 2013!!!!!!! I have had no time this month to do any patchwork, family life has caught up with me this month. On Monday we had a pubic holiday and  we all went out for the day not realising most of Qld was with out internet connection which meant no electronic machines were working, no mobiles working no land lines even, so if any  shop that was open was only dealing if you had cash????????  We needed petrol sorry only cash, we were very lucky as our banks money machines were working but they were the only banks in QLD that were, so we were able to draw money out before they dried up for petrol and our lunch!!!!

Looking down to Mossman where the first settlers settled in the far north and grew sugar cane and their great grandchildren now still do on many of the farms. Many Italian settled here.

Closer look at Mossman area from 400 metres above sea level, road down to the coast is very steep and very very windy????

All though the road is very windy it is in the rainforest area so very beautiful.

To day only Laure and I were at home, around 9.30am her hubby rang to say he had a job and would be starting Monday, so after only been back in OZ  a couple of weeks he has a great job so we went up to the village around 12am to visit the chemist Post office and clean up out side the Opp Shop and celebrate over a nice lunch at our favourite cafe in the local village.

Laure trying to push the bags of leaves in to the Opp Shop skip??????

Around 4pm Jon rang to say he had found the perfect car for them with a private sale word of mouth from one of the guys at his new job!!!!!!!, by 5pm he had paid for it and drove it home???????

Our new car????? Every one is happy they now have their own wheels again after only been back in OZ for 2 weeks. I have no Patchwork to show for this month so will show you something from the past I saw in my photos when I was browsing to day.

Loved making this quilt many years ago

Another early quilt taken before completing the final border?????

While writing my blog these creatures came to visit.

Cicada

Green Xmas beetle sitting on the side of my wooden tape measure

Xmas bettle on my watch face. Time to go to bed the mossies are eating me!!!!

Hope many of you are sewing and having fun. Cheers Glenda

Thursday 31st update!!!!!

Have to share this with you, around 4am this morning I thought some thing was crawling over my feet, but decided it was the fan just moving the sheets, then when it crawled over my shoulder I shot out of bed and grabbed the torch, in the middle of my bed was a Hugh flying cockroach!!!!!!! I slambed the torch head over it then fished around for some thing close at hand in the closest draw satill holding the cockroach under the torch head, there was just enough glow to see what I was doing, then I grabbed the jolly thing with a pair of cotten nickers I’d fished out of the draw and disposed of it out the window??????  It was the night of the creepy critters. LOL Glenda

Bra for Cancer awareness 2013

I’m starting my Cancer awareness bra now so it will not be a mad rush to make it later in the year.

There will be 40 yo yo's on each cup.

This year I’m using Yo Yo’s then adding glass beads to each one.

Adding a glass bead to each yo yo on the cups

I hope it comes up OK.  Each Yo Yo is been stitched on around the centre so the edges are free standing and should take a lot of handling with out any dropping off.!!!!!

Have been moving my sewing gear to make more room for Jon and family and found these antquie scissors in a bad state,

Very rusty old scissors!!!!

they have gone rusty from the humidity we have here, they were not oiled when I put them away I guess several years ago, so I have them ready to soak in molasses and water for several days to lift the rust hopefully. One pair have wee silver handles and I will be sad to loose them????

We are having torrential rain at present and it has been like this the last 3 days so no garden photos today, place looks like we have had cyclone weather as there are leaves and branches down every where.  Our river is roaring; the Barron Falls are beautiful because of it.

Hope you are all finding time to sew. Cheers Glenda who is linking with Esther Aliuhttp://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com today.

Finally we are having some rain, unfortunately there is a cyclone following it due here on Monday, just hope its a normal forecast and it does not aventurerate like all their other forecasts?????

I was sitting at my computer a couple of

He is over 2inches long and rubs his long feelers to make a warning noise, not so nice to have flying around you at night time???????

nights ago it is on the veranda and this fellow visited me.

Just wanted to share the below photo with you. It is very beautiful when seen in person, I was not able to clearly show the lovely french knoted hearts in each of the corners on the finale round. You need to click on the photo to enlarge to see them clearly. I will make it in to a cover for my new iMax and will see it every day.

My online Mini Round Robyn I have just received it back and it is very beautiful.

