Underground Railroad Sampler

Last Thursday I had a phone call from Tania, she had a class at the local quilt shop but there was a mix up with dates and the class has been moved to next week, so our planned catch up sewing night had to move to this week. Phew!! Life gets involved sometimes doesn't it!! Anyway we worked away and finished the second block of the Underground Railroad Sampler. I wasn't happy with mine half way through, but Tania advised me to try scant quarter inch seams, so I did and was very happy with how my block turned out - I lost some points, but overall I am very happy. This kind of quilt is way out of my comfort zone!! You have to measure and cut accurately!!! LOL!! The opposite happened to Tania, half way through she was very happy but at the finish she wasn't so. I forgot to take photos so have taken one of mine today. We will be back to make another block next Friday night for FNWF.

I have linked up with Sharon over at Vroomans Quilts for  Lets Book it. More motivation to get one block a month done!

Happy sewing!

52 week word challenge

The word for this week is Stretch. Well that word stretched my imagination but I finally came up with this

me in a hammock last year - the hammock coping with a lot of STRETCH!

To have a look at the other stretch photos have a peek over at Alsha's Space.

Happy day!

Saturday walk

I took the dog for a walk this morning, lovely and calm here at the moment! I think there is a wedding on at the Yacht Club later today, lots of candles and pots of flowers being set up, I loved the lanterns on the jetty.

This is going to look amazing when it gets dark this evening - I am tempted to come back and have a nosey!!

You know who is swimming this morning!!

just a beautiful morning!

Have a happy day!

Surprise

I have just been down the street to the Post Office and to meet Donna for a Berry Zing!! Yum!! Great mix of berries, pineapple, water and lemon gelati!! Is the best!
The Easter mini swap organised by Cheryll is on it's way to it's new owner, the Aussie Hero Quilt has it's binding on, ready for hand sewing, there are also still endy bits to sew in, I have been avoiding them I must admit!! I spent a hour and a bit trying to make a toy sheep, but didn't read the pattern properly and made several mistakes and ended throwing the lot in the bin!!  Now I have talked to Donna I can see where I went wrong so I am going to try again! Maybe!

I had a wonderful surprise - Donna gave me one of her hand knitted scarves with a beautiful NZ holder! Aren't I spoilt?? Love the colours!

These are the sheep I am hoping to make one of - just one!! They are soooooo cute!!

And here is the fairy girl, not far off finished now!

Happy sewing!

52 word week photo challenge

The word for this week is Star - I was scrambling for ideas, then thought I might find a star fish at the beach today, but as I was walking I remembered a photo I took in Samoa of the Bahai'i Church (I think that is the right spelling).  It is an interdenominational church, they have a service every Sunday and read from all the different faiths, they have quotes from every faith around the walls and this is the top of the roof

the Star of David, and inside is an inscription (I think) in Arabic. 

So this is my Star.

Aussie Hero Quilts

I have spent nearly three hours wrestling with this quilt while doing Free Range Quilting around and on the flower fairy, I have come to a stand still now, I figured you have done enough and are a bit tired when you sew a safety pin!!!! Time for a G & T me thinks!! Lol!! Anyway the sun is out and I think a sit on the deck is in order now!!

Off for a walk this morning, the weather was till a bit threatening, we had quite a lot of rain in the night.

The supervisor has been snoring under the table, I think the walk this morning tired him out, plus the fact that he got me up twice last night!

and Miss Rose Fairy is now quilted.

Happy sewing!

Mini quilt

I have joined in the 12 inch mini swap this year that host Mumma extroardinaire Cheryll has organised.

My swap partner Lyn isn't well and so has made and posted all her swaps, here is the Summer Mini she sent me

Isn't it beautiful?? There was also a lovely journal included in the package but I didn't take a photo of that yet. You can pop over to see Lyn here.

Happy sewing!

Good day!

Hey wasn't the weather beautiful today?? Coolish morning followed by a beautiful calm sunny day, it was just the best! I have been busy getting the Aussie Hero flimsy finished, the extra bits have been added both ends, I found some backing fabric that is pink and has flowers, not my usual style of fabric but perfect for here!!

I wasn't concentrating when I was trying to upload these photos and once again I have managed to get them the wrong way around!! But you can see what I am trying to show you I hope!! Lol!!All sandwiched and ready to have a go at Free Range Quilting!!

Happy sewing!

A bit of this and a bit of that

Today I had big hopes of getting heaps done, well I vaccumed and dusted, then got distracted by the computer, met Tania for lunch and had a chat, then came home and cooked dinner, and made some soup, then I got to sewing....seems like it is a gradual process, this getting to the sewing!! Oh and in between I planted some broad bean seeds and some purple bean seedlings...I hope the little fence No 1 son put up keeps the rabbits at bay!!

I have the photos in the wrong order again today but not to worry!! I have begun another quilt for Aussie Hero Quilts, this one for a female who wanted something pink and flowers, I still have to add something extra to the top and bottom to get the correct length, might even appliqué some flowers along the sides....still thinking!! The border fabric is all gone so have to search for something else. 

