Rod Run on Australia Day

Yesterday we headed out to Laidley for an Australia Day Rod Run with The Rod Squad group. We were a bit unsure as to whether we would go or not as the previous two days it had been raining non stop. Our hot rod is a roadster so is not the best in the wet weather but the morning brought an overcast sky with no rain so we decided to head off and risk it. It turned out to be a great day  with our first stop being for lunch at this sixties style cafe.  Elvis was keeping guard outside.  They had burgers called James Dean, J O'K, Elvis Presley to name a few and my choice was Marilyn Munroe which contained breast chicken, salad and beetroot which is a must with our Aussie burgers. Of course forgot to take a photo but it was as delicious as  the French Vanilla Slice I had for dessert at the last stop on our run, Fernvale.

It has been a while since Chris and I have spent time together in the hot rod so we thoroughly enjoyed our outing.  We were also able to catch up with friends and talk about all things hot rod.
 Hope everyone had a       'HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY' .  We are so lucky to live in this wonderful country.
Bye for now.

OPAM for 2012, Work Space, New Blocks

I joined OPAM again this year as I found it does encourage me to get some projects finished each month.  Sign up is on now till the end of January so pop over to Kris from Tagalong Teddies or Peg from Happy in Quilting and join up.  Just click on the OPAM button in my sidebar to get to Kris's blog and read all about it.

 
 This last week, I spent a couple of days reorganizing my quilting room as it was in a bit of a mess after Xmas. It's a bit tidier now but still  more work to do till it's how I would like it. I also started to catalogue all the things I have gathered over the last few years. Quite a number of  things I had forgotten I had.  My whiteboard is filling up with all the things I want to do.  Can I have more hours in each day please!!!! 

2012 To Do List on the Whiteboard

Below are the blocks I have prepared ready for stitching.  These belong to the Bluebird of Hope Quilt (part of Quilt Aid 2009)  which I purchased a couple of years ago. My friend Jan from quilting bought them as well but she has been working on hers for a while now so I have to play catch up.  I am going to try to complete two blocks a month so these will have to be for February as there is only 1 week left of this month.

As well, I have also made up some practise blocks for my Free Motion Quilting pledge but am still waiting for the patchwork shop to ring about my open toed foot. Hope it comes soon.
Well, it's getting late and school restarts for my grandson in the morning so will say bye for now.  Happy Stitching..........

Family, Sorting out my TO DO list for 2012

Since Xmas, I have been spending time with my grandsons Tom & Jake, they are now having some time with their Mum until school resumes in just over a weeks time when Jake returns to start Grade 3.  Also I have had my eldest grandson, Josh, stay for a few days.  He is a great boy and I really enjoyed his company.  The days were hot so we enjoyed lots of swimming in the pool.  He also loves to help in the kitchen and we all got to enjoy  his tropical fruit salad for dessert one night. Love you Josh for wanting to spend time with your Grandma.

This week I am working on my To Do list for this year.  I didn't really seem to achieve much last year so I want this year to be different. Although I do remember thinking the same thing the year before.
Top of the list is the 2012 Free Motion Challenge to help improve my confidence in this area. The button on my side-bar will get you to the site. It is well worth a look.  I have ordered a free motion foot for my machine and then I will begin practising the first tutorial for January (a leaf design.).  There is also a Facebook site where members who have joined can post their efforts.
I am also going to spend some time in the next couple of days tidying my quilting room as it certainly needs it.  I must admit I haven't spent much time in there of late.

This arrived in my letterbox this week.  I won this pattern as part of  a competition I entered before Xmas.  I belong to an online group called Snickerdoodle Dreams.  It is a very cute pattern called Dawn by Melly & Me.  Thanks to Darlene for my gift.
Well must go.  Till next time.................

SSCS Gift, OPAM finish & Happy New Year.

Above are the gifts I sent to Anne-Mari in Norway as part of the SSCS Swap.  A snowman table runner and some other goodies which included an Anni Downs pattern, The Christmas Goose.  I bought the pattern and handle from Patchwork Plus (an Aussie on-line shop with great service)  in Tassie, and made up the little kit to go with it from my stash.  I added some buttons , small scissors and an Australian calendar.  The table runner has been added to my OPAM list for December.
In closing this post, I would like to wish everyone of my quilting friends a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and hope that 2012  will bring you health, happiness and provide you with lots of time to quilt.........
Till next year........

SSCS Swap Gift

Well Christmas Day is over for another year and as well as my family gifts, I got to open my SSCS  Swap present. THANK YOU Tami from the USA for my lovely bag. It has lots of pockets inside as well as one on the outside and also came with a card wallet. I didn't peek beforehand and I must say it was well worth the wait   I love it especially the little tumbling blocks on the front and I can't wait to fill it with my sewing bits and pieces and take it with me when my quilt group starts back up in a couple of weeks time. 
   

I hope everyone had a.........      VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS      .............and that you got to spend the day with your family as I did.  Thank you to all of my blogging friends for sharing part of your life with me as I do enjoy reading about what you are doing and what you are making and I also like sharing with you what I love doing as well.
Enjoy the rest of the Xmas break...............  

Getting ready for Xmas

Above is the Secret Santa gift I received at my Quilt Group break-up last week.  Lots of lovely Xmas themed goodies which will be put to good use on Christmas Eve when we have our family gathering. I forgot to take a photo of my gift but it was along similar lines with a Xmas mug, a mug rug, some choccies and shortbread biscuits. I'm hoping Xmas Eve will be a nice sunny day so the grand-kids and grown-ups can enjoy a swim in the pool.  We have been swimming most days but I must say the water is still very cool although once the initial shock of that first dive in is over, it is quite pleasant.
I'm afraid I haven't been in my sewing room for well over a week but am hoping to do a bit of stitching next week.    I have only a couple of gifts still to buy and have wrapped most of the other gifts so that part of  Xmas is under control. Beside shopping this week and the usual Xmas clean-up, I took my grandson Jake to the movies.  We saw Puss 'n' Boots in 3D.  We both enjoyed it and ate lots of popcorn and ice-cream while we were there.  This week Tom, Jake's brother is down for 3 weeks.  It will be lovely to catch up with him as I haven't seen him in a while. Scott is on holidays so my Grandma duties will have a well earned break for a couple of weeks.

This is what I have been dabbling with the last couple of weeks.  Hope to finally complete it this week.  Been a while since I have played around with my paints but am enjoying the experience again.  The worst part is cleaning the paint brushes when I'm finished.  The end result will be worth it though and I guess the poor reindeer, gingerbread man and penguin would like it if I finished painting their faces.

Today we are going to my nieces for a family lunch.  I have made a cheese cake to take so hope it tastes okay.  Just have to whip the cream.   Till next time..........

Group Break-up

Just a quick post to show a photo of our group break-up on Monday.  Of course I forgot to take a photo of the lovely food we had to eat or the presents all wrapped in their pretty paper waiting under the Xmas tree to be given out to some very excited ladies.  So here we are after opening our presents, everyone a bit too full to move but feeling very happy and contented.
MERRY CHRISTMAS quilters and stitchers.  See you in the NEW YEAR my friends.