More of the retreat

I got some photos from the lovely Jennifer from the retreat. Here is our table with all our supplies (sewing, lollies, chips, more lollies).

It was a lovely room to sit and sew. This is the view out the window.

As I said in my earlier post, my aim was to get the next 4 rings together over the weekend. Well, I almost made it. I only had 2 more lines of sewing but unfortunately it was time to head home.

We all collected lots of goodies over the weekend. I was very good and only bought some beautiful hand dyed "Cottage Garden Threads". Although I also came home with 7 fat quarters, a block holder, finger presser, chalk marker, cotton, sewing machine needles thanks to the wonderful NOTYQ retreat committee!

Libby had made each of our little group a lovely pen/pencil holder.

And Vivienne gave each of us a funny egg cup (excuse the rudey bottom!) with some pins.

Another retreat over. Can't wait for the next one!

I'm back from retreat!

We had a great time at retreat. Ate too much, talked a lot. And I nearly fulfilled my goal of piecing the next row of 4 rings. I've just got to join the last ring to the bottom of the row and then that row is finished. I've decided I need to add another row.

I haven't any photos yet as I didn't have my camera but I took some photos with Jennifer 's camera and when she emails them to me, I'll post them.

But what I can show you is the birthday present I made for Libby.

I made her one of the little lavender bags and two matching hangers. The hanger pattern is from a tutorial on Val Laird's blog.

Thanks girls for the friendship we shared over the weekend. Only 362 days until the next one!

Now for the footy results. We had good and bad news. Unfortunately Mitchell's team lost by 4 goals. They tried hard but it wasn't meant to be. Mitchell was pleased with himself as he kicked 4 goals!

The good news is that Nelson's team are in the Grand Final next week. Yeah Nelson! He is very excited and is very pleased to be playing a Grand Final in his first year of footy.

Go Bats!

Only one more sleep to go!

Tomorrow we head off on the North of the Yarra Quilters Annual Retreat.

This is the main project I'm going to work on (just ignore the creases!). My Double Wedding Ring quilt. It's pieced by hand and I aim to get the next 4 rings pieced. I maybe aiming a little high but you never know.

Besides the sewing, there's the shopping on the way to Myrniong (near Bacchus Marsh), lots of talking and lots and lots of eating! The best thing is we don't have to cook or clean up afterwards.

Hopefully I'll have some more of my quilt to show you after the weekend. I'll also show you something else I have been working on.

Also, on Sunday both Mitchell and Nelson have footy finals. Unfortunately, Austin missed out on finals by percentage. If they win their matches they will be in next week's Grand Final. Can Mitchell make it 3 in a row? This is Nelson's first footy season and he has done well to get to the finals.

Good luck Mitchell and Nelson. Play your best. We are proud of you.

GO BATS!

Another 50 Games!

Today it was Austin's 50th game for Yarrambat.
So it was banner time again!

It was very windy but the banners managed to hold together until the boys ran through them. There were another 4 team mates also playing their 50th, so the boys ran through in two lots. It was very hard to see when Austin would run through and I clicked too soon! The camera was too slow to get a second picture.

Austin was Captain for the day and his team had a
good win in terrible conditions (cold, icy wind!).

Congratulations Austin on your 50th game.
Go Bats!

Bags, Bags and more Bags (or are they?)!

I haven't posted for a while but I have managed to get in some sewing.

I've been busy making these 5 handbags. Or are they handbags?

They are actually lavender filled handbags for your wardrobe or drawers.
This one's my favourite.

The pattern is by Nicole Mallalieu Design and was in a recent issue of Homespun (No. 85). They were fun and quick to make. The hardest part was finding the dried lavender to put into them!
I made this shopping bag for my substitute mother (a long standing story) Kath, for her birthday. It's a really easy pattern that I got of Leanne Beasley's blog and it's a very useful, everyday kind of bag.