Well as 2010 draw to a end I find my self thinking over the year that has gone in a blink of a eye. I was starting to think that I haven't done very much this year then had to rethink that as it has turned out that I have. My business has grown to keeping me busy every working day of the week. As well as the quilts that I have finished and not quite finished yet are high in numbers not as many as the year before but I can only better my self next year. I have two health boys that are growing in to lovely young men and happy house and family . I will have to say that the end of this year has not been the best as a good friend of mine lost his battle with cancer just before Christmas, that left us all a bit flat over Christmas. A bright moment to Christmas day was opening my SSCS from May and I Love it . Its a table runner in my favorite Moda Red's and will now live on the coffee table when I get my new one next week . So as I look forward to 2011 I am starting a new list of things I would like to accomplished this coming year and top on the list is to run the Bridge to Brisbane in August. Its a 10 km run and although I am not out to win it I would love to run it in under 1hr , so with my new running shoes I am off. Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year with lots of sewing to look forward too .
Big Hugs Bec

I got a nice surprise from the postie today all the way from Norway from the lovely May and boy was I spoilt rotten. With lovely chocolates , patty cake cups , napkins and these two lovely hearts that will be placed on the tree as soon as I have done this post. Although the boys will hide my other present ready for Christmas day .


Aren't they just beautiful and will treasure them always. I am off to go and find out more about May and where she lives as what I have seen looks amazing and beautiful and new pin on my map of places I would love to see.
Big Hugs Bec xx

I'm seeing crosses at the moment hehehehe........ No its something new I am working on at the moment its been a long time since I have done some of my own sewing and long over due. So yesterday with the sun out well for a few hours before the rain I did some gardening and started making my crosses . Will try and finish the rest of later today after helping Hubby with putting in the new power point for the Christmas Tree ( he has had all year to do it need I say more ).

I thought you might like to see my most favorite quilt shop Esmes in Tasmania owned by Lillian
So much fabric in one shop by bank accounts hurts just looking at it .




This is the lovely Lillian who is celebrating her "21st" Birthday today wink wink
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lillian
Hope you have a lovely day
and happy sewing to everyone else
Big Hugs Bec

Something to brighten your day

Hugs Bec

Well it's on it's way and I have had so much fun doing it as I did last year. My SSCS is of to where can't say but I hope she likes it . I have managed to drag my body out of bed after spending the past few days in it with the flu. After a lovely holiday in Tassie I came home to a sick little man, poor Nick had the flu and was not well, as he said to me one night even my hair hurts mum. So after getting him on the road to recovery he kindly decided to share his flu with me I am so pleased that my boys love to share Not .

I have to say I am so looking forward to a new year as this one has been very up and down as well as being all over the place. Maybe its just me and next year I should make my resolution to be more organized........ humm who am I joking life is just some thing you can't organize. I like the little spanners that get thrown in some times , that what makes you now your alive .

Well here are some more pictures of the Cataract Gorge in Launceston I have always loved spending time here even as a kid and so do my boys .

This is my favourite spot in the whole park as I love the feeling you get when you walk across the bridge the way it moves and the looks on peoples faces when a kids try's to swing it more ( as I use to when I was little ).

I do miss the flowers that only grow in cold climates as they do go all out when the weather warms up. These are Rhododendron and come in such a lovely display of colours and look amazing when in full bloom. Well I hope you are all having a great week and happy sewing

Big Hugs Bec

Well back home again and what a great and busy week I have had. It was very sad to leave Tasmania, but I know I will be back one day. I spent a few days in Hobart with a good friend would love to show you some photos but was talking so much forgot to use the camera lol. I loved catching up with Bron and seeing her farm and of course the shopping although I did end up paying excess but it was so worth it . I then drove to Wynyard to spend the weekend with my sister and the family. I got to play hairdressers with my nieces which I love as the boys won't let me braid their hair ( I don't know why as both have very long hair at the moment ). We then went for a walk to Guthridge Gardens a place I sent a lot of time playing in as a child. It was lovely to watch the kids run around and play in the sun as the weather turned to cold and rainy the next day, I forgot how sudden it can change in Tassie.

This is Table Cape and every time I see that I now I am home even though I have not lived in Wynyard for a long time. I still feel it is my home as I have such great memories growing up there. Well that's it for today, tommorrow I will show you the rest of my trip plus the fabric I brought, what fun I am going to have playing with it .

Have a great day and happy sewing

Big Hugs Bec

Well I would like to say that the bag is packed but that would not be true and it will more than likely be a rush job in the morning. But I can say that I have done all the work I set my self to do before my little Holiday to Tassie. I can't wait so excited and only one more sleep to go.



