Sydney Weekend

An update from last weekend when there was another trip to Sydney ......to catch up again with mum and dad and take part in a great one day workshop with my sister, Linda, called "Slow Stitching" with Lisa Mattock.....she had all her wonderful samples to show us.... a smorgasbord of inspiration.....

A week later and mine is not much further advanced than when we finished off at the end of the day!....while I came back to work Linda stayed on in Sydney for a few days and every spare minute was spent stitching! No photo but I'm sure hers is finished by now!

Photos of finished "creations" will appear - hopefully sooner rather than later! 

In all the years I've lived on the far South Coast (30yrs!) my one "must" stop when travelling to and from Sydney has been Sew & Tell in Berry.... whether just to browse or to make the occasional purchase.....well, what am I to do now! It is closing....!! 

With 50% off everything I added to my stash of Tilda fabrics.......

....one day I will make something from one of these lovely books which have been in my bookcase for.....some time! I think I just need to cut into my stash and start!! 

Although our weather has been rather warm for knitting.... I did finish a scarf  for Megan.... England is still experiencing cold weather so this is in the mail as we speak! 

Another recent "finish" has been this wonderful book...... fell in love with the characters and loved the storyline!....Will be reading more of Liz Byrski's books.....

 And.... to finish off .....back to this weekend and a relaxing day at our local Botanical Gardens enjoying an afternoon tea shared by a "local"! 

Till next time

Happy Stitching

Asta

 

A Birthday, A Reunion & OPAM

Here we are at the end of another month and already half way through the year!! 
This time of the year it is time to celebrate my younger daughter Megan's birthday..... as she is off travelling..... still ..... and will be for a while yet her birthday cake has to be sent via means of technology........

....although this present made and filled with some of her favourite chocolates has gone via "real" mail! 

Meanwhile another felt bowl has been made.....which will be a gift for a friend.....

And while I was away on holidays a couple of weeks ago just a few purchases were made - some to add to my stash others with a definite purpose - including another ball of wool for yet another felted bowl!....perhaps I'll keep this one for myself.....

Last weekend a visit to Sydney for a school reunion of...... my 6th class primary school!!! It had been at least 50 years (!!) since I had seen some of the class members and out of a class of around 50, more than half turned up for the reunion.....and surprisingly we were able to identify each other quite well considering the years in between.......We had a reunion about 20 years ago but not as many turned out then but we have decided that we should now get together every 5 years.... not 20 at our age! The reunion was held at the Kirribilli Club in Sydney and as we all caught up with each other this was the view we overlooked....

And..... here is little Miss Dora soaking up the sun on these bleak cold days that we have been having lately!! (Mr Mezzie must have been in front of the heater!) 

The little stitching I had done this month for OPAM was Megan's purse and the felt bowl...have spent most of the time reading but more on that next time.... time to cosy up in front of the heater with my knitting. 

Thanks for popping by.... till next time

Happy Stitching

Asta

Catching Up!

Well, where has the time gone - especially when you are on holidays!
I had a lovely Christmas day with both my girls - meals being well taken care of by daughter No 2 who is a chef.... all I had to do was help out with the shopping! 
A couple of days later I left for Sydney where I enjoyed a 2nd Christmas celebration and saw the New Year in with the rest of my family. A few restful days were spent in Sydney including a couple of trips to Spotlight for their sales and a leisurely afternoon tea at Burnt Orange in Mosman.....

My Mum and I at the entrance.....

and a view of the Manly ferry going past....... 

(This building was the Mosman Golf Club in 1924 till the onset of World War 2 when the army resumed the land and in 2001 the building and military land transferred to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust....where now we can all enjoy a lunch or afternoon tea!)

On the sewing side I have been "creating" and didn't realise till the other day that I had missed OPAM for December and also - heaven forbid! - FNWF!! - although I was in Sydney at the time!....and days can roll into one when one is on holidays!! 
So... here are a few finishes that I couldn't show earlier as they were gifts....

... Another fabric basket....

Pattern - Anni Downs

....Christmas hanging - stitched in red with a grey cat as the friend to whom it was going to has a grey cat....couldn't resist when I saw the pattern - may have to make one for myself with my 2 x ginger cats - though I think it will be a bit squishy!

Pattern - Gail Pan

... and a pin cushion from Gail Pan's book "Patchwork Loves Embroidery"

Since being home .... a little bit of stitching....

and some reading - finished this great book... thoroughly enjoyed it - thought provoking - can understand why it has won a couple of literary awards....

... am now reading (I should say re-reading - first read about 40 yrs ago!) something different -  The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien - a completely different story line and, yes, I have seen the movies.

Today I joined up with Stitch-a-Long for 2015... thought about it for quite some time but the temptation was too great!! I'm also working on "Gossip in the Garden" and was a bit concerned the colours of both may be the same as I am using fabrics from my stash for both... will just have to be resourceful and try and make one different from the other! 

Back to work next week - will try and do some sewing during my few remaining days of holidays.... and will be back sooner rather than later!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2015 - may it be a productive year as well!
Happy Stitching
Asta

Catching Up...

