Bags, Baskets, Bookings & Bonnie!

OK ... Australian television character quote warning !!! "Are you thinking what I'm thinking B1?" "I think so B2!!" Tee! Hee! Hee! So many "B's" in the title, I just couldn't resist a Bananas in Pyjamas quote! Sorry to all overseas visitors who, at this point, think that I've GONE bananas!! It's a kids show involving ... hmmm, perhaps I'll just leave it as, it's a kids show and tell you it's an Australian thing!!

Believe it or not, I managed to fit all of those "B's" into my afternoon after finishing work. Now, I've told you before that my fave patchwork/quilting shop is practically on my way home from work - those now recognisable pink bags! But a little further down the highway towards Crowsnest, there's another fun place to visit - the Danish Dried Flower Shop. I don't get out there very often, but they not only have all sorts of supplies for dried floral art and a huge range of gifties, they also have a VERY comprehensive range of glass beads for sale, so I usually visit with my beady friend, Robyn, in tow. However, today I was on a mission. I had searched our fair city of Toowoomba for small cane baskets to no avail, so my last option was the Danish Dried Flower Shop. Oops! Is that a BAG I spy???


Oooh! I new colour bag! You'll soon be able to tell where I've been shopping just by the colour of the bag! Tee! Hee! Hee! So if we open up this gold goody bag we find ...


My mini cane baskets! Mission accomplished! Now, I realise that this may seem like an excessive amount of baskets to be buying, after all, one doesn't usually need TOO many small cane baskets! But I had so much trouble locating said baskets that I decided it was worthwhile stocking up. Also in the bag we have ...


Aren't they cute!! Again, I didn't have a specific reason to buy these apart from the fact that they're so darn cute and its a case of 'buy them when you see them, cos they're sure to be gone when you go back!' I'm trying to decide whether to be good and pop them into my birthday basket stash or just add one of each to my tin collection!!! Still thinking!! They're about 6cm tall and there was also a post office, a coffee shop and a toy shop, but I managed to restrain myself from getting one of each - barely!!!

OK, so task number one on the list was crossed off. Next was a visit to the Place-Of-The-Pink-Bags - otherwise known as Quilters Angel! No, no! I was a very GOOD girl today and didn't bring home anything in pink bags! I was paying the final installments for Lynette's and my BOOKINGS for day one of the Stitchers' Dream Day Out.


All paid!! Now we just have to count sleeps til September 20 and remember to take our camera, thread box and coffee mug to enjoy a day of being spoiled and fed while we stitch without interruptions!! YAY! Lynette says she's already started counting down! If I could manage to keep track of the days, I probably would too, but I'm pretty sure someone's still taking a couple of mine each week because I seem to get to Friday and am left thinking, "Wait a minute! Didn't I just HAVE a Friday!!!!" Tee! Hee! Hee!

Now I know this next "B" wasn't one of the original items on my Finish Five Before the End of July Challenge list, but I think I'll include it now, since I've run out of time to tackle the others. You see, I finished a version of my last doll pattern, Bonnie. Here she is ...


Doesn't she look great! (without wanting to sound immodest!!) Oh wait! Is that a MINI-BASKET I spy in her hands?!?!? Now you know why I needed the baskets!! She has turned out a little differently to the original, but that's the fun part about making hand-made bears and dolls - no two will ever look exactly alike!! Do you recognise the fabrics?? It's some of those worrisome pinks I bought a few weeks ago! They came up well, I think, and don't the colours look great against my apple green lounge room walls?! Now this Bonnie won't be moving into the Meares' Madhouse - she's off to spread strawberry happiness to someone else ... not telling who!! You'll have to wait and see! So ... I will claim Bonnie as my number 3 finish for Peg's Challenge, which ends tomorrow. Peg has posted photos of her NUMBER 7 FINISH!!! WOW! I'm not sure when Peg's been finding time to sleep, she has achieved so much in the last few weeks!! My only consolation is that obviously, Peg had even more fabric and partly made projects stashed in her sewing cupboard than I did! Tee! Hee! Hee! It's been lots of fun seeing everyone's finished projects. If you haven't already taken a little tour of some of the blogs of people who've been part of Peg's Challenge, you'd better hurry up! Pop over to Peg's Happy In Quilting blog, she has a link list in her sidebar. But make sure you make a cuppa first, cos there is LOTS to look at and admire!

