Heat Wave & Sizzling Sewing Machine!

I sure could do with one of these today!! You know how it wasn't really all that long ago that I was complaining about the unseasonably COLD spring we were having here on top of our hill? Well, it must be all that global warming coming into effect, cos we've gone from averaging about 26 degrees last week to mid 30's for the last two days, sitting on 37 degrees Celsius here as I type at 4:30pm!! - that's 98.6F for those playing overseas and VERY unusual for Toowoomba! Even I'M feeling the heat a bit and I'm a self-confessed hot-weather-gal! Have to say, it's the humidity that's making me feel icky and sticky, not the temperature, cos there's storms rolling around the area teasing us with the possibility of rain ... but not following through! RATS!! Still ... it's better BY FAR than being cold!! :0) (No matter what you say, Lilly Linda!!!)

But I'm happy to report that the heat wave hasn't chased away my sewing mojo and I had a VERY productive weekend and start to the week. Firstly, I finished the top of a stacked coin quilt for my Mum's birthday/Christmas gift. Do you remember some charm squares I found at Patchworks Plus a while ago?


Well, the pink ones (I know, I know!! But they weren't ALL pink!!) were transformed into ...


This was my first try at a stacked coin quilt and I confess to making some things up as I went along, but I'm pretty happy with how it's turned out. In fact, I was SO happy with it, that I HAD to order some more charm packs from Sarah ...


... to make another smaller version as a wedding present for Tony, who I work with and who's getting married in January. The Swanky packs (the ones that are THAT colour!!) are the ones I'll use for Tony and Elese's quilt and the others ... well ... they kind of followed me home! :0) OK, so they didn't, but I'm intending to make some Christmas gifties with them, so feel justified in adding to my stash! It's a good story and I'm sticking with it! Tee! Hee! Hee!

And although this quilt top is the only finish I have to share at the moment (well, sort of finish - I'll be chatting to my super quilter Rosalie tomorrow!!) I have also finished the machine stitching on five more projects that now need some hand stitching done, so I'll be able to share photos of those soon - I promise! :0) So, all in all, my sewing machine has been sizzling along with the weather!

But right now, I think I'm going to go make myself an icy cold beverage and sit under the fan for a bit. My fave libation at the moment is a self-made concoction consisting of a splash of Mango Iced Tea syrup, ginger ale to top up the glass (Kirks is the best taste for any Aussies wondering!) and finished with four or five mint-ice cubes. If you've not tried mint ice cubes before, all you have to do is put a couple of handfuls of fresh mint leaves into a heat-proof jug, pour boiling water over them and let them steep for five minutes or so, then strain the liquid (a mint tincture or tea which can be enjoyed hot as a tea and is good for unhappy tummies!!) into ice cube trays and freeze. Actually, you could probably just make up some mint tea bags if you don't have fresh mint taking over your herb garden - like I do! :0) Mint-ice cubes are a must at our place for summer - they even give plain ol' water a bit of a boost! :0) Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh .... I can taste that cold drink now!! :0) Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

PS. It's raining - YAY!! Hope it sticks around for a while!! BH! KRIS