Saying Goodbye...again!

On the 1.1.10, son Misch left for Thailand for a year, age 19. He's working for an aide organisation. Tomorrow morning my youngest bro leaves Australia to migrate to Canada, to Vancouver to be precise. It's hard to let go knowing I will rarely see them. But life goes on and I hope to be expanding my own horizons by getting a placement to finish my counselling course.
I have come so close after a long hunt, only to have the door closed because my supervisor was offered extra hours elsewhere and so left, then the next one is renovating and there is now no office space for me. I am so disappointed!! Here is where faith v sight comes in. It's a bit if a battle to be sure. I am upset, yet I know I can't make things happen just because I need them to happen. (Sigh).
Meanwhile, today I surfed some quilting sites and found a great BOM from Shannon Baker (I think her last name is)
piecefulkwilter.blogspot.com
Check it out. The colours she has used are lovely.Shannon is very talented and has put some good tutorials up to be able to follow her design. I'm going to start with the piecing after I finish the mystery from Ann Smith. I have finished quilting the squares in the quilt as you go (my variation) method and now need to cut sashings for the back and front and join them up. As I've been sewing these blocks I keep having visions of a scalloped border. It's calling to me. But, I will wait until the blocks are together before I make that decision. I was so pleased to be able to use up leftover batting pieces which were taking up a lot of space.

 

See! Isn't it pretty.

Stash report

I haven't played enough to join Judy Laquidara's stash report yet, but I may have time this week 'cos the kids are back in school, farewells have been said and college doesn't start for another two weeks. YAY

In: Some pretty Japanese prints 5X fat quarters

                                                       1X1 1/4yds (Is that 1metre or close enough?)

                                                     

I found a fabric from 2 yrs back and brought 5m (approx 6yds) in my fav blue. Every time I turned around I was using this blue and I promised myself I would buys lots if I ever saw it again, and I keep my promises (VBG).

And 2 1/3 yds of a green to match up a quilt for which I ran out of the green to finish the borders. Not an exact match but by the time I make a Judy Lacquidara fancy border it will do nicely I think. (And I'm not buying any more if it doesn't!). Judy's site is Patchwork times. Google will find it for you. I am on a 'new' 2nd hand computer and do not have my favourites to copy the link to yet.

But on the bright side I used up a big bag of batting leftovers

and...drumroll....3X 1.5yds of fabric for the backing of the Ann Smith quilt.

Total: 1 yd + FQ

           1 1/4yd

           6 yd

           2 1/3 yd

 =     near enough to 10 and 3/4yds IN

and 4 1/5 yds OUT

This means I have been able to get to quilting for a change YAY!

Holiday madness!
Since last week I've been so busy with kids getting ready to go back to school chasing down uniforms, books, shoes, sport shoes, school bags etc I've hardly had space to breathe...
However, last week we went and saw Avatar at IMAX cinema and really enjoyed the effects of 3D. I reaaly want to see the space one coming soon!
Then Thursday, while out hunting for the school stuff Liam and I saw The Tooth Fairy. We both enjoyed that, the audience was laughing out loud big time.
I really must learn to operate this blog with photos!! but yet to have the time.
Quilting
Still working on the NYE mystery of Anne Smith. And starting a Valentines day mystery with Inspector club yahoo group with Fran. Fused the hearts today and cut out strips for the first block.
Music
JJ will be playing her Bass guitar tomorrow for an Australia Day celebration after church. Our friend Greg is a part time jazz musician and has written some songs they will play as well as some great Aussie traditional songs. One he has made up words for is Wonthaggi blues.
Movies
We watched Karate Kid last night and today Liam has been skipping, lifting weights, exercising, he claims he wants a 6 pack (he's 12 yo). We will see how long this lasts!
Mischy has a new name ''Phil cos they can't pronounce his real name. It means something like have tea. He will be living in the home of a Thai lady, hope he learns the language quickly. He doesn't need to cook because a meal is about $1 so not worth shopping, cooking etc. Of course it means no dishes either!

Rearranging and summertime

It's the summer holidays and time for some late spring cleaning. My son has just left home to go to Thailand to work with an aid organisation for a year so we managed to see his bedroom floor for the first time in quite a while. The carpet was amazingly dust free ( as he normally has a horizontal wardrobe on the floor). His room has been transformed into hubby's study plus spare bedroom. Meanwhile I have gone through some cupboards and threw out (ie. will recycle) stuff that has been taking up room and not being used. How many salad bowls can one use, even at Christmas? My thoughts are that óut of sight is out of mind'' so I have been boxing them up as I sort so that I won't be tempted to keep things. So not much sewing done on the current mystery project by Ann Smith from my yahoo group. 288 half square triangles completed for the single size, plus clue 1. I could put up photos but I have to work out that feature first.
Cheers Diane

A new blogger has arrived!

Well, I just signed up because I wanted to join Judi Lacquidara's fabric stash list and design wall list and needed a blog to do so.
Now I need to go find my lists..
Diane