One of the things I did complete this week was a very special quilt, now I can't show you a picture of this quilt because I think Liz should do that. This quilt is for a special lady called Sue and is made up of blocks that lovely bloggers have sent to Liz from all over the world, so go to Liz Blog and have a look it. It's worth it trust me although you may have to wait to see the finish thing as it was only sent back today by over night so not to long I hope. Now I am of on my way tomorrow and am so looking forward to see my sister and family and catching up with friends. So hope you all have a great week with lots of sewing and I hope to have lots of photos to show you all next week, that's if I can find the camera I know its in the house some where maybe I should clean up before I go .
Big Hugs Bec

I got a belated birthday present yesterday from Lillian and it was a pile of fabric with a note to make myself a table runner. I have to say I love presents like that because I have the fun of making it. So I was a bit naughty and instead of working yesterday afternoon I played, if the truth must be know it was the fabrics fault it was talking to me to make it. Sometime fabric can be so naughty lol.


I love it and had a lot of fun making it, I love the red but I always love Moda reds they are so beautiful. Oh I am off to Tasmaina in a few weeks and so looking forward to catching up with friends and seeing some truly beautiful places. Happy sewing and have a great weekend.
Big Hugs Bec

Auhhhhhhhhhhh school holiday, Jury duty and now to top of a really full and sometimes interesting few week , its short by 4 inches. I know you are probable scratching your head by now and to tell you the truth so am I.

I have finished the center to the quilt kit I brought from America and have gone to put the first boarder on only to find the fabric is short by 4 inches, so the hunt will start this weekend to see if we can track down the remaining 4 inches in one of our local shops ( shame that :D )



I have really enjoyed making the kaleidoscope blocks and with the special ruler, I found it very easy to create.

I have been on jury duty for the last week and have this week to go, well it has been interesting and the boys are now back at school as off today (thank you) so life will soon go back to some normality well as normal as any house with two teenage sons, a dog, two cats and one DH will ever be. Well better go hope you all have a great week and happy sewing
Big Hugs Bec

Well the boys are on school holidays at the moment and the weather has not been the best for them. Which they are alright with at the moment as they both have new games to play. Although I would love to say the same lol, once again the house looks like a laundry mat and I keep tripping over a child as they have taken to laying around on the floor at the moment to play their games. Oh school holidays are fun ....

I am pleased to say that I have finished a quilt top sorry shouldn't say finished but as close to finish as I can get at the moment. It was a block of the month I started last year and this week because of the rainy weather we have been having, I sat down on the weekend and finished the boarders while watch my new birthday present. All the dvds of "The Darling Buds of May" I just love that series and would love to visit that part of England one day. I must apologise for the photo as I think it might be time for a new camera ( hummm Christmas)






Well I hope you are all having a great week with lots of sewing and laughter, I better go feed the animals and that's just the boys :D
Big Hugs Bec

Wow it's here, after stalking our local postie for the past 3 weeks. The poor postie has had to contend with me and my local magpie. Although I am sure he would say the magpie was the better behaved out of us both lol. My order from Hancock's of paducahs here and I am in heaven. I got some more civil war fabrics for the big lone star quilt I am going to make and some charm squares from Moda's "wee woodlands " range.



I also ordered this kit called Chained stars the fabric is lovely and although I have never made a Kaleidoscope block before I am really looking forward to having a go. Although I might have to have a look out for the Kaleido Ruler, if any one has any tips for making these blocks would love to hear them .



Well take care and I hope everyone is having a great week with lots of sewing
Big Hugs Bec

My Time In Florida

I arrived safely here at Beena's place in Daytona Beach, Florida quite some time back. This place really is a paradise! The first thing I did was take off the mittens I came here with from New Zealand. Much too hot here, for that.
Daytona is most well known because people are allowed to drive right on the beach. Here is a picture of one of the beach ramps leading to the water.



While I was here, I made a friends with Nelson, a sock monkey who likes to surf. We had a lot of days where we just chilled out listening to the rock band "The Heavy" that sings that song "How You Like me Now". This is a picture the morning after we went to a night club. I think Nelson is a bit hung
over in this picture, and had too much to drink the night before.


Beena said it was "an absolute must" to buy a Daytona Beach t-shirt while I was here. It's a little big for me, but I love it. It's a tye-die shirt with a shark on it and these fake glittery drops of water. Volusia County is actually the shark bite capital of the world. Nelson says he's seen sharks sometimes when he's surfing, but for whatever reason, they have never been interested in eating him. Something about the way he smells...like a sock...gives him natural protection against predators!




