Hi all, I am happily ensconced in Dongara at Priory Lodge, stitching and bitching away, drinking and eating and sewing for our 4 days quilt in. I have been at my sisters' for easter and after at my other sisters, and then we drove up to Dongara for our bi-annual quilting retreat. We worked on a Kaleidescope quilt, which some of us had previously done, and then we learnt a new Ricky Tims, colour convergence quilt, very effective. Of course there are always un finished quilts to get at again! All in all it has been a great weekend.
I visited my mum before we came away, she is marvellous for her age (almost 97), take our ne wshe keeps well and is hanging out for a letter from the Queen!
Of cours we were all glued to the tv for THE WEDDING ! And whether you are a Royalist/Monarchist or not, you have to admit Kate made a lovely bride. Naturally, we made a bit of a party out of the occasion! I think it is the least productive quilt retreat we have ever had, but we had to watch the wedding. Sunday draws to a close our weekend and we will wend our merry way home again. We will be refreshed and enthused about what we have learnt and will take our new found knowledge home and put it to good use until next time. It had been very flattering to receive beautiful letters from Lions Eye Institute, and Diabetes WA about the quilts we donated to them for fundraising. I hope if you ever see a raffle from these organisations about a quilt raffle, you will buy a ticket because it may well be a quilt I have been involved in making!
So My love to you all and happy travelling,
love vicki
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter Greetings
Happy Easter everybody.
I am back in the bosom of my family in WA. I flew back to Perth after a wonderful few days at APQ Convention in Melbourne, doing one of the many things I love best, patchworking, and now am visiting grandchildren, children, sisters and Mum, and of course my great friends.
I started out with waiting for every piece pf luggage ro come off the plane before mine appeared, I mean literally my bag was the last to arrive on the carousel! Then I picked up a hire car. and finally got to Rob and Caeol's about 1145pm. Course we had to catch up for another hour! So i had a looong day. First thing in the morning it was off to the drs, for my appointments which miraculously I got through early, and was off north to Geraldton.
Some body was watching over me on that drive, as I really was very lucky. for the first time in a long while i had several moments when i dozed off! I pulled over about 7 times and drank coffee and walked around and slapped myself etc. I have never been so glad to arrive at Megs as i was on Monday.
Next day it was make more appoointments, and dash off to Finches Nest ( the best patchwork shop in Australia), they were having a sale! I had a lovely time there!
I finally got a great haircut, did all those boring things, like getting scripts up to date, checking out the bank, renewing motor licences, etc. Then it was catch up time with friends and son and grandchildren.
That was a lovely time, my son and daughterinlaw had me over for a meal, ( and I know they read this) I was most impressed with how the granchildren are growing and maturing. I look at my son and think where did this fine looking man come from! It must be distance which makes you look at the family differently? I never have been sure who he takes after in the family, but he is quite good looking!!
Good Friday I left Geraldton to drive down to South Yunderup to my sister Jean's house, and do My Patchwork shop duty. She had a houseful as a friend was having a major birthday, lovely, as i knew them all too. Lots of catch up on the details that aren't in the blog! And eating lovely food and drinking. Lawrie and Jean took us out on their Murray river for a gorgeous evening trip in the boat, so all in all a very nice easter, which finished off with the most delicious easter eggs ! I hope Jill won't mind that I tell you the recipe. Hollow eggs, the smallest, pierce a small hole in the top, fill with B52 mixture (or your favourite), and bob's your uncle, luscious boozy easter eggs!
I had a busy time at Pinjara Patchwork shop, caught up with all my mail, still plowing through my magazines, am knitting a new design scarf, and prepared some things for the patchwork retreat next weekend. Easter Sunday I drove down to my other sisters house where I base myself to visit Genevieve and more grandchildren and mum and my south west friends.
I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Easter, Love vicki
I am back in the bosom of my family in WA. I flew back to Perth after a wonderful few days at APQ Convention in Melbourne, doing one of the many things I love best, patchworking, and now am visiting grandchildren, children, sisters and Mum, and of course my great friends.
I started out with waiting for every piece pf luggage ro come off the plane before mine appeared, I mean literally my bag was the last to arrive on the carousel! Then I picked up a hire car. and finally got to Rob and Caeol's about 1145pm. Course we had to catch up for another hour! So i had a looong day. First thing in the morning it was off to the drs, for my appointments which miraculously I got through early, and was off north to Geraldton.
Some body was watching over me on that drive, as I really was very lucky. for the first time in a long while i had several moments when i dozed off! I pulled over about 7 times and drank coffee and walked around and slapped myself etc. I have never been so glad to arrive at Megs as i was on Monday.
Next day it was make more appoointments, and dash off to Finches Nest ( the best patchwork shop in Australia), they were having a sale! I had a lovely time there!
I finally got a great haircut, did all those boring things, like getting scripts up to date, checking out the bank, renewing motor licences, etc. Then it was catch up time with friends and son and grandchildren.
That was a lovely time, my son and daughterinlaw had me over for a meal, ( and I know they read this) I was most impressed with how the granchildren are growing and maturing. I look at my son and think where did this fine looking man come from! It must be distance which makes you look at the family differently? I never have been sure who he takes after in the family, but he is quite good looking!!
