What's in a Day?

I arrived home from work last night to find hubbie had called into the post office to pick up my

parcel. The postie had left a card and I knew it was going to be the order from Bendigo Woollen Mills with the new Cotton Crush colours - a very limited edition for the month of March.  I warned him it was going to be a big parcel (just in case he decided to pick it up for me lol)......... I've had lots of fun already just looking at it and feeling how soft this cotton is!  I couldn't wait to open the bag and line them all up on my very messy table!  My table seems to get that way mid week when I'm busy at work and have several things on the go for evening stitching lol
 The cotton is what I mostly used in my

all lined up getting added to "the stash" data in Ravelry

Maryborough Veranda Blanket because of its softness and wonderful drape!  Most of this is earmarked for "lap blankets" for the grandies. DIL and cushion for the son.  Naturally I have some 4ply there in order to make myself a couple of tops or perhaps a dress??  I spent some time today getting it all entered into my "stash" area in Ravelry along with photos of each yarn.  I find this really useful when I'm planning projects etc as I can bring it up on my ipad quickly and easily to see if I have the right yarn already in stash!  Aren't these colours pretty!!!!

I'm an old fashioned girl at heart and I have to admit that I'm one of those who actually relishes being at home.  It's unfortunate that 3 days

one week and 4 days the alternate week I have to head out the door to "paid" work.  Leaving home just after 7am and getting back around 5 pm after a 90km round trip there isn't a lot of the day left for getting much done those days.  So, a day off can often be quite a busy day.  Busy as it is, I still relish it as I get to take 5 every now and then to slow the pace and do other things ....... like today sitting in the lounge room doing some hand stitching looking out the window you could see a house boat that's tied up to a mooring down on the river (The Murray River for those wondering - it forms part of the

See the top of the houseboat there between the trees?

border between New South Wales and Victoria).

It was raining this morning and looked set in (which it was until about 3pm when it cleared up and the sun came back out).  So I was able to sit this morning and reply to a couple of letters ...... the old fashioned snail mail.  I knew I had to head into the local town and so my plan was to get them written so I could post them off while I was in there (which I did).  So Lynda and Tracy ...... keep an eye out over the next week or two.  These girls both have blogs as well so click on their names to go and have a look.  While I was writing my letters I was blessed to have the postie drop off another letter from a dear friend, Lyn ........ I'll be getting a reply to you shortly.

After chores (chickens and cleaning and washing) and a trip to town to attend to a few errands I

I add a bit of grated Sard as well to give it a bit more Ooomph

decided it was time to get some more Laundry Liquid made up!  Usually I would make around 15-20 lts but at the moment I don't really want that much on hand.  I halved the amounts of the ingredients and have made it up to 7lts.  On average this works out to about $1 something for the whole 7 litres plus the time.  We are trying to save some extra dollars, plus I'm trying to get back to basics again (like I used to do once upon a time before things got so crazy with long drives to work more days than I had planned ........hmmmm, things don't always go to plan do they??).  Anyhow making my own laundry liquid is a great way of saving!  Over the weekend I spent some time grating up the soap. I keep the grated sunlight soap and the sard soap in separate glass jars so they are ready any time.   If you do this make sure you use the very tiny grater side since you want it as small as possible - it takes quite a bit of time to dissolve in water. Click on the page at the top of my blog that takes you to the recipe.  Just make sure you take the time to really dissolve the soap, otherwise once it cools it will separate which is not what you want.

I guess in a way it doesn't really sound like I did that much at all today, and yet the day went so quickly ....... and here I am with dinner cooking and chooks just about ready to be locked up for the night!  Luckily I got the bit of washing done that I had here today - decided that even though it was raining I would just pop it all on the clothes airers to slowly dry over the next couple days - but with the sun coming back out I took the airers outside and now all but a couple of things are dry and ready to be put away!  The simple things, the everyday things ......

