Change of name

It has been a while since we waved goodbye to the chickens, so a change of name will maybe rev up this blog. 
I have been sewing, experimenting with venison, taken up violin lessons and some traveling.
Still enjoying the Jane Austen book club and Theresa has become a good friend.

Recent trip was to Milawa and the Brown Brothers Winery.
A Valentines day dinner on the Friday night followed by a full day at the winery for their first ever First Crush Festival, lots of wine drunk and delicious food eaten.

I stayed at the Stone Cottage in Beechworth and highly recommend it. We were in the Barn.

Next time - jerky!

Pinterest fun!

I love Pinterest and I am lucky that Wal can help me make some of those pins reality in my home or at Jerangle.

Inspiration:

Source: hgtv.com via Scotia on Pinterest

Meals area

MDF covered with 15mm high density foam, wadding and fabric.

Sewing the cover for seat

MFD with 75mm high density foam and material

Base with draws

Complete with draws seat and back

 

Completed setting. Table was from Wal's fathers farm.

All up this cost me about 600 dollars, mostly for the high density foam. The material was all on sale and the chairs were already our. There are lots more projects on the waiting list including a sofa table for Jerangle and I want to put the photos off the wall and onto shelves.

My pinterest profile: http://pinterest.com/serenitypark/

More quilts completed

Okay, it's been a while and I always think I should post that - anyway, I finished my quilt and my nieces (at Christmas time).

Dynies quilt:

This was her 21st birthday present.

My quilt, was a design from Moda and I used Prarie Paisley from the collection:

First block

at the quilters

Finished!

In use by a dog with sore paws.

I was really happy with this one, I chose a paisley design and it was machine quilted by Kaye.
It does make a difference now our winter has set in, it is getting below the minuses in the morning.

Cafe Apron

I finished this pretty reversable apron recently, from some fruity material.

I am not sure if this will be a present or for me. The shop that has the best fabric does not cut it into fat quarters so it is just not enough to do stuff with. But I will made some more headbands from the apple print, there was enough left over for two.

We had issues with the dog jumping the fence and following Erin to school. The day we told her to shut him in the house he jumped onto my desk, opened the window and pushed the flyscreen out to freedom, trashing my sewing in the process. Wal has since put 2400 sheets ontop of our fence and he is trapped. He is missing his neighbour AJ, the labrador whom he used to spend all day with, jumping over and back between the yards.

We spent Sat night and Sunday at Jerangle, even though it is November it got down to about 2 degrees on Saturday night. Quilts are still very much in use.

Bye for now,
Scotia

Walking before work

I was in early one day this week, I have to come early every day now, but some days I don't need to start until around 10 or 11 so I will walk.
I can do the 'bridge to bridge' which takes about 1 hour for 5 kilometres, but as the bridges are rather windy and it was only about 2 degrees I walked around the lake.
I was in my beanie and jacket but it was beautiful.

I walk past the carillion, and as I go by it rings the half past.

I walk under Kings Avenue Bridge.

Past the National Gallery's sculpture garden.








I went to the small park and turned around.

And walked back to my Library.

I think I work in one of the most beautiful areas in Australia.

What I've been reading lately...

The joys of the public library are inspiring - free books!
I have been borrowing a mix of fiction, home design books and some quilting books, whatever I see sitting out on the tables or in the newly returned rack.

I have finished The Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini, part of the Elm Creek Quilts novels.
I first read The Union Quilters set in the American Civil War, and found it really touching and interesting. This is the second novel of the series that I have read and set much farther in the future, still a good read, and yes it is about women quilting but the characters are engaging.

Now for the bad stuff - Full Blast by Janet Evanovich. I have always found Evanovich's novels, especially the Stephanie Plum series funny, fast paced novels. Full Blast, written with Charlotte Hughes is one of the WORST books I have ever read. I read quite a bit, I am a librarian, this is bad stuff.
In the words of one of the most annoying characters ever written, Dee Dee a forty year old moron who starts every sentence this stupid word but all too relevant to the book 'Eeyeuuw!' Seriously!@#! A 2 million dollar car with feelings called Muffin that talks (just like Nightrider)!

I believe I have read everyone one of the Stephanie Plum novels plus assorted others from Evanovich. maybe the fact that it is written with someone else is the problem - only two people could conceive this crap. I want to complain and get the public library's money back for purchasing this. I felt compelled to write a note to leave in the book, warning the next unsuspecting patron to not waste their valuable time reading this as the public library in the ACT does not have the capabilities for leaving notes on the records.
Another review from Goodreads.com: Really found the book rather annoying. I listened to it on tape, and suspect it was more the voices than anything else. I may have enjoyed it more if I read it. I just could not get past the ditzyness of all the female characters. I found myself hoping that they were the next victim more than anything else.Yes I agree!

I have written two blog entries for my work blog about what staff are reading at the National Library called Page Turners: Worst things happen at sea by William McInnes and Sarah Watt and Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson. 

Plus I have joined a Jane Austen Book Club. I have finished the first book Emma, which I don't believe I have read. I was kind of shocked at the language used to describe the 'lesser' people ie. farmers or poor people and wondered how this was received by the people reading the book when it was published, presumably the majority of people reading it were not landed gentry and part of the digusting not fit to look upon set! Anyway our next meeting is this Sunday at my library. Yes, I get to work there all week then visit on my weekends! Oh well.
Cheers

Recent craftiness

Over the last few weeks I have done some small projects:

A sewing machine pad, because the table is really cold on your hands (with chicken pin cushion)

Some headbands I saw on Pinterest, I have made three but will make some more for the cousins, christmas pressies etc.

Hat stand with thanks from Epbot, I want to make a couple more for my other hats. My mum bought me this lovely purple cloche.

Still slowly working on my quilt as you can see in the pictures. Lots of things happening.