Winners are grinners!

I guess a lot of you are waiting to see if you are a winner of the recent competition that celebrates my 1,000th blog post. I am pleased to report there are a good number of entries, and I thank you all for that. I did receive a few email comments from some who tried to leave them on the blog, but were unable to work it out. I even found one comment tonight, from a lady who emailed me and said she tried. This was lurking in the comments section of the Contact me page of my blog.

It was interesting to read how long some of you have been reading, and how you came to find newsfromjude, and one reader was very poetic! Some of you have been reading from the beginning, which was July, 2011, and some are more recent. Some are locals and some are from overseas.

I read a number of blogs, and it is sad when people stop writing, and take up facebook or instagram instead, which seems to be a quicker media. I like to think a blog is more like visiting with a friend, and getting to know them, and facebook is not like that.

I know I don't always leave a comment on blogs, but it is nice to receive one from readers and I thankyou for your comments.  It is quite a time consuming thing, to download the photos, and write a post, (and perhaps rewrite it after you read it, or worse still, lose it!), but I will be continuing into the future. I am loving the collection of books I have, and it is fun to sometimes go back and read them, or check up on when something happened.

I suppose I have rambled on enough, and you are thinking, just get on with it!

The winner of the competition is Lyn, from Phillip Island, Victoria.

5 years ago, Lyn attended her first retreat, which was at The Sanctuary, and has been back a couple of times each year since then. She is one who has been unable to leave a comment on the blog. It just so happens that Lyn was here for the Easter retreat, and was wanting to enter the competition. I watched her sit at the table with her IPad on Friday, and again try to leave a comment. She got the "runaround" with Google, and persevered, writing a long comment, which was almost a book, until it said it published. But it must still be in cyberspace, as it did not come to my blog, yet?? 

The winner was drawn after lunch on Sunday, by a lady who had not entered the competition. I held up the basket with the names in it, so they were not visible, and Lyn's name came out.

I look forward to seeing what she will create with the contents of the case. 

Once again, I thank you all for entering, and we will do this again another time. I do love to hear from you all. 

Blessings, From Jude

Back again!

As it is already Wednesday, I better check in before the week just gone becomes but a distant memory! I know there are some who have been looking for newsfromjude, including my mother! Hi, mum, you don't have to wait any longer! 😊😊

Today it has been "catch up" day, as that quilt is finished, and been picked up by it's owner, and I feel like I can get on with some of life's other jobs. I am sorry I can't post any photos, yet, of the finished quilt, as it is destined for a show soon. But I can tell you that I had ?????, (read LOTS) of thread colour changes as the fabric colours changed. The following photo shows the threads that I used.

I have decided to break up the newsfromjude into more than one post, so stayed tuned for the next one, which will be to announce the winner of the competition, and then another for a full Easter retreat report. And there might be another one soon about a special delivery that I got.

Blessings, From Jude

Quick checkin.................

I had intended to post a full report on the Easter retreat tonight, but today has not turned out like it was planned, so this will have to wait. My eyes are too tired to think about it right now. I still have one lady here until tomorrow, when quilting will resume.

Be back soon,

Blessings, From Jude

Happy Birthday

Today it is 42 years since I gave birth to my 2nd baby! She was due on the 8th April, but kept me waiting for another 15 days. And her arrival was very quick, even surprising the hospital staff. 

She was worth waiting for, and it has been a joy to watch her grow up and have her own family.

This pic is a more recent photo of her and hubby, taken back in January. Do hope you have had a lovely birthday, and or course Easter as well. Luv Mum.

I shall be back with another post soon, and report on our Easter retreat, and of course announce the winner of the 1,000th post competition.

Blessings,  From Jude

Sunday and rejoicing

Blessings, From Jude
(who is getting ready to head out to the Lake for a Sunrise service this morning)

Last day to enter the competition

Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter the competition to celebrate that I have achieved 1000 blog posts. It will close at midnight, South Australian time tonight.
I have loved reading all the comments about how long you have been reading newsfromjude and how you came to find me. Thankyou to all my readers. While I don't write each post just to get comments, it is nice to hear from you.

I started my blog as a way to promote my quilting, and the retreats at The Sanctuary, but over the years I have added in family and the rest of my life. As I get this printed each year, I have accumulated quite a large collection of newsfromjude blog books.

We are having a fantastic weekend here with beautiful friends. Lots of laughs and stories, and a bit of sewing is happening. I will be back with a full report in due course.

Hope you are having a great Easter, whatever you are doing and wherever you are in this wide world. This time last year I was touring around the United States and having a great time.

Blessings, From Jude.

Good Friday

Today we think about what happened, and give thanks.

Blessings, From Jude