Orchids so very very beautiful

6 month later after making this wee display it looks like it has always been in the garden

Exotic leaves can be found always in the wet tropics.

A unusual ginger flower????

Green tree frogs keep us company in the evening during the wet season.

Completed Vienna Quilter Jan 2013

Well my week has been rather hectic but we now have a beautiful wee grandchild born 12.30am this morning.  So no quilting or even a look at quilting other than the lovely Iris’s that Jenny and Bunny have uploaded.  Happy quilting every one out there. Cheers Glenda

Finished Vienna quilt finally 7th Jan 2013

My first blog for over a 3 weeks?????  My hubby and boys gave me a iMax for Xmas, all though it is a very very generous gift I now have to start learning all over again as it is a completely  different out lay to my old PC??????  I’m now trying to make my first blog using it, what fun it will be trying to down load any photo’s!!!!!!! Sewing came to a stand still over the last three weeks as family came first every day. How ever I did manage to complete my Vienna quilt on time with 1/2 a day to spare, it is now winging it’s way to the new owner in Vienna. I was very sad to see it go after working on it for the last couple of years.

This little fellow is only about 1inch long in the body but makes the most terrible loud squeak!!!!! and when there are 60 or more we have to shut the windows so we can sleep.

What big eyes you have grandma!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Xmas ALL.

To day is Xmas ice-cream pudding day!!!!! I made this many years ago when the kiddies were small and it was so successful they look for it every Xmas day now?????

1 pkt ginger-nut biscuits grounded I use my vitamizer to do this,  add   tablsp milk powder to crumbed biscuits. 1 cup melted butter pour in to ginger-nut grounds and mix well; line a deep Plum-duff cooking bowl (but don’t make it too thick) with the mixture and pop in to fridge.  Take  2 cups of home made Xmas mince meat add 2 tablspoons of brandy add to 1 litre of plain icecream

Don't mix to much; leave icecream in lumps and fruit spread unevenly. I use my own home made Xmas mince I make for my Xmas pies, which I make up and keep for a year????

and mix gently, add to plum-duff bowl but leave a hole in the centre. Beat 1 to 2 cups of full cream till thick add cherries that have been soaking in brandy for 12 hrs. Now fill the centre of the  bowl and make the top smooth as this is where it will sit on the serving platter. One completed icecream plum-duff. Cover the top with grease proof paper and freeze till needed . Fun part is getting it out of the bowl, I have a stainless steel bowl which I place in to hot water to the top for a few minutes and then it slides out on to a plate upside down. It looks like a perfect plum-duff but it is a icecream cake and perfect for a tropical 29C Xmas dinner and any  left overs for Boxing day breakfast???????.

This morning I have been cutting out my bow-ties for my Vienna quilt all cut out now I just need to sew them, I’m not sure why I was putting  off making them as I’m really enjoying making them up. This is my favourite new quilting tool

Old fabric marker. I love it, so quick to mark that sewing line, I'm hopeless at sewing a straight line so have to mark every thing!!!!!! You can see where I have run this wee tool on the small square under it.

I found in a old sewing basket in a Opp Shop recently; it has a place to rest your finger on top so you can press hard or soft?????, It is much easier than a pen or pencil and the marks go after a day or two.

Cheers All Glenda

Merry Christmas every one.

This Xmas plum-pudding should of been made a week ago at least!!!!! I have it started on the bench this morning.

Grans Plumpudding

4oz of dripping or suet

2 cups of flour

2 cups of dried fruit soaked for 12hrs in brandy; I use my mince meat I have left over from last year!!!!! It has a punch to it!!!!!

1 cup brown sugar

grated peel of large lemon

1 tea sp of mixed spice

1 tea sp nutmeg

1 tea sp orange essences

pinch of salt

1/2 cup of sago pre cooked

3 eggs beatten

Mix all ingredients add a large tablesp of treacle . Dissolve 1 teasp of Baking soda in 1 1/2 cups of boiling milk or water add to dry mixture and mix well.   Boil for 3 1/2 hours and 1 1/2 hours Xmas day.

Just been out and taken this photo,

Picture perfect ball

last week there was nothing and today I have 4 perfect balls where there were none?????

Lillies that surprise me every year.

