For those of you who are into art of a slightly different kind - and I mean tasteful, decorative art, not sleazy stuff - check out this auction on ebay here in Australia.

Most of all check out the questions that have been asked….trust me don’t try and take a sip of your coffee as you read them because I can assure you that your coffee will be sprayed all over your computer screen as you get a giggle from what some people ask.

I might add it is NOT me who is putting this particular item up for auction.

Go on have a look.  It is worth your time to click the mouse button and is very definately good for your funny bone.

Here’s the link again just in case you missed it.  Makes you wonder just what people will sell on ebay.

I have been a bit remiss in thanking both Julia and Candace for nominating me  for the Brillante Weblog Award.

How very kind you both are and it quite made my day   : - )

Thank you both so much I really appreciate the fact you enjoy my ramblings.  Do take the time to check out Julia’s and Candace’s blogs.  They are both amazing women and do the most outstanding quilts and other crafty stuff.

How on earth do I thank you all for your wonderful and caring comments regarding my guilt at leaving the children home while Ashley and I had a night out.

I am taking your advice and we will be going out again - when I’m not sure - but soon hopefully.  It was a lot of fun and we both enjoyed ourselves immensely.  To be honest a night with other adults was loooooong over due.

At the risk of blowing my own, or rather my kids trumpets, they are all very mature and all have really good morals, standards and a good work ethic.  In this house they wouldn’t be allowed to have anything else…..vbg.  All three said they enjoyed themselves thoroughly and I did not have even one complaint on how one picked on another.  Obviously they all thought they should get along and worked out compromises to any problems that occurred.  Maybe a few more nights at home by themselves might solve the seemingly constant arguments that seem to occur around here.

We do leave them at home for short periods if Ashley and I need to go down the street for something - but that’s during the daytime - this was the first time we left them at home after dark.

I confess I’m a worrier and I had parents (not that I’m putting them down or anything) who liked my sister and I to go with them when they went out.  I guess it was their way of protecting us - even when we were older. I do remember stating very clearly one night that I wasn’t going out as I had homework I needed to get done (notice I didn’t say “wanted to get done”…vbg).  After some argument and me being very firm I was left at home in peace - whether I got the homework done or not I can’t remember.  Anyway I think that was the beginning of being consider “Adult” enough to stay on my own.  I must have been about 15 at the time - gosh the brain cells are working tonight for me to remember that….so I guess in light of that it’s time to let go of the worries and let my kids be independent, after all that’s what Ashley and I have been trying to do with all of them since they were very little.

Elise did assure me the next day that had a fire started (heaven forbid) she would grab Nicola and James, the three dogs and the cat and race out side to call the fire brigade.  I’m glad she thought of the most important people/animals - but then an irreverant thought occured to me - what about my quilts?????

Only joking I promise…………………..I wonder if you can get a fire proof safe to store quilts in…..hmmmm.

Right on that note I’m off to tack down some more “filler” squares for my octagon quilt.  The Octagons are finished - just a few more squares to do then I can start sewing them together.

Firstly let me say a HUGE Thank you to all those who entered my humble competition.

I honestly don’t know what was more fun - deciding on a suitable gift, reading the comments or checking out all those lovely new blogs.

I suppose I should say what my favorite season is - considering that was the answer I asked for…vbg.

I looooove late Spring/early Summer when the afternoons stretch for what seems like forever. It’s warm enough to sit outside (but not so hot you are considering standing under the hose to cool off) and there aren’t millions of mozzies or bugs to annoy. Ashley, the children and I can sit and enjoy some quality time outside just enjoying the garden and talking about what we have done that day/weekend/week.

I also looooove, and it’s a close second to the first season/s, Winter - especially at night when tea is cooking, the house smells divine of casserole, the fire is going, kids are warm and cosy in their pjs, curtains are shut tight against the cold, dark night and Ashley walks in the door after a days work. We are all together and home.

Maybe it’s a bit strange of me to base my favorite season on the times when my family is all together but I guess that’s what influences me most.

Right onto the winners. The children helped me to draw the names. ………….drum rolll………………

Rhonda - who honestly has the cutest fur babies I have ever seen - she also does some pretty amazing craft work which I am in awe of. Congratulations Rhonda.

“Wow!! Congrats on making it to your 700th! I just hit my 100th and that took me awhile, so you are just amazing!
I like all of the different seasons, but if I must pick one, it would be summer - lazy days, beaches, rivers, vacations, BBQs, longer days…”

Bunks aka Karen - a wonderful and talented lady who does the most amazing craft work. Congratulations Karen…..well done.

“Wow! Everyone came out of the woodworks to post on this one I guess they all know what a talented lady you are.

Let’s see, I have to say that autumn is my favorite season and my favorite part of autumn is the part that we call “indian summer” over here. We get the cold and the frosts and the leaves begin to fall and then if we’re lucky we get a warm spell of a week or two of glorious weather and bright sun and all you need to walk outside is a sweater. The sun shines down through the reds, yellows, oranges and green of the leaves and there is that certain smell in the air that reminds me of turned earth and harvest while nature prepares for winter.

