Christmas and Summer Holidays

If there is anybody left out there who still looks to read this blog, may I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

My lovely friend Marleen have me this cute and novel wreath. How versatile are those hexagons?

Lunching with my dear quilting friends yesterday, Vicky, Joan and Marleen. Lilian also joined us. We had a lovely meal, shared some gifts and some laughter.

I have had this reindeer stamp for many years, so finally put it to use and made some little gift cards for my friends.

Shirley gave me this great book by Chris Cozen who does lovely textile and mixed media work. She loves experimenting with different mediums and explains different ways to alter fabric in the book. It is good reading.

 

Our darling granddaughter was the most precious reindeer at her ballet concert a fortnight ago. The whole concert was really entertaining and a credit to the teacher.

This pair are getting hooked on the latest craze. Lilian chose a Mandala colouring book at the shop and I have Shirley the Jane Monk book, Tangled Gardens. There are some fabulous designs in them.

Shirley loves butterflies and started on this one. Beautiful!

Lilian seems to have an inate colour sense and her fine motor skills are outstanding for her age. Looking good!

 

Until next time, Dianne

 

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Patchwork Piecing

Patchwork piecing is not my thing really.

Toowoomba Quilters Club is conducting a block of the month at the moment with two blocks per month published in their newsletter. I decided to challenge myself and give it a go.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the results. They are not perfect - but they are mine!!

Block No 1 is called "Christmas Cards" (I chose to do a non-Christmas version)

Block No 2 is called Rick Rack Row

Our cute little granddaughter, Lilian, is doing ballet again this year. She seems to be a natural and is very good at pointing her toes and keeping a straight back. I was a proud Nana at her recent open day where Mummy's, Daddy's and grandparents could check out a lesson.

 

She loves it!

This spectacular wattle tree is in full bloom at my father's abode. When we arrived to visit him he was out enjoying the sun and admiring the tree. He is 87 years old next month and is still travelling on well despite all his ailments.

Dad and my sister xxx

Until next time ................ Dianne

 

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A Wedding & Some Crafty Dabbling

Our beautiful daughter was married to her wonderful guy on 13 March beside the river at Noosaville. It was a fabulous wedding.

I got all dressed up.

So did the beautiful Lilian who relished in her job of flower girl.

I did the card sign and place cards. They were done with watercolours on watercolour paper. I used a pigma No 8 pen to write the names.

It started like this.

The scissors gave the edge the ripped look. They were fun to make and DD loved them

For the first time ever I got to try my hand at some procion dyeing. Here are my fabrics in their containers 'brewing'

Some of my finished fabrics. I used a white sheet from a set we didn't like. They were 'noisy' sheets made of 1,000 count cotton. Very annoying but have now been reborn.

I loved the dyeing process and can't wait to do some more.

 

Somewhere in amongst all the madness of the beginning of this year I fitted in an online workshop with Jenniebellie and made this journal. It is made with some old sketches gifted to me by Shirley. The sketch on the front cover was done by Shirley too and I am hoping her sketches will inspire me to do some sketching as well. I really enjoyed the journal making process and hope to make some more in the future.

Finishing up with a funny photo taken at the wedding photo booth. My sister on the left proclaiming her love for beer, DH in the middle who states "you only live once - YOLO" and me on the right.

Wishing you all a Happy and Blessed Easter my dear blogging friends.

Until next time ................ Dianne

 

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Embroidered Quilt Gift

I am one lucky girl!

At my birthday gathering back in Feb. my dear friends had planned a surprise and presented me with this wonderful embroidered wall hanging.  It blows me away to think that they think that much of me to make me something so very special.

Close up of the blocks.  The work in them is exquisite and I love how the ladies have included some bright colours to make the whole thing ‘pop’.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

My friend, Joan, also gave me this fabulous hand knitted face cloth and sweet smelling soap.  It was tied together with some of her lovely cotton lace.  xxx Thanks Joan.

Marleen gave me this colourful, handy pot holder which has been put straight to use.  She made it using some type of lined paper, and all she had to do was sew on the lines.  She said it was easy - I might have to commission her to do some for me to give as gifts!!  Hugs to Marleen.

The months are flying by and now it is officially Autumn, although you wouldn’t know it by the heat waves and tropical storms we have been getting.

Looking forward to Easter – one of my favourite times of year here in Toowoomba.

Until next time – happy quilting and crafting – Dianne.

Birthdays & Weddings

Hello dear blogging friends.

Another birthday has happened – we cannot stop them – and why would we? 

My lovely quilting friends chucked a surprise and took me out to morning tea. They presented me with something really special. It has been kept secret for months – apparently.

We went to the cafe at Spring’s Garden World and they had wonderful cakes and goodies.  I have never seen such a large piece of carrot cake.  Compare it to Marleen’s lemon cheesecake!!!  Half of it came home in a take away box for my hubby to enjoy.  Thank you everyone for coming and making my 61st birthday so special.

They all pitched in and did these very gorgeous little embroidered blocks and I love how they have joined them with a mix of all the colours and fabric they know I love. Special thanks to Loretta who constructed the quilt and Alison who did THE most wonderful tiny hand quilting stitches.    Thank you also to Shirley, Marleen, Joan, Linda, Vicky, Marilyn and Dot.  You are truly wonderful friends to have.

Here is a collage close up of the embroideries – some nice little patterns here.

Shirley surprised me with a Gelli Plate for my birthday and the Gelli Plate book to go with it.  It is something I have had on the wish list for ages.  Thank you my dear friend.

I will post some of my prints in the next blog or this one will get long and boring.  Gelli printing is sooooo much fun.

Marleen gifted me this bright and cheerful pot stand which she tells me she made using paper which is all lined out with the pattern and you simply sew on the lines.  Think it will be easier to commission her to make me some.

Joan gave me this very soft knitted face cloth and the most delightful smelling soap (rose & geranium), and of course some of her special lace.  She is always giving me some of her lovely collection of laces.  Such a sweet friend.  The washer and soap was purchased from the gift shop next door to the Cuckoo clock centre at Cabarlah.  A shop that sounds like it needs checking out sometime!!

Our beautiful second daughter Bonnie is marrying soon and so her friends took her out for her final single fling last weekend.  That is her on the right and Rebecca on the left.

We are so looking forward to the wedding. 

Until next time -    Dianne.

Some Art Journalling and Playtime

Happy Australia day for yesterday to all you proud Aussies.  We spent the day with family and friends enjoying a peaceful day and being thankful for this great country we live in.  There was a wee bit of tennis watching going on too

School holidays have just ended here in sunny Queensland.

We look after Lilian for most of the duration of the school holidays, and the one thing she loves to do the most, is paint with Nana.

She now has her own little art journal made from an old repurposed book and she has had loads of fun transforming the pages into art works.

After watching a video by Claudia Rossi, she wanted to embark on this one. Firstly she painted some bright rainbow colours onto the page in acrylics.

Then it was a fairly thick layer of gesso and while it is still wet she drew in some flowers with the end of her paint brush, which revealed some of the lovely colours underneath.

A little border around the edge and some words and she was done and happy!

My page shown start to finish below – I know, not as ‘free’ and smashing as Lilian’s.

  

I did this page spread which is at the beginning of a little travel art journal I have been playing with. This was our first trip we did in a tent.

One day when Lilian went to visit her little friend, I made her this sweet little pin cushion.  I had the components sitting in my cupboard for about 5 years.  She loved it and immediately raided my pin cushion to fill hers.

The Travelander is being packed ready for another little trip.  This is how it looks off the truck and then the tent all folds down into the white part and it will go onto the back of our truck. 

Until next time……………….Dianne