March is nearly over!!

Well, here we are nearly at the end of March! And....before the month does come to an end I'd better do a bit of catching up!! 

The Easter weekend has come and gone...... pottered around home doing a bit of de-cluttering, a spot of reading & another reading challenge ticked off - " a classic from the 20th century" .... a sewing project has re-surfaced after being shelved when I started Nature's Journey quilt.... I feel this one could take a smidgen longer than NJ!! ....a small (secret) new project started so not too much to show there..... one (or more!) hot cross buns enjoyed..... a visit from a friend..... theatre rehearsal to attend.... a visit to a friend........

another "challenge" read

 a project revisted and .......

a new (secret) project  using pattern from Gossip in the Garden.......

and in between a few little goodies......

The weekend before Easter and a trip to Sydney was on the agenda..... time to celebrate my sister Linda's "special" birthday with a family dinner at La Botte - great Italian restaurant - the special day was in February but it took till March to get our (small) family together on the same weekend..... the disadvantage of living so far apart from each other :(

And..... my favourite season has arrived!!! Yes it's Autumn - the early crisp mornings were the give away as these 2 decided to find a sunny spot and discuss what they were going to get up to for the day......

Will be back in April with - hopefully - some progress on my projects and any other news of the day! 

Happy Stitching

Asta

A Finish and Nowra Quilt Show

I can now say that my Nature's Journey quilt is finally complete.......

 and even the label is on the back!

After some thought I decided to note it as finished in 2015 - the quilt top was completed then but it took me much longer to decide whether to hand quilt or get it machine quilted - by the time the decision was made Jenny had quite a few Xmas orders so I waited till January....then it became too hot to do a lot of hand sewing but eventually my binding was on!

During the past week I also went to the movies to see "The Lady in the Van" - a lovely movie with the lead played by Maggie Smith -  no-one else could have played the part!

Another book challenge was ticked off "A book to read in a day"

a "feel good" story read in just over 4 hours!

Then it was Saturday and time for my annual trip up to the Nowra Quilt Exhibition to catch up with a couple of "long time" friends.... this time a 4th member of our group was able to come....... it had been over 30 years since we had all been together!

(the one in pink was our "4th" friend......... the lady in the middle and her family moved to Tasmania)... we are now working on getting her here 

too!...so here we are, 4 of the 5, some 30 years later at the exhibition.....

There were some very inspirational quilts...a couple of my favourites...

this was called "Antique Sampler" the label said "Sue Daley" so I presume it must be one of her patterns..and a close up

....a stunning quilt in the Bargello design....

This year they also had a pillow exhibition (last year's was tea cosies)....this was my favourite....... 

And what show is not complete without a bit of retail therapy..........additions to my stash for "Gossip In The Garden" quilt.

Sunday morning.....some time spent at a theatre rehearsal and the day finished off with a short 5 minute walk from my house.....

down a little bush track......

to my local beach for a late afternoon dip

Autumn is very overdue so perhaps I may still get another swim in - though cooler weather would be very welcome!

Till next time

Happy Stitching

Asta

FNWF

The first Friday in March and it was time for a catch up with blogging friends.......

....but first I caught up with my friend Dzintra after work.....over a couple of drinks at a new local restaurant....

Earlier in the week I had met up with friends for a dinner at the same restaurant..... a lovely outlook over the river and our local marina....

...........this one from a distance

Back to Friday night..... I'm starting a"secret" sewing project so spent time doing some calculations for extra border fabric required - the rest had been "stashed" away for quite some time!

 Once that was sorted it was time for a bit of stitching - what else but my Nature's Journey quilt! The weather has been so warm that hand stitching with a quilt over the knees was not even a consideration so it has taken some time to get the binding finished but this time I was on a mission!!

with a little interruption when these 2 decided my lap was a very comfy spot to have a nap!

....the last stitch was in sight! ....though I still have the label to do for the back...then I will "announce" it finished! 

Saturday and it was time to head to Stephs Fabrics to purchase fabric for my "secret" project..... driving along the beautiful Moruya River on the way.....

Steph has now added a coffee bar to her "inspirational" shop....... opening onto the street and into her shop .....

One of Stephs assistants 

Steph on the the left and her barista

......What a coincidence that I should run into a like-minded friend, Mary.... Now I really had an excuse to stay and enjoy a coffee....the problem being that you can gaze over the lovely fabrics and contemplate whether you really need to buy more.... I did resist.... at least till next time!!

 A quick stop at an op-shop and another book was found for my book challenge "a book about an ocean".... pictured here with just a very sneaky peek at the fabric purchased....

Then time to head off to a luncheon date with a dear friend, Barb, but no photos - we were too busy chatting as we hadn't caught up for quite some time!  

On the agenda for the rest of the weekend? Dropping into a rehearsal for the play I'm stage managing - still not a lot for me to do yet....hopefully get my label made for Nature's Journey quilt.....maybe a spot of gardening - the "green" waste bin gets picked up this week so I feel I should fill it!.... And - checking in on what others were up to on Friday night!

Happy Stitching
Asta