What a wonderful Day

Can't believe it is over a week since I last posted, what a busy week it has been.
Last Monday I left home very early with a 3 hour drive in front of me, and headed for Taree to be part of a Jinny Beyer workshop for the day, I enjoyed the day immensly and learnt lots from the very talented Jinny. Instead of driving home that night I decided to drive onto Tuncurry and spend the night with my Mum & Dad, it was a very nice evening and wonderful to catch up with them and their stories of their 6 week trip up into Queensland.
Tuesday morning I rose early again and drove home ready for our weekly Tuesday group of ladies, then Wenesday & Thursday I had a two day retreat as well as Saturday & Sunday. Can't believe how fast the year is flying by I think there are only 6 more retreats left for the year, which is very scarry. Sorry there are no photos of these 2 groups, slack photographer, LOL (Me)




On Saturday morning I was very lucky to have a gentlemen caller bring me this gorgeous bunch of fresh flowers ( He is actually an elderly man who lives near by and every year about this time, brings me beautiful flowers from his garden) There are stocks, Iris' and stunning Tulips.



Then today - Monday - it is surpose to be my day off but very rarely do I do anything that doesn't envolve work, so today Judy and I went for a drive to visit a friend Donna who lives about 20minutes away, we spent a couple of lovely hours in her garden just talking and catching up. It was so nice.
Then this afternoon Sebastian and I decided to go up to Hanging Rock to Sheba Dams fishing, what a wonderful way to spend a spring afternoon. We set a few lines and sat back relaxing and taking in the peaceful surrounds, I couldn't believe how wonderful the afternoon turned out, sitting by the dam, with not a care in the world, with the sun fading behind the tall Gum trees watching the reflections of the flowering wattle trees grow longer across the dam. It really was a magical place to spend the afternoon and all only 10 minutes drive from home. We did end up catching one yummy Trout which just topped off a magical day.
I just love this time of year, all the new shoots appearing around the garden, flowers ready to bloom and being woken up each morning before dawn by the birds singing outside our bedroom window. How lucky I am to live where I do.
Anyway back to work tomorrow, until next time, thanks for dropping by and catching up with our news from the Hill.
Kerry

So.............Cold

What a freezing cold change that blew in yesterday afternoon, I knew winter wasn't over yet.
It was a great day to be inside sewing so thats exactly what my retreat did all weekend, I had 11 wonderful ladies with me for the two days and they all made gorgeous quilts. Here is photo of them, Kim is actually snuggled up in her "So Pink" quilt, it wasn't quite that cold inside. Thanks Kim for keeping the wood on the fire, we certainly needed it.
Hope you all have a great week, I am worn out after a late night at the Farrer Ball in Tamworth last night so I am heading to bed. Off to Taree early in the morning for a day workshop with Jinny Beyer from America, looking forward to it.
Kerry

Welcome to my first online tutorial

Stitchery Roll

Welcome to my first online tutorial, I have been teaching patchwork and other handy crafts for 17 years but this is a first. Hope you all enjoy the class, feel free to down load it and complete at any time. If you make a stitchery roll please email me with a photo and you can go into the draw to win a fabric pack from the shop, email address is kerry@cottageonthehill.com.au. If you can't send a photo just let me know, competition will be drawn on the 8th October.
A Stitchery Roll is used to store your work in progress - it may be a stitchery block, and applique block or some other form of embroidery or patchwork, simply release the bow and unroll.
From start to finish it should only take maybe 2 hours.
Fabric requirements - 1 x card board roll - mine is from a cling wrap roll. 40cm of Pellon, Main Fabric & Lining, 40cm coordinating braid, 60cm matching ribbon, hot glue gun (or craft glue), cardborad scraps and matching sewing thread and needle and a sewing machine.
My roll measures 13" adjust all measurements to fit your roll. I have added 3/4" seam allowance just a little extra to allowance.
Cut - main fabric, lining and pellon to 13 3/4" long x 20" wide.
Sew the braid onto the right side of the main fabric, along the shorter side approx. 1 1/2" in from on edge. You can use any type of braid, ric rac etc. Fold the ribbon in half, place the folded edge onto the centre of the same side, sew.














