Australian Quilt Convention

I have been volunteering for White Glove Duty at Showcase and the AQC for .... a bit now and have never posted a photo of Yours Truly on Duty.

Today we had our Photos taken for a post on the Vic Quilters Instagram account.

With a lovely "Thank you" for what we do.

Two hours of walking around and having some interesting conversations.

Can I Help You? Not only applies to questions about the quilts but Also:-           

                    

            Sorry I don't know where they are selling the - Insert product here -

            I will find out where "the Lady selling the Book" has gone...

            The Ladies' Room ... is That way

And then there are the real treasures - 

            "I would love to do this but ...."

             "I don't have room and can't afford a Machine." 

                              

I have 2 questions for you.

            Can you thread a needle?

            Can you follow Instructions?

She answered Yes to Both - "I do Needlepoint."

I showed her a quilt made entirely by hand.

A conversation followed about the History of Quilting, and the fact that Quilts were being made long before Sewing Machines were Invented. 

She went off to research English Paper Piecing. 

Volunteering has it's moments - maybe that is why I keep coming back.

            

Easter Greetings

From My Family to Yours

We hope you have a Blessed and Happy Easter 

Good Friday

Last week the Victorian Government announced that, to help with the rising cost of Fuel and it's flow on charges, that Public Transport will be Free until the end of April.

At the end of our Tram line is a Cafe that is open today when everyone else is not.

While we were there, we overheard an exchange between a Tram Driver and a Customer that brought tears to my eyes.

"No - no,  please let me 

I am getting a Free Tram ride - 

It is the Least I can do"

And with that he paid for her Almond Latte.

Isn't it Good to know

There are Good People 

who do Good Things

on Good Friday.

No Joke ...

I Found My Sewing Machine ...

And it still works!

Unfortunately - No Quilting

Just 1 Blouse Repair and 5 Pairs of DH's Trouser hems to be taken up...

15 Years Today -

And I am still here.

Photographing - Researching - Writing - Editing - Posting about the things that happen in my corner of Melbourne Australia, and Our Journeys Beyond.

So What Have I been up to in the 5 Years since my 10 Years in 10 Photos Post?

2021

10 Years ago I started a Mystery Applique Quilt,

this Time it is a Mystery Hexi Quilt and an EPP Challenge.

Covid was still alive and well with Melbourne Lockdowns

But we managed to Dive through a Window and

Celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary on The Indian Pacific

with a Little Photo-bombing Stowaway.*

2022

A Year of Building Stuff, Fixing Stuff and Demolishing Stuff

Two Grand daughters became Three

We went on a Big Train Adventure to Brisbane 

and Spent Christmas in Isolation with Covid

2022 Year in Review

2023

We started the Year by continuing our Reno, moving Rooms around 

and making the House 'Work for Us'.

I started Culling Duplicate Photographs from the Computer*

Three Grand daughters became Four

And we embarked on a Bathroom Rebuild 

that we had to walk out on, to go on 

Another Train Adventure MELB-BRI-ADL-Kangaroo Is- MELB

2023 Year in Review

2024

Birthdays, Funerals, Exhibitions 

and Putting our Bathroom Reno on hold 

to help out TWO others with Emergency Repairs

And Our Bucket List Holiday 

The GHAN - with a Side Trip around Uluru and the Mereenie Loop.

2024 Year in Review

2025

Four Grand daughters became FIVE

We crossed off the Last Aussie Capitol City from our List 

with a Tour of HOBART and Tasmania

Spent the rest of the Year Repairing and Renovating Other Peoples places

and said Goodbye to our Neighbours of 45 years.

2025 Year in Review 

* * * 

Doing 5 Years is only Half as spectacular as my 10 Year Post - But as it stands I do hope that I am still poking at Keyboards and posting Real Photos in another 5 Years.

Things have changed for Us, with DH's Retirement, he wants to Travel and once we see everything we can see in this Big Brown Land of Ours, we will head to New Zealand - I have been there once, but They tell me that 4 hours in Auckland Airport doesn't count! 

So from Me - It's Thanks for still Reading and I am heading back to continue *Culling those photographs!

*You can follow Stowaway Frog's Adventures

on Instagram at  STOWAWAY FROG

A Lovely Thought

The 'Girls' next door didn't know I have been unwell.  Nor did they know I had been craving Cake. 

They DID know that DH had been 'quietly' bringing their Bins in ever since they moved in to the back Unit.

And Yesterday they appeared on the front doorstep with a Fresh out of the Oven Home Baked Loaf of Banana Bread.

To say 'Thank You'.

It is a long story but the smell of Overripe Bananas and me - Don't get on too well.  So I avoid cooked Banana anything...

I had just been reading an article about challenging your "Norm" and "Breaking free from a routine built for endurance rather than enjoyment".

So today - Considering this was a Gift from Thankful Hearts.  

It was not the day to say 

"I don't eat Banana Bread"





The article I had been reading concluded with 
"choose the unknown ... And sometimes, just sometimes, it’s absolutely delicious."

Link to Article Referenced: 

Losing My Joy

I have a Map.

It's not an "Normal Map" - One of paper that never quite goes back into its creases.  
This One is Fabric and is actually an Embroidery Wall-hanging 

With the Awesome title of "MAP MY LAP" (That's my Lap around Australia!)

It has all the Major Roadhouses, Station Stays, Roads & Outback Tracks. 

As well as the  Indian Pacific and Ghan Train Lines. 

(They haven't caught up with The Overland or Great Southern - But I have added those routes in as well.)

It is getting a bit congested around Adelaide as the Great Trains are Based at  Adelaide's Keswick Station.

I have also added Our Great South Australian Adventure of 2008 (Teal with Gold Beads for where we stayed each night.)

Red for the Ghan runs through the Heart of the Country while the Blue of Indian Pacific goes Perth to Sydney

The Great Southern - Brisbane to Adelaide via Melbourne is Orange
And The Overland (also Blue) travels from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Our travels around Victoria are still to be done but I am thinking I will just add some Seed Beads in the places we have stayed, especially when you retrace your steps.

And we haven't forgotten Tasmania!

Our latest Adventure is already Mapped In.

I couldn't resist adding these Iron On Train Patches to my Order.

I just have to work our WHERE I want to put them 

And when it is time to take my Embroidery On the Road - 

It came with a very well thought out Organic Cotton Tote Bag with room for my Threads and Scissors

So Where To Next?  And do I pack it or enjoy reliving the trip when we get back?

* * *

If anyone's interested you can get them from Ecoluxe Travel Decor.  

They specialise in making comfy bedding for Caravans & Campers.