On Monday I had a big clean up in front of DS and DDL’s unit

A clean area again!!!!!

it was covered in leaves and weeds I wanted it a surprise as DS arrives on Sunday for 3 weeks to finish of the bathroom so it will be completed before they all arrive back for good in March 2013.  Now he won’t have to look at a mess when he has his coffee breaks??????

Update!!!!!

I have just finished my Mini Round Robyn

Isn’t

 it funny how you think it will be just a simple job and it turns out a long one, I loved the final fabric but it was all silver thread weaving and the silver was floating across the back so to stop it shedding I ironed on some iron on fusing then some very very fine silk. Problem solved but then I was 4 inch short of fabric, so  I need to added corner stones and they need the fusing also to make it the same weight as the other fabric. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm LOL. But it is finally finished.

on-line quilt, I added the green spacer then the outer boarder and the outer appliqué rounds It is now been wrapped to go off home and I hope it arrives before Xmas.

Another Up date LOL

Solved another problem this after noon and just have to share what it is going to look like.

I needed to make my Vienna Quilt larger but I was not sure if my idea would work, I thought about adding more bow ties but the thought of making 40 to 50 of them and then it was not the answer kept me away from doing them, any one know that feeling? LOL. Well today was D Day to try what they would look like,  by adding these bow-ties 6 1/2 ” all around the edge it will make it go from a double quilt to a  king size one!!!!! by the time it is quilted then the boarder it will be perfect. Best part is that the owner to be just loves BRIGHT colours so I have been able to keep to the same greens and reddy oranges she loves.

That’s it for today I’m running out of hours let alone days.  Hope you are all having fun. Cheers Glenda

n

What a beautiful morning it is,  the river looks so serene

View from my kitchen window early this morning

Yesterday I was given a present from a very dear friend who is only 85 he made it for me when he saw cotton reels piled up in a dish on my sewing table last week???????

A lovely new wooden cotton reel stand. holders are made from wooden meat skewers that he cut the points off as they were too sharp then put a pencil sharpener in to a drill and resharpened them to a point but softer then varnished them all. It is a lovely gift and extra special as he has made it all by hand specially for me!!!!!!

To day I have a Mini Round Robyn to finish for a on-line quilter.

Mini Round Robyn when it arrived in the mail. I'm adding two rounds as one of the ladies is in hospital.

Embroidery and or applique was to be added earlier so I stem stitched the scallops then added the applique dots and leaves, then added the spacer.

Today I hope to add this beautiful silver embossed hand woven silk fabric I found it just the right shade of maroon, it is very difficult to work with as the silver threads are floating at the back and when you cut the fabric they all start dropping off, so I have ironed on some light weight fusible backing then a very fine silk to that now it is easy to work with. I just need to sew this final boarder on then it is on it's way home.

Yesterday I brought home a old fashion tea trolley

Old tea trolley I'm trying to rescue but having difficulty in removing the smell of dog pee???????

that had been handed in, it had been stored in a shed or lean too for many years and the male dogs had been using it as one of their pee spots and the smell was awful,  yesterday after-noon  I hosed it down several times and scrubbed it down with soapy water but still Phewwwwwwwwww!!!!! So today I will pick up some varnish remover and strip it back and see if this will get rid of the smell. If not it will have to go in the trash which is sad as it is made oak.

I also brought home another out back camping shower

Out back bush canvas showers LOL

these are great to rinse your self off with fresh water after been in the pool as they hold enough for a good rinse shower.

I’m also trying to have a go at growing some of our own tomatoes again, very difficult here in the rainforest as the wild turkeys dig them out this is what we are trying this year a hanging up side down  tomato holder LOL !!!!!!

Hanging upside down tomato planter LOL well difficult for the turkeys to dig them up but I just went out to water it and there were 7!!!! tiny grasshoppers having a feed, you can not win some times???????

This time of the year there is nothing much flowering but lots of soft new green growth and beautiful coloured birds and butterflies visit us instead. This is a maiden fern

a serene pot plant

at the front entrance so soft and feminine.

To day my main job is to make my Xmas pudding I have the mince meat all ready to go, just hope it becomes a pudding todayLOL

This morning I went up to do some varnishing in the Opp Shop now off to the beach it is 9.42am.

