MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing you and yours a very happy and joyous Christmas day filled with many blessings xxx

Hot off the machine

This morning I was determined to add the last border. I wanted to finish this quilt sooner but with all the Christmas preparations going on, just not enough time. I doubt it will be quilted by Christmas.

   Pattern by Red Brolly Designs

There's a Legavaan in my garden!

My dogs were barking madly, not the dog language we know like when the neighbors cat comes over or when the monkeys arrive to tease them or when they have cornered a snake or when there is someone at the gate or a family member arrives home. This was loud unusual warning barking so I went to have a look and used my cell phone to take this photo.

then quickly went to get my camera and lock up the dogs. He had taken refuge under a shrub so was hard to photograph. I used my zoom lens.

The rock monitor ( varanus alibigularis ) also called the legavaan is the second longest lizard found in South Africa and the heaviest bodied. They can reach 2 metres (6 ft) in length and could do some serious damage with their powerful tails. One whip from that tail will kill my dogs. This guy is still young and so beautiful.

I have made my filler blocks. Now to put the quilt together.

Rainy Days

Whats with this weather.. why won't it stop raining... rain, rain go away come another.......lol!

  It has kept me indoors and at my sewing machine. I have finished 6 units of the Wish quilt. \o/

I enjoyed doing the little pieces of needleturn applique so much. I have only ever done fused applique.
Now I have to make the filler blocks, but before I start on those, a lovely cup of tea and a couple of hours blog reading is in order.

Wish I could have seen the total solar eclipse today.

Happy Halloween

I had a draft ready for posting on the 10th but we had a huge storm that affected our Internet line. The following morning we were still off line. I couldn't do anything about it as I had to leave for the airport at 5.30am. Wonderful 18 days in Cape Town, my children had shows in the same week, so I was lucky to see both their shows. My sister who also lives in Cape Town arrived home from America. All in all it was perfect timing.

Barb is one of 45 designers of Quilting Gallery's Glorious Autumn Quilters Block Party. Her block is just too adorable!! click on the button at the top of my blog to see the designs todate.
I was the lucky winner of her giveaway. She sent me this gorgeous charm pack - I love it!! Thank you Barb.

mini whirlwind is done except for quilting. I made 35 blocks - really fun to make.

                                               21" x  27"

 I just loved stitching these. Starting on the applique blocks this week.

Found this little guy on one of the shrubs. Waiting to catch an insect with its lightening fast catapulting tongue.

                                            Chameleon


 My heart goes out to all those affected by hurricane Sandy - OMG!   yesterday I watched CNN - unbelievable,  she was merciless!

Coffee With Geta

Geta asked who would like to have coffee with her - I said I would be honoured to, so she sent me these lovely cups. That was in 2010. These blocks have been on and off my design wall in between other projects. I wanted to add something but what - I tried some hearts.... I did'nt like that. Off they came and once again it was put away.

 Then recently I came across a  lovely tutorial on how to add text to quilts and thought aha!

  The heart could have been a bit smaller or maybe moved slightly lower... but its done!
 I'm thinking a simple straight line quilting.

 

 Here is the link to the tutorial on adding text 

Weekend rain

3 days of unrelenting rain - we even had hail. Perfect weather for sewing and soup, nothing like homemade soup on a cold rainy day.  I used scraps and a paper pieced pattern for whirlwind blocks.


                                         

16, 3" square paper pieced Whirlwind blocks

I have about 14 more to make.

 And I am still stitching away...really enjoying these.


The link to these lovely stitcheries is on my sidebar - Red Brolly Designs.

Check out this brilliant idea for hand piecing a 1/4 " seam guide

Giveaway Winner...

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway and thanks for the birthday wishes. What an amazing response!
The winner is # 46. Joyce Carter. Congratulations Joyce, look out for my email.

Busy stitching....
Can someone please tell me how to post the RNG results - I have tried everything.

PS: A warm welcome to new followers.
EDIT: The hexie kit is on its way to Joyce in Georgia, USA.

Quilters Blog Hop Party

                                                         

I am so excited to be part of the Blog Hop Party hosted by Michele from Quilting Gallery.

I'm giving away this sweet little hexagon kit. The kit includes templates, instructions, a stitched example, a spool of gutermann thread, a needle and 30 pieces of fabric in earth tones. So cute! Pop it into your handbag for a lovely take along project and if you have never made a hexagon and want to give it a go - its perfect.

             They really can become addictive. I have made 615 hexies
          

 

             Don't blame me if you get hooked * wink

Please enter my giveaway, everyone is welcome and I will post anywhere in the world.
August is my birth month, all you have to do is tell me your birth month - that's it - one word.

Giveaway closes on 3rd September and Mr RNG will choose the winner.

Once you have made your comment click here to return to the party page


Good luck everyone, thank you for visiting and enjoy the party!
 

Pickles and Preserves

August - the last month of winter and our windy month. We have had a fabulous winter, warm and sunny during the day.  My lemon, kumquat and lime trees were laden with fruit. There was more than enough to share with family, friends, neighbours, passers by and even the monkeys, lol. So I have been preserving and pickling. Made lemon curd, delicious on toast, crumpets and scones, also kumquat jam and I preserved some in brandy and some in a light sugar syrup. Lemons preserved in salt and a lemon pickle from a recipe I found on the web. Loved having my son home for mid year break.

                                                     

    

We have been tidying up the garden, its so dry. Pruning and cutting back shrubs and woody perennials, raking up tons of leaves - it seemed like tons, cleaning out the gutters, preparing for spring rains. Not a bit of sewing since my table runner and its still a flimsy but I have started the stitching on a beautiful free pattern - The Wish Quilt  from Red Brolly Designs

 

Been reading a lot and enjoying the gorgeous winter sun.

Drinking from the dragons well - Alex Smith

Playing sardines - Michele Roberts

The kitchen congregation - Nora Seton

Almost French - Sarah Turnbull

Tales from the time loop - David Icke

The power - Rhona Byrne

Meditation prayer and affirmations - Edgar Cayce

Infinite love is the only truth everything else is illusion - David Icke

The forgotten waltz - Anne Enright

The dancer from Khiva - Bibish

Toast - Nigel Slater