Iron the pellon on to the wrong side of the lining fabric, place the lining fabric and main fabric right sides together, pin and sew using 1/4" seam allowance around all 4 sides leaving an opening on the opposite side to the braid. Clip across the corners.









Turn through the opening, press well and slip stitch the opening closed.
From now on I will refer to this as the pad.
Quilt the body of the pad as desired, I have machine quilted diagonal lines 2 1/2" apart across the pad. Just lenghten your machine stitch to about 3 for quilting.











Now we are up to using the glue, Cut 2 circles, the same size as the ends of the roll, from the cardboard scraps. Cut pellon the same size and glue onto one side of the card, cut the main or the lining fabric a little larger then the circle and glue the fabric onto the top of the pellon.


Run a row of glue onto the back side of the card and glue excess fabric down.

Run glue around the ends of the roll and glue the circles onto each end.







Cover the roll with the pad, lining side against the roll. I have placed a few spots of glue to hold the pad in place.








Using a double thread slip stitch the end of the pad onto the body of the pad, pulling it firmly around the roll. Once stitched in place slip stitch the pad to the end circles just to secure the whole thing.



You should now have your stitchery roll finished and ready to use.
Thanks for joining me, the next tutorial will be a new Table Runner design I have been working on and will be post it in a few weeks time.

Have a great day
Kerry

This weekend Off

I am looking forward to having this weekend off, no retreat this weekend so hopefully I 'll find time to sit and sew myself and catch up with a few things, like maybe some gardening.
Slack me didn't take a group photo of last weekends class, they were a great bunch of ladies, 11 in total. You no who you all are so thanks for visiting, look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Your quilts all looked fabulous.
Tuesday class made table runners this week, I did manage to sit and sew for an hour or so and came up with this table runner, it just needs quilting and binding. I also managed to cut out another so it might get made on the weekend. These fabrics are out of my Debbie Mumm stash, old ones but great fabrics. This should look great on the farm yard style table in my sunroom.














I have also just completed another 2 day retreat, no photo sorry. Slack me. A small but fun group, their quilts looked fantastic as usual, well done Karen who managed to make 2 quilt tops in two days.
Family news
Geoffrey and Sebastian have been very busy in the shearing shed this week, 2000 sheep down just 1200 to go.
Tim the builder has been on the job all week working on Sebastian's new room, it is coming along really well, he won't know himself having his own space.
Starting next week I will be posting on my blog a few online tuitorials, feel free to make the small projects, but please let me know how you get on. The first project will be a stitchery roll.
Until next time we meet. Stay safe and well, thanks for dropping by.
Kerry

The end of another big week - how blessed I am

I can't believe another week is over, the weather has been so wonderful this week, surely winter isn't over yet. Even tonight it is so mid, hopefully maybe some rain is on the way.
Wednesday and Thursday saw another retreat with a lovely group of ladies from Sydney, some of them have been visiting me for the past 3 years and a very warm welcome to the new comers, it was very nice to have you all with me. Do hope you are all happy with the wonderful quilts you all made, look forward to seeing them completed.
That Antique Flower Range has certainly been popular lately, they all look great. This is a photo of the group before they finished up yesterday afternoon. Well done to each and everyone of them, I love the hexagons.
Each and every day when I walk into my shop, even on those days when I am totally worn out like today, I am reminded what a wonderful job I have and how lucky and blessed I am to have the opportunity to work in such an industry. I feel so lucky to share my knowledge and skills with so many women, to be able to encourage them to acheive and create wonderful heirlooms, to give them the chance to come and spend a couple of days in the country with me. I can honestly say I love every minute of it. The ladies I ve met and the friendships I ve sewn have all made me a better person. I offen wonder how my life would be if not for the "Cottage on the Hill". Thank you to each and everyone who has touched my life, I truly am grateful.
Enough of that, I ve just finished cooking for my new group of 12 ladies who will be with me over the weekend, so better find my way to bed. Have a great weekend, take care.
Kerry

Photo of my last group

Kathy, that border looks great!!!!

