I love the posty!!!

Look what was waiting for me when I picked up the mail this afternoon...

How delicious is that????

These were treasures I received for subscribing to my favourite crafty magazines....ooh what fun I'm going to have .....so many things I can make with them....yummmmeeeeeeee!  But I might just have to sit and admire them for a little bit longer.....don't you just love the swirly pattern???...reminds me of the show (fair) or a giant lollipop!!!  *drool*

And not only did I get that special little surprise......the posty also brought me these..........

My other lovely surprise was a lovely bundle of FQ's that I won in the January Giveaway at Busy Thimbles...thank you so much Annalisa....I can't wait to start using them!

Have you had any lovely surprises lately???

Keep stitching sweetly,

sugary hugs

Wendy :O)

I love the posty!!!

Look what was waiting for me when I picked up the mail this afternoon...

How delicious is that????

These were treasures I received for subscribing to my favourite crafty magazines....ooh what fun I'm going to have .....so many things I can make with them....yummmmeeeeeeee!  But I might just have to sit and admire them for a little bit longer.....don't you just love the swirly pattern???...reminds me of the show (fair) or a giant lollipop!!!  *drool*

And not only did I get that special little surprise......the posty also brought me these..........

My other lovely surprise was a lovely bundle of FQ's that I won in the January Giveaway at Busy Thimbles...thank you so much Annalisa....I can't wait to start using them!

Have you had any lovely surprises lately???

Keep stitching sweetly,

sugary hugs

Wendy :O)

More Magic....

Want a chance to win a wonderful prize???

Christine is having a giveaway over at her blog.

You can win this book - 

 

Picture courtesy of The Stitching Post

http://www.thestitchingpost.com.au 

plus an applique needle (oops....edited.....Sorry Christine, that should read a PACK of applique needles....I'm such a doofus!!!) and two fat quarters!!  Woohoo........you've got til 15th March but don't dilly dally (and don't forget to tell her I sent you!)  Good luck!

What a day we had yesterday!!!.. Our mystery quilt certainly had us baffled at 'The Resort' (our local parish hall!!) until the very end, putting 'glasses' in 'the bar' and taking them out and moving them up to 'the rooftop', but I stuck with it and here's my top completed....(I wasn't leaving till the bar was dry!!  [hiccup...tee hee hee])........

 

 I was very happy with the result! Hubby says it reminds him of our trips to Bowen and the beach...well I was going for a beachy type colour scheme, seeing that was the theme of the day so I must have made some ok colour choices.

Maureen provided us with the entertainment, putting her all into  dressing up to suit...here she is at the end of the day (10pm......we two stuck it out to the end, with Laurie and Lyn for support!!!) still as lovely as when the day begun....nb.  that is non-alcoholic grape juice she is partaking in...just to celebrate the finish!!!!

The quilt was designed by Darelle Castelow (2001) and brought to us by Laurie and others at the Burdekin Quilters Guild....Thanks so much for this fun day, Laurie and for being our Lifesaver by the beach!!!! hehehe  Where would we have been without you??

Here is Maureen's version, putting it all into perspective.....

and another colourway done by one of the many talented ladies at our guild.........

I can't wait for our next meeting to see how all the others turned out and soon (March) we have Robin Ginn coming to visit us for a workshop.........fun, fun, fun!!!

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend too, putting a spring in your step to see you into the new week ahead.

Sugary hugs XXX

Wendy :O)

More Magic....

Want a chance to win a wonderful prize???

Christine is having a giveaway over at her blog.

You can win this book - 

 

Picture courtesy of The Stitching Post

http://www.thestitchingpost.com.au 

plus an applique needle (oops....edited.....Sorry Christine, that should read a PACK of applique needles....I'm such a doofus!!!) and two fat quarters!!  Woohoo........you've got til 15th March but don't dilly dally (and don't forget to tell her I sent you!)  Good luck!

What a day we had yesterday!!!.. Our mystery quilt certainly had us baffled at 'The Resort' (our local parish hall!!) until the very end, putting 'glasses' in 'the bar' and taking them out and moving them up to 'the rooftop', but I stuck with it and here's my top completed....(I wasn't leaving till the bar was dry!!  [hiccup...tee hee hee])........

