Sewing Room

The furniture's been shuffled around and the table Graeme found under the house is in position. The machine is no longer dropped into a flat bed but on top of the table with a perspex surround. My chair is up so high now my feet don't hit the floor, so that's the next problem! :-) I think there should be a small shelf somewhere that the TV used to sit on, I wonder where that is?

The old Horn table is there too, I would like to "audition" one of the Horn Craft Tables - slightly higher and the ends flip out when needed, it's a bit bigger than the Sewing cabinet and I won't rush out and order one until I am sure, but how does one know unless it is put in place???? Such a dilemma!

The top over the back of the chair is one I did at our retreat - "Magic 9 Patch" with autumn leaves and 48 hand dyes from Ami (ex-Oz Dye Arts).
The quilt on the end of the table is waiting binding and is a woven design with frog fabrics and a frog quilting design.

Frank

I had lunch today with dad and his girlfriend, Marie.He reckons he's a cradle snatcher as she's only 84 - he's 86!

He doesn't come into town often, but he had an appointment with his Urologist -say no more!

This is a shot of him in one of his sheds - he has a habit of when one gets too messy, to just take over another building, build a new one or buy old wardrobes.

This one is a lean-to built along the side of next door's fence, with a roof and a few old cupboards as a wall. The wall at the other end is another shed!

Anyhow, he wanted some new shelves to put "stuff" on, this is the result. He is not a handyman, we grew up with Uncle Barry, a plumber and Uncle Brian who was a builder always on call. We reckoned dad wouldn't even know where the hammer was. Now he doesn't worry, he either goes and buys another one or builds Lego-like constructions. (errrrkkkk - I am seeing similarities here!)

At his left is a rock saw- he took up "looking for gold" later in life, after he left mum and took up women and horses, but I could go on ---- and on!

This picture is of him with Lloyd (he's a few years older than dad) at the other end of the shed looking at cores from the drilling - this is no amateur mining we're talking about here! This is serious men's business! There's also Jo who goes out with him, will show picture later of "Dad's Army"

Life with dad has never been boring, just very frustrating a lot of the time, due to his bad hearing and his reluctance to wear his hearing aide, which he decided he needed when he became good friends with Marie (as opposed to just friends which the family has been for a long time).

We also have a collection of old water tanks - they make good sheds too!

I have many stories about him, but above is by way of introduction.

I am also grateful for Marie, for now when I ring up and ask him how he's going, he always answers "Never been better" , which is good! :-)

Scatterday C

Scatterday C, originally uploaded by FranW.

I'm getting in early this weekend as I'm off on retreat with Tas. SCQuilters.

My sewing area is still not done, it needs thinking about, but I have sorted my scraps!

Hobbies- now I was really in the pink here as Graeme and I have several each but starting with "C", Collecting would win hands down!
He collects Cards (postcards) - all neatly placed in albums in the Cupboard that used to grace an early 1900's Tasmanian classroom - a Library cupboard.
I collect many things, 2 shown here -Chintz China and Campbell's Pottery. The Winton Chintz designs are "Quilt" and "Tartan".
Campbell's Pottery was located in Launceston in the street where Graeme boarded when he first came into town to work.
I also collect Antique quilts, Doulton "April" china, and sewing boxes.I seem to have a big Collection of my quilts too :-)(This is more than anyone needs to know!)

For Furniture I am presenting the under-rated Card Table. It sits beside the computer when I have lots of paperwork that can't fit on the desk.
I also have a Cake Stand, from early golden days when afternoon teas were de-rigeur and this was carried around for our selection.
It folds up flat when hot in use. (If you look carefully you will see dust marks from the clutter I removed) (Just noticed that the handle is cropped and my jug spout is missing, I still can't work out how to get a whole picture on this blob!)

Lastly, Pizza Toppings. I am still not very brave so this was taken undercover in the supermarket. I was in fear of someone asking me if I was a Capsicum spy! I had also planned on getting Chillies and Cheese, but time ran out.

Global Warming or Abnormally High Tides????

"Abnormally High Tides" was the weather Bureau's warning yesterday afternoon, and as I went past the Tamar Rowing Club rooms and the Boat shop There was only 10 minutes to go until high tide. I raced back up the hill and got my camera and took my photos beside the local newspaper's photographer. :-)

Occasionally we get a flood around here because of excess water flowing down theriver through the Gorge, but not often does it happen the other way.

Is it global warming???

Sewing area re-arranging!

There's been a lot of chat on SCQuilters the last few days about sewing cabinets, sitting position and bad backs.

I have had my Horn sewing cabinet since 1974, so I guess it doesn't owe me anything now, but my Lovely Bernina 440 doesn't sit at all well in the flatbed - built for the 830's - I have several for spares :-)

The chat got me thinking about what I could do other than stop sewing (ha).

Anyhow, I realised that I couldn't continue in this sewing position for another 30 years so I got thinking. Luckily the local Bernina shop had one of the big perpex tables that fitted it but what could I put it on, as it was too big for the Horn cabinet and the pine table I use for cutting out on has a piece of wood underneath that makes sewing uncomfortable. I was ready to race off to the hardware store to buy a big piece of timber 80cm x 220cm but Graeme had a fossick under the house and found a table that he'd made for the shop. I know we replaced them for some reason and I think it's because we used to sit on them and with the weight of us and the timber the legs started to buckle! LOL. BUT, it gives me breathing space and an area to try to see if this is going to suit me, without spending any money (Oh, I just remembered I have just bought the clear table for the machine LOL).

