RETURNING

...to blog posting. I have been so slack with posting and no real excuses-I have still been visiting your blogs and enjoying the eye candy and people have still been visiting here. To everyone who keeps visiting thank you so much - sorry there has not been alot to look at.
So better routine needed with blog posting on my part!! Mind you Blogger is driving me nuts with posting photos in the right place!!!
Following the Christchurch earthquake our local quilting shop Kitz and Things send out an email saying they were going to make up packs with 9 fat quarters  for the top and some backing fabric and a pattern if quilters were willing to make them up providing the batting and binding-their aim was to complete 200. So how could you not participate.        

This was one set of fabrics                          

                                                        

.and this is what it ended up as.                                                                             

 I had a little helper while I was trying to quilt this one. She really is a sewing room kitten.

 

This is the other set of fabrics-Halloween theme that I made up with the pattern they gave us and I really like how it turned out.

The quilts have been delivered to the shop and I am sure are now on their way to Christchurch. I hope they bring some small comfort to someone who has been through the awful experience of the earthquake.

March was my month for the Bee Balm I participate in-12 quilters around the globe who each have a month to choose a block. I chose a Double Ohio Star- a block I had never made but got the idea for a quilt from the book Material Obsession 2. A few years ago I joined site where I received fat quarters of African fabric each month and those fabrics have traveled with me as I moved houses and until now I have not had the inspiration to showcase them. I have traveled to Africa twice and fell in love with the joyful colourful people and decided to get my fellow bloggers to help me put this quilt together. I sent out the centre image, the black fabric and the star fabric asking everyone to add one colour from their stash and therefore making them all different.

These are the blocks I made before I sent other African ladies off  around the globe. I loooove how these turned out and can't wait to receive the rest of the family back.

One of them arrived yesterday from Western Australia- thanks so much Sue. I just love her and she is as perfect as I had envisaged -

I think Sue has used fabric she has dyed herself-what a brilliant match. Sue spoilt me with a piece of dyed fabric and the most gorgeous handmade card-

Thank you so much Sue.

I know one other lady has been finished and I will show her when she arrives-looking forward to her homecoming Lizzie.

So there has been some sewing going on here and there is another quilt in the making that I will show soon.

Hope you are all well and enjoying stitching.

Disaster in Christchurch

Just before 1pm today a massive earthquake hit Christchurch, just five months after the first earthquake that caused so much damage.

This is what is left of the Cathedral in the centre of Christchurch. The spire has fallen.
There is massive destruction and tragically there has been loss of life with at least 17 dead and many more trapped in fallen buildings. It must be terrifying for all the people of the city and my heart goes out to you all. I am pleased to say that all those I know in the city are safe although traumatised.
I truly hope that the city does not suffer too many aftershocks and people are saved from more trauma. Take care all of you.
Add it- now confirmed 65 dead.Tragic.

Return of the Absent Blogger

The longer you leave it the easier it is not to do-and that goes for blogging as well. Even though my absence has been a long one from here the dreaded Facebook keeps me in touch with alot of you.
I have still been reading blogs and I am amazed at the number of visitors to my blog even though I haven't been posting.
I would like to try an idea that Clare did on her blog.

I love travelling (Italy later in the year for my sister's big birthday) and am so interested in where people who visit my blog come from-52 different countries it says on the counter. Not many comment but if you are visiting and don't wish to comment then please just say hi and let me know where you live. I would love to visit the world!!
So what have I been doing- well I spent a very wet Christmas in Brisbane. It literally rained 24 hours a day and was humid with it. I actually left my jogging shoes in the rubbish bin as the smell from them being constantly wet, and with creek water that had run over paths. was far from pleasant!! Despit the weather I had a great time and it isn't wet int he shops!!Soon after coming home the floods hit and it felt very real as where I used to work was surrounded by flood waters and some of the girls I worked with lost their homes. Luckily all my family are safe and well and did not suffer any damage. You will all have seen the call for quilt blocks, tops, sewing kits and any items to help our stitching sisters who have been affected not only in Queensland but other parts of Australia as well. The country is throwing some harsh conditions on the people there and my heart goes out to them all.
 I sent two tops over to Christine who kindly offered to quilt and distribute donation tops.

