Friends, family, flowers ... and plenty of cake!

This week it was my turn to clock up another year of living, loving and creating, but my birthday was relatively low-key compared to the pizzazz of my amazing 90 year old mother-in-law's celebrations I wrote of in my previous post.

On my actual birthday I enjoyed lunch with four very dear girlfriends I've known for many years. Four of us have birthdays within 5 weeks of one another, so we added to the fun by celebrating together, at the home of one. 

From our table this was our view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and across to the Sydney Opera House. The sun shone, and even the clouds arranged themselves obligingly to look like cotton wool!

I thought that it was quite appropriate that the cake was decorated with tiny pieces of gold leaf, given my friends and I are approaching "golden oldies" status!

A few days later came another happy, though noisier family dinner with my son, daughter in law and grandchildren, Mr J and Princess 2. I'm sorry, but with these little "moving targets" I didn't manage any photos, except for one of the birthday cake which stayed put, even if it did threaten to slide off its shiny base.

A last minute rummage in the recycled birthday candle jar drew a blank on either of the digits of my real age, but with a choice of 40 or 82 I was quite relieved that the decision-makers settled on 40, the age I feel (at least on good days!).

The final birthday stop was yesterday, for afternoon tea with my sister and mother. 

If you look closely you'll see that this "cake" is actually a lemon tart, my very favourite dessert (when Key Lime Tart isn't on offer!). 

How about those gorgeous flowers, perfectly coordinating with my outfit? I don't want to take away from the cleverness of my mother's and sister's choice of flowers, but actually, I'm so darned predictable because I just love pink!

In rather more substantial ways my sister is predictable too: always positive in the face of life's adversities, always generous, and always forgiving, loving and compassionate. 

These little Willow Tree figurines, part of her birthday gift to me, are a treasured reminder.

Blessed.

Threads of friendship

Of all the amazing experiences I've enjoyed during my first week in The Villages, meeting a whole bunch of Florida quilters at two separate events has to be the highlight.

I was invited to give a presentation to the Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild on Monday evening, and the ladies couldn't have been lovelier to me. At the end of my "Meanderings of a (Moderately) Modern Quilter" their President, Karen, thanked me with this cute Pixie Basket of threads in really useful shades. 

Unfortunately the app I'm using to blog on the move on my DiPhone doesn't allow me to embed links, but if you'd like to make one of these for yourself you'll find the free tutorial here -http://fabricmutt.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-pixie-basket-tutorial.html?m=1 

I didn't take many photos on the night, but you can see how talented they are from their special Show and Tell of modern mini quilts.

I'd seen Karen's Metro Area quilt top (from Elizabeth Hartman's book, Patchwork City) on Linda's blog last year, so it was a treat to see it all quilted and finished.

 

You can read a full report of the meeting (with more photos) here - http://centralfloridamqg.blogspot.com/2017/02/feb-meeting-pre-quiltcon.html?m=1

The following day I gave the same PowerPoint presentation and virtual trunk show at Big Cypress Quilters.

Great fun followed, as I showed how to make my favourite cathedral windows style pin cushion, while Linda acted as my 'stunt quilter' doing the machining on her Bernina in between my demonstrating the steps.

I loved Mary Lou's enthusiasm!

 

There was Show and Tell here too, and I couldn't help but be amazed at these stunning Quilts of Valor, made for veteran servicemen.

 

You may like to read Linda's latest blog post for her perspective on the same events.

I'm so blessed to have met quilters around the world, and to have made firm friendships with some, initially through our common interest in quilting, but often finding we have much more in common, as Linda and I do. 

It's been a huge step for me to travel across the world on my own, and I've been touched by the hours she's spent, leading up to my arrival, making sure my days are jam-packed with incredibly exciting adventures, sights and experiences.

You can imagine how welcome I felt, then, to be greeted with a little group of gifts on my arrival - a Dunkin' Donuts Florida mug, a portable lamp to help my stitching, some quilt patterned pencils, and this beautiful Essential Wristlet (pattern by Dog Under My Desk) and Fabio Zipper Key Fob (by Lazy Girl Designs), the last two, of course, made by Linda herself.

That PINK and YELLOW fabric will always remind me of my holiday and the Florida sunshine we've been enjoying!  ☀️

The time of my life!

Sunrise on Monday found us here, at this beautiful nature reserve, looking to spot an alligator in the wild. The wildlife was plentiful, and noisy. Sandhill cranes, ducks and frogs provided a dawn chorus as Linda and I scanned the glassy lake for tell-tale ripple. In the end a v shaped ripple and a couple of head bumps were all we spotted, but I'm hoping there will be better 'gator sightings elsewhere (at a safe distance!).

I'm told we might even see them in the water at Sumter Landing, where the Villagers gather in the evenings for live bands and line dancing beside a picture-perfect lake with artfully placed row boats that never go anywhere. Such a pretty place!

