Close, but no flimsy!

Happy new year to you all! Despite the best laid sewing plans (read grandiose ideas!) I did not get too far with these blocks. Finished a couple more, but I chose to chat with friends I seldom see and walk with DH and the dog to watch the fireworks over the city...good for the soul ( and the burgeoning waistline!!!).


So I guess these blocks will become the first flimsy for 2014!
Let us hope for a calm and gentle 2014 both in my home and yours...
Cardygirl xx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Amongst the dust bunnies....

Yes, I did find something that needed finishing. A lot of it is cut out waiting to be sewn and I have my suspicions that it has been hibernating for nearly three years. Big oops!
I am going to be kind to myself though and remind myself that I have had a busy couple of years, renovating, moving and studying....I was not just being lazy. That is my self validation anyway!



It is a pattern called Confetti Cake and I was originally inspired by a quilt I saw on Sherri of A Quilting Life's blog. I still really like it, so the task now is to finish it! It is rather handy that a few more blocks are cut out, so I can just get straight into sewing...much more satisfying!
Hopefully there might be a bit more to show before 2013 comes to a close!
Cardygirl xx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

That lovely post Christmas lull.

In the lovely lull that followed the excitement of Christmas, I have found some time for my sewing room. Granted, the sewing machine was not exactly sure who I was, but with a quick re-thread, a few soothing words and a lint clean out, she remembered me and we became old friends again. Phew!
Knowing that the current sewing room chaos had the potential to be mojo destroying, I opted for a kit, about eighteen months old from Parson Gray. Definitely an easy option, but achievable and goodness knows I just needed something to get me back into the sewing chair. Despite some early anxiety about cutting out and not messing up the reversed templates, it all went well and before I knew it I was sewing and pinning like the good old days. And soon there was this...


I am super happy with it and so is my son, the happy recipient. It was nice to make something in this manly palette...I love the charcoals, blues and olives. A nice range.


So, this afternoon has been spent tidying and organising my room.


I am keen to finish some other projects that have been gathering dust...


Especially this one.
Cardygirl xx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Memories of our Christmas 2013.

After all the hype and busy-ness, Christmas has now passed for another year.


Funny, how quickly it rolls around and just as quickly is gone...I think each year I get a little calmer, I have come to realise that it will come and go no matter what I do and it really doesn't matter if potatoes are slightly more "caramelised" than I envisaged or that I bought ten tonnes of glacé fruit but never got around to making cakes...oops! There will always be enough food and, if there isn't, we will manage.


But what was truly lovely was that we had our children and their sweet partners here for at least part of the time, my mum was well and enjoyed her day, and two very dear friends truly became family for the day and joined in the festivities. We ate and laughed and just enjoyed each other's company...how it should be.


Lovely gifts were given and received, but my greatest joy was seeing all of us together, as children make their own way in life they are not always able to be at home and parents are aging. Contemplative, huh?


I suppose it is all about enjoying the special-ness of the Christmas season, and enjoying the joy of our celebration. It was realising that the greatest gift we gave my mum was to all attend midnight mass with her and happily sing traditional carols. Knowing that our tree is full of memories...from the foil covered balls made at preschool twenty years ago, to decorations from my parents tree and from holidays abroad. That was what made our day special.


I hope that you had a joyous Christmas shared with those you love.
Cardygirl xxx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Whirling and swirling...

Last night at the quilters pre Christmas meet, I realised that my blog was horribly neglected when a couple of my friends remarked on the nothingness swallowing my blog. Oops! The weeks whizz past, work and family life take the time that was previously devoted to sewing. And that is okay, whilst not a lot if sewing is happening, I find myself daydreaming of future projects, what to do with "special" pieces of fabric and planning some time on projects already underway....I am hearing the siren call of my double wedding ring, and am keen to get more done.
We have a two week shut down with work, and I am hoping there will be some sewing time there after the festivities...after the break I am acting in another position which will consume a lot of energy...definitely keeps the brain active if not my sewing fingers!
How do you manage the work/life balance? I think it is something we all struggle with.
I have been cutting out for my amitie BOM in readiness for the hoped for sewing time, but am feeling a bit like this....


