Oh My Gosh I Did It!

Finally Finally I have finished the Sweet Bliss quilt that was started over a year ago. I quilted it in Peg's challenge May/June last year (sorry Peg, alzheimers with the months).

sorry about the colour, due to wind I photographed the quilt on the shadecloth verandah late this afternoon

I had arrange the quilt block, alternating the centre blocks between cream and pale pink; in addition to what you can easily see with the block borders. I did consider fussy cutting the roses for the block centres but with the border I decided it was too much, and instead opted to also arrnge these within their 'circles'.

This afternoon I stitched the LAST bit of ricrac onto the frill. Boy was this a slow process, not to mention the procrastination!

simply stunning colours by Sue

I made this quilt using Sue Zipkins 'Bliss' range of fabric and Janelle Winds 'Sweet Janice' pattern. Hence the name 'Sweet Bliss'. I have had so many people comment on this quilt; and ask if it is to give away. Sorry but I am keeping this one. Love it love it love it!

I used the pink butterfly/rose fabricfor the backing

About the challenge, finish one project per month challenge that May Britt and Kris have organised. I have set myself a high, yet hopefully achievable, challenge within this challenge. I want to finish one quilt per month, in addition to any other projects. So far I have done well, this month just making it. Time will tell as to how I go with it.

Homeschooling

I get asked alot about homeschooling here in Australia. It is more common in the US than Australia. I will give you a brief rundown on homeschooling for us. I am in New South Wales and the legal requirements are that I register my school age children with the NSW Board of Studies. To gain registration I have to show that I have an educational plan to teach the children following the six key learning areas, have access to suitable resources and can provide an adequate learning area.

World puzzle that the countries are single jigsaw pieces

The six Key Learning Areas are English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Human Society and It's Environment, Creative Arts and Personal Development, Health, Physical Education. Some of these are quite broad; for instance Human Society and It's Environment to me is geography, history and civics. Creative Arts is art, craft, dance, drama and music.

In order to gain registration you have an inspection from a NSW Board of Studies Inspector (these seem to be former school principals in my experience) or you apply through documentation - sending the documents away. Registration is for between 1 month and 2 years, depending on how confident/approving the Inspector is with you and your plans. They are also there to help and guide if you need it.

Alot of people confuse homeschooling with distance education. The main difference, as I see it, is that with homeschooling I get to choose the material and set the pace. With distance education you follow both the material and timetable that is sent to you, and they monitor it all closely. We chose to homeschool because we wanted to choose the material and work with the pace of the child instead of working to the class. I enjoy this extra time spent with the children that I would not get if they attended school. Seeing and being a part of that 'aha' moment makes all the hard effort so worthwhile.


As any homeschooling family will tell you, no two days are the same for homeschooling, however I will give an idea on how our days go. After breakfast the children complete chores, not only to help run our large family but to teach them valuable life skills. Once our morning chores are completed we complete our bookwork, sometimes we stop for morning tea (this depends on how late a start it is to the day!). After lunch I like to read to the children on various topics, and work on crafts, yes - sewing happens often in the afternoon! Once afternoon tea is over the children complete their afternoon chores and have free time until dinner. I find that the older ones are good at helping with the younger ones, that extra reinforcement with counting and learning the alphabet is a great help.

Now many of you know I have younger children too, ages 3 and 2. What are these ones doing all this time? They are busy playing in the dirt/sandpit, riding bikes, bouncing on the trampoline; thuogh most of the time I have set things out to occupy them. I don't mind them watching a little tv, usually playschool, but don't like them to watch more than 1/2 hr to an hour a day. The special activities that they do include lacing, puzzles, looking at books, an older child will read or make up a story to go with a book, lego, wooden train set, drawing, various board type games. Often you will find one of both of the boys on my lap while working through something with one of the older children. It needs to be said that on the days that I don't have anything organised for them, trouble reigns!

BBQ dip

Socialising is something I am frequently asked about; and something that I used to ask about in the early days. The children interact well with other children and adults alike. If anything, they are more repsonsible and aware of the consequences of their actions. They have regular contact with other children, both schooled and homeschooled; play soccor in the winter and swim in the summer.

I am proud of how my children help at home and use their manners, however you do have weary times. Homeschooling isn't all sunshine and roses, but the sunshine and roses makes all the hard times very worthwhile. For all you working mums out there reading this, I have alot of admiration for you do too; your job also requires alot of organisation and effort in your childrens best interests; and there are only so many hours in one day.

Oh, and you DO NOT want to see my ironing pile! It currently is sitting about eye level! yup, you can't do everything!

the coffee table regularly gets piled up like this!

My school age children are 8yrs, 7yrs and 6yrs. To give you an idea of the work we complete I will list the main workbooks and books that we work through and read, in addition to this we read alot of books on many topics, including literature.

Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading

Explode the Code (phonics workbooks)

Practice Your English Skills
Readers - Bob books, Phonics Practice, Fitzroy, Nutshell.
Letter writing
Singapore Mathematics3rd edition (main maths program)
Singapore Mathematics CD-ROM
New Wave Mental Maths RIC publications
EasyLearn Maths
Flashmaster (electronic maths quiz)
Lets Read and Find Out About Science books on various topics
REAL Science - pandia press
Active Science
Wonderland of Nature by Nuri Mass
Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer
Suceeding in Social Studies
Society and Environment
various Australian history books
Artistic Pursuits
Home Economics for Home Schoolers
Stitches and Pins
Buckles and Bobbins
Self Esteem

Leave a comment or email me with any questions.

