Small towns are great places to live !!!!!!!!!

After a very busy day cooking for my weekend retreat, cutting lots of orders and generally being run off my feet, Geoffrey and I slipped over to Wallabadbah, just 1/2 hour from home, for an evening at the local Pub. Vicki who is part of the local team entered in the up coming Relay for Life invited us over there to join in with their fund raiser, they were raising money for Cancer. It was a good night , with great music, yummy food and good company, small communties really know how to entertain. I wish I had have taken my camera, a local identity raised over $1000 to shave off his beard, which he has had for 33 years, his children had never seen him without it, so as the crowd sang "Click Goes the Shears" the local hairdresser shaved it off . The night raised over $2000 which will go towards there team effort for the relay, well done to all involved.

My photo today is off 8 books that have arrived in the post over the last couple of weeks, Thanks Leanne for those little words of advise, (just buy the lot), so I did. I have read some of the Elm Creek Quilt books, borrowed from the local library, but now I have my own, they will find pride and place on a shelf or a dresser somewhere in my home, and I will read them all again. If anyone hasn't read them they are great reading.

Thursday - lots of little cabins


Today I spent in the company of 10 lovely ladies who now and then join me for a one day workshop, it was great to see you all again, do hope you all enjoyed your visit to the Cottage on the Hill. Our workshop to day was on pleated log cabins, simple quilt as you go blocks using 2 1/2" strips, they all completed 4 blocks, here is a group photo taken with all the blocks laid out together. Well done ladies all your blocks looked great.

I already have tomorrows photo planned - I think???? Thanks for dropping in by

Kerry

Wednesday Photo - meeting my challange so far.

This is a photo of the couch companion I completed tonight, the pin cushion has a felt flower on the top, I have actually designed a series of projects with felt flowers on them, the felt is easy to work with,hope to have them finished soon

Good night, off to bed, I have a one day workshop tomorrow so better get some beauty sleep .

Kerry

Tuesdays Photo

Today was a fun day in the shop with 9 ladies at our weekly class, today was project day and we all made couch companions. Thanks to Leanne I just about completed 2 of them, so maybe when I finish mine I will use it for one of my photos for the week. I am going to add the other one to a friends birthday present.

This afternoon I decided to walk down to the front gate of our property and take a photo of Geoffrey's oats paddock down towards the river, I love the way paddocks are ploughed up, then sewn, and thanks to the little bits of rain we have had laterly his crop is now a few inches out of the ground. I will keep my fingers crossed that the end of the drought is insight and that his crop continues to grow, so he can use it for cattle feed. A happy farmer makes a much happier husband.

I wander what tomorrow will bring.

Kerry

Photo a Day

I really must appologise to my gorgeous group of ladies from this weekend, for not taking a group photo of you all with your lovely quilts to post here. I truly am sorry so I hope you all send me a photo of you and your finished quilt, for my 2007 group book. This group were another new group to visit me for a two day retreat, they were all working with some lovely fabrics and most of them completed their quilt tops that all looked great.

So because I was so slack, or should I say busy, and didn't get the camera out I have punished myself and set a task for myself of taking at least one photo a day for the next week and posting it here on my blog.

So todays photo is of one of my roses which is flowering so beautifully at the moment, actually nearly all the roses in my garden are flowering at the moment, porbably their last bloom before winter. This rose is called "Pinkie" it flowers for at least 6 months of the year, it is a not so rampit rambler, one of my favourites.

I have a very busy week ahead, our monthly project tomorrow in the Tuesday class, we are making a couch companion, a one day workshop on Thursday and another retreat next weekend.

I have soooooooooooooooooo much I want to create at the moment just not enough hours in every day, do hope your week is full of happy times, stay posted for tomorrows photo.

Kerry

Let's try again

Thanks to blogger I've been having trouble posting this post, so I'll keep my fingers crossed it's going to work this time.

Friday afternoon saw the arrival of my ladies for their weekend retreat, pictured is a photo of Suzanne, Rebecca, Val, Cathy, Jill, Renee, Sandra, Maureen, Marilyn all from Newcastle area plus Carol and Dianne who both live within a couple of hours drive.

The ladies from Newcastle joined me for the first time last October, they couldn't wait 12 months so they booked in to come back sooner. I am sure from all the laughs, they had another great time. Well done to Renee and Marilyn on completing their quilt tops, this was their first visit to me, and I know it is a bit overwhelming, both of you must be very pleased with your achievements. Everyone did very well, I look forward to seeing some photos of the finished quilts. Maureen your quilt looks great in the photo.

