"Makes Me Happy Monday."

Hello and a very Happy Monday to you.

I had a lovely weekend and I hope you did as well.

Onto what is making me happy today. Just look at the lovely lot of crochet thread and a hook from Marina. Some crocheting is on the cards over Summer. Thank you so much Marina, appreciate it so much.

I picked up the "Welcome" cross stitch from the framers last week. Please ignore the image of the woman taking the photo in the glass.Didn't realise it until I had it loaded up.

Today I finished the last Christmas Stitchery. I made this one into a table topper.  I had fun making little tassels from the DMC thread for his scarf. I machine embroidered the words "It's 45 degrees here- I need a cold drink" We haven't got the climate for a Snowmen to survive let alone exist. I think I should have added a "coldie" in his hand!!!

I hope you have a "Happy Monday" and all the best for the week. I wonder what is making you happy today.

Happy days.
Bev C

"The Week that was."

Hello,

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Lovely cooler day here today which is a relief after the events of the week.

Earlier on in the week I made a journal cover with one of the free fabrics I received recently. I decided to add a  garden stitchery to the front. I will be using this next year to write down what we have planted and the produce we pick from the garden each day. I did this a few years back and was quite surprised with the amounts of home grown produce we did eat. I dressed the lady in a purple outfit because this scene just made me think of that poem "When I am old I will wear purple."

On Wednesday morning I happened to look out the kitchen window and saw that a fire in the paddock across the road had just started. A worker had been using a ride-on-mower to clear around the row of trees, which caused a spark. It spread so quickly. The fire brigade came with two trucks and the owner had a bulldozer clearing a firebreak. I have never seen grown men activate themselves so quickly. I know the farmer who owns the property next to it was not very happy about it. Of course later on in the day we turned on the news and saw the devastation caused by fires down at Margaret River. It really made me realise that if something like this happened  and if it got more dangerous we would definitely leave and be safe. Because we live close to the water tanks our water pressure is a lot lower than other areas in town.

I did receive my charm pack which I won from Johanna, I have a  plan for this. It will be a project on the list for next year. Thanks Johanna.

It has been a busy week with an end of year lunch for our sewing group and garden club. I am glad we have these functions in November and not December. I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Thank you Mr Singer"

Hello,

Today I want to share a treasure with you which hangs on the wall in my sewing room.

As soon as I see this picture my feet start moving up and down like I was treadling away on the machine.

To see more Treasure's check out Melody's blog.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday."

Hello and a super Happy Monday to you all.

We had a fantastic weekend. I hope you did too. We managed to fit a lot in, there were visits to Ainsley and Julian and friends,shopping, markets, fabric buying etc.

On Friday we received a post card from Lucy. The mail was super quick from New Zealand. It was a card from Kaikoura where she went swimming with the dolphins last Monday.

Now on Saturday she took a ride in a Helicopter to the top of the Franz Joseph Glacier and hiked over the Glacier for two hours. To quote Lucy "It was the best day of her life ever" I think she is turning into a bit of a "Bond Girl".

The floral fabric is some I picked up yesterday at the Guilford Town Hall Markets. We got there as everyone was packing up but we saw this fabric which was only $5.00 for 2 metres. Even Ian knew that was a good price. It is keeping my sewing room company at the moment until I work out what it will be used in.

These are the fabrics I received last week from Fabric Traders. I have plans to use the floral fabric on the end for a Garden Journal I wish to make sometime this week. Thanks so much ladies for the fabric.

I was so happy to catch up with some great on-line friends on the weekend. Sue and Maria were at a retreat nearby and I took the opportunity to travel across to Toodyay for a chat. I now know why they love these weekends. I think it is the massage that they all sign up for. Seriously it was a great afternoon and a pleasure to chat and see Sue's tumbler quilt and Maria's Elves in real life. Thanks for asking me along ladies. If you have the opportunity to meet up with an on-line friend please take it up. You know how you start chatting to people in line at the craft shop about what they are making , it is just like that. You have lots in common already.

 Every now and again Ian and I have a walk around the river. One of the swans comes up to greet us in a certain spot each time. So last week I remembered to take my camera. The swans have been on the river for many years.

On Saturday Ian and I took the opportunity to have a look around the new beaut flash Recreation Centre and catch up with some locals. This new building has only been open for use for a few weeks and it was wonderful to be able to have a look around. It is going to be a great asset to the town. Apparently State Netball games are going to be played here.

Pauline has kindly passed on this award to me. It is for blogs with less than 200 followers. I am finding it a hard task to pick out several people to pass this onto. Remember being at school and you had to be picked for teams. It is like that. So if you have less than 200 followers and you are reading this please take it on.

I found this on Barbara's blog this morning and have decided to join in. Nothing makes me happier than occupying my sewing room. Maybe you could join in too.

I received a phone call from a handsome young man this morning inviting me out to lunch so I better go and get ready for him to arrive.

I hope you have a very Happy Monday.

Happy days.
Bev C

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"A finish for Friday-Night-Sew-In."

Hello,

I hope you had or are having a successful Friday-Night-Sew-In. I actually had a Afternoon-Sew-In yesterday.
I sat and watched Miss Marple and did the hand quilting and put the binding on later on in the day.

Another table runner finished thanks to the Sew-In. I enjoy these Sewing session because I know I can get something finished. I hope you got a finish or two.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Candle Mat arrives and Friday-Night-Sew-In is on this Friday."

Hello,

Hope all is well in your part of the world. I received a lovely email from O'faigh to let me know that her parcel for the Candle Mat Swap has arrived. So I can now reveal what I made.