 

 

I've had some delicious meals here, including authentic southern barbecued pork with corn fritters, a delectable strawberry and beets salad with goats cheese and almonds, and Mexican quesadillas. The very best, though has been Linda's husband, Dan's home made pizza on a base he makes from his own recipe. Cheese, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, black olives ... oh my! Accompanied by a cold glass of Arnold Palmer iced tea and Jack Daniels, it's a wickedly indulgent treat.

 

Ive also been introduced to the delights of key lime pie.  

In case you think I'm on the slippery slope to carrying home 'excess baggage' ... I've taken up line dancing! Well, at least I survived my one hour Ultra Beginner class.

 

As you can see, I'm doing the 'full emersion' experience here at The Villages. More to come!

 

It's another beautiful day...

 

... in The Villages, Central Florida, where I'm enjoying the generous hospitality of my friend, Linda Hungerford (http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com) and her husband, Dan. 

 

This truly is a picture-perfect part of the world, where the artifice of the built environment, combined with the genuine warmth of The Villages residents, has had me pinching myself with excitement since I arrived here on Friday night after a 30 hour journey. 

 

We were out early on Saturday morning shopping for fruit and veggies at the markets in the Wild West themed village square of Brownwood, and saying 'Howdy' to the locals. 

  

 

Stepping into the Sales office for this part of The Villages is like stepping right into a Western movie, with authentic decor including armchairs upholstered in alligator skin, distressed leather couches, steer heads on the wall and Tiffany glass ceilings.

 

 

 

The entrance to Brownwood is guarded by magnificent bronze cattle.

  

 

And look who I found! A bronze pup looking so much like Chester that I had to give him a hug.

 

Stacks of quilts!

 

Over the course of the day, fifteen St Mark's Quilters had a fun, productive time at our May workshop (yes, it IS that long since I blogged!), finishing a bumper pile of colorful quilts for RPA Hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit and 'The Marcia' kindly for autistic children.

 

Barb and Gail caught the pieced hearts bug after I introduced them to the True Love mini quilt pattern by Megan Pitz in February, and here are their finished Blankets of Love.

 

By Barb

 

By Gail

And Liz won't be far behind once she's quilted this blue and white beauty.

 

Teamwork by Susie W and Di B resulted in this lovely Blanket of Love.

 

I wanted to smuggle this kindy quilt home in my bag. Di B used one of my very favourite Kaffe Fassett fabrics, combined with gorgeous brights!

 And this one too! Di B finally cut into her precious Emma Jean Jansen Linen Cupboard fabrics, and the result is totally amazing.

 

Chester gave it his seal of approval.

 

Margaret used a panel to make this quick and clever quilt, perfect for a little boy who loves big machines.

 

And Di C had fun with frogs for this one.

 

In fact, there were so many finished quilts to photograph that I needed to split this post. See you on the other side!

  

 

 

 

Love

Love was in the air last weekend, Valentine's weekend, as St Mark's Quilters gathered for our first Saturday workshop of the year.

This is our sixth year stitching Blankets of Love for Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit,  and our seventh making cot sized quilts for the little ones at the KU Marcia Burgess Kindy, and we love our work!

With permission from Megan Pitz @canoeridgecreations I shared her True Love Mini Quilt pattern, and took along my version. With an extra border or two it makes a very sweet little Blanket of Love, and would look gorgeous hanging on a nursery wall.

Sue was hand piecing a heart block of her own, to be joined up with three others for a flower effect.

Di C and Perdita wasted no time cutting out fabrics for new quilts.

This was Perdits's latest sweet finish, perhaps suitable for an Easter bub?

This donated quilt top found a volunteer eager to take it home and finish it as an 'emergency' quilt.

Gail carefully pieced these little blocks, undaunted by all the Y seams.

She also brought in these two cheery Blankets of Love. 

[The quilts in my photos are really not as wonky as they look. It's just that I like to photograph them in the bright shade outside in the garden, and our grassy lawn is particularly lush and spongy right now after a good rainfall.]

Michelle relaxed with some big-stitch hand quilting. So pretty!

Sophie and Susan brought in this cute finished Kindy quilt, made from a jelly roll and two bunny border prints.

And this Blanket of Love.

Barb made these two beauties.

...and this delicious French Apple Cake for our morning tea. Yum!

Gillian was still feeling the Dresden love.

..and we loved the lemon slice and chocolate cakes she brought along!

There was no need to ask Margaret how she spent her holidays. Look at all these beauties from our hexie queen!

Robyn's hand piecing is meticulous, but when time prevented her finishing this beautiful little quilt with hand quilting Di B helped in with a great spot of team work, and machine quilted it. 

Finally, look who had a birthday this week. Happy 12th birthday, lovely Matilda!🎉