I'm back again..............

 I am aware that it was 2 weeks yesterday since I last posted and looking back I see that the 2 posts before that were birthday and missing fabric ones. That means it has been "awhile" since there has been any newsfromjude updates. So now that I am sitting at the computer listening to Max quilt away at the other side of the room, perhaps I need to work out just what has kept me so busy this month. I can't believe that June will be finished in 2 days and that means that half of the year has gone!!

I did step back from life for a time earlier this month and tried not to be toooo busy. ...... be back in a moment, Max has stopped and I need to see why........ back again.... quilt is now finished, unpinned and next one ready to go, but that will be tomorrow morning as I have an appointment this afternoon. 

I mentioned that I had my first Covid shot, and didn't feel a thing at the time. I was quite fatigued for a few days after, and a slight headache, but otherwise all good. (It was a good excuse to sit in the recliner by the fire while it was raining and cold outside!) Hopefully the numbers of people being vaccinated will increase and all these border shutdowns can be over. There seems to be lots of differing opinions about this topic, so I won't go any further and change the subject now.

Once again I am behind in reading blogs and hope that I can catch up soon. So back to newsfromjude and I can see that there are not heaps of photos in the files to remind me of where the time has gone. I did post asking for some fabric that am short of.....this is the story of why......

I have quite a few (not saying how many) UFO's taking up space in various tubs in my work room. Over the years I have done a lot of workshops, and decided that I should try and finish some of these. I came upon this one just before the long weekend and thought that it would be a good one to work on. I commenced this top in a "Design your own quilt" class with Michele Hill, and discovered that this was way back in May, 2012, so it has been patiently waiting for 9 years now!! It had been rolled up and filed away on the shelf and the remaining fabrics and threads all carefully put together in a tub. I have plans to add couching and braids to this project.

 I had stitched some of the applique down, but not all, and some pieces were lifting and a few edges were fraying, so it was time to get them anchored!

I have now stitched all the applique to the background fabric and during the process was thinking about how I would finish it all. Plan A was to turn the top on point and add more applique to 4 corner triangles to make it larger. It was then that I realised that there was not a lot of the gold fabric left. It is probably close to 20 years since I bought this.

So my question to readers is......what do you think I should do? If I can't find the same fabric, could I get one in the same colour without the pattern, or would it look odd? Or Plan B, could I add a border and use the bits of gold that I have left? Or Plan C, just finish it as it is and call it done?? 

It is now put away again until I come up with a plan and I have gone to the next UFO on my list.

This one is Michele Hill's design Dear William, and I am unsure when I started this, but also more than a few years ago. I had cut and fused all the applique to the background fabric for the 9 blocks and rolled them up and filed them away also. (If you know this pattern, you might notice that I didn't do all the applique in Michele's pattern as I wanted some space for the quilter to do her thing!)

Once again some of the applique was lifting. I enjoyed some more machine time and have now stitched down one whole block, with 8 more to go! 

I enjoyed my little interlude of getting some of my own projects out, even though there is not a finish yet. 

After this life threw another project my way which accounts for the last week or two. One of the members of our local group has not been well and was unable to finish her quilts for our exhibition. So we did what quilters do and stepped in to help get them finished, so that they could be given to her grandchildren.

Quite a bit of the work for this quilt had already been done, and we just needed someone who likes a challenge. 

(This is the President's challenge quilt for our exhibition and was named Mystery and Mayhem!! Some of the members who have done this say it's more Mayhem than Mystery!!) 

There are lots and lots of half square triangles, and many of them small, in this quilt, and if you like balanced or symmetrical quilts, then it may not be for you. There really is no rhyme or reason to how the blocks are put together, so therein lies the challenge.

This quilt was much simpler to finish for the grandchild who had requested a teal quilt.

Many hands make light work when it came to the binding of 2 quilts, and the job was completed in a few hours. 

While quilters make quilts for others, it is not very often that a quilt is especially made for them. I was blessed to receive a quilt made for me 13 years ago when I was going through radiotherapy, and it is still used on my bed every day. 

 Members got together and made a Friendship star quilt which we hope will bring much comfort for the road ahead. This was quilted allover with a sewing pattern, and members signed their names in the blocks.