Jo, Denise, Susan, Cathy ( hiding behind her quilt) and Melissa

What A Beautiful Monday

Just a quick post, hope your weekend was as good as mine, I just had a small retreat of 6 ladies, 5 regulars from Sydney plus Melissa a new kindred spirit from Glen Innes. Once again all the ladies made some gorgeous quilts, I did remember to take a group photo about lunch time on Sunday, quilt tops not completed but at least I have record that they were here.
Oh well it seems Blogger wont upload my photo, will try later.
I am truly loving the gorgeous sunny days at the moment, pity it won't rain.
Bye
Kerry

Very Late,

Just a very short post tonight, I should have done this last Monday but the week has just flown past. Last weekend I had a regular group that visit me each August from Narromine. They arrived Friday and left Nundle on Monday morning and I am sure they all had a great weekend. Each one worked on their own new quilt top, some like Peg even started on her second quilt top, while Kerry totally completed her quilt, she even found time on Sunday to sit out side in the sunshine and hand stitch the binding down, well done Kerry.
Once again I was so busy cutting for everyone that I forgot to take a group photo, I did manage to pursade Dale to bring her quilt top back into the shop on Monday morning so I could get a photo. Here is Dale's version of English Rose, made out of the Antique Flower range currently in the shop.

Glad you all had a safe trip home, look forward to catching up with you all soon, hopefully before next August.

Tuesday saw us celebrate Judy's birthday with a yummy choc chip cake (recipe is in my book - Blackberry Jam & Cream) , we all had a very enjoyable day sewing,

Tuesday group will be making a table runner on 29/8/2006 if anyone else would like to join us. Fran, Wendy, Leanne, Narelle, Maryanne & Helen all joined in to sing Happy Birthday to Judy

Thats about all for this week,
will try and fill you all in on some more thats going on here next week, until then stay safe.
Kerry

Ps The Farrer Football team lost this week in the Universary Shield, bad luck Boys, well played for the season.

Hi, another frosty morning here in Nundle

August has certainly kept up to it's reputation with cold south west winds, they must have stopped during the night cause this morning there is a big white jacki frost. Hopefully a nice day will follow.
I had another lovely group of ladies over the weekend, a regular group that join me from the Central Coast and Narrabri each year, they all went home with beautiful quilt tops completed, or well on there way. Once again I forgot to take a group photo, must start taking them on Saturday before the Sunday afternoon rush. No doubt some of them will email me photo's of their quilts once they are finished. Thanks Emilie, Min, Lynn, Gloria, Bev, Gay, Joyce, Jackie, Joy, Pam and Carol for spending your weekend with me, do hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as previous years, would love to see your video's some day.
Looking forward to seeing you all again in 12 months time.
I keep forgetting to let everyone know the winner of the Quilt Raffle I was running in store. Sebastian drew it over the Chrissy in July weekend and the winner was Leanne Medcalf from Dubbo, this is a photo of Leanne with the quilt she was very excited to win, I know it has gone to a good home and that we raised some money to go towards expenses for the Fordham family, who are coping with Cancer treatment on their 14 year old son. Congradulations Leanne.

