Supporting cubs

My daughter is in cubs and today we are doing a Tin Rattle at the local shopping centre. The funds raised go towards camps and equipment. So while I supervise my hexes come along to keep me company. I can watch the kids organise and strategise ( divide and conquer is working for them). And I stitch, encourage and be a proud parent of their confidence but also sad watching them grow up before I am ready.

I just saw them shoo away some older scouts try to muscle in their spot. Sigh.

So going back to that weekend

When it was just the best one in some time.  I said that something exciting might happen, well I hope I haven't talked it up too much but I am very happy.

Oh and it is just fitting for this my 100th post.

My husband, found on Ebay and started bidding on for me THIS:

The bidding finished that night and we won !!!!!!!!  This is a Singer Featherweight 221 born in 1957 according to the serial number... and in such beautiful condition...

I had to wait for this baby to arrive via Australia Post, so I had fingers crossed and sleepless nights hoping she would arrive safely,

she did on the Wednesday, safe and sound..... The first thing I did was, turn the wheel to see if it moved and if the needle shaft turned at the same time. Insert a picture of me doing a happy dance I then checked her over, oiled according to the instructions. The machine was very clean and all parts moved freely.

Included in the case was the original manual and a box with extra feet ad 8bobbins with thread, lol

I plugged her in and she sewed perfectly first time.

I have called her Shirley, none of my other machines, cars etc, have names, but I started calling this machine she, so she had to have a name. It being a Singer, singer starting with S, my dad loved Shirley Bassey and James Bond, so Shirley it is....

I have to replace the light bulb, but this machine runs on 110v and I will have to try and source one in Australia.  I am not keen on getting one from the USA, when they cost $3 and then have to pay $20 postage.  I already have a voltage converter for my longarm machine so Shirley fits right in.

Next I have to set up the 1/4 inch seam guide and then I will powering away on her

so in love with Shirley

BOM Rehab

Well I got another block of the Halloween Baltimore finished.  I actually got the applique finished last week but had to complete the embroidery still.  The stitching detail is not my favourite part but it does make the blocks come to life.

The spiderweb slowed down the progress, actually, I just put it off because it didn't look like an easy thing to do... but once I sucked it up and started, it went well and I am fairly happy with it. Love the camera effect, need to zoom in closer next time, but still cute.

I have another block almost done, again the embroidery left to do.  Hopefully it will be ready for next week

I am linking with Sinta at Pink Pincushion along with other stitchers working on their BOM.

What a wonderful Weekend

Hi all

this past weekend was amazing, scary, wonderful and exciting.

It all started on Saturday morning, I did a Trunk show at The Patchwork Angel, thank you for having me  Penny.  Twenty lovely ladies came to the shop on the first sunny day we have had all week to see all the quilts I have made for my "Bake at 60 degrees" classes.   I had a wonderful time talking to and meeting all of the girls there.  I did forget though to take photos, except for at the start before everyone came in, bugger.......

 

 All of the quilts are made with 60 degree triangles, diamonds and hexagons, but with no set in seams to be found anywhere.  The class is a set of 2 held over 2 weeks and the ladies will learn how to cut and sew these shapes, but also how to adjust the blocks to a size they would like to make.

Over the past 12 months I have been making samples to show and on Saturday I got to show them and was very nervous.  Thank you ladies for being patient and gentle with me.  Since finishing my talk I have kept remembering things that I wanted to say but forgot to.  Isn't that the way it happens.

My first lot of classes were filled but don't worry I am looking at more dates for later in the year and will chat to Penny and we will see what is available for more classes.

The Trunk show was professional goal of mine and I am so happy and proud that I didn't chicken out.  We can do anything if we really want to.....

Saturday evening saw us going out for a lovely dinner at the local Italian restaurant with good friends.  The food was great, the company was fun and the kids enjoyed themselves also.  We had a table outside and kids found geckos and a tree frog to play with between courses and not in their food and so the adults could relax over dinner and still be able to watch the kids.

Sunday came around and I was busy making lunch for my mum and sisters coming over.  I live a good hours drive away from them and so getting together is very important in our busy lives. Unfortunately we have been scattered around the world this past few months and missed a couple of birthdays, so with mine this week, we all made the time to have lunch.  So yesterday was brought together by the colour pink and the numbers, 2, 44 and 65 ( the ages of us birthday girls).  We had a great time and I played up the pink theme, balloons, drinks, desert, cake and even our clothes.

My mum bought me a pink Hairdryer, a sister gave me a bottle of Muscato wine (pink/rose) and I received some money, because I am in need of a new handbag. Tomorrow I will go shopping for a bag, what colour should I get????????

One other exciting thing happened, but I will show and tell you about it if all goes well this week......

Feb 14th

Happy Valentines day to everyone from me. I am sending you all flowers and a card.

I even have pink hearts in the quilt I am working on today.

Enjoy the day

Where dreams come true

This is our second last day of our holidays and we are spending it at the happiest place on earth. This is where we started our first overseas family holiday 4 years ago. I will be taking some photos of the kids in places from 4 years ago. Son son. My babies our growing up. Enough of the memories.

Road today

Heading back into LA. our holiday is coming to an end. Only a few days left.

It's coming

We are trying to get ahead of the bad weather coming. Our van is not the best vehicle option to be driving in snow with. And we are hearing of roads getting closed. So we are trying to get south of them whole still safe. We are currently driving through a mix of rain and snow. We are in Oregon very close to the California border. May not get to Tahoe due to roads being closed.

So far

I would like to show you more of what we have been up to so far...... But........ My photos are on the laptop that my son is using whenever we get wifi and he doesn't like to share it with his mum. Something being mumbled about Facebook and stuff.

But the other day, so losing track if days, we managed to drive out to a town called Sisters in Oregon. I wanted to go to Valiri and Jean Wells shop, Stitching Post, and see the town. Well here is a pic or two of the drive there, we are also travelling in an RV. I got to the shop spent some money had lunch and then we left while we could.

Happy New Year

To all a happy safe and healthy 2013.

The family is in line for this.

I am in the sun doing this

Today we are at 6 flags animal kingdom north of San fran