Recent Swap

Look what I was very lucky to receive in a recent swap from Tarnyia. Tarnyia has had a very busy time of it lately, with a big property move and serious illness in the family. Yet she still had time to send me this lovely table runner.
The photos are not great - not enough light, but the runner is the perfect size for my dining table. The 2 ends are beautifully appliqued with the centre free to take bowls etc.

I also got a roll of pretty trim and scissors.
Thank you Tarnyia.
Thank you Maree for organising another great swap.
Take care,
Cheryl (aka Kayly)

What's been happening?

Lots really. Well in my little world, it seems like lots.
There have been some swaps.

 This was the pillow I sent Christine. I should have photographed it on a different chair. The linen doesn't show up properly. I wanted it to be fairly simple, because I saw on Christine's blog a beautiful comfortable looking dark red leather lounge. I hope she liked it.
Then there was a table runner for the Queen of Swaps - Peg. Talk about nerve racking, until Peg blogged about her late MIL's tea set.

 

I have had this fabric stashed away. I thought it was perfect to match a china tea set. The fabric is by Crabapple Hill Designs. The patterns in the fabric are taken from the designer's (her name escapes me) embroidery designs of tea pots, cups and jugs. As I told Peg, luckily there is enough fabric left to make one for me.

I have even finished a ufo and a karts (kitted and ready to start). This table topper, I'm afraid to say, was started in 2005. It was my 3rd effort at my new hobby. It only needed the border to be quilted and the binding. I was waiting until I could do free motion quilting properly. Well, I don't know if that will ever happen, so here it is simply quilted on the border. Lucky, I still like the colours and pattern.

 

This next one was a kit I picked up from The Quilter's Corner in one of their sales in 2011, I think.

I finished off the top at retreat in July. Here it is all finished ready for my nephew. It is going on a little detour first.

Last year I joined the Queensland Quilters. They have their annual quilt show in October alongside the big Craft Show.

I don't belong to an smaller organised group, so I have never entered a quilt show and I was not about to go into this one either. All those people looking at it....all those beautiful quilts...and the incredible workmanship....until a talk by Margot the editor of the QQ magazine. We were reminded that this was our club's quilt show - it just happens to be at a big venue. People go the show wanting to see quilts and that it was good for them to see quilts of all standards. Margot reckoned that if we could get them to say 'I can make that', we've got them hooked into our craft and the more the merrier.  So I'm being brave and entering. Someone has to make the stars shine even brighter.

 For Father's Day, we went out to lunch at Il Centro restaurant in the city, just DH, my parents and myself. Our son works nights and it was a bit hard for him to join us.
Not great photos. In this one, I think DH is watching out for the waiter, trying to get past in the crowded restaurant.  Otherwise it would have been a good photo of 2 of the 3 men in my life.

My DH and my Dad

My parents and myself.

This is definitely not a good look. I was trying to bend, but not block the way.
The food, though, was delicious!

Especially the raspberry souffle.

Take care everyone. 'Til next time.
Kayly

Favourite Smells

This has to be one of my all time favourite smells - Jasmine. Its heady sweet aroma sends me to heaven every time.

 Look what the possums have done to my parsley!

They even wait until the poor plants try to regrow, then come back to nibble the fresh new leaves.
Whoever thought of having to build a cage for parsley plants, really!

Kayly

A Good Day

 This week's work shifts were moved to different days, hubby's away working, no commitments and a frozen meal all added up to a completely free day to spend  in the sewing room.
Photos are lousy, too late at night to be taking decent ones.
I'm half way through quilting my nephew's very late birthday present, I put the binding on a very old UFO and  I'm prepping a pattern for a knit top.
A good day!

Oh and I won a Lucky Door Prize. No pre-unpacked photo, to eager to see what was in it. I won it last week at the Nundah Cottage Craft group's Challenge Evening. Our friend, Di is a member and she asked us along to see the results of their challenge - a small lot of mixed black  and white fabric, a size restriction, and participants could add more b&w and only one colour. Di won second prize with a wall hanging. Her added colour was lime green. First prize was a framed pictorial applique piece using red as the added colour. I wish it was for sale because I would have bought it on the spot. It was a Gothic style house with a bare winter tree and the red was the sky.  My description does not do it justice.
The bad blogger that I am, didn't take a photo. I'll have to see if one is available.
Off to bed now, happy that I actually got something done today (craftwise that is, not the housework).

Take care,
Kayly

Photo helps!

sent from my Telstra NEXTG™ handset

Nephew's Quilt

Ready for the pins if those lines are straight!
Kayly with the sore knees.

sent from my Telstra NEXTG™ handset

Warwick Retreat

Before any more days pass and it becomes very old news, I must tell you about my very first retreat. Two weeks ago, I went with a fabulous group of ladies to Glenrose Patchwork in Warwick, about 2 hours drive away, depending on roadworks.
It was just the best!!!!
Glenis and Percy Pugliese have set up a wonderful home with a patchwork shop , 4 B&B cottages, gardens and a very well appointed retreat room. The photos below should tell you all.

 

Glenrose Patchwork home and shop

'Ivy" - One of the 4 cottages

Inside 'Ivy'

Inside 'Ivy'

The photo to the left and the 2 below are of the interior of the retreat room.

 Here we are busy at work, fuelled by chocolate.

 Now let's just say we didn't starve! Don't listen to the others - almost all of this is ours! Maree made us a wonderful baked dinner. Thank you Maree. The kale is from Aunty Al's vegie garden.

Part of the gardens.

Who won the biggest and most filled bag?

 At the start of the retreat, in the shop, we were given a bag with our name on it. You know just to fill with the pretty things that caught our eye or that we needed to help with the project we were working on. Well that was lethal!
All being well we are going again next year. Can't wait.
Thank you Maree (who organised it), Helen, Teresa, Sandy, Marilyn, De, Alison and Lynda for you company and conversation.
Back soon with what I did,
Take care,
Kayly
PS. We even had a visitor. Chookyblue popped in on her way home.