Until next time, thanks for dropping by

Kerry

MY Treat

Yesterday, Geoffrey and I flew to Sydney to go to the Opening night of "The Boy from Oz", my special treat to both of us for this quarter of the year.
I managed to get tickets ages ago, so I was very excited when I realised on Wednesday that it was the opening night we were going to.
After arriving in Sydney, Geoffrey and I enjoyed a lovely lunch at Cockle Bay over looking the marina at Darling Harbour, then spent sometime shopping in Myer before meeting Vicki, who was joining for the night.
Wow the show was so fantastic, Hugh Jackman was brilliant, he is so gorgeous and played Peter Allen so well, the rest of the cast were also brilliant, I could go again tonight. Just LOVED it.
If you were thinking of going do make the effort, I noticed today there are still tickets available in September through Ticket Master.
Anyway better jump off this computer, have another retreat starting at 9am tomorrow, better finish off preparing food for them for the weekend.
Hope everyone has a great weekend
Kerry

Monday {my day off} LOL

The last week has been extremely hectic here on the hill, I haven't found any time to sit with my machine and sew or anything else very personal, but I did have 12 very lovely ladies here for the weekend. Forgot to take my camera out to the shop so once again no group photo. There were two groups, Gillian,Donna,Bev,Bronwyn,Janet and Fiona who joined me from Coonamble/Dubbo and also Jeannie, Dianna, Jenny, Ma, Tanya and Louise from the Hunter Valley/Central coast. They all had a great weekend and bonded well together they made lots of wonderful creations/heirlooms. Donna's version of English Rose, in all greens and blues looked great, and I can't wait to see Jenny's {1st quilt} version of Floral Bouquet, it was looking fantastic in the rich burgundy/greens. Also there were 3 completely different quilts made using my So Pink pattern, I am sure the 3 ladies are very pleased with them. Looking forward to seeing everyones finished quilts on your return next year. Thanks for a fun weekend, do hope you all enjoyed it.

This is the fabric Jenny used in the Floral Bouquet Quilt.















Also a big thank you to Janelle who kindly said she would work all the stitcheries on the Polka Dot Girl quilt which we are running as a block of the month, {not sure she realised just how much work is involved} but I do really appreciate it. This is block 4 which Janelle has completed the embroidery. So looking forward to seeing them all finished. There are still available places in this block of the month.


Anyway better get a little more book work done, can you believe it's the last day of July already, it feels like those cold August winds are right on time.

The Farrer 1st are off to Sydney to play down at Campbelltown Stadium tomorrow night, Good luck boys. Play hard Sebastian.

A win to the Farrer 1st 13

Just a short post to say how proud I am of all the boys ( especially Sebastian) in the Farrer First 13's, they won there match today in the Arrive Alive Cup 24/16, it was a very hard match, Sebastian scored the first try for the home team and ended up flat on his back after a head high tackle just before full time. He is OK ,( I hope)
They will be off to Sydney probably for the next match which will be a quarter final match in the next week or so.
Well done the Green and Gold.

Just a quick note if any one is waiting on chenille there should be a large shipment arriving next week, in lots of colours, along with matching pom poms and ric racs.
I have heaps of ideas for these, just need some time to sew.

good night
Kerry

More Santa's

My weekly Tuesday class continued the Chrissy in July theme today and made another very cute Santa, he is dressed in Red Chenille with red Pom Poms around his waist and the bottom of his pants. Ros managed to complete hers, Narelle, Judy and Vicki weren't too far behind.

The pattern is one of Rosalie Quinlins and I have made up kits that are avaiable in the shop.

Both Maryanne and Helen were busy stitching away on block one of the Polka Dot Girls - block of the month quilt. They are looking great.

Talking of Christmas the lastest Christmas range of fabrics by Nancy Halvorsten have arrived in store , they are call Peppermint & Hollyberries and are just gorgeous, the book by the same name will be in soon. I am just loving working on some Christmas projects, its always nice to have new decorations for the festive season. (Which will come around very soon)

Do hope all the Gunnedah ladies enjoyed their day in Nundle yesterday, have fun making up all your quilts, also hope your Chrissy in July went off well today.

Off to watch Sebastian and the Farrer first 13's play league tomorrow - go the green and gold.

Until we meet again, happy sewing
Kerry

Chrissy in July

Well each year I organise a Chrissy in July workshop which has proved to be heaps of fun and this year was no exception. After lots of preparation all the kits were cut, food was ready and I was so looking forward to catching up with all the ladies for a gret weekend.
Classes started Friday evening with everyone sitting around the tables hand stitching a couple of felt Christmas decorations, catching up on the last 12 months news and sharing lots of fun and laughter.

