Disappearing Pinwheels

apologies. The photos on this blog entry are all sideways or upside down. I don't know why. I have tried to do what Fangirl did for me last time but it hasn't worked so I am feeling frustrated. Figured if I don't get them up tonight its going to be another week and I am trying to be posting more regularly... trying and failing. So... hope you don't get a cricked neck looking at them

Disappearing Pinwheel

Have you caught the Disappearing Pinwheel craze that has been sweeping the internet? The quilters that I follow on Twitter were all a buzz with it. Its a video tutorial on YouTube produced by the Missouri Quilt Company. A bunch of the twilters (tweeting quilters) that I follow on Twitter decided to have a sew in on the Martin Luther King Day holiday in the US and sew this new block/quilt. My fellow twilters are mostly from the US alhtough I think there could be a Canadian or two amongst them. As far as I am aware I am the token Aussie :) At my local patchwork group that week our president came in very excited about this new block that she had seen and which she was keen to teach us all about. Yes it was the Disappearing Pinwheel. I have also seen reference to it on one of the facebook groups I belong to. How could I resist. I decided to make my Disappearing Pinwheel quilt as a gift for a new baby born to a lovely couple at church so would only need to make 16 of the blocks. Well I only made 16 blocks but with the sashing I added and borders... its a big quilt for a baby but no doubt she will grow into it. (the Disappearing Pinwheels come in two variations. I chose to use the churn dash one shown here)


All the fabric I used in the top came from my stash.



The instructions talk about using layer cakes but I used 10 inch squares that I had cut up during my scrap busting organizing frenzy I have been on since Christmas (cutting my way through my fabric stash and cutting any piece of fabric smaller than a fat quarter into useful units concentrating especially on some units I haven't collected before namely 10" and 5")

For my neutral I used white. I had heaps of pre-loved white fabric by way of sheets, pillowcases etc some of which came from my aunt's estate. I got a real sense of satisfaction in using the fabric I had been working hard at sorting and cutting. So good to be able to just go and pull out what I needed.

 I also decided to put the pinwheels around the side, as in the tutorial. Again I was able to use 5" squares that I had precut myself in the previous weeks. Again it was so satisfying to be able to do that.

large and small half square triangles done

Final layout for centre of top.

I haven't finished yet. I have the top put together but still working on the pinwheel borders

Finishes

I had one finish this week. I completed my quilt for my great nephew Lucas. It used a panel I bought a couple of years ago which I put together with some half square triangle blocks.

"Jungle Fever"

I have been watching my Craftsy class Machine Quilting Free Motion and more with Wendy Butler Bern and it has really helped me try some new things

I also got another baby quilt top finished for another friend's baby. Top only so far but that is a start. I still have to make the backing for it before going any further.

Fitness

I completed the 5k running program I was doing. My final run was for 35 minutes and I ran 3.88 kms. Yesterday I ran for 40 minutes and was really looking forward to seeing how far I had run but my phone went flat on me so I am not sure exactly but I did run for over 4 kms so that was a milestone for me. I have lost some weight too which is very pleasing. I am now consistently below 94. Have been down to 92.3 but that was after my big run so dehydrated but this morning I was 93 which is good.

Family

We are off to Sydney this weekend - DH, youngest son S and I. We are going to a family reunion where we will celebrate the 70th birthday of my oldest sister and my cousin. I will be able to give my cousin the Tie Quilt that I made for him using some ties of his fathers (and lots of others that I collected from family, friends and op shops)

Family Ties - the Ties that Bind

DH is only having the weekend in Sydney with us but S and I will stay on for the week to be able to see a bit more of my mum and other family and friends. Then we fly back to Brisbane. He will stay there then for his next uni term. I will have the weekend in Brisbane with Fangirl. We are going to the Dr Who Spectacular on Saturday night which is going to be awesome. Hopefully over the weekend in Brisbane I will be able to catch up with my son Kombi Boy and his partner Earthy Yu

New Beginnings... I hope

Had been thinking about writing a blog for a few months now and decided to have a go and came on to the computer to find that I already have one. Now I remember I was going to write one when I went overseas in 2010 with daughter Fangirlstitches and oldest son G. I wrote one blog before I left and that was it. Oh well never mind. I wonder if I can keep it up any longer this time. With my record probably not.

