Ever have one of those days...

...when nothing works out the way it should?

I got my first block for the Fat Quarter Shop mystery BOM, and it shouldn't have been that hard, but everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I stitched the wrong fabrics together, stitched fabrics facing the wrong way (ie. back of one to the front of the other), had the blocks oriented the wrong way...then when I thought I had it all worked out, one of the points just would not go together right. I unpicked it about 8 times, and its still not right. But I give up, there is obviously something wrong with the block involved, and it just doesn't want to play fair...so this is my finished block, slightly imperfect, but then, no one is perfect anyway. I remember reading somewhere that the Amish, I think, deliberately stitch mistakes into things like quilts because no one is meant to be perfect. So this is where I'm at, one slightly imperfect but otherwise beautiful block.

Bella has been her usual helpful self today, precariously positioning herself on top of my quilt when I have it draped over the machine (to stop her sitting on the front side). The good news is that the Falling Star quilt is almost finished; I've quilted all the way to one end, and only have a few rows of quilting to go at the other.

Pizza?

I was meant to go hot air ballooning this morning. but after getting up at 5am, it turned out to be too foggy... so back to bed for a few hours, then up and back into all those things I like to do on a Wednesday.

I finally took a photo of the pinwheel quilt, which I bound up last night. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, plus I enjoyed having all the lovely ladies at Amitie have a good look.

Cute stripey binding, the same as on the last cot quilt.

I made pizza for dinner; margarita, and potato and proscuitto.

And isn't little Noah getting big! I got to spend the day with him and his mum last week...he is at that stage where he is just starting to smile.

Pinwheels and Pussy Cats

I made the most of the long weekend here in Melbourne, and got the pinwheel quilt all quilted up today. The photos aren't the best, but its cold and wet outside.

The front:

The back; I used the cat fabric plus a few spare pinwheels:

I'm also making good progress on the Falling Star quilt, but I've got a lot more to go!

New Fabric

The Aussie dollar is gradually creeping its way back, which means I can shop (almost) guilt-free! Todays bundle includes 4 yards of Patisserie for the back of my Jelly Girl quilt (next on the list), and a yard each of two cute Alexander Henry prints. One will most likely end up on the back of the pinwheel quilt.

And the Fabric Shack, being lovely as always, included a free pack of embroidery needles. Oh, and for the Aussies, their postage is usually just $10 for up to 9 yards.

Goodbye Autumn

Today is the last day of autumn, and tomorrow we welcome winter. The weather is finally getting cooler, but there is still little rain to be seen here in Victoria. It seems they got it all up in Queensland.

I'm enjoying quilting the Falling Star quilt, though its going to take a while. So far Ive quilted two strips of the design across the quilt, and I've probably got about 15 or 20 strips to go.

I planted a second batch of broad beans and snow peas today; I plan on having a super-productive garden this year. I've not had much luck with peas before, but the broad beans are really taking off!

Winter weather means winter food; tonight a yummy beef casserole with parmesan dumplings ( I added carrot and potato to mine)

And a very simple apple cake, served with a good scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

Hope everyone else had a good weekend; I look forward to seeing what you've all been up to!

Work-Free Wednesday

I love Wednesday; I get to sleep in, then spend my day gardening, cooking and quilting to my heart's desire.

Today I planted onion seeds; something I've never grown before but I'm being adventurous this year. I also set up a trellis for my snow peas to grow up.

I baked an orange cake, which I've iced with a lemon icing. Super easy to make, it's all done in the food processor. I'm also making Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice) for dinner.

And I basted up my Falling Star quilt, and got stuck into the quilting. After a bit of umming and ahhing, I finally settled on an all-over feather design, which I'm doing using my usual tracing paper method. I figured a quilt this pretty deserved more than just a stipple.

I'm using a brownish coloured thread which I used on the table runners I made at Christmas; it shows up just enough without taking over the actual quilt design.

When it rains, it pours

I thought I was escaping the cold Melbourne winter for the sun, surf and sand of Queensland. Apparently I was very, very wrong. Not only did it rain, it flooded, the beach in front of my hotel vanished, and they officially declared it a natural disaster. Oh, and apparently their drought is over.

My week in pictures...

The originally view from the hotel; Surfers Paradise seen at sunset, and the view of the beach out front.

Getting overcast.

My aunt got her own personal waterfall down the front stairs.

The beach started getting smaller.

And the ocean went brown and foamy, as the river to the south funneled out flood waters from further inland.

Yep, all that white is "nature's bubble bath".

Before and After photos of a near-by beach.

The beach is all but gone.

Finally the sun comes out for the first time in four days.

Time for food; the local cafe makes the best muffins fresh every day (and a new flavour every day; this one is lime and coconut...and I wonder why I've come home a tad heavier...)

and the most amazing looking juices! (pineapple, orange and ginger)

The beach started to reappear yesterday, but with a foamy tide line.

An amazing final sunset.

And a bumpy flight home.

Now I've got lots of blogs to catch up on, and quilting to get back into.