New year, some old finishes!

This flimsy (which is currently at the quilters) had the circles hand appliqued on during a Melbourne - Sydney trip and then during a Melbourne - Bathurst trip during 2012. Completed blocks were then machine pieced.

These cute little scottie dogs will be gifts for some new little babies that will be joining us in 2013.

Just a couple of the recent finishes.  The past few months any spare time has been spent working on completing some long outstanding UFOs.  4 of which are at the quilters as we speak. More pics soon.

1/2 Yearly check in!

I have this blog but the only time I really post to it is when a couple of my friends remind me that it has been months since I last posted.  This year has been so busy for us with youngest son's basketball committments that my "finishes" have not been many and I can't believe that the last time I blogged was December 2011.  Very slack indeed!  Here are a couple of quilts that I did manage to finish recently.

This one is one that was started by a friend's Mother in law several years ago and given to me to finish.  Thankfully there was enough fabric purchased originally to be able to piece the back! 

 




















This is a cot quilt made using the "1600 quilt" Jelly Roll tutorial (can be found on You Tube).  This one will be heading off to my "twin" (the other Julie Schliefert) in the USA for her new grandson.

Credit - all quilts held up for display by my youngest son Nick!

Last one for 2011...

Again, started many years ago (8 or 9) and again, stitched on Calico! Pattern by Barri of Bareroots. Now finished, but need to find somewhere to hang it!

Weekender bag

Bag pattern by Viv Robinson - Great bag for the weekend - just chuck everything in. Oh yeah and forget expensive leather bag handles - you can find them on an old bag at your local Op shop!

Oh wait, there's another one..

Rosie Quinlan's pattern - "Love is". The blocks were stitched several years ago (on Calico!!) and i finally put it together. I did not do the borders as the per the original pattern, opting to do a simple Black, White and Burgundy arrangement.

Log Cabin challenge

Above: Log cabin blocks purchased from the Mennonite Resource Centre in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA on our trip earlier this year. Pieced by me as a mini quilt.

Crazy Log Cabin - Kit purchased from Material Obsession - Sydney. Pieced and hand quilted (simply) by me.

Both were made as part of our Patchwork Group challenge for 2011 - "Any thing/Variation Log Cabin"

Dear Jane.....

My Dear Jane journey started in 2009 and after abut 18 months I was over it! My patience ran out, so the project was shelved, until mid 2011 Sandra at Foothills - Tecoma showed me a pic of a quilt she saw on her US travels which incorporated a "DJ" style block. After a light bulb moment and some pattern drafting - Jane's School house was born. Each school house incorporates the finished DJ blocks.

Another creation.

Gorgeous Gingerbread house made by the very clever 5 yo Caitlyn!

Another one...

I made this one recently for a long time friend of ours.

More finishes......

Bunches of Origami flowers made from vintage music paper and vintage buttons and knitting needles. I made several bunches as Xmas gifts, but still have to make some for myself!

More finishes for 2011

I actually made the welcome sign many years ago, but still love it.






















Selvedge Quilt. I saw this on a blog and then had to make one. Thanks to all my friends who supplied me with selvedges!!! Very happy with it and I am keen to make another!!!




















Thangles quilt - a monthly program run by Mrs Martins a few years ago and I finally got mine finished!!

Cute wall hanging

This one is a pattern by Cathy Baynes - Willow Valley Store. Cath is an awesome designer and her patterns are so easy to follow.

Some new completions

The first pic is of a little coaster made for Thomas. I had previously made one for his sister, Caitlyn. Now mummy has asked for her own coaster, so I need to make another one. They are small and fun and don't take long to do.


The 2nd and 3rd pics are from a recently attended workshop with Viv Robinson, where I made this lovely piece for my friend Karen's birthday. Rather than frame it traditionally, I decided to frame it in an embroidery hoop. I was pretty pleased with the final product, as was Karen.

Home at last!