Its now January 2014. Earlier this month I signed up for the 365project. When you are supposed to put up a photo a day. I got one up. Then I also saw this thing about getting your stuff in order and the starter project was to tidy for 15 minutes every day and to throw out 15 things and donate 15 things every day for the month. I managed it twice... but not on 2 consecutive days. Oh and the things I was going to donate... still in bags in my bedroom. Ho hum.

Hoping that on this blog I can record/report on a few different things in my life.

My Crafting

 I am a keen although not necessarily proficient quilter. I like to do scrappy quilts. I often design my own quilts and they are a bit organic... I don't always plan them out before I start which is why they are sometimes more scrappy than I intended. This last year I have also gotten into making banners (wall quilts) to use in our church to augment our worship time. These have been more along the lines of art quilts than anything else I have attempted before. I have been really encouraged in this by our minister and good friend Suzy who has always been delighted by my attempts and gladly used them.

  

The banner on the left was made for ordinary Sundays (green) It features a vine winding from the bottom to the top with appliqued and 3D leaves. The banner on the right was done in 4 crazy patch panels in white and gold for the seasons of Easter and Christmas.

An going project for me is making baby quilts for my great nieces and nephews who seem to be coming along with increasing rapidity. I am one of 8 children and my mum has 24 grandchildren and at last count 18 great grandchildren with one on the way. I also make quilts for some other babies in my life - grandchildren of good friends, a cousin's grandchildren and a few babies at church. Keep me busy enough. My mum is 91 and still does embroidery. I trace pictures onto fabric for her and send them down to her (she lives in Sydney whereas I live in central Queensland) She completes them and sends them back and incorporate them into quilts.

I am planning on blogging about my quilting - my plans, my completions, my UFOs. 2 years ago I cataloged all my UFOs and determined to try to bust them. For a year I didn't start any new projects, I just worked on old ones (except when I had to make a baby quilt that I didn't have anything suitable on the go for) I also put myself on a fabric diet, only buying fabric that was needed to complete a project. I stuck with that pretty well (apart from busting out once at a Spotlight sale. I got fabric to make some baby quilts) I managed to knock over a fair few of them in the 12 months. I continued to work on them last year although I also started a number of new projects as well.

Again, inspired by Pam at HTBS I have started to track my fabric usage this year. I have set up an excel spreadsheet (ok Fangirl set it up at my request) and hope to calculate my fabric usage and my fabric acquisitions. I hope to report on it regularly... perhaps monthly... unlike Pam I don't complete a project or several projects a week so there won't be that much movement.

My Fitness Regime

I am in my mid 50s (55 in March) I am somewhat overweight. I am currently 93.5kg (205 lbs) I was up to 100 earlier on in the year so it is coming down. 95 was a really hard number for me to break through but after several months of getting down to there and then bouncing up again I finally broke though and am slowly creeping down. I am 179cm (5ft 10.5") so fairly tall. According to various charts I should be 75-80 kgs for my height. So.... we shall see how I go at losing the rest of the weight 7 down 13 to go. I did get down to under 80 kgs a few (6.5) years ago but couldn't stay there. 83 seemed an easier weight for me to stay at (and I did for a number of years) Still would like to get to 80.

Inspired by podcaster Pam from www.hiptobeasquarepodcast.com I took up running again. In 2011 I had completed the C25K running program and was able to run for 35 minutes. I let it all go though (my hips hurt, my knees hurt, it was too hard, there was no point etc) However I have restarted it and this morning I ran for 25 minutes. I have completed week 7 of the 8 week program so Monday will start again. My aim is to run 5 kms and to run in a 5 km fun run by May. Last year there was a Mothers Day fun run here in town but no word of it being organised this year (and I am not volunteering) There is one on Hamilton Island but my husband isn't enthralled by the idea of us going there (its beautiful but expensive) and when I remember the terrain (we were there for a wedding last Easter) yeah... maybe not (massive hill divides the tiny island and if we have to run 5 km we would have to go up and over that hill at least once)

My family

I am married to DH who is an engineer. We've been married for over 30 years now and still crazy about each other. We have 4 children. Daughter Fangirl (fangirlstitches.blogspot.com.au) who is an OT and has just returned to live in our home town after having lived in the UK for over 2 years (yes it is lovely to have her back in oh so many ways). Oldest son G who lives in Melbourne and studying to be a massage therapist. Middle son C, lives in Brisbane with his partner A. He is half way through a university degree to become a nurse. Youngest son S (my baby)  completed first year of an engineering degree 2013 but has decided to switch to education and become a teacher instead. C. A and S live together in our townhouse in Brisbane whilst they attend university.