Of course there has been a few quilts done with Max for June and the usual weekly events such as Bible study, church and Angel and patchwork days. I even managed a bit of baking in the kitchen but there has been no progress in the garden. Winter has well and truly arrived with cold days and we have been blessed with reasonable rainfall.  

Time to finish off now, as I need to head out to my appointment and go to the shops. A few more quilts are on the agenda for this week and another trip up the highway is planned for Friday with more appointments. 

Stay warm and safe and hopefully the borders can reopen soon. My sympathy goes to those families who had holidays planned that now can't happen. 

Blessings, From Jude

Happy Birthday

 Once again I have been delving into the photo files for this  birthday post of my 3rd daughter. 39 years ago she arrived during what was a very cold, but dry winter.

I found this photo below, and I can see who Mr Jett takes after with that smile.

I had planned to be in Melbourne this weekend to help celebrate, but the border shut down put paid to that idea!! Hope you've had a special day with your little family.  Luv Mum

Blessings, from Jude, who is sitting with feet up by the fire and having a quiet weekend instead.

Looking for fabric

 This week I "found" a UFO that I hadn't seen for awhile, and decided this would be my long weekend project.  I have spent today working on it, and considering how I might finish it. My preferred option came unstuck when I realised that there was one fabric that I didn't have much of.

This is a shout out to see if anyone might have some of this in their stash? As I started this 12 years ago, I realise it's a long shot.

Would love to hear from you if you can help.   

Blessings, from Jude

Market Day etc etc!....

 Sorry for the delay in reporting on our Market Day, as it is almost 2 weeks ago now, but better late than never is what "they" say isn't it? Stepping back from the hustle and bustle does mean that less gets done in a day, but if that's what a girl has to do, I am doing it. I had intended to get a quilt done this morning, but it is loaded and tomorrow will be another day. I had a very late start (for me) this morning, which has meant there is no time to get the quilt done today as I am heading out to an appointment very soon. It is very cold outside today, and we are thankful to have had some rain to help the crops germinate........

Soon after I wrote the above paragraph, my computer guy came to sort out a problem I was having and when he left it was time to leave for my appointment. I am back now to finish this post and then I am heading to the warmth of the fire and the recliner. This week I have been leaving the work room earlier than normal and have picked up a book to read in an effort to ease off of life and rest more. I am still feeling very weary, but hope this will help.

Market day was a lot of fun and it was great to catchup with a lot of people I had not seen for ages. There were lots and lots of tables with goodies for sale and many were offloading at bargain prices. I am happy with the sales that I had, and realise that I could have had more if I offered credit card payments. (Since then I have been introduced to a system that may work for me and will be looking into it sometime).

First up is a photo, taken by Faye of The fairy and myself in front of our table.

The next 2 pics are a couple of overall views of the room.

Then I went around and took a few photos and chatted to friends who were selling their wares.

Here are the girls selling their kits and supplies for the Bedford group, and who have raised an amazing amount of money for this charity over the years.

It was great to catch up with Heather again after a few years not seeing each other since she retired from the QGSA  Appraisal Panel. Heather was clearing out her fabric dyeing supplies.

Here are Kerryn and Anna clearing out some of their stash. Kerryn is another former Appraisal Panel member, and these days is organiser extraordinaire of the Quilt Encounter committee.

Zara is another former Panel member, and was selling some amazing journals and small wall hangings. I was so tempted on some of these.

Vicki is still on the Appraisal Panel and one of our group that journeyed to the US in 2018, and it was good to have a chat with her.

And Elaine is a fellow Statler girl, and has been a regular retreater at Bordertown. 

In September I shall probably be holding another fundraiser for the BCNA, so am rather pleased to still have good stocks on hand, as time will be taken up now with getting customer quilts finished in time for our October quilt show. We had a lot of fun with Zoom afternoon teas last year, so I hope to repeat this again. Watch this space for further news closer to the date.

After Market I caught up with DD1 and family before heading back to Mum's place where I spent a couple of days. Sunday afternoon quite a few of the family visited during the course of the day, so it was an opportunity for more photos.

My June schedule had included a plan to drive to Melbourne and visit with DD3 and family and help her celebrate a birthday, but Victoria's recent outbreak and subsequent lockdown has put paid to that plan. 

