Catch Up

I have been a bit slack in posting (thanks Sandi for the prompt) but other things keep getting in the way including a break in Bali. We had a great time with our daughter Claire, hubby Jerry and grand kids Riley & Lulu and some of Claire's friends from Kalgoorlie - all up about 20 of us. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel and really enjoyed the amenities they had including this fabulous pool.

When I got back from Bali it was straight up to Mt Tamborine (luckily only 20 mins away) for the Beaudesert Quilters retreat. These are held twice a year but this was the first one I had attended. The ladies all made me feel very welcome and I definitely will be attending the next one. My retreat project was the Farmers Wife Quilt and I got about 35 blocks done. Since then I have been trying to do one block a day and so far have kept up and now have about 60 done.

I have also been working on two sample bags for a class I am leading at my quilt group. The pattern was in a McCalls magazine a few years ago and is super easy. The large one is made as per the pattern and is a great size for taking to quilting each week. The small one is made by omitting a vertical & horizontal row of squares - in fact can be made with one pack of charm squares.

I have also made this cute travel sewing case - just big enough for the supplies for a few hexagons.

Thanks for looking

Ellen

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Le Jardin BOM

I started this BOM in 2010 but a move from the NT to Qld meant I put it away for quite a while. I did a bit more of it while we were renting in Beaudesert and again put it away once we bought our retirement house. I found it again just before Christmas 2012 and was amazed that I only had to finish off one block and assemble it. So it is my first finish of my many UFO's for the year - my New Years Resolution was to finish some of them in 2013.

Now all I have to do is Quilt it - that will be another story!!!

The next quilt I want to finish is Whimsy & Wonder. This was a quilt that was designed by a number of quilt shops in 2012 and each provided kits for 2 blocks. I have completed 9 of the 12 blocks - just 3 to go. A bonus it was designed using Ruby by Bonnie & Camille - my favorite designers

We are off to Bali on Thursday to catch up with our DD Claire & her hubby Jerry and most importantly Riley & Lulu

Till next time

Ellen

Princess Lulu

After 3 grandsons we finally got a grand daughter - I was glad I would finally be able to quilt in pink. Well here she is Lyla Ellen known to her Nanny as Lulu

 

 Yes she looks sweet and she is (again not biased) - she love to talk and has been able to talk very clearly from about 12 months old. She likes bossing her brother and 5 boy cousins and we are hoping she doesn't stay the only girl on both sides of her family. A couple of weeks ago she was at Auntie Sarah's (Josh & Nates mum) and needed a fresh pair of undies. As a matter of urgency she had to borrow a pair of Nates Batman undies and yes you guessed it liked them better than her own. Her Mum has had to wash them every night and she refuses to give them back. So under the beautiful outfit she has on above is Batman underpants !!! Go Lulu - always be an individual.

This week we had a class at Beaudesert Quilters with the Sew Revolution lady and this is the result of the day

It was quite easy and of course I bought the rulers to do some more. One thing she had were the new Frixion markers - they are great and work the same way as the pens. Because they are a marker they don't drag on the fabric - now I just have to source more colors

Naty Noo

Today its my third grandchilds turn to star on Nanny's blog ... and that would be Nathaniel or Naty Noo (as named by his brother Josh). Nate is a very self contained child - a bit rough but that's what you get with an older brother (Josh) and cousin (Riley). He is a what you see is what you get boy and mostly what you get is a snuggler but every so often you get ... I said NO!!!!!

This face was because his mother had told him to take off his hat because it was 42 degrees !!!! Cute hat Naty but really.

I have decided to do the Farmers Wife Quilt and have decided to make it out of my fav fabrics by Bonnie & Camille - Ruby, Vintage Modern, Marmalade and Go Happy. Her are some of the blocks prepped and laid out - I am trying to get them ready to take to a quilting retreat at Mt Tamborine in March.

My theory is I can get them all ready and just spend the 2 days sewing. The photo's on my iphone will be the referance - thanks Lori Holt at http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com.au/. She has some great tips and tutorials for these blocks.

Riley James

Today its Riley's turn to be featured on his Nanny's blog.

Riley is our second oldest grandchild and has a beautiful gentle soul. He always tries to get on with everyone and usually succeeds. He is the image of his dad and has inherited his gorgeous curls. We love you Riley.



To make it a bit quilty this is a baby quilt I made recently for Molly. The pattern is from "More Simple Modern Baby Quilts" by Elizabeth Hartman. It is a great pattern that goes together quite easily and always looks great. I have also done it in Aqua's and Lime for a little boy.

Tomorrow we are off to celebrate our DIL Kirra's birthday by having lunch at the Albert River Winery which is about 5 mins drive from our house - should be good.

2013 and a new start

Well as I have finally retired and have time on my hands (ha ha) I have decided to finally get this Blog up and running. Not sure if anyone will read it but its more a record of my quilting journey.

We retired and moved from Nhulunbuy in NT to Mundoolun in Qld in Jan 2011. Since we have been here Qld had experienced 3 floods in January in 3 years. Luckily the house we bought is on a hill and as my husband says if we flood it will be an "Ark" event.

This is the view from our front verandah and I don't think I will ever tire of it. The house is surrounded by wide verandahs and as ex territorians we spend a lot of time outside enjoying a good book and the view.

This beautiful boy is Josh our eldest grandson who turned 5 in September 2012. He has just started school and loves anything to do with animals and science (just like his Mum). He is a gorgeous boy (I might be just a bit biased) - he has been described as an old man in a little boys body. All our grandkids are different and special - tomorrow I will introduce Riley James.

Happy Quilting

Ellen