This years Paper Bag Quilt was due to start last week, there are 12 ladies in the group and they were all ready, I think, except myself. I just couldn't decide what quilt I wanted everyone to work on for me. Yesterday was the day, I finally made my decision and started on my journal, here is a photo of the journal cover - big thanks to Leanne Beasley for the idea, straight from Leannes DVD that came out last year. I am really pleased with the cover, just have to finish off the inside ready to pass on. I have called my quilt "Friends from Mistletoe Manor", I am using fabrics from 3 Sisters called Mistletoe Manor and have decided to let the ladies choose a friendship stitchery block of their choice,so I look forward to receiving my bag back in 11 months time to work out how I am going to put the whole thing together.

Onto the footy tipping - if anyone joined the online tipping could you please let me know so I can make sure you are in our competition. Great win the the Sharks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time, thanks for dropping by and have a great week were ever you may be.

Kerry

Pin Cushions, Pin Cushions, don't forget your Pin Cushion

Over yesterday and today I had my first mid week retreat for the year, and slack me forgot to take a photo of my lovely group, so instead I decided to take a photo of the pin cushions they have made to be part of my annual friendship swap. How cute are they, I would love to receive any of these. If you would like to part of my annual swap, just send in a pin cushion along with a short letter about yourself and a pre paid 500gram postal sachet and I will add you to the swap, no need to panic they don't need to be with me until October, Robyn, Lyn and Noelene are just very organised. If there is a few of you in a group, who wish to be involved you can post them all together and I will post your swapped ones back all together.

I better get back to the kitchen, busy cooking up so yummy treats for my ladies in my retreat this weekend.

Have a great weekend

Kerry

PS thr NRL (Rugby league comp) starts tomorrow, if anyone would like to join my footy tipping comp contact me before about 5pm tomorrow afternoon. Go the Sharks

I nearly made the dead line

As I mentioned previously I had a project to finish off, well last year I was part of a group of ladies who participated in a paper bag quilt or Friendship quilt, there were 8 of us and I set a dead line that our quilt tops had to be finished by march 1st 2007. I know everyone has tryed hard to complete their quilt tops and I was a little late but managed to finish mine off on Tuesday evening this week which was the 6th March, how about that not even a week over due.

Here is a photo of my quilt top, all the Kimono ladies are made from fabrics I purchased a few years back on one of my trips to Japan, they are all foundation pieced which was a challenge for some of the ladies, but they all did a great job, I just had to make one more block so decided to make the back view of a lady. I am thrilled with the way it has turned out and I have decided to hand quilt it using a Japanese fan design, maybe in navy thread.

A big thank you to those involved with our group, look forward to receiving a photo from you all, of your finished quilt tops to add to my journal. I will post one off to everone next week.

Until I post again, stay safe

Kerry

from the coast to the country/ footy season

Over the weekend I had another new group of ladies join me for a 2 day retreat, these great bunch of ladies travelled from the coast to spend the weekend in my shop, sewing, laughing and most of all sharing a common interest. I do hope they all enjoyed themselves and were happy with their quilts, they were all looking fantastic. Sorry the quilts aren't in the photo, but they had the cars all packed ready for home before I remembered to bring the camera out, they have promised me that they will all send me a photo when the quilts are completed.

Also there is only 10 days before the NRL comp starts for this year, (Go the Sharks) last year I was part of an online footy tipping comp, so this year I have decided to start one of my own, if anyone would like to be part just let me know in the next week. It is so easy you just have to go online once a week and put on your tips for that weekend, there is no cost involved and I will put up a prize at the end of the comp for the winning tipper.

I still haven't finished the quilt I had to have finished by last Thursday but maybe I will find time today to get back to it, then I will post about it.

Have a great day and thanks for dropping by

Kerry

Another Bag day....this time with friends
Once a month with my Tuesday class we have a set project that is achievable in the day and today we made bags. There were a dozen ladies at class today and they all made this very simple but effective bag using 17 squares for the outside. Here is a photo of half the bags, the others were still finishing off theirs when I took the photo, and sorry ladies I know I promised not to take your photo, thats why none of them are smiling at the camera.

I know there will be a few more of these made, especially with Mothers day not too far away.

I have a project I have to work on tomorrow evening so will be back to post a picture if......I get it made, the dead line for this project is, 1st March, lucky I work well to deadlines. ( I actually set the deadline for the group) will explain more later,

Good night and thanks for popping by.