Well, that's about it for me today. Mind you, it's enough to fool those people who've commented that they've come to expect two posts a week from me! Ha! Tricked you!! I only posted once last week and this is my third post this week - so far!! The week isn't over and my dancing buddy, Deb, and I are busy planning some weekend mischief, so there may be more updates before the end of the week - providing we don't get into TOO MUCH mischief! Tee! Hee! Hee! Until then, this is B3 signing off - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Rain, Hail & Shine!!

You know the old saying about Rain, Hail or Shine ... well, we had all three in one day today!!! What a strange old FREEZING COLD day it was! When we woke up this morning, it was overcast (Damn! Wish we could sleep in!!). Quarter of an hour later, the sun was struggling to come out, but seemed to be succeeding.

Another ten minutes went by and suddenly we heard heavy rain on the roof. What had happened to the sun???


So after fighting my way out the gate (which is currently sticking because the wet weather has made the timber swell!) and past two dogs with muddy paws and a need for morning pats, I drove to work through rain and a bit of fog, arriving at work to ... sunny skies!! What the?!?! Half an hour later, heavy rain was falling!! This was the pattern for the morning BUT ... just to add a little something extra, the wind started to pick up and I swear it was blowing off the antarctic tundras!!! So after I finished work, I decided the best spot to be was in front of my buddy, Lynda's, wood heater enjoying a cuppa and a catch up. Imagine how surprised we were (after several more bouts of sun, rain, sun, rain...!) to hear funny 'plinking' noises on the roof. We looked out the window and there was ... little frozen raindrops falling, which are referred to as sleet or HAIL!!!


Now, I feel justified in putting the snowflake here (not just because I couldn't find a pic of hail!!) because there was snow on the Darling Downs here, at Stanthorpe, which is only a couple of hours drive from Toowoomba!! And the weatherman very cheerfully told me that while our temperature had hovered between 8 and 9 degrees at its warmest, most of the day saw the mercury sit at about 5 degrees with winds up to 65km/h adding a windchill factor that equalled minus 5!!!! No WONDER I was freezing most of the day!! SIGH!! In fact, this could have been a picture or me this arvo ...

Counting down to summer now!!! There's a saying about Melbourne that if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change to give you all seasons in one day, well, I reckon Toowoomba's almost as changeable!! The only good thing is, that when my blogging buddy Kerryanne comes to visit or I visit her in Melbourne, we'll feel right at home!!! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Now even though the weather was HORRIBLE, the saying about the mail getting through in rain, hail or shine was proven by our brave and often maligned postie, because I received a package that, when I opened it, contained this ...


I did a little favour for Deb (Newcastle Deb, not Dancing Deb! I collect Linda's and Debs!!!) recently and this was a lovely and unexpected thank you pressie!! COOL!! Fabric! Because I DEFINITELY don't have enough FABRIC! Tee! Hee! Hee! Thanks Deb! Oooohhh! More fun fabric to play with! So, the icky cold day did have a little warmth in it!!

Actually, I also found a little note on my desk, when I arrived at work this morning, from the wonderful lady I made the scarf for, which was so wonderfully modelled a couple of posts back by my bear Myron. She said the scarf had DEFINITELY come in handy with our nasty weather and it made her smile every time she enjoyed the soft, fluffy warmth! I have to confess to having a little tear in my eye after reading her letter!! While we crafters give pressies for the joy of it, not to garner praise, it is lovely when the people we've given them to appreciate the gifts. So, another nice warm fuzzy for the cold icky day - WOW! At this rate, I may thaw out ... by SUMMER!!!!

Wherever you are, I hope you're warm and cosy! I'm now off to thaw my frozen fingers out and see if I can bat my eyelashes hard enough to get GB to make me a cuppa!! He'll probably ask me what I've got in my eye!! Ah well, til next time - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Lynette, Lunch & Lazing Around!