I am pleased that these have arrived safely and although it doesn't seem much on the scale of the disasters every little bit helps. The photos are not very good as the weather here in the south does not see much sun shining-or at least not when I am off work!!
There has been a little more action in the sewing room but not alot. I have made a couple more blocks for our online quilting bee-
It was Trees that Sue asked for. She sent a strip of fabric and the only criteria was the trees were to be no higher than 6 inches. For me this was a challenge- would she like my choice; what colours should I use; my workmanship may not be perfect; what if my block didn't match the others?? However I joined the bee in the hope of learning new techniques, tips etc so I am glad Sue set this challenge and here are my result- two forests of maybe not perfect trees but nature allows imperfections.

The other block was for Tara who sent the fabrics and the block pattern we were to make. It is amazing how different they have all turned out. Here is my contribution.

It is my block next month and after many ideas I think I have settled on a Double Ohio Star (heads up to those in the Bee who read this). I have never made this block before but found it in Material Obsession and think I will use African themed fabrics- playing with this in the sewing room at the moment.
My next big project (apart from finishing the UFO's) is my sister has ordered a Kiwiana Quilt (or 2 singles to be more specific) for her big birthday this year. They have a King bed but seperate top bedding  to meet individual needs-you know the pinching of the blankets!! She is very particular about what she wants but it has to have a big proportion of black Koru design print in it, so we haven't finalised a design yet but it should be fun.
And here is the helper I now have- this is the kitten who was going to be called Barbie but it just 'didn't work' so she is Maisie-

She looks very innocent but I tell you she is not. While I use that rotary cutter she chases the blade-accident ahead I can see!! She is very sweet natured but she never stops and is certainly the liveliest kitten I have ever had. She has a playmate next door who is a couple of months older than her and together they visit the neighbourhood including going to the school across the road to seethe children who just love her. She is 4 months old but is not going to be very big at all- just like her mother. Socialising her into the household with the spoilt, cantankerous 11 year old Bella has not been easy and there is no doubt Bella hates her. Bella has not been an only cat in the household so I thought she would warm to a new addition but after 6 weeks there is no love lost and Maisie knows to keep away!!
Work has been extremely busy and some weeks I  seem to do nothing else except work long hours and sleep. We are having a very busy month and for the last two weeks I have had four people off sick so trying to cover the roster has been a bit of a nightmare. However I do enjoy my job most of the time and have a great team to work with and that makes a huge difference to you day.
Well if you are still here, thanks for hanging around. I will now endeavour to post more as I know how much I enjoy reading other peoples posts.
Have a good weekend where ever you are.

CHRISTMAS WISHES

I am just popping in to wish all my fellow bloggers a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to a year ahead where I will blog more frequently rather than just visiting others blogs. There is no doubt that there are the most amazing people in blogland and as I read on a blog recently (sorry can't remember whose)  'friends live in my computer'. I know I have not posted alot this year but with moving country and settling into a new lifestyle things have taken a bit of adjusting.
I am off to Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday to have a week with family and friends for Christmas. They have been having alot of heavy rain over there which is so unusual  and it will be a change to experience that weather over there when we in fact are having lovely summer weather. Theoretically it should be the other way around but my umbrella and raincoat are packed.
This year I took part in Maree's 6 item swap. Last week I received my parcel from my swap partner Carol and I am still doing a dance. I had not come across Carol's blog before so it was very exciting to meet a new friend. Carol made me the most divine bag, I just love it, (that has already had a few outings) as well as a pincushion and needlebook. She also included some other gifts that were just amazing. Thank you so much Carol.

This is what I sent Noela.

 I did do alot of shopping at Hancocks of Paducah but I won't show you all the bootie- think Kaffe, and more Kaffe as well as some solids. The postie must've got sick of visiting me, but I was so happy.