We also have 2 dogs and 1 cat, Dogs are Annie a 9 year old Australian terrier fox terrier cross, Jack a Jack Russell Shiatsu something else cross (he is tiny but thinks he is a rottweiler) and Pippin a 6 year old Siamese cross. 

    

Tiger cat, mentioned in previous post died a year ago and we still miss her.

So there you have it. Its taken me several days to get this far and a visit from Fangirl to help me work out the photo uploads (my photos kept uploading sideways. All good now)

Steve Taylor was the specail guest speaker at Synod, delivering the Norman and Mary Millar lecture on Saturday night. He was a great speaker - interesting, dynamic and challenging. If you want to hear it for yourself there is an audiofile that you can download from the journeyonline website.
http://www.journeyonline.com.au/showArticle.php?categoryId=10&articleId=2365

Sorry, I still haven't worked out how to add hot links to the blog so that you can just click on it and it will take you there. Perhaps one of my clever children will be able to work it out.

Less than 24 hours till I go now.... have to do some ironing and tidying up, and get the washing in and a few other things too. I probably will think of 100 other things I should have done today... and all before I land in Brisbane!!

Packing

I have had a busy day today trying to get ready to go away. Only 2 days now till I leave. Exciting and scary. Actually it is a day and a half till I leave Emerald and 2 days till I leave Australia.

This morning the electricians arrived to finish off some work in our new car port. They installed 2 double powerpoints and two fluro lights. I think we get to declare the carport finished.

While they were here, because they had to turn the power off I couldn't do some work I needed to do on the computer so instead I worked on my bag. I wanted to get it down to 7kgs as we are trying to "one bag" it ie travel with just one cabin sized bag for our trip which means that we don't have to wait for the baggage to be unloaded from the plane and so we get to the head of the queue for customs. As well as that and perhaps more importantly we don't have to lug so much stuff around with us. When we get to our first 3 destinations on the plane ie Narita, Rome and London we have to get public transport to our accommodation. As well, all around Italy we are travelling by train so it is going to be much easier to do this if we don't have to lug so much stuff. It was pretty tricky but by wearing all my heaviest gear, putting my camera in my pocket, and carrying my folder of papers I managed to come in under 7 kgs - woot woot. This is the link http://www.onebag.com/ I am not sure if that will work as a hot link... not sure how to do that in blogs. Will see if it works. At least you have the address if you need it.

Once I got through the packing I went out for a while to try to get a few jobs done. I got myself a long sleeved shirt. I am beginning to panic about being cold. I also saw the accountant re last years tax (mine is all done) and did some P&C stuff. Isn't this riverting stuff.

Later on in the day went back up the street with youngest son and got him a jacket for camp. He goes while I am away. Tonight while the rest of Queensland was watching the State of Origin match I entered the P&C bills, then paid the bills and did the wages so I am all up to date. I have to hand the stuff over to someone else while I am gone.

Oldest son, G, went back to Brisbane today. He has to pack his bag and get himself organised to go with me on Friday. He also has to finalise his prac assignment and hand that in. I am expecting his cat to give us all a hard time. Tiger adores G and the feeling is mutual. After G leaves Tiger misses him terribly and whinges and looks pathetic. So far she hasn't reacted... but I am waiting for it to start. I was thinking I would miss it as orgingally G and I were going to leave together on Friday, till G decided he needed to be back earlier and also that he needed his car back in Brisbane.

I am sorry I don't have any photos for the post yet. I have to work out how to add them and also I haven't taken any yet.

