FNSI and Lets Get Stitched

Tonight is FNSI, please join in and sew along.  You can sign up at Heidi's blog.

My plan is to make curtains. Do curtains count as real sewing for FNSI?!  Uggh. And Yuck!!  The cottage needs to be prettied up a bit. I've had 3 sets of mini blinds fall apart on windows that still need privacy.  Making curtains is not my idea of fun sewing, but I just need to get it done!  I even have all the fabric here already.  I will NOT be showing a before picture.  I need to think of a yummy snack to get me through this ordeal though haha!  Maybe if I put the curtain promise in writing I will stop procrastinating....

Back on the 7th of March,  dear De and I flew to Adelaide for Let's Get Stitched.

I want to say a special thank you to De and her hubby for all they did to make this trip possible for me.  Due to my health, I could not have managed the long airport walks and moving a heavy  suitcase by myself.  De's hubby (Greg)  provided us with safe transport and De provided the physical help I needed so I could go on the trip too.  Greg  also  came to the cottage while we were away and did the final preparations to make my yard secure so I can start being a Guide Dog foster mum soon.   Thank you both for always being there for me.  Please know I am grateful.

It was a super fun weekend!  I can't decide which part I liked best.  It was so nice to see friends again that  I met last year at the Tassie meet.  I met sweet Vicki of The Pickledish Patch last year, and was so happy to see her again.  She gave me LOTS of hugs and she even cut my hair. Thank you Vicki.  
I loved the quilt shop bus hop.  We went to some gorgeous shops and our bus driver was friendly and funny.  Joy  is always fun too.  I first met her in Tassie, then at a Brissie blog meet, then in Adelaide.  She has such a sunny personality.    Fee was very inspiring.  She was right into stitching An Angel Story.  I brought my book and fabrics for same  with me and I even did some prep work and stitching on two blocks.   Here is Pot Plant Penelope with some stitching done.  I was able to find a charm pack that has been on my wish list for at least four years called Beach House by Moda.  I was so happy that I broke in to it straight away and used some for Penelope's dress.

 

I would like to say another  thank you to Dawn for all she did to plan this trip.  It is clear she must have spent a lot of time sorting things. Thank you Dawn, I enjoyed every moment!

I came home with lots of goodies.  It's a good thing I chose the larger suitcase! Thank you to all the designers who shared their new patterns and taught new skills. 

 

 

I have a little story to end this post.  It is a bit odd, but oh so cool too. It might even make you smile!  Back in 2004, I still lived in USA, but I  had many years  before that  made the decision to move to Australia when I could sort out all the immigration stuff.  In the meantime,  I joined an online craft club/forum  (not sure what year we started),  that was  connected to Express Publications, (they publish the Aussie quilting magazines),  and this gave me a chance to make new  Aussie friends.    We in the forum starting doing swaps.  I was happy I could still join in even though I lived on the other side of the world.  It was so fun  to get mail all the way from Australia!  Anyway,  for the swaps, there would first be a theme ( I remember Kitchen,  PETS,  Where I Live, etc...)  and then partners, deadlines, etc.

 

Ok, switch to March 2013, Let's Get Stitched in Adelaide.  One night, 20+ of us girls were in the Nutter's cabin and the topic of conversation was storms.  I mentioned that being from Texas, I love a good storm with lots of thunder and lightning (Texas is also part of "Tornado Alley")  and I am rarely afraid, but ex tropical cyclone Oswald caused enough damage at my current home for me to call on SES for help and it also made me cry!

  One of the ladies near me heard me say Texas, which led to talk of  swaps,  and the next thing she said was that she was in the same forum back then and sent to a swap partner in Texas named Debbie.  I think we both worked it out right about the same time...  I knew as soon as she said her name, Gail, who she was, because the table runner she made for me is right beside me every night.  I promised her  I would show a picture, as is, so here it is.  It is covering a not so pretty filing cabinet.   The date is  on the back,  2004!

 

 

This picture is for you, Gail. This is how it looks, every day.  Gail and I  had a few tears and lots of hugs.  What are the chances of meeting a swap partner from nearly 10 years ago,  and especially living on opposite sides of the world?     Gail, I still love that table runner, and always have. Thank you. xx

debbie