There is lots of colour down near the ebach, this time of the year the coastal tropical trees love this hot weather we are having, day after day around 35C and no rain.

bougainvillea vine. Awesome.

Beautiful palm

Hugh splashes of yellow every where.

Of course the beach was the main attraction and it was beautiful today.

Happy Xmas to those of you who are getting ready to go on holidays. Cheers Glenda

Last week has been extra busy as our DS’s wee King Charles toy-dog arrived from quarantine from Japan.  His name is Robyn and he has knowen  me since he was  a puppy from my many visits over his 7 years.

Robyn in his flight kennel finally arrives from Japan Via Sydney quarantine. He was soooooooo happy to see me!!!!!!

We have two other dogs a Shitzu and a WolfhoundxBoxer  and right from the very start there was NO aggression from any of them and they now do every thing together.

Once there were none now there are 3!!!!!!

Some times we buy some thing not realising how much enjoyment it will give????? This week I picked up a dozen old 1980’s quilting magazines mostly with out their front covers cut off when discarded from the shop back then for 20 cents each. Amongst them was a 1988 Patchwork Lady’s circle what a gem this magazine is, there is the pattern for Windflower

This block is called Windflower many of you will know it, this is just a sketch but the pattern is in volume 59 of Lady’s cirlce pathwork quilts magazine.

, a beautiful 8 point start quilt I’d love to make, a stunning Dogwood quilt any one would adore to have, a priceless 1930’s extravagant bouquet and nosegays  quilt, and this is some thing I know I WILL make a lovely simple quilt designed by Claudia Edmond’s well it will not be the same as you know me but her quilt is motivating me to make a pieced quilt again????? and it goes on and on, so if you ever see this addition

This magazine is a treasure published in 1988 volume 59

grab it or buy it if it comes up for sale it is just full of beautiful quilts.

After 3 weeks or 30 hrs I have finished the repair and finished quilting the first corner  of 2DS’s quilt!!!!!

Almost completed finally?????? 3 to go!!!!!!

Hopefully I will finish stitching down the edge today and then only 3 corners to go?????

What do you have on your desk that keeps you company???? I have 3 tiny wee teddies??????

All very good friends and never talk back to me!!!!!!!

I went in and looked at Esther’s blog

http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com

this morning  and shuddered at the task a head of her???? this is some thing none of us enjoy doing, it reminded me of quilting items I’m sorting  upstairs and down stairs

Hmmmmmmm this all has to be relocated so it can be used for what it is meant to be???? a linen cupboard which the family will need when they come back!!!!! I have 6 weeks to do it thank goodness dead lines.  !!!!! I started on this early this morning.

and trying not to think about it as I do my sewing!!!!! it is nothing compared to Esther’s, I have to do it before the families arrive back in mid Jan!!!!!

Yesterday I brought home two paintings

a pair of Oils painted by a local artist; such lovely soft colours but still vibrant.

for my DGD to hang in her bedroom, I have those to hang today also before they get damaged with all the shifting and reorganising?????

Going in to Esther’s blog also remind me of my 12 Days of Xmas quilt that Esther gave us a few years back, Bunny and Gari plus many others also made one, Bunny showed hers hanging last week and I hung mine very early this morning,

Esther’s mystery quilt from 2010 I think?, I adore this quilt but as usual I had to change things a little!!!!!! It has ended up much larger than Esther’s original design but it is still very much Esther’s beautiful design.

don’t look close please as I still have NOT quilted it?????  It is also a little different to Esther’s design I have added more to mine and so it is wide enough for  a double bed quilt and is padded with 100% wool so will be warm if it ever ends up in  a cold county.

Also this morning I laid out Janet’s quilt

I was 6 inches short of fabric for the final boarder!!!!!!!!!! Horrors!!!!! but found a 18″ by 3 1/2″ strip JUST enough!!!!!! This is silk from an old kimono so I could not go out and buy more. How lucky can you be???????

to add the last two boarders and horrors of horrors I was 8 inches short for the last boarder!!!!!  This is silk fabric from an old kimono so I can not just go and buy some more, I walked away from it and started  on that cup-boarded; yes I have been up very early this morning as it is only 8.30am now and there will be no beach trip trip this morning. would you believe  I found a tiny bit more fabric, by cutting this strip in to 3 pieces I will just have enough, well it is a patchwork quilt???????!!!!!!!!!

