Easter - Family fun

 Our kids don’t come home very often for Easter so considering Easter Saturday was also my birthday this year it was more than special to have them home. We had egg hunts in the golf buggy , lots of swimming and food with family. 

Father and son

I love these two so much 

With my mum 86 and not so well lately

Minnie totally spoilt 

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Making sound devices with poppy

Help with the jobs .

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  Cheers!

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Oh and happy birthday to me . Hubby surprised me with this little beauty. 

Progress in 2026 - January Sewing room Audit

 These were my goals so far but a lot has been happening in my life this year. And more to come so we’ll see how we go. 

.Jan 3- Sewing room clean up and Audit -done

Feb 8- Work on Lucy Boston  -done

March 2- Make up Table Runners from furnishing fabric - - working on it 

April 10- Finish Annie - working on it 

January 

Yes I did clean up the sewing room and do an audit. I know I am so very lucky to have this space. I was even able to get rid of some furniture in there to make more space. Chooky’s daughter ended up the recipient of a very good cutting bench. We have to encourage the young quilters. I also parted with a few odds and ends and fabric I no longer liked. Life is too short to sew with fabric you really don’t like. 

Enter from the door or lounge That’s my long arm of course. The reason I had to part with the extra cutting bench . 

This is your first view- matching drawers both sides with a bench in the middle. 

Minnie’s bed under the long arm . 

Rotating shelf to hold the stuff you need quickly. - ready to go project bags, threads and rulers 

Cutting table and work space and the quilt is a temporary hang on my design wall. 

Work bench and second set of drawers. The ironing board has to move if I need the drawers . The drawers aren’t my most used though. 

My sewing space , behind the blind is a garden but the sun comes in too strong so the blind is down and it _ gives me a place for this cute quilt

Working on Lucy. Boston

I am determined to get this quilt finished this year. I have been working on it or ‘not ‘ for far too long.. I don’t know how everyone puts theirs together but I am going to divide it into 4 quadrants and work on one at a time.   I have now set it all out and done one and the other three are ready to go. ..My hands will be busy. Can’t get the layout right sorry .

lower Left


The whole lot.

2026 Chookshed Stitchers Challenge.

 

I just love these little logos Deana makes up...clever girl.

I'm a little late , Mum has not been well and I  will need a lot of time with her over the next month so I know I wont post as often but I am out there working away. I am taking her to Brisbane for major heart surgery on Monday. A week of tests and the operation on Fri 27th so I will work on my Lucy Boston for Feb and may be March as well. 

I spent days doing a sewing room audit. Oh my gosh I didn’t know I had so much stuff so my  list of challenges will be small projects so I can also make some quilts as well I hope..

MY LIST For 2026

1.Quilt blue chenille quilt

2. Table runners from furnishing fabric

3. Sewing room clean up and audit 

4. Make a cover for my quilting machine

5. Finish pink and blue table runner from Shiralee Stitches

6. Chevron baby Quilt

7.’ Bird ‘ Sashiko

8. Work on Lucy Boston 

9. Finish Deer Quilt

10. Finish Annie Downs Project Bag

Happy Sewing 

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2025 Challenges

 I was not able to all my challenges last year due to ....... well ....... LIFE I guess.

Looking back some seem like so long ago. But all the yellow highlights are  the finished projects. 

I  didn't think I did too badly though.

My List 

1. Work on Coverdale House 

2.Finish hand quilting and bind a toile quilt 

3. Annie Downs project bag

4. Quilt pineapple quilt“”

5. Quilt New Zealand Quilt

6. Finish Pineapple Quilt  Flimsy

7. Quilt My Favourite things quilt Quilt

8 Work on Lucy Boston again 

9. A Christmas Project 

10.Finish Confetti Quilt

Left to complete fully are- 

Cloverdale House , Lucy Boston and Annie's Project bag - all have been worked on.

The My Favourite Things quilt is quilted as  said in the challenge but I do have to bind it and that will be January's project .  I am also  doing a fabric audit in January ..... I don't know why I started that ???  Betty could be getting more than scraps this year.

Happy Quilting Everyone I hope you are sewing something you love.

Building Traditions at Christmas

  Christmas 2025 White Christmas . 

If I don’t get back here again due to travelling I wish all my quilting friends a very  happy , holy, and safe Christmas , however and where ever you celebrate this special day. Whether it’s before or after Christmas Day, whether it’s in church, whether it’s with family or friends or just doing something special. Enjoy, be happy and reflect on how lucky we are in the light of the last week.  To me Christmas time is a time to celebrate and connect with family and be thankful for who we are , where we live and what we have but most of all show kindness, respect and compassion.  

                                Merry Christmas to all ! 🎄

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This year we are all bows and wrapping paper. 

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And there always is the fake snow of course.

 They have grown up so much but still love this tradition. White Christmas at Movie World Gold Coast Queensland Australia. Parades of floats, games , rides and all the elves you need. 

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The prize for shooting the basketball and getting it in . Thank God it is inflatable. 

Just having kid fun

One of my favourites. Getting a selfie with my son. .

The Aussie float

A little bit of New York

And there goes the man in the red suit. 

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This year is top left and middle top
How they’ve grown..

Oak Tree Sewing Group Christmas Lunch

 Last Friday we had a Christmas lunch together before we break up for the year. The lunch was catered for and was delicious . Everyone bought a Secret Santa gift. The gift was “ something to hang on the Christmas Tree). I was lucky enough to be gifted these. Chris made to book marks for everyone . That was a lovely surprise . 

Such a clever idea. 

My Christmas Star… I love it!

Retreat Sewing at Rose Cottage Warwick

 Last weekend we had our last retreat for the year. A lovely time was had by all. I chose not to make a quilt but some table runners and a shoe bag for a friend for Christmas.  I also worked on a sashiko  runner but it was not finished. My sister in law loves gnomes so this is her gift. 

A shoe bag for my friend Kerrie

Jo, Peg, Gail and Sheena (sitting) and me taking the selfie of course

Rose Cottage has beautiful gardens. We have the whole house to ourselves. There are also little individual cottages or cabins and there are 2 ( I think )  sewing rooms available for those guests to use. It’s a great set up.. 

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My Granddaughter's Final Days at Primary School

My little girl is growing into a young lady very quickly. In 2026 she will go to high school. She did very well at the end of year awards. I’m so proud of her. Top of grade in academics and music. They had their little graduation ceremony on Friday. Because their school is at the beach they went down for photos.

After the awards presentation they had a little graduation party. The teacher spoke about each one of them and they had a lunch then they went for a game of bowls. Just a fun day. Mums and Dad’s were invited of course. 

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Her teacher said she always made her laugh in the morning with little impromptu dance moves . This is one I guess. 

I think my son is saying  “how did you get this big so fast?” All of primary school was at Mum’s school. High school will be at Dad’s school. They are both teachers. 

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