I spent some time watching Beena paint. I posed in front of her painting for her.



She admitted to me she likes this painting so much she is going to turn it into fabric for a quilt.




We shopped today for some souvenirs to bring to the Netherlands, and I am also bringing some fat quarters with me. I sure am going to miss watching Beena paint her dreamy sea scapes, and I'll miss surfing and hitting the night life with Nelson! This has been a very relaxing visit, filled with long days at the beach!

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you think " I have done nothing productive all week" then when you really think about it yes you have. Well its been one off those weeks here and although I have done what I originally thought was not much it real was.
I have done some quilts and some stitching of my own , but can't show you its a secret so shhhhhh.
So I thought I would show you a quilt I quilted for a customer the lovely Edith. Edith loves big quilts and she has given me some amazing and big quilts to do over the past 2 years but this one takes the cake as it just fitted on my machine. We decided that it really needed a scalloped boarder and I think it has really finished the quilt off. It all so took Edith out of her comfort zone as it was her first time at binding a scallop border and I think she has done a great job of it .


It is just simple quilting but I didn't want to take away from the embroidery and sometimes simple is best.

Well I hope you have all had a great weekend and got lots of sewing done. I thought I would leave you with a photo of Binks relaxing in the chair, its a hard life being a cat .

Have a great week and take care

Big hugs

Bec

I have come to the idea that as a parent I am my worst enemy....... DH and my self thought it would be great for the boys to have their own laptops as John is just about to go in to grade 11 next year ( I feel old) and with the homework they both have DH and myself was lucky to get to use one of the two computers in the house.
Now let me just say that for the past 3 years we have been on a Internet plan with Telstra that has been great a few times we have come close to our limit but it always will reset in a day or two. Well on buying these new laptops we told both the boys be careful of the down loads or it will be snail mail for the rest of the month, lets just say that the lovely Nick went through the limit in two days. When asked what he was doing on the computer to go through 12 gbits in 2 days he said " did you know I cam watch tv from all around the world", which would be great if he was catching up on current affairs not cartoons..........
So hence we have been on snail mail for the past few weeks and have been unable to visit any ones blog to see whats new. As for my own I gave up last week and even though it took 1hr to download one photo I had to update it as I have missed you all so much.
Now we are on a better plan and that was a mammoth task in it self and a story for enough day, hate dealing with Telstra at the best of times. So hope you are all having a great week with lots of sewing and laughter
Big Hugs Bec

I would like to say a big thank you to all the get well wishes I have received since my last blog. I am pleased to say that after a visit to the Doctor's where I was told to stop smoking ( I don't smoke go figure) and handed a multitude of medication I am now feel fit and ready for the world. Now just have to get DH better as I do like to share lol .
I have a quilt that I can show you now as it has arrived at its destination for someone special, she loves it which is a relief as I was not to sure of her colours. It was nice to hear that it had arrived and to hear that it made her day, only wish I could have given it to her in person.

The feet and hand in the photo belong to the boys , they are growing up so fast that every time I blink we are shopping for new clothes or shoes that fit . Take care and enjoy the rest of your week I am of to see about a boat as the backyard is one big lake at the moment with all the rain we are getting.
Big Hugs Bec

Oh ah............. a month has passed in a blink of a eye and I didn't even see it go, I didn't realise it had been that long since my last post . I would love to say that I have done lots of quilting but that would be a lie, well lots of other peoples quilts dose that count. I have been busy scaring off bears, frighting off foxes and clobbering groundhogs, no I haven't lost the plot ( depends on who you talk too ) its a game I have been playing on face book called frountivill and time flys once you start.

A while ago I brought a book called "The Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt" by Laurie Aaron Hird. I have to say I have enjoyed reading the letters in this book and find it amazing what these women had to cope with and what their dreams for their children where. In a time of great change in the world these women took everything in their own time , their dreams for their children are not that different from now, as they only wanted the best for their sons and daughters. Which is what all mothers want for their kids. One part of a letter that has stayed with me is from Mrs G.B.H. Richland County, Mont
" This is my work. My blessing, not my doom, Of all who live, I am the one by whom it can be done in the right way."
This little saying can be taken in many ways and for some reason it real stuck with me. I have decided to make this quilt for a school friend who is the proud owner of a lovely farm. I have enjoyed the blocks I have made so far and have only 70 more to go so not to much lol.

