Hitting the books

I have hit the books again. I know some of you may think I'm crazy for doing it but to tell you the truth, I'm a busy mind. If I'm not studying something I tend to get bored. I think by the time I'm 60 I'll probably have a fair bit under my belt.

I have not started a new course but rather attempting to finish one that I started approximately 18 months ago. And when I say attempting I mean that. My dad Skypes me in the middle of reading some finer points of the Aged Care Act!! Its not easy to jump start into things, however it shouldn't take me too long at all to get settled back into the rhythm of studying.

I didn't get to finish this course when I first started it due to a couple of unfortunate life events. This time around I am determined to get it done. And in true Bernie fashion I have set an unbelievable date to finish by. It is unbelievable but definitely not unachievable. It does however mean I will have a little less time to craft. But you know, that is ok because this is only for a time and sometimes our priorities need to change.

I have 10 weeks to complete 9 units of study. Crazy, I know but I have completed one already. The next one I'm working on is one of the harder units and considering it has taken me all night to research and answer one question out of eleven, I think I have my work cut out for me.

On the bright side of all of this. I am not spending any of my pocket money on craft while studying so I will most likely have a reasonable kitty to go spend when I am all done!! And I get to buy a funky notebook too.

Bernie

The Pear is finished!!

Well I have finished the Pear!!

There is not much more to say except my Mum and Dad love it. So here it is....Enjoy!!

Bernie

The Pear continues

The pear is certainly coming together and starting to look rather pretty, if I do say so myself.

I have had an extension on my deadline. I now have until next Sunday!!

So here is a little sneak peak for you. But now I must continue to stitch.:)

Bernie

The Pear 2

Oh dear!!

I'm not really sure what happened but I certainly do know where I went wrong.

To me it does not really resemble a pear. So back to the paper and pencil to make another template. One that's a little less "big bum" looking.

And yes I have recycled the stuffing but I decided to use new fabric for the next pear. :)

Bernie

The Pear

Wow talk about busy over the last few weeks!!
I have been extremely busy at work and at the same time preparing to say goodbye to my parents while they travel.
For this I decided to make them a little gift. A rather ambitious gift I think as I only have 2 weeks to get it done. Well 1 1/2 now.
I can picture just the way I want things to look in my minds eye but getting it to be like that in reality is somewhat harder. And so began the pear.

Bernie

No, I didn’t fall off the edge of the earth

I almost feel like I have been in isolation or something. Well from the internet that is. This hasn’t been an altogether bad thing but it has meant I have not been able to write here or read what other friends are up to via their blogs. Feels weird!!

Internet at home is still giving us grief after 2 weeks but I am able to get this up by other means. J

So what have I been up to instead of surfing the net? Where do I start!!  I had some annual leave from work (believe me no leave from life) and have managed to get away over Easter. I drew up a task list and I am very pleased to say I got all but one thing done and some little extras too. And what would holidays be without a trip to at least one craft shop.

Over the Easter weekend we did some camping and our eldest son decided it was time he had a tent of his own. Our younger son followed suit but I really think he did it just for a bit of excitement. By the third night he was back in the caravan with us. Which is more than ok with me, he is only 6. The Easter bunny still managed to find us and Oma organised a big treasure hunt, including clues and directions, instead of just handing the grandkids the eggs. Even after all the chocolate and toasted marshmallows the children were always completely exhausted in the evening and dropped off to sleep before we could even zip up the tents. I suppose running all over 5 acres of scrub will do that.

What a task list I created for myself for over my time off. It still involved being a mum and definitely did not exclude washing all the dirty clothes from our weekend away. One of my projects was to repair and paint a wardrobe for my youngest son. I must admit I love to paint but not pictures or landscapes. I love to paint walls and furniture. It always feels so good to give a room or a piece of furniture that fresh lease of life. Now all I’m waiting on is a little muscle to help me move it into the bedroom.

What else? I have almost finished doing the hand stitching on a queen size quilt I have been working on for a couple of years. Getting to go and buy the batting and the backing fabric for the quilt makes me feel as though I’m almost on the home stretch. That gives me the extra drive and determination I need to get a long running project finished. I’m normally the kind of person who likes short practical length projects so big projects take me even longer. But now I can’t wait to get this one done.

For now though I need to get some rest as I need to go to work tomorrow to earn the cash to finance all my projects, long and short term ones.

Bernie

A little time to get away and relax

Relax. Yes ok, I will.
I have just returned from a relaxing weekend away with my man. This would be the first time in a long time the two of us have been away together without the kids.
We ended up in Bright, Victoria instead of Wilson's Promontory National Park as was first planned. I think we would have got blown away and ended up with icicles hanging off our noses if we had of gone to Wilson's Prom.

Bright was beautiful, as it always is. The weather didn't cooperate until we were looking at going home. But you know I'm always going to nosey through the shops no matter what the weather is like. And guess what, in Bright it self there are two gorgeous little shops full of all sorts of quilting things and notions and embellishments. Ah yes, I was in my element.

Sew Bright Alpine Quilting

Sew Bright Alpine Quilting is a gorgeous little shop that sells fabric and a heap of embellishments. What I loved the most was all the quilts they had hanging around the store. It was such an inspiration to see all of them and all so beautifully finished. You can view Angela's store here. However I think being in the store just has a specialness about it.

I also had the rare opportunity to show my man what a machine quilting set up looked like and how much room it takes. Finally I think he has agreed to let me get one in the future (something I have always wanted) and will allow me to take over one of the rooms in the house. However as much as I would like it to be the lounge, I think it will be a bedroom when one of the boys move out.

Country at Heart

I also popped into Country at Heart, also in Bright. It has everything you could ever need for Christmas in the way of statues and quaint little ornaments for the tree. But it was the back of the store the I loved the most!!

I loved it so much I just had to share

This whole area of the shop was devoted to the autumn colours that Bright is so well known for. All the fabrics were rich rustic colours and woven wool fabris abounded. They had patterns to match with all the autumn colours and highlight the season so well. Once again browsing through the website does not come close to meandering through the corners of the shop and feeling the fabrics. But for those who can't get there in person you can visit it here.

I got back to our little cottage for afternoon tea and all that could be done after seeing all I did today, was stitch. So with a nice cuppa and the sunshine poking through before it set, I settled down to stitch for a little while.

It was inspiring to look at what others have created and to dream about what could be and purely relaxing to sit in the sunshine and stitch. Overall the weekend was great and I find that my love for crafting has had some rejuvenation along the way.

Bernie