I got onto our internet provider today about increasing our download both in speed and in amount. Ended up being offered a deal which does both for a lesser amount than we are currently paying which is good. It is supposed to kick in at midnight tonight. Perhaps I will wait up and see if it works.

Middle Son C just got home. He was watching the State of Origin with other blokes from his Cell group from church. Apparently Queensland won by 4 points which is good, but given that they were leading by 18 at one point it was a close call. Since I was staying up to go and get him but he ended up getting a lift home with a mate, I can now go to bed. Night all

Friday night at Synod

On Friday night at Synod I participated in the most amazing worship service. It was the opening worship service of the 28th Uniting Church Queensland Synod which was held at the Alexandra Park Conference Centre on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.

It was an amazing time. The emphasis of the service was the multiculturalThe emphasis tonight was on the multicultural diversity of the Uniting Church of Australia in Queensland. The service started with a special ceremony, a welcome to the land by the Kabi Kabi people, the traditional owners of the land that we were meeting on. Because the Bay, just down from the conference centre was known as a birth place by the traditional owners, the welcome ceremony was carried out by indigenous women. Not all of them were from this area but they blessed us by walking amongst us and sprinkling us with water, flicked by gum leaves. As they did so we were sung to by a band made up of aboriginal people and accompanied by a didgeridoo player. Then there were words of welcome spoken by an aboriginal man, and an aboriginal elder, a woman and an exchange of gifts to and by the moderator.

Immediately following that there was some singing at one of the doors and a group of Tongan people, in traditional costume entered and sang unaccompanied as they walked down one aisle to their seats. On the other side of the auditorium another group of people entered, also in traditional dress singing in their own language, a different song, then another group and another and another... a cacophony of sounds, and a myriad of colours of costumes and skin, people singing praise to God. It was amazing... spine tingling, awe inspiring and worshipful. There were people from Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Sudan, Burma, and some others that I have forgotten.

Throughout the service which followed there were times when people spoke in their own language, to pray, to read the bible or to sing. The South Korean group presented a worship item of song and dance. The man who sang had the most beautiful voice and his wife who did the dance was so graceful and beautiful. The different groups brought greetings to the Synod in their own language. It was wonderful.

The next day the Synod business sessions began. There were hours of meeting, debate, tabling of reports, motions, voting. There were times when people agreed over important things and also disagreed. Sometimes the disagreements were minor, and over trivial issues, sometimes they were over major issues. With God's grace and strength we were able to find a way through the discussion and debate and hopefully were able to determine what God's will for us as a Synod was.

Welcome to Welcome to my world

Seems every woman and her dog has a blog these days so I couldn't be left behind now could I. Actually I have started this in an attempt to keep my many and varied friends and families abreast of what I am up to whilst I am away. In 8 days time I am beginning a 6 week overseas trip. I am going with my oldest son, Gavin and will be joined in Italy 10 days later by my daughter Ros. Whilst I am an avid user of Facebook and am on several google groups I thought it might be easier to communicate with you all via this blog. I doubt that I am going to be very creative with it because time will be short however hopefully I will be able to let interested family and friends know what we have been doing. Of course it might all fall over in a big heap and this will be the first and last blog.

Choosing a name for the blog was more difficult than I thought. I am a keen patchworker and crafter and follow a number of blogs on the web of a craft nature which have some great names however this isn't going to just be about my craft, especially not to start with so felt that a crafty name wouldn't be suitable. Nor would a strictly travel name work as, despite my great love of the activity, I won't be always travelling... money and other commitments just won't allow it.

I hope I don't bore you all silly with my ramblings. I guess you won't come back if I do that.

Like I said I leave in just over a week. Between now and then quite a few things have to be accomplished. To start with tomorrow morning I am flying to Brisbane for the Queensland UCA Synod meetings. I have been asked to be on the Facilitation committee. Not entirely sure what that is going to involve but I am willing to learn and to participate so that is all that can be expected. Before I get there I have about an inch of readings to get through. If I don't get them read it will mean that I won't be as informed about the debates and discussions that will take place. Anyway will have a go... can at least dip into them.

I get back from Brisbane on Tuesday evening and will have two days till I leave on our trip. I will need to finalise my packing and sort out other stuff. I will no doubt detail all that at another time