Busy Start to 2012

Wow where have the school holidays gone - only one more week to go!

The first week of 2012 was spent in Ballina where my son was playing for the Hunter Valley U13s in a five day cricket carnival. Even though we had to attend cricket matches every day, we all had a fantastic time. DS had a great time with the other players, made some wonderful new friends and the parents had a great time too. He played exceptionally well and was even named Player of the Match for the second game. Since arriving home he has played more cricket for the Upper Hunter U14s team and also Senior Cricket on Saturday mornings. He worked out that he has played nearly 650 overs of cricket in the last three weeks and he is back at it this afternoon. You could say that my boy does love his cricket!

We decided to spend an extra day at the end of the carnival and managed to get to the beach for a few hours at Lennox Head. Here I am with DD. The water was certainly not warm enough for me to get in but the kids had fun. We also took a drive up to Byron Bay for ice cream and a look around.

I had good intentions of finishing off my Gardeners Journal blocks whilst watching all those overs of cricket and I thought I was so super organised until I got to the first match, pulled out my sewing back to discover that I had forgotten to pack all my threads, needles and scissors - OOPS lol.

Since coming home I have managed to fit in a little sewing around working and kids but I will leave that until the next post.

Chat soon

Kylie xxxx

Thank You Chookyblue

Every year our online stitching group Friends in Stitching have a secret santa xmas swap. I was very excited when this parcel of goodies arrived in my mailbox and even more excited when I discovered that Chookyblue was my swap partner. The five small gifts were to be opened each day from the 20th to 24th December.
These are the gifts that I received and it was so much fun having something to open leading up until the big day.

And this is what was waiting for me under the tree on xmas morning. Aren't they just gorgeous.

The two stitcheries in the wallhanging are so very cute and I just love the fabric that Chooky used.

Here is a close up of the top stitchery - it didn't come out very well in the previous photo.

Thank you Chookyblue - I just love them.

Kylie xxxx

21 Again

Today I celebrated a birthday. I had a lovely day - a sleep in, breakfast in bed, morning tea on the verandah with my Mum and Dad and then this afternoon some stitching.

As part of my online stitching group everyone is given a partner to make for their birthday. This year we are to make something starting with the letter of the town where we live. My partner Helen lives at Jimboomba. This afternoon my parcel arrived in the mail which was very exciting.

Inside the parcel was this lovely box

Filled with all these goodies starting with the letter J
Jewellery wrap
Jelly Beans
Jewellery kit
Japanese fabric
Jasmine Candle
Jingle Bells

Thank you Helen - all my gifts are gorgeous.

I also received these fabulous bowls and platter from my brothers family. Aren't they just the cutest



I have been flat out over the last few weeks with my new business and BAS time so there has not been a lot of stitching going on. I have been working on some secret santa stitching but also managed to get this little stitchery finished off at cricket on Saturday morning. The stitchery is from Rosalie Quinlan's Little Patchwork Village and I have used French General fabrics. It will eventually be turned into a cushion (hopefully by xmas).

Chat soon

Kylie xxxx

Oh Deah!

Has it really been 3 months since I last posted?? I can't believe how time has flown. I have been busy (as we all are). I have started up my own bookkeeping business and have also started some study, so that combined with my normal work, kids, husband etc has taken up so much of my spare time.

Anyway here are some things that have been happening around here lately

Firstly, something sad, we said goodbye to our wonderful friend Max. Max was 15 years old and was the best dog ever. He was part of our kids lives since they were born, has camped, fished, moved homes 4 times and was never far from any of us. We miss him everyday.

Some additions to our family - 6 chooks - our girls are now laying 6 eggs a day and are great to have around. DD has named them all and her favourite, Clucky, gets carried around, kissed and cuddled without ever complaining.

The other girls to come to live with us - 8 Dorper Ewes. And yes DD has named them too. These photos were taken not long after they arrived at the end of June. Since then we have welcomed 5 baby lambs - and yes, they have been named as well - Rambo, Buck, Sophie, Barbara and No Name.

At lastely I have found a little time to sew - these cushions are from Camille Roskelley's book Simplify - these cushions are super quick and easy - you can have two wipped up in an afternoon.

Oh and I never forgot (how could I) - much excitment - tomorrow I am off on my twice yearly Quilting Retreat to Middlebrook Station

Always a great weekend with lots of laughing, food, drink and stitching. See earlier posts.

Happy Stitching

Kylie xxx

Some Stitching

I am slowly getting through my pile of WIPs.

I am stitched the binding on my 40th birthday quilt (I will soon turn 42). It has sat for months with just the binding to attach (why do we leave this step for so long) but now it is done and hanging over the back of the lounge in the lounge room.

This quilt has sat half pieced for about two years. I have used a Me and My Sister pattern called Cake Walk and a Crazy Eight Jelly Roll and Layer Cake. It took me forever to cut it all out but once I started piecing it came together really quickly. I am super pleased with how it looks and am hoping to have it completely finished by xmas.

More blocks done for my Friends in Stitching BOM.

Kylie xxx

Quilting Retreat Part 4 - Some Finishes

Despite all the eating, laughing and drinking we do manage to get some sewing done. The first morning can be a little slow to get going (we have a rule that no-one sews on the first night - that is set aside for catching up) but once we start there is no stopping us. I think that the last ones sewing were still up at 1.00 am .......

Sharon turned this ......

.... into this ......

This quilt was made for a home ec teacher who was retiring (most of these wonderful ladies work at the local high school). Some of the people who worked with her contributed fabric and took a turn at making up a block then Alison put it all together and will quilt it. The background and border fabric is covered in cute cooking utensils.

This quilt is gorgeous. I love the mix of pinks and greens.

Mandy's hexi quilt which apparently has taken her years to finish - well done Mandy

Yvonne finished this ...

and this ......

One of my favs from the weekend .... I just love red

and lucky last my Fandango quilt. I just love the fabrics in this range and especially against the white. I have since added three borders and it is huge .... covers a queen size bed.

Kylie xxx

Quilting Retreat Part 3 - More Show and Tell

More show and tell

Alison's quilt - you can't see in the photo but Alison has done some amazing quilting on this quilt. She recently updated her quilting machine to a computerised one and has been having a great time playing with all the different designs.

Cheryl made this quilt for her son

Margaret's quilt - love the colours in this one

This is my Gardners Journal so far. I think it looks really good laid out but unfortunately I have not gotten any further with it since this photo was taken.


Kylie xxx