It's all set up in one of the spare bedrooms and I'm supposed to be cleaning my sewing area so we can have the big swap around.

I already have plans for the pine table - have it restored, swap it with the dining room table and get rid of that pine table. My mind's in a whirl!

If this works, I think I will look for 2 sets of drawers to put at either end to support the heavy top. Oh, forgot to mention it's out of Tasmanian Sassafras timber - I am a sawmiller's daughter! He doesn't mill now, he's 86 and only looks for gold now. Remind me to talk about dad one day and his girlfriend of 84 :-)

Rob in his vegie garden

IMG_0867, originally uploaded by FranW.

My friends, Rob and Denise have been living in Kent for the last 8 months. His garden has been waiting for him and now he's into it. What a lovely view over Lake Louise at Grindelwald, just outside Launceston

BOM - Oriental Traditions

This is to be a new Block of the Month for the shop. "Oriental Traditions" by Kaufman.
Very dramatic with some wonderful Oriental fabrics and a big 220cm square!
There are 6 borders on it and I thought I'd never get them finished.

Post Grand Final

Well, there were savs and party pies etc. When I arrived back to collect the MOTH the pies were cold and firm and the savs had been forgotten.

AFL Grandfinal Day

Sad isn't it? Maybe Melbourne will get there next year! He's off to his AFL BBQ.

Here we are, balloons on the post. Coby and David has all bases covered.

Hang on a minute, I thought this was an all blokes AFL BBQ? Sad isn't it when salads and fruit outnumbers party pies and savs? Showing their ages!

Pea and Ham soup???? Where are the snags?

Scatterdays W

Scatterdays w, originally uploaded by FranW.

This had me stumped for days and I was loosing sleep! I took photos of stuff, white that and thats, thinking it would do. Anyhow, the drugs kicked in and I was able to think again, so here is my offering.

W for wave
Black things- Washing-our socks for the last few days plus my fantastic view
Tools - This foot was made for Walking
Game- White men don't play alone but they do for this exercise!

Sunday lunch

Lovely Sunday- leisurely lunch looking longingly over lustrous garden.

Anyhow, we went out to lunch, which means I didn't have to think what sort of cheese to use on the toast!

Out to Westbury and to Fitzpatrick's Inn, the old home of the "Westbury Quilt" which is now hidden in the bowels of the National Museum in Canberra. When I first met it, it was draped over a curtain track on a wall inside the front door of this lovely old home of the Fitzpatrick sisters, who had bought it off a man who won it in a raffle. Made about 1900-1903, it's more of an embroidered spread as there is no quilting at all on it. But that's what it's called. There's a new "Westbury Quilt" now that was made by local ladies and hangs on the walls of the Council Chambers.

The centre of the quilt is a great (but crooked) screen print of the original quilt. I have seen the original one hung several times and I have vague recollections of it not being straight.

Here is the "new" quilt in all its glory. Such wonderful work.

Stanley and The Nut

Judy and I took the kids for two long walks along the beaches either side of the Nut. Both were windy days, it blew out the cobwebs and made already runny noses worse, but it was great!

We came home with shells, sand in our shoes and red cheeks.

Scatterday B

Scatterday B, originally uploaded by FranW.

I'm late, I'm late!!!!!
I've been "away" to Smithton, which is on the far north west coast of Tasmania. Very gallantly told a cousin I would come down and "help" with 5 grandchildren for part of the school holidays. What I didn't realise is that Judy has to be at one home at 5.30 AM each morning so the single father of 2 boys aged 3 and 5 can not be left alone. THEN she heads off to her daughter's house with these 2 in tow to look after another 3 boys ages 6, 10 and 13!!! Today was the last day of school holidays and everyone is pleased!
I drove through beautiful scenery. Ah yes, big bull, big paddock full of bulbs, big bluff (The Nut at Stanley or would I use Table Cape?)
I got a few pictures taken, but disaster overtook when on the 2nd day my battery went flat (B....y Battery) and I hadn't bought the spare or the re-charger! So that was that!
Judy even went to a few shops when she was in town "nooo, we don't have them that modern down here! They must be new models!"

My favourite is of course Banjo, and after this week, I think it will be worth money to his parents to make him an only child!
Big things - Boy, branch and big beach (at Stanley)
Shop - Banjo's Bakery

I would like to briefly add that I didn't join in the morning shift but had a leisurely lie-in for 4 mornings and wandered out to the farm in time for lunch bearing delights like small saveloys, cheese and fruit (which I was told they wouldn't eat!)

I also taught a class with the Smithton ladies, a lovely afternoon, after which we went to a local pub for dinner, and I had the large serve of fresh Tassie crumbed and deep fried scallops. I even had them the next night!

Doors Open

Graeme's Rotary Club have an annual "Doors Open" day, when we can get in to see inside buildings not usually open to the public.
In previous year I have been working so this year was the first time I have been able to participate, except for the first year when I saw inside the Synagogue that is only 2 doors up from the shop.
I saw inside the Buddhist Centre,which used to be a Methodist Church, City Park Radio, which is the beautiful old cottage that was built for the park caretaker, the Masonic building, Trinity Church (used to be Methodist too- what is it with us Methodists?) and the Gorge Caretaker's cottage.
I also went to Esk Market and bought bikkies, had coffee and muffins at the cafe behind Albert Hall, walked through the park taking photos and in between all that, came home and got in washing and ironed all that needed doing.

I tried to decide what to show to represent today and chose the Gorge Cottage. I drive past it at least twice a day. The Launceston City Council own it and it's used for visiting artists to live in as part of Artists in Residency programs.