Some days I would truly love to have some flying monkeys at my disposal, and some days it feels like I have been squashed under a house! My dear travelling buddy sent me this super cute book mark. ..knowing how much I would love it! Thanks Loz! Good witch today?


Now Christmas preparations are under way....the tree looks pretty despite a few nibbled presents...hmmm?


Jars of cookie mix for gifts (love making these)....


Just waiting for visitors to arrive home...the best gift of all! I am looking forward to seeing these smiles on Christmas Day.
And hopefully these scorching days will quickly pass and we will have a dash of rain!

Cardygirl xx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Preparations for festivities.

It must be a while since I blogged when my husband and children are requesting a post. It has been busy with work and trying to find some time to get organised for Christmas. Not a huge amount of sewing to do, but a few bits and pieces that I wanted to do.


My dear daughter decided to make a table runner as a gift...


She is quite pleased with it!


At sewing last week, the always clever Kylie was making a tree skirt.


I have been plugging away on my amitie BOM...it certainly has been a challenge to get all the little points right...I think we are getting better each block, but it is certainly not for the faint of heart!


I had to make a mug bag for a Christmas swap...now I have made a few as I am enjoying playing with the colours. Funny how sometimes you make something, then can't stop! Also been playing with some linen...


Cardygirl xx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Well, intermission is over, and I am back to continue the Tassie trip with you. Naturally by this time we are home, but we had a little bit of patchy internet coverage and the final few days were super busy.
So here we go!
From Bruny Island we headed north to the pretty town of New Norfolk, just near Mt Field and that gorgeous Tasmanian wilderness we have seen pictures of. Whilst DH caught up with a friend I wandered around as, whilst it is small, there are some GREAT shops.


If you are ever there, call in for a yummy lunch at The Patchwork Cafe...


A great little patchwork shop and cafe with really friendly staff and great food in the old Willow Court Asylum complex.


Also in New Norfolk are two great shops....Flywheel and The Drill Hall...


quirky fabulous shops with antiques, stationery and old printing paraphernalia...great to see!


We stayed by the Derwent River, it was a really peaceful place to stay.


Heading south on the Tasman peninsula, past Tasman arch...


And on to Port Arthur.


I was a bit ambivalent about going there, in all honesty I think the terrible events of 1996 were clouding my perception of the place.


But we found a most beautiful and peaceful site and are so very glad we went.


We walked and walked, loving the buildings and the history of the site.


The gardens are beautiful...


As you can see...


and the guides are great...very passionate about Port Arthur.


We even found a hexie quilt at one of the cottages.


That evening, a very dark and moon-less night, we returned for a spooky ghost tour of the site on Halloween....wooooo!


It was fun to do.


As we were staying at a unit adjoining the historic site, we had a key to let ourselves in a back gate, so after the ghost tour we had to walk back through the site, just me and SB,


thank goodness we took a torch or we might still be there.....hehehe!


Back to Hobart for our final night, where we found we had been upgraded to the best suite ( tough, but someone had to sleep there!) where we were above seagull flying height...interesting!


A last stroll around the docks, then a final visit to Salamanca Markets ( Christmas shopping...tick) and we were headed home!


Don't miss Tasmania, it really is a great place....we need to head back and see more!
Cardygirl xxx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Back to Tassie

Down the road to Bruny Island....

After our stay in Hobart, we headed down to Kettering to catch the ferry to Bruny Island. What a pretty place it is. We explored it from north....


To south.


We found local producers and bought yummy food for our dinner.
Smoked ocean trout from the fabulous Bruny Island Smokehouse...


Cheeses from the Cheese Company...and chocolate from the Providore....mmmm!


There was also wine and oysters on offer, but the Berry Company had no berries as yet due to recent inclement weather.


We walked....


And walked..


stayed in amazing accommodation called 43 degrees...


Climbed the lookout at the neck...can you tell by the hair and jacket how windy it was! It was wild!


And went on a cruise...lots of fun!


We saw seals...


Blowholes...


And amazing rock walls.


Lots of fun, it was great having two nights here...even saw dolphins and a Bruny Island White wallaby...who "clapped" his hands in glee when SB stalled the car!


Here we are tired, semi frozen after our cruise.


New Norfolk here we come!
Cardygirl xx
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad