…..more contributions towards the Bushfires Quilts  that is!  Last week (or maybe the week before as they have all blended in together lately!) I received a package from NSW containing – a quilt top, some blocks and some fabric – thankyou Stephanie!  Really looking forward to what we can finish them off to look like! 

(Sorry about the poor photo quality am short on time!  They ARE really nice!)

Am spending this week catching up on work and getting organised for a little party!  But after that it’s back into the Bushfire Quilts again because our next get-together is just around the corner.

Meanwhile some lovely ladies have been spending time at Sewjourn and have had some very nice things to say.

25/11/1922 – 18/4/2009

Sad. That she is gone.

Relieved. That she is at peace.

Happy.  That she is reunited with Pa.

Blessed.  To have had such a beautiful grandmother.

We are away for the weekend……..back on track with blogging next week…….

Where did Easter go?  I hope you enjoyed the break whatever you were doing.  We spent most of the weekend in Lancefield – a bit more gardening, oiling the deck and a few odd jobs (never seem to get as much as we plan done when we go there these days……..and for the rest of the year there are very few weekends free for us to be doing things so we will have to plan carefully….) 

Daddy’s ‘helpers’.

We did go to Bendigo for a day which was lovely – catching up with family, visiting a quilt exhibition and going to the Torchlight Procession – all part of the Bendigo Easter Festival.  The Torchlight Procession is for the emergency services – in particular the Fire Brigades.  This year’s was particularly special and it was a great recognition of the amazing work that all the emergency services did in the recent fires.

Speaking of which, more quilt tops rolling in for the Bushfires Quilting Bee. Fantastic girls!!

We are having our next get-together on Saturday 23rd May so if you would like to contribute in any way please let me know.  We are also toying with the idea of having a Quilt Hanging for people to come and see the quilts before they make their way to their new homes and raffling a quilt to raise money for quilting more quilts – what do you think?  I’m hearing from those in the know that people are now settling in their temporary accomodation and are ready to receive the quilts so we want it to all happen as soon as possible.  There is still lots of other great ways to help out over here.

and champagne and chocolate and eating and chatting and crying (sad movie) and laughing ( happy movie) ……..what a lovely way to spend the weekend.  (Quote ‘borrowed’ from Bonnie!)

Between the 3 of us we managed to boost the Lancefield economy substantially on Saturday morning (book shop, dress shop, florist/gift shop, hardware store and bakery all did VERY well!)    I even managed to have some time to read our latest book club book (v. good so far!) Most of my ‘creative’ time was taken up making invitations but I did manage to do some sewing……….finally binding quilts for daughters 2 and 3.  (They have been sitting in my bedroom, already quilted for about 2 years now – everything for Sewjourn took over – so I have two very excited girls – and another one who is asking when hers will be done!)

AND I have to tell you using the Matilda’s Own binding ruler and corner tool was fantastic.  At first when the girls suggested I use these tools (Meredithe designed the corner thingy- don’t know it’s real name and it’s not on their website yet) I was a bit sceptical because I’ve never had a hassle with cutting binding or doing the mitred corners BUT both made it SO quick and easy that I’m putting them on my wish list!

So now I just have some handsewing to do this week and the WIP list will be two shorter.

Another Pink Chocolate fabric from Somerset this time from the red color range and to make a skirt.  I’d like this fabric as a contrast but they had run out so now have to search elsewhere………

For more Sunday Stash head over here.

PS. In Lancefield yesterday hence Sunday Monday Stash…….no internet connection caused a few problems – 3 lots of people tried to book the same weekend in July because I couldn’t get on to update the availability…….oh dear!

The girls looked gorgeous heading off to a special night at school tonight………..

And tomorrow I’m heading off for a special weekend at Sewjourn.  We didn’t get enough takers for our workshops so instead two friends and I are making the most of it and planning a weekend just to relax, create and enjoy!!!  And I can’t wait!  Hopefully I might be back with some crafty photos to show for it next week………..

Looking through my photos for the Cactus post I came across these……….

Hard to believe this was exactly a year ago!!!  But it makes me realise how much we have done in the past year (and maybe why we are feeling pretty tired!) And thankful yet again for such supportive families and friends that helped to get us through it.

(Note: If you are thinking of a stay at Sewjourn please use photos on our website as a reference not these!!!)

This post has been sitting in my drafts folder for AGES but chatting with Bron on Tuesday reminded me to upload it – had to wait until the internet was at full speed again this month so that it didn’t take hours for the photos to load……..let me know what you think????!!

Much of the garden at Sewjourn needs some attention – lots of hours have already been put in by lots of people (in particular my mother-in-law!) and parts of it look really good but in an ideal world where time and money weren’t limiting factors the scope is endless…….

But for now we need to work with what we have – and there’s one garden that has been the topic of debate since we first discovered Sewjourn – the CACTUS garden!

First impressions were ‘it’s got to go’ not least because it’s in the middle of the driveway and one of the first things you see when you drive in – and cacti have never been my favorite plants.  But then a few people pointed out that at least they had survived in a garden that had been given little or no attention for a number of years.  And when I thought about it more I realised that the plants were probably 20 or 30 years old.  A search on eBay followed to see if it was possible to sell them as I find it hard to kill a plant that old – the idea being that at least if someone wants them they can come and remove them – I was surprised to see that they can actually sell for quite a bit of money.

Then a few of the bigger plants flowered and they really are quite amazing and I became more attached to the shapes and forms of these unusual plants.  (Amy Butler claims she is heavily influenced and inspired by her garden – maybe people would actually like these cacti??) 

But my husband dosen’t agree – he’s had the displeasure of getting prickles in his face (right in the middle of one of my Christmas in July days!!)  And we’ve had a friends daughter fall off her bike and end up with prickles in her legs.  And I’ve had a couple of jabs when I’ve been weeding the garden – they hurt and some of them are hard to get out.  And it would be terrible if one of our guests managed to get prickled.

So logically I know they probably have to go – but what to do with them (burn them is top of Mal’s ideas list!) and what to plant there instead???  Any suggestions?

PS We have done a bit more work on the cactus garden since writing this – trying to get a succulent border going around the outside and have put all the pebbles from other places on top so it is looking quite good at the moment (getting rid of the old toilet that was sitting in the middle with a cactus growing out of it helped!)  They are still prickly little things though…….and be under no illusions that it is looking like something out of House & Garden……..would particularly love to hear from anyone who has visited Sewjourn and seen the garden……..all comments welcomed though!

Yesterday I had lunch with these lovely girls.  What a nice way to spend a few hours!  And of course lots of the talk was about…….can you guess?……..fabric!

Kellie has just released a new pattern and is having a giveaway to celebrate.  As always her work is divine so pop on over and have a look.  You can also pre-order the pattern.  Now must get back to work on this lovely sunny Melbourne day…………

PS.  So pleased it is the first of the month and my internet is back up to speed – must get it sorted before this month is out.