Friday 19 October 2012

HOME IS WHERE.......

I had a great days thrifty shopping just lately, and thought I would show you what I bought home.


I was after a new tablecloth for my little outdoor setting and found this little lovely


When I got it home and examined it, I discovered this has all been hand sewn, not mass produced but lovingly hand stitched, even all the open work and the baskets....such a treasure. I am glad I found it and will treasure it for more years to come.

The plate was just up my alley too, those who know me well have seen my plate decorating style. I love to use them as little works of art, and massed together they make quite a display.


Trouble is I thought this wall had just the right balance, so where and what am I going to do with these!



Dont you just love the sentiment written on the home plate, the design makes it look like a sampler, and I feel a bit mushy every time I read it.
The second plate is by Rob Ryan, a paper cutout artist who makes no apology for his sentimental words. ***sigh****




Yes, more of his works. They are amazing when you remember the original artwork has been painstakingly cut from paper.


So thats that wall space taken, hmmm still no ideas for the new plates yet.
Oh well lets leave that delightful problem and let me show you a little ebay purchase from a little while back.

I just loved the colour, it was wild and whacky and bigger than I thought it was when I purchased it, but its all good, it has a place in the sewing room holding all my other little knick knaky things, so I dont have to search all over the desk trying to find that packet of needles.
And that dear folks is a tidy desk, it does NOT look like that right now. 


Hehe....someone is demanding my attention, I bet not many people have this interruption from their dog, cat maybe but not dog, unless it too is a little chihuahua........I am a wee bit dotty about these pups but who could wesist that widdle faacce...daaawwww.
OK I will go now.....before you all get more than a little embarrassed by that nutty middle aged woman and her pooch. Anyway I think I just heard the car pull up, my daughter has just gone out for her first solo drive after getting her licence, I am trying to stay distracted whilst not freaking out!!!!! the joys!!!! Can I tell you sometimes its was easier when dinner was at 6.00pm and all were tucked up in bed by 7.30pm. But we all must grow up and that includes me. 

Wednesday 10 October 2012

RED and WHITE......

I had a glorious Sunday in the company of two like minded shoppy quilty friends. 
I was invited to accompany them to the annual Quilts in the Barn quilt hanging, to soak in the lovely barn atmosphere and its surroundings.
......and because I offered to drive ....lol. 

I had never been to this well known event before but my blog savvy  companions have made the trek many times and promised it would be a sight.
Apparently because we here in Australia are a smallish blog community these pictures will be appearing on many other blogs, but what the hey, YOU may not have seen them before dear  my
blog people so here goes





This is an original 1930's quilt, our reproductions are amazingly similar are they not? 



 Some little quilts.....They look great grouped like this, gives me some ideas. I thought the red and white was such a great contrast.




 Love the styling.



A teeny tiny bed....sigh, reminds me of my childhood wish to own a dolls house.



Hehehehe.......this is Debra taking a photo of me taking a photo of her. 
Check out her blog http://mypatchworkpalace.blogspot.com.au/  .
You may see her picture of me taking a picture of her!! 
There were a lot of ladies taking photos for their blogs.


Another original 1930's quilt.  the design is still so modern and graphic. 
I have always said good design is timeless, wonder what quilts of our lifetime will shine on through the decades?

This just spins me out man! I think they put this one up high so we didnt get hypnotised.



This one is on my to do list, I have discussed this with my stitching girls and one insists that I have something in the corners of the lone star. I was not really thinking along those lines until I saw this. 
Is it just me or do you eyes see things moving when you stare at this too long. Again such a classic.





These were also my picks, you dont see too many white on red.
I believe it is possibly because red is the most unstable dye in all manner of things. I hope modern dyes are proving to be more reliable but I do believe it is the red fabric you REALLY REALLY should WASH before using, many will bleed.




After that I needed a cuppa and a sitdown, we had some lovely refreshments there and all proceeds for the weekend went to charity, so as they say win, win.

That dear folks is the tail end of my post.

Thanks for dropping by.

Wednesday 3 October 2012

T'was a loverly spring day so I took a short walk......

(yes auto correct I know I misspelt a word but poetic license..sheesh)

As I was saying, it really was a wonderful, sunny, still, spring day and I thought I would take my self away from the manic sewing pile.


My current small project


My many clothes projects



And walk to the end of my street



I am very lucky to live within cooee ( an Australian way of yelling over long distances) of Port Phillip, a bay that at times can be still and flat and others windy and choppy. Today was a flat and still day.....tomorrow we will have strong northerly winds which means high temps as the wind blows in from the centre of Australia and its deserts.


At times I could be miles from the bustling world but in reality I am only meters from a busy road.


Some local birds, near their nest...this is why we need old hollow trees. I used the zoom, trying to learn the digital camera and its ways.






It was actually very hard to see what snaps I had taken as the sun was so bright it was near impossible to see the digital view. There were several times I forgot myself and tried to find the viewfinder as on an SLR. I am so saving for a new camera.

But these snaps give you an idea of the scene.




On the way home, a beautiful planting in a shaded garden, I think they are called clivea......which as a name makes me giggle because I am very immature and still follow undergraduate humour.


This lovely bird gave me his best side for the photo. These guys are quite used to humans, and often hang around in "gangs" on our lawns and nature strips. They are often seen staring at the ground seeking out grubs, I have had one follow me as I gardened so he could grab the insects I had disturbed. I love them, they have a beautiful song we call a dawn chorus, they warble and its a delight to hear. they can swoop in nesting time but I can live with that.


The modelling stopped when his snack announced itself ready.

I came home refreshed and at peace with the world.....until......arrrrrggghhh the builders next door put on their radio, seriously I have put up with near on 12 months of their noise, I lost it.

I put on a CD and cranked it up loudly, they cranked up their radio in response, so I got real cranky and left the house with my wonderful number one daughter and had a nice lunch and bought foreign currency. (as you do) Did I tell you I was going on a trip......