Pursenality!

I have been attending "Bernina Club" at my LQS and learning a lot!  They always have a project for us to do for the following month and this is the latest item.  It's a cute little purse that will be perfect for Easter gifts for my granddaughters.  That means I have to make two MORE.

The next ones will be a little different.  I learned that I need to use a darker thread for my decorative stitches if I want them to show up.  I kind of like the subtle look though on this one.  The #10 foot is fantastic for sewing on the ribbons.  I'm really liking that foot a lot.  What was such fun though, was the bobbin work.  I had never done that before and it was quite easy.  I do have an extra bobbin case for this.  Experts say you need to dedicate a case just for this work because you have to adjust the tension on the case for the different threads, ribbons, etc. used in the case.  On this purse I used the #5 perle cotton thread.  I want to try the 4mm silk ribbon on one of the next ones.

 

This is the other side of the purse.  I embroidered a sweet little butterfly on it.  I'm loving my Bernina and this was a fun project!

Pillowcase Challenge!

I have taken the challenge of American Patchwork & Quilting to help them with one million pillowcases. So far I've made these three but my local guild is also participating so I know I'll be making more.



This is a great way to use up some of that fabric that is hiding on your shelves! I love the idea that the cases will be staying in my area, too.  I'm a firm believer in helping your own first.

If you want to check out how to help this wonderful project, check out their site:


http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/


They also have free patterns, but you can use any pattern and so easy to whip up with a serger!

Potato Pizza

On our cruise, we stopped at Hobart, Tasmania and really loved that area!  For lunch, we stopped at a local cafe and had an unusual pizza. 

Rob is usually a meat, meat, meat, pizza man.  And family knows that means on our usual pizza goes,  pork sausage,  ground beef, ham slices, and  weinies. (I know people out there are screaming when they hear hot dogs, but he loves it.)   Plus all the cheeses, sauce, etc.  Needless to say, this is not made often and definitely a thick pizza.  So when he agreed to try this new dish, I was amazed.

We LOVED it.  Let me describe it to you.  A thin bread crust, a white cheese (mozzarella ?), sliced potatoes, red onions and the kicker ingredient--ROSEMARY!  I tried to replicate it the other night and did pretty well.  Needed a thinner crust though.  Lots of carbs, needless to say, but so good.

I love potatoes of any kind, prepared anyway.  Can you mess up a potato??  The only exceptions are sweet potatoes and baked potato chips.  Why bother?!!

Awesome Trip to Australia and New Zealand!!

My husband and I just returned from a wonderful trip "down under"!   It was a 12-day cruise that we boarded in Sydney after spending two days there.   We then visited Melbourne, Tasmania and made four stops in New Zealand. 

We arrived in Sydney on Australia Day and what a celebration they have!  We were fortunate to go out for a harbor cruise and mingle with all the ships in there for the day.  And the Opera House is just amazing!  This is one of my favorite pics....

 

We traveled with some friends we've known since high school and had such a good time.  I highly recommend this trip.  The only thing we didn't like was the airplane ride over there and back! (15 hours to Sydney).  I'm telling everyone it's kind of like childbirth--terrible at the time, but you forget it soon enough.

My friend, Patsy, who is also a quilter, and I did find some quilt shops.  What we learned was there are no textile mills at either place and fabric is expensive--$22 a yard!  I couldn't resist though and did get one yard of some Australian designed fabric.  I also got a couple of panels that had the animals and flowers of both places.  Now to decide what to do with them!  Maybe I'll just fondle the fabric for a while!  : )

The following are two pictures taken at a roadside flea market in Tasmania.  I thought the patterns were interesting. The price was $250 each for these small wall hangings.

This is the fabric I bought.  Doesn't it just scream Australia?

                                                         
I love it!

Now, I could go on and on--New Zealand is BEAUTIFUL!!  Maybe more later.