Look what the postman delivered----------------
Thanks to Angela for organising the pincushion swap, this is the gorgeous pincushion I received all the way from the USA, thanks heaps Angela, I love it and I look forward to making up the pattern that you sent me as well.
As yet I haven't heard if mine have arrived in the States, to Susan and Angela - do hope they arrive soon.

Guest Who's coming to Nundle in 2008

May 3rd 2008

Two off Australia's top designers will be right here in Nundle sharing their skills, expertise, knowledge and friendship.

A Girls Day in the Country will be held in the Nundle Memorial Hall, we will have room for up to 100 ladies, join us for a fun day enjoying two new projects, yummy food, lots of laughter, meeting new and old friends, sharing show and tell and best of all getting to know our two guest tutors.

Rosalie Quinlan & Leanne Beasley

Cost for the day hasn't been finalised as yet, bookings are now open, so if you would like to join us in Nundle for a fantastic day of stitching, please email me at kerry@cottageonthehill.com.au and I will send you further details.

I hate to wish the year away but I can't wait for May next year it should be such a fun day.
Kerry

I have been tagged
I have been tagged by the lovely Leanne at Leannes House - 8 random things about meme - thanks Leanne I have had to put my thinging cap on with this one.

RULES - Post rules before giving the facts - Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves - People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules - At the end of the your blog you need to tag eight people and list their names - Leave them a comment on their blog, telling them they have been tagged and not to forget to read your blog.

1 - I hate eating any foods such as Banana's or avocado's because of the texture of them, all slippery and slimey.

2 -I don't drink tea or coffee, never had and never will. An old lady, actually a friend of my Nanna's said to me when I was about 15, "isn't it time you learnt how to drink tea of coffee" so from that day on I have never. I drink lots of water.

3 - I love counting things, whether it be patchwork squares as I am cutting up a quilt, or picking up twigs to start the fire, I seem to always find myself counting, even if I know what the end number is going to be.

4 - When I hang the washing on the line I always hang larger items such as jeans, shirts etc on the line closest to the house so that anyone who comes can not see the underwear hanging on the line.

5 - My favourite city in the world is Queenstown in New Zealand, I have been there many times over the past 25 years

6 - I am a five star holiday maker - I love my luxury - I am not a camper

7 - When I was about 18 I could have had the chance to be a professional golf player - now I might have the odd game every now and then.

8 - I am an organised freak, I love to be the leader and the organiser - it works well running my own business not sure I could work for someone else.

Ok well that's 8 random things about me, now I have to tag 8 other lovely bloggers, here goes,

Sarah Leigh Peg Janelle Tina Karol-Ann Juliann Wendy

I look forward to reading 8 random things about all of you.

Have fun
Kerry

A Special Tuesday class - Happy Birthday Judy

Not just another Tuesday class today - this one was special , it is Judy's birthday at the end of the week so I made her a Birthday Cake which we shared for afternoon tea. Happy Birthday from us all, hope you have a lovely day.

The cake I made was a very easy but yummy Chocolate Brownie cake so I have decided to share the recipe with you all, 2 minutes preparation, 25 minutes cooking time.

200 grams of Self raising flour

200 grams of Castor sugar

pinch of salt

2 heaped tablespoons of Cocoa powder

5 tablespoons of sunflower oil

1 table spoon of malted vingear

1 teaspoon of Vanilla

240mls of cold water

In a bowl combine all ingredients and mix well with a spoon

Grease an 8 inch cake tin and pour mixture in, bake in a moderate oven for 25 minutes, cool in tin for about 10 minutes then turn out on to cake plate, when cool sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with cream.

Enjoy

Another group of happy customers

Well another weekend has passed with another wonderful group of ladies achieving so much,
as you can see from the photo they all did so well. 10 Quilt tops for 9 ladies.

In the front of the photo is Beulah, who is 84 years young, this was her first visit for a retreat and her first quilt, she did so well and her quilt, "Mary Mary" one of Janelle Winds older designs turned out great. Who said you are never too old to learn, I sure hope I can still make quilts at 84.