Good Friday I left Geraldton to drive down to South Yunderup to my sister Jean's house, and do My Patchwork shop duty. She had a houseful as a friend was having a major birthday, lovely, as i knew them all too. Lots of catch up on the details that aren't in the blog! And eating lovely food and drinking. Lawrie and Jean took us out on their Murray river for a gorgeous evening trip in the boat, so all in all a very nice easter, which finished off with the most delicious easter eggs ! I hope Jill won't mind that I tell you the recipe. Hollow eggs, the smallest, pierce a small hole in the top, fill with B52 mixture (or your favourite), and bob's your uncle, luscious boozy easter eggs!
I had a busy time at Pinjara Patchwork shop, caught up with all my mail, still plowing through my magazines, am knitting a new design scarf, and prepared some things for the patchwork retreat next weekend. Easter Sunday I drove down to my other sisters house where I base myself to visit Genevieve and more grandchildren and mum and my south west friends.
I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Easter, Love vicki
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
AQC Melbourne
Hi Folks!,
I am still totally gutted! Last blog I sent I was in SA with my cousin in LOxton, from there I retraced (almost) my steps back to Melbourne so I could go to AQC (Australian Quilt Convention for the uninitiated). (sorry don't know how I got the italics!)
I drove through SA and Victorian mallee country, via Pinnaroo, Lascelles,Lake Learmonth,and then on to Ballarat and the freeway to Melbourne. Took me 3 days and 2 nights, fairly long driving days , but I got myself safely into Ashley Gardens Caravan Park at Braybrook. Then it was dig out my patchwork fabrics ready for the workshops I was booked into, empty the fridge and say good bye to Doigs Donga for 4 nights in Carlton.
I shared a motel room with one of my Pinjarra compatriots from 2 years previously when I attended and Faye and I had a great time. The Quilt Show component is really magnificent, there were the best of the best from each state, quilts, and challenges from Victorian and Queensland quilters, also a display from Japan, plus the teachers had to display some of their works. Really fabulous.I don't know how many of these quilts will be on display at the Perth Patchwork show later in May, but at least some of them will be and it would be worth while having a look at even if you are not one the "faithfull"!
I am still totally gutted! Last blog I sent I was in SA with my cousin in LOxton, from there I retraced (almost) my steps back to Melbourne so I could go to AQC (Australian Quilt Convention for the uninitiated). (sorry don't know how I got the italics!)
I drove through SA and Victorian mallee country, via Pinnaroo, Lascelles,Lake Learmonth,and then on to Ballarat and the freeway to Melbourne. Took me 3 days and 2 nights, fairly long driving days , but I got myself safely into Ashley Gardens Caravan Park at Braybrook. Then it was dig out my patchwork fabrics ready for the workshops I was booked into, empty the fridge and say good bye to Doigs Donga for 4 nights in Carlton.
I shared a motel room with one of my Pinjarra compatriots from 2 years previously when I attended and Faye and I had a great time. The Quilt Show component is really magnificent, there were the best of the best from each state, quilts, and challenges from Victorian and Queensland quilters, also a display from Japan, plus the teachers had to display some of their works. Really fabulous.I don't know how many of these quilts will be on display at the Perth Patchwork show later in May, but at least some of them will be and it would be worth while having a look at even if you are not one the "faithfull"!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Relatives in S. A,
Hi all
I have had a lovely time in SA visiting my cousin in Loxton, she has been the family tree producer. We spent hours talking about the family tree. I am always really interested in it, there is so much information about the history of our ancestors!! I am getting interested in going back to Scotland and doing some research myself.
We drove around Berri, Barmera and Renmark, I managed to get some lovely dried fruit. We went out to my cousins old family homestead, where one of her grandchildren is living with his partner, while working on the farm. It must break her heart as they are not interested in keeping up the appearance of the homestead and it is going to wrack and ruin around their ears.
I had a hard time finding any of the free camps recommended by camps australia, as most of them are flooded, it is so disappointing, but of course the river looks so good, i just am happy to end up in a caravan park. I crossed the river by ferry many times and a couple of times I turned back the wrong way. It is one of the few times I lost my sense of direction. The weather has turned quite cold! So I am often glad I am in a caravan park as I can turn the heater on!
Now I am in Melbourne waiting for the Patchwork convention to start.
Keep well and for those in WA I will be looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.
Love vicki
I have had a lovely time in SA visiting my cousin in Loxton, she has been the family tree producer. We spent hours talking about the family tree. I am always really interested in it, there is so much information about the history of our ancestors!! I am getting interested in going back to Scotland and doing some research myself.
We drove around Berri, Barmera and Renmark, I managed to get some lovely dried fruit. We went out to my cousins old family homestead, where one of her grandchildren is living with his partner, while working on the farm. It must break her heart as they are not interested in keeping up the appearance of the homestead and it is going to wrack and ruin around their ears.
I had a hard time finding any of the free camps recommended by camps australia, as most of them are flooded, it is so disappointing, but of course the river looks so good, i just am happy to end up in a caravan park. I crossed the river by ferry many times and a couple of times I turned back the wrong way. It is one of the few times I lost my sense of direction. The weather has turned quite cold! So I am often glad I am in a caravan park as I can turn the heater on!
Now I am in Melbourne waiting for the Patchwork convention to start.
Keep well and for those in WA I will be looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.
Love vicki
Saturday, April 2, 2011
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