I'm itching to get my crochet hook out and start on some of that cotton ........ perhaps later tonight

if I'm really lucky, otherwise it's going to have to wait till the weekend as I'm back to work again tomorrow!  I hope you have had a productive "hump day" and the rest of your week brings a blessing to you and yours.  I'll leave with a photo of this cute little cupcake I bought from work the other day when they were raising some funds.  It reminded me of my "Beehive Cabin"
Hugs Sharm

March FNSI

Yesterday was the montly online Friday Night Sew In with Wendy from Sugarlane Designs.  It's a great way of putting aside that time to work on a project you might be doing!  I started earlier in the day since it was a rostered day off from work for me and managed to get the last bit of stitching done on this months block for Down the Rabbit Hole ......... with that up to date, I was able to get back to working on the February Block for Val Lairds BOM "Handpicked Wardrobe".  I'm really enjoying this little block of the month (which happens to be Free by the way). 

I'm mostly using scraps from my stash for this ..... I say mostly, since I am planning to add a few "little extras" - like the lovley felt I purchased last month from the quilting bus when it was visiting the local market at Yarrawonga!  It's a "Cottage Garden" make which came in a bundle of 5 squares called "noon". 

The thread I've used for the bag handle is one I had on hand from another "special" project a few years ago - I thought it was just perfect for the handbag.  I've yet to find a little "clasp" to add to the bag ...... I'll be keeping an eye out for "just the right thing" {smile}

And here it is next to the January Block. Block 3 is already out so I need to head over and download the pattern and instructions so I can make a start on it.  And yes, of course I have a plan for this little mini quilt ......It's going to getting put on a wall in the house up in Maryborough, Qld.  All these projects for our new house ....... lets pray we sell here soon so we can get busy in the new house and new chapter ........  In the meantime, it's back to the rest of the weekend.  Have a blessed time whatever you are doing
Hugs Sharm xo

The Cotton Crochet Afghan and Hexie Lovin

It's exciting to be able to tell you that the crochet blanket has been finished! I'm loving how it has turned, and I got some lovely comments when I posted some photos of it on Facebook and Ravelry! It's made from 8ply cotton - from Bendigo Woollen Mills and Stylecraft.  Both these brands have a lovely soft touch and drape to them that remains even after washing - which is why I love it!  I do find the Bendigo to be slightly softer.  I used a free flower pattern by Luba Davies  (D-0101 Floral afghan block by Crochet- atelier ) which can be found on Ravelry. 

 She has it done in several colours, however I chose to make the blocks in single colours.  I then edged each block in treble using the colour, Glacier then joined the blocks together with crochet.  I decided to pop on a lacy type of edging in snow, which I think sets the blanket off nicely! 

Now the crochet is complete I've been spending more time on my hexie tablecloth which is slowly coming together.  I still have one or two more signature hexies coming which is exciting. I'm currently trying to work out fitting the hexies around the centre embroidery which has been a little interesting, but it's getting there! I'm really hoping to get this project completed by the end of March - guess we shall see!  The problem is, I'm easily drawn to other projects once I see some beginning to come to an end!


So you won't be at all surprised when on another note, I'm wanting to get back to some smaller hexies for a few projects!  I spent this week improving things to make that task a little easier ......... I bought a 1" template, a small rotary cutter and a small cutting board that rotates!!!!!  I'm excited and can't wait for Friday when I have the day off and I'll be able to play!  And ...... I also bought a glue pen to help with the task! 


I even have some fabrics picked out ready to cut ......... so stay tuned for that one!  I'm hoping to use these for one of Lynnette Andersons designs that I stumbled upon the other day ..... I can't remember what the name of it was but perhaps I'll have a little more to share on that next EPP link up.

Rodeo Fun

Awaiting the action

It's been a long weekend here with Labour Day public holiday today which has given us a lovely relaxing time over the weekend. At late notice yesterday arvo we decided to head to Chiltern for the rodeo to meet up with a couple of other friends.  Chiltern is only about a 40min drive from here, so not too far at all.   It was a great arvo and evening - although not always able to see all the excitement of the riders ! I managed to get a couple of photos on my phone - not the best quality, but enough to remind us of our outing I also managed quite a bit of sewing, but I'll get that in another post this week.
 