Flannels Flannels and chenille

All my 9 ladies on the weekend all worked with Flannels, the new ones were very well received by the group, with some wonderful quilt tops made by them all. To add a little texture 3 of them included chenille into their quilts which looked great. Once again a great weekend was had by all, Joy kept the fire stoked up as the cold change that was predicted arrived Saturday. This was there 6th year in a row to visit me and they are already looking forward until next year.

This is a photo of them all just as they were about to leave late Sunday. Quilts were already packed in the cars for the journey home.

Great to see you all again I look forward to your return.

Flannel Fabrics...........................................

How much do I love these fabrics, I usually stock heaps of flannels in the shop but this year there has been a shortage, until now.
Over the past week or so 3 new ranges have arrived in store, and today Judy unpacked this very nice range by Maywood called "Willowberry Winter" they are priced at $24.00 per metre and are just stunning. I have already orders for these so I know they will sell very fast. I will be making kits up in my very old "Flannel Heart Design" Quilt. The colours are just so rich, and the mixture of prints will work so well together.

Also in stock are "Primitive Courtyard" and "Winter Woollies". Those ladies in the flannel club, samples for Primitive Courtyard have been sent out this week, samples for the other two ranges will be sent with my August newsletter which should be out next week.

"Primitive Courtyard"

So if you have been waiting for flannels then they are here now.

Kerry

12 in the group and the middle one said !!!!!!!!!!

Another very successful retreat and a big thanks to Donna - Chookyblue , for her help with a few things on my blog.

Friday afternoon saw most of my ladies for the weekend arrive to choose their designs and fabrics, ChookyBlue and her friends invited me to dine with them which was very enjoyable.

Just on dark this awful storm rolled in - Gillian had requested snow for the weekend, no snow but a good hail storm.

This is a photo of the storm rolling around the hills to the south of the shop.

This photo is of one half of the group - Jennifer (Empire Bay), Tanya (Jerrys Plains) Jeanie (Warrnambool), Diana (Empire Bay), Doreen (Kincumber), Judy (Barrington) & Kate (Petersham)
The weekend was filled with lots of chatting, laughter and heaps of sewing, all 12 ladies acheived heaps in the two days, even Donna and Gillian, who only had one row made for the photos, but believe me they had all their blocks completed.
This photo is of Janet(Dubbo) Donna - Chookyblue, Gillian, (Coonamble) Bronywn (Dubbo) and Pam also from Coonamble.

All 12 quilts were looking great, I will be looking forward to seeing them all next year for show & tell.Full group shot - you can tell they all had a good time, look at those smiles on their faces.



Thanks for dropping by, hope you enjoy looking at all the wonderful creations created on the Hill.

Kerry

Pay it forward

I've joined the Pay it Forward challenge. I think it will be fun. I joined over at Donna's blog. She does beautiful work and I can't wait to receive something that she has made.............I love doing things for people and making gifts for my friends. The first three people to join me will receive a handmade gift from me. I have 365 days to make it and send. Hopefully it won't take me that long though.Then each of you three must also put this on your blog and get three people each to sign up. Then you make your three people a handmade gift. I think it sounds great. Hopefully three bloggers out there will want a handmade gift from me.All you have to do is put this fun challenge up on your blog and lets keep it going.So.........do I have three bloggers out there that would like a prezzie from me.............leave a comment but you had better be quick................

Gosh another week has gone by without a post

I really can't believe just how fast every day, every week, every month is flying by at the moment. Life around here is incredibly busy, last week we celebrated Sebastian 18th Birthday, we had a lovely dinner out with family and friends. I can still remember him as this cute little blonde hair boy. Talking of time flying the years have flown pass so quickly.

Then over the weekend (my only free weekend for weeks) I decided to paint all of my kitchen cupboards, which turned out to be a massive job, I will share a photo of them when i get the kitchen all back into order.

