Looking Back and Looking Ahead..............

I know I posted yesterday of the happenings of 2019, but today, the last day of the year seems like a fitting time to look a bit deeper.

Often we hear people tell us not to look back, but only ahead, but I think it's important to remember and reflect on the past. Perhaps, in hindsight, we can see more clearly? When I remember, and look back, I can see God's faithfulness guiding me.

While I knew that the end of the year was coming and a new one about to start, I only realised this week, that in fact, we are about to embark on a new decade! I follow a few blogs, and some of them have reflected on where they were at the start of each new decade, which led me to thinking about that for myself..................

•  The 1960's ....... Being born in 1954, these years were definitely school years for me. I enjoyed school, and lived on a farm, so travelled each day on the school bus.
• The 1970's......... I finished school, worked for 3 years, and then married the love of my            life. His work took us away from our home towns, there were a few moves, and the first of our 2 children were born. The late 70's saw us change occupation and start dairy farming
• The 1980's..........Still dairy farming along the river, and our next 2 children were born, busy, busy years, working 7 days a week, 365 days of the year, very few days off
• The 1990's..........A move to a mixed farm at Bordertown and some very hard years.....and after many years of sewing, I found patchwork! (Don't they say, When life gives you scraps, to      make quilts?)
• The 2000's..........The end of our farming days, a move into town, first grandchildren born, death of husband, living on my own, start of machine quilting business, Cornerstone Creations.
• The 2010's..........Still machine quilting, purchase of another house for retreats, called The Sanctuary, which continued for 5 years, now retreats continue in my house... Life continues to  be very busy, and by end of 2019 I have 10 grandchildren, am still quilting for others and still hosting retreats. And wondering where God is leading me next.

The 2020's......... ?????

At the time of some major life events, it was so easy to be caught up in the negatives of the situation, and just dealing with the everyday stuff. Looking back at those times now, I can see the positives that have come out of those hard times. I can see that God was leading us, drawing me closer, giving me peace in the situation, and providing for us the whole time. I know that He uses these times to grow us, and draw us to Him. We are never alone. There is a Bible verse that speaks to me over and over, and that is Jeremiah Ch 29, v 11. I know that He has plans for me, and I continue to trust that He will continue to guide me, if I listen for His voice.

So, the 2020's?? I sense that there is a new season ahead, and maybe changes, but for now, I am unsure what. Watch this space.

May the year 2020 be one of peace and hope for you too.

Blessings, From Jude

The year that was 2019....................

It's hard to believe that another year has almost gone. And where did it go?? Is it that life goes faster as we get "older"? Or is life too busy?? Or am I getting slower??

Looking back into the files of 2019 I can see where the year went, and the following is only a brief outline.

I started sorting photos and "stuff" and wrote the first section of The Story of my Life,........

Mr Tate, my 9th grandchild was born in January..................

........................and GD1 turned 18, and there was a family celebration....................

My sister and I went on a 3 day road trip in February to attend our nephew's wedding and spent our first ever one on one time together...........................

In March, GD2 also turned 18, and of course there was another family celebration............

In March Miss Billie turned 1, and there was another road trip to Melbourne to celebrate, but this time I had the company of my mother........................

In March, my dad went into full time care in Murray Bridge.................

Early in the year I boasted some lovely flowers and also vegetables in my garden, but I have to say that the latter half of the year has suffered due to serious neglect. My summer vegie garden is struggling in this heat, and was planted very late. This garden bed is empty too.

In July it was Adelaide Quilt Show time, and customer quilts received some awards................

..............................In September, Mr Jett, my 10th grandie was born...................

I did manage to get some of my own quilts done during the year, in an effort to have something to enter into our local group exhibition in October, including the following................

My string quilt, that was pieced in January, and quilted in time for the exhibition.............

I quilted this flower panel that I purchased in the US  in 2018......................

I made this log cabin quilt early in the year, and also got it quilted for the show.............

I dug a long standing UFO out of the dark depths, and managed to get it quilted. It only took 15 years from start to finish!!!

In the last few months I have pieced this quilt for a friend, who wanted a bright quilt, but it is not quilted yet. You know that my quilter leaves my tops in her queue for ages don't you? My dilemma...... do I use coloured thread which will show on the black, or use black thread which will show on the colours?? Or should I just do a custom job, so that I don't have to make that decision?? Opinions please.

Of course the year has also had it's share of retreats (a total of 11!), and 3 of those were Mystery weekends, so that meant I designed and cut quite a number of little kits.

