Girls' Day in the Country

Apologies for being late in posting news of Nundle - lots of things to catch up on when I got home! Hope you're ready to make yourself a coffee as this post could be long!The little town of Nundle had no idea what it was in for when over 100 women descended upon it for Kerry of Cottage on the Hill's 'Girls' Day in the Country'. The early morning tranquility was short-lived as women from all over New South Wales & Queensland gathered excitedly for a day of stitching with Rosalie Quinlan & Leanne Beasley, doyens of Australian stitchery.Kerry & her band of helpers had decorated the local hall for us & spoilt us with hand-stamped name tags, coffee cups & wonderful bags of treats. Leanne & Rosie had prepared special projects for us to stitch. Leanne's was a very cute red work chook stitchery ...... and Rosie challenged us with some needle turn applique with her beautiful cushion:Rosie & Leanne were wonderfully warm & generous tutors, willingly sharing stories & their enormous expertise with us all day...... oohing & aahing over our versions of their patterns & happy to sign anything we asked them to! As if we didn't think they were wonderful before, doubly so now that we have met them in person! And then of course, we had a special privilege of seeing the originals of so many of Leanne & Rosie's designs. Wow, just beautiful workmanship & very inspiring. Detail of Leanne's amazing 'Flowers & Flutterbuys' ...... Rosie's beautiful punch needle designs ... ... intricate gorgeousness of Leanne's 'Butterfly Garden' ... ... and teeny weeny dollies, no more than four inches high of Rosie's. It was the most brilliant of weekends. I just want to stitch for the rest of my life! Thank you to Kerry for her faultless organisation of the event. And a big hello to the many friends, new & old, who made the weekend so much fun. To Leanne & Rosie, an enormous thank you for giving up a weekend with your families to be with a mob of stitching mad women. We have had the best time! I caught up with lots of blogger girls. It was great to meet Anita, Jodie & Jodie for the first time. Be sure to check out their blogs for their version of events, as well as Happy in Quilting, Day-Day, Dragonfly Crafts & Chookyblue. There were lots of funny times with these girls. Fiona has taken the 'what happened in Nundle stays in Nundle' stance - perhaps the safest! My wonderful mother selflessly stayed with my children for the weekend, when I am sure she would love to have been with me! Thanks Mum! In addition to keeping the bairns alive, she also put the final stitches in the bind of her beautiful single Irish chain quilt. More photos of this to follow. Best wishes, Bloom.

Striking it rich!

Well, wet anyway! Just a quick post to let you know we did indeed find some bore water this afternoon. We are very thankful for this as it means I can garden away to my heart's content independent of water restrictions. I am very spoilt! I will be back in a few days with lots of news of the 'Girl's Day in the Country' stitch-in at Nundle. Did I say I was spoilt? Look out Nundle, here we come - 'we' being Chookyblue, Dragonfly-Crafts, Happy in Quilting, Day-Day & Jelly Wares. Also heading to Nundle are a group of antique motorbike fanatics who are apparently a bit put out that we are staying in the pub & they have to stay at the caravan park! There could be stories!

Just one reason for my crazy week

You may remember I posted about our newly purchased town 'garden' a while ago? Well today is a milestone in its creation. We are drilling for water in our back yard! I know, seems insane, but the water restrictions are so severe here that a bore appears to be a necessity to maintain a garden. The drillers have arrived & I am playing 'foreman' for the day (a job that I hate). They claim they should strike water by this afternoon. I hope they are right. I have my reservations. Perhaps this caution is in my blood - my Dad sunk many irrigation bores in his time, & I have learned from him to never get your hopes up when it comes to looking for water underground! Will nervously wait & see what the afternoon brings!

More excitement!

I just received a lovely comment on my 'Spring is Near' bag from the designer herself, Lenna Green. For any of you interested in obtaining the pattern for this bag, it can be obtained from The Stitching Cow website. Lenna also has lots of other beautiful stitchery & quilting patterns available. And you can even save 50% on her designs & have them immediately if you purchase them as ePatterns! Pop over & say hello to her!

Can too much excitement kill you?

A crazy week here, too busy. But the week ends in huge excitement as I head off to Kerry's for her 'Girl's Day in the Country' stitch-in with Leanne Beasley & Rosalie Quinlan. These women are 'goddesses' in the Australian quilting scene, & it will be very special to meet them. Leanne has given us a sneak preview of the project she has prepared for us here - so beautiful! I'm thinking her project will go perfectly with this quilt so have found some snippets of time this week to keep stitching on it. I will lag behind on my Dear Baby Jane blocks for this week, but I did do K12 Doris' Dilemma using a brilliant method by Wendy. If anyone is foundation piecing, please give this method a go. It just might change your life!

Naughty, naughty, NAUGHTY Bloom!

Having recently bought a new home, we are on a strict household budget. But what's a girl to do when these people send me 'loyalty' discounts and these people have such outrageously generous sales? What else:New fabrics, washed, pressed & ready for action. What is your vice? Fabric collecting is certainly mine - well, one of mine anyway!

Dear Baby Jane blocks

Having a lovely, but challenging, time making up my Dear Baby Jane Blocks. Here are my latest:

B2 Sweet Tater Pie - Pinwheel blocks & I just don't seem to have a very good relationship. I'm darned if I can get them to meet perfectly in the middle! Think it is something about the way I press them. This one will have to do.

B12 Starflower - I'm very much enjoying these reverse appliqué blocks. They come together nicely. I used this method by fissiett.

B6 Wild Goose Chase - otherwise known as 'The Absolute Stinker' block or perhaps the 'So You Think You're Clever?' block! This one was tough. Anina said this is the 'advanced' block in Row B - yep! Armed with spray starch, Anina's method, and Wendy's method, I got there eventually. My daughter suggested I could make another in a different colour - she received a resounding "Not on your nellie"!

B5 Hot Cross Buns - a little more reverse applique. The sharp points on this block were a little tricky. Not convinced this one won't fray as the points are quite fragile.

Hello to the many women who are doing these Dear Baby Jane blocks & thank you for your lovely comments. I am up to date again thanks to your encouragement. Wonder if Anina has another 'stinker' block in store for us this week?!

ANZAC spirit

It is ANZAC day in Australia - a day to remember all service men & women who have given their lives in war to protect the freedom of our country. We are in great debt to their bravery. Last September, I had the privilege of accompanying a Year 5/6 group of children on a school excursion to Canberra, Australia's capital city. We visited the Australian War Memorial and saw the Roll of Honour which lists every Australian who has died in war since 1885. Visitors are able to place red paper poppies beside the names of soldiers who have special significance to them. This Roll of Honour speaks powerfully of the magnitude of Australian lives lost in war - a list of more than 102,000 names. Lest We Forget.

Keeping little girls happy

My Mum has finished the requested 'rainbow quilt' for granddaughter #4 (my niece).It is a 'raw edge' or 'shaggy' quilt which has wonderful texture & cuddliness! And we found the perfect striped bind for it. All that remains to be done on this quilt is the label on the back - which Little Miss Granddaughter has specified needs to be in the shape of a star!!

Spring is near?

You may remember Pipany won my 100th post giveaway a while ago? I thought you might like to see what I sent her: I made up this little bag by Australian designer Lenna Green of The Stitching Cow. It is called 'Spring is Near' and was published in Australian Homespun No 51 (Vol 8 No 8).I really enjoyed making this project & it was very excitedly received by Pipany in the UK!