The shop has also been very busy with lots of lovely ladies popping in to purchase fabrics etc, I have just completed another 2 day retreat with a great bunch of ladies from the Hunter Valley and Sydney. Four of them were up for a challange and decided to try their hands at the Double Wedding Ring quilt, while Di & Susan put together all the blocks for "A Family Gathering" by Annie Downs and Jan made this gorgeous old world rose quilt. It was great to have you all join me for the 2 days, looking forward to seeing you all in Nundle again.

I was looking after a neigbours son for a couple of hours as well, Milo just had to join the ladies for the photo, once again smiles all around.Tomorrow I have another group of ladies arriving to spend the weekend with me, Donna - from Chookyblue -will be among this weekends group. So I am spending this evening cooking some yummy cakes and slices for there morning and afternoon teas, and also roasting a pumpkin to make Roasted Pumpkin soup for lunch on Saturday. Gillian has put out a request fro snow, but I don't really think it will, this last week has been considerably warmer.

After 5 weeks holidays Nicole returned to Bathurst to start her final semester of Uni down there, it's always great to have her home and sad to see her leave again. she was very happy last week when she received notice of her exams results, well done she passed everything last semester.

Oh well back to the kitchen for me, hope everyone has had a great week, thanks for dropping by.

Kerry

And the winners are...................
Sorry for keeping you all waiting, I haven't had time to blog this week, seems like a week away leaves me with 3 weeks work to do.

Anyway the 3 winners of my give away are from comments left on post dated 26th June

comment No 1 anonymous Gai

comment no 8 Leigh

comment no 18 Jewells

If these three ladies could please contact me with there postal details then I will pop their kits in the mail for them. Congratulations to you all, do hope you enjoy making up the projects that we worked on in the Chrissy in July retreat.

Here are the three projects that were made over the retreat, "Nundle Angel" by Rosalie Quinlan, this has been released as a pattern this week, it is also available as a kit.

She is so very cute - every house needs an Angel looking over it at Christmas time.

Here is "Just Hanging with Santa" by Natalie Ross, at the moment this is only available as a kit but the patterns are on there way. Natalie always comes up with a quirky project, isn't he adorable.

And Janelle Winds "Christmas Cheers Bag" this is also available as a kit and the patterns are on there way. Janelle pudding stitchery is just gorgeous and the bag is made to fit a bottle of wine or why not fill it with yummy chocolates.

I must get back to work, lots of kits to cut and orders to post out. Have a great weekend and thanks for dropping by.

For all those in the 365 challange I will be having another give away next week so keep and eye out.

Kerry

I am back - with so much news to share.
Quick run down on the last two weeks,
Sebastian and the rest of his NSWCHS Rugby League team had a very successful tour of Queensland with a win against QLD in a test match played in Mackay during the first week 18 - 12, then going onto win the Australian Championships in Townsville last Saturday, also against QLD 20 - 18. Well done boys.
Geoffrey, Nicole and I enjoyed some wonderful relaxing time in Queensland, it was great to leave this very cold weather for a short time. We spent 3 brilliant sunny days on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef for all those over seas visitors. Swam, snorkled, ate, sunbaked and just relaxed. That was of course in between footy matches.
But the big news over the last few days was my very successful Christmas in July 2 day retreat.
What a blast, I had 3 guess tutors, Janelle Wind, Rosalie Quinlan and Natalie Ross, they were all brilliant and so much fun, thanks girls for a huge effort, both with the wonderful projects and your very talented teaching skills. There were 24 wonderful students who all had a fantastic time, it was great to meet up with old friends and make new ones. I know every one was so happy with their finished projects, well done to you all.
The room was filled with so much fun and laughter it was a joy to be part of it all.

I will just post one quick group photo tonight and will show so more later.