And added to this list is all the customer quilts that have gone "out the door", that you have seen on this blog at times. I did have an email from a reader today, commenting on the last post, and was curious how many quilts I do in a year. The total of customer quilts was the subject of a blog competition some time back and I do know the number of quilts by looking at the invoice number. But I haven't really checked the annual number lately. I know it used to be up to 200 some years. I did look up for this year, and was surprised to find my tally much less for 2019. But upon reflection, I should not be surprised because I have done a lot of intense, custom, show quilts lately, that have taken a lot more time. I guess that I could churn out a lot more per week if I only did allover quilting?? My total for almost 18 years of machine quilting is almost 3000 quilts now!! Here I am wondering where this year went, but how did 18 years go so fast?

Of course there were other family occasions, and visits by family to here. And in amongst the special occasions, there were the sad times, watching loved ones and friends go through troubles, or saying goodbye to people we loved.

Perhaps that explains where the year 2019 has gone.

Be back with another post soon.

Blessings, From Jude

Last quilts for 2019.........

As there are not many days left for 2019, I better finish posting pics of the last few customer quilts that are still in the files, and then I can start afresh in 2020. Wow, 2020!!

This quilt, called Cornflowers Blue, was made by Erica in a recent Mystery retreat and has been quilted allover with a pattern called A tisket, a tasket.

This is another made by Erica, for a child, and it has been quilted allover with a pattern called Dick, Jane and Dora.

I did post a glimpse of this quilt awhile ago, showing the excess in the border, which miraculously disappeared with the piano key border.

Good use was made of many sewing machine decorative stitches on the leaves and the flowers in the blocks, although they don't show up so well in these photos. Should have taken close up pictures.

This quilt, called Ink Blossom, (after the range of fabrics used), was made by Sherrel in a mystery retreat, and quilted allover with a Daisy pattern.

Kaye made this quilt as a gift for her son, and is her original design. She just wanted straight line quilting. You won't find any curves in the quilting, but I did vary the "straight lines" somewhat.

Going back in the files, I see that I posted a photo of this quilt when I had loaded it on Max. I had started the quilting, and had to take it off to get some deadlines done, and never posted the finish pics.
This is a Jacqueline De Jonge designed pattern, made by Dyanne. I did think about counting the triangles in the quilt, but decided it was better not knowing how many there were! If you click on the photo, you will be able to see the quilting better.

That's all the quilt photos for 2019, and I am sure there will be some more in 2020. I hope to be back in action with Max tomorrow, after some time "off" over the Christmas break. Max has had some serious repair work done this week, so I am hoping that he will behave for me now. All the computer towers in the studio have been cleaned out, and 2 fans replaced. I was told that they were well overdue for a clean, and I was close to having a serious problem with overheating. The temperature is supposed to reach 43 tomorrow, so time in front of the airconditioner will be a good idea.

There is some serious decluttering and sorting happening in the studio at the moment, and I can't wait to feel more organised. I have also done some long overdue backing up of computer files, and have not finished that job yet. The watering of the garden is taking some keeping up with in this heat, but am thankful that we have water.

Hope to be back with one more post before the end of the year. Stay cool.

Blessings, from Jude

Christmas Family Time

I returned home last night after 2 special Christmas celebrations with family. After lunch on Christmas Day I drove the 3 1/4 hours to the Barossa to join all of my children, and all, (except one) of the grandchildren. The Melbourne branch spent the previous night here with me on their way up and are here again tonight and will leave for home tomorrow. I might have taken a few photos to share with you.............

Mister Jett is growing up so fast, and is 3 months old today. ......

....and it was nice to have some cuddle time with Miss Billie, before she joined her other cousins..........................

Mr 11 year old, and Miss Bridie, waiting for present time................

......and a smiling Mr 8 year old...............

.....cheeky Miss Billie,.................

.....wonder if one of these will be for me???

Mr Tate getting to know his Aunty................... 

...........and Jett checking out his teddy gift from Grandma...............

.............wrapping paper everywhere and checking out the gifts............

.............then it was time for a game of volleyball in the pool...................

After spending the night at Murray Bridge with my mum, we all gathered at my sister's house for the extended family celebration. Dad had a day out from the nursing home to join us, and we totalled about 40 for lunch!! We lined mum and dad up for lots of family photos, as we are not all together very often. This is DD1 and children taking their turn.................

It was a big surprise to mum and dad when my brother arrived from Darke Peake, which is 10 hours travel away.........and this seems like it was the men's corner, but was really where the barbecue was cooking the meat for lunch..........................

.......It has been long time since the 5 of us have had a photo taken with mum and dad............

..................Some of the family gathering ready for the handout of more presents.............

...............from under this tree...........

........................Cuddle time with the youngest 2 of my grandies.................

What a blessing it has been to spend this time with so many of my family. We all value the Boxing Day tradition and not many of mum and dad's grandchildren miss it. It is special to watch each family grow, and now the great grandchildren are arriving. In the next 6 months there will be 2 more great grandies, for a total of 18. It is a very noisy gathering with lots of littlies running around having fun.

That's all for now, will be back with a quilt update soon as we finish off the year that is 2019.

Blessings, From Jude