Finally basted...

In my first blog (3 Nov) I mentioned the quilt top I had finished ready to baste the next day, well I finally got it done today. It felt as if everything was conspiring against me to get it done! When I was ready to baste it, then I had to work, etc and so it goes on.... even today at Toowoomba Quilters, we had to deal with locked cupboards with the key locked inside... one of our very versatile members was able to get us into the cupboard, so we got the key to unlock the padlock and then put the locks back to how they should have been. This same crafty person also helped me baste my quilt - thanks Fay! It took ages to baste - I remember now why I usually pin baste, not thread baste! However I am quilting this quilt with perle thread so it needed to be done. I do think next time I will enquire with Kathy at Koolkat as to the price of machine basting!

It was a lovely day at Toowoomba Quilters and it is great that there is tables available to baste quilts on... I don't have anywhere to do it at home.

While I was at TQ we were discussing the Quilting Arts Gifts magazine and I was wondering when my ordered copy would arrive - it was home when I got home so that was a real lift at the end of a pleasant day! I have also received the back issues of Quilting Arts magazines I ordered but I am dithering on whether I should read these already as they are meant for my birthday and if I read them now, I won't have much else to look forward to on my birthday.... maybe I should put half away and read some now? I hope these kinds of decisions are the most difficult ones I need to make for a while - I like a simple, quiet life!

I also appreciated the support I get from the other quilters. Today I showed some of the blocks I have made for the raffle quilt and I do admit to being concerned about how it will all come together but they were all very positive ... thanks guys!

A rainy day is good to...

....work on the Toowoomba Quilters raffle quilt (2008) and to do the washing (I have a mountain in the laundry threatening to tumble on an unsuspecting visitor to this room).

This was going really well until the power went off for over an hour... what do you do without power? ... at least I could make a cup ot tea (as I have a gas stove) and sit and read a quilting magazine in the murky light. We have had a lot of rain today with scary thunder and the works.

So anyway, a few of us in the Toowoomba Quilters Club are putting together the 2008 raffle quilt. It should look something like this...

It represents the four seasons in Toowoomba starting with summer at the top. We chose to do it as a row by row quilt so that a few different club members could make rows in their own different styles and techniques. I have finished making all the autumn leaves today...phew! Now to start on the half square triangles and Autumn will be done.

He's growing up...

I'm not sure if I'm sad exactly but I do think change is hard to handle. My eldest has finished school and I am really happy for him but how it changes the dynamics between us is a little sad. I have to start accepting he is an adult and let him free..... Here is a picture of him and his date on the formal night. I think he looks gorgeous... I was very impressed at what a lovely girl his date was also, but she is "only a friend" but that is cool ... its great that he seems to have good friends of both sexes. He has now gone off for "schoolies", but not at the Gold Coast which is a bit of a relief when you see the activities on the news each night! Mind you, he can still be up to mischief but I do trust him... however I am not sure I trust others he may come across....

On the rest of the family front, my hubby's Dad was awarded the "SES member of the year" for Queensland today. It was moving to see Alison accept the award on his behalf (he passed away a few months ago - very suddenly ...very sad...he had only visited with us the week-end before and I remember a warm glow that I had when they left as I thought how lucky I was to have a great father-in-law that I could talk to so easily and who seemed so very accepting of me...) . It was a great ceremony but Alison was kept very busy during the day. Alison was to lay a wreath at a their Church Service later but we were unable to stay as we had other commitments. I am sure a few tears fell during that service.

Monday ... the first day of the rest of your life...

Today I have been toooo busy, but maybe its a good thing. It means I didn't crave my usual glass (or three) of white wine tonight. This morning I went to my PT session - the last one was a killer and I could barely walk the next two days! Today we did some cardio, chest press, super sets of squats and dips and then pilates style ab work. My triceps are feeling pretty stuffed but otherwise so far, so good. I did have an epsom salts bath tonight to try and move the aches on.

After Gym, I came home and rang the travel agent to pay for our flights. Went to Grand Central got my new glasses adjusted, bought an ironing board cover (ripped the old one ironing my shirt this morning), saw to the new phone that was giving us problems and got a travel insurance quote. Left GC and picked up drawings for work. Went to work - worked until 5 pm and then went grocery shopping. Came home and cooked a yummy dinner of fish, gems, salad and asparagus. Is that why I feel so tired now?

Anyway I am glad I have not craved that wine - the first day of an alcohol-free (or at least low-alcohol) life!

Travel on the horizon...

We have decided to go overseas next year to Finland. My parents are going so we thought we would take the opportunity to go with them as they can introduce us to all those rellies we have never met (or knew existed...)

Now I just have to make the bookings - I hope it is not going to be difficult! It surprises me how complex booking these trips can be. I hope we can travel over with my parents but so far have not been able to contact the travel agent to arrange the tickets. I have spent the last few days agonising over whether my son Mr D should take time off from school to come with us... he wasn't sure it would be a good idea, but the Guidance Officer at the school thinks travel is so important that they can work around the time off. Then trying to ensure hubby will be able to get that time off work. He has plenty of leave but I needed to make sure no-one else was taking extended leave at the same time. Once the tickets are booked we are committed.

On the exercise front I am pleased that I attended a Body Step class yesterday and did a PT session today. It was all weights in the PT - chest press, squats with a bar across the shoulders with weights, seated row with alternate arms, dips and pull-ups, shoulders and lateral raises. At lease I think that is what they are called?

I have worked the last few days when I have not been at the Gym so have not done any quilting. Hoping to do some tomorrow.

My first time...

First time blogger ... how exciting. Where does one start? I decided to start this blog so I can journal the quilts and thoughts about quilts I am having.
At the moment I am working on a quilt from Down Under Quilts Issue 112 "Stash Buster" by Kathy Doughty. However I am not making it all out of strips as per the pattern. I have used my collection of 1930's prints instead. I have made the yo-yo's in yellow and the diamonds are in blue. I will add a picture when I work out how.... I have also decided to add some ric-rac to the binding which I have bought in blue.
This quilt is a just in case someone has a baby quilt which I plan to keep on hand. I plan to have the border on by Tuesday and the backing prepared so that I can pin it at Toowoomba Quilters next Tuesday.
Also today I spent the afternoon at my friend Linda's place and we are planning to get together on a regular basis to play with textiles and hopefully make some journal quilts. Next month we plan to make silk paper. Linda is more the teacher in this as she has done more of this stuff in the past, but she loves to play...

I have worked out how to add the photo of the quilt...