Wow, More exciting news!

 

One month ago I shared the engagement of my son, and this time it’s the engagement of daughter number 3! Must be something about holidays, as these 2 are holidaying also.

I received a phone call yesterday, it was a bit hard to hear, as she was calling from Champagne in France! So 2 engaged in a month, and both guys had aready bought the ring.

Looks as though there will be busy times ahead, with parties to celebrate, and then 2 weddings to plan for! It will be another month before this couple are back in Australia. Their holiday continues across Europe.

Time to get into the shower, and start my day. Have a quilt on the machine I need to finish today. Be back soon with more quilt photos.

Have a great day,

Blessings, From Jude

In the Pink Retreat

It's almost that time of the year again, when we have the "In the Pink" Retreat at The Sanctuary. Last year was a great success, and lots of fun.

Below is the quilt that was made by some fantastic friends, which is to be raffled. Thankyou so much to the 6 lovely ladies who planned a sewing day, and made the quilt without me knowing a thing! (I almost upset the plot, when I called into my friend's house on my way home from shopping, as they were all inside, sewing in secret, and had hidden their vehicles
 where I would not see them! Thought it was a bit strange when I was met at the door and not invited in.)

Proceeds of the raffle go to the Breast Cancer Network Australia. This is my way of giving back, as I benefited by the support of BCNA when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2008. I had surgery and follow-up treatment, and have just passed the milestone of 5 years!

The retreat is on from September 20 - 22, so not long to go now.
 I have a lovely group of ladies, and a couple spaces left in the house still. Would love to hear from anyone who is interested.
We are going to wear pink, eat pink, drink pink, and sew pink.

Thanks also must go to those who have donated pink items for the goodie box. All those attending the retreat will be given pink purses, with pink play money, which they will use to bid on these items in mini auctions, which are lots of fun. And we will finish the weekend on the Sunday afternoon with a Pink High Tea, served on my grandmothers best tea set!


I would love to hear from anyone interested in buying
 raffle tickets, at $2 each.
This will be drawn on the Sunday afternoon.

This was the sewing area before the girls arrived last year, and the raffle quilt in the background.

 
And these were all the goodies that were auctioned last year.

 

And the pink ladies from last year, (minus a couple). Don't they look beautiful in their pink?

 

Would love to hear from you,

 

Blessings

From Jude

 

Catching up

 

Time for a few more quilt photos, seem to have blogged about a lot of “other stuff” recently and the quilts that are not shown are building up again.

Below a quilt made by Lona for a relative, who wanted black, white, grey and “another colour”.

These are 2 made by Suzie, one for a little boy who loves John Deere tractors, and the other a floral quilt.

These 2 made by Di, above, just simple squares showcasing the fabrics, and heavily quilted with a feather pattern, and below, a touch of pink with black and white, which looks very striking.

And this made by Marion, a quilt (I think), called Everyday Angels, which was around in my early days of quilting. I know I have some quilts coming into my own queue which have been around from years ago. I know one that I started in 1993, that is all finished except for the quilting part. If only the quilter would move them up in the queue!!

I have been having a bit of a sort out and getting some order (?) into my work space, and my desk and machine space look much better, but in the process, I have moved things into the next room, and am now working on that. A bit at a time, while “Max” is busy on all over quilting jobs. Pity I have some big custom jobs soon, so that will mean staying close to “Max”.

We have had weather up to 30deg this week, but going back into the teens for the next few days. And I have put the heater away too.

Hope you are having a good week, whatever you are doing,

Blessings, From Jude

Spring is here

The weather has changed dramatically in a week, as last Thursday we had thunder, lightening and hail and rain and temps still low teens, and this week it is sunshine,  and temps in high twenties! It is beautiful out, no wind, the birds are singing, plants are flowering, and the weeds are growing. Pity I am not out in the garden today. But I have made a start on the jobs outside.

Today I need to clean up my work space, I can't think properly until I get things back into there right place and clean out the clutter.
So this is just a short posting with a few photos from the garden, and an update on my bird nest. There are still 2 eggs in the nest, so looks as though she has finished, so will wait for some babies now. 

So that's all for now, hope you have a great day, whatever you are doing,
and I shall now proceed to tidy up my room. Might take me awhile!

Blessings, From Jude

 

More quilts finished

Time for another quilt show, these are just a few a what has not been shown.

Below is Val’s Midnight Reflections, done in a workshop with Faye Packham. The variety of quilts coming from that class are amazing. 

A quilt made by Lyn for her great grandson, wonder if you can guess what his name is!!

Above and below are 2 made by Pat M, one above quilted with Modern Serpentine pattern, just love this. Below quilted with e-e Kelmscott. This was a Bedford Mystery from 2010, made with sashing between the blocks, and Pat added more blocks to make it larger.

Well, that’s it for this time, has been a big day today, I started out this morning by loading a custom quilt, and hoped to finish it by Monday. But, I had a darling friend, who came into my garden via the back gate, and started pruning my roses, which should have been done before now. So, I went out to assist, and attack the weeds which are growing so quickly now. It has been a job that has been ignored, due to other work committments, and I have been a tad stressed worried, not knowing where to start and which job to start on. I had started pulling weeds in part of the garden, but could see it would be a long job.The weather has been glorious today, sun shining after so much wet, cold weather, it was a pleasure to be out. A few hours later, we had achieved much, the weight has lifted a bit, and I came back inside to rest the muscles, before starting on the quilt again. Thankyou Dorothy, you are a gem! I still have lots to do, but it’s on the way. For the last 3 years, my priority has been the garden at The Sanctuary, and my house has been ignored, (but not forgotten).

I think it’s time for bed, tomorrow is another day.

Blessings, From Jude

And then there were 2

I promised an update on the nest to the girls who were here last weekend, so have been across this afternoon, to return the washed sheets and towels, and to check out any progress. I was worried that mother bird might have decided to move on after she had been disturbed last weekend. But she has had peace all week, and today we have 2 eggs.


Mother was getting a bit agitated, while I was near by.

But, after I had watered some plants, and came back past, she was sitting back on the nest again.

I will keep you updated with any further developments. I don't know how many eggs they usually lay, or how long they take to hatch, so it's an education for me too.

Blessings, From Jude

A special visitor

At The Sanctuary there are lots of birds as the trees provide places for them. And over the weekend I did notice that there was a honeyeater flying in and out of the carport. But it wasn't until Sunday that I saw it fly into the tree by the back door. I thought it was being a bit cheeky, coming in so close. And then Gayle realised why it was there, as it had a nest in the potted tree!
So far there are no eggs in the nest, but you can see just how cosy she has made the nest! Almost looks like wadding in the nest, but not sure where the bird would have found that.


And you can see just how resourceful this bird was, building the nest in a spot that would not get wet, and mostly very quiet. Probably only a couple of weekends in the month when there are people around. I shall keep an eye out for further progress of eggs being laid, and keep you up to date.

Blessings,
From Jude