BOSTON

This boy is so cute, he is my constant companion when I am home, otherwise he spends his time with Ben.
When I was rushing to sew the Christmas gifts he would lay under the sewing machine and consequently end up with bits of thread all over him, I just toss them on the floor to be vacuumed up later on - It would feel odd if he wasn't there under my chair and often with his head on my foot.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT ALROY TAVERN

What a great lunch with wonderful friends, I feel really blessed and am so glad that I am not leaving this wonderful bunch of ladies that I am priveleged to call my friends.

Sharon was my secret santa and as she is leaving us soon to move to Harvey Bay it was particularly poinuant that she should be my gift giver.

I recieved a wonderful stitched cushion, and a devine 9 patch and quilted table runner - in my favourite colours of pink and brown, will I ever get tired of this combination, I don't think so. Another smaller cushion with "Santa don't leave coal" on it and a bottle of red with a kit for stitching a bottle bag, how handy - Sharon knows me well...LOL. And that is not all - a little cushion to stitch of a raindeer......too cute.

I was Jessica's secret santa and once again I went "BIG" what is going on with me, anyway, she liked it all so that was good, finishing it all at 1.30am the previous evening was very typical of me. All the gifts were beautiful, we are really a great group, we like what each other do and it is always fun to discover what lies under the wrapping or in the box or bag, I just want to know why we all feel a need to apologise for things, ie, we think our work is not good enough or we didn't spend enough time stitching on it or we couldn't find the exact color that would match the kitchen or lounge or whatever, you know it is so much more about the love and care that goes into doing a handworked piece, we are all very good at what we do and each one of us have a special interest and talent in certain areas of patchwork and craft in general. Every time I see something that was made by one of my friends especially for me, for my home, I feel very special and very loved and it is even better when someone else admires my bag and I can say, "Yes my friend made me that, arn't I lucky?"

ANTIQUE QUILTS

antique half square triangle

I have a few old quilts lying around the house, purchased on ebay a couple of years ago I attempted to get the best that I could afford and some that were interesting as well, I did manage to do quiet well in the 1950's era quilts and have three that I use daily and 1 that needs some repair.

My favourite is a stunning half square triangle quilt top done in some lovely conversation prints and some charming indigo's and reds, this has to be quilted so I am saving this one for later.

I also have a few blocks from the civil war period, from Dixie, these were from a top that was never quilted and are a similar pattern to the carolina lilly but is called batchelors block due to a small variation, some of the fabric had blown or shattered and I carefully repaired this by sewing (applique) fabric of similar era (reproductions) over the top. I have hand quilted it in a simple design and will finish it as a small wall hanging to do it justice.

Class display

Had to do a promotion for my jewelry making class coming up in December, it came up well and looks great in the shop.

Lots of bling and bits and bobs to get customers in the mood for creating beautiful jewelry.

All is good as I can settle in to work now that we are not going to Queensland. A bit of a let down for sure but I have so many good things going on down here for me that moving would have been a real rench away from it all

BOSTON AGE 18 MONTHS

this boy has grown so much - he is such a big lump of a dog but he has my heart. I love him and he sure does give great cuddles. A big teddy bear of a dog and so happy all the time, he just lifts your mood by being around and always happy to see you. He really makes you feel special, this morning he came racing in to tell me that Holly, the 16 year old pomeranian had fallen in the pool, however, he looked to totally pleased with himself and I can not help but suspect that he may have pushed her in in the first place. Well Holly is a survivor and she was taught at a very early age how to find the steps and managed to get out of the pool on her own with not too much trouble, but as alzheimers sets in I wonder how much longer she will be able to remember were the steps are.

Lillies in the pond

Just had to show off the lilly in the fish pond, they have suffered through the long cold winter and now they are popping their little heads above the water to bless us with their beauty.

The iris have multiplied, some have flowered but I think there is now too many in the pond.

This pond, waterfall is just the busiest place at the moment, the fish are fat and breeding and the donk donk frogs go at it all night.

I love that it is such a healthy environment and even if it is a bit green, at least the fish and flowers (and the frogs too) are very happy

YO YO YO

Started these as I was curious as to how well the clover yo you makers worked and I was really surprised, after a bit of working out all the bits and the way to set the plastic pieces together and how to set the fabric in it, it all goes really quickly, it saves fabric and you get a neat yoyo. I have used both the extra large and the small, I am wanting the large but have to wait till work orders more in and then I'll grab one, I think I will do some demos of these at the shopping center in December when we are promoting the shop. These ones in the photo have just been laid out with a small yoyo placed on top of each one, I am still considering what I will do with them, at the moment I am just using some left over fabric that mum gave me. I am not too keen on the colours but they will work for this sample for the time being.

Joy - it's finished

Wow its finished and framed in less than a week, I started this at the Mamre weekend with help from Marg - it is one of her wonderful patterns that I just could not resist.
I have made it with 3 strands of different color of embroidery floss, yea fiddly but you do get a very individual look to it. It all went together very quickly and I am really pleased with the way it turned out.

Charlotte and Matt

This is Charlotte and Matt at the airport, Charlotte was nervous but happy to be with Matt, they make a great couple, Matt is a top chef and makes the best Rissotto that I have ever tasted.

Blogger Buzz: The Generosity of Bloggers

Blogger Buzz: The Generosity of Bloggers

GIRLS WEEKEND

Hi,

Back again after a long time away, could not find how to access this account and was so busy I had no time to spend on it, I am inspired to write again after seeing my friend Marg Low's gorgeous blog and wanting to be able to share some of my work as well.

I have been very busy making stunning chain maille jewelry in sterling silver chain, it is so addictive and the results are magic.

I have few items for sale at http://www.charlirose.etsy.com/

I shared a lovely weekend at Mamre House with Christine Book, Jan and Marg, Helen from Temora and Ingrid from Pioneer Patchwork, Colleen and lots of friends and wonderful patchwork ladies, Marg assisted me with my needlepunch method and as soon as I was back on track I have done lots of needlepunch.

Christine has some projects using Yo Yo makers and I have now got my hands on the large yo yo maker and have started using these to do some yoyo's but I am not sure what I will make with them, I am sure my enthusiasm will wain around the size of a table runner.

Charlotte is in London, working hard and saving up to tour a few country's while she is there, Matt her boyfriend is working hard at Claridge's also.

I have missed her alot and try to phone as often as I can.
Boston is growing he is now 18 months old, Charlotte would not know him, he is no longer that cute little puppy - he is now a huge terrorising monster, but he still gives great cuddles.