Toasting Marshmallows

The kids couldn't wait to get their mashmallows in the fire.

Oscar is just like his Dad. He loves an open fire.

Yum. My Sissy enjoying a really toasty one.

Blimey what a mouth she's got!

He"s my Main Man. My firestarter. He was always meant to live in the country. He is a hillbilly from way back. Ha.

Cheers

Leanne

Awesome Autumn Sunsets

Cheers

Leanne

Life On The Farm

Archer just loves horses. Since we went to Cobark all he want to do is pat the horses. We have two horses on our property. They are actually on the neighbours property but as we don't have fences yet they are on ours too. They love it here because we mow our grass and they like the fresh green shoots. The young one is like a puppy. He is always looking at us wanting us to play with him. He is a bit of a pest though. He licks the dew off our cars in the morning, he comes on the verandah in the rain. Although, I have stopped him doing that now.

My Sister called to say she coming to stay for a few days during the holidays. In the last week all of our kids have had the vomitting virus. We thought a country break was what was needed (even though we are permanently on a country break). Paul, Oscar & Archer went out collecting wood for the campfire to toast marswhmallows in.

Yep, I think that ought to do it.

Cheers

Leanne.

Easter Camping

Easter Friday we headed off to the Barrington Valley (northwest from Newcastle) to a property called Cobark on the Cobark River. We set up camp and found out that the toilet was a 2klm drive away. (I like roughing it, but I still need a loo). The tent on the right is us and the rest are our friends. Carl & Niki were a bit posh. They had a portable hot water heater so we were able to have a hot shower at our camp site.

The little blue tent on the left is the shower tent.

As soon as we got there, Archer kept asking to go in the river. He was in for a shock when he did get in, because it was freezing. I'm sure they had mild hypothermia after they had been in for a while.

Boogie boards are always fun in the rapids. Oscar had a ball.

Ethan having fun in the blow up raft.

Paul standing guard over the kids. Making sure they didn't float down stream.

Poor Horsey!! I went for a horse ride. It's been about 20 years since the last time I rode. I used to ride all the time with my girlfriends when I was in High School. It all came back to me. Yes, all of it! The sore butt and legs. Niki, Phil & Bluey rode too. It was Bluey's first time on a horse. He did really well. The horses don't really do anything unexpected because they do the same thing all the time. They do get faster as they get close to home though.

Easter Sunday Morning. CHOCOLATE TIME!!!

How exciting. Being able to eat chocolate for breakfast. What more could a girl (& my Boys) want.

Poor Pauly! He broke his finger canoeing down the rapids. Ouch!!

Me cooking pancakes in my pink gumboots.

On Sunday we went 4 wheel driving on the property we were staying at. Some of the views were spectacular. The photo does no justice at all. 

When we got to the end we were at the Barrinton River. It had heaps more water than the Cobark River. There was a rope swing that all the kids had a go on.

Oscar 

Ethan

Archer

Before we left on Monday, I took the kids for a ride on a horse. They though it was great and Ethan & Oscar want to go on a trail ride with me next year.

We had a fantastic time. I was sad to leave. I could have stayed for another couple of days and we will be going back next year.

Thanks Cobark

Cheers

Leanne

Still Busy

Boy , have I been busy ( still ). I have been doing patterns of my designs to put in the shop

This is a sample of a Stack'n'Slash Quilt-as-You-Go that I designed for my classes. I can't wait to start it with them. 

Oscar doing the school cross country in the park at Mulbring.

Archer at the same cross country. The little ones just did a walk and ball games. So cute!!

Cheers

Leanne

Having a Ball.

I have tonnes on the go at the moment. I have been finishing samples for my classes, writing up the patterns and getting them printed. It all makes the time fly by so quickly. I was hoping for this year to not be as nuts as the last couple of years, but I guess I'm just one of those people who when there is spare time I use it. Only this year it is doing something I absolutely LOVE.
Things are going ahead with the Quilt Guild. We are having our first meeting this week. It will be great to get things underway. We are going to be promoting it at the local quilt show in May, so I hope that gets us some new members.
I have been really enjoying the patchwork I have been doing lately. The ladies in my sewing classes are really excited about all the projects that I have for them this year. I have to leave some ideas for us to do with the guild members too.
It's just all quilting, all the time. :-)

This little bundle of fat 1/4s is currently being turned into a stack'n'slash quilt as you go project. It has been really fast and fun to do. I'm almost finished so photos should follow this week.

Happy Quilting

Leanne

In the Mountains

We took a drive into the mountain range that backs onto our property. The Watagans. We wanted to see if we could see our place from the lookout. Unfortunately we could see everywhere except our place. It was lovely though. The late afernoon sun was steaming through the giant gum trees. The air was crisp and the dirt road was bumpy. The boys were completely razzed up and it was hard to keep them from hurling things off the edge of the cliff. ( boys will be boys )

The View from up there is spectacular.It was a little hazy but still beautiful.

