BLESSED SPEEDY

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the australian quilt convention in melbourne. Due to farm busyness I was only able to attend for one day so Megan and I headed down on the train and stayed at a lovley Air BnB in Spring Street which was a very short walk to the Royal Exhibition Buildings where the event was held. I was lucky enough to attend a class run by Wendy Williams called Boro Embroidery. Her work is something Ive long admired and she was such a gracious and giving teacher and Im hooked on yet another type of fabric and embroidery endeavour Heres my work so far - I have LOTS more to do but its a start! And heres some of Wendys super inspiring work! This will be a great way to use up leftover fabrics and also work my way through the many embroidery threads I have that are either mine or were mums - theres a lot! This is the beautiful historical royal exhibition buildings in Melbourne situated in the Carlton Gardens - isnt it grand! And also some images from the exhib...

April Goals - Read one non fiction/self help book - Exercise three times a week at the gym or at hom - Finish three small sewing projects with at least one having a zip and work on a ufo

OK for March I challenged myself to - be kind to myself - do things that give me joy - destash/give away a few things - learn how to journal I think I can tick these all off - being kind to myself and giving me joy - Ive been really enjoying attending Ladies Bootcamp at my local gym and also at the same place going to yoga. Its been lovely to have that time for me and to see what I am able to do! Also bonus Im getting a bit fitter. Destashing and giving away - 6 bags of various things to the op shop and Ive also gifted a big bag of sock yarn leftovers which feels great. Ive also learnt a few different ways how to journal - Im not that good at doing on a daily basis but Im learning to - Let That Go!!!! Ill journal when I feel like it and/or remember to. I know Ive already posted the reading that I finished but not the crafting - so buckle up and Ill show you my progress. Firstly I finished a quilt - its the snowball quilt and I bought the kit of fabric and pattern from Nicki when she...

OK as the month is drawing to a close (how did that happen???) I thought I would do an update on books I have finished this month - and there are quite a few Firstly "the precious" Onyx Storm! I so wanted to read this and desperately so but also didnt want it to finish so I actually "rationed" my reading time! This is book 3 in the Empyrean series and of course there are dragons, gryffins, venin and riders Also traitors, selfish people, war and romance Could it get much better? Probably not I so want Xaden to change back to how he should be, I so want Violet to have love and Andarna to find her peace Is that enough spoilers???? I should add I read this as a physical book! And did I mention 5 stars Secondly as a physical book I read The Sewing Machine by Natalie Fergie After Onyx Storm I needed a non fantasy book to read and this was perfect and a 5 star read A historical fiction with a hint of mystery in which the Singer sewing machine connects the characters. T...

My goals for March - be kind to myself - do things that give me joy - give away a few things - learn how to journal

So my goalsfor February - - read 4 books I finished the audio book of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros in preparation for the 3rd book in the series being released - Onyx Storm I really enjoyed this (again) and Im glad Ive reread the first two books in the series as I think I would find Onyx Storm confusing otherwise. This is such a great series that I find myself taking my time so its not over and done with! Yep theres dragons, romance, battles, plots, deceptions etc - just my time of book! I can now start Onyx Storm! I also finished the audio book of Christmas Past which is a short storm in the St Marys series by Jodi Taylor. As always you can never go wrong with a St Mary's book - and although this is a short story it still packs a punch Matthew wants to check how his chimney sweep friends are and Max agrees to jump back on Christmas Eve to check on them Of course things go wrong but it all works out in the end Just love this series and the characters And the final audio book ...

In my aim to keep myself accountable this year - Im going to set a goal for each month - or goals If I hit some or all that is awesome, if I dont thats ok too So for February - - read 4 books - finish 2 ufos - start 2 new things - walk everyday!

Well here we are at the end of January already! 2025 is obviously a "fast" year as Im not sure how we have got here already. At the start of the year I made of list of projects I want to finish and I was shocked with how many I had However Ive made a really good start with two really big finishes And Gary has also ticked off something that has been in the pipeline for out of the front of the farm gateway and I love it. Megan helped with the design as well and its awesome. The black sign I bought for Gary I think 3 years ago and he made the mail box part probably 2 years ago so its nice that its now up and looking very fancy. Firstly the Paper Garden Quilt which was a Block of the month from Patchwork by the Sea At the start of the year I had two blocks completed and now the whole quilt is and its hanging on the wall in Megans room Im pretty happy with it I also completed the Go go Throw (pattern by Ambah O'Brien) using my 2024 Advent Calendar kit from obsession Yarns....

Ive just finished (via audible - audio) the Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier It was recommended to me and Ive so enjoyed it There are 6 books in the series - Daughter of the Forest Son of the Shadows Child of the Prophecy Heir to Sevenwaters Seer of Sevenwaters Flame of Sevenwaters Apparently there is a book that comes between the last two books but is not on audible so I dont know if I will ever get to read/listen to it - Twixt Firelight and Water It is set mainly in ancient Ireland, the series covers four generations in the family of Sevenwaters, which enjoys a special relationship with the people of the Otherworld. As well as battles between the Irish Celts and the Britons, internal conflicts between neighbouring landholders are integral to the plots. However, all six books carry a strong romance element. All the books are narrated in the first person by young women of the family Yes it has battles, romance and the Tuatha De Danann (which for some reason Im a bit f...

Well here we are in 2025! If you read my last blog post, you will know Im intending on taking this a little easier (on myself that is) I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to do and to achieve and yes I do like doing all the things and achieving lots of things, dont get me wrong, but I want to do things that bring me joy and satisfaction. I know for the last few years Ive been showing you things as they are finished - this year Im going to show you things as they are progressing. I have a huge list of things (UFO's as we call them - unfinished objects) and I would really like to finish quite a few of them. I also have quite a lot of "new" projects I would like to get done - so you will get a blend of both. Im also not going to be a "slave" to posting each week - but as I see fit So after all that preamble........so far this year Ive done the following - Firstly a pair of baby socks for Ollie in Queensland. The yarn is lovely and left over from an adu...

Here we are at the start of a new year - and I know for many its a day of making intentions and promises and looking ahead. The last couple of years have been incredibly hard for me with loss, sadness and disappointment. I am looking forward though and hoping for a better 2025 and I really feel my word for 2025 is trust. When I googled (as you do) the meaning of trust this came up The 4 elements of trust (Competency, Consistency, Integrity, and Compassion) are dependent on the way we behave - both individually and collectively. These behaviors come from innate traits that determine how we, as human beings, respond and/or act in any situation. I found this here - I think for me and what Im thinking at the moment - I need to trust myself, my beliefs, my thoughts and those around me who love and care for me. The 4 elements described above are things that I really care about and they really resonate with me thats for sure. Yes I might be sounding a bit philosophical but thats where my...