The journey home

Just a quick posting this morning with the last few photos of my trip.


An early morning journey, sun just coming up, and if you look closely, you can see a few hot air balloons in the sky, over the city of Melbourne.

Still driving.

In a tunnel, rather a long one, tried not to feel claustrophobic.
(I do have a slight tendency to feel that way, after a childhood experience where I was locked in a caravan wardrobe by my brother!)

Out the other side and heading into the city itself.

The Overland train, waiting for it's passengers. This was only half of the train. Lots of people were heading to Adelaide. I only had to go halfway, as Bordertown is on the border between the states of Victoria and South Australia. (Rather obvious, isn't it, now that I said that!)

Just leaving Melbourne, and on my way.
It was a lovely few days, a long overdue trip. It has been 4 years since I stayed with my daughter. Won't be long and I will be back, in January to celebrate the engagement.
Thankyou to all those who "check in" on me, by reading the blog.
Life is back to normal, quilts on the machine, and customers bringing in more. A busy month ahead, can't believe that December is almost here.

Better finish off, need to go "over the road" to The Sanctuary, few things to do, before a visit from a group later this morning.
More quilts to show you soon.

Blessings,
From Jude

Puffing Billy

More news from Jude again today. When I got up this morning, I came out to the news that a booking had been made on Puffing Billy Train. This is a preserved century old steam train still running on its original track in the Dandenong Ranges. The weather was just beautiful and we had a lovely day.

 This is the Belgrave Station which was the start of our journey and departed at 12.30. Susanne had booked the dining car, first class, for a special treat, so that we could have lunch on the way up.

We started our lunch with a Natter Platter, which you can see in the photo, and was delicious.

The lush scenery on the way up and below, the lake at Lakeside, where we finished our journey, before the return trip.

 On the return journey we were served scones with jam and cream. The train seemed to go much faster on the way back, think they had the brakes working hard going downhill!

A fantastic day out, and spending time with a daughter who i don't see nearly enough. Lots to talk about, and amazing scenery. Thankyou.

Tomorrow will be back to reality, and an early train to catch, though I think this one will go much faster. 

Will report in again later in the week. Hope you are having a good week.

Blessings,

 From Jude

Just a quick update to check in,
 I am visiting the city of Melbourne for a few days. Journeyed on the train on Friday, and will return on Tuesday. Visited the Australian Quilt Market yesterday, a trade show of the latest "stuff". Met up with a few girls I knew, and saw some lovely fabrics and threads. Made a few purchases, and looking forward to trying out some threads. Photo above is the sign outside the venue, directing people to either of the events. We had a laugh about the choices, if you can read the sign, you will know why!

Last night we went out to eat, and I met Susanne's future in-laws, which was lovely. Photo below is Dan with his mother and future mother in law.

Today we have been touring around the countryside and checking out possible venues for a wedding in 2015. Photo of Susanne and I at one of the places

Plans for tomorrow are not yet decided. Has been a lovely few days interlude, before I return to the quilts.
Enjoy your week, whatever you will be doing.

Blessings, From Jude

5 years ago

I have just spent awhile doing a posting, and then it crashed, so will try again, a much shorter one this time.
I meant to do this yesterday, but was on a mission to finish a quilt.

5 years ago from yesterday my first grandson (but 4th grandchild) was born.
It only seems like yesterday. I love to see how they grow and develop their personalities, and how different they all are.
They grow so quickly, and next year he will start school.
This photo was taken a few hours after he was born, and just a few days after I had finished my 6 weeks of radiotherapy, so 2 milestones this week.

Hope you had a great day yesterday, and lots of love from Grandma.

Better get busy with today, lots to do, but more about that later.
Blessings,
From Jude
 

More quilts

It seems to be awhile since I posted photos of customer quilts that I have quilted, so thought it a good idea to do some catch up.
This Jo’s quilt, quilted with simple outlining of the shape.

Angela’s quilt, very simple piecing, but very effective, quilted with an allover leaf pattern.

And this is Mary’s quilts, there were 2 and 2 pillow shams, all quilted on the same backing. I have never had such a large “roll” under the arm of the machine before.

Bev’s embroidered quilt, simple custom.

And another from Sherrel, called Camelot, and quilted with an allover pattern.

That’s all folks, catch you another day.
Blessings, From Jude

Indigo and more

 

The Sanctuary was the location for another retreat this past weekend, to experiment and play with dyes. There was some indigo dyeing happening and you can see the results blowing in the breeze. Don’t they look fantastic. Now I don’t really think this is my idea of a fun weekend, but I admire what they have created and those attending had a great time.

Marie Holly of Holly Hand dyes led the girls for the weekend.

This is the “brew” that they used, and it just kept going and going, until Marie pronounced it “dead”.That was just before she was going to dip some fabric for me to add to my stash!