Karen”

So ladies I will be emailing you both today to let you know. Once again congratulations and thank you for commenting. You prizes will be in the mail as soon as I have your snail mail addies.

For everyone else. I will have more give aways. This was so much fun and the kids are itching to pull more names out of a hat/bowl and will be on my case no doubt until I do run another competition….lol.

Well after yesterdays post I decided to stop whinging and get on with what I had to do.  The end result was I put the last two borders on the Boxy Stars Quilt, seamed several baby sized woolen blankets together for the batting and sorted out the backing fabric.  It’s now all sitting on the gammill ready to be quilted - doing the happy dance.

I worked out - I think what borders I want to do on the birthday quilt and semi sorted out the backing fabric.  The fabric used will depend on the finished size of the quilt.  While shuffling around fabrics - much to the cat’s amusement - I discovered enough fabric to use as the backing for another ufo so the top and backing are now put together waiting for it’s turn on the gammill.

The best news is I sat outside and enjoyed the wonderful weather and finished off the binding on the Home Circle Quilt. It is now residing on our bed and boy it is warm.  I was a bit worried it might feel really heavy weight wise - but it isn’t.  Even Ashley commented how warm he was last night - brilliant considering there was another very white frost this morning.

As for the Block A Day……thank you, thank you, thank you…..for all your wonderful advice and comments.  I have decided - guilt free I might add - to do today’s block which is the end of May and stop for a while. I may or may not go back to them but only when and if I have time and the motivation.  Doing over 150 blocks I think is a really good achievement for the year so far and there are lots more projects I want to work on without the added pressure of these.   I will begin to put them into quilts, when I feel like it, and if necessary make more blocks when and if I need them for the quilts.  I honestly can’t thank you enough for your kindness and understanding over this.  I hate feeling guilty (nearly typed quilty then) over something I have committed to do - particularly when I have publicly announced that I want to do them - but the pressure was just too much. You would think after all these years I would know what I can and can’t do…..sigh.  Thank you Candace for saying I was “basically a positive person”.  I really didn’t feel positive yesterday and nearly didn’t publish the post - cause I felt it was to dismal.  Now I’m glad I did - your comments certainly cheered me up.

Anyway I feel as light as a feather today.  There is a big crock pot full of pumpkin soup slowly cooking ready for easy lunch tomorrow.  The washing is started.  It promises to be another lovely day.  The kids are about to be taken to school and apart from the possibility of working with Ashley this morning, and a trip down the street at some time I really don’t have a lot planned.  Maybe a cuppa or two while sitting in the sun reading.  Ohh and the weekend is devoted to the entire family staying home and relaxing.  I have banned all outings, youth group, croquet the lot. We are all tired and need a break - no working for anyone else - just doing what needs to be done around here and lots of sitting around chatting.

I hope everyones day is as good as mine promises to be.

Now you know me. You know I would never, ever celebrate the fact that it is Monday morning and all the children are back at school after two weeks holidays. You know I would never, ever celebrate the fact that there is just me, four dogs and a cat at home all by our lonesomes. Yeah right - guess who is doing the happy dance this morning…wicked grin.

I had to share some photos of the weekends adventures. Ashley decided, that after much pulling of hair, stripping of parts and rebuilding that his race car/buggy was ready for a test drive. Hmmmmm I could think of far more exciting things to do but being a dutiful wife I went…..actually I wasn’t given a choice.

Now I have to tell you that the sight of this race car, or any of his previous race cars, do not fill me with delight - but Ashley informs me it is safer than the car I drive every day. It possibly is - I just don’t want to think about it.

A saftey harness is a must and boy was it tight to do up. Look at the look of concentraction on his face!!!!

Off in a cloud of dust. Ashley had his GPS with him to check his speed. 154 km!!!!! I’m not kidding, I looked at the GPS too. ……and apparently he hadn’t hit top speed.

While it was easy for Ashley to negoitate the trail of destruction that the dust storm last week had created - it took some creative driving for the Range Rover to follow the same path.

If it wasn’t for the fact it’s my husband in this car I would love this photo.

Seriously though - Ashley is quite safe. He takes extreme care in making sure the car is as safe as possible. He wears a fire rated suit, gloves, shoes and helmet and has up to date seat belts/harness. It’s just me that worries. The Race Car Driver has a ball! First race is the weekend after my op but it’s only 30 mins from home so whether I go or not depends on the pain levels. He has told me he is taking the bus so I can be in comfort and is thinking about camping for the night - many of the competitors do and it is supposed to be a real family event which will be nice.

So after all that excitement James and I did some gardening.  He announced at Murrabit that he wanted some plants so he could have his own garden.  Hmmmm what does one buy an eight year old boy that he won’t kill instantly, will survive lack of attention and water and still look interesting/funky/the type of thing your mother loathes.

Cacti of course.

Prickly enough that Milly won’t touch them (trust me I know!!), different enough that his sisters wouldn’t want the same and tough enough to survive anything - well just about anything.

