January sewing and sun

The lazy days of summer continue for us...with family staying, still on their summer holiday, and more due to arrive for the weekend tonight...we've been having a lovely time lately :-)
On the crafting front I managed some serious sewing last week and finally got my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt top together

The Indigo row was my stumbling block last time I wrote about this project.. I finished up using an assortment of grey/black/deep purple, which gave the right effect.

 Now I need to decide if I'm bordering it or not... and if so WHAT WITH!!

This photo shows it on our (king sized) bed - it's a decent sized quilt!

Emma took the opportunity to bomb my photo for me!

I've linked up to soscrappy ScrapHappy Saturday - click *here* to see what others are up to with their scraps - thanks Angela!
While Mum was staying I asked her to help get me started on my treadle machine...her parents didn't get power until she left home (the mid-1950s!) so all her early days of sewing were with a treadle. We had previously oiled her and replaced the leather belt but I hadn't threaded her up and attempted actual stitches.

Test drive, Mum showing me how.

My first Pedal Powered block!
Lovely face plate isn't it?

But faded decals.

My research tells me that my machine is 1910-1911 'Red-Eye'... as you can see time hasn't been kind to her and her decals are hard to see... however I like to think about what a good life she's had and the stitches she must have sewn over her time... and I get a thrill treadling away on a machine that is twice my age!

Playing!

I've decided to call her Nellie, after Nana (Mum's Mum) as she truely was my crafting inspiration. And born in 1916, close enough to my machine's age!

I've started off the new year with no resolutions or amazing insights, just a determination that this year will be one where I play, explore, create and finish in My Palace. When this stitchery fell off my design wall the other day, I decided that it will be my ufo finish for the month.

Red Letter quilts is starting up a monthly linky to help motivate us with our goals so I'm going to link up there...

Red Letter Quilts

...hopefully with just a few borders needed this piece will be finished in no time!

..and that being the case, why has it sat awaiting attention for so long :-)

The MOML and I had an opportunity to take a couple of days off recently, with ED and our future son-in-law offering to milk and look after the farm for us. Woohoo!! I get to go away from time to time but poor old hubby doesn't very often.
We headed up north to the Bay of Islands for a bit of chillaxing. Had a lovely time.

The view from the balcony where we stayed.

Day trip over to Russel, which is the island looking place you see in the top photo.

While we were away, the kids (and friends) did some 4 wheel driving up the tracks in the hills/bush at the back of our farm. These photos appeared on facebook last night.

Looking down on our farm.
Sure looks like summertime!

Trail blazing!

Oh and to follow up on my last post, I did an informal family survey and Nana made at least 19 pigs! Not a bad effort!

Must be off, Happy New Year to you all.

Hope you have a happy and creative day,