And these are some of the tools of the trade, along with stitching, and threads and string, pieces of pipe etc.

They did some ice dyeing, I think this is the result of that.

Some sun printing.

Above, is what they did, and below the resulting fabric.

And this is the result of using shaving cream. I am sure the checkout person wondered why I was buying 5 cans of shaving cream on Saturday morning!

Proudly showing their favourite piece. I can’t wait to see what they will make with their dyed fabric. I know they were all pleased with their weekend’s work. And the weather has just been glorious, lovely sunny days, and no wind. Getting a bit warmer for the next couple days, so will need to be keeping up with the watering.

And this is Jill’s Rose, which I think I shall need to tie back a bit more. I am starting a collection of rose petals as they dry off, should have quite a few by 2015 when there will be 2 weddings in the family.

Another great weekend of renewed friendships, new friendships formed, lots of good fun and laughter, good food, and a few glasses of ??? I did not “do” the workshop, but kept busy feeding the troops and some quilting. Some more deadlines this week, with quilts due to be done, and a couple of meetings, and looking forward to a trip interstate very soon!

Be back soon, with a quilt show, I promise.

Enjoy your week, whatever you are up too.

Blessings, From Jude

Engagement Party

 

Once again, the week has almost gone, so I better update the blog before it turns out to be old news. As well as the excitement of the quilt show last weekend, there were also a party to celebrate the engagement of my baby son!  I know he is 25 years old now, but he will always be my baby. I guess as he is also 6ft 4in tall, doesn’t really make him look like a baby anymore. I wish them both lots of happiness and blessings in their life together.

Below is the cake which was made by daughter no 2. Isn’t she clever?

Trying to get a bit of a height advantage to make a speech.

The happy couple.

A photo taken with my parents, and myself.

Had a lovely lunch the next day with daughter no 3 and her new fiance, before I took them to the airport to go back to Melbourne. We look forward to celebrating their engagement in Melbourne in January. Both weddings are planned for 2015, so that will be a big year.

And this is the view from my motel room in the Barossa, looking out over fields of vines, the gum trees in the foreground. Was a lovely spot, and I was serenaded by the kookaburras.

Time to get into the workday, have been busy with the quilts this week, lots to catch up on. Feeling a bit “ordinary” this week, rather tired, a bit headachy, (is that even a word??), and some sniffles, hope I am not getting a cold.

Getting ready for a retreat this weekend at The Sanctuary, Marie has a group to do Indigo Dyeing and Silk Paper making. Still have to work out the menu and do some cooking.

Will be back soon with more quilt photos, there seems to be so much “other” happenings, that the quilt photos have been neglected, but they will come.

Enjoy your day,

Blessings, From Jude

Festival of Quilts, 2013

It must be time for another posting about this past week, which has been full of good times. Firstly a report on the Quilters Guild of South Australia Festival of Quilts. What an amazing display of work it was. I took lots of photos, but am unable to post them unless I have permission from the quilt owners, so I only have a few photos to show. The quilts were of a very high standard, and there were lots that did not receive ribbons, but were  very worthy of one.

This is a car decorated with a quilt, which has been used to promote the show.

I recently quilted this quilt for Christina, (Susquehanna Stars), and did not get a full shot of it hanging as it was so large, but here it is, and looks lovely with its ribbons! Christina was excited to win 2nd prize in the Traditional, 2 person category, and we both get a ribbon and attended the presentation night at the Guild meeting last week to receive her prize. Her piecing work is just amazing and I was honoured to quilt it for her.

And this is Faye’s ring cycles.

And Pat’s Blue Diamonds and Peaches and Cream, her candlewicked quilts.

And last, but certainly not least is Michele Hill’s amazing quilt, 16th Century Fantasy, which won Best of Show! The photo does not do it justice, it is just beautiful, in the right light it just sparkles. Michele has done the most beautiful hand embroidery, and beading and machine applique. She has kept a record of the hours spent making this.

Below is Michele, earlier in the year working on this quilt at a retreat at The Sanctuary, which makes this quilt all the more special!

Most of us go to quilt shows and look at the quilts, and have our opinions on the ones we think are the best, and “judge” the quilts in one way or another. I know I have, but we don’t always have all the facts in front of us when we do this. I was present last week to help at the judging day, along with many others, and have a new appreciation for the judges task. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes of a quilt show, from receiving the entries, and then the quilts, and sorting and photographing them, and the judging. I really enjoyed the experience and had a great day. There are not enough prizes for every quilt, but the real prize is to see your quilt hanging up for all to see. Without all the entries, there would not be a quilt show. Congratulations to all who entered, and all of the committee who organised the show, it was fantastic.

Be back soon with another post about another special occasion.

Blessings, From Jude