Actually I have to admit they are kind of fun and look good and just maybe we might have to extend the collection a little.  Each plant was $1 and the pot was from the Op Shop and the black stones were kind of cool and one cacti looks like it might even flower and lets fact it it’s a drought and these are drought tolerant.  Ohhh I don’t need more plants - I just admire these for a while.  Well until I find some more…vbg.

I’m off to enjoy the peace and quiet and to continue cleaning.  I hope your Monday is a good one.

Ok so I have been cruising the blogs finding link upon link of late - well it’s not like I have anything else to do is it……roflmol. Actually I think I’m setting up a nice big list of blogs to visit every day after I have my op….if I can’t sew I may as well be inspired by what others are doing.

If you are seriously into Op Shopping check out The Vintage Detective. Well worth a read - Chloe’s descriptions of various op shops visited are priceless. It makes me want to pack up the car (minus kids and hubby - sorry my loves) and wander off to explore some of these places. Maybe I should be making a list for next time we visit these towns.

Tracey at Oz Country Quilting Mum is another great read. She makes the most fantastic quilts and is well worth a visit.

Following links from Tracey’s blog I have also discovered Ric Rac. Lots of yummy ideas there and the cutest little soft toys and check out what she is going to make with the selvedges of fabrics. I never thought of using those to make quilts or bags. - to think of how man y selvedge edges I have thrown out over the years.

Lissa Jane at Fabricologist Anonymous is another blog with the most amazing quilts and is the best read. It’s all Lissa Jane’s fault that I followed her link to Homestead Hearth where I just had to buy some fabric - despite my best intentions not to purchase anything more this year. I will blog it when it arrives so you will just have to wait until then to see what I have bought.

Chookyblue is yet another fantastic blog - check out what was purchased at the recent Stitches and Craft Show…..yummm.

Ekk I nearly forgot this one.  You know how much I love my crock pot - truly the best invention since sliced bread….vbg…..  A Year of Crockpotting is a blog Stephanie has created dedicated to trying out a recipe a day in her crock pot.  Some of the recipes look fantastic - although Stephanie does blog that hard boiled eggs  while they worked, weren’t a huge success. in the aroma of nice foods department….vbg.

Go on check out some new blogs - what better way to spend Easter Monday than meeting some new friends.

I just have to show you this…..

…..it’s my Valentines Day present from Ashley.  It finally arrived nearly a month late cause as usual the suppliers list it in their catalogues but don’t have enough in stock.  For months when ever I had to work with Ashley I would need to borrow his tools and there is nothing harder than getting a man (particularly an electrician) to part with his precious pliers or screw driver!  So at last he listened to me and bought me this tool set.  It is designed for women - but the tools in it are good ones.  There’s even gloves, scissors, pruners and a hammer!!!  Yipee and best of all they are purple - yes that lovely soft purple you see in the photo - so hopefully when I have to work with a bunch of plumbers, builders and one electrician - they won’t pinch my tools.  I have added a shady hat and some sun screen and now I feel fully equipped to deal with most emergencies….roflmol….well at least the kind that involve me hunting for a hammer to hang a picture hook for my latest photo or quilt….wicked grin.

February’s Baltimore Block is finished from Fat Cat Patterns.  I had to machine applique this one with satin stitch as I can no longer hand sew them.  I’m still deciding if I want to pull out the button hole stitch I did on January’s block or leave it and use it as a focal point in the centre of the quilt.  March’s block is there and I have printed it out - but not tackled it yet.  Ohh and check out the cute owl pattern that has just been posted there it’s called Hooty Toots.

I have also finished the mystery quilt from the Stitch and Frame Shop.  I like the pattern (Jewel Box they called it) and it looks better in the photo than real life - but I wish I had chosen different colours.  Personally I think this quilt needs lots of contrast.  I could see it with black or navy blue background  fabric and lots of jewel toned hand dyed fabric for the pattern. It still needs borders - although that won’t be for a while until I decide what I want to do with it.  I’m also trying to convince Nicola that she could easily make this quilt - in fact I think it would be a good exercise  for her but time will tell if that happens.

Right off to do some more sewing.  Nicola, James and I spent part of the morning cleaning up the disaster that James calls his bedroom.  You can now actually walk in the door to his room without falling over anything.  I have done four loads of washing - which are nearly dry as soon as they hit the line it’s so hot and I have just heard from Ashley and Elise who drove to Melbourne today to pick up a new car that we bought.  It’s a Suzuki (which James loves cause he wants a Suzuki - goodness knows why) which will be small enough to tow behind the bus, economical around town and is manual for Elise to learn to drive in - she is able to get her learners permit next year and there isn’t a snowflakes chance in hell she will be driving the Range Rover.  The weary travellers will be home tonight about 6 pm after a very long hot day.

I hope your day is a good one.

More photos have been loaded to my Block a Day photo set on Flickr.

So far I’m keeping up with them all although it does help that I spend an hour or so cutting out quite a few days blocks so at least if I’m busy I know it won’t take long to whip up each block. It seems strange but I have made 63 blocks already. Enough for a couple of quilt….vbg….but I’m not going down that road until I have them all done. Ahhhhh there’s nothing like a challange. As always pop over to my flickr site to check them out if you’re interested. Hopefully I now have them organised so that the