Winnings...

Oops....forgot amidst all the confusion of the past 2 weeks here....my winnings from the Whirl into
Winter arrived...


these are from Merry Little Quilter and Gr8dame's Place...thank you, thank you, I love everything that was sent by both of you....I have some plans for those flannel FQ's....
cheers Julz

I'm still here...

Hi all,
Yes I'm still here, everything has calmed down now.....I would like to say to everyone that has lost family, friends, property etc how terrible we all feel that this awful thing has happened, and hope to goodness that it never does again....and that our thoughts, prayers and help are here for you.

There are a lot of wonderful people out there organising quilty things for victims of the bushfires, check on Mrs Martins and Kerry Swain to name just 2......please give if you can.


We had a very nervous time with loads of smoke, news reports that weren't accurate (not having a go...but some of the reports could of been a bit better, that's another story!), locals that were panicking that didn't need to and neighbors that were all trying to pitch in and help one another...


This is the smoke that we could see over the top of the house to the North (1st 2) and to the East, this was started by lightning, a little puff of smoke about 20 minutes later, then a bigger cloud about 1 hour later, this last one is the glow about 3 hours after the first puff. Thank goodness the wind was not blowing towards us.

Elvis came to town....

took this one so that you get an idea just how BIG Elvis is.....that is a normal sized petrol tanker on the right and another helicopter that is the fire spotter for Elvis....we got to talk to the pilots (there are 3 of them on there at all times), they are really lovely blokes and do a wonderful job.


The last photo is taken from my girlfriends house on the other side of town looking back towards my house.

this one is looking out towards the North....way too close, also from my girlfriends house.

All this gave me a bit of time to finish Gail's next BOM instalment....(all the waiting to see what would happen)
and start work on a few other odds and ends....more on them later.

Don't you just hate it when you buy a book pack and you already have one of the books.... TWICE ALREADY

And this morning we actually had a shower of rain, yes I took pictures because I wouldn't believed it if I had not seen it.....

even the dog was impressed!!!!


Pity the rain only lasted 5 minutes (enough to wet the ground) and 1/2 hour later you couldn't even tell it had RAINED!

sorry that was such a long post....but that's life!

Hope everyone stays safe and take care out there.
Good luck to all the bushfire victims and let's not forget the flood victims in Queensland.

cheers Julz

ps this post only took 4 1/2 hours to complete!!!! is that a record almost?????

Bushfires....

sorry no posts lately, too much happening here with the bushfires. We are OK at the moment, although the fires aren't too far away (about 2kms) in a straight line from our house, everything is packed ready to go.
I'll post some pics later on when I have time.
Thank you to everyone that have been in contact by email, your thoughts and wishes are most appreicated.
take care,
Julz

One BOM down....

Several more to go....
Here is a pic of Gail's BOM...

decided to do 2 of these, one for me and one to give....if I do them both at the same time....I won't be running around for last minute pressies (stop laughing....it's a good thought! We will see just how far I get....)

Not as hot here today, so much better than 45 I can tell you....

Kiddies are back to school tomorrow.....YAY!!!! Not that I don't like having them home....but can do without all of the running all over the countryside for friends etc.

take care,
cheers Julz

Still Hot!

Boy, have we copped it here in Melbourne this week, unbelieveably HOT.....three days over 43 degrees, and here in the outer burbs, today will probably hit 40 again! Thank goodness for AC...
well enough whingeing about the weather...out of my control...

Recently I won a 100th post giveway at Gum Valley Patchwork and this is what the lovely Linda has sent me....from my most favourite designer Sandy Gervais, a lovely charm pack of Tranquility.

aren't they just gorgeous?

And, I've joined another BOM stitchery freebie here at Willowberry, it is just so cute!

cheers Julz

Happy Australia Day...

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY! to Aussies everywhere.

Hot again today,with the weather forecast for Melbourne for the next few days 40, 40, 40, 40, and maybe a change by next weekend!
Well what Australia Day without hot weather!

cheers Julz

Hot! Hot!