 
 

Bullriding

 

Cowboy from Tully, Qld coming off the Bull

 
 
 

A Weekend of FNWF

Friday night sewing with Friends - it's online sewing hosted by Cheryll - see the link on my sidebar to see what everyone got up to ....... as for me what began on Friday night has continued through the weekend at various points! 

Now that the 2nd block is out for "Down the Rabbit Hole" I was able to get started on making the flowers. If you peak through my cabin window you can see it sitting on the table while I place where and how the flowers might look once attached!    I'm really pleased I joined up for this BOM as it's also like a full sewing class with the videos and wonderful support that Sarah Fielke gives to everyone. 

 No question goes without an answer and helpful advise, so although I'm dealing with a lot of new skills and techniques, and may have some trepidation involved, I trust that it's going to come together and we are going to end up with a wonderful quilt for our bed!  I say we, because Pete is helping out with some of the colour choices when I need another opinion - after all, it's going to be on our bed and he is going to have to be looking at it as well!!  So, if you are thinking or have been thinking about this BOM I can say it is well supported by the designer!
I'm really happy now I've finally worked out what I'm doing with the hand sewing and love how these little flowers are coming out!  I'm halfway through sewing on all the centre pieces and then have to sew on the actual flowers into their places!  What do you think so far?

Naturally I'm continuing work on the crochet rug, which now has all the squares completed and joined together ......... so I've spent a bit of time deciding what type of border I'm going to put around it. 

Since I've had some questions around this rug, once I'm finished I'll do a post to explain how I've made it. 








I'd also like to say thanks to those of you who sent me well wishes for getting better after having a couple of days of dizziness and nausea! I did end up getting things checked out with the Doctor and it seems nothing major is going on, more likely it's a combination of a virus and domino effect stressors that add up.  Bloods have yet to be checked incase there is a bit of anaemia going on - that's on tomorrows list of things.   However Hubbie decided a fishing trip was in order for us, Scruffy included, for Saturday morning, so we  headed up to the Hume Dam, just outside of Wodonga where we got to try out our new rods and reels.  Although we didn't catch any fish (not even a bite), we had a lovely few hours of total relaxation!

Scruffy taking a nap in the boat

Lake Hume

FNWF

Friday night with friends is on tonight - it's an online sewing, knitting, crochet get together hosted by Cheryll over Herehere .........so go and check it out and join in for some stitching

A February Wrap Up

With yesterday being the last day of the month of February, it's time for a quick wrap up ...... This month I've managed to spend quite a bit of time on various projects - mostly of the larger kind, like the crochet rug, and the Quilting BOM

as well as my blogging hexie tablecloth which is coming along nicely now, and I've begun piecing the flowers together and started to attach some of the hexies to the middle section.  Doing that is also helping me to work out how many extra hexies I need to make.  And since its EPP week, I'll link in with Anthea and continue to get a few more hexies under way..........

At the end of each month its the OPAM report, and I'm pleased to report that I did at least complete one project this month - a nice little  crochet journal cover which I designed and made up for a friend for her birthday.  I added a couple of little crochet flowers to finish it off.

On the home front  Pete and I celebrated our 32nd anniversary on the 23rd of February. For the past few years we have taken holidays around this time and celebrated in various places around

Australia, but this year having the house here on the market its far more difficult to make plans.  Since Pete bought us both new fishing rods and reels just the week before, I decided I should get him a little something too ....... I found this in one of the Jewellery Shops in Wangaratta during a lunch break.  When we were first going out together we would often play cards with another couple.  It's been years since we've played cards but with retirement and a new move coming up, I thought just maybe we might find another couple who enjoys playing cards for matchsitcks (no money ever involved in our games lol).

And at the Yarrawonga Markets this month the quilting Bus from Charters Towers was there ........  I found a few items and then just as I was picking out a couple of fat quarters for the quilt, Pete stopped in and assisted with picking another couple of colours he thought would also work with them ..... which of course they did and I was more than happy to add to my little pile ......

 I'm a little late getting this post out today, but I've been feeling sick all day - thankfully Scruffy has been beside me keeping an eye on things!