A's quilt for Nan

I wanted to share with you a quilt that my aunt recently finished. She has been working on it for over a year now. Her local patchwork shop, Buttons and Bows at Beenleigh QLD, runs Janome classes to give you confidence and practice in using all those extra features on your machine; and you don't have to have a Janome to attend.

Last year instead on working on one small project each month they decided to do a quilt, and Chris incorporated extra bits into the quilt so the ladies attending could use more of the extra features on their machines. One such thing is a cranberry fabric in this quilt, it has been stitched both vertical and horizontally with a twin needle (two different coloured threads) AND then stitched with a fancy stitch. The result is stunning and everyone is amazed when my aunt tells them it was a plain piece of cranberry coloured fabric. oh, and the borders; aren't they just what the quilt needed! She even made her own bias binding.... ALOT of work in this quilt. I have NEVER done ANYTHING like this, such patience. Well done A!

This quilt was in Nundle, my aunt got it out to show Kerry; then she took it to Honeysuckle to show Kim. What a fabulous response! She has made it for my Nan, her mum, who has been asking where is the bag A was going to make for her. Well A had to fudge a bit because she didn't want to say she had bee busy working on the quilt as it was a surprise.

More on Nundle

Shoppers at Cottage on the Hill the morning after. Recognise any bloggers in there????

My lucky door prize - 2 metes of fabric and the cutest little bag of buttons! Both my young daughters have been admiring the buttons, I think they are hoping I will hand them over!

Kerry has the new range from Blackbird Designs, Beach House. Yummy colours!

and also Swanky by Chez Moi, which has been walking out the door

Some lovely trims....

Beautiful sewing threads....

Lovely old woden spools....


and I had to share this, priorto going wtih emails bouncing back and forth between bloggers there were quite a few lists, very helpfu lists mind you. Anyway I made the comment that I might have to bring trailer to fit everything in. In fact I actually travel quite lightly. My bag is the purple one in front BY ITSELF. All I had in addition to this was my pillow.Upond arriving I had my sewing bag separate but leaving I was able to fit my sewing bag in my bigger bag (I was wearing my boots leaving nt my sandals, hence the extra room) AND my stuff from the girls days out. The pile of bags nearby belong to my aunt mum was still packing when I took the picture), as you can see she brought alot of stuff with her!

However to be totaly fair, I missed packing extra shirt and brought home more than my bag and pillow. I brought home some wadding, which does take up a bit of room.

Girls Day Out

I had a FABULOUS time in Nundle for the Girls Day Out in the Country stitching day. Apart from a doll making day at Kerry's I haven't been to anything like this. I stayed at the pub and was quite content there, the noise didn't bother me one bit.... as I was last to bed both nights! I am a night owl but also an early riser so this doesn't always bode well, especially with 2amish bedtimes!

Here is the hall. On the tables we had bottled water, gorgeous potted plants in the table centres, a brand new beautiful ceremic mug and a bag with all our bits and pieces in. It was so exciting looking through the bag to try and see the fabrics and what the patterns were (no covers with the patterns, but all was revealled a short time later).

Here is Rosie's project, a stitching bucket and needlecase. Gorgeous. I set these aside to make later as I had plans to pracice/learn other techniques on the day.

This is Leanne's project, a needlturn wallhanging/cushion cover. Needleturn is something I wanted to work on. You see about twelve months ago I was trying to do it with freezer paper and mine was A BIG MESS. It looked AWFUL. Then I had a lesson from Kerry, followed up by a lesson from Kim a few days later; AND a change of needle. THANKYOU Kim and Kerry. Since last year I have not practiced my needleturn applique, though I have been busy stitching bindings onto quilts - fabulous practice by the way!

My needleturn applique has improved OUT OF SIGHT, I am SOOOO over the moon about this! Get a look at these pictures, last years needleturn and then this years.

Pretty awful isn't it, and I have kept the worst one secret!

Now this one is a different story, sorry it's still all creased up from travelling. Points are perfect! I really am SOOO RAPT. You see when I first started needleturn applique it was absolute torture, why would people spend so much time using a horrible painstaking terrible result method like needleturn???? I totally understand now that I have got the knack of it. It is truly addictive, stitching flows along nicely and the end project is just amazing!

Kerry had organised the yummiest lunch for us, morocan chicken with couscous; presently beautifully; and practically; in a noodle box. Homemade food rocks. It is the best. Here are some pic's of Rosie and Leanne's projects on display.

I also tried the punchneedle, but will share these photos in the next post with other pictures.
oh, and why have I taken so long to blog when I was home three days ago???? We have had visitors; dh's neice Bobby and my aunt. So I spent time with them instead on the computer, my apologies but I did what I thought best. My aunt came to the stitching day too, along with my mum. Aunt had a go at what I did and mum worked on needleturn.

Off to Nundle with Posh!

Off to Nundle I go for the Girls Day Out in the Country. Here is the bag I made to take with me. It is 'Nellie's Bag' by Rosalie Quinlan Designs, made using 'Posh' fabrics.