Boy, has it been hot here the last day or two, and we are in for more this week! Yuck, don't like the real hot hot weather. Took the kids to the pool yesterday for a while. I think that might be where they will be later in the week too, forecast for 38 Tuesday, 38 Wednesday, 40 Thursday, cool change 28? Friday......crank up the AC I say....

Check this gorgeous little baby animal freebie from the lovely Cath at Cathron Designs. It follows on from her ABC stitcheries. They are just beautiful! Thank you to Cath for sharing your wonderful artist skills with us. I just love her designs.
enjoy....


cheers Julz

Wow....

Hi everyone,
I am feeling very spoiled today....I have won two....yes TWO....of the giveaways on blogs in Whirl Into Winter, hosted by the lovely Debi.
First was at Merry Little Quilter, and then on Gr8dame's Place.

I will post pics when they arrive. I am totally gobsmacked at winning and continually amazed at the generousity of fellow bloggers. What a wonderful group of people, so go out there and check out all of the amazing blogs.

And this morning I went shopping, I needed to purchase some more calico and wadding, but look what just jumped right into the bag....I just couldn't stop them! (I didn't try very hard....)
Don't forget to check out Ester's blog, the next instalment of Red Delicious is out for a month only.
And the lovely Gail has a gorgeous BOM stitchery on her blog, not to mention the BOM calender quilt that I know so many are doing....at Ellies.
And finally the challenge set by May Britt and Kris, the One Project A Month Challenge.

Just how many more things can I fit in???? Let's see....there's the new quilt for my bed to celebrate 25 years of marriage in October, finish the cushions for Diva's room, make something for my new niece, keep making stuff for Prim and Pretty and TCCT, the list is just getting longer and longer!

Oh well, it all keeps me out of mischief...

cheers Julz

PS. If joining up for swaps please consider your swap partner, if you decide that you can't be bothered sending something, contact the organizer and let her know what is happening.

These swaps are supposed to be enjoyed by all, but sometimes life gets in the way and things don't get done. See Chookyblue here as she has some very interesting things to say as does Helen. Be fair and don't let your partner down, there's always email!

I'm putting this on as I feel very passionate about it, a friend who doesn't wish to make a fuss, missed out on receiving her pressy in the HoneyPot Swap held by Darlene. So I send her a little something to help ease the loss, but it's not the same as getting what you were supposed to, and there has no been any contact from her partner.

If people are going to sign up and not follow through, these lovely ladies that are spending so much time like Chookyblue, Helen, Debi and Darlene, organising swaps, THEY JUST WON'T DO IT ANYMORE and we the participates will be the losers.
Don't forget all the new friendships to make and some really great blogs to visit! Without some of these swaps, I know there are heaps of blogs I would not normally visit....it's a wonderful opportunity so don't blow it for all of us that love swaps!!!!!

Ok, I'm off my soapbox now.
cheers again.

Just mucking around....

Managed to spend quite a bit of time in the sewing room this weekend, nothing too productive...just a lot of mucking around really....

finished the top of this....not totally happy with this one, the stars didn't quite go to plan.....not too sure about the scrappiness of the blues....too late now, coz it ain't being unpicked!
Just needs to be layered and quilted....

.....lots of things to finish......but started something else that has been swimming around in the head.....

these.....(don't think they count towards OPAM!)

and there are some out grown jeans that need to be turned into some bags, still working on how to do that one?????? They are just still too good to be thrown out....and thought the a couple of new bags wouldn't go astray....stay tuned...

cheers Julz

One Project A Month Challenge...

Hi everyone,
like so many others out there in blogland, I have taken the plunge and signed up for Kris and
May Britts challenge.

Maybe it will give me the incentive to find some of those long forgotten projects at the bottom of the basket, and finish them!

Maybe in will just add to the basket, today I went shopping and came home with these....
some inspiration!

and when we got home, the lovely postman had been.....with these!
so lets see what will happen.

well, that's it for the time being. It's off to the kitchen to get dinner organised and off to work!!!! No I didn't win that $30 million in Tattslotto on the weekend, so it's work again for us in this household....Oh to dream of that much money, just imagine how big the stash could become!!!!

cheers Julz