No beach photo’s to day and nothing new in the garden, sadly my wee Yellow Sunbird’s who where building their nest in my carport have gone, on Monday morning the male one came in calling and calling for her and she never came and I have not seen him since either, so I’m very sad about this as they mate for life.

I’m linking with Esther’s WIP’s http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com

Off to hang out some clothes,  have breakfast, and make a Xmas pudding some time to day, and Oh yes a bacon and egg pie as a thank you for a friend. !!!!!

A special big Happy Birthday for you Bunny. Big Hug too.

Cheers ALL Glenda

No beach to  day as I have to go down to Cairns 3 times Thursday and Friday so staying home and resting today??????

Well it’s a truly mix bag today, I was up very early as yesterday I found an old Indonesian woodcut block

Beautiful detail in to such a hard hard wood. It did not look like this when I found it, but with lots of soaking and elbow grease with a tooth brush this beautiful smooth smooth batik design appeared????? I'm amazed at how smooth the surface of the design is.

which I could not wait to try!!!!! You can buy these on-line for a few dollars but it was such fun to find one myself!!!!! I just tried it using some old folk art paint and used a sponge paint brush to wipe the paint on then stamped on to a old poly cotton sheet I use to throw over my sewing machine when not in use??????

Wow I'm impressed!!!! there are 6 sets one after the other you can see how light and patchy the first in the top left hand corner is then I started pressing harder then harder all over. I can see this would be beautiful on 100% light cotton and white???? or over dying fabric there's lots of fun and potential here.

Woodblock on it's own with no repeats. Now I need to find some time to use some good dyes and have lots of fun???? I was very naughty and stamped this on one of my 100% cotton table napkins!!!!!!

This week our local Yellow Sunbird and his mate decided to build a nest in our car port. I’m so happy as these we birds are such a delight to have in ones garden and to nest is very special.

Start of a Sunbird's nest been built on to a cord like a shoe-lace hanging in our carport, it is made up of tiny wee feathers pieces of bark which would be so light they would float in the breeze, thread, seeds and any thing else that is minute. It has been fascinating watching them build the nest, this morning they just kept right on building even though I was working right next to them. You need to Zoom in to see the detail or enlarge????

Yesterday while putting a umbrella up in the garden I disturbed a hatching of two beetles from lave  to beetle it was intriguing to watch this beautiful creature emerge?????

He or she!!!! has just finished crawling out of the chrysalis. Stunning colours.

How is that for mother nature art????? He turned around about 3 times then headed straight for the earth and disappeared I was so lucky to see him.

On my patio Desert Rose in full bloom, such a stunning display.

Quilting wise, I have spent all my spare time on trying to finish quilting the corner of 2DS’s Quilt that I’m repairing the corners on. Fabric is completely replaced and now quilting the full corner,

Now quilting that repaired corner of 2DS's quilt, there are 4 layers to quilt through, cotton backing, wool wadding and a cotton wadding and the top quilt?????? It's a little hot to quilt with it on your lap it's around 30C!!!!!

I have quilter 1/4 inch either side of all the seams now quilting the strips finished  the brown silk, last night finished bottom corner and working my way up to the brown silk. Sad part is I still have 3 more to do after this one is finished!!!!!!!! I’m a slow hand quilter but I do enjoy the peace of doing it.

1pm now; and I have just finished washing years of soot out of a set of 4 Indonesian storage baskets.

These are the two smallest storage baskets still full of cobwebs and dead creepies?????? These baskets are kept in the loft where the smoke is constantly penetrating them to keep out the bugs or kill any that get in????? When not in use they stack inside each other there are 4 in this set.

Largest is now washed but needs another clean as it was the sootiest been on the out side when not in use. All in all there are 8 baskets, and they become 4 with lids on. I'm thinking of using them as sewing baskets but will wait and see if the soot is all gone first?????

Notice how lovely and shinny the vine is they have used to weave these baskets now the soot has been removed, but oh my hands look terrible, like I have been cleaning chimneys all day!!!!!!

