On the road again...

The weekend saw me heading north to visit my son at university for a Parents Weekend...fun!

I miss him being around home and it was great to catch up with him and his friends.

On the way home I decided to pop in to The Cottage on the Hill at Nundle as I knew Peg, Dale & Gai would be there for a retreat. Kerry was welcoming as always and I was able to have some lunch and catch up with blogging friends...bonus! This reminded me that I have not shown pics of my Nundle retreat which happened just before I left for Singapore. Here are the blocks from my project...

the pattern was from here...I like the way it is going together and Kerry taught me how to machine applique as I always hand applique...I like the way this is looking.

As I was flying out the next day, I did not stay for the second day of retreat, but the girls made some lovely tops and had a great time...here are some of the happy sewers!

I love going to Nundle, it is always a relaxing weekend. Here is my poor frosty car...and 24hrs later I was heading to 35C plus temps and swimwear!

 Cardygirl xx

The last of Nundle...

...for this year anyway! Now I'm dreaming of next year!

This is my project...a pattern from Geoffs Mom...it is going together beautifully...all in 1930's prints...the plan is to make it for Mum & her new home( hopefully she will sell hers soon)...

...I hope to surprise her with it when she moves...a tahdah moment I hope!

Here is the view from Kerry's cottage...

lunchtime...

Lea's quilt...

Leigh's stunning block...

Bronwyn's gorgeous fun...

the group display...

thanks for sharing our fun!

Cardygirl xx

Nundle is where I long to be...

...for at least a couple of weekends each year!

Kerry at The Cottage on the Hill really knows how to throw a great weekend...happy stitching, lots of laughter, great food and a sense of rejuvenation at the end of it all.

Great mysteries of life were explained by Anita...and it was decided that men really should stitch...LOL!

We arrived from several directions on Friday afternoon all with a desire to SEW!

After picking out fabrics & leaving the super organised Kerry to make up our kits, we headed for the famous Nundle pub for dinner...always fun, especially when some of the girls won a meat tray & half a carton of beer in the raffles. Heading back to our cabins by the river we slept in our cosy beds waking to a heavy frost & frozen water pipes...fun!

Bright & early we began stitching...so many different quilts...so much inspiration.

Stitching like mad women we achieved so much in our first day...then off to dinner at the Mount Misery Gold Mine...superb food...super company! 

Smiles and laughter...

new friends sewing together to get projects finished...

stitching into the night...

and remember children ...don't drink & quilt!

More pics of the finished articles tomorrow!

Cardygirl xx

Jubilation & celebration!

Jubilation, she loves me again....sang my Bernina when I returned to her after a loooong absence (thankyou Simon & Garfunkel for the inspiration of  Bernina...oops...I mean Cecilia!).

Lots to do & I am determined to get it done...

a bit of a tidy first...

repro 9 patch almost there...

MO Sue Ross BOM lagging behind...

Monica Poole bag done, but how do I get the darn tubular frame to work????

(Any ideas gratefully received!)

Twelve months ago today I began this rambling blog thanks to some special ladies & their infectious enthusiasm...Donna, Maree, Peg, Dale, Fiona & Kerry...thanks for being there!
I think a little celebration is in order...maybe a giveaway inspired by last weekends fun...no special conditions...no need to blog about it ( we don't need treasure hunters to reduce your odds!)...just drop by & leave a message about why you visit me...

Cardygirl xx

The Best of Times...Part 2

An early start...those farm girls sure do get up early!

But look at the view...nice to be up & seeing the lorikeets swooping around the river.

The happy crowd gathered...

the projects are revealed...

and the stitching began!

Happy faces...who would volunteer to be photographer???

...nice to catch up with one another...

then after a gathering in our cabin ( how many women can you fit in a cabin????)...off to dinner & more hilarity! It is amazing how even adoptive sisters can get picky!Hope you are enjoying our weekend..

The Wicked Sister...aka...

Cardygirl xxx

The best of times....Part 1.

Well, the Girls Day in the Country held in Nundle, NSW, by the delightful Kerry Swain of The Cottage on the Hill, is over for another year....but what a great day it was!

We headed off on Friday to Nundle from all over the state...stitchers heading to a sewing Mecca!

Families farewelled, pets minded, cars loaded & the adventure began...

Anni Downs from Hatched & Patched was to be our inspiration.

A gorgeous drive into the hills...lovely & green after the recent rains...how the trip flies when you have friends to chat with...guesses about what the weekend ahead will bring...much excitement!!!

