Only really a day and a half at Sewjourn this weekend but managed to get some painting done – mainly the kitchen ceiling and it looks great.  Also had some help to do the undercoating of the studio windows which was fantastic.  Mal managed to get most of the plumbing done for the new bathroom in the cottage and I had a big cleanup in the studio.  Awaiting a building inspection now so that we can finish the plastering – hopefully that will happen sometime this week so that we can organise another plastering working bee for this weekend or the next.  Have a big bag of bulbs to plant also.  Back now and getting ready for a busy week – I’m working extra as others away on holidays and Mal off to Korea for a few days……….whew!  By the way, the netball team won again!  Go Angels!

I found a fantastic demolition and recycle yard in Heathcote where we purchased a number of things including corrugated iron to repair the roof of the studio, wood, doors…….and some great chandeliers.

This one has already been installed by Matteo in the dining area of the cottage and looks fabulous.

 I have two of these and not exactly sure where they will finally live……..one will probably go in the entrance hall of the cottage.

This little one will probably go into the bathroom of the studio.

We are off to Sewjourn again tomorrow after netball – painting the kitchen and working on the new bathroom in the cottage are on the list of jobs for this weekend.

We’re up to the plastering stage and I think more people are understanding my vision each step of the way.  It’s a fantastic space – 6m x 8.5m with lots of light.  Once the plastering is completed it will all be painted Antique White USA, the same as in the house.  The exposed rafters look great.

We started from this…………

so I suppose people can be forgiven for wondering what we were up to!  But as time went on, walls were shifted, the ceiling and stairs removed, the new bathroom walls built and door hung…………….

The roof was repaired as was the back verandah.

All the electrics were installed and the plumbing was done.

Double glass doors were fitted at the back so as to show off the view.

Then the plastering was started.  There were lots of enthusiatic helpers on Saturday which made plastering a much easier task (and more fun too I think).

The bathroom and kitchenette still need to be fitted and flooring sorted out.  The reverse cycle split system and instant hot water are ready to be installed.  Then comes the fun part of decorating………..I have a gorgeous couch bought from eBay just before Christmas, two tables which will be pushed together most of the time giving a 3.3 x 2m working space, lovely bone china mugs and lots of other ideas which I will tell you as time goes on.

Soon though we need to get rid of this………………

so a skip or two will be in order!

School holidays are over – back to school tomorrow.  The girls have had a good holiday spending some time in Bendigo with Grandma and Grandpa and then with Aunty Nola and Uncle Richard, going to a couple of birthday parties, seeing High School Musical on Ice, winning another netball game and the rest of the time entertaining themselves at Lancefield; riding bikes, playing games and drawing.  It really has been entertaining themselves though as we have been working hard for the whole two weeks.  The difference over that time has been amazing!  With lots of help from family much has been achieved – we are up to the plastering in the studio – and it looks GREAT!  My mind is just buzzing with all the decorating ideas.  Lots of people have asked for photos and whilst I can’t show you everything yet as it is still a WIP (work in progress) I’ll show you some things we’ve done over the next few days.  Apologies to those of you who have already booked or are wanting to book I promise to send you all photos as soon as I have them.

PJ took to a few of the gum trees with the chain saw and removed a couple of branches – the trees look great and it was fantastic timing the day before Victoria was hit with those amazing winds.

And, now we have a great woodpile for the combustion heater in the lounge room.

We had the fire going this week with a few chilly nights but it is so cozy that I didn’t need much excuse before lighting it!

The verandah deck also got some attention this week with a couple of coats of oil……

and the result is wonderful.

We’ve had a great week at Sewjourn and much is happening, with fantastic help from my in-laws and cousins.  All the electrics are done, walls have been built, roof and verandah repaired and it’s looking great.  It’s so exciting to see it all taking shape.

 It’s been a different week to this time last year though when Mal and I were so very lucky to be travelling around Vietnam!  So today I’ll show you some of the photos of that wonderfully interesting country and just day-dream as we keep painting……..

Streetscape in Hanoi.

Old university in Hanoi.

Halong Bay, Vietnam.

Hoi An, Vietnam.

Eating place, Hoi An, Vietnam.

My Son, Vietnam.

We are heading off to Lancefield now for two weeks (meant to go early afternoon but getting things organised here has taken longer than expected!) .  There’s lots of work to be done but some fun times ahead as well I’m sure.  Hopefully by the end of these two weeks Sewjourn will be really taking shape and I’ll be able to share some more photos with you.  But for now here’s a photo of some of the things that have been living just inside my front door for a week or so……

They have made it this far…….

But I am looking forward to them being installed where they are meant to be!  Wishing you all a very happy and safe Easter.

I’m up to starting my next quilt for Sewjourn and I’m going to use some of these fabrics I bought at AQC.  They are from two ranges of fabrics designed by Emma at Ballarat Patchwork.  The top row of blue fabrics are from her first range called Sweet Daze and I am going to make these up into a quilt using the Illusions template from Somerset Patchwork and Quilting - hence the name of this quilt – Sweet Illusions. 

 I think the pink fabrics most of which are from her second range, Spring Carnival, will be made up into a pinwheel quilt with lots of white – this one might stay here at home in the girls room………hmm, we’ll see.

The working bee at Sewjourn is continuing and lots of progress is being made.  I am sewing like mad to make quilts for the beds.  One quilt is ready to be collected from the quilters, another top is completed and another well and truly along the way.  In fact I was going to sew some more tonight, being home on my own after coming back to work, but I’ve left my rotary cutter up in Lancefield!  I do have some photos of the completed top but unfortunately I can’t get them to load – I’m sure it’s quite easy but because I am new to this blogging (writing a blog that is…..have already managed to pass numerous hours reading them….) I can’t seem to do it so it will have to wait until tomorrow night when I have help!  I have quite a few photos of the cottage also, so promise you a long post with lots of photos tomorrow.

Hi everyone,

It’s hard to believe but a dream we have had for a couple of years is starting to take shape. We are in the middle of renovating a property in Lancefield, Victoria to become Sewjourn , a place to relax, create and enjoy! There’s a 4 bedroom cottage (sleeps up to 10 people) and a studio set on one acre right in the centre of Lancefield, a quiet country town, one hours drive north of Melbourne.

We first discovered this property way back in September but it’s taken months for permits etc to come through and finally last week we had the OK in writing.  So it’s been a busy couple of weeks finalising the name and getting business cards printed, building the website and now starting a blog.  I’ve loved looking at ‘crafty blogs’ for over a year now so it’s exciting to finally be writing my own. 

Today was our first attempt at marketing Sewjourn to the wider public when I went to the Quilt Show and thank-you to everyone who was so positive and encouraging!  A big thank-you to Karen Styles from Somerset Patchwork and Quilting in Mt Waverley for allowing me to be on her stall to talk to you all. 

So please visit our blog over the next couple of months and follow our progress as we creep closer to our opening in June……..hopefully there will be a few quilting projects and bits about life thrown in as well.