Look! Look!

Isn't the blogosphere something!? Prints Charming blogged about my visit to their shop.

Click here to for a look.

Friday Flaunt - Pressies and Hexies

This week I enjoyed nearly two whole days spent with new quilting friends. More about those days later!

But do let me tell you how blessed I am to have met such lovely people while here in Australia. Everyone I've met has been kind and so welcoming. Our conversations about quilting styles and techniques, favorite magazines, how we raise our children, teen proms, houses we live in, grandchildren, and faith, have been just a few of our numerous topics of conversation. It feels just like home!

I have Di, Di, Loz, Wendi and Gail to thank for these thoughtful pressies (presents): a 35-piece jelly roll of Aussie prints, a book of stitchery blocks of Sydney sites, a pin and Christmas stocking kit, a beaded cheetah key chain, and an Aborigine dreamtime handkerchief. Thank you very much for these gifts!

I managed to hand-piece a dozen more hexagons this week while gadding about town. These blocks are all pieced differently than those I've previously made. And thanks to "The English Group" whose sewing day I attended Thursday, I had the opportunity to see two more hexie-pieced WIPs. Great inspiration for me! Pictures of those soon.

Kimberly Stuart, Stretch Marks, and Finders Keepers

One of my favorite authors lives very near me in Des Moines, Iowa.

Kimberly Stuart has written four books. Each one is a treat to read and make me laugh. A particular favorite of mine is Second Act, about a aging New York opera star whose agent finds her a job in Iowa as a college vocal music teacher, and her trials as she lives on a hog farm! A very fun read.

In October, Kimberly asked her readers to accept a "Finders Keepers" challenge for a "GRANDE PRIZE-O-RAMA which includes getting cool stuff in the mail" and lunch on Kimberly. She invited us to give away free copies of her current book, Stretch Marks, and do so in unusual places. You could either choose a place to leave a copy of the book with "Finders Keepers" information attached to the cover, or personally give the book away.

Lucky for me, at the time of the announced contest, I was ready to fly Down Under. Kimberly actually delivered two copies of the book to me at my house! How nice was that!?

So on November 6, carrying the book with me on a ferry from Abbotsford to Sydney's Circular Quay, I came across this Aussie mum and her little boy along the Quay. Not wanting to miss out on the fun of giving away a free book - did I mention I'm an extrovert? - I introduced myself and explained my request. Ariana smilingly agreed to pose with the book. And look! The Sydney Opera House just happened to be in the background! Then again on November 18, I ferried to Circular Quay and walked to the Royal Botanic Gardens, and found Aussie mum Tanya with her two week old daughter, Emelia. She also agreed to let me photograph her with Stretch Marks. And gosh, is that the Opera House I see in the background? And the Harbour Bridge too? Oh my! Now who can't believe that the GRANDE PRIZE-O-RAMA and a free lunch are in my future?

A Visit to Prints Charming

On Monday, Jill, Tay and I visited the shop Prints Charming at 2 Young Street, in Annandale (Sydney, Australia). I've been following their blog for some time and just wanted to see it for myself.
With permission, I took a few photos. This may look familiar to those of you who read Quilts and More magazine. Prints Charming is featured in the current, fall issue.
A little eye candy... these are Marcus Bros. and XLX brand fabrics from an older Prints Charming collection.

The starburst print - it makes me think of jacks - is a sort of Prints Charming trademark.

I'm not a pink person, but these do look yummy.

Since these fabrics are available in the US, only a t-shirt came home with me. But it was nice to pay a visit.

Family

Since arriving in Australia on Oct. 23, I've been staying with my family in Sydney (Abbotsford). It has been wonderful to feel somewhat helpful with the new baby, and share in their lives.

Several times, I've walked this young miss to school... ten year-old Celina. Celina proudly wears the new UNI (University of Northern Iowa) Panther t-shirt that Bapa and I gave her.
Last Friday night I babysat while Jill and Maher went to the Nickelback Concert at Acer Arena. Maher accessorized with crutches because he tore the miniscus in his right knee - getting up from the floor after playing with a baby! He's anticipating arthroscopic surgery in the very near future.
While Mum and Dad were away, Tay, Celina and I camped in the livingroom to watch "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

I've loved every moment of re-learning how to care for a baby as Tay has put all of us through our paces. I've been initiated in various and creative ways, on more than one occasion.

Tay's most heart-breaking expression is what we've come to call "The Lip." When he gives us The Lip we just melt and say, "Awww." Then watch what comes next.The Lip is a precursor to...
A very lusty cry!But all is forgiven and forgotten when he's cuddly, and smiley.

Mangoes!

Fresh fruit is plentiful in Oz, and I've become completely smitten with mangoes. Even at $3.00 AUD (Australian dollars) to $4.00 AUD each, they're worth their weight in gold. I've never seen ones this large, nor this sweet. I've tried them in a smoothie; with caramel swirl vanilla ice cream; and with chicken in a salad. But the best eating is just as they are.

This is a Kensington Pride mango, grown in Queensland, Australia. I propped this one on the sewing machine bed to give you a size perspective.

Jumbo goodness.My son-in-law taught me the proper way to cut and slice a mango: Cut it in half, avoiding the fuzzy pit. Then cross-cut the half on the inside, and turn the cheek inside out to expose the cubes. Cut them off at the base.

A step he neglected to mention is to stand over the kitchen sink to scrape out each skin half with your teeth! You won't want to leave anything behind. And fully expect that mango juice will be dripping down your chin and through your fingers. Yum.

Now... spoon into this bowl of bliss.