On Monday I had an appointment with the eye guy for a regular check and new glasses. And apparently I need to go back soon for a Glaucoma retest?? May as well get it all checked, so the afternoon was my annual mammogram and I am happy to report that I have now reached the 13 years milestone all clear. I still have a few other appointments coming up in the next month for various other checks and today I fronted up for my first Covid vaccination. I did not feel a thing but apparently the needle went in, so will await now to see if anything develops in the next couple of days. 

That's all the newsfromjude for now, and it's time to head for a cuppa and that book. Be back sometime and thanks for dropping by and for your comments. 

Blessings, From Jude

It's Sunday evening

 Thanks for all the messages received after my last post. I apologise for my session of wallowing, but life is not always rosy and bubbly is it? Tiredness probably didn't help the way I was feeling either. I have ignored most of the things on my "to do" list for the last couple of days and spent a lot of time sitting in the chair, and I might have had my eyes shut some of the time. I don't have much to report on activities for the weekend, except watching Pat do some sewing on Saturday, and typing up the group newsletter for June. I did go to church this morning, then did some weeding out in the garden, and caught up on some blog reading this afternoon. (Perhaps I should say made progress, not caught up!) A few phone calls finished off the day.

I found out recently just how small the world really is. Jean and Brian were having a visitor to stay with them who had been a bridesmaid in their wedding back in the early 70's. It just so happens that this lady was a girl that I had played tennis with in the Brinkley team when we were probably still in school, late 60's. Not long after that her family moved to Bordertown and I moved north.  So they brought her to visit while she was in town, and it was so good to catch up again after all those years.

Will be back later with a Market Day report. Heading to bed now, ready for a more positive week as I rest and trust in Him. 

Blessings, From Jude

A short update......

 

I am back with some newsfromjude, although it is just a short post tonight of just a few of the happenings while the fairy was visiting. I had uploaded lots of photos, but now will separate them into several smaller posts. 

First up is a photo of the yellow chrysanthemum that I was hoping for. Of all the colours that I had in the garden, I only had 3 different coloured ones grow after the transplanting. I am hoping to have more variety next year after purchasing a few more pots at the garden centre last month.

The tree man left quite a few very large pieces of wood in the backyard after the cutting down of the trees. Friends owned a wood splitter and came around to deal with the large bits that are now much smaller and in a heap to dry out for burning next year.

Sometimes it is the unplanned things that make a difference to the day. I had to phone a friend concerning our upcoming quilt show and found out they they were holidaying at the beach, which was just a nice drive from here. After I finished the business part of the call and had hung up, (why do I say that when these days you only have to press a button??), I had an idea and said to the fairy, how about a day trip to the beach for some fish and chips? Oh no, she said, we have far too much market preparation to do yet, there is no time! It was half an hour later that we departed for the beach!! Note to self, need to do more of that. It was a lovely day out with friends I had not seen in such a long time..... now I am trying to think and it could be more than 3 years!! And the fish was worth the drive also!

After church one Sunday we did some hospital visiting too, and caught up with a couple of friends.

There was much action cutting, and packing kits ready for sale. I will come back soon with a Market report.

I can say that this corner was very messy as I rummaged through looking for just the right fabrics, but it now looks so tidy! My organising fairy left it all so neatly folded before she departed. My worry now is if I need to select a colour from the bottom of those piles, and I am expected to remove it without disturbing things!!?? (Note, this is not the only section of my fabric stash!)

I will come back soon with news from Market day and the days following. I can't believe that another week has been and gone. So much has happened this year, life always seems to be busy, and sounds great. But behind all the activity and fun times there has been quite a bit of not so fun stuff, and this week I have felt rather overwhelmed by it all. Good friends and family are going through turmoil and I am sad for them. Add that to being so very tired and working through a few of my own medical issues. I have cancelled a few things this week and tried really hard to step back from the busyness and pace myself. I have spent more time in God's word, praying for all those people and finding peace.

 

This morning's reading summed it all up, from Matthew Chapter 11, verse 28. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"  Amen.

Enjoy your weekend, whatever you are up to, and wherever you are.

Blessings, From Jude