Oh dear what I do in my kitchen sink, that's very black sooty water and suds but I'm sure it will be worth the trouble when those baskets dry. They are out in the sun, it is 32C in the shade at present so around 37C in the sun so they are drying quickly.

2pm and I have been out in the swimming pool area,

This area of the swimming pool is were the water falls when switched on, I love hearing the sound of running water. I think it needs some thing more??????

Add one broken and mended urn????? Now I have found a spot I need to cement it in place and fill it with a special plant?????? Click on photo to enlarge!!!!

I have an old urn that has had a very rough time and has been stuck back together many times, I think it needs a resting place where it is less likely to be broken again.

Now to iron hubby’s shirt for tomorrow, make dinner and put a load of washing on, sooooooo soooooo mundane!!!!!!!!! But if I get it done quickly I can sit down and watch a DVD and do some quilting even if it is 30C inside??????

Off to take some flowers in the garden will add them latter.

Beautiful; this is the second flowering on this plant a lovely surprise.

Often called the spider orchid????? It is very difficult to photograph where it is flowering.

If you want to see more links pop over to Esther’s blog

http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com

and join in if you have the time.

Cheers All Glenda

Well after my dramatic start this morning at sunrise watching the Full total eclipse on our veranda

Our eclipse was in the middle of this horizon this morning off our front terrace!!!!! Stormy clouds have gone sun has risen so it is not shinning directly in to my lens and it is a perfect day after watching an amazing full eclipse!!!!

sitting watching it in our chairs through welding masks!!!!we have ended up with a perfect day.

Now it is back to my normal Wednesday I hope. No beach as the city is full of thousands of tourist who have  flown in to watch the eclipse this morning.

Total Eclipse this morning at around 6.15am Sun is dead centre of this photo.

So may be I will go tomorrow when it has calmed down.

This morning I have my DS quilt laid out for a new piece of fabric to be added; I have two corners to repair!!!

Have to remove the pink fabric???

Pink silk fabric removed, you an see the last boarder now that I have unpicked the rolled edge I have done till I finish the quilting of this quilt. This is one of the reasons this fabric has pulled as DS has been using it for 7 years 365 days of the year with out the quilting been finished plus washing it once a year????? One other corner needs repair also.

This corner was repaired 3 years ago!!!!!

Update 1pm I so happy I found some more pink fabric similar but a crepe silk and it will wear better. Corner now repaired using my sewing machine on the seams. I will quilt it before doing any other projects. It is sandwiched with a tag tacker. One down two to go?????

I finally finished my Vienna quilt, I did an average of 3 1/2 hrs each day this week and added the last blanket stitches last night.

All applique now finish on my Vienna quilt!!!!!

Endless blanket stitching but I always enjoyed working on this quilt.

Recipient of this quilt grew up on a island near the Bahamas so LOVES colour; I have used contrasting threads through out to enhance the fabrics.

Waiting for it's final boarder before shipping to new owner?????

Some flowers taken on Monday when I visited the Tablelands these are about 20 mins from our home.

Flame tree

Young Yellow Poinciana tree

Stunning display of blooms

Jacaranda blooms

Flowering in our garden today.

Orchid

Desert rose

My morning is nearly over so time to say goodbye today. To see more fun links jump over to Esther’s blog

http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com

Cheers Glenda

glenda_jean@bigpond.com

Yesterday rushed in with the dawn they rushed out again before I could blog?????  I’m having physo 3 days a week so my week is cut in 1/2 more or less at present. I have to drive 1 1/2 hrs to have the physo but it is well worth it.  All the trees are in full bloom at present and it is such a delight to drive along and see these magnificent trees in full bloom and over 100 years old.  We have not had rain for months but these trees seem to thrive on it when it comes to flowering the longer the dry the more blooms there are. I put a lot of photo’s up on Mon but here is one that show the dry the clear blue skies and the blooms.

Dry dry land stunning skies and ohhhh those flowers massed all over the tree!!!!

I’m back working on my Vienna quilt, it is taking such a long time blanket stitching around all these flowers, some of stitches go through 5 layers of fabric so it is very slow!!!! But it has to be finished by the 7th of Jan 2013 when it goes in some ones luggage on it’s way to Vienna, safer than postage out of OZ.

