BOM Hanging On The Line...And Spreading The Love

Hello dear Friends on this very hot Friday leading up to the weekend...but I'm not complaining...I'd rather the heat than the cold anytime!!! Here are my centre blocks for Gail Pan's Block of the Month (BOM) Mystery Quilt entitled Christmas Wish...click the BOM on my sidebar for more details. I tea-dyed my calico, hung the little squares up...went back inside...and when coming out I thought how cute do they all look hanging on the line...will have to blog that!!! Have never done a mystery quilt before but after seeing all the girls on the various blogs showing their ones completed...I thought...mmm...maybe give it a go!!!
Only knowing that Gail suggested using red around the centrepiece I used what I had...
...and then when I went to my local Patchwork Shop to see the new premises...I bought 2 fat quarters thinking they will somehow fit in with the Mystery Quilt!!! If they don't it won't matter...they will look nice sitting on the shelf anyway!!! Pictured also are the threads used so far...I used the colours Gail recommended


A couple of pics of the interior...everything looks so nice and new...the colours are all fresh and bright...there is a buzz about it all...and there were some very pretty quilts hanging!!! The colours are all pastely and soft...something I'm not used to...coming from the country to the coast. In the colder mountain/country areas where I come from I lent towards the country/darker colours...still do sometimes...and all these lighter colours are a whole new world for me...but I think the trend these days heads towards the pretty lighter shades anyway!!!

And then...a surprise from Andrea one morning... The Spreader of Love Award...to be shared amongst 5 Lovelies!!! Thank you Andrea for thinking of me...I accept this with...Love!!!
I would like to share this Award with:
Ann...Catherine...Fer...Kath...Micki and Simone (okay that's 6)
This heart made me think of a Valentine's Day Chocolate Heart...can't believe Valentine's Day is only 2 weeks away...so to all the chocolate lovers out there...and especially to you dear Catherine...please enjoy!!! I check in with all these Lovelies regularly...so please pay them a visit when you have a chance!!!
Enjoy this very warm week my Friends...and keep cool, if you can...and to you all in the Northern Hemisphere...I assure you the sun is on it's way...Our mornings are increasingly getting darker very quickly as are our evenings!!!
Thank You for your Visit!!!

Lifeguards in the water, Lamingtons and Pavlova!!!

On this Australia Day long weekend...we did the very Australian thing...slap on the sunscreen, grab the towels (and just for good measure my phone/camera...you never know when you might need it)...put on the rubber thongs...and head down to the local beach... Make our way down the usual track...

...arrive down there...head down to the water...stopped in our tracks... and look what we saw...the Lifeguard umbrella complete with Lifeguards sitting upon their chairs...in the water!!! This is only our second summer here, normally it is a quiet beach...but due to the school holidays in January the population goes from 16,000 to 50,000!!! The Lifeguards are here for the holidays in January every year, complete with their boards on general beach information, flags, equipment...and of course surrounded by young people!!! I couldn't resist...I was grinning so much at this sight, and went back to get my camera...

...Introducing Luke...after having a chat with him and telling him what I was doing he was only toooo happy to have his photo taken...until his offsider Rob turned up!!! Luke then said you don't want his ugly face in the picture do you...of course I do I replied...I know what I'll do Luke...take one of you and then one of you both...and he was happy with that!!!

...May I present...Rob (in charge) and Luke at Surf Beach!!!


I was asked for a translation of lamingtons and good ol' pavlova (previous post) by Miss Maddie...When I told my Hubby this...on Saturday morning he went and bought some lamingtons...basically plain/butter cake with a chocolate icing, covered in coconut...the lamington can also be filled with strawberry jam and whipped cream before icing...Lamingtons bring back memories of Australian childhoods...and they are still a favourite today. They can be made into bite-sized pieces which can be popped into the mouth with barely a mark on fingers or lips - ideal for stitchers!!! The Lamington is apparently named after Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland 1895-1901 (Macquarie Dictionary)...

Hubby also came back with...a Pavlova shell and some passionfruit, banana and strawberry...assembled it all and took a photo!!! Pavlova is made of a large soft-centred meringue...has an indented top filled with whipped cream and then topped with fruit...especially passionfruit!!! The Pavlova is named after Anna Pavlova, 1885-1931...Russian Ballerina. And I must admit...it is one of my favourites...and there's enough left to have another piece tonight...along with a traditional barbeque!!!

Enjoy Australia Day everyone...before school goes back and life gets settled into the New Year!!!

A Postcard...from England...and another Award!!!

Here is a little surprise received from Kath all the way from the picturesque Chiltern Hills in the United Kingdom...what started out as a comment on Kath's blog...ended up in this very richly textured fabric postcard...

