Last boarding call for Travelling Treasures

There are so many treasures to chose from. The parcel is packed; it just needs a destination. Where to......... Travelling Treasures will be drawn at 9pm (SA time) tomorrow. To be in the draw just leave a comment with your ideal destination - I still feel a trip to the Northern Hemisphere is in order even though the temperatures are a lot more pleasant here in SA this week (only 25C today!).

Call back tomorrow to check out where it's going...........

Melanie

Mother Nature at her worst.......... but so thankful for a wind change

Well we've had a few scary days here and one's I don't wish to repeat in a hurry (hence no blogging). As you may know SA is nearing the end (fingers crossed) of a prolonged heatwave, we haven't been below 41C since Sunday and even the nights have been hot (28C +). 

Tuesday was hot and dry spent inside listening to the updates on the radio as there were fires throughout SA and one not too far from us (7km). We kept a watch out the window at the smoke and had a plan in place just in case!

6pm we decided to go for a swim as there was cloud cover and it might help to cool us down. DD2 and I went to take the cover off and I noticed a big cloud of smoke heading our way. DD2 went to alert DH by the time he came outside we couldn't see the road (100m away) or the neighbours 500m away. Thick, hot smoke and ash were heading our way. Mad dash inside to wake DD1 (having an afternoon nap!!); get my mam and the dogs and then off we went.

The front was heading directly for us. We only went 1km away to neighbours but they live up a hill (we're down in the valley) so had a good view of what was happening. They too thought our place and the closer neighbour's were gone as our properties just "disappeared" into the smoke.

The CFS were busy fighting the bigger blaze but we were being looked after by someone - the wind just suddenly changed direction and headed up the paddock over the road away to our right (we were later told the wind speed was up to 50km/h). We were just all so fortunate; paddocks and some sheds were lost and sadly some animals but no human life and no homes close by (one was lost at Rockleigh).

The first photo I took on my phone and was the view from our neighbours when we got there (our property is just behind the tree line to the bottom right of the photo). The second was taken by the CFS and is what was heading towards us!







A huge thank you to all the CFS crews who are still out there monitoring and fighting fires. Today remains a high risk day; very windy with thunder and lightening forecast ahead of a cool change. 

We're ready to activate our plan again; as much as I love my home and love living here I won't stay to fight a fire; we'll go at the first sight of anything heading our way.

Keep cool and safe.
Take care all my bloggy friends 

Melanie

Travelling Treasures all set for take off..............

Travelling Treasures is refueled and ready for take off. Flight path is yet to be decided though. 

To determine where in the world she's heading all you need to do is leave a comment telling me your ideal destination and I'll let "Random Org" pick a number.

At this moment in time my ideal destination is anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere (preferably near some fantastic quilt shops), as we're heading into a week of 40+.

I'll make the draw next Tuesday (21st Jan 9 pm South Australian Time).

Looking forward to reading about your destinations.

Melanie

First FNWF 2014 ..........

Last night was the first time in 2014 we got together for FNWF. Cheryll arranged this and 63 took part - will that be the record for the year?? 
What did I do - well I pinned a quilt together ready for quilting - this has been sitting in the UFO pile for quite a while; so earlier in the week I got a bee in my bonnet and completed all the blocks (the stitcheries and stars were done!) and last night I put the layers together. We're expecting a heatwave here next week so the plan is to quilt it then. It's a Lynette Anderson Design called Christmas Fun.

I also worked on some secret stitiching for Cheryll's "Initial Heart Swap" - here's a peek - 

and then I decided I didn't want to get the machine out as DD1 received the latest Downton Abbey Series on DVD for Christmas and she's dying to talk about it with someone so (sigh) I had to watch the fist 3 epidsodes. OMG (as DD1 would say) - I won't spoil it but can't wait to watch some more tonight.

So while watching I decided to do some hand sewing. I've had this for a while but haven't got around to starting it (mainly because I'd made up my mind to "needle turn" the applique and I've not done that before).

I bought it as a BOM so I didn't have to choose the fabrics (which for me is often the longest part of a project). I decided to do the smallest block first and then if I didn't get the hang of needle turn I could go back to the tried and tested vliosofix for the rest. Well I have to say he's not quite centred and a bit googly eyed but for a first go I'm more than happy. A Christmas Tree is on the list for tonight - I'll keep you posted (if I don't get too engrossed in Downton Abbey).

Don't forget to pop over to Cheryll's and check out what everyone else has done. I'm popping over later today as I need to take DD1 to work now.

Bye for now

Melanie

Emmaline Clutch - a new challenge....

Yet another swap creation. This time a clutch bag designed by Emmaline Bags; some parts were a definite challenge but overall I'm really pleased with it and would be happy to receive it. Not sure where it's heading yet; will just have to wait and see. This is a swap being run through The Sewing Library Swap Group on FB. I would definitely make another but with a "snap" lock instead. Modelled by DD2!