Never fear! I'm still here! I've just been in hibernation mode this week as it's been soooooooooo cold! We started the week with three days in a row where the temperature didn't get above 10 degrees and that's not taking the wind chill factor into account!! And then it rained, which just made it NASTIER!! I know we needed the rain and I'm pleased to report that our tank is again full (after my little mishap a few weeks ago whilst filling the fish pond!!) but it does make the weather bitter and encourage both me and my beloved Geek Boy to go into hibernation. And as I've said before, the office and sewing room are the two coldest rooms in the house, so I've avoided spending too much time in either room - but I'm back now!

In a bid to escape our bitter weather for a while - as well as catch up with my mad mate! - I headed to Brisbane for a day on Friday to catch up with my best-friend-since-primary-school Lynette. It had been a while since we'd had a play day - I think the Stitches and Craft Show was the last one - so we decided it was time to schedule an outing. Now it was decided it would be a pretty low-key kind of outing, as Lynette was recovering from a nasty head cold and a bout of laryngitis (must've nearly killed her to not be able to talk! Tee! Hee! Hee!). So, we decided to head for one of our fave haunts, a big garden centre/gift shop/coffee shop for a yummy lunch.

After umming and ahhing for a while over a tasty menu, Lynette decided on a Moroccan Chicken wrap and I chose the Paela with chicken and chorizo. We then sat and chatted, flirted wtih the waiter and enjoyed our drinks as we waited for lunch to arrive. Here it is ...


Here's Lynette ready to attack her healthy, yummy looking lunch. And here's my Paela.


Doesn't it look good? It tasted pretty darn good, too!! We both also had yummy deserts (sticky date pudding and caramel pudding) but they disappeared so quickly that I didn't get a photo! Tee! Hee! Hee! We had a delicious lunch - as we always do when we hit the garden centre (really must find out it's proper name!!) and part of it is the lovely lunch surroundings - it IS a nursery, after all! This was our lunch view.


It was very relaxing. I always find water features in gardens and nature very soothing - someone said it's because my star sign is Pisces, but I think it's just cos they're pretty!!!! Tee! Hee! Hee!

So ... after lunch, we felt OBLIGED to check out the gift shop which was fun, but also messed with my mind a bit. You see, they've been having Christmas in July, so there were Christmas carols playing over the loudspeakers - which really freaked me out, since I'm only about half way through my birthday list for the year, never mind Christmas pressies!!!! However, I did manage to put aside my premature-yuletide-stress-syndrome long enough to find some goodies.


The gardening book is a birthday pressie for my Mother-in-law who's a mad keen gardener, the cool little tape measure is for me because I'm ALWAYS tangling my tape measures and losing them, so I thought this might help keep track of it; and the little canvasses are going to be put aside for when I get around to ordering my copy of "Shabby Doodles" from Kerryanne at Shabby Art Boutique. I'm intending to paint some cupcakes, but since I'm painting impaired and haven't actually got around to ordering the book from Kerryanne ... it's kind of a long term goal!!!

So ... that was my fun day with Lynette. We'll be catching up again soon when we attend day one of the Stitcher's Dream Day Out hosted by The Quilter's Angel on September 20 and 21. If you haven't popped in to see Marian and book your place - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!! Tee! Hee! Hee! All bookings and payments have to be in by August 1, so don't miss out! I'll be popping in this week to make the final payment for Lynette and I - can't wait! For the day out, that is, not having to pay! Tee! Hee! Hee! I've heard wonderful stories about past Stitcher's Dream Days Out and can't wait to be part of the fun! Will soon start counting sleeps!!

Today was a bit of a clean up day for GB and me - the last few weeks seem to have been so hectic and/or cold, that little has been done around our place in the way of chores or housework, so today we rolled up our sleeves and got stuck in. The lounge room has finally completed its metamorphosis from Harem Hideaway to Country Haven again, with all of the furry occupants happy to be back in their warm lounge after an enforced holiday in the spare room. I have to say, it's nice to have their cheerful furry faces back! However, after lunch, the clouds rolled in again and the temperature dropped enough that we both decided the lounge room was the place to be. GB watched a bit of mindless sport. And what did I do? Here's a hint...