Kerry

Retreats commenced for 2007

Its been a week since I posted and all though I have been busy with my business I haven't really achieved a great deal otherwise. It was back into routine preparing for my first of many 2 day retreats that commenced on Saturday.

A big warm welcome to Daneille, Paula, Natalie, Pam, Rene, Julie, Helen and Annie who all joined me for the first time, do hope you all enjoyed your retreat and are all happy with the quilts you made. Annie and Paula are hiding their more difficult design in the photo. All the quilts looked great and well done to Julie who hadn't sewn for many years and to Pam on making their first quilts I am sure it won't be your last.

Some of the ladies added ric rac, braids and gorgeous pom poms to their quilts to add extra texture, and Pam I love your idea of the bows, looking forward to seeing them attached.

I am sure they will all be back to visit me next year as they have already started their saving funds. I look forward to your return.

Kerry

And..................the winner is!!!!!!!!

For all those eager blog watchers waiting for me to draw the winner of the bag, Geoffrey and I did it at breakfast this morning and the winner is Chris Gracias (Australia) and the second winner, who will receive a Cottage on the Hill bag is Julia (Wales). I will email both of you, so you can give me your postal addresses. Congratulations to you both and thanks to everyone who left a comment on my blog to go in the draw. I will do something like that again someday.

Today has been a bag day, Monday is my day off so I spent the day making 3 bags, the first 2 are out of Leanne Bealsey's new book "Romancing the Road Trip". I picked the fabrics out for the first one the day I received the book back before Christmas, I have been looking for a red Buckle for it ever since, then this morning I decided I would cover one I had with red fabric, then coated it with PVA glue. I am really pleased with the outcome.

The second bag is so simple, it takes about 1/2 hour to make and by using the bamboo handles you could have a dozen different bags. The pattern is also in Leannes book or go to her blog for a free pattern www.leanneshouse.typepad.com The third bag is one that Faye from Sydney showed me how to make back in January, easy, easy, just 17 squares of your favourite fabrics, I have used a Moda charm pack of Bound to the Pairie 2, which I just love. We will be making this bag next week in the Tuesday Class.I also managed to do a double scrapbooking layout using 2 photos from Nicoles year 12 Formal back in 2003, along with Crate papers out of the Feburary passion pack from www.apassion4scrapin.com.au I thought I might enter them in Feburary's competition, if you want to vote for me jump over to her web site. I love days like this when I actually achieve what I have set out to do, I feel very inspired to keep sewing but there is a pile of ironing waiting for me and lots of book work.

Once again thanks for dropping by and sorry I could give you all a bag.

Kerry

Happy Birthday to my Blog ---hip hip horay

Hard to believe one year has passed since I first set up my blog, it was after I was speaking to Janelle one day and she told me to check out her new blog, I was amazed at how easy it all was, even for me who new very little about computers and the world wide web, boy I have learnt heaps and now feel confident to try most things on the web. The past year has been an amazing journey, and what a great way to keep track of my life. I have been flicking through some of my old postings, remembering different things that have gone on in our lives and the thought of sharing them with friends new and old brings me a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Thank you to all those who have taken time out of their own lives to keep a watchful eye on mine, and to all those people from around the world that I have met through my blog thanks for your friendship and being part of my life.

I look forward to being able to continue my blog for a long time yet, so keep popping over and remember I would love to hear from you all, so post a comment and go in the draw for the bag plus I have decided to add another prize to my give away, so that means there will be 2 lucky winner. I will draw the names out of a hat on Monday, so stay tuned to see if you are one of the lucky 2.

I will leave you with a couple of my favourite photos that I have taken in the past 12 months, both were taken in New Zealand, on our weeks holiday in September.

Until my next post - the big draw, stay safe and well.

Kerry

My Last school swimming carnival

Yesterday Geoffrey and I headed into Tamworth to be part of the Farrer Memorial Agricultural High Schools Prefect Induction, Sebastian was elected a Prefect as well as Parkes,Sports House Captain. This is a photo of Sebastian (left) his school Head master and Paul one of his best mates, don't they look good in their school uniform.

Then after lunch we joined many other parents and friends for a long afternoon by the school pool at their annual swimming carnival, it's Sebastians last year at school so this was our last. We have had many wonderful memories gathered around pools over the years. This is a photo of Sebastian and Paul leading their house in cheering for the team members, they love dressing up, Sebastian in his coloured wig, bikini top, sarong and painted face - guess what colour their house is!!!!! Anyway it was a great evening, the boys all did their school proud.

