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 saw the new Amy Butler fabric range, Midwest Modern, at Amitie today and WOW!  Having seen it on the net I wasn’t that impressed but seeing and touching the real thing was different.  My favorite is the blue and green range…….fancy us having it here before it is even released in America!

These are the quilts I made for my mother-in-law and mother for their special birthdays last year and the year before.  My mother-in-laws is made from the Kayes Cottage Range by Kaye England.

I love the colors of this quilt.  It was quilted by Gail Stewart of Balmoral Quilting in Bendigo.

Mum’s was a memory quilt which her family and friends all contributed to.  Everyone was sent a piece of quilters muslin and asked to work it however they wished.  Some people did patchwork, others embroidery and the grandchildren simply did pictures.  It was made up in Desley Regans design called Feathered Rose.

This quilt was quilted by Karen Styles at Somerset Patchwork.

Sorry if the photos aren’t that clear – now that I am blogging I will have to pay more attention to my photography!  These are photos taken at the time so I can’t edit them – and of course the quilts are in their new homes now so not available to photograph.

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.

It was my eldest daughter’s first netball game today and they were all very excited but a little bit nervous this morning.  Somehow I landed the job of coach which is a bit of a laugh!  Anyway, they all played really well – I was so proud of them.  My daughter even managed to get quite a few goals.  They came away with big smiles on their faces having won their first ever game but most importantly having followed my first rule…….that is to have fun!

It was all hands on deck this weekend at Sewjourn and much was achieved but it was lots of fun too.  My husband and father spent the weekend painting and it is looking fantastic.  I am really happy with the color – amazing what a difference a fresh coat of paint makes!  My mum worked tirelessly providing meals and coffee breaks and entertaining the children which included 3 trips to the Lancefield pool.  It was great to have visits from some friends as well.  Kay and I had good fun weeding and planning a few improvements for the garden whilst her kids played with mine and then Dale, Mark and the boys came to check on the progress.  The support of our family and friends has been great.

Dad L painting the front windows

Mal painting the roof.

Getting there – front of cottage almost painted – lacework needs to be put back up and door needs painting.

Studio needs to be painted next…….a job for Easter time.

Here’s a close up of the corner of my quilt top that has just gone to Bendigo to be quilted by Gail at Balmoral Quilting.  I call it my Inverloch Quilt because it was actually started 2 years ago when we were on holidays with another family in Inverloch.  My friend Dale started the same pattern at the same time although hers was completed about a year ago.

I’m really happy with the completed top though.  It’s made from the Seaside Rose collection of fabrics from Three Sisters for Moda.  It is for Sewjourn.

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.