Home again...

Last time I posted I was just about to head off on my big adventure to the United States. Now I am home again - I cant believe I've just had three fabulous weeks away!
At the end of a little cul de sac in Nashville there was a house with a New Zealand flag flying... a great welcome by my brother and his wife.

So what did this kiwi girl learn about America?

• It's an awful long way from New Zealand to America
• It's just as far from America back to New Zealand
• Light switches are upside down in America
• Toilets flush funny
• It's best to close your eyes at intersections as all driving is on the wrong side of the road
• Supper is at tea-time
• Dimes, gallons, pounds and farenheit is a whole new language
• Many people cant tell a Kiwi accent from an Aussie one!
• Taxes are added onto the price of everything
• Tipping is expected, and necessary
• Spring was a great time to visit, everything looked nice and green and it hadn't got too hot yet.

Just a few pics to show you some of the things I saw/got up to....

...of course, me being me, I was excited to see some of the wildlife....

Squirrels.... 

And Cardinals. Such gorgeous birds.
I saw Bluebirds, Crows and Hummingbirds too.
And Turkey Buzzards.
Deer on the roadside.
And a turtle randomly crossing a road.
Smelt a skunk.

The Parthenon, an exact copy of the original, was fascinating.

Athena (in the Parthenon) in all her glory. 40 feet tall.

Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Amazing building.
Marble staicase and chandaliers by the dozen (nearly).

Belle Meade Plantation. We had a tour through the beautiful house ...

...led by a real Southern gal!

Cool to see inside the original cottage there too

I saw that lots of things really are big in America....
Doggy bags needed...and as for the bibs - I couldn't stop laughing!!

The shops were huge And the Oprey Motel (all under cover)
was MASSIVE! Another of many gobsmacking moments.
Here's my brother the tour guide.

Nashville wouldn't have been complete without an evening
spent downtown.

After Nashville I visited Texas, where I stayed with bloggy friend Doniene.

Another great adventure and just wonderful to experience a bit of life on a Texan ranch. 

They were kidding while I was there. Nannies popping out cute wee
babies everywhere.
Sonya the guard dog patrolled at night to keep them all safe from varmits.
In need of rain, some came the day before I arrived.

Cacti grow everywhere.
They were just starting to bloom.

Awesome horseride around the ranch and up the mountain. Here's the view.

The cowgirls, Doniene and Raewyn.

I also went to Quilt Week at Paducah in Kentucky (absolutely fantastic) but I will leave that for another post.

I'm going to try going to bed now but I'm not having much luck righting my confused body clock...

See you all next time - and thank you for visiting,

This week's news...

A couple of little things to show you this week - and some news to share.......

I mentioned in another post that I am making a few sewing room essentials as a project of the month club for my Favourite Quilt Shop. April's projects were these are two little scissor holders and fobs.

And I have just finished the bag below, as well. I based it on this pattern by Sew Prim Khris. (I also made another one a few years ago, shown here).
I have made my new one a bit taller and appliquéd on the outer pockets. Once again I used Matilda's Own Bag batting, I love the soft firmness this gives. I also put a little cotton batting behind the pockets... no it doesn't make it too boofy - it's got quite a nice feeling body.
You can see I have used Anni Downs' cat from her Simple Pleasures book again; he is such a cutie and I like an excuse to use him from time to time.

On one side the cat has a suitcase...

...and on the other side he has a sewing machine.

Now, you will be thinking two things..... why does the cat have a suitcase and a sewing machine, plus, what is the news to share I talked about at the beginning of this post....?
Well, this bag is hopping on a plane with me in a few days and winging it's way to the USA. It's going to accompany me to my brother's place for a visit and then to Paducah for Quilt week!!!! It's keeping the materials I need for the classes that I am taking nice and safe. Woohoo!!! Lucky little bag isn't it.... and the cat isn't the only one getting excited!!
If any of you are out and about and JUST HAPPEN to see my bag - please take the time to say Hello - I would love to meet you!!
So the next day will see me focussing on getting everything else packed (why is it that my sewing things always get packed first?!) and getting to the plane on time.
Have a great week everyone - I know I will :-)
Happy stitching,

Scrappy blues and creams

About three years ago, I started this project. I thought some hand piecing would be great to do in the evenings while sitting in front of the TV with the MOML.

Winding Our Way  Australian Homespun #72

Then I discovered stitchery-hexagons-hand appliqué - and suddenly my nights were filled with those and this project languished at the bottom of the pile.
UNTIL SCRAP BASKET SUNDAY!!!
I've been looking for a good travelling companion and I decided that this project would be a good one.
I discovered it had that "I've been sitting in the cupboard too long " smell, so I had a marathon session airing and pressing.

Ironed and stuck on the wall; I can see the starting of the circle effect....

Sorting, pressing, drawing, cutting, AIRING.
Scrap play!

The start of a nice little pile for the next few blocks.

 Today I am linking up with Kim (Kim's Big Quilting Adventure) and other scrappy friends on Scrapbasket Sunday. Click here to visit more bloggers playing with their scraps.
Happy Sewing!!