Well, it's been 2 weeks since I visited my blog ...... but I'm back!
Last time saw me ready to farewell by younger daughter on her overseas adventure.... these were our bags as we headed off to Sydney - would you believe mine is the bigger (!) one for one week and hers the other for an indefinite holiday!

Here we are with my mum at the airport - no tears....yet!

It was sad to see her go especially as I don't know when I will see her again but she is on an adventure of a lifetime and I am really excited for her - I did the same thing when I was her age and that was when the only way to communicate was "slow" mail and booking a phone call home!! My.... how times have changed as we keep in contact every couple of days or so.....

Spent the rest of that week in Sydney with my mum and dad - not a lot of time for crafting while there but I was knitting sox (again) - this time for my dad....

......displayed on my (sexy?) legs here. I use Patonyle 4 Ply sock wool - originally they were in 50gr balls and the socks were always symmetrical in design now the balls are 100gr and they never seem to knit up with exactly the same pattern on each sock - a bit frustrating but they are warm!!

Have been back at work this past week and nights have been spent doing some secret sewing - which I can't show you.....but, this book arrived in the post on Friday..

 .....full of lovely projects - would like to start them all! 

Heading off now to find those elusive balls of wool I was going to start knitting a cardigan with..... think about what other projects need finishing (or starting) and put a pot of soup on.... Catch up soon...maybe as soon as tomorrow depending on what my Sunday at home brings!

Happy Stitching

Asta

Leaving on a Jet Plan....

No...not me (not yet anyway)....My youngest daughter (Nearly 26) leaves on Monday for Europe for her trip of a lifetime - jetting off to Europe....and no return ticket so not sure when she'll be home again :-(  The plan is to travel and work (she is a chef) and will return home when either money runs out or she feels home is beckoning! 

Here she is packing Saturday night  - I would probably have needed about 5 of those back packs! 

My other daughter (nearly 29) has been living and working in Canada since January 2012  - apart from about 6 months when she returned home to be a bridesmaid and decided to stay for a while before returning......

....I'll be empty nesting again but will have the company of my two beautiful gingers....vying for a spot in front of the heater here......The younger one Dora (with the long tail) will be 4 later this year and the other one Mezzie is about 15.

Once again I will be heading off to Sydney to farewell Megan and will stay on for the rest of the week - dad is in the middle of radiotherapy at the moment so I will give them an extra hand while there, driving him to medical appointments for the week, doing the cooking, etc.....my parents are 84 & 91 and not doing too bad considering they still live in their own home......Will gather together a bit of knitting, embroidery and a book to take with me but won't be here to blog till next week when I get back.

Apparently I'm a "no reply blogger" didn't even know what that was till I "Googled" it but will fix that when I get back ....no time now - too many other things to think about!..... and pack my BIG bag for only 1 week!

Happy Stitching

Asta

PS Didn't even get to do FNWF on Friday :-(..... but will be back for next month!

Hello...back from Sydney

A  relaxing week was spent in Sydney last week - catching up with my mum & dad - one in their 80's the other in their early 90's.... and still in their own home!

I did do some stitching, reading and knitting while I was away - as you would have seen by my earlier post I was certainly prepared for whatever I felt like doing... lunches out with my mum and some shopping......
Here... a haberdashery shop which my mum went to when a teenager - still owned by the same family! 

 And here..... Cottage Quiltworks at Warriewood....this was the display that greeted you as you walked into this lovely shop.....

 There were so many lovely fabrics and I did buy a couple of pieces but this was my "special" buy - I have always admired Brigitte Giblin's work..... goodness knows when I will do one of the projects from this book - meanwhile I may just have to add to my stash!

A few finds from a Vinnie's store - always good for a poke around.....

 And...home on Saturday via lunch at my sister's place in Bundanoon (Southern Highlands) where the trees are all "dressed" in their beautiful Autumn colours - even though it was overcast....

Back to work today :( ..... 

Will be back again tomorrow to post my OPAMs for the month.....nearly finished!!!
Happy Stitching
Asta

My Easter Weekend

Hope you are all having a lovely Easter weekend - whatever you have been up to. I have spent the weekend "pottering" around...... Friday I relaxed on my deck with a book, and sorted through a few project ideas.....

Came across this quilt - made in a class where the cost included a jelly roll of your own choice. I decided to pick one out of my comfort zone....... bad idea! Even though I don't dislike it I'm not sure if I like it enough to get it quilted.... but then it remains another UFO!
Has anyone else had this dilema? 

Saturday was spent doing the usual housework and grocery shopping ....but did enjoy a lovely relaxing afternoon catch up with a friend! Took my stitching but we were too busy talking.....

Sunday.....and am packing these as I'm off to Sydney tomorrow for a few days.... a project to cut out (secret pressie), border fabrics for a quilt I'm finishing off (also a pressie), some stitching to finish off, a bag with my knitting and a new book to start (saw the movie Monuments Men and am looking forward to reading the book the movie was based on) - do you think this is enough? Spending some time with my parents so while mum and I will be catching up over cups of tea my hands won't be idle. Hope to call into Cottage Quiltworks - I have a little shopping list ready!

And I did manage to get into the garden late this afternoon.......there was a "before" photo but it really shouldn't be shown!

Hope you have enjoyed your Easter......

Happy Stitching

Asta