Kath holds classes in her workshop...teaching, sewing and exchanging postcards with Artists from all over the world...After making a comment on Kath's blog she so very generously offered me one...of my choice from a set of 6!!! This postcard arrived quite quickly...even she was surprised in the speed in which it arrived in!!! I adore textures, rich colours, sumptous fabrics (as in my 5 addictions below)...Upon taking the photo I couldn't resist having a background of my silk velvet jacket, hand dyed...and such a beautiful fabric to wear!!


Temptation again for a background...this time a hooded satin masquerade gown... all the way from St. Marc's in Venice at Carnivale... that my Son brought home for me...the little card just looks so at home amongst these fabrics!!!

Then...reverse the card and it is addressed, stamped and has a message from Kath on it...apparently people do send them like this to each other, but this one came in an envelope. I am so thrilled with this Kath...and thank you so very, very much for your kindness and generosity!!! This is so very much appreciated...

It has been so warm here this week...so yesterday I took this pack out of the cupboard...purchased last week in a Tea Shop...with the most flavoursome, aromatic...Teas!!! Sampled this one at the shop... and thought...okay...perfect for a hot day!!!

Turkish Apple Tea...I used cold water, ice cubes, mint leaves and sliced apple...and I actually had some Turkish Apple dried for tea, so this went in as well...delicious on these hot days...the sweetness can be moderated I think!!!

And...another lovely surprise...this time from Leslie...this award is to be forward to 7 other blogs...and like for the previous one I would like you, my friends to accept it for your sidebar as I find it too hard to choose!!!

Enjoy this Australia Day long weekend coming up...crikey already!!! Perhaps there'll be a barbie...gool ol' pavlova...even lamingtons to enjoy!!!

Proximidade...

Over the weekend I was surprised by Andrea with this very special Award...Proximidade. This is a very cool Portuguese Award and it means that this blog invests in and believes that blogging makes us close. Proximidade translated to English means vicinity, or neighbourhood. I am so grateful that in Blogland everyone is next door neighbours. Some of my closest neighbours reside across the country in Australia...and across the world, reaching The Netherlands, Ireland, The United States, Italy, England and Estonia to mention some!!!

The meaning of this Award...This blog invests and believes in Proximity...nearness in Space, Time and Relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggerss aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes for self-aggrandizament! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propogated.

I happily pass this Award on to 8 Fellow Bloggers...I stop here...too hard to choose...

I thoroughly enjoy reading all the Blogs on my side bar...so in the Spirit that this Award was given to me I will invite all on my page to receive it...okay then...especially Micki and Simone !!! I have nearly daily contact with both these bloggers...sharing our daily comings and goings...latest projects...latest reading material...home life...I feel that I would be able to sit around the kitchen table with these 2 wonderful gals and share some precious moments with them both!!! And including you as well Andrea...and Thank You for thinking of me!!!

An Award...A Tag...And A Progress Report!!!

Here is a great little award...picked up at Maree's...love the image...and was tempted by Maree who challenged bloggers on her sidebar to tell of their 5 favourite addictions. I couldn't resist playing along...so here are mine...And when actually starting to compile the list I found I could go on and on...

...and so to No 1...my little grandson who now has a little baby sister...

No 2...beach images, the call of a salty blue day, the sound of the water, sand between my toes....

...No 3...an addiction for today, this yummy fruit salad I made...white peaches, pineapple, green grapes, mango, passionfruit topped off with a mint leave...perhaps a glass of bubbly later with it!!!

No 4...books, cannot walk past a bookshop without hopping in...having a squiz at what's on offer...these books are next to my bed...and the pile keeps growing...Hubby wonders if I am going to read them all...and do I really need them...of course I do!!!

No 5...one of my favourite flowers in summer...the hydrangea under the tree fern.

And...I can't resist another 5...
A cafe latte overlooking the water when I have respite care for our daughter

Games...even at Tupperware parties (not so often these days) I'd be the first to ask...are we playing games...followed by moans ha ha...

Watching the movie Chocolat with Juliette Binoche (dig her shoes) and the gorgeous Johnny Depp...along with, you guessed it...chocolate!!!

Beautiful, soft candlelight...

The feel of sumptious, thick, rich velvet...

Thank you Maree...that was fun...I enjoyed doing this!!!

And then...in this week I was tagged by Micki to tell...

5 things in my bag...

wallet, keys, tissues, pen, calendar

5 favourite things...

dressing up, perfume, stitching, blogging, Lady Grey Tea

5 things I always wanted to do...

sing like Sarah Brightman (fat chance), be a quicker stitcher, fill a cross word out fully, go on a diet and stick to it (not much luck with that... my cooking course re-starts soon), experience a year of summer around the world

5 things I'm currently working on...

