CANADA EAST WAS AWESOME - TORONTO/OTTAWA/QUEBEC AND MONTREAL

I have just returned and thought I would share some of the pics that I took whilst away.

This one is Niagara Falls.

and this an aerial shot of Niagara Falls  from the Helicopter.

Toronto - we were lucky enough to view some Black bears

Toronto - myself and a lady at the botton of the huge C & N Tower

Enroute to Ottawa

Now I know why  we hear so much about the "Fall" colours

They were truely amazing.

Ottawa - this one of the hotels we stayed - they were all like Castles.

Just beautiful

Oh yes.... and it is Halloween this weekend in Canada.

I have never seen anything like it. Pumpkins everywhere.

Fantastic stuff.!!

En route to Quebec - can you believe we had a downfall of snow - the first for the season.

Looked just like a White Christmas - Truely amazing.  To think minus 3 degrees over there and 30 degrees back here in Australia.

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Quebec City - this was at the bottom of our hotel - just a slight cover of snow now amongst the shops - we had to be careful not to slip over.  You can see the Funicular in the background which we rode to get back to the top - pretty steep.

Oh and some Tromp Loeil painting on the buildings - looks pretty realy hey!!

and the gorgeaous Fairmont Fronteac where we stayed - felt like another castle.

This was where we had lunch at where they produce Maple syrup etc - can you believe they actually set it on the ice when it is this cold - pretty tasty too.

Doesnt it look just bliss!!

Now this is truely amazing the fall colours AND snow - it was a case of four seasons in one day.

these are just a few pics, but am sure you all get the picture.

Was a truely amazing trip, and no.............no luck with any patchwork shops nearby, nor magazines.  I even tried to obtain the new Canadian one which was released about a month ago, but no where had any.

WILL BE BACK SOON........................AM OFF TO CANADA!!!!!!!

I have packed my bags and am go Canada tomorrow.  Yipeee - looking forward to seeing a place I have never been before.  Hope to find some patchwork shops in my travels, but oh well if not am sure to enjoy the sights. 

I will be back soon with some pics.... should anyone be interested.

WEEKEND RETREAT AT DORRIGO

Last weekend I snuck off to a Quilting sewing bee  with my bestest mate Suzie to Dorrigo.  We left the boys at home to get dinner ready, as we knew we would be too tired by the tiime we got home.

I was keen to to a workshop with the tutor  as I knew she had the same sewing machine as me, so that was great for some extra tips and to give mine a good test drive.

I looked att his quilt and thought oh yes, should have it tied over  in a day no problems - a nice easy one.  That was until we looked at  pattern and discovered there were at least 50 cuts for each square all itty bitt bits.  Can you believe it took all day to do just one square by the time we cut about 5 pieces of material into 50 bits, then sewed them all back together to get just one finished 14inch square.

As you can see from Suzie's expression here.....how did you talk me into this one??

Check out this little beauty - it is an old Singer sewing machine and sews beautifully.

These are some of the quilts which were on display from the other participants.

The Dorrigo Patchwork shop was only two shops away, so we all kept stocking up during the way.

It is always great to visit another patchwork shop.

and they had some great fabrics....

and these are the girls in the shop team

It was a fun day and was held at Dorrigo.  They do this as once a year and the retreat runs for the entire week.  We only experienced the day and it was the first workshop I have even attended, even though I have been sewing for years

secret santa 2009 update

I thought it about time I posted about Secret Santa and whom I am making for and what I have done to date.

but that right......................we are not allowed to post anything just yet.  I wonder how all the other Secret Santas are going out there.    I wonder how many are looking at others blogs to keep an eye on their recipient!!!!!!!

Quilting

Do you do your own quilting.  Leah has 365 days of ideas of free motion quilting.   This is an unreal site and she has some awesome ideas.  There is a link in my sidebar.  She does a fabulous job of demonstrating.

SURPRISE BOX!!!!

How surprised was I.....................

I thought it time to do a decent and ruthless clean out in the craft room,

so with the long weekend in place and a few days to enjoy being at home,

I decided to get EVERYTHING out of this room, paint it and be very ruthless.

I asked dh if he would assist by going and getting some empty boxes.

When he arrived about an hour later he said that he could only find the ONE

and had left it in the hallway for me.

Can you imagine what I thought when I saw this:

Oh my gooness, that definitely lost all concentration.

He had gone and got me the great little Bernina Sewing Machine

that I had used the Quilters Show a few weeks back.

I couldnt wait to open the box.  This is what I found when I did:

Needless to say - it took a bit of doing trying to get the motivation back in to play to get the room painted.

Anyway with so much excitement the room did get  painted with an adrenalin rush and in record time of a few hours later - my new machine was all set up and ready for me to get  stuck into the instructions.

My good old Elna faithful, I have had over 30 years and has certainly done a lot of mileage, but at the end of the day all it can do is straight stitch and zig zag, so it was time to upgrade.  But my little Elna SP will keep on keeping on - is a great little machine too, but is now just having a little break.

 

HUG SWAP 2009 RECEIVED

What a brilliant swap this was - organised by Jenny from Elephantz and Vicki from Toss's Corner .

A big thank you to my swap partner Allie

The above is a picture of the wonderful  Mug Hug Wrap  and Mug Mat that she did for me.

The photos dont do the same  justice as the visual eye, as the fine needlework that she has done is just so impeccably neat.  I really like the Serendipity fabric she has used, and she has finished it off with a nice little running stitch to add that "country" feel.  Congrats Allie - you have done a great job and I really do like it.  It is too nice to use. 

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Allie really gave me a challenge, as she likes something way off my rector scale - she likes Pink/Vintage and Retro.  So that really set me on my paces, but she assures me she likes it.

This was an enjoyable swap and I look forward to blogging around to look at allthe others.

How lovely it is to have someone have made something for you and sent half way around the world to arrive in your letterbox!!!!