 

 I was very happy with the result! Hubby says it reminds him of our trips to Bowen and the beach...well I was going for a beachy type colour scheme, seeing that was the theme of the day so I must have made some ok colour choices.

Maureen provided us with the entertainment, putting her all into  dressing up to suit...here she is at the end of the day (10pm......we two stuck it out to the end, with Laurie and Lyn for support!!!) still as lovely as when the day begun....nb.  that is non-alcoholic grape juice she is partaking in...just to celebrate the finish!!!!

The quilt was designed by Darelle Castelow (2001) and brought to us by Laurie and others at the Burdekin Quilters Guild....Thanks so much for this fun day, Laurie and for being our Lifesaver by the beach!!!! hehehe  Where would we have been without you??

Here is Maureen's version, putting it all into perspective.....

and another colourway done by one of the many talented ladies at our guild.........

I can't wait for our next meeting to see how all the others turned out and soon (March) we have Robin Ginn coming to visit us for a workshop.........fun, fun, fun!!!

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend too, putting a spring in your step to see you into the new week ahead.

Sugary hugs XXX

Wendy :O)

When you least expect it!!!

Look what arrived for meeeee!!!

I feel so blessed and honoured to receive the 'Beautiful Blogger' Award from Narelle at Nell's Notions

Woohooo....all those grey clouds are clearing, my week is brightening....Thank you Narelle.....You've made my rather miserable week a very memorable one, for all the right reasons!!!!  What a darling, I truly appreciate it!

Now for the formalities....

I must:

* thank and link my presenter ~ Thankyou so much, Narelle  I will definitely treasure it always!

* Post the award on my blog.

* Tell 7 interesting things about myself. I'll list them down below (I think they're interesting..well, sort of...??!!)

* Nominate 7 blogs and link to them. 

Here goes.....

The interesting bits -
1.   I am left-handed but play most sports right-handed but throw balls left handed, use a knife and fork right handed but spoons mostly left handed....so I guess I'm ambidextrous????
2.  I once drove a car across the Nullabor 100kms when I was 10 years old (oops!!) but times were different then!
3.  I've never broken a bone in my body.....touch wood! But I've been in hospital more times than I care to remember.
4.  I've visited every state and territory in Australia, except Northern Territory. (it's on my list of 'to do's!)
5.  If I was stuck on a desert island, I would have to have with me either tiramisu or sticky date pudding (or both) as a staple food.....Yep, I love my sweets!
6.  Funnily enough though, I always eat the vegetables on my plate first and have done since I was little....a legacy of my generation I guess.
7.  I am a real softy....I love puppies and kittens, babies, romance, soppy movies, love songs....aaaaah!

7  blogs I love to visit:  (but don't forget to look at all in my blogroll...I love visiting you all!!!!!)

1.  Dawn at Dawn Hay Designs    Dawn was my very first follower...thank you my lovely bloggy friend

2.  Joy at JoyPatch   Joy always makes me smile...and she's having a giveaway at the moment!!!!

3.  Kylie at Country Wishes  I love our chats, Kylie.XOX

4.  Gloria at Airdmillan Ayring the Quilt and Things  My great quilty friend XOX

5.  Jean at Quilting Ranny  An always thoughtful blogger and downright wonderful Christian woman.

6.  Cori at Creativity Amongst Chaos   You've gotta love that work!

7.  Andrea at Buderim Patchwork    Such inspiration in this quilting group.

How hard is that to stop at just 7?????  I could easily have cut and pasted my blogfeed which would take you into next year before you visited everyone that I love to visit!!!!!!

And just to fill you in on the crafty side of me in the past couple of days.....

I managed to finish my February Flirting with Flowers (FFF...sounds like I've got a stutter!!) BOM on Vicki's blog.  I've never really liked needleturn before, because of a previous baaaaad experience, but with Vicki's tutorial and the right equipment, I've discovered a new found love!!!!!

I must catch some zzzzz's so I'm ready for our Mystery Quilting at the Resort tomorrow!!

sugary hugs

XX Wendy :O)

When you least expect it!!!