A visit to Kerry's shop...what to choose...

some of these...

and some of these...

to make this.

Then out to dinner with Kerry & Anni and a fabulous bunch of women.

Late to bed after much frivolity...we need to have our stitching caps on for the next day!

....to be continued!

Cardygirl xxx

Quick pics!

Blogger & Gmail...not always easy...not been too friendly of late...a few problems I hope have been eradicated by Windows upgrade...fingers crossed!

So here we go... another busy week in Cardyland...Mum up visiting...DD starting work & her Honours year...long drives to visit DS who has a heavy cold far far away in Uni-land..."final" visits for dental crowns that turn into disasters & rescheduling ( after the needles were given...oops!). One of those days...but we have all survived & are still smiling!

Quick pics...a present for DS to hang in his room....

....DD's half finished cross stitch....

a pattern to replace the turtle pincushion that the evil cat ate...hope this one doesn't have the same fate!!!!

Girls day in the Country this weekend...yay! It is the weekend that inspired me ( inspired may be too grand a word!) to blog...hmmmm...might have to think about a Nundle inspired giveaway!

Hope all is well with you!

Cardygirl xx

Cake & a catch up.

My dear friend Lea has returned home after a month holidaying in Africa. She is my stitching buddy & it has felt like she has been gone for sooooo long...she rang me from near Cape Town after Dad died...I miss her cheery company & fabric advice! We caught up with some other stitching friends a few nights ago...lots of laughter, some stitching & some very good cake! Her stories were amazing... a more detailed photo night is yet to come!

Lea gave me this lovely bag from Sth Africa for my recent birthday...handmade out of Tshirt fabric on a hessian backing...so very cute!
I am feeling inspired to stitch again...phew! I was missing it! I am making this bag from a Monica Poole pattern that Julie gave me & a FQ from the Nundle birthday bundle- it will look like a little doctors bag! I might end up with a couple of projects from my Nundle FQ swap...how is that Chooky?

Cardygirl xx

I have a friend....

...her name is Chookyblue...when I am sluggish with my stitching she does not allow me to wallow...she tells me to get a wriggle on  & GET STITCHING! So, to show I am listening, here are some sweet little baskets from Blackbird Designs...but in the 30's prints I received from the Nundle girls for my birthday.I think they look pretty cute! Thanks for the inspiration! To everyone who has sent me heartfelt words of support & inspiration- you are all amazing & I do appreciate it.

 For my recent birthday I received a whole PILE of lovely fat 1/4's from the bloggers I met last year at Nundle GDITC. They are all lovely & I am itching to get into them. Thankyou so much Donna, Maree, Fiona, Bec, Anita, Jo, Peg, Dale, Kerry, June, Helen, Alison, Gai, Karri, Shelley, Lynda & Jenny- I will post pics as they are made into projects!

 Last Thursday was one of those milestone days...DD graduated from her degree & is poised to start PT work in a week & then start her Honours uni work. It was a special day & it was lovely that my mother was there to share the day too!

Cardygirl xx

Happy days!

After the hectic pace of the last few weeks, it has been pleasant today to have a bit of a more casual day! A half day at work allowed me time to go to the movies...the delicious George Clooney in "Up in the air"...I enjoyed it...funny, sad &  interesting thoughts on frequent flyers & the american economy. DD took me & we had a nice afternoon.

Also I had lots of mail to open...fat quarters from the Nundle girls...they are all beautiful ladies & I really appreciate the care that went into choosing them! Now I just have to make something with them....hmmm!

Looking forward to seeing you girls very soon!

My darling DS went away for university yesterday....I will miss him but I'm glad that he is growing up! How the time has flown.

DD has made a delicious dessert to celebrate today...don't know how I got so old!

Cardygirl xx

A grand day out!

Oh, I love my blogging friends!
Previously my family believed I was a tad loopy & referred to them as my "imaginary friends".

But DH met the lovely ladies today at The Cottage on the Hill, Nundle, & he thinks they are beautiful too! ( Thanks Chooky for spoiling him with cups of tea).

If you are ever in the Tamworth area make sure to visit the wonderful Kerry at her shop just outside Nundle. We had a great day catching up with each other & meeting some new friends too. Good food & lots of laughter...& stitching too...bliss!

It was a bit hard to know where to start...all of these gorgeous fabrics & so much more.

I began a project that has been lurking on my noticebord for 9 years...since a workshop with Sue Cody...I am having fun with these fabrics...

I will post better pics as it develops...

Ladies ...you are beautiful...thanks for sharing a great day with me...you are the best!

Cardygirl xx