I waved the New Zealand flag for a few days in Australia on the way home after my wonderful trip away. A lovely way to finish my holiday ♥ A big public thank you to all those special friends who made sure I had a great time - you know that if any of you ever get to New Zealand, I'll be at the airport waiting for you...
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| A family outing and picnic in a park near Ipswich. |
I arrived home to the realisation that I had swapped Spring in the Northern Hemisphere —
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I saw Tulips galore while away - a novelty for this Northlander where they
don't grow very well... |
— for Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere!! Brrr, it's a bit cooler than when I left....
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| ...and the leaves are falling. |
The Australian stopover (if you call 3 days a stopover?) was a good chance to sort out any jetlag issues because as soon as I got home it was full speed ahead and back to my normal routines (not to mention folding a monumental pile of washing the MOML had collected for me!!). Of course there were some things that needed to be done 'yesterday' - no I'm not complaining, after all I had an epic time away.
First up was getting back into the
Fabulous Friday Mystery project I'm doing for
The Country Yard. Here are some of the blocks I prepped before I went away (or I haven't shared yet) —
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| Flower Block |
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| Butterflies |
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| More Churn dashes to go with some made the very first week. |
And this block was the first thing I needed to get to when I arrived home.
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| I've called it the Whirly bloom block - not sure if there is a real name out there for it?! |
It's so exciting having the ladies come in on the allocated day (twice a month) to share their blocks and get their new instructions... they are scratching their heads a bit, wondering how they will all fit together. The gallery for their blocks is *
here*.
After the large (18") block, I decided it was time to change direction a little and stitched up this wee star... isn't it fun? It's 2¼" finished and gave me a chance to play with my new
Itty-Bitty Eights rulers (designed by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings) - awesome with all those one eighth markings.
When I travel I like to collect thimbles, if I can; the one below was a little too big to fit in my bag —
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| Outside a souvenir shop on the way to Niagra Falls. |
— but these ones came home with me. A nice little add-on to my collection. Wish I'd been able to find the one above, and also I see I don't have one from Winnipeg -
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| Paducah-Indiana-Canada-Toronto-Niagra on the Lake-Canada- Niagra Falls. |
Already I have a mess on my cutting bench so before I start anything new I'd better see to that (do you realise I managed to keep my bench tidy for a WHOLE month?! hehe ok, I was away - doesn't it count?)... then I might just pull out some more fabric and do some more playing :-)
Happy creating,
I'm glad to hear you are safely home and had a great time.( I enjoyed your photos )
ReplyDeleteThose 2 wee cherubs are growing fast. Happy sewing.
Love those cute little faces. I want to pinch those cheeks!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure you had!
I have a cousin living in New Zealand somewhere--they went for her hubby's work. I was invited to visit any time, but I doubt I will make it while they are there. Would have loved it, I'm sure!
A nice crop of thimbles. That is a great collectible--doesn't take up as much room as so many other things you might choose to collect.
how good to end your holiday with a visit to the twins that was icing on the cake for you I am sure. Now back into a routine see it did not take long to get back to the stitching!!It looks a great project you are all doing.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home. Following your trip sure showed what a wonderful time you were having and wonderful to finish, albeit for just three days, with aa visit to those gorgeous little ones. Love your whirly flower block.
ReplyDeleteHi Raewyn,oh your little girls are gorgeous and they have grown so much,what a wonderful trip away you had,and i love all your blocks.xx
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! It must have been a nice way to end your holiday by seeing the two cuties! Your thimble collection has multiplied. Groovie whirly flower block. Thank goodness it was only Mt Washing you came home to and not MT calving!
ReplyDeleteGreat to read you are home safely Raewyn, Your new blocks are wonderful but Oh My .. those twin girls sure are growing up fast. Looks like still very hot temps where they live. I think collecting thimbles is a wonderful momento of your travels.
ReplyDeleteYou have had an amazing break. How lovely to have time with your grandchildren before the last leg home.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you have already jumped into stitching. The blocks are lovely.
Yes, keeping your bench tidy for a month definitely counts regardless of the reason.
Good to hear you are safely back home...lovely for you to have time with the twins and parents on the way back home. They are sure growing!! Your blocks are wonderful! You have done well to be sewing straight away!! Great additions to your thimble collection.
ReplyDeleteLovely to have a family stopover on the way home. It was an amazing trip, but it's always nice to get back home. Good to see you weren't just folding washing when you walked in the door!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had such a good trip! My, those twins have grown...so quickly. Your work is lovely, as always! XO
ReplyDeleteIll bet you missed those little dolls! It's always good to be home. Your blocks look terrific. I hope you find time to make a mess of the cutting table soon.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home! I bet that last stop over with those gorgeous grandchildren was the icing on a very nice cake!!
ReplyDeleteRaewyn, it's so wonderful that you had such a good time on your trip! I'm having a small cow now though. We live only 15 miles from Niagara Falls! :O :( You were soooo close!
ReplyDeleteYour little girls are growing quickly! Are they already walking?
Lovely blocks and it looks like you are putting in a great event! Hope you settle happily back into home!
Dear Raewyn,
ReplyDeletelovely fotos from Australia :-)) and welcome home back again. Their waits a lot of work there, I know that, but with all the meories from far away they are easier to do I think.
Your patchwork blocks look very nice.
Have a good time back again home.
Hugs
sigisart
Oh dear kiwi friend. What a fabulous finales to your trip! I'm only sad that Texas wasn't on your stop! But you know we will be over someday!
ReplyDeleteWonderful blocks thimbles and those little girls! Sooooooo cute!
Love you!
Of course it counts ;) Lovely you managed to squeeze in a stopover in Aus. what a fabulous way to round out a monumental trip :) So wonderful of MOML to show you how much he needs you in his life, lol, though surely he could come up with another way? Great blocks, I love those whirly flowers :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you are home safe and sound. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your adventures. Love those beautiful blocks and gorgeous thimbles. How lovely to sneak some cuddles in on the way home.
ReplyDeletewelcome home! those babies are too too cute!!!
ReplyDeletefun post with lots of quilty inspiration - fun blocks.
the girls are soooooo gorgeous, lovely that you were able to include a visit there.... the laundry is the thing to settle us back into real life isn't it.... lovely blocks and lovely thimbles... great little momentos' for you
ReplyDeleteHugz
Welcome back! Looks like you right back into the routing again.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you came home to a fully packed life again! I'm glad you enjoyed spring here, there's nothing like spring. Now you can enjoy a nice cool fall at home. =) Love your whirly flower block. We did those butterflies for our lotto blocks last month. Sadly, I didn't win. =)
ReplyDeleteOh my golly, the babies are adorable! And I love everything you are working on! You are so multi-talented!
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