Done - 100% Eco recycled quilt

I started this a few months ago and have finally finished. I got stuck into it on Friday for the - friday night sew in- and finished it today. You can go back to this blog post to explain how it is 100% recycled - batting, backing, front etc. But the sewing thread was new.

I really like the finished product but I did not enjoy the process of this quilt at all. I have found it a chore to finish. I got in so much of a funk today trying to get it done, that once I had all the pieces quilted, I could not find the motivation to finish it and do the binding. So Morris and I went for a big walk around the Pegasus wildlife area. Lovely and sunny (but cold) great walk and had a fantastic coffee and amazing fruit slice at the cafe there. I came home reinvigorated and have just completely finished the quilt. Yipee. The boys are due home in 5 minutes so the timing is fantastic.

I have learnt that I do not like the quilt as you go technique. This quilt is done with raw edge applique, which results in quilt as you go. Icky Icky. The last one I did using that technique here - I did not enjoy either. So only pieced quilts from now on.

Another quilt to go into the slowly building stash for the orphans at Hope Homes International.

Hope you had a great Saturday like I did.

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Early Morning

Well it is only 8am and we have all had breakfast and the boys have gone. They are off Tramping up Mt Oxford with one of Aaron's workmates. This is very early for us on a Saturday morning. Pancakes in their tummies to keep them going and off they went.

This tramp has many memories for Aaron and I. We met while tramping into Lake Daniels. A week later Aaron called me at work to say that he was going tramping up Mt Oxford and do I want to go. Only it all went very wrong. He asked for Karen when he got the switchboard and they put him through to a different Karen! 15 years older, no interest in tramping at all. He had a very bemusing conversation with her. Fortunately Karen realised that it could be me, as though we worked in different areas and on different floors, I had talked to her in the staff cafeteria. She rang me and asked if I knew a Aaron who was into tramping. We laughed quite a lot when she told me of the conversation. It all ended well as I rang Aaron back and explained it all. If it had not been for Karen realising it was me he wanted, we may never have gotten together, as he thought I (as in the other Karen) was putting him off and not very interested.

The tramp we did was great, though for the last 50 metres I ran out of steam and Aaron pulled me up. His story is always that he pulled me up 500 vertical metres!!!! Anyway we now know that my inability to keep the steam going up hills was due to my heart. In spite of that I have done extensive tramping and just used to take going uphill more slowly. Unfortunately now I can't even go up a flight of stairs without it getting to much. So the boys are off without me.

The second picture is all the seed sewing that I did yesterday - spring fever hit. I also put some pea seeds directly into the garden. So we will wait and see if I am just too ambitious for the weather.

How to keep everyone happy - almost

1. Walk the dog - Very happy dog :)
2. Walk the dog and get exercise - Very happy Cardiologist and husband
3. Walk the dog, get exercise, be in the cold bracing air by the river - I am happy, love being outside
4. Walk the dog, get exercise, enjoy the fresh air and find Wood - very happy husband
5. Walk the dog, get exercise, enjoy the fresh air, find wood and put the wood in the car - incredibly happy husband (as have not just told him about it but actually saved him a job), incredibly happy dog ( he got to run back and forth as I crossed the paddock retrieving wood), free weightlifting session for me!!
6. Bring the wood home but leave it in the car for someone else to unpack - unhappy boys if that are told to do that job!!!!!

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Finally finished

I am still trying to finish all the half done projects I have. This is one project I started last year just after Dad's 80th birthday (His 81st is in a week!) and it has sat uncompleted all that time. I have thought about it a lot, especially when I have wanted to wear a long necklace, but not actually done anything about it.

Last night while watching TV I was not feeling really motivated, wanted to quilt but did not have the omph. So I took out my Jewelry making things and finished this. I am thrilled that it is finished and I can wear it.
My preference in jewelry has always been natural things. So I tend toward only gold and silver and when making my own I use a lot of freshwater pearls - I love love love them.

So this is very fine Stirling Silver chain (as any thicker just costs so much), small (4mm) freshwater grey and natural pearls. Even though I am not Catholic I was thinking along the lines of a rosary when I was making this. I even made the cross at the bottom. I then added another pair of natural freshwater earings. They are 10mm pearls using Stirling Silver hoops.

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A great sewing night

Kylie doing her bunting

Sheryl working on the Petal quilt

Well last night was our first get together in ages. Since the last school holidays winter has gotten on top of us and for many reasons we had not had a sewing get together for about 2 months. We have all been distracted by things, most of us had sick children at various times, Sheryl and Kylie are battling still to get consents with councils etc to start building their homes, husbands have traveled and the dark depths of winter hit us all.

But here we are - Spring has sprung (thought NOT appreciating the frosts we are now having), it is a bit lighter at night for longer and the sewing love popped it's head up.

Steff contemplating her layout

Paula's gorgeous split nine patch

It was fantastic to see what everyone is working on. Sheryl was doing an amazing petal cushion from a pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew. Paula is doing the split nine patch. Steff is finishing her double hour glass quilt and Kylie was getting on with bunting. Oh I love evenings together, it has reinvigorated me and I want to get all my half done projects finished!!!

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The first quilt - piecing finished

A Month or so ago I started my Mother-in-law on her first ever quilt. Well I have not completed anything much since then and she has gone great guns and finished an entire quilt top for a single bed. Way to go. She is really enjoying quilting and I love the result. Another hooked quilter (I hope).

My fantastic father in law came and helped to fix a few things with the caravan today, thanks so much Warwick, you are awesome.

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My morning in the caravan

First camping trip since winter. Just popped to spencer park for the first weekend away.
Great morning, am still in bed, morris happy on my knee, Aaron made me a coffee, reading the last bit of the paper- bliss.