21 st Party all over - Wow what a great night

Well where do I start, the last week has been very hectic, Geoffrey and I left for Sydney last Wednesday stopping in to visit Janelle on the way, it was great to see her. Then after a stop in at Peters of Kensington (great shop) we eventually made in to Carmen and Chris' home for the night (they are the parents of Liz, Nicole's travel companion) thanks for an enjoyable evening. Thursday morning early we met the girls at Sydney airport, it was great to see them and catch up on all their adventures over the past 3 months. The 5 hours trip home soon turned into a very long day with a shopping list that we needed to complete before our return home. Nicole had been hoping to have a dress made in Hong Kong for her party but because of Chinese New Year there was no hope so she purchased some gorgeous silk fabric for me to make a dress for her and one for myself to wear to the party (Saturday night).

So Friday sometime I started the dress making, thank goodness the two patterns we picked out were both easy ones, this is a photo of Nicole and I along with Geoffrey, at the party with our new dresses on, they looked great if I must say so myself.

After an enjoyable evening Friday night, with a few of Nicoles school friends staying over it was time to finish off the dresses and make the birthday cake ready for the party. Her party was in Tamworth and what a great night we all had, about 120 family and friends joined us to celebrate her 21st Birthday (it was actually 26/12 while she was in England), the theme for the night was a dash of Oriental, there was lots of finger food to nibble on, champagne and drinks all round, fantastic music to dance to and lots of fun and laughter. It is so hard to believe that my little girl is 21, I am just not sure where the years have gone to. It was so wonderful that so many friends and family could make the trip to Tamworth to share this special time with us, we have heaps of photo's to remember the occasion, I have made a mini album to put them all into so will have to do that one day.

Here is a photo of the cake, we got 3/4's of the way through the evening and realised it was still in the cool bag so after a rushed job this is what it looked like, 60 small chocolate cakes in little oriental boxes with a heart on the top layer. After a late night, Sunday saw lots of the guests arrive for lunch at home which was very nice to have them visit before their long trips home. Nicole has many wonderful friends, so I decided to make her a small quilt using lots of photos of them all, this is her with the start of the quilt top I presented to her at the party, everyone signed the patches, so now I will add lots more photos before completing the quilt which she will have for ever to remember the night.

So after a huge weekend I am ready for a good nights sleep, Happy 21 st Nicole.

Kerry

PS reminder about the draw this week for everyone who comments on my blog to celebrate it's first birthday.

My mind is blank


Well I am just having one of those moments when I am not sure exactly where to start. Last week was a very sad week for my family as we lost a close friend and work mate to cancer, he will be sadly missed around here as he started working for Geoffrey's father at the age of 14, some 40 odd years ago. In true Nundle form his funeral was huge and his send off was shared with a few (or should I say lots) cold beers and lots of stories about his life, 3 cheers for the shearer in the purple suit, we will miss having you around.

I seem to have been really busy creating but haven't got much to show for it yet, I started on a quilt last week using the Angel Among Us range which is coming up well, will post a photo when the quilt top is altogether.

A friend gave me a very cute bag for christmas and inside was a small journal so I was working on it yesterday and decided to make it into my 2006 Christmas Journal, so here is the front cover and one of the pages from inside, these are my two men in my life, 17 year old son Sebastian and my darling husband Geoffrey.

Yesterday Geoffrey and I spent lots of time in the Garden, even though it was a very hot day, we just had to plant out lots of plants I had sitting here in pots. After building a new shed outside the yard last year we decided to extend the fence line again, so hench the garden was then extended out to met the new fence. I will post a photo later when everything starts flowering.

Nicole is due back from her 3 months overseas this week, we will be picking her up at Sydney airport. At present she is in Hong Kong spending the week sight seeing and shopping. Just two days after she arrives home we are having a party to celebrate her 21st, this should be great to catch up with lots of her friends and their families, then it is back to uni for her next week. Last year of her nursing degree.

I fully intend sitting here today by the computer writting my Feb. newsletter, this will be available on my web site www.cottageonthehill.com.au for anyone interested in reading all about what is going on in the shop over the next few months.

And remember my blog is one year old on Feb. 16th, anyone leaving a comment will go into the draw to win the page pictured a couple of posts back, so all those that visit my blog leave a message it's easy, simply click on comments at the bottom of this post and follow the directions.