Look what arrived for meeeee!!!

I feel so blessed and honoured to receive the 'Beautiful Blogger' Award from Narelle at Nell's Notions

Woohooo....all those grey clouds are clearing, my week is brightening....Thank you Narelle.....You've made my rather miserable week a very memorable one, for all the right reasons!!!!  What a darling, I truly appreciate it!

Now for the formalities....

I must:

* thank and link my presenter ~ Thankyou so much, Narelle  I will definitely treasure it always!

* Post the award on my blog.

* Tell 7 interesting things about myself. I'll list them down below (I think they're interesting..well, sort of...??!!)

* Nominate 7 blogs and link to them. 

Here goes.....

The interesting bits -
1.   I am left-handed but play most sports right-handed but throw balls left handed, use a knife and fork right handed but spoons mostly left handed....so I guess I'm ambidextrous????
2.  I once drove a car across the Nullabor 100kms when I was 10 years old (oops!!) but times were different then!
3.  I've never broken a bone in my body.....touch wood! But I've been in hospital more times than I care to remember.
4.  I've visited every state and territory in Australia, except Northern Territory. (it's on my list of 'to do's!)
5.  If I was stuck on a desert island, I would have to have with me either tiramisu or sticky date pudding (or both) as a staple food.....Yep, I love my sweets!
6.  Funnily enough though, I always eat the vegetables on my plate first and have done since I was little....a legacy of my generation I guess.
7.  I am a real softy....I love puppies and kittens, babies, romance, soppy movies, love songs....aaaaah!

7  blogs I love to visit:  (but don't forget to look at all in my blogroll...I love visiting you all!!!!!)

1.  Dawn at Dawn Hay Designs    Dawn was my very first follower...thank you my lovely bloggy friend

2.  Joy at JoyPatch   Joy always makes me smile...and she's having a giveaway at the moment!!!!

3.  Kylie at Country Wishes  I love our chats, Kylie.XOX

4.  Gloria at Airdmillan Ayring the Quilt and Things  My great quilty friend XOX

5.  Jean at Quilting Ranny  An always thoughtful blogger and downright wonderful Christian woman.

6.  Cori at Creativity Amongst Chaos   You've gotta love that work!

7.  Andrea at Buderim Patchwork    Such inspiration in this quilting group.

How hard is that to stop at just 7?????  I could easily have cut and pasted my blogfeed which would take you into next year before you visited everyone that I love to visit!!!!!!

And just to fill you in on the crafty side of me in the past couple of days.....

I managed to finish my February Flirting with Flowers (FFF...sounds like I've got a stutter!!) BOM on Vicki's blog.  I've never really liked needleturn before, because of a previous baaaaad experience, but with Vicki's tutorial and the right equipment, I've discovered a new found love!!!!!

I must catch some zzzzz's so I'm ready for our Mystery Quilting at the Resort tomorrow!!

sugary hugs

XX Wendy :O)

Be careful what you wish for!

It's always nice to have a week off work but this week was very unexpected and not pleasant!!
Waking up on Monday I decided to stretch heartily, and managed to cramp up every muscle in my neck which rendered me useless....I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow! My poor dear husband took me to the hospital (I wouldn't let him call an ambulance....how embarrassing!!) which ended up in painkillers, heatpacks and rest for the week.  I couldn't do much for the first few days but I am starting to get a little more mobile (in short bursts) now.
I'm always saying it would be nice to have a week off work, but.......

Hopefully I will be well enough for our guild's mystery quilt day (and night) on Saturday.  It sounds like so much fun....we have been given some instructions which sounded very cryptic/intriguing at first (and still do!!) but after cutting into "Tessie"(the quiet but not dull type), "winnie" (the dark horse),"umsie" (here I am!!)  and others and putting them in bags labelled 'the lift', 'the giftshop', 'the beach', 'the cafe', and 'the rooftop' and 'bar', it's all starting to sound like we're going to have a ball with our cocktails at The Resort (our parish hall)!!!!

I've stuck with the beachy colours, notice my lemony lime cocktail....can't wait to see what it turns into!!

