I haven't missed a day!

Although the calendar and clock say it's Friday morning, I'm still up, so it's still Thursday! I have a crafty friend visit tonight and we didn't stop until after 1am, so I'm only getting a chance to blog now. Here's what arrived yesterday and today. More frogs, and a panda batik among others...

I was delighted that the frogs (blogged about here) arrived, so I could start the applique of my Swirly Quilt but on spreading it out, it just didn't work. I'm really disappointed, but with such an expanse, the frogs give way to a big check pattern, and the pattern is too strong as the background. I'm hoping my other order arrives tomorrow, and that one of the black and white prints in that will work.

More for my snowflakes:

Yet more frogs!The top two here are flanellette and the colour has such great depth:

Four Seasons Quilt Swap

After longingly admiring the earlier seasons, I have signed up for the Summer Four Seasons Quilt Swap. I'm really looking forward to this, and will add a button soon.

I have no quilty progress to share, because every project I pull out requires an order from the US. One did arrive today, and 3 more are on their way - so you should see something soon!

10 months

And these photos are getting harder and harder to get!
Eleanor is being very chatty at the moment, and I think she' making some deliberate mumumum sounds, as well as copying other noises. She copies us poking out our tongues, loves to wave, and has discovered the exciting game of "I give it to you, you give it to me, repeat". She is also finding James good entertainment value, and last night he had her laughing so hard she ended up with hiccoughs!

Quilty books to buy...eventually!

Here I was, absentmindedly browsing blogs and wondering what I could post about today, when I got to AJ's and decided to steal her idea! So here's my current list:

The Winding Ways Quilt

tick!

More Elm Creek Quilts

tick!

One Block Wonders

on its way!

One Block Wonders Encore

tick!

(yet to be released, and anxiously awaited...)

Paula Nadelstern's Kaleidoscope Quilts

Quilting Possibilities...Freehand Filler Patterns

Showstopping Quilts to Foundation Piece

Picture Piecing

tick!

Birthday FQs

Here are all the lovely Fat Quarters I received for my birthday in the EB Quilters' swap:

From left to right:
Back row: Prints Charming b&w stripe (so soft!) from Natalie, Black spots on white from Cylie, Stunning b&w shoes from Kylie.
2nd row: Black daisies on white and white-on-white snowflakes both from Adds, White flecks on black from Leah, Little black leaves on white from Xena.
3rd row: Black Linens & Lace (might be my favourite!) from Helen, Matching black-on-white and white-on-black dotty flowers both from AJ, Fleur-de-lis b&w diamond check from Bec.
4th row: White buttons on black from Mands, Delightful white stars on black from Joy, Dotty, swirly white sprigs on black from Kylie.
Front row: Cream snowflakes on navy from Cass, White snowflakes on navy from Lily, and some of the little extras people slipped in (includes the magazines at the top).

I don't have any specific plans for these, but will enjoy having them in my stash until they find the perfect project! Thanks again girls, excellent choices!

Macros

A while back when a few bloggers I know were doing a macro challenge, I thought about it, but decided I couldn't commit. But it did inspire me to play a bit more with my macro function. So here are a few I took at Gran's house before it was sold. This first lot were taken in the garden, and you'll be seeing more on other days I'm struggling to post!

Lilies

This beautiful bunch arrived at my office on Monday! Thanks to my mother in law, everyone knew it was my birthday!!! I left them on my desk where I could enjoy them until I finished work for the week, and now we're enjoying them at home. They smell amazing!

Regeneration

In January there was a 'small' bushfire near us; about 4km away. It also happened to be rather (too) close to our child care centre and although I was home with Eleanor, it was a child care day for James, and I decided to collect him early. When I did, I found roadblocks because of the fire just 50m up the road, and the centre calling all the parents! Luckily no homes were lost, thanks to a prompt aerial attack (the kids at childcare were enthralled by the helicopters going back and forth overhead!). But a segment of the road to town is surrounded by burned trees and blackened ground. After the rain this week, I noticed the first signs of regeneration; some soft green grass, and some beautiful green leaves at the base of some of the trees and up their trunks. I love the way it looks like a green fur coat! I'll try and stop tomorrow and get some photos.

The first of these photos shows new growth at the base of a burned tree just above the road. The fire only just leaped the road, and was contained above it relatively quickly, and you can see in the background trees whic were only singed at the bottom.

The next shows a tree below the road with some branches coated in the green fur of new growth, and lots of dead leaves in the background.

The last is a wider shot of another tree with regenerating branches and the contrast of new and dead leaves.

Child care photos

We got James and Eleanor's child care photos today. Unfortunately in their individual ones Eleanor looks rather solemn, and they caught the tail-end of one of James' silly camera grins, but it's a lovely one of the two of them!I've decided to go ahead and order all three of those black and white fabrics, plus this one, and see what I think!

A Quandry

I had wonderful plans of a swirly quilt; aqua swirls on a black and white background. The applique is going to be much fiddlier than I'd anticipated, and so far none of the black and white background fabrics I've auditioned work. What do you think?

I can't find a balance which shows the swirls properly, and have considered using multiple black and white fabrics radiating from the centre of the swirls, but wonder if that might make things worse? I'm thinking of ordering these 3 from eQuilterto try:

30?! Really?!

Birthdays are so much more fun with children around! Simon gave me a present before he left for work - before James and Eleanor were up. As he left, he mentioned that James had something for me (in case James forgot). James emerged not long after, saw the present on my bed, and scampered back to his room, gabbling about a present in his cupboard that he was getting for me. He brought it in climbed up on the bed with me and said Happy Birthday, before letting me open my own present! Then he (therefore we!) had to sing happy birthday! Then he wanted cake and candles! So tonight we got a delicious orange chocolate mud cake, and Simon put plenty of candles on it (which James helped me blow out 3 times!). He loved the cake, and eager Eleanor had a tiny bit, too!James also helped me open the nine squishy envelopes which have arrived as part of the EB Quilters' birthday FQ swap. I'll post about them properly when they have all arrived, but here's a peek for Adds who couldn't wait!There were also several more cards, and (yippee!) a parcel containing this:

A Post a Day in May

I've joined this a few days late, but am going to see how I go!

Today we took James and Eleanor down the Fleurieu Penninsula, to see Uncle Neil sail out of Victor Harbor, and behind Granite Island.

This first involved a short, steep walk up to the top of the island where we had a good lookout.

James enjoyed watching the boats and exploring.

Eleanor was happy eating her corn biscuits in the grass.

I even managed to hand the camera to a reluctant Simon for about a minute. The results demonstrate how reluctant!

Then around to Goolwa where we were too late for the yummiest roast beef baguettes. You can see how low the water is!

Some FMQ

I finished Evening Indulgence tonight. I'm really pleased with the effect of the more complicated FMQ I tried - although it would have shown up better on a plainer backing fabric.
I still have plenty to learn, but I'm pretty happy with the results, goven they were my first real attempt at following a pattern after a few quick tries. I'll definitely be doing more of this, and working plain blocks/areas into my designs especially for quilting designs.