You guessed it! I curled up on the couch under my flannel blankie with a mystery/romance book and a cup of hot chocolate - that's how best to deal with winter!!

So ... that's what I've been up to this week when I seemed to drop off the edge of the blogosphere, but hopefully this week will be a bit warmer and I'll have more energy. Who knows, I may even get some more work done towards finishing some of my projects for Peg's challenge! Peg, that stitching superwoman, has finished number SIX project!! WOW! I reckon her machine has been working overtime in the last month or so!! Well done Peg! And thanks again for hosting the challenge and encouraging some of us UFO collectors to get a few projects finished! Of course, if I get my butt back into sewing mode (not that my butt plays a large part in stitching!!!) I should really make a start on my bag for Linda's Bag/bucket swap. I had a sneaky email from the stitcher who's making me a bag - she sent if from a friend's address so I wouldn't know who she is. Looking at a few little clues, I think she may be from Norway, or Sweden, or Finland, or ... OK, so I'm a pretty broad guesser!!! It will be very exciting to receive a bag that someone's made especially for me!! Not many of my friends are into craft, quilting and sewing like I am, so I'm usually GIVING hand made pressies, not GETTING them. Which is fun too, so I shouldn't complain, but the switcharoo will be fun. Hmmm, now I just have to decided on what I'm going to make for MY swap partner ?????? No clues!!

So, I'm off to watch Dr Who and flick through a few craft mags and pattern books - it's a good excuse, isn't it!! Hope you're having a great week and enjoying your stitching. Til next time - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Scarf, Swap & Socialising!

Just a quick post today, as it is overcast, cold and windy - AGAIN!! - and the coldest room in our house is the office - where the computer is!! BRRRRRRR!!! My fingers are little icicles already, so please excuse any typos!! Well, time is marching on, July is winding down and I have just ten days left to meet my goal of Finishing Five By The End Of July. Hmmm ... pretty sure it ain't gonna happen! Especially since I've interrupted my momentum so I can make a few birthday and 'just because' gifties. Still, if I count these projects, I had a finish on the weekend ...


No silly! Not the bear (tho he is a cutie - his name is Myron!!) the scarf he's modelling! For all of you who have been expressing concern at my "inner pink lover" coming out, don't be distressed - it's for one of the residents where I work! A very sweet lady who lives in the retirement village where I work popped into my office last week to lend me a couple of books by Barbara Johnson (one of my fave authors!), so this is a little "just because/thank you" gift for her. She also called me a ray of sunshine, so I'm keeping her! Tee! Hee! Hee! I'm not much of a knitter, but I've lost count of how many of these fuzzy scarves I've knitted in the last four years for myself and others - big needles, pretty fuzzy wool and straight stitching - even I can't go wrong with that!! So, that's my weekend finish - even if it's not one of the projects I nominated for Peg's challenge, I was pleased to get it done.

I received an email today from Linda telling me who my Bag/Bucket Swap partner is! Oooooohhhh!! How exciting! And it all has to be secret squirrel!! However, I'm 98% sure my swap partner hasn't visited my blog, so I'll be able to show sneaky peeks along the way to tease you all - and make you wish you'd signed up for Linda's swap! Tee! Hee! Hee! I'm also thinking of posting some easy-to-follow instructions on how to make a straight forward bag with paper bag corners and lining - if anyone is interested. If you'd like me to do this, leave a comment and I'll put it on my list of "Things To Do".

And finally, we took some time out to do some socialising on the weekend. We were invited to dinner at the new home of the friends I made the Chocolate Mousse quilt for, Amelia and Matt. Amelia works with my beloved Geek Boy and since they've been busy planning an upcoming overseas holiday, they decided organising a house warming party was NOT going to happen, so they invited us for dinner instead. YUM! We had home-cooked gourmet pizzas, individual trifles and lots of good company. And although I didn't take photos of our yummy dinner, I DID get a photo of Amelia and Matt snuggled under their quilt.


