This Saturday was the Lancefield Farmer’s Market – only the second time that I have managed to be there when it is on – which is the fourth Saturday of each month.  It is in the median strip of the main street of Lancefield (two minutes walk from Sewjourn) and is a great country farmer’s market.  Stalls include local fruit and veges, fresh eggs, rare breed meats, local wineries, olives and oils and even some livestock (turkeys and chickens this month!)  There are also a number of other delicacies, mainly from around the Macedon Ranges region including yummy puddings, delicious pasta, pestos, spices and honey.   Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera with me to take photos of the market so that will have to wait until next month…….. We are going to update our website sometime this week with more details of the market vendors and also more about the local shops.  One special shop is Red Door Books………….I could get lost in there for hours. 

Mal finished most of the sanding of the plaster this weekend.  True to what everyone told us plastering takes a lot longer than you expect and it is a really messy job so full credit to Mal (and his helpers) for what he has done.  It does put the pressure on as far as sticking to our time plan though………but I think we both work best under pressure anyway!  

I spent most of the weekend (apart from a small amount of painting) in the garden.  I weeded………and weeded………and gathered up autumn leaves………….

 
 
And planted out some new trees and a hedge across the front fence.

Divided up some agapanthus and even paid some attention to the cactus garden.  At first this section of the garden was going to go but as time has passed it has grown on me……….and as someone said, at least it is alive having been given no attention over the past few years!  So at this stage I might just work with what we have and leave it there. 

The roses have been beautiful but I think this is the last of this years blooms.

We are getting closer to polishing the floor boards- which means closer to the exciting part of decorating and closer to being able to show you all some more photos!

About a year ago I started making yoyos from 1930s fabrics to sew into a ‘quilt’ or throw.    I started making them the ‘old-fashioned way’ cutting out the templates around a tin of fruit but since then I have bought the Yoyo maker from Clover so any future projects will be made by this quick and easy method but for now I need to complete the remainder for the quilt in the same way I started.  It’s a good project to have though as it’s portable and great to take along to stitching nights if I don’t have any other hand work going (or if I just need something I don’t have to concentrate on because there’s too much talking to do!)  I’m probably only about half way through making yoyos for the quilt so it will be a project on the go for quite a while longer. 

The girls and I are staying home this weekend – netball, cousins’ birthday party etc but Mal and his trusty team of helpers are heading up to Sewjourn to finish the plastering in the studio.  Thanks guys!!!  That means next weekend when we have 4 days up in Lancefield we should be able to start painting in the studio……..now we are getting closer to the fun part……….the decorating!  I plan on doing quite a bit of sewing this weekend – there’s still a few quilts to finish before opening!  I’ve had lots of booking enquiries this week – thanks everyone – and keep an eye on the blog for more photos soon.

Have a good weekend – if you have time visit scrapbag and enter the competition to win a Kaffe Fasset fabric pack in celebration of Emma’s 100th post.

Once upon a time there was water connected to the Studio so we thought we’d dig and find the pipe rather than running a new one across…….So PJ dug, and dug, and dug…………..

Then we tried in a couple of other spots……

So we gave up and decided to have morning tea.  Just then two guys who are in the process of connecting natural gas to all of Lancefield came along to discuss where ours was to go…….and brought with them their wizz-bang equipment which can, of course, locate pipes!  So they kindly did so………we were digging in the right spot all along – PJ had dug down over 2 feet………and the pipe was another 4 inches down – the guy found it with one dig!  Thanks guys!

The building surveyor came last night and did an inspection – all going to plan so we can finish the plastering this weekend.  He dosen’t need to come back until it’s all finished so that’s good news.

There’s nothing more uplifting than when other people share your excitement…….and that’s how it’s been since we started talking to everyone about Sewjourn!  So imagine how I felt when I read this on Sarah’s blog today – WOW!  She also runs a great online store which has some gorgeous fabrics and even her own range of patterns.

Sewjourn is only 30 minutes from the airport so we’re hoping Sarah can come and stay one day………………..

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.

I’ve spent much of the week running around purchasing ‘things’ for the real workers to build, paint, plumb etc with…..my husband thinks we have all been using our strengths…….mine being shopping!  Most of the time it’s been in hardware stores (I know Bunnings in Sunbury backwards and they know me too!) and renovation places.  It’s been good fun though and I think I’ve gotten a few bargains (great chandeliers which I will post photos of in a couple of days time).  It hasn’t all been smooth sailing though – I’ve been forced to step outside my comfort zone and drive my father-in-law’s ute (manual of course!) and learn to tie things on with ropes and truckies knots.  There was only one incident when some corrugated iron and wood came loose in the wind and I had to stop 3 times before finally giving in and calling for help.  Thanks goodness though it was the day before those very strong winds!  We managed to escape any damage both at home and at Sewjourn – hope you were all the same.