BOM by Gail Pan Designs, Table Runner by Bareroots, having a 1 hour beachwalk every day, getting through the Twilight series, a gratitude journal

5 people I am tagging...

I will be like Maree...and extend this tag and the 5 addictions to anyone who wants to play!!! Thank you Micki!!!

And to finish off... a little progress report on my New Year project...the table runner. Have finally put it all together and starting on the applique bits...hopefully finishing it this weekend...but I hear the call of the beach for my 1 hour walk...my New Year's resolution...don't normally make resolutions...too hard to stick to them...but thought this one shouldn't be too hard to keep. Enjoy the weekend...and don't forget...have a game if you feel like one...I like 500 also (cards)...and also Scrabble!!!

A Bit of Holiday Stitching...

Hello my Friends...and first up thank you so much for visiting and leaving your wonderful comments on the Sea Fever poem!!! I am well and truly stoked... After the birth of my new little Grand-Daughter Lidija (pronounced Lydia) in July...she came nearly 2 weeks early...I made a little pram quilt for her...by Leanne's House...I hadn't even started but I had purchased the fabric...and then, fate stepped in and I was on a break from TAFE and my cookery classes...and I put it together in 3 days!!! An accomplishment for me!!! I have my 20 year quilt and my Tulip Quilt on the side bar...they are my only completed quilts...I do have another Work in Slow Progress (WISP)...which I will do a post on soon...I had some strips left over and thought...mmm...enough there for something!!! So...2 little bags...one for my Daughter Jacqueline and one for me...baglover that I am...can't have too many I say...like most of us gals!!! So...after my surgery Jacqueline helped put the strips together as I was only good for sitting, chatting, sipping...and here they are above and below...my one is on the right!!!
...and ta...da...all completed together with the little quilt!!! Me being me...more is more...had to embelish with red buttons and ric-rac. Jacqueline is enjoying hers as the quilt folds up nicely in it...and then she will use it as a stitching carry bag...mine will sit there looking pretty and awaiting the next project...which will probably be Gail's Block of the Month below...

Quilt in reverse...quilted by me...diagonally, my first attempt by machine!!! My 20 year quilt was professionaly done, and the Tulip Quilt by hand...

Gail's Mystery BOM...on the sidebar...quite a few of us have taken on this challenge, including my Blogging Friend...Simone...it's going to be fun and I am looking forward to starting!!! Only thing is I take so long choosing fabrics!!! Not sure whether to make sure I have enough fabric for the whole quilt or just work from the stash...but thinking...use from the stash...adds more to the mystery!!! And Jacqueline...how about it!!!

Amidst all this thinking on the weekend...Christmas was packed up back into the old shipping trunk...awaiting the once a year opening next time around...

...and then to freshen up after the packing away...some Parfum pour la Maison...just a refreshing scent for the New Year and following blissful summer days...All is well in my world!!!

Sea Fever!!!

In these days where one blurs into the other...blissful salty blue days...my mind keeps going over the same poem...so I thought, out of my head and post about this fabulous poem which was taught back in my school days and has never really left me...Sea Fever by John Masefild~1878-1967~English Poet Laureate 1930-1967~

To many...simply known as the Poet who wrote about the sea...also known as a Novelist, Dramatist and Journalist. John Masefield's literary career was rich and varied...he is again being recognized for his wide range encompassing ballads, nature poetry, and mythological narrative and for his attempt to make poetry a popular art...So here is Sea Fever...

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied:

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Above 2 shots taken at Constitution Dock, Hobart ~Tasmania~

Couldn't resist the Pirate Print...part of a limited edition by Chris Collingwood ~Blackbeard the Terrible otherwise known as Edward Teach, Thatch or Drummond c.1718~

Conjures up all sorts of images I think!!!

Happened by the Print at The Swingin Anchor Cafe at Stanley ~Tasmania~ with a very decorative window including this lovely boat with awesome sails!!!

Seagulls having a rest on our beach...now it's off to the sea again for me later on today...and to enjoy another salty blue day...sea temperature 22c!!!

January...the month of new beginnings

January...the month of new beginnings, creating memories...the days are sunny and hot...loving salty blue days by the beach...carefree times...precious moments...This is the time to dream...relax...and look forward to the months ahead and what the New Year will bring...joy, laughter, contentment... perhaps challenges!!!

And now let us welcome the New Year...Full of things that have never been

~Rainer Maria Rilke~

Happy 2009 to my blogging friends...Dzintra