Sunday, March 08, 2009

Sharon's Quilt

Here is something I was busy working on in February. I couldn't show it as Sharon would have seen it! It was made for her BIG O birthday and the theme is girlfriends and I quilted an edge to edge pattern on it, Retro Flowers.







The back of the quilt.



I was also very lucky to win one of Nikki's new patterns and she also sent the webbing for the strap! Thanks Nikki. It's the second time I have won something from Nikki, the last time I won some pressing cloths.

Edit-

Here is Sharon's reply she has trouble leaving comments so emailed it instead.

Just read your blog and as you know I am completely stumped when it comes to that, but I wanted to say and I wanted all the people on your blog to know how much I love and treasure my quilt. It is so special to me and I love the name it is, I think Bern it really describes us beautifully.
Love
Shan XXOO


Sunday, March 01, 2009

Getting a bit close for comfort.

Monday I was at the hairdressers when we heard the CFA fire siren across the road start up. Next thing someone came in to say there was a fire at Wallace, then we heard at the back of Greendale. Finally after the trucks had gone out we heard it was actually Muskvale, south of Daylesford with ember attacks current for Spargo Creek. Now that's really only a few kilometres up the road from us as we are on the North or Daylesford side of Gordon. My hairdresser who lives up the road from me left as she has mini ponies, lucky my colour was done but my curly hair looked a fright left un straightened/blow waved. This was the view on the back road (off the Ballan Daylesford Rd) on the way home. My hairdresser lives in the vicinity of the trees...scarey stuff as although it was quite a few k's away there was a northly wind blowing....and embers carry a long way in the wind.


Fortunately for us the cool change blew in not long after it started which sent it back towards the north but not fortunate for those living in that direction. I was still on edge that night however and kept the ABC radio on with the fire reports. This was the view from the bottom of my street Monday night. (you can see a bit better if you click on the photo for the larger view)

The firefighters did a great job however and it was under control or contained by Thursday before the next hot day with northerlies Friday.

I guess I was a bit more nervous as I had just returned from working at the Churchill - Jeeralang Callignee bushfires in Gippsland and that fire went a long long way in a short period of time. By the way it wasn't windy when these photos were taken the trees were left like this after the hot winds and fire had gone through.





Monday, February 16, 2009

The Victorian Bushfires.

So much has been said on the Victorian Bushfires that decimated areas of our state just over a week ago. Nearly 2,000 properties lost and 181 is the official toll which is about to rise again.
How to help is a question being asked by most?
I have put my name down to volunteer here or you can donate here

There have been numerous ways of helping discussed, one place is putting together basic sewing kits for when the time is right. One of the survivors has asked for any plants/cuttings further down the track when things are a bt more settled.

Do you want to help by making toys or making or buying handmade items?

Last but not least. I have been a member of scquilters for the past seven years. Scquilters stands for southern cross quilters online and is made up of Australian and New Zealand quilters.
On the scquilters list is an absolutely unreal woman by the name of Jan Mac. Jan in her spare time (she also works) makes charity quilts for various groups including womens refuge's, Timor etc and has done for as long as I have been a part of scquilters. Jan has been inundated for years with fabric, orphan blocks, orphan quilts, ufo's, batting, batting scraps you name it she takes it and makes something out of it. Oh did I forget to add she also knits, goes to the op shops buys unloved wool or knitwear unravels it then knits or crochets blankets. As I said she is a marvel. Now Jan together with Christina has undertaken to make and distribute quilts for the bushfire victims. So I urge any of you that have fabric, batting or batting scraps, old blocks or old ufo's that you have outgrown please send them to Jan and Christina. Not to mention if you wish to make a quilt! I know I will be sending them some things over the coming months. You can find them here.