Planning time

In a few weeks I have my very last teaching engagement for the year with Waverley Patchworkers. These past couple of years I have been declining invitations so the remainder of this year is ready for some serious planning. Next year I only have five events and then the books will close for all teaching engagements in the future. So with the year ahead I have had to make some serious changes so that I can be true to my word and actually "slow down"! I've already come to realise I can no longer do long haul flights, so this year is our last visit to the UK. I have also very sadly decided to give up my Monday morning sewing days.....I will miss the girls but I know we will still catch up from time to time and I think the newly opened David Roche Museum might be our first adventure together soon. This generous man has left an incredible decorative art collection to the people of South Australia and I can't wait to see it all and share it with those from afar too..........

Photo Source

I have also backed down from all committee responsibilities and meetings with our local Guild. I have been a member since the late 1980's and it is time to hang up my coat and let others take things forward. So in just 13 weeks we will be in the Lakes District in the UK ready for a very exciting Beatrix Potter Tour with the inaugural book launch..........

 With only 13 weeks left I have a couple of local book launches to plan (and stitch for), before we go. I am donating this quilt from the book to a local group who are having a launch day on my behalf to raise funds for the Alzheimers Association on October 25th........

Just before that event our wonderful friend Lessa Siegele is opening her beautiful home on October 23rd for invited friends and family to share in my new book too. (Thank you Lessa x) So with that in mind I really need to have another version of the quilt made only this time I will have little Maisie in mind. I am replacing the appliqué with embroidered characters and inside circles that will be surrounded by petals. So when I saw these fabrics recently while I was guest at Jenny's shop Quilt-essentials in Newcastle I knew they would be just right..... 

 I also made a purchase of some more of my favourite delicious Cottage Garden Threads and some wool felt while teaching for The Good Old Days quilt shop in Terang.......

I also have another project to make before we leave....an activity bed runner telling the story of Peter Rabbit and Mr McGregor complete with a wool felt Peter getting up to his antics. The very first rough sketches reflect the tale which will also be done using fabrics and wool felt..........

 So with busy times ahead family need attention too. Our son-in-law Brett is about to have major shoulder reconstruction surgery and will not be able to lift or drive for six weeks so we will be needed to help out with Beau and especially Maisie. Emily is back working almost full-time as Brett is embarking on full time study to become a podiatrist (and won't that be handy....happy to be a guinea pig anytime!). And Larry has decided to also join the surgical list having had surgery yesterday on his knee.........the result of many years of football, cricket and tae-kwon-do I suspect!

 So I've been back nursing once more and the patient is doing very well. Last night I baked a favourite apple cake and quiche........... 

 The quiche was made up with whatever veggies I could find in the fridge with some pine-nuts, sour cream and a made up pastry of just chopped up butter, plain flour and water.... and the crunchy bits of that were just fab......

So for the next two weeks there will be a lot of reclining for Larry and possibly some more stitching of The Swing that he is working on to replace my faded print........

 Some time in the garden for me is in order as well and I can see already we are going to have a great show of sweet peas in a few weeks. But the bulbs seem to be up way too early.......

 While I have been typing this post I have just had a call from a friend to say her Dad has passed away......he chose my late Mother's birthday so I won't forget that anniversary. Mum would have been 92 today and I know she is glad that her wish to be "pushing up daisies" was granted 8 years ago. How she would have loved to have met these little cherubs though.......Brett sent this photo to me a short while ago - all rugged up and ready to help out in their garden........some nice memories till I write again x