Easter report...

I had intended to post this yesterday, but it was such a busy day, that by evening I decided that bed was a good choice and this report could wait until this morning. And my usual very early "get out of bed" time turned out to be much later than usual. It is heading to 8.30am and I am still sitting here in my dressing gown with my first cuppa for the day.

Friday afternoon saw the arrival of a lovely group of ladies to spend the weekend here at Number 8. We have enjoyed some special time together, trying out the "new" retreat place. There has been lots of laughter, some great story telling, good food, and even some sewing time!

Sunday morning a group of us got out of bed, when it was still dark, and dressed in our scarves and coats, to attend the dawn Easter service which was held at the lake here in town. It is always a lovely service, listening to the birds waking up, and remembering the reason for Easter.

The following photos are just a selection from the last few days. There will be some more hopefully later of a special event today.

I had quite a few jobs on my to-do list and number 1 was to make the new curtains for the sliding door which leads from the lounge to the pergola. Here you can see they are made, but not yet hung. They are now hanging, but still need some work, and have not been hemmed.

Pat was designing her quilt on EQ7 and working out what size to cut her pieces for another candlewicked quilt that is being made for her grand daughter.

Brekkie time for the latest riser.

 A picture of concentration as one lady makes some minkie blankets for a baby gift. This was rather slippery to sew and was not easy. She is also wearing her crown, because she has a special "0" birthday this week.

This lady is the quiet achiever and was using scraps to make blocks as in the photo below.

They look great all laid out on the floor.

And then she made some more and some more. Might end up with 3 quilts like this!

And another project that I had to work on was the "wedding" quilt. Progress was made and all the squares are now stitched together. Just need to consult DD3 and DSIL to plan the quilting of this.

Evenings were time to put the feet up, and read some magazines.

This weekend was also a time to try out a few more of the 10 oven functions that the new cooker has. I could not imagine why an oven would need all these functions! Since this "monstrosity" had arrived I have been a bit, lot daunted by it, and thought it was really more than I needed. My children were the ones who told me I "needed" a larger oven. As I had managed quite well all these past years with a "normal" size oven I felt a bit extravagant in finally agreeing with the kitchen plans drawn up by DS for a 900 wide oven. Sunday lunch was roast lamb, followed by baked cheesecake, and I can now see that maybe I might use the different functions more than I thought.

I saw this recipe online somewhere during the the week, and thought this was appropriate for Easter, with the half eggs on the top. It was delicious, and cooked just right. I think I might be loving this new oven after all!!!

Cleanup time, and this lady hardly ever sits still!

Another of my projects was to made a cover for my Kenwood mixer, with the fabric that Michele chose last weekend. This just adds a bit of colour in the corner and really sings! Good choice Michele, thankyou. I put this fabric onto Max, and quilted a crosshatch pattern, and then cut out the pieces, which were then stitched together.

Last year when the hen's weekend was held before the wedding, the theme for that weekend was Black and Bling. When it was time to pack after that, I brought home the decorations and decided I would use them for a Black and Bling retreat here. This weekend we have done that as there is a special birthday celebration happening, so it seemed appropriate. We had a competition where you were given some sticky bling to wear and not allowed to mention some words, and if you did then you lost the sticky bling and the winner got a prize. Here is one lady with some of her "bling".

 And some of the borrowed decorations.

There will be some more black and bling happening today, and I will post that later. Might even get a group photo of us all dressed in the black and bling. 

Progress was made by Jocelyn with these blocks which were started in a workshop with Mary Williams a few years ago.

And Pauline has made progress on this quilt which is a birthday gift for a friend. A border is still to be sewn, and then I shall get a photo.

This little pile is not getting a lot of progress, as the owner is too busy helping others with their projects.

 Pat's progress with the candlewicked quilt.

 Early morning photo before they are all up. The brick wall is due for a quilt or two to hang up there when I get something up for them to hang on.

My sister sent me this photo on facebook yesterday, and thought I might like it. I don't know whose quilt it is, or I would acknowledge them. My sister is not a quilter, or a sewer, but she thought of me. And when I saw this photo, I was reminded a a colourwash quilt that I had started many, many, years ago  in my early quilting years.

So I went to the drawer where all my projects are, that are "patiently" waiting for my quilter to get her act together!! And I found this little wall hanging. Maybe it was time to get it finished?? It seemed like it was meant to be.

So it was loaded onto Max and now it's done. Well, except for the binding and hanging sleeve.

I might have to start working through the pile in the drawer. Some of them are not large and would not take long. So stay tuned for more progress. That "balance" that I have been striving for, might just be about to happen!!

And before I finish up, maybe a photo of Miss Bridie would be appropriate. I don't think she was allowed to get to the chocolate under the paper, but was quite happy with the paper.

I hope you have had a lovely Easter, whatever you have been doing.

Blessings, From Jude