These are the decorations we made









Saturday I rose early to start the pot belly fire in the shop (barn), the weather was very cold and wet great for sewing. I was teaching today and the ladies all made these very gorgeous 2 foot tall santa's. With lots of jokes and laughter the barn was filled with a wonderful atmosphere, a dozen kindred spirits enjoying each others company and making these Santa's as a bonus.







Eleven Santa's all in a row- Oh Oh Oh








Saturday evening we cleared the sewing away and set the tables up to seat 18 around, decorated with real holly and novel chrissy place mats. Christmas dinner was prepared by my darling daughter Nicole, we had roast turkey, yummy marinated ham, lots of vegetables and to finish up mini sticky date puddings with caramel sauce.

Yum Yum, Nicole certainly worked hard in the kitchen all day, well done.
The evening was very enjoyable, Janelles family as well as mine joined us all for dinner which made the evening very special. We all participated in a secret Santa swap as well as show and tell.

Sunday saw a little brighter day weather wise, Janelle was teaching today and she had designed a Table Runner just for the weekend, all the ladies enjoyed making this and learning a few new tricks along the way, well done to everyone, you all acheived so much in the two days.
I didn't find time to sew on Sunday but after everyone left I sat down with Leanne by my side and stitched the table runner together in no time, just have to finish off the applique.
Janelle with her table runner - Janelle has also posted photo's of the weekend on her Blog

What a great weekend for all involved, the friendships made are ones we will all cherish, looking forward to seeing everyone back next year, I certainly won't be packing my new christmas goodies away, they will be on display from now until Christmas.

Thanks for dropping by, until next time have a great weekend

Kerry

Just a very quick post

Well I am pleased to say I completed cutting block ones of the new block of the month, "Polka Dot Girls" today they will be in the post tomorrow for all those ladies eagerly awaiting there arrival. Have fun with the stitcheries they are so cute, I love Bronwyns designs.
I have just completed another online scrap booking class and this is the lay out - tonights topic was "Whats in a name" once again I worked with a photo of Nicole, when she was 4 years old, she is nearly 21.
How time flys, I have another retreat this weekend so will try and remember to take a photo or two of this group.
Bye for now
Kerry

Life has been Hectic on the Hill

Hi everyone,
I just haven't found time to sit down and enter a post here laterly. The shop has kept me very busy, this is always my busy period now until the end of September, will really keep me hopping. I haven't had time to do much sewing, too busy cutting block of the months, cutting up orders and running retreats. But I can't complain I love it.
Sorry to my last retreat I forgot to take a photo of the ladies to post here, all there quilts looked great and they all returned home very happy.

Last Thursday was my mothers 70th Birthday, after the big party we had for her and Dad for their 50th wedding anniversary in April, Mum didn't want a party so Nicole, Sebastian and I slipped over to the coast to surprise her the afternoon before. We had a very enjoyable over night visit, eating out at a great restaurant over looking the lake at Forster. Mum was so happy that we surprised her, its only 3 & 1/2 hours drive from here so well worth the effort.

Nicole is home on 4 weeks uni holidays, Sebastian has 2 weeks off school. I love having them around, Nicole is a great help around the house and Sebastian always works hard with his father. Although this week he is down training with the Sharks at Cronulla.

Yesterday I took an extra long lunch break and did an online scrap booking class with Kim Archer, this is a picture of the layout I completed in the class, I am very happy with it, the photo was taken in January 1989, Nicole was only 4 years old. She is the one in Pink.
Hope you like it.

