What a blessing - Rain glorious rain
We woke on Friday morning to the sound of rain on the roof, what a wonderful sound, those of you that live else where might find it hard that we here in the Australian inland get so excited about rain, but we have been in drought for 6 years so when it rains all day and then all of that night, it puts smiles on our faces. We were very lucky and have had over 2" in the past couple of days. Do hope you have had some where ever you may be.
I took this photo of one of my Claret Ash trees yesterday morning, the rain had helped it to loose it's leaves, they looked so nice sitting on the table and chairs that I just had to take a photo. I love this time of the year when all the leaves are turning, the mornings and evenings are cooling down. Winter won't be too far away.This weekend was one of only a hand full over the next 5 months that I didn't have a retreat on. I was still working in the shop but at a slower pace then usual. Last night while watching the footy on the TV, I sat on the lounge and cut out 64 - 6" basket blocks for a quilt I have had the pattern for nearly 10 years. I was using my new round cutting mat that was fantastic, it made the job so much easier. Here is a photo of the pile of blocks with a couple completed. I will keep you posted on my progress.

A few other interesting things that have been going on in our lives - Sebastian was Captain of the Farrer first 13's for their Arrive Alive Cup match which they won on Friday, he scored 2 tries and topped the tackle count. Nicole washed down her first Corpse while doing work placement in a Sydney Hospital on Friday. Today Sebastian, Ali, Geoffrey and I ate out for lunch at the Jenkins St guest house, it was truly yummy.

For all those ladies waiting by the letter box for there first block for "Girls Day Out", hopefully I will cut them and have them in the mail this week. I will try and show you a preview of my block one soon. If anyone is interested in doing this gorgeous Block of the Month quilt, there are still places available.

Until my next post, thanks for dropping by and putting up with my ramble.

Kerry

ANZAC Day in Australia & New Zealand

Today we as Australians remember those men & women who fought to keep our nation a free country. Sebastian was marching with his school in the parade in Tamworth so Geoffrey and I changed our yearly rountine and headed into Tamworth to join in the service. Hundred of people marched while thousands lined the main street to remember those war veterans who gave their lives to make our country a better place to live. It really is a day that makes in proud to be an Australian.

As I mentioned yesterday I did find sometime to fiddle around, just for myself, I made this ribbon box and nearly completed a scrapbooking layout. I also decorated a couple of tea towels and made a very cute draw string bag. I will pop the last 2 items away in my gift draw ready for someones birthday. I also tidied up my scrapbooking area, it looks all very neat and tidy now.

So all in all I had a very enjoyable day.

Kerry

I am an extremely slack blogger------please forgive me.

Well since my last posting 2 whole weeks ago, lots has been going on in my life, just not enough time to sit and blog.

After getting the store back into order after the Easter festival, Geoffrey and I along with our very close friends Tanya & Gary headed up to the Gold Coast for a very well earnt few days.

It was just so nice to get away from work, and the drought and be surrounded in great company, the sound of the surf rolling onto the shore, eating our for every meal, sitting back and relaxing and playing the tourist.

We swam in the surf each morning before breakfast, hits the shops, went to the RM Williams Australian Outback Spectacular, Sea World, where I fell in love the with Polar Bear, caught up with friends, Hi Phil & Tracy and believe it or not, Tanya and I spent a few hours at the Stitches and Craft show that just happened....... to be on up there the same weekend.

This photo is of the view I had each morning as I lay in bed, I could see the waves rolling into the beach just 100m away. I really enjoyed falling asleep with the sound of the ocean each night. A change to the silence home here on the farm.

After 5 nights away it was back home and back to reality.

There was no rain while we were away so the country side has dryed off a little more and the water storage dropped even further, not sure the men were happy to return.

Last weekend saw another of my retreats with a lovely group of ladies that join me each year about now. 3 of them were game enough to work on a new quilt project, I have pictured Wanda and Margaret with their versions, two totally different quilts, just by using very different fabrics.

Also here is a group photo of them all, part way through Sunday afternoon. Pam was the expert machine appliquer, looking forward to seeing your Angel quilt finished.

Its a Public holiday here tomorrow, ANZAC Day , I have plans of locking myself inside and trying to complete some small porjects, I will post some photos tomorrow night if my day pans out as planned.

Thanks for dropping by

Kerry

It's all over for another year.......................

After lots of preparation and anticipation, Nundle's annual Go for Gold Chinese Easter Festival was once again a huge success. It may seem like a strange combination, but Nundle was settled as a gold mining town with lots of chinese working the gold fields, so that is the theme of our annual festival.

The streets come alive with lots of market stalls, there is gold panning for those wishing to try there luck at finding some gold, live music around the village, lots of asian influenced food, a village quilt hanging and some wonderful chinese street preformances.

Because of road closures in the village I move alot of the shop into the school for the 2 days of the festival, thanks to all those who called into say hello, do hope you enjoyed your visit to Nundle. I always organise a village quilt hanging and with the wonderful response from students I had more then enough quilts for the hanging this year so I decided to display alot of them in a class room in the school. This worked really well and was heaps easier then having to hang them all around town. There were about 20 quilts hanging in various places around the village, which adds great colour to the festival. A big thank you to everyone who lent me quilts for the weekend, we had many wonderful comments from the public on just how terrific they looked.

This is a photo of some hanging off the art gallery balcony.I spent most of today trying to put the shop back into some type of order, a spring clean was needed so things look nice a fresh in there now.

A big thank you to Vicki, Kirsten, Judy and Emily for all there help over the weekend, I couldn't have managed without you all.

Hope everyone had a happy Easter.

Kerry

Yummy Yummy Chocolate Chenille!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you do, when the cats away the mouse will play - Monday evening after I cooked myself a very enjoyable meal, Geoffrey was at a meeting, so I decided to head out to the shop and cut up a new flannel quilt with the flannels that arrived in store on Thursday last week. Using 14 fat 1/4's I had them cut into squares and rectangles in no time, then back to the dining room table to sit and sew while I listened to the footy. In a couple of hours I had the quilt top nearly pieced together. Then last night I sewed on the borders using the very yummy new chocolate chenille. Lots of ladies have been using the chenilles laterly. Judy packed kits today so tonight I have typed up and printed off the instructions, so my new flannel quilt "Rum & Raisin" is ready for sale, ready for the festival this weekend. I will have it quilted next week.

It's a great size just under 2m square, so would make a great throw quilt for the hubby or the teenage kids. I so enjoyed sewing this quilt, I just love working with flannels.

Here is a photo of the quilt.

Only 3 sleeps to go until Nundles Annual Easter Chinese go for Gold Festival. More about it tomorrow.

Until then sleep tight.

Kerry

I am Buggered but loving every minute of my life

It's past my bed time, but I just had to post this photo, just to prove that I wasn't slack this weekend and did take a photo of my lovely group for this weekend. A couple had already left but here we have Sonia, Mary, Liz, Kim, Leanne, Bonita and Carnie with their quilts that they made over the past two days, well done ladies they all looked great. Do hope you all had safe trips home and thanks for spending the weekend with me. I thrive on seeing you all achieve, every quilt that is made here gives me inspiration, I keep saying it but I truly am blessed to be doing what I do.

I remember saying to a friend back about 20 years ago, how my dream would be to own my own Patchwork shop, how very lucky I am to be living my dream.

Good night, stay safe

Kerry