I've been working on my other mystery quilt and the colours are quite different to that one....

Hopefully another February Finish for OPAM!

We've had some wild weather and plenty of rain this past week.  With that, we've had some unusual visitors in our backyard.....

Our mango tree seemed to be a safe haven for all types of wildlife....a swarm of bees and a family of tawny frog-mouthed owls.  Now, it's interesting to note here, that our backyard is a regular suburban house block....probably larger than city blocks but not by much I'd say!
However, I didn't manage to get a photo of the snake that dangled above me as I was checking out our custard apples.....couldn't see me for mud!!!!  I do believe it was only a yellowy green tree snake.....I didn't care...I was outa there!!

I have been missing a little bit on the blogging front but only because I'm having so much trouble with my internet.  I've updated Internet Explorer and Virus Protection and now it wont let me open any hyperlinks within a page so when I go to comment on your blog, it sends me to a spinning circle (I know how it feels!!!)......veeeeeery frustrating!  Computer man is coming today, hopefully....probably just a simple setting but....ggggggggrrrrrrrrrr!
Please know I've been following you all and I apologise for the lack of comments.....hopefully I'll be back real soon!

Soreness is starting to creep in, so I'm going to leave it at that for now.  Have a lovely, creative day.
sugary hugs,

Wendy :O)

Be careful what you wish for!

It's always nice to have a week off work but this week was very unexpected and not pleasant!!
Waking up on Monday I decided to stretch heartily, and managed to cramp up every muscle in my neck which rendered me useless....I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow! My poor dear husband took me to the hospital (I wouldn't let him call an ambulance....how embarrassing!!) which ended up in painkillers, heatpacks and rest for the week.  I couldn't do much for the first few days but I am starting to get a little more mobile (in short bursts) now.
I'm always saying it would be nice to have a week off work, but.......

Hopefully I will be well enough for our guild's mystery quilt day (and night) on Saturday.  It sounds like so much fun....we have been given some instructions which sounded very cryptic/intriguing at first (and still do!!) but after cutting into "Tessie"(the quiet but not dull type), "winnie" (the dark horse),"umsie" (here I am!!)  and others and putting them in bags labelled 'the lift', 'the giftshop', 'the beach', 'the cafe', and 'the rooftop' and 'bar', it's all starting to sound like we're going to have a ball with our cocktails at The Resort (our parish hall)!!!!

I've stuck with the beachy colours, notice my lemony lime cocktail....can't wait to see what it turns into!!

I've been working on my other mystery quilt and the colours are quite different to that one....

Hopefully another February Finish for OPAM!

We've had some wild weather and plenty of rain this past week.  With that, we've had some unusual visitors in our backyard.....

Our mango tree seemed to be a safe haven for all types of wildlife....a swarm of bees and a family of tawny frog-mouthed owls.  Now, it's interesting to note here, that our backyard is a regular suburban house block....probably larger than city blocks but not by much I'd say!
However, I didn't manage to get a photo of the snake that dangled above me as I was checking out our custard apples.....couldn't see me for mud!!!!  I do believe it was only a yellowy green tree snake.....I didn't care...I was outa there!!

I have been missing a little bit on the blogging front but only because I'm having so much trouble with my internet.  I've updated Internet Explorer and Virus Protection and now it wont let me open any hyperlinks within a page so when I go to comment on your blog, it sends me to a spinning circle (I know how it feels!!!)......veeeeeery frustrating!  Computer man is coming today, hopefully....probably just a simple setting but....ggggggggrrrrrrrrrr!
Please know I've been following you all and I apologise for the lack of comments.....hopefully I'll be back real soon!

Soreness is starting to creep in, so I'm going to leave it at that for now.  Have a lovely, creative day.
sugary hugs,

Wendy :O)

Happy Valentine's Day

Not much to post this week....nothing much happening on the crafty front.  However, it is nearly Valentines Day, and that has become rather a special time for me!!! (having so much trouble with Blogger that I started this yesterday and couldn't finish it til today!!...is anyone else having this problem??  Seems everything is on time lapse and doesn't  respond as I'm typing   ....[gggggrrrr] very frustrating!)

