Home from Tasmania

Got home from 3 months travelling everywhere around Tasmania a few weeks ago, but we've been flat out since!
We had 2 other motorhomes stop at our place and so have been communal cooking ever since. Last Saturday my partner Edward turned 60, we had a party and since then I have had time to myself. So I've been doing my new BOM designed by Rose Johnson, In Pop's Garden.

The reason I even knew about this BOM is strange in itself... we were having problems with starting the generator on the motorhome, the solar wasn't getting enough sun, so we stopped at Exeter. This was purely by chance as we noticed the Stihl dealership and decided that they would have the parts needed! So Edward stopped on the main road, while I waited in the bus. Then I noticed a shop on the other side of the road called "Calico Crossroads"!! Now, having a big bus/motorhome means that it is difficult to stop at Patchwork shops so I ventured out to have a look. Lo and behold I spotted some fabrics I really will need one day and saw a very nice quilt hanging from the roof (the shop is an American Barn shape). I spoke to Pauline, the owner and she told me about the BOM, and showed me the colours of the quilt that will be used. Lovely, so my two cocker spaniels (sitting patiently in the bus) bought me an early Mothers Day present. The ironic thing is, I did a market there in Exeter when we first arrived in Tasmania 2 months earlier, and didn't even see the shop.

I have pieced the first block together, and started the stitchery last night. I'll post a pic as soon as I finish it.

Alexa's Library Bag

This is the first patchwork item I've actually designed from the ground up using EQ6, or anything else for that matter. It is the same on the back, without the name!

Alexa is a very girlie girl, loves pink, so I hope she'll like this. She is my daughter's neice by marriage, and is in her first year at school.

William

Here is a close-up of William. He looks just like his Mum at the same age here.

Williams Christening

My 6 month old grandson William Riley Close was christened on the 20th December at St. Brigids church in Mordialloc. Father Michael made the stole and the candle.
William wore his Mum's (my daughter Fiona's) christening gown, originally made by my Mother. I had to "boy" it a bit by making a false panel to cover the lace front and replaced the yellowed ribbon with a pale blue ribbon. It was a lovely day.
All this in the same church my daughter was christened in, had her 1st communion, confirmation then married in.

Here are a few other things I have been making to keep myself busy, until now when our craft market season begins in earnest!

The bags I made as gifts for my partners daughter-in-law, but it appears the 2 year old daughter of the family has claimed both bags as hers!

The frog bag I made for my partners daughter...she loves frogs, and going to the beach in summer, so I hope it can double as a beach bag.

I made the angel as something to make while watching telly on a cold night, the scissors sit in the back of her...the notebook covers are also hand stitched. I have lots of other things that I have made, but can't show yet as they are going to be gifts in the future.

My next thing to go up here? There is a quilt in one of the rooms that I have to finish the border of, so that will be my next post here, without the border.....that way I will hurry up and show you all the finished quilt, with the border!

more new stuff

This is the outside of the needlebook I sent off in a swap recently on the craft forum. I will post the one I received back shortly.

This is the inside. Several pages of felt for plenty of needles.

Looks like I am doing not much at all at the moment, but I have so many UFO's to take photos of in the next week, so will do so, then I'll have a bigger blog. I have made a few things for my advent swapo on the forum, but can't take photos and publish them until after Christmas. Forgot to take a photo of my table runner I have already swapped so I am making another!