A Quiet Book.

 

I have always wanted to make a quiet book.... like most young mums, I never had the time when my children were young...

 

 

So now  I have two special 'new' little people in my life.... the time was right..

 

 

For those who don't know, a quiet book is made from soft materials such as felt or cotton....

 

 

It can feature things to do for young fingers.....

 

 

Or, be like this design...

 

 

With pictures to look at....

 

 

And tactile features for little fingers to feel...

 

 

This was such fun to make..

It was a combination of two patterns found for free on the internet, with a couple of pictures from my

own craft books...

 

If you want to have a try, these are the special designers who have provided their patterns so generously..

 

 

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2012/06/sweet-flowers-quiet-book.html

designed by LeAnne Ballard from http://everydaycelebrate.blogspot.com

 

How to Make a Quiet Book

http://quietbook.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/texture-quiet-book.html

designed by Vanessa from Lellaboutique

http://lellaboutique.blogspot.com.au

 

 

 

A note of warning.... once you start on quiet books, it quickly becomes addictive....

Catch up.

The year in between...

 

In March we had lots of this....

 

 

.....Then it dried up.

 

 

 

 

In April we had lots of these...

 

 

 

In May, our gorgeous Maxie celebrated his first birthday...

 

 

April, May, June and July we waited patiently for rain so that we could continue sowing our cereal crops....

 

August saw the birth of our beautiful granddaughter Ella....

and shearing commenced..

 

 

September we were visited by special friends... all the way from Queensland. Bringing with them some quilted tops which now await binding..

 

 

 

October just sped by leaving us shaking our heads and wondering when we missed it!

 

 

 

No wonder the months fly, it has taken me all morning to load these few photos... Back soon with some more...

New Beginnings.

So many months have passed since I last wrote..
You would think after all this time that we would have solved all our problems and those of the rest of the world in general! But no, most things have remained the same....


It's funny isn't it that they say you never know what you've got until it's gone... well, when we were thinking about all our options, moving, downsizing, neither of us could bear to leave the farm and house in which we have spent most of our married life.......
So many memories... so much love... so much security...
       so we are staying..... we are going to hang in there and hope that life remains kind to us...


We hopefully will be joined soon by our beautiful daughter and son-in-law and gorgeous Max....

Just like an old-fashioned family support system.... to be there for each other.....


We now have a precious new member of our family....

Ella Lorraine.

 

Ella was born early August to our son and daughter-in-law..

Another beautiful grandchild to cherish....

 

 

A very big thankyou to blogging friends who have stopped by through the months to say 'hi', and check up on the farm-gal.....your support meant so much....

 

 

Time to take a break.

It's hot and steamy at the moment here on the farm, and I can't wait until the cool weather of autumn arrives..

We are having a very normal season..... which means  'meals-on-wheels' is very active.....

Around every second day we head out with the oat feeder  and dole out a luscious helping of 'treats' to the stock..

They absolutely love them and lick the ground clean...

When it comes to shifting a mob of sheep now, the 'ute' only has to enter the paddock and the stock will follow it anywhere... a bit like the pied piper.....

Feeding out is one of my most favorite jobs.. You get to check the health of your stock every time you see them.... check for weeds... and talk about 'things' while you are together with your partner in the 'ute'...

We do have some decisions to make this year. They will be difficult ones.. How do you get your partner to acknowledge that it may be time to scale down?

It is difficult to look into that loved face and see pain etched in his expression..

It is difficult to see him walk stooped with pain. He doesn't say anything, but what he doesn't know is every action and every expression  gives it away...

It is difficult to say it is time to enjoy life a little more....

So, as we make some decisions, and do an awful lot of getting this farm back into 'order', I will take a break from blogging..

So, as I  take  my break, may your homes be full of love,  laughter and happiness.... and may no problem be insurmountable..xxxx

Happy Australia Day..

Wishing everyone who lives in this beautiful country of ours a wonderful Australia Day... may you spend it with the people you love, doing what you love....

January has gone by so fast.. It's been a hot month here on the farm. I have spent most of the days with my best friend  'Mr Fujitsu'... He makes my hot days bearable, even when he does blow hot and cold..
Lucky for me he comes with a remote control and is easily managed....

My first finish for the year, a hand stitched hexagonal heat-pack for mum. This was a pattern called 'Forever Blue' designed by Vicki Porter, found in Australian Homespun No. 97. The pattern is designed to be a pin cushion, but I thought a hot-pack would be more practical...

More blocks finished from 'A Boy's Story'...

And a new project to start the New Year just because ....   another year has begun, and I have wanted to do this quilt for so long....

Just perfect for sitting on the couch with my mate Mr Fujitsu.....

I have found an exceptional helpful tool, the PILOT Frixion erasable pen. It is fantastic for drawing out stitcheries, and tracing around freezer paper templates for needleturn applique. If you make a mistake just iron and it's gone. The only problem with using it for stitcheries is that you can't iron on wadding at the back of your stitchery, but I just pin the backing on and when you stitch the wadding is held on.

I'm off to catch up on some blog reading... and to have a 'talk' to Peg about OPAM....

New Year Wishes.

In the early days of this New Year, I have some wishes for you...

May your home always be your castle... full of love, happiness, good health and laughter...

May your journey through the year be full of the greatest experiences....

May you reach great heights in all your endeavours...

May you never find yourself in deep water... and if you do, may you be a good swimmer....

May you sail through the year on calm waters....

May you always have someone to meet you when you get home....

May courtesy and kindness be mechanical.....

With many thanks to Wendy, Josie, and Marina, for inspiring me to start my own Boy's Story.... If you get the chance, have a look through this wonderful book of applique and stitchery projects, designed by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched.


It has been a very hot start to the year, perfect for being inside  stitching... All you need is  a comfy seat, the air conditioner, a good DVD and something pretty beside you....

With many thanks to the lovely Mel for my very pretty scissor fob... I just had to get a pair of scissors to match...

Hope you all have had a lovely New Year.... May 2012 be very special....

Dear Simone...

Dear Simone,

From the moment these beautifully wrapped presents arrived I was so thankful that you were my Secret Santa..

I was able to unwrap my first little parcel and found a gorgeous little stitchery ornament to hang on our tree..

I could hardly wait for Christmas Day to arrive to open all the other goodies that were sitting under my tree.. Lucky that there was so much else to do... I was so busy it helped pass the time!!

But, on Christmas Day, when everyone else was asleep..... I found out what my Secret Santa had hidden in those beautifully wrapped parcels...

You had made me the most beautifully stitched wall hanging with the words... May all your wishes come true this Christmas....... and they have.....

An adorable stitched mug rug which will be perfect to go with another present I received from family...

A gorgeous Vintage Ornament pattern to stitch, accompanied by two lovely Christmas fat quarters... which I can anticipate making into something special...

And a collection of Dutch beads/buttons....

Thank you so very much...You are the perfect Secret Santa.... I appreciate all the love and effort you have put in to my present..

Love Rosie..xxx

I was a Secret Santa to  Annelise. These are some of the treasures I sent overseas to France to her..
Thankfully Annelise has received her parcel safely, and is enjoying what was sent..


Many thanks to  Chookyblue for the many hours she has spent organising this swap for us all.... we so appreciate it...