I really have been sewing...

.. this is a kit a friend bought me for Christmas. Went together very easily but now I have to quilt it! It's not big so I should be  able to manage it

Some secret sewing..

... some more blocks that will eventually make a quilt as you go quilt. I have all 30 blocks sewn, the backing cut out and am thinking about the cutting of the wadding.This will be  a quilt for DH niece who turns 30 this year....

... and this is going to be  a ring cushion for when my eldest daughter gets married. The ribbon when attached will tie on the rings(of course) and I would like to just add a small butterfly amongst the roses. This is a free pattern from Jenny of elefantz and I really enjoyed sewing it. Thanks Jenny for sharing so freely.

Now I just have to get myself organised and finish all the above items.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..

... well it's not cold, wet(snowing) or dark at 4 p.m ( being English this is what I grew up with and even after 38 years in Australia I still can't get used to a hot Christmas .. ah well)  but it's as close as I can get. Finally got the tree up and decorated but it's not as good as usual. Still it's up.

I too was lucky to get a gingie from Michelle and as you can see it's right next to the pud I got last year. Thanks Michelle, you are a gem.Love them both

Wishing you all a very happy and safe festive season.

Tis finished and a proud moment

On Weds night, with about 2500 other young men and women at Etihad Stadium, my beautiful DD2  graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing degree. It has taken her a while due to a broken leg and foot and a couple of other health issues but finally.... She did it!!! So very proud of all my children. I can now have the gallery of graduation photos instead of the baby photos. DS2 also pictured is in the middle of a double Masters degree in translation so will be off to Lyon in August next year for "12" months to complete that.

Breezy day here(perfect for clothes drying but not photo taking) but here is the Honour quilt all finished....welll I am not sure about putting another border on so maybe it's almost done. So I am calling this my Rainbow Connection quilt.

Hmm think that the grass needs mowing again!

The last five and a goodbye

The last five blocks are sewn and now the process of  making it into a quilt begins. Phillip Joseph McCahery killed in action in France 26th April 1918

This is the centre block and is for all those other soldiers killed in WW1.

Charles William Dau was gassed with mustard and phosphene gas on 23.7.18 and died following that 3 days later.

John Hammond has rather a sad story. On 13th May 1918 in Corbie, France, a HE shell landed on the building he was in, broke through the cellar where he was sleeping, and exploded.A piece of shell hit his head killing him instantly. He must have worked hard as his team were on duty but he had been allowed a sleep-in. There were many eye witnesses to tell of this event.

William Leahy was killed in action 11th August 1918 in France. In 1917 he was awarded the DCM( Distinguished Conduct Medal). As you can see I didn't do a good job o my first attempt so had to redo it... the one on the left will be in the quilt.

 Many thanks to Maree for taking us on this journey. Many hours of research went into this and it has been so interesting earning a little about the men from Kilmore and it's surrounds.

Finally a farewell to the little buddy on the left of this photo. My beautiful boy and his beloved Bayley were reunited in spirit on Friday and are now having a ball playing together. You can see the adoration on both faces. Today Bayley came home and I aim to reunite him physically with DS1 soon. Thanks to Eden Hills for making a sad time easier.

It's just a little leap...

...from 59 to 60 that is. It all began on Saturday when I was treated to breakfast with Mary, (me) Cathie and Bronwyn. The" tree" in the centre of the table has lots of 60's on it! Great morning all round and I was given a voucher to spoil myself with a massage. Can't wait. I go to breakfast about once a month with these ladies as we have been friends since DD1 was born so 27 years.

Today (9th) is actually my big day and I have been spoilt. The lovely butterfly in the front was painted by my beautiful boss and inside was a "Gratitude" necklace. The bag was made by a friend, the mug is one of four and from my aunt and uncle, and the butterfly necklace is from another friend. Do you sense a theme?

Here is a close up of the necklaces.... I had the big heart and one small heart (DS1 and DD1 fingerprints) and was given DD2and DS 2's this year so now all my children are even closer to my heart. A friend who also is a work colleague gave me the small tree of life with circle (sorry bad photos) which says "family is a circle of strength and love" So true. Don't you love the saying under the bling... Live each day as if your life had just begun. Worth keeping in mind especially for me.

Feel very spoilt as I have said and I have to remember that it is just a number and it is just a small leap and not a big one. Mind you I did say when I got to 50 I was counting backwards so today I am the grand old age of 40!!!

44 done and 5 to go..

Yesterday , after lunch with my aunt and a friend, I ventured to Boronia to Theo's Discount Craft as I had been told they had braid ( did a crazy patch journal with Kilmore quilters and would like to do more) and I couldn't find any that was suitable but Theo's had some. There is one with rainbow metallic in the centre and one with just silver. At 60c a metre I got a bit! The ribbon and ricrac was $1 a bundle and the zips were 30 for $2.50 so they came home with me as well. I'd like to try little bags with zips but not sure how I will go so look out Jo you may be given lots of zips. I also got some bugle beads and some sticky tape. The best bit was they had 40% off so it was very cheap.

These last 5 Honour blocks take the total to 44 and next month we get the last 5 and then the quilts can be ready by Anzac Day. This is Joseph Harold Durkin who enlisted at age 22 and died aged 23. Joseph's story was very long and involved but he was shot and killed by a fellow soldier. At first it was thought to be suicide but eventually was recognised as being a murder. Thought to be the first case where ballistics were used to prove a crime had been committed.

Claude Henry Jackson was a jockey prior to his enlistment and was a part of the 8th Australian Light Horse No 4 Company Anzac Camel Corp. He died in Palestine aged 29 yrs.

Samuel Ernest Crane served in the Boer waras well as WW1. He died at 35 yrs from wounds received in action. His personal effects were sent home via ship but that was lost at sea so all his effects were lost.

John Martin Dwyer was a member of the 24th Battalion when he died in France aged 28yrs. He was the 4th of 10 children.

William John Matthew was a shearer before enlisting in Dec 1914. He was injured several times while serving in Gallipoli. He suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and was taken to the hospital ship Denanha but died and was buried at sea.

Today(27th) is 3 long years since we lost  DS1. I have cried and laughed and remembered him especially today. Gone but never forgotten, Love you CJ. This is one of the reasons this quilt means so much to me. These young men need to be remembered especially for the sacrifice they made to keep this country safe. May they never be forgotten.

This and that

DD2 decided to make a quilt for a friend when she heard that said friend was getting married. This is the result and it was presented with much fanfare and received with great delight on Sunday. My friend with triplets quilted it for me while I kept the boys busy. DD2 did do about 70% of it but left the long seams and binding to me. I know R and S will use it and be happy wrapped in my daughter's love.

DH's niece turns 18 today and I offered a quilt for a present. When I asked what her favourite colour was the response was" lime green" I hate green and was not impressed but as that was what she asked for this is the resulting quilt. GJ's was the choice of shop for the fat quarters required(13 in all) and as you can see there is some lime green in it! Not sure when it will be delivered so I hope she likes it.

This is my second block that is for the Kilmore Quilters raffle quilt. I am so glad it is done and this will be handed over tonight and I can breathe again. Didn't realise the petals were so small so they aren't as curved as I would like however it is done.

I belong to a 12" and 6" block swap and have decided to pull out of them both. Life has got on top of me and I think I need to rediscover who I am so next year is for me so these are the last two 6" blocks that are heading to a nearby suburb in the next few days. I may hand deliver them, not sure yet.

On a positive note, DD2 has a Bachelor of Nursing degree and is starting at a nearby hospital in Feb as a grad nurse. Very proud of her achievement,It's been a long battle but she made it.