Here is the blocks I have finished so far and I am pleased with the way it is turning out. I can't remember the last time I made a scrappy quilt and what fun its been going through my stash although my room dose look like a bomb has gone off with fabric everywhere.
Happy sewing and have a great week I know I will when I get over this flu.
Big Hugs Bec

Last week I got a parcel from the lovely Lillian with a little stitchery and the fabric to make Lynette Andersons "My Garden " BOM. Each block comes with a button and a cute little stitchery this is the first one called " The Barrow" I am so looking forward to the next one as I have no idea what this little quilt will look like and I think I will keep it that way until its all done sort of like a mystery quilt , lets hope I can last that long lol.

We have been working in the garden this weekend with mulching and painting the fence . Well the fence will take a few weekends with the boys help ( I seem to be doing a lot of repainting and the new mulch has more paint than the fence ,but I am happy the boys are trying )

I love these flowers they always appear after its rained and we have had a lot of rain over the past few weeks which is strange for this time of year. I am not sure what they are called but I seem to have them in every garden I have owned so I call them Bec's flowers.

I thought I would leave you with picture of Harry being Harry. John was unwell the other week with a bad cold and Harry decided to keep him company all day watch Doctor Who, both of them had a great time I'm sure. We all love Harry as he has a real personality about him and I am sure he forgets he is a cat sometimes.

Have a great week and happy sewing

Big Hugs Bec

Not often do I get to see the completed quilt after I have quilted it, but the lovely Maureen sent these photos of the completed quilt on the bed of a special little girl who I am told loves her bed now. I do like the Drunked Path blocks because you can have so much fun with one block. This Block can make lots of patterns and is the flavour of the moment as I have done a lot of them over the past few weeks and all of them have looked different.

Have a great week end and Happy Sewing

Big Hugs Bec

Hello I have been away for awhile and how I have missed everyone thanks for the few people how sent me emails to make sure all was well, life is good just busy at the moment. Bear Bear has been having a great time in New Zealand so go and look at his blog for the latest.

I have been lucky to see some amazing quilts in the past few years and some that have left me looking for a answer. I came across one of those the other day the lady had used one of those blue marking pens and is now unable to remove some of the marks, So my question to quilters out there is have you got any idea on how to remove these marks ?

I also have come across some quilting sins and think the top one on this list should be measure your borders, I understand that some times you are just so please to be on the home stretch of your quilt that you just sew your borders on and hope for the best but this can real make or break and quilt I think. So what would you class as other quilting sins I am sure we all have one that we just always look for . Well enjoy the rest of your week and happy sewing .
Big Hugs Bec

A few weeks ago I commented on a the start of Chookyblue's A garden's journal by Hatch and Patch. I loved how she was hers in a blue colour scheme and commented that I had made the same quilt a few years ago. Chookyblue asked to see my quilt, so here it is. I enjoyed making this quilt and putting the fabrics together for it.

This is my favourite block in the whole quilt , my next door neighbour at the time use to say it was a good likeness to her when she was in the garden.

Here is a little sweet treat bag I got to finish today, its from a Moda Honey bun pack that I had in the cupboard. Sorry the photo is a bit dark it looks like a storm is coming to visit outside.

Hope you all have had a great weekend and happy sewing

Big Hugs Bec

It has been a very mad house kind of week this week, I guess I better start at the beginning. At the end of last week poor John had to have his toe nail removed as it was ingrown, all was looking good until the second bandage change where I noticed he had a slight temp and the toe was looking red and big. So of to the Doctors again to discovered the John had a Staph infection required more antibiotic's. So after lots of trips to the Doctors, I am pleased to say both John and toe are well and on the road to recovery.
For those of you how read my blog often, know that I have been going to the gym to try and loss some weight. Well the other day I was given some size 12 pants as I am running out of clothes ( very expensive this losing weight), I thought there is no way that I would be a size 12 but shock horror I was. So on doing a happy dance around the bed room went to show DH my new size. Now the next thing I am going to tell you left me a bit dazed. The lovely DH said your bum looks saggy in those pants, not wow you look great no your bum looks saggy. Talk about leaving me deflated. I was not sure how to answer this one as I am sure gravity has something to do with it. Sometimes I do have to remember why I love him..........

Any way today has been a great day as I received a parcel of fabric that I had ordered from America. In it was some more Civil war fabric for the quilt I am wanting to make. I like the blue strip fabric the most, I might just have to order a bit more.
I also got to quilt my Lone Star the other day. I am happy with the way it came out and am looking forward to making my big one soon.

I am looking forward to a better week this week and hope you all have a good one. Happy sewing

Big Hugs Bec