Well.....

.....I won!  Yay me!!

You could have knocked me down with the proverbial feather yesterday when my name was announced as the winner of the Mature Performers' concert at the Eisteddfod.  It's a mixed bag......we had poetry reciters, solo singers and various instrumental ensembles ranging from a string ensemble to a clarinet choir, no doubt making the job of the adjudicators a bit difficult.  A bit like comparing oranges and apples, I would think.  The winner is the performer judged to be 'the most entertaining'.  I played my tenor ukulele and sang a song arrangement that I worked out a few years ago, a mix of 'Five foot two, eyes of blue' and 'Ain't she sweet' that I call 'Ain't my girl sweet'.  I could see some of the audience singing along - they even worked out how the songs twisted together, and I was given a great round of applause.

So now I have my own trophy to keep forever (still to have my name engraved), a perpetual trophy (also to be engraved with my name) that I get to keep for a year, and I was even told there will be money.  How about that?

What a year.  A few months ago my hanging won a blue ribbon at the show, then I win at the Eisteddfod.....what next, I wonder?  Where does one go from here?

Not one pic has been taken this week as it's been rather busy, as you can imagine, but we can trawl through the vaults.

Autumn in Canberra is always beautiful; it's a colder climate than here and usually puts on a great display of colour.  These pics were taken at an 'Open Garden' visit.  This has to be the most fragrant rose I have ever smelled, it was climbing along a trellis by a small lake.  If you are into roses it would make a lovely addition to your garden, just look up 'Nahema rose' for details.

 I don't know who, or what or where 'Nahema' is.

The garden had many large pine trees blocking the light and it was an overcast day, so the bright leaves on this plant really shone out.  I don't know what it is....some sort of oak, perhaps?

There was a small lake - the rose trellis was along one side of the water.

Just inside the entrance we were greeted by these colours.

The blue and green blocks currently spread out will be pinned to the sheet under them so it can be rolled up, as the spare bed they are on will be needed for a visitor this week.  I am happy with the layout as it is, and that will keep them in order until they can be sewn together.  The ukulele group has a gig during the week at a retirement complex - we have played for them before; they like our songs and they also put on a scrumptious afternoon tea for us - that will be the last of the current musical calendar for a little while, so sewing can come to the forefront again.

No diamonds have been joined and no more have been cut, although that needs to change soon.  Words have been read and stitches knitted. with not many rows remaining until the front is divided for the neck.  When I receive my prize money it may be spent on some more knitting yarn.....the blues and greens of 'Mystic' appeal to me, but then, so do some of the other colours.....decisions, decisions....

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"It is rude to sneer at and depreciate goods, and exceedingly discourteous to the salesman.  Use no deceit, but be honest with them, if you wish them to be honest with you."

Indeed.  This is one time when it is probably preferable to say nothing, rather than to be negative.  You can always vote with your feet if you are unhappy with the goods on offer.

Enjoy your days!

A mixed week

Some good things, and some sadness.

Sadness because we had to bid farewell to a good friend, who died recently.  We were unable to get to the funeral but were still able to 'attend' via the wonders of technology.  The world isn't the same without him in it, but we have many memories of sitting with him and his wife over a cuppa and home-made treats (he always enjoyed my fruit slice) here, of meeting them at country pubs for lunch, sharing drinks and dances at folk festivals, and attending concerts together.  

That recipe will be forever known as 'Colin's favourite' in our household from now on.  The recipe is tweaked every time I make it, but it is always good.

One of the good things - the last of my blue and green blocks are done, yay!

Two larger and four smaller......then came the fun of laying them out.  It's difficult to get a good pic when one is short, but a small set of steps helps a bit.  

