A Quilt - At Last!

Add caption

Peta and I 'met' on Instagram, prompting me to drop in to her shopfront, Zaaton Tea House, late one October afternoon. I soon discovered Peta's passion for supporting the local creative community, locally grown flowers and friendly homestyle teas and refreshments. 

Peta enquired about a custom lap quilt for patrons to use while enjoying refreshments in the cooler months. It seemed the perfect project for Indie Folk fabric which had just been released by Art Gallery Fabrics. With Peta's input fabrics, and design ideas came together. I was planning for this to be my January project - but then my mil suddenly passed away just after Christmas and life took a different turn.

This finish may be later than planned, but as our summer continues to linger long and hot, the timing is just right with cooler days sure to arrive sometime next month!

March has come with its usual flurry of cricket finals which overlap with the beginning of training for the hockey season. With Miss E's (10) enthusiasm it looks like we have many more years of cricket finals ahead. She participated in 4 different levels/ages of cricket this summer and would have been eager to even play senior's first grade (mostly men), like her older sister if she had been selected!

Meanwhile I enjoy the birdlife and changing skies while watching a select few hours of cricket.

Further details for some of these photos will appear if you hover your cursor over the image.  :)

*** You may also enjoy my Instagram feed which I add to several times a week. You don't have to join Instagram to view - just click on the little blue square camera logo under my blog profile (top right hand corner).
Karen

SaveSave

Jacaranda Love

 

There's something breathtaking about trees covered in masses of purple flowers. Mid Spring every year our town erupts into glorious displays of purple as the hundreds of jacaranda trees briefly flower in a magnificent display. Many of the these gracious trees are over 100 years old, with mature trunks and spreading branches attesting to their many years. 

Since 1935 Grafton has celebration this beautiful time of year with the annual Jacaranda Festival, a special time for both locals and tourists. Commencing on the last weekend in October through to the first weekend of November every year, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival is the longest running floral festival in Australia, complete with the crowning of a Jacaranda Queen, Princess and other 'royal' party members.

Many of the photos above were taken at or near See Park, our largest park in town which continues to be a favourite location for tourists and locals like myself who 'play tourist' with cameras at this wonderful time of year. There is also an increasing number of international visitors enjoying out purple streets, with quite a few choosing to have photos taken in their wedding clothes under the jacarandas. This year's street float parade even included a surprise proposal, to the delight of the would-be bride and the crowds.

Most of the jacarandas have almost finished flowering, although some linger longer. Soon these South American trees will be bare as their lush fern-like green leaves grow to provide a feathery green summer shade.

Further details of most photos will appear if you hover your cursor over the image.  :)


*** You may also enjoy my Instagram feed which I add to several times a week. You don't have to join Instagram to view either - just click on the little blue square camera logo under my blog profile (top right hand corner).

Winter's End

As our winter draws to a close, so our sport seasons change also. Final games of hockey are being played (Miss O and Miss G) and the winter training camps for cricket will soon culminate in trials and then on to State Country Championships for those selected.

Our winter has been relatively mild and dry. Many local property holders are busy burning off excess ground cover as a preventative measure before the bush fire danger period.

Hand sewing continues to be my pleasant time filler when waiting for appointments or between each day's needful activities, and once more at night to wind down as I wait for all in the house to become quiet, allowing for sleep.

Our local homeschool group has enjoyed a set of art workshops run by one of the mums who is a trained art teacher. It's wonderful to be able to learn from each other and share our passions. Very grateful for those parents who organise activities for our group - so many options this year that we choose carefully those which ones to participate in each term.

Personal updates: My husband's health has slightly improved  :)
My mother had a few days in hospital over the last week, a pacemaker has been fitted and other issues are being investigated.
A close family friend, younger than me, lost her DIY husband suddenly in an accident at home this week. Very sad.


* If you hover your mouse/cursor over each of the photos above, text details to accompany will become visible. 
*** You can read more details about most of these photos on my Instagram feed which I add to several times a week. You don't have to join Instagram to view either - just click on the little blue square camera logo under my blog profile (top right hand corner).