The supervisor was in attendance today!!

These are the purple beans I planted this morning - I just hope they are still there tomorrow!!! 

and this damp looking patch is where the broad  beans should come happily out of the ground!!

I just love these flowers, I call then Naked Ladies, I am not sure if that is what they are called here, love how the flower stems appear out of the dead looking leaves, and make a big colour splash!

Happy sewing!

52 week word photo challenge

I missed last week as I was away but this week the word is Size, and I have chosen a crab photo - even though it is little, the big red claw makes it look impressive!

It is so small it is hard to see!! Lol!!  Oh, don't forget to visit Alsha's Space to see the other size photos.

Happy days!

Samoa Ramblings 3

Still here.....still hot.....but the sun has been shining the last few days, we have been out and about and having a wonderful time!

Turtle at the turtle pool (surprise!!) I think they are used to being fed, but I didn't have any food for them!

Lunch break, the sun is shining,the sky is blue as is the water, no sand, but a beautiful day!

Lunch spot, on the south coast.

And then after lots of narrow windy potholes roads, we came to this ford, to cross or not to cross!! That was the question!! We turned around, started to drive back, but stopped and spoke to a young man and he said just drive through, with a huge smile on his face!! So we turned around and drove back,I walked through, just over ankle deep but strong current, a local lady came by and said drive through, so she waited on the other side, I gathered my courage and through we drove....no problems!! All that panic for nothing!! Paid said lady $5.00 local currency and off we went!!

This young man was at the Cultural Centre, they had a free display so we went along, was very, very hot and we were sitting in the sun for ages, but it was the best time! I got to try kava when they had the welcoming ceremony, didn't fall over so all was good!! Here he is scraping taro with part of a tin.

this man is wrapping tuna fish in palm leaves to cook on the fire,

Chris making a basket, he was the main talker and very informative, his tattooing took many hours and is incredibly painful, but you have to have it done once you start otherwise it is seen as great shame for your family!  

Oops, sorry got a toy voyager in the pic!! Sorry, but this is the umu, like an above ground hangi to me, heated stones, wood is taken away and food is then put onto the stones and covered with leaves.

demonstration of coconut tree climbing! Very fast and agile!

Lunch - taro, tuna and taro leaves cooked with coconut milk! Tasted amazing!

Very, very clever man, is 4 times world champion in his kind of dancing, very interesting and funny speaker, Edith on the right, a German tourist we have met at the hotel, lovely lady.

and today I have been fabric shopping!! Another hot and steamy day...off for a swim now!!

Happy days!

Samoa Ramblings 2

More holiday photos to bore you to death with!! We had a great day today, until it poured but nothing we can do about that!! We hired a car today and have been driving around - have seen some beautiful scenery, amazing places people live, as in they have nothing! Made me feel uncomfortable driving past looking in, but everyone we have met so far has been really friendly.

The Catholic Church in Apia under renovations, it is a massive building.

The Piula Cave Pools, you can swim here and feed the fish or maybe swim and feed the fish at the same time !!LOL!!!  My silly sense of humour!!

This sky was all around us today, the most amazing cloud formations.

This pho os out of order nut is the inside of the Baih'ai temple, a church that reads from all denominations at each service,  it has an extensive garden around it. Most beautiful peaceful building, mind you I was the only one there!!.

This is the Fuipisia Waterfall, was on private property as are most things here in Samoa, we had to pay $10 Samoan each to go and have a look. David couldn't get far as he has to watch his Achilles, and we had to cross a stream on wobbly rocks then walk through soggy wet grass, and over tree roots to get to the waterfall viewing place, but it was worth it!

Again this is out of order but these are the bibles at the Baih'ai Church, varied selection!

This is the Baih'ai Church..

this is the Papapapai Waterfall, just beautiful!!

Off to the exciting supermarket now!! Oh Yay!!

Happy day!!

Samoa ramblings

 These photos are out of order, I have hit the wrong button somewhere!!! But it has taken so long to get them uploaded I am not going to change them!! This is part of the display cultural village in Apia just behind the information centre.

Here is my wonderful hubby displaying the latest in fashion to wear to a Pacific Island!!!! Not!!! We think he has strained his Achilles so has it braced to support it, so much for tennis playing!! Not healthy I have always said!! 

Now we are back at the cultural village

one of the fales you can look at - these used to be the main form of housing here, now they have more Western style houses in the north.

the main meeting fale, in the villages this is where the family meet and talk about what they need to talk about with the chief!

This is where I have been every day, rain or shine, no hail so far!!! Love the swimming pool!

and this is my little friend who came and sat with me and wanted lots of head scratches!

Our room,

same again but different view!!

the vies from the balcony one afternoon, it rained very heavily not long after this,

local foliage

this is all I managed for FNWF, sewed the arms of two flowers

we spent money with this happy man at the flea market today, he does carving for a living as does his son

back at the pool late afternoon and swimming in the rain!!

Happy days!