Last panel to stitch around then it is off to Vienna and will be quilted over there.

This is iron on fusing when I blanket stitch around the yellow I will be going through 6 fabrics so it is down pull through then up and pull through very time consuming but gives a more 3D look.

Today I’m determined to add the last few flowers to sweet Annabell called wishing.

Just a few more flowers to add then I can turn it in to a muff for a Xmas present.

A family quilt that needs help!!!! I will have to unpick the bottom right hand corner tonight and resew, then finish quilting before giving it back. It is 7 years old and has been used daily and washed often!!!! Batting is one layer of wool and one of cotton so hard to hand quilt LOL

Now I must go and feed my babies two dogs and will be 3 in 2 weeks time as my DS from Japan’s wee dog joins us from a month in quarantine in Sydney. He knows me well so will settle in straight away.

A crocheted bed throw that was handed in to the Opp Shop last Tuesday week ago, it was so dirty the ladies were going to discard but I saw the fringe and thought wow that's old, we put it in to a plastic bag and I brought it home and soaked it for 3 days with several clean tubs of water with Nappysan??? It is now snow white except for one small brown stain. It is very fragile but worth rescuing. I'm taking it out to the historical village.

Needs repair but still a beautiful piece of crochet.

I think it is French. I will take it out to the historical village this after-noon as they have double beds they can display it on.

Had to share this wee fellow with you. We had a lot of rain two nights ago after months of nothing as it is the dry season here and this is what the rain has brought out!!!!! Plus 100’s of tiny tiny wee green frogs with a Hugh yellow throats. Now my down pipe water troughs are full of tadepoles LOL

Green tree frog he is about 3inches long and he was making so much noise I could not hear what they were saying on TV. He was sitting on the rail around our entrance which is a double door and more or less in to our lounge. LOL

Take time to jump over and see what Esther is doing and others who join in on Wednesday at Esther’s.    http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com

Cheers All Glenda who needs a coffee and then breakfast.

glenda_jean@bigpond.com

www.patchworkdreams.com.au

Flowering trees on the Tablelands to day I took them as I drove out to Milla Milla about 1 1/2 hrs from where we live

Pink Frangipani around 100 years old

Row of Jacarandas around 100 years old

Breath taking!!!!!

Coral tree

Hard pruned Bougainvillea it is a vine but this has been pruned back hard every year and now looks like a tree over 100 years old.

Old Coral tree

Crown of frangipani

Incredible Beautiful

Perfume is so heady

These stunning bulbs pop out of the ground in the driest conditions and surprise you every time

Stunning stunning tree and that sky!!!!!!

Yesterday I brought home several very dirty Afghan crocheted bed covers to wash, I did not look at them closely at the shop just asked one of the young girls to put them in the back of my car as I have pulled a arm muscle,  when I carried them in to wash I brought just a couple at the time and discovered a woollen one amongst them, I thought they were all made from synthetic yarn, I washed the other 3 by machine and they are now back in the car to return tomorrow, the woollen one I washed twice with woolmix then rinsed in hair-conditioner,

1/2 of a beautiful antique woollen Afghan I have just washed. Click on photo's to enlarge to see details.

this is the most darling of afghans, each square is about 2 1/2 inches except for the outer ones which are 2 inches only.

Lying on a double bed last night to finish drying with electric blankets on low!!!!!!

I have fallen in love with this throw, there is a lot damage but nothing I can not fix, several of the squares need replacing and a great deal of the seams need resewing but it will be worth every stitch. So with luck I will start making 1/2 dozen wee squares to replace the damaged ones today, there are round 500 tiny wee squares all up in this afghan.

Completely dry now and I have 19 squares to repair at least 6 to replace and lots of seams to redo but Ohhhhhh it will be worth it to have it again much loved for years to come. It reminds me of those lovely random square in a square quilts. Who ever made this planned this afghan it did not just grow, wool used was a 3ply from England I use to use this wool 40 years ago to knit baby clothes and little boys jumpers!!!! It only weighs 1 1/4 kilos squares are felted as I guess it has been machine washed in the past several times?????

Just before going to bed last night I popped the very large afghan in to the washing machine and this is what I have just hung out to dry!!!!

