Phew... last stitch quilted & night visitor

I've nearly done it... just finished quilting the 3rd project (I have cheated a bit, its all 'in the ditch' and row quilting on this one!) that I want to enter into the Stonestead Quilt Festival (7th Feb) I only need to now add the binding and then the handstitching... Any ideas of what I could call this quilt (currently I call it the Gail Pan Stitcheries Quilt!)?


And here's a young fellow or fellowess that came inside tonight to cool off some - am thinking its a cricket, haven't seen one like this before...

Righto am off to bed is past my witching hour.

PS: Just in case you'd thought I've been super efficient this week... I'm still hand stitching the binding on projects 1 and 2, will have to focus on this completely now the quilting is all complete...

quick update....

I'd forgotten that I'd originally named this quilt "Swirling Leaves" when I first started making it... and throughout my blog I've called it "Autumn Leaves"! Anyway - last night finished the quilting, sewed on the binding and sewed in all the loose threads, left to do is hand stitch the binding down.... phew nearly finished :)

Today's project is to finish the Stonestead Tablerunner challenge, get the groceries and take Diesel for a run.

I promise to load photos once the three projects that are on the timeline are finished :)

How was your weekend?

Hugs

Clock ticking...

OMG... I awoke with that sinking feeling the other morning... Stonestead 2nd Quilt Festival is on the 7th Feb (yay it is such a magic day so put this into your diaries and come visit!)... quilt regristrations need to be in by 23rd Jan and then quilts no later than 30th Jan.... guess why I've got that sinking feeling... the three items I want to enter are all in a state of non-finish.

Autumn Leaves is 3/4 quilted, needs finishing, binding and thread tidying... then there's the Gail Pan Christmas stitcheries that I made into a top, that needs sandwiching, quilting, binding and thread tidying... and last is the Stonestead challenge table runner - this is sandwiched, needs to be quilted, binding and thread tidying... eek!

Yesterday was my last day at Workbridge, they gave me the most beautiful farewell gift - a Pandora bracelet and voucher to buy my first charm! Guess what my first charm purchased was..... a butterfly :) The second charm DD1 chose and its the 'chain of hearts'. I am going to get DD2 to choose a charm out of the catalogue and that will be my third charm! Was sad to leave the team at Workbridge - though am very much looking forward to my new permanent job which I start on the 26th Jan.

So guess what is high on the agenda for my week off.... LOTS and LOTS of QUILTING - not too unhappy about that as the weather forecast is not looking too pleasing, and I can still take Diesel for a run along the river and if weather good can even sneak in a bike ride or two....

So if I'm a little quiet on postings this week, my head will be down and the machine will be whirring - though promise to load photos of finished goodies :)

HUGS to you all and chat with you soon...

Cat aargh ... Handsome boy...

Hugs

Our Day in Picton - 6th Jan 2010 (photo heavy)

... and so the day begins with a very grey, windy day in Wellington.

View from walking up the gangway to enter ferry.

2nd row seats from the observation window... DD1 and DH

Moi and DD1...

Leaving Wellington Harbour - not a good photo - taken through observation window - the sea got noticeably choppier going through the Cook Straits...

A cruise ship bet us into to Picton Harbour, so we had to wait while the tugs helped it reverse into the dock...

Arrived in Sunny (though blustery wind) Picton...

The Kaitaki ferry that we sailed from Wellington to Picton (3 hour trip)...

After walking up High Street, we found "Mr Chips" and then took our lunch back to the beach park to eat - then dozed in the sun...

After lunch, and after walking High Street to check out the shops (and yes I found a wee quilt shop, though am following Deb's motto - no purchases this year, use the stash!) we decided to explore the new marina...

The boat we "brought"...

The house we "brought"...

The beach around from the marina....

Arriving back into Wellington... photo taken through observation window. The building with the red xmas tree lights is where I'll be working for IRD.

Hugs

New free BOM from Bunny Hill

Anne Sutton from the gorgeous Bunny Hill has recently loaded her new Free BOM... if you love snowmen - pop over to have a look and say Hi to Anne.

Thank you Anne for such a wonderful pattern - excellent to either applique or stitch :)

How very weird...

I seem to have lost my google follower status on all my bloggy friends blogs... hrumpfh....
Never fear am going through all the blogs that I love to visit and re-instating my 'follower' status...

DD1's first experience of camping...

DD1 went and joined some of her friends at Kaitoke Regional Park yesterday afternoon to 'camp out' for the night... I sent her a txt at 10pm asking how she was going, her reply:

10.15pm "Camp's so cool mum! Haha everones been really nice. Have a good night xoxo"

next text received from DD1

7.42am "Last night was hell, ended up sleeping in the 2 older boys cars cos the tents broke! Weathers still horrible now :("

So by 9am, DH and I were there to pick her and one of the friends up. The weather had turned in the night to a gusty, wet nightmare. Driving along the road to their campsite a huge tree had toppled in the wind too. Not a great first experience for camping. They are warm and snug back home catching up on their missed sleep.

On the plus side.... today is a PERFECT day for quilting!! which is what I'm about to do.

Have a happy day.
Hugs

Red Rocks 31 Dec 2009 - photo heavy

... a BBQ dinner out at Red Rocks, this is taken from the entrance carpark - we are heading out past the point with the small rocks...

Nearly at the small rocks you saw in the first picture - part of the flat road !

This is Hell's Gate - very steep, narrow and rocky - we are half way to our destination...

Some of the kiwi batches along the way...

Finally at our destination, wood gatherer on duty...

Not sure of the name for this now defunct lighthouse - is on quite a lean... though looks pretty straight from this angle.

Sea was too choppy for DH to go for a dive for fresh Paua for tea...

So we made do with the steak we brought from home... this is the little fire!

Time for a cuppa - don't you just love Nescafe instant Mochachino sachets - I got to have a flash coffee to top off a magic dinner!

Setting sun and building up the fire...

Sunset on the horizon...

Time to head home...


Hope you had a lovely New Year's eve.

Hugs