Days Roll On

Just popping in before 2024 makes way for 2025 ... The last couple of months have been a little 'rough' so if things got done ... they got done ... and if they didn't ... that was ok too.

My Temperature Quilt keeps calling so I'm pleased that I've kept at it ... very different to last years ... the last row is complete up to the 21st December and I've added the 'keys' down each side.

Hot temps call for the air con on in the Craftervan so I decided it was time for a tidy up. What did I find? ... Pattern and Template for this Twister design so I had a little play when the mood struck ... a little wall hanging ready for quilting. I also found the elusive 'Strips and Curves' which was supposed to be No. 4 Challenge project.

This 'Geese' bag had been waiting for handles ... ta da?

This piece of fabric had been waiting to be hemmed ... now I have a new tablecloth.

Some Christmas fabric I purchased this time last year ... so while the mood was still with me ... I had a new Christmas top to wear.

End of November our Patchwork Group had their Christmas Breakup and we had a little Gift Swap ... the theme was "A Receptacle". I found this pattern for a handy little Carry Bag with pockets both inside and out. Was a bit of a challenge but turned out ok and I made myself one at the same time.

Mum needed her timber fence painted so hubby to the rescue for this job with help from myself, mum and aunty ... of course it had to be a hot day!

Our poinciana trees are always beautiful coming up to Christmas ...

And there's always a critter or two to be found around the place ... the Plovers are busy raising their young ... as are our resident Willy Wagtail parents ...

This little family were quite brave coming up close to the house ... 2 have young in their pouches.

Nature has it's happy and sad.

Sadly we had to say goodbye to our beautiful little girl Millie in October ... our home and hearts are not the same.

14.02.14 ~ 10.10.24

Today I've been playing with some fabric in readiness for a 2025 project or 2 as I keep looking forward ... and planning for a fabric acquisition expedition ... sounds more exciting than just 'going shopping' ...

Changing of the Guard

Over a month has passed since we said our goodbyes to this sweet girl .

* Jayne *   1998 - 2018

Sometimes things are just meant to be. Mid February a chance meeting led to these 2 handsome boys coming to live with us and after a short settling in period, all were getting on amicably.

 Earle

Claude

I like to think that Jayne knew they would take over the feline duties and it was time to join her sister 💕

Easter was spent with family and now while on school holidays and with the help of the Commonwealth Games on TV, I hope to get April tags for Ruth's Quilt stitched. Here are my March Tags finished on the 1st of April, no...no fooling.

How quickly I lose my mojo once the mainstream work/life balance is in full swing ... maybe my balance is off ... I will need to work on that.

FNSI and Some Catch Up

Continuing on with getting back into the swing of sewing, I'm joining in with Wendy and friends over HERE for FNSI.

DD is visiting and brought her knitting, I'll be stitching on my August block for A Holly Jolly Christmas. I finished the machine applique for both August and September last weekend.

Leave a draw open for a moment and someone is quick to move in.

August Calendar Bear is tucked away with her friends, if only I needed my umbrella more often.

So, what do you do when sewing time becomes harder to find and you're trying to play catch up on current projects and sew-a-longs? ... Join another group of course. I couldn't help myself and when my best friend had this book sitting on her shelf

I  started thinking of some black/white fat quarters I have been collecting and asked to join with the No Fuss Stitch-a-long HERE.

Not sure if its the best colourway to go with but I'm keen to have a play and see.

Off to mop the floors and see to tonights dinner so I can stitch guilt free.

August All But Gone

Just like my rose garden ...

There's only so much water one can share with the livestock as once again the rain didn't "Tumble Down in July" or for that matter any other month either.  So the rose garden has been let go, rose bushes gave up, grass encroached and the edging has been removed. The part of the garden I am trying to keep going has had a long needed pruning and a drink.

The bush on the right has a pigeon nesting deep in the middle so it can wait until she raises her babies.

Anything sewing or stitching related has also gone by the wayside this month ... no progress what-so-ever to share ... so I'm going to have to double my efforts for September, aren't I?

Till Spring has sprung (next month)

Days Go By

I've lost track of how many times I have thought to post on my blog, only to be sidetracked by one thing or another, none of it craft stuff.

If it hasn't been BAS or Tax time, it's meeting "requirements" and "red tape" to run a property, then there's the off-farm work to make ends meet.  On the bright side, a full muster means quality time with DS and Grandson J.

It's a big job for a little man and tucker time is a very important part of the day. He is such an awesome little helper.

These babies will soon be reunited with mums.

Muster over and quick trip north (4.5 hour drive) and an overnight catch-up with DD and Grandson P. My parents came along for the trip and were thrilled to visit with this cheeky, happy little man.

I'm afraid there really isn't any sewing/stitching to show. My August Calendar Bear still needs tracing and my August block for A Holly Cottage Christmas is assembled and awaiting some appropriate fabric for the candy canes before I can applique.  I did pick up a crochet rug while mum was here in case I needed a refresher course.

Almost 2 weeks now since we had to say goodbye to one of my fur babies Fleur.  Age and illness dictated that it was the kind although extremely hard thing to do.

R.I.P. sweet girl .... 

Fleur  1998 ~ 2017

And days go by ... I can feel 'em flyin'  ~  Keith Urban

FNSI and My June

With an early start on my Fri-day-Night Sew-In and a close call with my beef stew (just caught it before it reached the point of 'too caramelized') ... I finished off the night with a browse through a couple of magazines ... sewing ones of course.

I began by finishing the last big block and giving my ladybugs some detail for NJ's June blocks. Then pressed and trimmed.

This centre piece is for block 2 of AMCG ... now finished, pressed and trimmed.

Lastly I cut and placed the fabric to piece together for the centre block background of NJ. The sewing happened this morning so now I'm ready to select scrap fabrics for the appliques.

Waaaayyy back at the beginning of June hubby and I traveled about 4 1/2 hours south where I planned to meet up with this lovely lady for our annual stroll around Farmfest and all it's agriculture displays... but really it's about catching up, enjoying a coffee and yummy treat ... thanks Fiona, time went far too quickly.

An extra special treat this year with Lee Kernighan performing.

Homeward bound and then off again to help this gorgeous little man celebrate his first birthday. Every man needs a work vehicle.

As well as the usual driving to and from work, housework etc, we carried out a full muster and weaned any older calves.  Millie might travel to and from the cattle yards in style, but when she's up there, she likes to hang out with the working dogs and watch the proceedings.

Just one more week and then school holidays ... can't wait!

>^..^<

Still Here

Forget long long time ago ... I'm beginning to think it was in a galaxy far far away ... one where time was mine to distribute as I chose. For now I'm content with an important finish and a little bit of bragging.

'Little Jakes Farm' is finally a completed quilt and ready to hand over.

Just in the nick of time to enter into our local show and proudly showing off a Champion ribbon.

So far I have managed to keep up with my 'Natures Journey' blocks for Feb and March ... April is winding up quickly and this is my progress to date.

Blanket stitching is completed and I have all the little pieces cut out ready for needle turning ... one finish each night should get me there but now I've just realized I need to make stems yet.

There is no accounting for Jayne's choice of sleeping spot the other day ... if I water it, will it grow? (No plants were harmed)

Fleur has her permanent warm sunny spot ready for the colder weather.

Oh for a cat's life     >^..^<