37 hour marathon trip home!! We left the Philadelphia hotel at 8.30am on Sunday morning and headed to the airport. Lunchtime flight to Chicago where we had 5 hours or so to kill before the connection to LAX. Had a mother's day lunch in the food court at the airport then sat and people watched for a while. Flight then was delayed by 10 minutes and then out to 1 hour, given that we only had an hour to spare once arriving in LAX this was cutting it fine. A visit to customer service proved to no avail and the flight finally left after 8 pm instead of 6.40pm. As we approached LAX we were advised that they were holding our connection flight. So 4.5 hours from Philly to Chicago and then straight on a plane from LAX to Sydney!! Arrived in Sydney 25 minutes early but there were no available gates so we sat on the tarmac for 30 minutes or so!!! Cleared customs etc and Border Security were taping but we won't be featured!!! Picked up a quick coffee and then hopped in the Limo for the return trip home! A wonderful, fun filled adventure was had by all, but we are definately glad to be home and we all admit we are "shopped" out!!

Just wanted to share something strange - at Chicago airport I spied a boy around 14/15 wearing a tshirt with Bin Laden's photo on the front with a "DEAD" stamp printed in red over the top. We all felt that this was not appropriate attire for anywhere, let alone the airport and were surprised that a, his mother allowed him to purchase and wear it and b, that someone has even had the gaul to manufacture them!!

Philadelphia - Sat May 7th, 2011

Headed out after breakfast and walked to the Old City are where the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Constitution Hall are located. Did a tour of Independence Hall, very interesting. Saw the original chair that George Washington sat in. Went to the Liberty Bell centre - much smaller than i had expected and today i felt like I was in Japan with all of the tourists - minus their manners!! We had to go through security bag checks at each of these places and we thought it was because of recent events, but it turns out the Liberty bell used to be in the park surrounded by glass until about 6 months before 9/11 some idiot took to the glass with a hammer. Hence the bell was moved to a new building and security checks introduced!
Went to Betsy Ross house and Elpreth Alley. Both very interesting and very old considering they go back to the 1700's. The history here is everywhere! Back on the bus and Chris and I got off for lunch near the hotel whilst the others continued around the bus route again. After a quick bite to eat Chris and I headed for a look around Macy's - Really elegant building with pipe organ upstairs. Very pretty building compared to Macy's in New York. I'm now heading up to the room for a rest as my throat is quite sore and I don't particularly want to travel home feeling like sh*t.
We head off home tomorrow via Chicago and LA, so I guess there will be no breakfast in bed for mother's day. To my mum Kate, Happy mother's day and I will see you next week. xxxx

Photos

A couple of photos - that has taken 30 minutes to upload on this PC dinosaur!




Just to prove that this place does exist and I was there!!








Mill Creek Vacation home - Bird In Hand, home built in the 1700's and where we stayed







Covered Bridge in Lancaster County

Goodbye Lancaster County - May 6th, 2011

Up early, left over fruit, cheese, muffins and fudge for breakfast, car packed! and on the road by 8.30 am this morning. Dropped keys off, and headed back to fabric shop for a second look... and purchase!! yes,we did need more fabric to pad out our cases!!!
On the road for a look at the cute little town of Strasburg and the hope of a coffee! Not here, not one shop could we find, let alone a coffee shop. Onto the town of Christiana where Zercher's hotel stands. This was a "station" on the Underground Railway and also the home of the Christiana Riots. A historic event in US history. On to the small town of Atglen to find coffee. Found a pokey little cafe that only served regular coffee, so this had to do along with a toasted sandwich.
Decided to head early to Philly to drop the car off and then head to the hotel with the insane amount of luggage that we seem to have accumulated. Filled a mini van taxi!!! Negotiated the freeway, again with a limit of 55mph, but even at 60mph I was being passed. The car was definately sluggish now that it was full!
Arrived in Philly at the hotel, checked in, and headed out to take the hop on, hop off bus around the sites. $25 for a 24 hour pass, so it is good for all of tomorrow.
Picked out half a dozen sites that we want to revisit tomorrow. ie: Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross house (Lady who made the first American Flag), Elpreths Alley (the oldest continually inhabited street) and a few other points of interest. Saw Rocky's statue and the steps Sylvester Stallone ran up in the movie.
Lovely dinner at an Italian place called Maggiani's and back to the hotel for the night. One more full day in Philly before we head home on Sunday.
No photos today as this fossil of a PC is taking ages to load anything.