Anyway until I manage to post again, thanks for dropping bye
Kerry

Busy weekend on the Hill

Yes, well my weekend has been spent with another dozen wonderful ladies from the Newcastle area . This group just make me very jealous when I see them together. As there is a Mum and 4 of her daughters in the group, that come away each year for the weekend together, how incredible, to think that they all want toquilt together, and enjoy each others company for a whole weekend. The family bond is still very much alive in June's family and they are all characters. Not to forget the rest of the group, they are all lovely ladies as well. Everyone had their heads down and tails up, with lots of laughs in between,but also managed to create 12 wonderful quilt tops, I am sure all the lucky family members who receive them will cherish them greatly. Lots of ladies laterly are incorporating the wonderfully textured chenille into their quilts, certainly brings back mememories for lots ( chenille dressing gowns), they look great.
Thanks ladies for returning to the Cottage on the Hill, look forward to seeing you all again next year.
I am off to the printers for another check on my Book tomorrow, can't wait to share it with everyone.
Until I find time to edit this blog again, keep safe and thanks for dropping by.
Kerry

PS Happy Birthday Vicki catch you Tuesday

What a wonderful day

Well today is my birthday and what a great day I have had, lots of special phone calls from friends and family, I always feel so special when they all remember my birthday. Its that one day each year that is special. I love celebrating my birthday and today is one I will always remember.




Tuesday is always class day in the shop and today was wonderful, thanks so very much to all my terrific friends who came along and shared the day with me, we had lots of laughs, plenty of yummy food and there was also some sewing acheived. Thanks for all the speical pressies, I am so spoilt, love them all.
Emily made a yummy chocolate cake and Judy made cute patty cakes, there was even one with a K in the middle especially for me, they put candles on both so I had two birthday cakes. Not sure if you can notice, but we didn't have a knife so I pretented to cut them with - well what better tool then a rotary cutter.
My darling husband and children gave me a voucher to the beautians and hairdressers - looks like they think I need a make over now that I am half way between 40 and 50. Thanks heaps Nicole and Sebastian for organising your father.

Here we all are - Marilyn,Maryanne, Ros (hiding) Emily, Myself, Judy, Helen and Vicki and Eileen took the photo

Then this evening we had friends up for dinner, it is also Harvey's birthday today so thanks Joy and Harvey for spending the evening with us.



Over the weekend in between customers I managed to sew together all of the blocks for the new Polka Dot Girl quilt that I am running as a block of the month through the shop, this is a rough photo of the blocks layed out. I am very happy with the way it has all come together and yes I will try and cut up Block one this week so all you eager sewers can get busy. The cream looking blocks all have stitcheries on them.
Once again thanks heaps to everyone who made my birthday so special, and thanks for popping by and taking the time to read my blog.

Have a great week

Kerry

Great Win (go the green and gold)

Just a very quick post, this morning Geoffrey and I were up before the sun and headed south to Gosford to watch the Farrer First 13, play St Ewards Gosford in the inter region clash of the Arrive Alive Cup. It was actually raining during the game which took a little for the boys to adjust too, they played great football and were the better team on the day. They won 18/10. Well done team we are proud of you all. Looking forward to the next match where ever it may be.
On the way home we called to visit Janelle for a short while, it was great to catch up with her, looking forward to our next meeting.
Have a great week .
Hope you all find a special moment to do something just for you.
Kerry

The end of a huge week - but a fun week

Well its Sunday evening and the last of my retreats are over for a couple of weeks, it's been a very busy week with 3 two day retreats in 9 days but very rewarding. Hope everyone had a great weekend, it was my pleasure to have your company, there was lots of happy chatter whilst everyone had their heads down trying to acheive as much as possible in the two days. I have posted 2 photos of this weekends group, there were 12 ladies so couldn't fit them all into one photo. Do hope you all had a safe trip home, once again to Lorraine thanks for coming back to visit and bringing all your lovely friends with you, and a special mention to Helen, it was so good to see you looking so terrific after the horrible year you have had. Do hope those of you that were working on my new design using the Antique Floral range are happy with the finished quilt. I will post a photo as soon as I actually finish my quilt.















The weather has been freezing here, but everyone I speak to on the phone tells me the same, so where ever you may be, keep warm, happy sewing and thanks for popping by.
Kerry