Not stitching but...

...we're home and exhausted !!! We did 1200 kms - travelling from one side of Tasmania to the other and then some... P and I are going to set up another blog of our travels as we have two cameras and a phone full of photos which we need to sort through... We had a great time and it was a bit of a shock coming back into the noise and bustle of Melbourne after quiet and serenity of Diamond Island - pictured below - our last stop before home... But not yet - cases to unpack, cats to cuddle and above all a sleep...

* Did I stitch? Yes I did - not a lot but enough to make me happy... I also found a lovely shop called The Needlewoman... Yes G, I did spend money there - but it was difficult not too :)

Margaret A Rowe

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Margaret A Rowe - both author and quilter... Margaret has written two novels in what is to be a series called The Australian Challenge Quilt Series -based around our Australian quilting history...

The Maria Challenge Quilt is the first in the series, followed by The Elizabeth Challenge Quilt with a third novel due to be released shortly... From what Margaret spoke about yesterday I believe the books are set contemporary times with flash backs into our past...

Are they similar to Jennifer Chiaverini's 'Elm Creek' novels? Without me reading Margaret's I can't say for sure, however both series have connections to the past...

It seems that somehow I have missed Margaret's books on my reading quests and I look forward to at some time settling down with one... I had hoped to buy one to take away on holiday with me - but have just found out that the closet store to us doesn't have any on their shelf...

After reading books such as Jennifer Isaac's - The Gentle Arts, Pioneer Women of the Bush and Outback, Margaret Rolfe's Patchwork Quilts in Australia and Australian Quilt Heritage and more recently The Fabric of Society by Annette Gero it has made me think in terms of our own history. I believe too often we overlook our own - perhaps not intentionally, to seek further afield - but it seems such a shame to miss what's 'growing in our own backyard' so to speak...

I have add Margaret's blog to my sidebar under Non Stitching - so give it a visit and say hello...

Things are so busy here at the moment I am hoping these photos will suffice instead of content...

As promised - the first stitches crossed onto the Welcome Sampler...

Three of the base seams stitched on my crazy block for the DOYB over at southern cross crazies...

And of course another book - this one I have debated about ever since I saw it some months ago - I cringed at its price of $55, however by the time I got staff discount, used the rest of my voucher I got for Christmas it ended up costing me $9.99 - not too bad at all...

I really like Kaffe Fassetts designs - he is a genuis in the way he uses both colour and design - a truely gifted artist... However why I liked this book was his design of tumbling blocks... Wow!! You have all seen my first attempts at traditional tumbling blocks - when I saw this pattern I was blown away... Just loved it!!!! Will I ever do it -probably not - but it is nice to dream and look...

That's all from me...

Sharon xx

Just what I needed really...

but it was only $3.00 at the op-shop... It is the whole kit except for the piece of jute to hang it by and the needle... The piece of aida had been hemmed and all the threads were threaded on the card and numbered - all I had to do was write the little symbols beside them...

This is going to be the 'take away' stitching for the holidays but I hope to start it tonight - even if I just do one stitch...

I have always wanted some sort of stitched 'Welcome' so this fitted the bill perfectly, that, and of course the price :) This little find has quite cheered me up - I think the 'all work and no play' situation of late has worn me down a fraction...

Sharon x

While I was away...

... this is what was happening... three pair of earrings, a new 'naked' crazy block plus two new books...

I'm back...

...but the camera needs new batteries - keep watching - I promise I will have photos next week!!!!

Sharon xx

Away for a wee while...

Due to the death of a dear friend my stitching and blogging has waned - I will be back in a while...

Sharon xx