I cannot believe it has been a month since I last posted but I have thought of you all everyday and have tried to keep the Facebook page updated regularly.
Before I get into giving you guys a run down of what has been keeping me so busy I want to honor one of the most influential women in my life. While the 4th of July is famous for Independence Day in America, for my family it is our gorgeous Nan's birthday!! The highlights of my childhood where holidays at Nan and Pops house and I was allowed to hangout in the sewing room, going through biscuit tins of ribbons, bottles of buttons and cupboards of fabric!! The memory I will forever treasure was when Nan set up the old silver metal Singer machine and I shared the sewing table with my idol for the first time.
I still talk to my Nan every week, sometimes more, and even though she no longer sews or bakes due to her health, we can chat for hours about my projects, her ideas and suggestions to help me improve something, her secrets to scone making and her total honesty with love policy always leaves me feeling completely bathed in that special grandmother love and ready to tackle whatever may come. (Even scones!)
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| This is my Nan as a teenager - Happy Birthday Nanny!! |
I'm not going to tell everything about the last few weeks however I am going to give highlights and save some of other projects for later blogs and then hopefully I will never have such a big break from you again!!
Barcaldine Sewing Retreat
Early last month my local quilting store held a two day sewing retreat and I was super spoilt because the "Owls" came over from Emerald, causing me to almost burst with excitement at the thought of spending time with people I love while doing something I love!!
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| Jules and her concentrating face! |
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| Wendy and her "dirty" fabric! |
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| Here is the owner of my local The Silver Thimble, Sandy Grey (Green) who shared her vast knowledge with us all weekend! |
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| Wendy's Shabby Chic Runner |
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| Dallas's scrappy brights |
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| Julie's First Attempt at free-motion -skilled!! |
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| This was my version that I made using scraps from my Mum's first quilt - she loves it and it will be going in the motorhome!! |
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| It was so much fun to be doing some free-motion again!! |
I bought the cake base from the bakery (yeah, yeah, yeah) and then sliced and re layered brushing orange juice onto the cake, then spreading Rosewater and vanilla pudding icing continuing to build until I had the 'saggy' shape I was looking for.
It really yummy and I have decided I will NEVER make icing any other way again!!
After a very tearful goodbye, which continued into the next day, caused by lack of sleep and very bad (but so delicious) eating habits over the weekend, Mr B was very understanding and made me a cuppa then sent me to bed for an immediate catch up rest - I actually think in true husband style he had no idea what to do with his weeping emotional wife so tea and sleep meant I left him alone and he looked caring!! Bless him :-)
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| Have to show you these Coffee Creams!! They are made by the beautiful Wendy and are on my same deliciousness level as Macaroons, which if you know my obsession for them is BIG!! They are so crumbly, true flavored with a filling that is just moist enough in the mouth - I think I'm in love!! |
Parties and Discos!!
Master 6 and Miss 4 have had a very busy social life of late and we have attended some birthday parties and had a great night at the dress up school disco!!
Miss 4 finally got to wear her gorgeous new smocked dress made by Evelyn and was quite happy to put on a show for the camera - that was until we arrived and she saw the lollies - then I was officially forgotten about until I required to hold something or she needed a toilet!!
A bonus for me was I also had a chance to wear a multi-style maxi dress made out of a fabulous pink stretch which I put together when I first moved here - which I love and was soooo comfy!!
The original pattern for this dress can from Sharon Sews through She Can Sew, if you love it just click on Sharon's link!
I am definitely going to make another one in a shorter length for Summer, can't wait to get my white legs out in the sun!! (Ohhh just remembered that means I had better shave them first!!)
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| The ties where sewn into the back seam, they can be styled into different ways to create new looks! |
With no prizes for guessing we ended up with a Rock Star and a Ballerina Princess!!
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| Mother Bragging moment, Jack won best dressed in his age!! |
I have been working on so much more in and out of the sewing room including hand sewing, crochet, designing and shabby chic recycling but I am saving some goodies to share with you later!!
The kitchen has been a little neglected with Mr B being away for three weeks but the kids and I have been trying a few new things, with a bit more tinkering I hope to post them up soon too!!
Until next time
May your bobbin always be full
Amanda
