Finished, another quilt for charity

First finished item at retreat. Completed the star last year as a paper piecing experiment and loved it. But was stuck with what to do. Now really pleased to have made it into a quilt for an orphan at Hope Homes International.

Was not that happy with the quilting of the coloured star but love the straight line quilting of the grey fabrics.

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Velvet antique broach lessons

Jane has once again given us some beautiful items. Then taught us how to assemble a velvet with antique looking broach pin to make a sumptuous broach.

A treat

Just before I left for my quilting retreat my lovely friends came around after school with an afternoon treat. I am so blessed to know this family. Thanks heaps girls I really appreciate your baking and surprise.

The boys tried to photo bomb this

Blowing out the candles. They suggested I have a candle in each, which was 19. Pretty happy with that birthday number!!!

Sunrise on the first day

On my quilting retreat and this was sunrise this morning.

I am on my way

It has taken me a week to pack and be organised. I have added projects, removed projects, tried to be realistic and failed. The car is FULL. I am over two hours late leaving...but here I go. Off to my five day retreat for sewing, gorgeous food, rest and recreation. There is no more room in my car!!!

The sewing machine even had to go in the footwell of the passenger seat. I am sure I have missed a project or two!!

I call this part of the car my shop. I have two drawers of a selection of fabric and when I need something I pop out there to have a look.

Giant cupcake as a birthday cake

Eli is 10! He wanted a giant cupcake birthday cake and a lolly bar. Whew that was a lot of sugar. Tip to self... Never have 6 x 10year old boys to sleep over (I honestly think it is called a wake over).

First garden bed in.. veges on their way!!

The first garden bed was finished on the weekend. A mighty job by Aaron and the boys. Slowly making the new house feel like our own.

Looking good. Paving for the path started on the lefthand side.

The reality of the mess!!

This is what it looked like just as we started to remove beds that for some reason were plonked in the middle of the lawn. Weird.

Gingerbread castles

We are very blessed to have some amazing friends who are happy to let us use their farm to camp on, their company to tramp with, and their daughter to boy sit in the holidays.

School holidays and it was a boy sitter day. But the boys and Arial spent the entire day at her Mum's house making the most amazing gingerbread concoctions. 

When I went to pick the boys up after work their day had been a blast. A delicious gingerbread recipe and real chocolate melted to hold it all together. Do you see the Roman Chariot in the front of the photo. Lovely Tracey had not only had our boys around but lots of other teenagers too. The creations were amazing. 

Then the next week they spent the whole day out tramping with them all!! 

Making a homework station

We are slowly settling into our new house. The last box was unpacked in the weekend. Now I am starting to look at how the house is organised.

We had a lovely piece of Rimu which had been taken out of a house being renovated. Then I bought two old pot plant stands which (for some odd reason) had the top pieces taken off. I found them at our local second hand barn. Haggled a great price as they were in the corner covered in dust.

Aaron was dubious about my plan so I set it up to show him how wonderful it would be.

A few days later the skillsaw came out and the wood was cut to the correct size - Yes in the middle of the dining room just after I had vacuumed - need I say anymore?

Then instead of using dowel etc I used heaps of L brackets to screw the legs onto the Rimu shelf.

 And voila we have a very handy homework station. Still a bit of work to do to get it how I want it exactly. But in working order with a laptop, monitor and keyboard as well as all the essential pens, rulers etc.

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Not snowing yet

We are told too expect snow. The boys are all settled and ready for it!!

Turning bottles into glasses

So it is school holidays and the boys are older. Now we can try some of the more dangerous activities.

Get some beer and wine bottles and try a bit of upcycling or recycling. I remembered doing this when I was a child. First we tied string which had been dipped in methylated spirits around the bottles and set it alight. Once it burnt then the bottle went under cold water. It definitely broke but it was very jagged and will take a lot of grinding.
So then we did a bit of research. Green science were great. A good explanation and Utube video and we started again. Using a glass cutter we scratched around the bottle and then poured boiling water onto the scratch only. Then under the cold tap and the crack would appear. Then one more time and boof - off comes the top of the bottle. A much smoother cut and easier to grind down.

This was all completed over a couple of days as we had to walk the dogs into town to get a glass cutter, do research, try and try again.

Great fun
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