You see, my husband likes to spoil me rotten (and impress the girls at work at the same time!!!) so this is what the florist delivered at work for me on Friday .....

Dear Hubby has always sent me flowers and a rather special dancing, singing, or dancing AND singing soft toy.  I have rather a large collection of these now...frogs, monkeys, cows, dogs, lambs etc that I really love and I take out and listen to (or watch, whatever the case may be!!) when I'm feeling down.  That always does the trick!

So I decided on something special for him and took him to a lovely place in the 'big smoke' aka Townsville, for the night, then to dinner, out to the Cowboys leagues club for dessert and then to a little coffee shop for coffee before heading back to where we were staying.  Then this morning, after opening his gift (a  fave dvd....P.S. I Love You) we headed off shopping (that was for me!!!) and then home.

I did manage to pop in to Tinker's Cart and book in for the "A Day with Friends" retreat in June with Bronwyn Hayes, Rosalie Quinlan and Leanne Beasley....I can't wait!!

I'm off to try and do a little bit of sewing before some homework!!! [yuck!]  .....and I'm sick of battling this Blogger!!! I do hope it resolves itself soon!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Valentines Day!

Big sugary kisses and hugs

XX Wendy :O)

Happy Valentine's Day

Not much to post this week....nothing much happening on the crafty front.  However, it is nearly Valentines Day, and that has become rather a special time for me!!! (having so much trouble with Blogger that I started this yesterday and couldn't finish it til today!!...is anyone else having this problem??  Seems everything is on time lapse and doesn't  respond as I'm typing   ....[gggggrrrr] very frustrating!)

You see, my husband likes to spoil me rotten (and impress the girls at work at the same time!!!) so this is what the florist delivered at work for me on Friday .....

Dear Hubby has always sent me flowers and a rather special dancing, singing, or dancing AND singing soft toy.  I have rather a large collection of these now...frogs, monkeys, cows, dogs, lambs etc that I really love and I take out and listen to (or watch, whatever the case may be!!) when I'm feeling down.  That always does the trick!

So I decided on something special for him and took him to a lovely place in the 'big smoke' aka Townsville, for the night, then to dinner, out to the Cowboys leagues club for dessert and then to a little coffee shop for coffee before heading back to where we were staying.  Then this morning, after opening his gift (a  fave dvd....P.S. I Love You) we headed off shopping (that was for me!!!) and then home.

I did manage to pop in to Tinker's Cart and book in for the "A Day with Friends" retreat in June with Bronwyn Hayes, Rosalie Quinlan and Leanne Beasley....I can't wait!!

I'm off to try and do a little bit of sewing before some homework!!! [yuck!]  .....and I'm sick of battling this Blogger!!! I do hope it resolves itself soon!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Valentines Day!

Big sugary kisses and hugs

XX Wendy :O)

Another Finish!

....and before the end of the month too!!!!  Woohoooo!   Well actually, it was nearly finished at the end of last year.  All I had to do was decide on a quilting design and bind it but the Joseph's Star is finished!

It does feel soooo good when you finally finish something that’s been on the agenda for a long time! Here’s the back to show you the quilting design. I decided to stick with the star theme and using variegated cotton, I followed the angles of the star and extended it from the centre to the edge.

I always find that this part is where I come unstuck as most patterns say “quilt as desired”. Why do they think I bought a pattern???? I’m not the creative one!!!! I need some help! Well I did surprise myself, just took some time for the quilt to ‘speak to me’ but, when it did, it was all systems go.

This is the project I’m currently working on and to be truthful and honest, it is one that should have been finished a long time ago. I began this mystery quilt from a pattern in three consecutive issues of Patchwork and Quilting in 2005! What with getting remarried, being seconded to an acting position for a year, and moving house three times, I guess it’s no wonder it took so long. But like other things on my plate, I always say I’ll get around to it “one day”….well that day has come. I’ve looked at this half finished WIP and relegated it to the ‘too hard basket’ thinking it would take too long to work out where I was up to, but this biggest procrastinator of all time, only took about 10 minutes to figure it out……I don’t know what all the fuss was about!!!

Do you do that too, or am I the only one??

Although I do know what it will look like when it’s finished, I didn’t when I purchased the fabrics oh, so long ago and believe it or not, I am still happy with my choice of colours….pink, sage and cream are timeless!  It's just you who'll  have to wait to see how it turns out!

As you know, Nick, my son, has chosen to go and live with his Dad and it was a very heart-wrenching time for me being my only ‘baby’ but……he’s doing well, and I can see through the clouds now. Like most of you said, I’d learn to enjoy it, and he is getting more opportunities where he is than what he would get here in our little country town! But I don't feel quite ready to be 'childless' so, guess who’s getting most of my attention now?????

My lucky moodle, Ralph…..and is he complaining????? Errrrrrrrrrr, nup!   
Here he is, in the car, on my lap, taking in the air con and the scenery on our weekend down to the beach at Bowen.   Is he spoilt or what????? According to my husband.....errrrrrr, yep!

I just wanted to share with you what I picked up, by chance, at our local supermarket while doing the weekly grocery shopping.....

A siamese grape!  How odd!

I never knew it was there until I got home and took them out of the bag to wash before storing in the fridge.  I just had to share it!  Have you ever found a 'one-in-a-million' item by chance when shopping before???  I'd love to hear what it was!   By the way, unfortunately this grape/grapes succombed to a very untimely death......but boy, were they yummy! [snigger snigger!!!]

Have a great week

Sugary hugs

Wendy :O)

Another Finish!

....and before the end of the month too!!!!  Woohoooo!   Well actually, it was nearly finished at the end of last year.  All I had to do was decide on a quilting design and bind it but the Joseph's Star is finished!

It does feel soooo good when you finally finish something that’s been on the agenda for a long time! Here’s the back to show you the quilting design. I decided to stick with the star theme and using variegated cotton, I followed the angles of the star and extended it from the centre to the edge.

I always find that this part is where I come unstuck as most patterns say “quilt as desired”. Why do they think I bought a pattern???? I’m not the creative one!!!! I need some help! Well I did surprise myself, just took some time for the quilt to ‘speak to me’ but, when it did, it was all systems go.

This is the project I’m currently working on and to be truthful and honest, it is one that should have been finished a long time ago. I began this mystery quilt from a pattern in three consecutive issues of Patchwork and Quilting in 2005! What with getting remarried, being seconded to an acting position for a year, and moving house three times, I guess it’s no wonder it took so long. But like other things on my plate, I always say I’ll get around to it “one day”….well that day has come. I’ve looked at this half finished WIP and relegated it to the ‘too hard basket’ thinking it would take too long to work out where I was up to, but this biggest procrastinator of all time, only took about 10 minutes to figure it out……I don’t know what all the fuss was about!!!

Do you do that too, or am I the only one??

Although I do know what it will look like when it’s finished, I didn’t when I purchased the fabrics oh, so long ago and believe it or not, I am still happy with my choice of colours….pink, sage and cream are timeless!  It's just you who'll  have to wait to see how it turns out!

As you know, Nick, my son, has chosen to go and live with his Dad and it was a very heart-wrenching time for me being my only ‘baby’ but……he’s doing well, and I can see through the clouds now. Like most of you said, I’d learn to enjoy it, and he is getting more opportunities where he is than what he would get here in our little country town! But I don't feel quite ready to be 'childless' so, guess who’s getting most of my attention now?????

My lucky moodle, Ralph…..and is he complaining????? Errrrrrrrrrr, nup!   
Here he is, in the car, on my lap, taking in the air con and the scenery on our weekend down to the beach at Bowen.   Is he spoilt or what????? According to my husband.....errrrrrr, yep!

I just wanted to share with you what I picked up, by chance, at our local supermarket while doing the weekly grocery shopping.....

A siamese grape!  How odd!

I never knew it was there until I got home and took them out of the bag to wash before storing in the fridge.  I just had to share it!  Have you ever found a 'one-in-a-million' item by chance when shopping before???  I'd love to hear what it was!   By the way, unfortunately this grape/grapes succombed to a very untimely death......but boy, were they yummy! [snigger snigger!!!]

Have a great week

Sugary hugs

Wendy :O)