Spring is Here

I must share this photograph with you all. I was going into town (Renmark) last week I think it was Wednesday and the almond blossom was in full bloom, what a pretty sight. Today, I notice that half the tree has lost its blossom and is covered with tiny green leaves. The picture is of an almond property, near where I live.

The weather has been warm this week and some of the growers are adding a little of their water allocation to their properties. We are in drought at the moment in the Murray Darling Basin, and growers in South Australia have at this stage only 13% of their water allocation, to water their crops with, which is not very much. If we don't get rain this year our water usage will only be 30 - 35% of our allocation. So, one can see the trouble we are in. Many growers are making hard decisions on what crops they are watering and what they will forego.

We have to just wait and see what happens in the next few months.

I have been working on a number of projects, the items I started at Almond Grove Crafts are nearly finished. At the same time I am working on a red work stitchery also. I have brought red material which will form the blocks around the stitchery. I seem to be doing quite a bit of work using the colour red lately. There are so many wonderful fabrics out there.


Blessed be and in good spirits stay

poppy

Now To Move On

Well, I have done an audit of all my UFO's, I really do not need to look at anything else till I finish, let alone start or think about any other project.

There are 14 items that need completing. Some of which includes, quilts, cross-stitching, embroidery and small sewing projects. Three of which I started at Almond Grove Crafts, on the weekend workshop I attended at the end of July, they have moved along and are nearly finished.
I just have to sit and work on them or take them with me to work on while I wait for Elleni at netball or soccer.

I'll have to visit Liz Fergerson and take over the finished quilt tops for her to machine quilt. She lives over the river at Loxt and runs her machine quilting business from home. The work she is doing is exquisit she has lovely ideas that set of any quilt.

I wonder what UFO's people have and what their stashes include. I really have to make an effort and finish all these lovely things and put them on display at home.

I get really excited when creating or giving birth to a new project, working on the design, choosing fabrics and playing with the different colourways! I put it down to the creative process.
Tthe challenge is what I enjoy and then to get started and to see what everything looks like as it is being created. The the sense of achievement when one has created something for your loved ones to wear, to snuggle under, to beautify your home and to give a sense of pleasure to all those you love and those that enter your home.

The other thing I find inspiring is that handicrafts foster a feeling of sisterhood among women. From my quilt group "Evening Star Quilters in Renmark, the McCormick Art Group, and on the blogs I have found here in blogland, is the encouragement and sharing of ideas that women give to each other and all the fabulous work that is created. Plus the joy that is found by all in their chosen creative expression.

When you are inspired....
dormant forces, faculties and
talents come alive
Patuanjali

How true for all of us.

Blessed be and in good spirits stay.

poppy

Hi there

Well this my first time on and I am looking forward to creating my own blog site. I have been reading other peoples blogs and have really enjoyed learning about their lives and hobbies.

I suppose what really got me going and excited about all this, is a weekend at the end of July when I attended a workshop in Loxton. Three great ladies came to Almond Grove Crafts to conduct workshops on one of my favourite activities patchwork. The tutors where

• Leanne Beasley of Leanne's House,
• Gail Pan of Gail Pan Designs
• Viv Robinson of Viv's Creations.

We had a great weekend with like minded people who loved to stitch. When I finish my projects I'll show you all.

I had researched Leanne Beasley and Gail Pan I came across their blogs, and from there, I was able to look at some of their favourite blogs. Some of which have become mine.

During the workshop I was able to talk to a few ladies who themselves had created blog pages, so that they could share their thoughts, creations and lives. This inspired me, thankyou to you all. So here I start with my recollections and posts. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy sharing.