Isn't that sweet!! Amelia said she'd been wondering how to give their lounge room that nice 'homey, cosy' look and the Chocolate Mousse quilt added exactly the right touch! Isn't it great when you make something for someone and they REALLY appreciate it? Makes all the work, pricked fingers and missing skin worthwhile! Tee! Hee! Hee!

And speaking of snuggle rugs ... I think I'm off to snuggle under mine in front of the heater and some Midsomer Murder DVD's to work on finishing the other gifties I'm making. I'm hoping to get back to my challenge projects later in the week, but we'll see how we go!! Even if I don't, to have finished two long-term projects has been fantastic, so thanks again Peg for sharing your challenge with us! Until next time, stay snuggly! Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Oops! I've been bad - again!!

Oh dear! I can't seem to help myself! I've been a bad girl - again!! You see, it all started when I caught up with my friend Robyn, who I haven't seen for a couple of months. We decided to travel a path my little car can do with it's eyes shut (if cars had eyes!!) out to Highfields for a catch-up coffee, chat and - most importantly! - shop! So off we went and had a lovely time, but both of us came home with empty wallets and full shopping bags! Oops! Tee! Hee! Hee!


Here are my goodies! Bet you recognise one of these bags to be able to guess one of my stopping points!!

We decided to hit the Village Green complex and started with a visit to Herbal Harmonies - they have soooooo many pretty/smelly/yummy things that I could have gone berserk, but instead, this is what I bought ...


A fun tin with secret squirrel things in (stocking up with a couple of the swaps I've signed up for in mind!) and the GORGEOUS little gifty tags! Each tag is not only sooooo pretty, it has a little quote or saying on the back - not sure I'll be able to part with them!! Robyn also stocked up on pretty hand-made soap, but I forgot to take my camera with me, so no on-the-spot-reporter photos. We then decided it was time for some sustenance, so hit the Chocolate Cottage for lunch, which was YUMMY!! I won't bore you with details of the meal, but suffice to say we waddled off afterwards! And our next stop was Quilters Angel. Now I know you're all thinking I may as well move in there and start paying rent, but last visit was for something SPECIFIC, this time was just LOOKING! OK, so it didn't STAY as just looking for long!!! This is what I found ...


I know ... pink again!! Scott is starting to worry about me!! Tee! Hee! Hee! Now, I could justify buying these by saying they were on sale, or that I'll probably use them to make gifts ... but the truth is they were PRETTY and they caught my eye!! So they came home with me!!! Have got a few ideas about what I'll do with them, but I won't say anything yet. The two wrapped packets contain panels of pretty garden scenes in varying sizes that will be great to put borders round for a quick quilt or blanket stitch as applique` .... oh the infinite possibilities of fabric!!! Robyn also did a bit more damage to her budget here, but we both came home having thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!!! And as Robyn said - you only live once, so there's no point in keeping all your money in the bank!! I think most of my money is in investments - invested in fabric, invested in china tea cups, invested in ....!! Tee! Hee! Hee!

The other photo I have to share is of some fun mail I received this week ...


I bought some wonderful cards from Chookyblue! Aren't they great!! I looooove the colours that she's captured , particularly the rusty wheels. I don't send people letters, I send cards so even after they've read the message, my friends have something pretty to look at and remember that someone was thinking of them. So these ones will REALLY give my friends something pretty to keep - thanks Chookyblue!!!

So ... there you go! That's the latest update from the Meares' Madhouse! Tonight's a nice quiet, stay-at-home-and-watch-TV night, before going out tomorrow for dinner at a friend's place. Actually, tomorrow's dinner is the long-awaited housewarming for the friends I made the Chocolate Mousse quilt for, so hopefully I'll have photos of the quilt in it's new home to share with you next post. Until then, hope you've got a comfy spot on the couch, a glass of something soothing, some stitching and someone to share the warm fuzzy feelings with! Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS