Australia Day

Today is a public holiday here in Australia.  AUSTRALIA DAY to be exact.  So in true Aussie style, our family is heading down to the beach to meet up with a couple of other families, and will spend the afternoon sitting in the sunshine, having a few drinks and cooking up a bbq lunch.

Today, I'd like to share with you my perspective on being a quilter in Australia.  Angie from Gnome Angel threw the idea out there........so thanks Angie!  You're making me think out loud!

Living in Australia can sometimes feel like you are so completely removed from the rest of the world.  At times, I watch news reports and read stories of far away places, and it's hard to imagine such things are happening?  But then other times, it's like the world has landed on our doorstep!

Being a quilter in Australia is somewhat the same!  By that, I mean you see all of these amazing quilt shows, websites and fabric stores in other countries and you think - "why don't we have that here?!?!!?"  And then next thing you know - you discover an amazing quilt shop and someone starts the first Modern Quilt Show in Australia!  You get yourself an Instagram account and discover UH-mazing and talented Aussies doing the stuff you've been coveting from international crafters!  And then, then you dig a little deeper, and you find an endless array of fabulous Aussies in the Blogosphere.  It's quite simply - Inspiring.

Australians are a loyal bunch.  And supportive - OH SO supportive.  We like to see one another succeed, and once a friendship is formed, it generally lasts forever (well, for me anyway!).  Over the past couple of years, I have been lucky enough to make friends with a whole bunch of Aussie quilters, and at times, they have been the ones who have encouraged me to go forward with ideas - whether it be patterns, fabric swaps or even just a quilt I'm constructing.   I've met a number of these lovely peeps, and although the majority of our interaction is online, knowing they live in the same country, and that I CAN actually go and catch up with them is really lovely.......

Angie and I meeting up at the Quilting Show in Melbourne last year...

Alyce and I spent the day fabric shopping in Tokyo in October....

Some of the gals from the Melbourne MQG on white glove duty at the Stitches & Craft Show in Melbourne 2014.

Ros & Abby met up with me for a day of fabric shopping & lunch last year....

This past year has been HUGE for me.  I was published in Make Modern Magazine with my very own quilt pattern, and continue to write my Domestic Quilting Goddess column each issue.  I started the Aussie Charm Swaps, and in turn, am encouraging Australian quilters & crafters to support Australian businesses by having them as sponsors of giveaways.  AND I have expanded my small business to selling Aurifil threads here in Australia.  All of these things could not have been possible without the ongoing support of my Aussie quilting friends, and I am ever so grateful for that!  

The talent of so many Australian quilters is being recognised world wide, and I have so many wonderful people to look up to.  Wishing you all a very happy Australia Day and I hope that you are all spending the day doing something you love, with the people you love.

You can catch up with some other Aussies here:

 Angie @ GnomeAngel.com

Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts

 Cat @ Cat + Vee

 Gemma @ Pretty Bobbins

 The Team @ Make Modern
Sunflower Quilting

Sunday Stash - The Holiday Edition

I arrived home on Friday afternoon after five glorious days away, to find a few fabulous little parcels awaiting me.

I put a call out to my quilty friends in a couple of FB groups, and the lovely Anorina came through for me!  I needed some Sugar Flower scraps for a wedding cushion, and given that it's not my usual style, and I only needed a teeny bit, I am very grateful for the generosity! xxx

You may remember my post from a week or so ago, when I proclaimed I needed more Terrain after delving in to my scrap stash?  Well, I went on a bit of a search, and these delicious fat quarters and a little yardage arrived too!  SOOOOO thrilled!

And just because it's AUSTRALIA DAY today - I'm sharing with you some snaps of our little getaway last week.  It's a beautiful part of the country/world.  My husband has been holidaying in Sandy Point for his whole life.  I've been lucky enough to share it for the past twelve years.  If you haven't heard of it before, it's about half an hour from Wilson's Promontory - the southern most part of Australia!

I'm sure that when we tell people we are heading down to the beach house, they have grand illusions of a big white house on top of a sand dune!  Nope.  This delightful little three bedroom home is just perfect, nestled amongst the trees in a quiet little hamlet.  The kids can ride their bikes around the streets without us worrying about them getting hit.  And our little Chloe learnt to ride sans training wheels this trip!

In all the years we've been down there, not once have we ventured to "The Prom".  Well, I lie.  We went the first time I visited - heavily pregnant with Chelsea.  Andrew and I planned to do a walk, but as soon as we got there, it pissed down with rain, so we turned around and went back home!  Anyway - we took the plunge and headed there this time - and what a day.....

Wilson's is a huge national park, which means it is protected from all the crap humans do to the rest of the unprotected parts.  It is a truly pristine destination.

There were some pretty nasty bushfires there in 2009, but the rejuvination is amazing.

We had never bush walked before, so it was a bit of an adventure.  We chose an "easy" walk - the Lilly Pilly Gully walk.  The first part was all flat, and included this gorgeous boardwalk through a rainforest section.

All Chloe wanted to see were some animals.  She had to make do with wombat burrows and poo......

After breaking for lunch, we headed off in the direction that pointed us towards the car park.  3.2km it said.  After about 500 metres of uphilling it, we realised the entire 3.2km would be the same.  Chloe climbed aboard Lochie's shoulders, and he took her the whole distance.  We made it to the top......

And were rewarded with this spectacular view of the coastline!

And straight after the walk, we jumped in the car and headed to Squeaky Beach.  Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

My favourite part of our trips to Sandy Point are the days when it's not too hot or windy, and we can head to the shallow inlet.  As you can see, we hit the jackpot on our second last day!  Perfection.  No waves for me to worry about the kids, and Andrew brought the fishing rods and attempted fishing before they all became bored with that and continued swimming!

And my favourite shot from this holiday.  My beach babe.

With only three more sleeps until the kids return to school, and four sleeps until Chloe begins Prep - I am well and truly rested, and have thoroughly enjoyed these school holidays. I'm now looking forward to returning to our regular schedule and routines - and a clean house!

I'm linking up with Sunday Stash - You can too!

Australia Day

The 26th of January - Australia Day.  You know what?  I still don't really understand why we "celebrate" Australia on this actual date?  And after doing a little Google investigating, I can see why I didn't!  Australia Day celebrations - and to most people, more importantly the Public Holiday - only began officially in 1994.  So I would have been all of 20.  And I do not remember once ever celebrating.  Hmmmm.....

Don't get me wrong - I am as patriotic as the next person.  I cheer for our Aussie sports-people.  I support all of the men and women who serve our country.  I love everything about Australia.  But I do not "get" the whole flag-waving that has become such a sensation the last few years?  I guess it's another 

"each to their own" thing.

From "The Age" newspaper.  A very true representation of our multiculturalism!

So today, on this auspicious occasion - my husband and I are going to take the kids out to lunch.  To Salsa's.  An Australian owned, Mexican themed restaurant chain!  So very Australian me thinks...

To everyone who is not working today - enjoy your public holiday.  And to everyone who IS working today (like I will be tonight!) - enjoy your public holiday penalty rates!!

Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi Oi Oi!!