Today we arrived in Hobart around about lunch time. Booked into the Salamanca Inn and  went to Salamanca markets. Lots of beautiful timber goods. As we  approached each stall selling timber products you could just smell the scent of the Tassie wood. We bought a bottle of wine, some black garlic , cheese and Tassie salmon . No prizes for guessing what we will be doing this afternoon. I just love the tulips they were selling too hot and dry for those ast home. Bernie took a few minutes to do emails and rest his legs. The little tassie devil welcomed us at the airport..

 

Gourmet in Gundy Barbecue Cook Off

Today I was the other half in a cooking competition which is a part of the Gourmet in Gundy celebration, a bit of a foodie festival. This year the four schools in our town went head to head in a barbecue competition. Each school had to use a different meat, the choices were pork, chicken, beef and pork.  The principal of our school, Brett, and I  got to cook steak.  We chose sirloin steaks.  The challenge was to cook a barbecue meal for ten people in one hour. Celebrity chef Mat Golinski was the judge.  
We didn't win but I thought we did  pretty well anyway.

Finished

In the cooking zone 

5 4 3 2 1  finished 

The judges

Matt Golenski the judge tasting our food.  Grilled vegetable stack , truss tomatoes and porterhouse steak with Blue cheese sauce. 

Lamb by the opposition

The  opposition's meals

Two chefs tasting

Nundle 2019

I just love going to Nundle it's one of my favourite places to sew, take a breath and just have some me time. This time I made this quilt from this lovely Australian wildflower fabric . The photos don't do it justice . When I have it quilted I will take some more photos. It actually has a very pale green and white background and the colours are so much more vibrant.

Without the border 

.                                                                     With the border

I really liked this one Amy did 

Book Week

I get so much fun out of watching the kids and Emma  dress up for book week. They looked so cute this year.
Evelyn went as Cindy Lou Who from "The Grinch". Colt was the from "The Pirate Who Wore Underpants." Although he insisted that pirates have belly buttons so he did not wear anything on his belly..Ha Ha. So you know who was snow white then.

2018 projects

• Snow Bowl Fillers by Bonnie Sullivan- November
• Christmas Heart By Bonnie Sullivan - October
• Craft project - named trays- - September for August
• Needle roll by Sue Spargo - September
• Leanne's House - July
• Liberty Zip Pouch- June
• May - Taffy Apple Bag by Helen Stubbings
• Love , friendship an Stitching zip pouch by Natalie Bird- April
• 3 Easter rabbits- March
• Cottage rose rabbit by Tilda- March
• Giraffe Carry Bag 28 Feb 2018
• Giraffe make up purse 2 march 2018

Catching Up

I have finally finished these two quilts which have been in my 
cupboard for a while part finished .
The purple is a cot quilt I bought in the US in 2014. So it will wait for a baby now. The other one is one I made with Kerry Swain at "Cottage On The Hill", Nundle.  It now belongs to my lovely sister, she has lots of blue in her house and I have none. It belongs there.

Some Time in my Sewing Room

A couple of weeks ago I finished this sashiko project. I enjoyed doing this as it was quick to take shape and gave a lot of effect.  I used some fabric I bought in New Zealand for the border.

I have recently got a new sewing space and I am still fiddling and moving things around as I do. This quilt has pride of place now. My friend Denice ( Denice's Day) from Michigan hand made this for me and I am so appreciative to have it.  Every day I hope to have one more opportunity to meet up with her . Until then I just have to be content with blogging , email 

and Instagram.

This is the little project bag I made today and it too has a story.  A couple of years ago Penny from our "Staceys at the Gap" retreat gave me this little piece of indigenous inspired fabric cut into a lizard shape. Penny herself is a proud indigenous woman and a great quilter. Isn't he is so cute?  After ages of moving him from one spot to the other, I said no more. So here we are...

My Sue Spargo Project

I have to say Sue Spargo is one of my favourite quilt artists, I love the happy, quirky subject matter and the bright colours of the wool, threads and braids she uses. 

I have finished this small kit project and I'm so pleased with it. 

My new window view and ready to make into the bag.

I added some seed beads on the wings, they look better than in the photo.

Cushions

Guess who is three .

 Now life has settled a bit I have hit the sewing room . Some simple cushions to match my   new decor. Love this fabric . 

 

AILSA

Last week we lost a very beautiful,talented and witty lady.  Ailsa Marlene Morris, OAM. and my mum in law. People complain about MIL's but mine was awesome. She was a dedicated CWA lady and for a while she was the state vice president of QLD CWA ( Country Womens Association). Ailsa earned an Order of Australia Medal(OAM) which she was very proud of. We were proud of her and loved her a lot. She taught me to knit my first cardigan. She joked and smiled til her last day.

Millstream Falls near Ravenshoe north Queensland

 Millstream Falls near Ravenshoe North Queensland

All the years I lived up there I didn't get to visit this place. It is very beautiful. 

 

Retreat at Stacey's 2019

On the 14th June we headed to Stacey's at the Gap for our retreat. Sewing from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon. We were totally waited on, it's up on top of the great dividing range at Cunningham's Gap near Warwick.  It's a very peaceful place. It was once an old school camp .  What more can you want friends, sewing , a fire and not a bit of housework to do. Thanks Leonie!

Cabins - very comfortable

 
                                                            The dining room 

                                                                   Coffee of course

All busy 

Gail finishing her monster quilt.

The scenery

Sheena finished her quilt and onto the stitchery

These two are the quilts I finished. The kits have been in the stash for a few years or more but not any more. Emma(DIL) tells me the fairy quilt is the same as one her nana made her sister when she was young but I assure you the kit is not that old, may be 5 years ....