This may not be the final layout; it will be checked occasionally before starting to sew blocks together so any tweaking as to colour and/or value can be made.  Unlike many quilts it isn't constructed in rows, so a copy has been made for drawing lines on and planning the sewing sequence.  It isn't big - 48 in by 60 in without borders, but that's big enough for a lap quilt if one doesn't have a large lap.  The illustration found online showed borders.  I  would add the link so you can see where it was found, but when I go to click on the link to "quilt for lovers" the computer says "I wouldn't go there if I were you....." so I don't.  However, you may be able to see it here.  If you lashed out at a fabric shop sale and consequently had a roll of 2-1/2 in strips sitting doing nothing, this would be a good way to use it.

Quilting decisions have been made.  I will have a go at quilting it myself using wavy lines going from one side to the other, using as many different blue and green threads as I need.  My first thought was to use one variegated thread.....but which one?  Green?  Blue?  Something in between?  The idea of using a random selection in mixed colours popped into my brain and has stayed there.  The binding may be pieced from different blue and green fabrics too.

Sewing together may not be started this week as there is other Stuff needing my attention.  Next weekend is my annual chance at fame and glory performing in the Eisteddfod, something I have been doing for several years now.  Each year I enter not expecting to win, and so far I have never been disappointed....but, just the same, it is fun.  A run-through of my chosen song a couple of times a day between now and then, and I will be good to go.  I hope.

Stitches have been knitted, my jumper is really coming along quickly considering I only knit in front of TV when there is something I want to watch - a rare occurrence these days.  Words have been read.  Diamonds have been joined but more now need to be cut.

We are now well into freezy frosty chilly season.  Mornings see us waking to a coating of white on anything left outside, while not so far away folk living in frost hollows - yes, frost hollows are a thing - are seeing morning temperatures much colder than us here in our broad valley.  Reading the forecast for later in the coming week makes me think that the Big Green Jumper may have its annual airing.  The winter solstice will happen at some ungodly hour on Thursday morning but I, for one, will not be up and dancing just before 1 a.m. when it does.

Continuing on with Shopping Etiquette:

"It is rude to interrupt friends whom you meet in a shop before they have finished their purchases, or to ask their attention to your own purchases.  It is rude to offer your opinion unasked, upon their judgement or taste, in the selection of goods."

Indeed.  You may think you have better taste than your friend, and perhaps you do, but keep that to yourself unless your friend asks for your opinion - and even then, be tactful.

Enjoy your days!

Counting down to the finish

It has turned freezy frosty chilly, something to be expected now that we are racing through June, making it good weather for inside pursuits such as sewing.  We even had some welcome rain, with more forecast.

This week's finished blocks.

Long blocks behind, small in front.  I hesitated about using the frog fabric as it's not an I-spy quilt, but it's such a fun print (and it's green!) that it had to be included.  I wasn't sure, either, about the print second from left on the top, a green design on a blue background with the blue leaning more toward purple.  Various fabrics were tried with it but in the end the decision was made to go with a sharp acid green, and I think they hold hands nicely.

If my counting is correct there are only two large and four small blocks still to be made, then they can all be laid out and Big Decisions made as to placement.

My house quilt has come back out from its box into daylight once more.  Earlier in the week was quilt group meeting day so I took along my 1950 Singer Featherweight, and tried out its new 1/4 in foot.  I am not used to a foot with an edge guide but it went well, and now all the blocks are joined into diagonal strips.  Next is to join the sashings (strips are already cut) and trim them to the lengths required; as it's set on point the two middle rows are really long.  It's going to be quite a large quilt!  For the label I am thinking of making a house block in very pale colours and embroidering the quilt's name 'There Goes The Neighbourhood' on it.  

Stitches have been knitted - the front of my jumper is now up to the decrease for the armhole, yay!  Words have been read, notes have been plinked and sung.  No diamonds have been joined, but some will be during my time at the gallery on Tuesday afternoon.  On Thursday a couple of friends called in on their way further north, we had a cuppa and some fruit slice together, then waved them off on their journey.