Cheers Leanne

Swanky Circles are done!

Getting things done!!

I had fun with this quilt. Curved piecing and great fabric.

This is a new quilt design for me. Bubbles. It took a bit of getting used to, but in the end it was fun.

I had this great stripe in my stash. It goes perfect with this little quilt.

Happy Quilting

Leanne

Newcastle Craft Fair

I went to the Fair on the weekend ( Friday & Saturday ) and came away with a stash of goodies.
I met alot of like mided people at their stalls. I networked like a crazy lady.  There were a lot of stallholders that I have met at previous shows and some that we do business with. On the Friday I had Ethan with me and I left early because he was being a typical boy. Huffing every time I stopped to look at something.
So I went back on Saturday and it was much better. I found a few bargins and had time to look at everything that interested me.

This is my booty.

4 jelly rolls, a layer cake, 7 fat quarters, 2 mtrs fabric,a crochet book and some patterns and a couple of specialised patchwork rulers.

Not bad for a few hours work!

Happy Quilting

Leanne

Busy Busy Busy

I am not doing dancewear anymore as it takes up too much time and brain power than it's worth. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I look foward to being in my sew space and not feeling guilty if I sew a quilt instead of costumes. Yay!!
I have been sewing like a crazy woman. I've finished a couple of quilt tops, bound a quilt and been designing my own patterns and printing them up to sell in the shop . This is an exciting venture. It's something I've been wanting to do for ages. At work I design quilts for people all the time. They come to class with a piece of fabric and ask "What can I do with this?". And off I go. I design a pattern on the spot and then help them with extra fabric choices. It's what I do and I love it!!!

I have a pink and green thing going at the moment. I think it's due to the lack of females in the house.(It's just me and 4 males) Anyhow here's some of them

I'm going to enter this one in the local show. My points are pretty good, although I have to go in the professional section due to my teaching the subject. We are all critical of our own work and I don't feel worthy of being called a professional.

It was made with a jelly roll and a couple of yards of background fabric. It took longer than expected. When I started it we were living with my parents and I couldn't just sew when I felt like it. I love this quilt!!

This is the nine patch quilt-a long by Amanda Jean that I started last year. The top is done and it is in the quilting queue in a box under my quilting machine. ( with the other 7 to do, better get on to that )

I used a green/white spot as the sashing instead of the white because there is a lot of white in the 9 patches.

Best get back to it. I am working on a top from another jelly roll and layer cake. It's almost done so pics will follow soon.

Happy Quilting

Leanne

My Big Boy

This has been a big week for my eldest boy, Ethan. On Wednesday he was inducted into the Student Representitve Council at his school and on Saturday he turned 13. I can't believe the tiny little boy we brought home from the hospital is 13. He got a motorbike for his bithday. I don't know if maybe I was crazy to let this happen. Motorbikes scare me a little. I know a couple of people who have had really bad accidents on them and here we are getting one for our child.
The first time he road it though, made me feel proud of my boy. He was very sensible. I don't think I need to worry to much about him. His brothers might be another story though!
On Saturday we had a family celebration for Ethans birthday. It was the first time at the farm for a couple of the relos. The kids really enjoyed it and everyone stayed longer than I expected because it's just so lovely here.(that's what I'm telling myself anyway) They had fun walking over the farm to the gully and the giant swing was a hit. It was a hot day and the air con was a great relief while cutting the cake.

Signing the induction book

Year 8 SRC members

OH NO!!

 (he does have a helmet, he wasn't riding it yet)

Happy Birthday to you.....

All the cousins here to celebrate their big cousin Ethan's 13th birthday

Cheers

Leanne

Modern Quilt Guild & Stuff

I have been so busy!!
The Boys are back at school and the morning routine has started again. It has taken two weeks to get settled again.
I have been getting loads of sewing done. I have about 7 quilt tops ready for quilting. I know, that's terrible. I'm just a little obsessed. Most have their backing ready to go. I have had a couple of quilts to do for other people so they are priority over my own. Got to have an income to feed my fabric habit.
I am also back at work my 2 days a week. It's been great to get back into it. Not all my ladies are back yet and a couple have gone on holidays in the low season ( not school holidays ), so it's been a bit of a slow start but I'm sure it will take off soon.
The girls and I at the shop have signed on for the Modern Quilt Guild. We are called Central Coast Modern Quilt Guild. We are just finalising a couple of details and we will be having our first meeting.

Check back for details
Happy quilting
Leanne

Swanky Circles

This is an update of this post. I finished all the blocks and assembled the quilt top. I LOVE IT.

Happy Quilting

Leanne

3 Boys @ School

This week whipped by so quickly. We had a long weekend at the start of the week and then Oscar started school on Thursday and Ethan & Archer started Friday ( yeh, weird, I know). Archer went well on his first day of kindergarten and he is looking forward to a full week ( well, I am anyway : ) )

Cheers

Leanne