So until I post again, thanks for dropping by , have a great week

Kerry

Australia Day 2007

Australia Day 2007

Well for all those that don't exactly know where Nundle is , it is only 45 minutes drive south east of Tamworth, which is known as the Country Music Captial. At this time of the year it comes alive with The Annual Country Music festival, I think the figures are something like over 800 live performances, talents quests, hundreds of Buskers in the streets, free concerts in the parks, you name it, it's happens in Tamworth during the festival. We ventured in there yesterday on a bus with lots of friends from around the area. First stop was the Long Yard Hotel, and that was as far as Geoffrey and I got. We spent the afternoon chatting to friends and listening to the free bands before making our way to the Goonoo Goonoo Room to watch the Bush Whackers, they have been around for years but they were still brilliant, we had such a great time, ears were ringing, hands aching from clapping and feet sore from taping along to their incredible beat. Before joining the rest of the group for the road trip home we had and enjoyable dinner with friends to top a great day out. It always feels good to be part of such a fantastic festival.
Sorry no photos, didn't feel like taking my camera.
I am planning on sewing this afternoon, working on another quilt for a shop sample so will post a photo when I get it finished.
Have a great weekend.
Kerry
PS. I forgot to mention that Sebastian was awarded an Australian Day Medal at our local celebrations in Nundle, he was awarded the Sportmans Medal for his sporting acheivements over the last 3 years, he first received this award back on Australia Day 2004. Typical Mum but I am extremely proud of him (also extremely proud of Nicole) but thats what mothers are meant to be.

Thanks for dropping by and Competition

Thanks to everyone who pops in to read what I've been up to here on the hill, I have changed my settings so that anyone can comment so please if you pop in leave me a message, everyone who leaves a message over the next few weeks will go in the draw to win a bag.
On Feb 16th it will be one year since my first posting so to celebrate my blogs birthday I will draw my competition, so be in it to win. I look forward to seeing how many of you leave messages.








I have found a little time to sew this week, in between many other jobs, I decided to grap a jelly roll off the shelves and make up a quilt top with it, this post and rail design was very simple and so so easy with the pre cut Jelly roll. I just have to wait for some fabrics to come in to sew on the borders, so will post it again when totally finished. I was very pleased with this quilt and it took all of about 3 hours to sew up, that includes talking time. The jelly rolls really are a great way to go.















I can't believe there is only one week left of the long summer school holidays, they have just flown. Even Sebastian can't believe that they are nearly over.
We have a very busy week ahead with our Annual on property Ram sale on Thursday, Geoffrey will be very happy when that is over, these are a few of the little chaps on sale, hopefully they bring good dollars.


Have a great weekend to all, look forward to seeing some more comments.

Kerry

some of my new quilts for 2007

Just a short post, it far too hot to be out here in my office with my computer on, so I will make it fast.
These are 3 of my latest quilts,
Chocolate Treats, is a very simple one, made using 2 charm packs plus borders, I have kits cut ready for it using different fabrics for the borders.














This quilt is a child's quilt I have made using fabulous circus fabric, the photo doesn't do it justice at all, in each of the main blocks Betty has quilted a bunch of balloons and the circus prints are so cute. I have made it up into a kit as well.



















The 3rd quilt is the one I have been working on over the past few days, finished it yesterday.
This is a pattern I bought from Cananda, called Butterscotch Pie, I have used Thimbleberries Charm Packs, as well as lots of other fabrics, once again it is available in kit form. I have cut the quilt using my Tri Rec ruler set. It will be in the post tomorrow to be quilted so will be hanging in the shop soon.




















Until it cools down, I am going to have to turn this computer off and head back to the shop to the air conditioning.
Have a good week
Kerry

How Lucky am I

Today in the mail I received a parcel all the way from Fort North in the USA, it was a surprise parcel from Linda from Craft Apple Creations, I sent her a copy of 'Blackberry Jam & Cream" for Christmas and in return she sent me an original, handmade Seamstress Apron. She has just released this as her very first pattern, I am so thrilled to have received it, I am sure I will be able to put it to good use. Thanks Heaps Linda. Also enclosed was a copy of the pattern and a beautiful hand made card. I treasure anything handmade that I receive as a gift.



The apron has lots of pockets to hold pencil, rotary cutter, tape measure, scissors etc.
It will be very handy in the shop.








Wow another very hot day, I did manage to finish off piecing the quilt top I ve been working on just need to sew on the borders, so I will take a photo tomorrow and let everyone have a look, then it will be off to Betty to be quilted, before I display it in the shop as one of the new quilts for this years Workshops.
Until then lets pray for a change in the weather, rain would be good.
Kerry