Wowwwww looking closer at it I realise it is wool , but it needs a lot more softener to bring it up as it still feels harsh so it is back in to soak and spin this morning; it has had a rough last few years where ever it was and so much dirt came out I can now see how beautiful it is. A round 5 squares need replacing and a few seams gone over again but in pretty good nick considering how badly it had been treated, even the dog smell and hairs have gone.

I have rinsed and added more softener to the afghan and it feels a lot better. I think this has been made by the same person who made the tiny square afghan above as again this has been designed not just a hotchpotch putting together of a afghan, you can see it now that I have hung most of it up for you to see in this photo. These squares have been made of double 4ply wool again it is very light for the size and will be a delight for many years to come now.

It is 8.30am and I have not left for the beach!!!!! You can see why above, I have been studying these afghans and learning about them.

Also I need to cut out a new arm for Annabelle

Annabelle Wishing by Michele. I still have the floating thistle heads to add above her and more wild daisies. I have also changed the back ground fabric from bright pink silk to a dark grey woollen fabric from a sleeve off a mans jacket!!!!! I have also changed my mind about a carry bag, they will become a muffs now as the girls who are receiving these wee Annabelle patchworks live in Switzerland and they will be perfect on those snow covered walks to Church on early Sunday mornings?????

as the other one I had cut out needed to be a slightly darker colour for a 3D look.  I have been spoilt and delighful new pattern of Annabelle  arrived today, she is sewing a blanket, I’m going to make a mini mini quilt to add so the next week is looking very busy as sewing and repairing goes. Annabelle is Michele’s baby, and you can see more on her at  http://www.xstitchalley.blogspot.com.au/

Our garden is sooooooooooo dry, when you walk out side the watering area of the section dust flies up around as you walk.  Gardiner continues to flourish and makes walking out side heady with their perfume. I pick one each morning for the kitchen and it fills the house as well. Broms

Broms standing up like sentries, they always add a tiny dash of colour around the garden all year around.

are still flowering they are such great plants up here in the tropics as the wild turkeys DON’T dig them up and there is allways one flowering some where in the garden. Our wee tadpoles

Those little black dots on the side of the water container are my tadpoles!!!!!!

are growing so fast, I have relocated many of them. Unfortunately the mossies are back so I have pulled the citronella burners

Gardiner

 flower sitting on the window ledge, and burners waiting to be refilled today for the front entrance.

out for the entrance to the house, I burn these there in the entrance and it keeps the mossies away from the fly-screen doors when they are constantly opened and closed.

Well it is now 9.30am and I should just be getting back from the beach and I’m still here????? If I go I will be able to swim this morning as it will be around 29C down there now?????

Just as I was leaving I saw the mint

and just had to pick it as the grasshoppers have discovered it, and they can eat the lot in a couple of days, it is now vitamized and in the fridge waiting to be boiled up when I get back to turn in to mint sauce???? Now after 10am!!!!

Now 2pm and just back from the beach and as I drove up the drive way I was hit by this wall of colour,

Wowwwww what a wall of colour????? It is now bone dry and much softer. SO I'm much happier with the feel but it has taken a tube of hair conditioner to get it there.

this is a amazing afghan the more I look the more I see and discover about it. !!!!

While down at the beach after brunch I went for a swim, the water is so warm you can just walk straight in!!!!! coming home I took photo of some of the trees down there.

Flowers 1/2 the size of the palm it self??????

seeds on another palm, One man could not pick this bunch up they are so heavy. It's funny but some of the seeds the birds eat the lot and on others they never touch them????????

Frangipani tree

Flame tree.

Don’t forget to link up with Esther at

http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com

Cheers ALL Glenda

I have been back working on Wishing of Annabelle, finally gave up on the background fabric as I was just not happy with the overall look. Have gone back to a dark fabric and using the sleeve from a light woollen jacket as I’m going to make a bag from this project the weight will be about right.

I have moved Annabelle to a dark fabric and she is much happier!!!!!

Annabelle and her friends are created by Michele at www.xstitchalley.blogspot.com.au I love this new wee friend I have dis coved and never tire of making her.

Annabelle reaching for those thistle downs!!!!

I felt that Annebelle was out in a paddock of daisies so have started to add them around her.