I used a pattern from Natalie's book that is actually for a wall clock. I loved this pattern as soon as I got the book and wanted to make it into a mat. So when the swap came up I knew just what I wanted to make.

I also included some goodies in the parcel.

I don't have a photo of them wrapped up in the Christmas paper, that is on my other computer which is being cleaned and serviced. I included a box of Turkish Delight, Post-It Notes ,Christmas Cards, one of those you can't live without Frixion Pens and as O'Faigh loves old things I went to the Red Cross shop in search of some embroidered doilies. Unfortunately I couldn't get some but I did manage to pick up the linen serviette. I am pretty sure these are the same as some that my Mum has. Thanks so much for being my swap partner Lyn. It was a pleasure doing a swap with you.

What are you doing on Friday night? I will be joining in the Friday -Night -Sew -In.

I have these stitcheries to make into a table runner. I have it all joined together,so on Friday I will be hand quilting the runner. Nothing like a bit of hand quilting to complete a project. I hope you can join us. You don't have to sew you can knit, crochet, make cards whatever you like. It is a great way to get a project completed or even started.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday."

Hello,

Happy Monday.

Yesterday I finished this table runner I made with some of the fabrics I got from Impera Magna. It is quite long at 45 inches and it is just under 15 inches wide. I didn't follow a pattern for this runner. I used a cupcake holder as a template for the centre of each block. You can find lots of shapes from the kitchen to use in applique.

Saturday morning we did our weekly shop. Guess what Banana's were on special at $4.99 so we bought a bunch. It was so lovely biting into a banana after going without them for so long. Very happy indeed,even had a banana on my toast with a sprinkling of cinnamon this morning. It has been many months without this fruit after the devastation caused by floods in Carnarvon which is in the north of West Australia and Queensland earlier this year.

There were some markets and displays on at the Old Railway Station on Saturday. One of the stall holders had this moon planting calendar. I was very happy to purchase this. Have been after one for sometime. The lady had some photo's of her vegie garden and a older Dutch lady who lives on 5 acres in York grows all her plants and vegies by the moon. There gardens were flourishing. So we will be following this way to see how things go.

"Many Happy Returns."

Our garden is loving the cooler weather we have experienced this Spring. I don't think we have had a hot day yet. I haven't felt this comfortable at this time of the year for ages. The roses are enjoying it too. The rose above is called "Many Happy Returns." 

"Many Happy Returns."

It is a great ground cover rose. It flowers in clusters. It was bred by Harkness in 1991.It has really taken of this year and filing up the space. Happy to see it growing so well.

I am also very happy that Lucy has started her holiday. She is touring the South Island of New Zealand for the next couple of weeks. Lucy will be seeing lots and enjoying things like Bungy Jumping in Queenstown and I know she is excited to be going to the Franz Joseph Glacier. Enjoy yourself Lucy.

Whatever you do today I hope you have a Happy Monday.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Free Fabric."

Hello .

This post is for all those who love beautiful fabric and even better a fabulous shop to buy it from.
Fabric Traders is giving away a grab bag of fabric. How good is that. All you have to do is visit them and do a posting about your favourite fabric from the shop.




This is my chosen fabric some "French Hatbox in Pastel Green" by Tanya Wheelan of Free Spirit. You know it had to feature roses.

Make sure you check out Fabric Traders.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Overwhelmed."

Hello,

Monday afternoon I received my swap parcel from O'faigh. I was overwhelmed to say the least. Look how lovely the presents are wrapped.

Check out the goodies in the box, a pom-pom maker,fabric,Christmas decorations, broach, bag,  bobbin box and a little book with tips and instructions.

I am in love with my candle-mat. O'faigh did a beautiful job on the stitchery which is attached to  felt. I don't have anything that is made of felt so really appreciate receiving this candle-mat. Thank you to O'faigh for a beautiful parcel and a special thank you to Cheryll for organising this swap.

Yesterday I took a trip to Midland dropping of a quilt at the  machine quilters on the way. I took my "Welcome" cross stitch to the framers and this will be ready on the 18th of November. When I walked into the framers there was a lady in front of me getting a cross stitch framed. I had to wait about 20 minutes for her to decide what she wanted. Heavens knows how this woman gets on in life, she couldn't make any decision. The framers wife was so patient with her. I had my business done in about 5 minutes. I did purchase a little fabric on my day out including 5 beautiful fat quarters which I gave to my Mum. One of the pieces was actually bigger than a fat quarter and had lots of chooks and roosters on it. Just perfect for a wall hanging.

"Be as the dragonfly,
soar on your dreams.
Be as the water,
reflect Beauty.
Be as the seasons,
open to change.
Be as the wind,
refresh your Spirit.
Be as the blossom,
open to Joy."

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday"

Hello and a very Happy Monday to you.

The past week has flown by. A little secret sewing has been done but I have mainly been out in the garden working.

Last Friday I was so happy to receive my giveaway parcel from Marj. A watercolour kit called "Spring Gardening." Marj was having a giveaway of items that she no longer wanted and there several items to choose from. I put my name in the hat for this kit and I was the lucky winner. Thanks so much Marj.

Saturday afternoon was the Garden Club meeting and one of the ladies had a pile of gardening books to pass onto others. I chose several and these two are my favourites. Rose books always make me happy.

"Gertrude Jekyll"

Have you met Gertrude? She makes me very happy.  We have several along the front garden and one up near the house outside the kitchen window. She is is full bloom now and the perfume is just divine.

I hope you have a very Happy Monday.

Happy days.
Bev C