Holidays

 For part of my birthday celebrations we planned a trip to Queensland. It was a bit touch and go with restrictions in Brisbane but luckily we were able to go. Beforehand, on Friday the family got together to have hot cross buns on Good Friday and I was surprised by gifts.

We then headed to Sydney and I was spoilt by Ma with a delicious baked dinner. Deirdre also gave me this lovely necklace.

We then flew in an aeroplane which was very exciting. 

Then we were on holidays! It did rain for half the week but it certainly didn't bother the kids. The rest of the post is very photo heavy but it is lovely to see all the good times we shared over the week.

We went to Pacific Fair for lunch and we were drenched!!

One morning the kids went to the beach for a walk. It didn't take them long to be in the water!

We enjoyed the lovely parks once the weather cleared. 

The highlight was the warm pools at the resort!

And the beach of course.

They came to visit our unit's pools too and that was fun, especially with Uncle Nick blowing up in the spa.

We had to wear masks quite a lot which was an experience.

Birthday celebrations and a quilt

 I would like to get excited about my birthday this year but it is a shock to realise how old I am!!! I do feel blessed as I have good health and lovely friends and family so mustn't complain at all!! The night and morning stitchers took me out on Tuesday to the Hyatt for high tea. It was so special. Thank you dear friends.

Yesterday was our normal lunch for the study group. It was lovely to share a birthday song and cake with Linley.

I was also spoilt with a gorgeous cake on Wednesday afternoon. Thank you Paddy. It was delicious even without the raspberries and cream! 

I have always wanted a quilt cupboard as they have been hiding away in the linen press. We got a quote for a timber one and then discovered this one at Ikea. Perfect size and price. Great birthday gift.

Finally after many years, Fairy Kisses is finished! It is a bit sad that I take so long to make things!!

Quilts...

 Over the last few weeks I have been busy binding some quilts. I am also slowly hand quilting my Stitch Therapy 365 quilt. Here is the Simple life all bound and labelled.

This is the United Stitches quilt all bound and labelled.

I am now binding my very old project, Fairy Kisses.

Om Wednesday night, Margaret brought her beautiful quilt to show us. It is Natalie Birds' Willlowbrook Farm BOM. It looks so lovely. Here are some sections as it was too hard to get a picture of the whole quilt.

She even used some scraps in the pieced back.

Great weekend away

 Every year the Thursday group heads to the coast for a retreat. I missed it last year as it was the start of Covid and I sadly had a cold! So it was good to go this year. There was a lovely swim (even me), too much good food, games, puzzles for some and even stitching. We stayed in a great house in Mollymook and were blessed with perfect weather on Saturday. It rained on Sunday but that didn't dampen our enjoyment. We enjoyed fish and chips in Batemans Bay and it was interesting to see the new bridge next to the old one.

This was our view from the house.

On Monday we headed up to Milton for morning tea and a bit of a browse in some of the shops.

We then stopped for lunch at Braidwood and I enjoyed looking and perhaps purchasing something from the Altenburg Gallery. I was tempted to buy myself an early birthday gift!! We also enjoyed looking at the Textiles on display. 

Lovely day out

 It was lovely to catch up with Ma on Tuesday. She came to town with a friend and then we picked her up and had a nice day together. We visited the National Library and enjoyed seeing some amazing dresses that have been inspired by the beautiful floral watercolours by Ellis Rowan. She was born in 1848 and painted many of the paintings in the early 1900s.

She also travelled to New Guinea and painted the beautiful birds found there. They are wonderfully detailed.

Stitching away

 I feel like the time flies and not much gets done but there are some slow projects on the go! My tree skirt is getting there slowly. I am not too motivated though I do like it. Anyway here are a few more houses. I know I will enjoy decorating it with stitching soon.

I have enjoyed this cross stitch sampler and it now has its beads. Needs a frame of course.

My quilts, 5 of them, have just come back from the quilter. Two were tacked for hand quilting and 3 were quilted all over.  So The Simple Life needed a label.

I have been binding the United Stitches quilt and it is nearly done.

I also started hand quilting the Stitch Therapy 365 quilt. This will take a while.

Jayne had made a gorgeous pin cushion recently. It is just lovely.

Finally....for the bird lovers, another of hubby's gorgeous pictures