Thanks for dropping by
Kerry
PS I have drawn the winners of my give away and will post them tomorrow - stayed tuned if you left a message about what you were up to for Black Friday

Far too busy to blog ---sorry ----Plus Chrissy in July Give Away

I just seem to be far too busy to blog at the moment, had another great retreat last weekend, this group of lovely ladies have been coming for quite some time, each year they make the trip up the New England Hwy to Nundle to spend the weekend with me. This year Tanya had her sister, Tracey, visiting all the way from Finland so she joined the group as well. We had a good weekend with some lovely quilts made as well as a few older ones finished off. Tracey, do hope you enjoyed yourself, and I am sure you will have many fond memories of the weekend when you snuggle up under you quilt back in Finland. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Other news, well the response from the article in Country Threads has been wonderful, lots of phone calls and emails, glad everyone is enjoying it. The kits for the Spinning Pin wheels Quilt which is featured it the magazine have been selling really well, we still have some in stock for anyone wishing to purchase one, its a great quilt for a man.

Thanks to all those who have commented on my article - all your comments are so lovely and encouraging.

The count down is on - There is only a little over two weeks to go until our annual Christmas in July retreat, this year there are over 20 ladies coming to spend 2 days with me in Nundle. This year I have organised 3 guess tutors, Janelle Wind, Natalie Ross and Rosalie Quinlan. Everyone is getting very excited, I have been very busy cooking to feed all of us. Because I am going to be away watching Sebastian play Rugby League up in North Queensland for the week prior I have to be totally organised before leaving, and believe it or not I am getting that way. For those coming the food is looking very yummy, I am sure you won't go home hungry.

For all those who can't be with us that weekend, if you make a comment on my blog between now and Friday 13th July I will put you in the draw to win one of 3 kits for the projects we will be making over that weekend.

Leave a comment and let me know what you will be up to on Friday 13th July and you will go in the draw to win.

Anyway back to the end of month book work, hope everyone is enjoying this cold wet winter we are having here in Australia, thanks for dropping by

Kerry

Has anyone seen this months "Australian Country Threads"

Well my exciting news is that I am in this months latest issue of Australian Country Threads Magazine.
I actually have 10 pages devoted to me, can you believe that. There are 6 pages show casing some of my original quilts as well as a profile and story on me, my life and my business. Then my "Spinning Pinwheels" quilt is a project for everyone to have a go at. The phone calls and emails enquiring about the quilts show cased and my business have been overwhelming in the last couple of days. It is a real thrill to have your name in print for all to see, and a great thrill to be recognised and appreciated by so many women.
This isn't my first project or my first profile in a magazine but it always feels great to see your work in print, please let me know if you make my quilt, I always love to see other peoples versions.
Oh and yes it was snowing when we woke this morning, just very lightly, it didn't really settle for very long. It could be around again in the morning by the feel of the freezing cold air tonight.
Winter is certainly here.
Happy sewing
Kerry
PS my Spinning Pinwheels quilt can be seen on my web site
www.cottageonthehill.com.au under quilt patterns if any one would like to look.

Just a short post - because my office is freezing

Well after about 10days of freezing weather it looks like it will keep up for a few more days, they are predicting snow for tonight, so maybe it will be white again in the morning.

This is a photo of last weekends group just as most of them were about to walk out the door, they headed back home to the central coast just after lunch, hoping to arrive home before dark as the weather down that way has been wild. Glad you all arrived home safely.

It is funny how both Denise and Siona decided to make my very old but very popular Flannel Heart Quilt ( both did it in Cottons) and 4 others all made my Stars & Stripes quilt which is also an older quilt.They all looked great, do hope you all had a great weekend, I am looking forward to seeing the video, I am sure there were lots of laughs on it.

A big thank you to lorraine for organising all your ladies again and I look forward to seeing you all again next year.

I am off to bed to snuggle up under my flannel quilts, I will share some pretty exciting news tomorrow, stay tuned.

Kerry

A Day to remember - thanks to my wonderful friends

Today started out with an extra early trip to Tamworth, leaving home before 6.30am to drop off a load of wood and drop Sebastian back to school after their leave weekend. Nicole headed back to Bathurst to Uni this morning also, only a couple of weeks and she will be home again for holidays.

