Darling Harbour Craft Show & Musicals

Oh what a weekend I have just had!!
Every June, my mother comes to my place to stay and while she is here we always go to the Craft & Quilt Fair in Darling Harbour.. we call it our "Annual Pilgrimage" and have done so for about the last 15 years.

We travelled by train (3.5 hours) to Sydney on Friday (I took the day off work), then got the light rail (tram) to Darling Harbour, booked into the Holiday Inn, then high tailed it to the "Craft & Quilt Fair", got a 3 day pass and started "shopping".

At 5pm, they threw/pushed us out the door and we went back to our Hotel, got changed, went down to the Bistro part of the hotel, had something to eat and of course washed it down with a bottle of wine.... then we walked to The Capital Theatre in time to watch the live performance of Mary Poppins.

WOW!!! IT WAS GREAT!!! certainly brought back childhood memories of being taken to the "Pictures" at the local theatre.... I silently sang along (in my mind) and tapped my feet with the songs. .... fell into bed just after midnight.

Next day, we went back to the Craft Show, spent the day looking, buying and attending workshops, and was again shown the door at 5pm. Same procedure as the night before, we went to our room, changed, went down to the Bistro to eat and wash the food down with another bottle of wine. We then got the light rail to the Lyric Theatre (which happens to be in the Casino) to see the live show "Hairspray".

WOW AGAIN!! Even though none of the songs were familiar, it was my type of music as the songs were written to sound like the music in the '60s.... and the person who played the mother was a man (like John Travolta was in the movie)..... I had to borrow a programme to convince myself it was a man, as he took the part well....

After the show, Mum and I went for a flutter on the pokies. I am convinced Casinos pump oxygen into the air conditioning, as we didn't feel one bit tired. We got a shock when we realised it was 1.45am... caught the light rail back to the Hotel and fell into bed just after 2.30am.

The next day (Sunday), again we went to the Craft Show, bought those last minute "must haves", then went back to the Hotel, had a leisurely lunch, but instead of wine we had a "Pimms". We just lounged in the lounge and then made our way to the train station to catch the XPT back home... arriving home at 7.45pm. My boyfriend picked us up, took us back to my home, made coffee for us and left us as he saw we were VERY tired.

I fell into bed, and was not impressed when the alarm went off this morning for me to go back to work.... I AM EXHAUSTED... so if I am so tired, wonder how my 79 year old mother feels and she was with me every step of the way on the 3 day trip to Sydney.

The 3 images I have used has been borrowed from the net by googling the show's name with the word "image".... I hope I haven't broken copyright by doing this... but I am advertising for them with VERY POSITIVE words.

Until next post...

Cheers....Jewells

Final BOM made

Last weekend I manage to make the 12th and final block in the Fat Quarter Shop BOM.

Luckily I had purchased the sashing & border kit and the backing fabric at the beginning, otherwise I might have missed out on matching the fabrics. Now I must make time to put it all together.

My Mum arrived here for a 3 weeks stay last week and we have had a good time chatting, sewing, chatting, knitting, chatting, reading and chatting some more. We will be going to the Sydney Quilting Show at Darling Harbour this weekend. We go every year and stay for 2 nights. We have booked the tickets to see the live stage shows of "Mary Poppins" and also "Hairspray" while we are there, along with going to the Craft Show for 3 days. I always have a great time.

Until next post...
Cheers...Jewells

A Different Read

I was sent this book from a friend in the States. It is The Lover's Knot by Clare O'Donohue - A Someday Quilt Mystery.

This is the author's first book which involves mystery, romance and of course quilting!

I finished it last night and was wondering if anyone else has read this book...

Until next post..

Cheers...Jewells

Red Grapefruit Marmalade

I was given some Red Grapefruit and limes, so I decided to make some marmalade.
The computer is a wonderful source of information when it comes to looking up recipes, then sifting thru them to find an easy recipe. This one was soooo easy:



Cut 5 grapefruit in half. Cover with water and boil gently for 2 hours.
Drain off water and mulch cooked grapefruit (skins and all) in a food processor.
Put mulched grapefruit, juice of 4 lemons (or limes) and 8 cups of sugar in boiler.
Bring to boil stirring the whole time and then simmer for nearly 20 mins.
Pour into sterilised bottles, put on lids straight away.

A real marmalade taste, sweet but tangy.

I was also given this "Buddha's Hand" to place in a bowl in a room. It sends out a citrus smell. The person who gave it to me said it is all skin and she only uses it to freshen a room, but she said that someone else cut it up and made a marmalade.



I have made about 25 bottles of the grapefruit marmalade so far and still have more to make...hope I can sell heaps to customers at work!

Until next post...

Cheers...Jewells

Sad ending to Jewells 2011 Easter Swap

It is sad to say that not everyone of the 24 ladies who participated, received their Easter Gifts.

Unfortunately the three ladies that never received their gifts all live in Australia and they were:
Jodie in NSW
Sheryl in Vic
and Me, Julie in NSW

The ladies who were to send to the above three have all sent their parcels, so looks like snail post has let us down... maybe next time (if I do a next time) I will ask that ALL parcels be REGISTERED, and that way they can all be tracked.

Until next post...

Cheers...Jewells

Garage Sale Buy

Most Saturday mornings, my boyfriend and I go to Garage Sales and look at some of the things I bought this week:

I just fell in love with these framed prints and had to buy them at $2 each. They are 31 x 37cm each and I just LOVE them!

I bought this magazine carry all full of "craft" items for $4. I haven't had a good look yet, but there is quilling, sewing, knitting, jewellery making,............... to say a few!


I also bought a brand new pair of Italian Leather shoes for $5



and a pair of double bed flat sheets and matching pillowcases for $5 as well. The sheets are going to be put away to use as a quilt backing as they are 100% cotton... I often turn quilt tops into doona covers and flat sheets make a perfect backing.

Must go and have a good look at that carry all full of craft items.

Until next post...
Cheers...Jewells

Knitted Scarf or Two

I have been knitting scarfs lately and decided to knit 2 from the same wool but change needles for the second one.
This is the first scarf and it is knitted with a 200gm ball of 8ply wool and on 4.5mm needles and 40 stitches wide.

I am now knitting the second one and it is the same wool, same amount of stitches but this time on 5mm needles... it is 1" wider that the other scarf!

At home today.. as I had a fall at work yesterday and had a bad night as I was aching all over. (landed heavily on my right hand and knee, no visual damage) As it is windy and cold today, I called in sick and stayed in bed till 10.30am, then got up, put the heater on and am staying inside next to the computer and TV... I think my body just went into shock and told me to take it easy for 24 hours.... as my daughter said..."old age Mum"...good on her!

Until next post...

Cheers...........Jewells