May 5th, 2011

Breakfast at Miller's, very nice omelets and waffles. Off to Intercourse again for one last visit to a quilt store, then followed some back roads to a couple of farm shops. More quilts were purchased, this time some made by Amish women. Lunch was at a place called Two cousins, where we enjoyed garlic bread, salad and soup all for $4.99. Very nice indeed, A visit to another fabric shop and antique shop then on to a place for a buggy ride. Kate the horse did not seem too impressed at going out again for the 30 min drive. The guide was a very knowledgeable Mennonite man who took us through an Amish farm. When ever a car, bus or buggy arrives at a farm, the children come out to sell their wares. Cookies, pretzels, muffins and the like. We all enjoyed the buggy ride although it was a bit squishy in the back! Stopped at Kaufman's Deli and bought some cheese and fruit to have with wine. Came back to the house, took some photos and went for a walk then settled on the porch sipping wine and eating cheese and fruit. Very enjoyable as it was a lovely sunny day.
Packed our cases tonight as we head for Philadelphia tomorrow!

Lancaster County - May 4, 2011

Cold and wet today, only about 48F. Up bright and early today so we could be at Ephrata by 8.45 am to attend the Mennonite Relief Centre, wo watch some Mennonite women quilting. Fantastic time here, a huge relief centre that helps aid groups all around the world. Jenny W even stitched a few stitches into a quilt top.
Lunch at Intercourse and a walk around the shops! Even found that there was a place called Virginville, not far from Paradise! Lord knows who invented some of these names!
Off home for a cuppa, show and tell and a little rest. It's tough work shopping and if we don't see another fabric store for a while, it wil be too soon.
Headed off for the tour around the farm where Witness was filmed. I think the driver has seen better days, but off we went on a tour of the countryside and 3 covered bridges. The farm was just like in the film, but 25 years on it is a little worse for wear. We were met by Shannah the golden retriever and 4 Amish children who sold us some rhubarb muffins that mum had made.
Went to plain and fancy farm for dinner for a yum cha style meal. Left there with a full belly and headed home for the night.

Amish country-Tuesday 3/5/11

Off to breakfast at Dienner's - $5.95 for breakfast buffet, then off to the Lancaster quilt museum which is currently displaying 15 of 82 Amish quilts from the Esprit collection. Awesome to see and a wonderful guide to explain the quilts and their history. Off to information center and a small Amish exhibition. Quick visit here and over to the farmer's market for coffee and a light lunch. Onto the Mennonite info centre to watch a short movie on the Amish and get some further info.
Jenny W found that part of the underground railroad system had been discovered underneath the Marriott hotel and 2 weeks ago it was confirmed as such. We went to visit this and also the houses that were a part of this system during years gone by. The Marriott also housed an old famous house, but rather than knocking it down to build the hotel, they built the hotel around the house and preserved the house and history.
Over to the DFO outlets for some retail therapy! Some bargains were had here and they weren't fabric! Stopped at the Olive garden for dinner - a lovely Italian restaurant, food was good and I had my daily corona!
Home for show and tell of the days purchases and we are now watching the movie Witness as we have a tour of the farm where it was filmed tomorrow. Up early tomorrow as we are heading to the Mennonite Relief centre at Ephrata to view Mennonite women sewing etc. Should be interesting.
We have quickly realized that we will not have enough time here to see everything.
No photos at the minute as I can't work out how to upload them from my camera to the IPad!
PS - I am getting the hang of this backward driving thing, can't go wrong with Ros navigating and Jenny W telling me to stay right!
Freeway driving yesterday was 55mph, but we were being passed all the time, so clearly that is a suggested speed and they just do what they like!!!!!!