Over the past few years I have been noticing that more and more foods have chili in them.  Now, I have nothing against chili so long as I'm not forced to eat it; when I buy smoked salmon dip I expect it to taste of smoked salmon, not of chili.....although chili doesn't really add flavour, does it?  Just heat, which is not always needed.  In fact chili has to be up there on the list of my least favourite foods, close behind tomato - which is right at the top.  One of my earliest memories is of my mother holding me down with one hand and trying to force-feed me tomato with the other.  I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now.  Don't like the taste, definitely don't like the texture.

I much prefer chocolate.....

This week will be marked by a sad farewell to a good friend, one who enjoyed sharing a cuppa and a piece of fruit slice with us.  I hope the fruit slice is waiting for him, wherever he is.

Continuing on with Shopping Etiquette:

"You should never take hold of a piece of goods or an article which another person is examining.  Wait until it is replaced upon the counter, when you are at liberty to examine it."

That is excellent advice.  If the other person buys the article and you miss out, then it wasn't meant to be yours.  If, on the other hand, you succeed in purchasing it - it was definitely for you.

Enjoy your days!

Turns out I'm not such a wuss, after all

No, indeed.  The figures for May were released a few days ago, and our town had its coldest average minimum May temperature for over 100 years.  We were even named in the article.  It was also the driest May since 1998, not a record we wish to break; some rain would be welcome, but no doubt it will fall in its own sweet time.

So....the week has been taken up with the usual pursuits, stitches were knitted (my jumper is coming along really well), more stitches were sewn on the machine (some blue and green blocks were made), words were read (because who doesn't like to switch off from the world by getting immersed in a book?), diamonds were joined during my volunteer time at a gallery, and notes were plinked and sung, but the room we use for choir was getting a much-needed refurbishment so no choral singing was possible.

The blue and green blocks are coming along nicely.  Thoughts will be thought about its name.

This week's finished blocks, squares on top, rectangles below.  My first block count turned out to be incorrect; I had thought that 21 rectangles and 31 squares were needed, but another count today confirms that 24 rectangles is the final number.  The squares required are still the same, 31.  The blocks fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, some rectangles are set vertically and some horizontally, which makes counting a bit tricky - there are no instructions, I'm working from a picture found online.  Another six rectangles are still to be made, and another eight squares, then laying out the blocks can be done.

The last of the pics taken at the National Rock Garden in Canberra.  This is Hawkesbury sandstone - the carved design would make a good quilting design, yes?

Many of the remaining buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s in the Big Smoke - Sydney - are made from this stone, as it relatively soft and easy to carve.  The elaborate detail so beloved of the Victorians was not too difficult to achieve.

Many of the buildings are decorated with carvings and statues, some of which look a bit overdone to our modern eyes.  However, there is no denying the skill required to make them.  Many years ago we were visiting one of Sydney's historic sites which was having maintenance work done and were pleased that they were using trainee stonemasons, a skill which is changing with time.  Older buildings need maintenance, so those skills will be in demand for a long time.

Some towns are starting to realise that those so-called "old" skills are still interesting - Bendigo is one - I would love to attend one of these.  Our local Historical Society is having its Spring Fair in September, and I have been asked to demonstrate again on one of my 1920s Singer treadle machines.  I have done so twice and it has always generated interest; many people have memories of such a machine in their family...."Mum's auntie had one but I wasn't allowed to touch it" etc.......but not many can remember seeing the machine being used.  I'm sure I could find fabric in my stash to make something......just maybe.....

The afternoon has flown by and there is a song waiting to be arranged, so before we say farewell for another week let's look at the etiquette book.  As Etiquette of the Street is now finished we move on to Shopping Etiquette:

"In inquiring for goods at a shop, do not say to salesman "I want" such an article, but, "Please show me" such an article, or some other polite form of address."

Yes indeed.  An expression which makes me grit my teeth and want to slap the person using it (including our son in Canberra) is "can I grab", as in "can I grab a coffee" to the staff at a café.  What's wrong with "May I please order a coffee"?

Enjoy your days!