Photo a day Challenge

This was a challenge that I saw on Facebook but have decided to make this a personal challenge and only post on my blog daily (hopefully I can keep it up) instead of on Facebook.   Day one prompt is Something Fresh   

Nothing says fresher to me than a bowl of fruit.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Moving on......

Hubs and I spent Christmas Day at our place with our son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and my mother.    A candle was burning in rememberance of Dad.    Food was plentiful and presents were exchanged...the recipients were very happy with what Santa had left for them.    One of the gifts that I scored was this jigsaw puzzle.

My aim is to make a start on it today.  

As you can see the RSC challenge button is now up for 2026 and blue is the first colour to be announced.  Miss M stayed with hubs and I for 3 nights over the Christmas period and during that time one of the tasks that she helped with was to colour code the fabrics that had been cut earlier.   Here is the blue pile.

2025 was not a good year for our family healthwise.   Hubs had 2 surgeries...one scheduled earlier in the year and emergency surgery at the beginning of December.   Fortunately all is well and no further treatment is needed.   Dad passed away in September while Miss M has been suffering constant sore throats during the year and as a consequence she is having her tonsils and adenoids removed early in January.  

On the sewing front I am enjoying making the small donation quilts which has enabled me to join in the RSC and is using up all those neverending scraps which keep multiplying in the cupboard.  I am  continuing to knit small beanies which is a good pick up and put down project in front of tv of a night. 

I am also continuing in the coming year in my capacity as publicity officer for the hospital auxiliary as well as sewing aprons, potholders, dresses for little girls etc when needed.    I will also be starting on making drawstring library bags for Network Heaven soon.

I am not a big fan of Facebook but I did see an interesting challenge which entails taking a nominated photo each day.   I will not be posting on Facebook but will make the challenge a personal one and post on my blog daily.   

Hubs and I will again be hosting our very VIP New Year's Eve party ....him and me.....in the comfort of our loungeroom with some cheeses, crackers, cold meats, nuts, fruit and a glass of bubbles to wash it down while we watch the fireworks at both 9 pm and midnight.    

On that note I will finish off and wish you a

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2026

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Getting ready for......

The big day.    Table is set for Christmas Day lunch 

 The tree is twinkling away with presents underneath

And the secret sewing has been completed, wrapped and under the tree (ssssssssshhhhh don't tell hubs but they are new sleep pants for him)

Finally I wish you all a happy and safe Christmas no matter how you celebrate and a peaceful 2026.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Too hot to handle

 

Apart from going for my early morning swim and hanging out washing I did not put my nose outside the door yesterday as the temperature climbed rapidly and reached 42 celcius by 12 midday.  It was a good day to make an early start on FNSI and some secret Christmas sewing.

As well as add to my pile of RSC strips for next year.

I am pleased to report that hubs is home from hospital and all is well.  No further treatment is needed. 

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all 

Meeting up with......

 Janice and Michael 

Janice and I have had a couple of "false starts" at trying to meet up in person over the past few years but there has always been something that has cropped up that has precluded this from happening.   But it finally  happened on Monday.    Janice and Michael caught the very early train down to Sydney and we met up outside the Queen Victoria building.   After their early start and  3 hour journey it was time to "refuel" .

Janice and Michael decided to go with the french toast topped with mascapone and fruits of the forest

I opted for the banana and walnut bread - it was the most delicious I had ever eaten

We all washed it down with a coffee.  The object of the day was to meet up and of course do a walking tour of Sydney checking out the various Christmas decorations and arcades.  A photo of the three of us taken in front of the Christmas tree in the Queen Victoria building.  

We slowly made our way down through the City via arcades and shopping malls ending up at Circular Quay where Janice and Michael were meeting up with two other bloggers for lunch.  This was where  I caught the ferry back to Manly  as I was unable to stay any longer as hubs is in hospital and there was talk of him coming home that afternoon.....which did not eventuate. 

This pavement art caught my eye as I was walking from the ferry to the bus stop at Manly wharf

It was lovely to finally meet up with Janice and Michael and we hope to make arrangements in the future to meet up again.

Back in the sewing room some of the scraps that were leftovers from this year's RSC were gathered together and a start was made on cutting them up into 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" strips in preparation for next year's RSC.   There are a couple of ideas on how to put them together.

Time to head off and make a start on the day.  Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all 

RSC Challenge 2025 and FNwF

As this post is being typed I am feeling very smug with myself.   All items on the to do list have now been ticked off and the sewing room is still tidy!!!!  The last thing to be ticked off the list was getting the potato chip RSC colour blocks sewn together, backed and quilted.  By taking part in the challenge every month 12 blocks were made and 4 were used per quilt to make up 3 small donation quilts. Most of the fabrics were novelty prints and hopefully the recipients will have fun looking for various objects.  Each of the 4 blocks were 16" finished.    Here is the result.

Quilt no 1

Quilt No 2

Quilt No 3

All 3 together

These blocks are very easy and quick to make as there are no seams to match up when joining them together.   They are certainly very addictive.

Thanks go to Angela from So Scrappy for organising such a fun challenge.   It is amazing what comes out of left over scraps.   Now to think what to do next year when joining in again.

When joining in with FNwF 2 heat packs were made for Christmas presents.  

Don't forget to go over to Cheryll's blog so that you can see what other FNwF crafters achieved last night.   

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all 

Oh Christmas Tree

The City is all decked out for Christmas.    Sparkly trees appear right throughout the City.

Lights are strung across streets.   These would be very pretty at nighttime.

When walking down George Street towards Circular Quay these hanging bird cages caught my attention

And being curious I had to go down the laneway to see what it was all about.  (Excuse the finger in the photo)

My attention was also caught by this colourful wall inside a building.

Well that was my day exploring the City all dressed up for Christmas.  

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all