On my return from Tamworth my Tuesday ladies were just arriving, apparently they had been planning today for a few weeks and to my surprise they supplied a very yummy lunch with a special Birthday Cake just for me. But to top it all off they had all got together and made me a very special present. They made me this quilt for my birthday (which is actually tomorrow). I was so over the moon with the quilt, the thought of them all sewing it especially for me bought tears to my eyes. I had good intentions of one day making it myself but they all beat me to it. Thanks Heaps girls it is gorgeous and I will always treasure it, I think I have found the right place to hang it.

I LOVE it Thanks

Oh my Gosh - what an exicting day -- I Love Snow

On waking this morning at 6.45am, we looked out the window to see if the rain had stopped to see everything covered with white wonderful snow. Yesterdays temperature didn't get over 6 degree, so we thought it may have snowed up on the mountain, but no it snowed here at home as well, this is the first snow fall in 23 years that has settled here at home.

At 6.45 am I ran around and got everyone up out of bed to have a look, because I just love snow, Geoffrey and Nicole went back to bed, but Ali, Sebastian, Rachel and i went off exploring the country side to see how heavy it was around.

We couldn't get up to our other property which is just 10minutes up the road, the snow up there was about 6 to 8" deep around the house, so it would have been much heavier up into the hills.

We stopped on the side of the road just 5 minutes from home and made this Snowman and had a good snow fight, what fun at 7.30am on a cold snowy morning.

This is a photo of a paddock just up the road from home.

There have been hundreds of cars passing by today all heading up to the snow, for those who don't live around here, snow doesn't fall very often around this area so when it does, people drive a long way to have a look and a play.

The weather has just closed in again, so maybe we are in for some more snow tonight.

Sebastian and Ali - Debutant Ball

Just a couple of photos to share with you all of Sebastian & Ali last Friday night when he partnered her for her debut.

She looked gorgeous in a simple satin dress with a cross over wrap of chiffon across the bodest.

The guys all looked very grown up in there black dinner suits.

I can not believe my little boy is only one month of 18, gosh the years fly. For those with younger children make the most of every minute with them because you blink and they are all grown up.

On another note, my thoughts and prays go out to all the families and friends who have any connection with the Kerang Train crash, what a awful thing to happen, it sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it. Do hope none of my blogging friends are directly invloved.

Until I post again, stay safe and hold your loved ones close to your heart.

Kerry

Sunday evening, another week over

Hi there just a short post, great retreat this weekend, we all laughed heaps, I am not sure how long it will take for Nundle to recover from these wonderful women, LOL. Sorry I didn't mean that Jenny. Everyone had a great weekend, all their quilts were looking fantastic, I do hope everyone was happy with their quilts. This is a photo of them all except Ingrid who left earlier. The fire had actually gone out by this stage in the afternoon, but we did need it on earlier, as we had a storm go through mid morning, then it turned cold this afternoon.

This group of ladies always amaze me, as in the group there is June and her 4 daughter, I just think that is terrific to think that Mum and 4 daughters enjoy each others company enough to go away sewing for a weekend together, look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Hope everyone has had a good weekend, I will pop back tomorrow and post some photo's of the Ball on Friday night.

Kerry

Just Quickly......................

Cold morning here in my office, a small frost outside so I will try and make it quick so my fingers don't get too cold.

Good week so far, I have managed to sqeeze in a little sewing, finished my blocks for 1 paper bag quilt and presently working on another, just have a little stitchery to do for that then I can pass it on.

During the week I have re-written all of my 365 challange quilt as I wasn't happy with the pen I was using, I managed to find this new pen last week while visiting Janelle. Very Happy with it.

I put the borders on a new shop sample last night as well and stitched together my 365 challange quilt, I am doing mine in weeks with small borders around each, it is 2m long and will probably end up about 2.8 to 3m wide. I am using fabrics that have been used in the shop during that week to make all my borders.

This is a close up of part of the quilt, I don't really have plans it will just grow week by week.

Must run fingers are starting to get chilly.

Have a great weekend

Kerry

PS Sebastian is partnering Ali this evening in Tamworth as she makes her debut. Will try and take some good photo's to share.