Winter Sunshine

Oh my goodness....is it really almost 3 weeks since my last post?!! I have actually been waiting on a permission email from Morris & Co to share with you an exciting new collection based on the designs of May Morris. They have promised me some delicious images to share so as soon as I get them I will fill a post with all of that and some more Morris news! Meanwhile we are in the depths of winter with freezing cold mornings and lots of welcome rain. But we have had the odd day of beautiful sunshine and we were blessed with that the day that we had a full day steam train ride to celebrate Larry's 65th birthday last weekend. We took the Southern Encounter Journey and our steam engine for the day was the Duke of Edinburgh. Our journey started at 10am and finished at 6.15pm.........

 The morning was very chilly but the excitement made up for that........especially when the toot of the horn started.....

We learnt that we were travelling on one of the oldest train lines in Australia dating from 1854 and one wonders what the scenery looked like back then.......

 We stopped briefly at Goolwa where the River Murray almost meets the sea........it was such a gorgeous winter's day and the water so very still.......

 We stopped for a delicious lunch in Pt Elliot and I was lucky enough to find a William Morris book of poetry and prose from the 1890's in a secondhand book shop and for only $20.....

The full moon followed us on the journey back home and many kangaroos hopped along beside us but it was hard to get a photo.........

 We were also greeted by a bagpipe player at the Strathalbyn station both on the journey down and then back several hours later, but in the dark of the evening my quick photo is a little blurred. Such a wonderful touch and I guess because we were on the Duke of Edinburgh!......

It was very cold and dark when we arrived where we had left some six and a bit hours earlier but what a lovely day it was with the most perfect weather.....

So the cold winter nights are ideal snuggled up under a quilt hand quilting...and I'm loving the long stitching with perle cottons and using a variety of colours too........

 I've also completed some hand embroidery....by no means perfect but just how I like it.......

Our garden trees are finally showing their very late Autumn colours despite it being winter and the rain is wonderful.....

 On another quilting note I was thrilled to receive these photos from Elaine in New South Wales who has completed my first William Morris Sampler pattern. I met Elaine and her lovely husband last year on one of our William Morris in Adelaide tours and we are thrilled they are joining us in the UK next year too! I still love this pattern as it is not complicated and reflects the style of Morris in a simple way. I love the motifs that Elaine chose for the setting triangles from another of my quilts (but I can't recall which one!!). And of course the gorgeous Morris border - such lovely colours....thankyou so much for allowing me to share your beautiful quilt Elaine x

And thanks for the pattern purchases from so many of you....you can find this quilt and others by clicking on the Digital Pattern Store link. Thanks for dropping by and take care till next time.....

A window to winter

Today in our part of the world it is the first day of winter and as I write this it is all quiet in the house. Larry has gone to the football so my afternoon is just for me to do what I love best.......

 Yes.....I am creating some new work with inspiration from a chintz petticoat dating from 1750...more of that in the coming months! I have also basted a quilt (with the help of good friends), in preparation for some long stitch quilting using perle cottons...but first I thought I should machine quilt close to all the appliqué.....it certainly keeps one warm with the quilting gloves on....

 I also have a pile of hospice and charity baby quilts all ready for hand stitching the bindings. I work in a small room 3 metres (9 feet) x 3.8 metres (12 feet), and my sewing tables, cutting space, computer, printer and filing cabinet are in this space as well so I wondered where I could store the pile of quilts.........

Some years ago I picked up a very cheap stool covered in an equally cheap fabric, so I decided to give it a new cover with fabric leftover from our curtains and it has worked a treat for storing those quilts......

When Larry gets home he will be in either a good or bad mood depending on the football score (!!), where his winter tapestry is waiting where he left it........ 

I noticed Larry's other pastime has remained where he left it on the table as well.......

 Meanwhile that window to winter means it is very chilly with mornings around 5C and during the day pushing to 14C (if the sun comes out!). We have had some wonderful rain but the forecast tells us there will be no rain for at least a week now........

Our ornamental pear trees have showed no autumn colours this year and are still holding on to their leaves and the ground is covered in self sown seedlings that will become a mass of pink flowers in spring......

 This gorgeous (and very large), chrysanthemum that I received for Mother's Day is still blooming inside and I've noticed shoots appearing in the pot so that might find a home in the garden too....... 

 There has been a little sadness in our lives this past week and that coincidentally follows on from my last blog post where I chatted about 'love being enough'.......we have had the news that love was not enough for the parents of little Wade and that they have gone their separate ways. We are hoping that things work out for the best and continue to support them all as best we can......

 The other half of the family are looking forward to the final year of four long years of study for their Dad. Maisie turns five in July but has to wait until next year before she can start school. She can already write and I was thrilled to get this kindy art work where she wrote both our names......

 We try to get the three cousins together as often as we can and Beau and Wade definitely have a special connection......this photo was taken at a much warmer time of year!......

We are heading to our beloved Robe in a few days for a much needed break so for now I hope you can follow the Dalai's inspirational words like I am..........