So to all  my blogging friends enjoy the festive season with family and keep the meaning of Christmas close to your heart.
To leave you with-
I pulled a piece of paper out of my letterbox the other day and read "MERRY CRISMAS". I have since found out it was from the five year old next door- I just love it and will keep it among my treasures of Christmas.

Free Shipping

Just received an email saying Free Shipping for the next 3 days from Hancock's of Paducah.
I'm going shopping-oops got to go to work now but after work shopping it is!
You need to enter FALLSUB in the promotional code box.

Absent Blogger

OMG I can't believe it is two months since I last posted, and two months since we had our huge snowfall. I have been loitering and viewing blogs but just haven't written myself.
It seems alot longer since we had that snow and have since had some glorious spring/summer days. However today it is like winter again and I have to admit I have a fire lit. The temperature has been half what it was yesterday so a bit of a shock to the system.
So what have I been up to-well not much on the sewing front really, and some of it is secret as it is at this time of the year. Work has kept me very busy and I have been working some long hours and also having to cover afternoon shifts-bit of a shock to the system and not really what my job is supposed to entail. Still I can't complain when it involves assisting a new life into the world- what a privileged job I have.
The other thing that has kept me very busy is my garden-it is a long time since I have lived in a house that has such a big garden. The flower gardens are more or less self managing except for having to spray all the roses. However the vegetable garden and tunnel house (a form of glasshouse) has taken the time getting it all planted but yesterday I finally finished planting and can't wait to eat the produce.
I have been stitching Xmas projects over the last couple of weeks and having such fun using up scraps of batting and strips of fabric to produce various forms of these-

 This is making it's way to my mother, a crafter but not a quilter who loves anything I make. I should have ironed it before the photo, sorry folks. These are so easy to make as quilt as you go projects and satisfy the fix of a quick project.

 I have also been using scraps to make alot of these blocks, which will become a quilt that I can practice my skills with my longarm machine. So far i have just been doing practice pieces as I don't want to 'ruin anything'-I know I will just have to bite the bullet and make a start soon.

I have joined an online quilting bee organised by Lizzie, with twelve quilters from around the globe. We each have a month where we choose a block and send fabric out to the others who make a block and return it.
This is the block I made for Vivian who lives in Texas and although it was posted two weeks ago it still hasn't arrived so I hope it gets there soon. It is a Disappearing 4 Patch and was so much fun to make.

A while ago Dzintra showed some Shattered Nine Patch quilts on her blog which gave me an idea for the borders of this quilt. I made this a number of years ago now and love it but could never decide on the borders. I now need to start cutting fabrics.

To end this post here is a photo of Barbara and Shirley. Barbara the little stripey one is coming to live at my house after Christmas. The family who owns the mother cat, Margaret, named them and I am told I can't change her name!!
Be back soon.

Spring in Invercargill

This photo was taken this afternoon and it is now snowing again. It is like Winter Wonderland however it doesn't snow like this in Invercargill-or at least not until today.
Bad weather had been predicted for the whole of New Zealand but we did not expect this. I just love it. All I need now is for Santa Claus to appear. Yes, I know it's not Christmas but it makes me feel like the Christmases I had when I was living in England. Fire is blazing -bit early for the red wine yet-that's later!!
It is just the weather for being in the sewing room but there has been other things to do- I have had a man visiting Invercargil to set this up for me-

My new toy - a Nolting Funquilter. I was lucky enough to get a second hand one and purple as well so I am so lucky. Have to give her a name I think!Now I have to get to and practice,practice,practice. It has always been a dream to own a longarm quilting machine so this is the start.
The poor guy who came down to set it up and do some basic instruction (part of the deal) is now stuck in Invercargill due to the weather but should get out tomorrow.
So have I been doing any sewing-well not much but I have been sewing these-

HST in green and black that are being sewn in a zigzag pattern. Will post the photo once finished.
Then I decided it was time to attack the stash and so more HST-

Although these were the start of a scrap quilt they will be winging their way to Lizzie in Australia who has a friend who is unwell. If you have not already done so please visit her blog to ready the sad story of a fellow quilter.
Well after another flurry of snow the sun is out so the melting will begin.
Hope you are all having a good day.