BLESSED SPEEDY

 Recently I was looking through my mums quilt stuff she hadn't got around to doing anything with and found a panel which you iron 2 inch squares onto and sew together - this was the result However I thought it looked a bit plain and needed something added to it So I found some Hawaiian quilt designs and thought I might see how they looked on it - they looked great! But I had to work out how to attach them for sewing - bit complex to just pin on so quilt basting spray to the rescue! And this is the final result - and Im super happy with it!

 As many of you  know I enjoy doing craft stuff - particularly knitting and quilting and well I might have started a few things All At Once cos the lure of starting something new is pretty strong Firstly a jumper for me that will be pretty warm and cosy as its from 16ply Bendigo Woollen Mills Yarn - its a pretty simple design just basic stockinette and super thick yarn so it shouldn't take too long to make. Next, and also knitting, is a gorgeous shawl pattern from Joji Locitelli - the lightweight hipster shawl.  Ive already made this pattern in a heavier weight yarn and love it and thought this would be really nice to make too - it takes one skein of sock yarn.  And finally a quilt, or actually a wallhanging Ive started.  Im using some fusible backing and lots of 2 inch squares.  Once Ive seamed all these together I think I might add some flowers, butterflies and maybe trees to it.  So as you can see Im definitely not what is called a "monogamous" craf...

 Day 7 and its been announced from midnight the restrictions will ease for those of us in Regional Victoria :) however Melbourne is still in lockdown - yes still have to wear masks, still no visitors to our homes but we can travel and go out for no reason at all. Exciting times! Today I thought I would share with you my love of reading.  This pic is the bookcase on my side of our bed and yes these are all books in the "to be read" pile - and yes its constantly being added to! I also love to listen to audio books and my app of choice is audible and its so portable (I have it on my phone and my iPad) and has a great range of books to choose from.  I tend to listen to books I probably wouldn't read in a physical copy so something like Anna Karenina, super long books like those from Diana Gabaldon etc.  I listen while driving, exercising, knitting, sewing and well almost anywhere.  Its great to be able to do this. What books do you like to read?  Ill read anyth...

Well its day 6 and the government have announced our restrictions in regional victoria will be easing. We will be able to travel more than 5 kms and not be restricted on reasons for leaving home, but still no visitors in our homes and still need to wear masks :( Today I thought Id share with you my love of music. When I was 6 or 7 my Pa had an electric organ he liked to play and he taught me how to play it - I loved it and he bought me a piano so that I would have something to play and enjoy at home. I went to music lessons (with the lovely Mrs Harvey) in Bendigo where we lived and stayed learning from her until she sadly had a fall in her garden and passed away.  I then went to Mrs Sworder - who although a hard task master, taught me a lot. The last 18 months of learning, we had moved to Kerang, and Mum drove me to Bendigo once a week for lessons - thanks Mum! Only recently Ive had my piano (yes the same piano Ive had all these years) moved to our home and Ive so been enjoying pla...

 Day 5 of lockdown and its also world milk day - so cow pics it is! As most of you know my husband Gary and I are dairy farmers in Northern Victoria and we (mostly) love doing that.   Yes there are challenges at times  - the weather (sometimes super hot or freezing)  - cows doing stupid things - calves doing stupid things  - us doing stupid things  - machinery breaking down at just the wrong time  and the list goes on. But we do love our "girls" and yes we are tied to doing something every morning and night but the rest of the day could be anything! So enjoy your milk in your cuppa, your breakfast, your cooking and think of us occasionally when you do #dairylove 

Here we are on day 4 - however by the increasing case numbers, I wont be surprised if this lockdown goes on for longer than a week, sadly. My Mum is in an aged care facility just near me and due to covid (sensibly) the facility is locked down - so no visiting inside the facility. However you are able to talk to residents "through the glass" and I did that with mum today. We did the same many times last year during that lockdown and memories came flooding back of me feeling like the locked out one with staff etc inside cheerfully walking past and saying hi and me freezing sitting outside with a take away coffee talking to mum. The things you do - but I do know that mum likes to see my face and not just talk on the phone so it was good.  I also worked on a secret quilt project for a new to be born family member- no picks as its a surprise!

Well today is Sunday - so usually I go to church, however because of the lockdown of course we couldn't, but thankfully our Pastors David and Rosanna Palmer produce an online service so we watched that from the comfort of our lounge room and no need to get dressed in respectable clothes either! After that I worked on tidying up my knitting projects and finished off some socks For those that know me, know that I love knitting socks - and from Ive been told people like receiving them. The first pair Ive finished are for Gary (and yes he likes wearing the socks I make him) The pattern is called Endless Maze Socks  ravelry link  and I used some Kathys Fibres Yarn in the colour way Forest that I had been gifted  And then a pair for (possibly) me from Knit Picks felici yarn and the pattern is Vanilla Latte Socks and this is the 12th time Ive made this pattern - I love it, its my go to and always try and have a pair on the go as the pattern is simple, gives a great result and pe...