Di Mill

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October 25, 2013

Happy 21st Luke

Today is a special day in our family as my gorgeous boy turns 21. This is the reason why I haven't gone to Quilt Market in Houston this year. Luke has been working all year in central Queensland (the outback) as a jackaroo. It's about a 14 hour drive from where we live so I wasn't sure if he would make it home or not....but he did and I'm so glad I didn't go to Quilt Market and I am able to give him a hug on this special day.


He was such a cute kid...

 

IMG

 

But now he's just gorgeous!

 

Luke 21

 

Happy 21st Birthday Luke. You have bought life, light, laughter, energy, spontaneity and daily surprises into our lives since the day you were born.

 

xoxo

 

Di

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April 26, 2013

Europe on a bike!

I always admire it when people go outside of their comfort zone to achieve a goal and keep going no matter what. One of my girlfriends, Collette,  is on the trip of a life time with her husband David, bike riding around Europe! Yep - 174 days riding through rain hail and sunshine, passing through gorgeous scenery, camping in stunning beachside campsites, and all the time...getting legs of steel as they push their way up and down mountain after mountain.

Below is their intended intinery:

 

The_Big_Plan

 

They are in Croatia at the moment and David, who is an avid photographer, has captured a shot of the most gorgeous statue:

 

Lace making

I love this statue...especially the beautiful soft patina that has formed, creating the softest green to add highlights to this already beautiful piece of art. I think she is so sweet. The statue is in the town of Pag in Croatia, which is known for it's lace making. Collette and David are blogging every day to record their journey. You can follow their journey here.  The actual trip starts in Australia here. The photos that David takes and posts onto the blog are stunning. This photo is on page 56. Collette is an avid quilter so I'm hoping there will be many more "Crafty" photos to come.

I have to say that I don't think I could do it - travelling around Europe day after day on a bike and camping just isn't my thing but I love following Collette & David and checking in to see what they have done each day.

Take care....Di

 

 

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March 30, 2013

Happy Easter

Wishing you a safe and Blessed Easter

 

I hope you are enjoying the long weekend break over the Easter period. Below are some images of my Easter table. I had my girlfriends over for morning tea on Good Friday and then it will be just Emma & I for the rest of the Easter break.

Easter collage

 

Pretty gerbras, daisies & roses along with white china bunnies, vintage card placecards, and a centrepiece made from a cake stand and an upside down glass candle holder is what makes up my Easter table.

 

IMG_2666

 

To add some interest to my place settings, I found images of vintage Easter cards on the internet and printed them out. I then popped them on top of the napkins and tied pink satin ribbon over the top.

 

 

IMG_2687

 

And I made the sweetest cupcakes for morning tea. they are a basic vanilla cupcake recipe with cream frosting on top that has been dipped in toasted coconut and topped with the cutest chocolate eggs. The were delicious!

 

IMG_2685

My chalkboard that sits on my kitchen bench. I made it out of a friend's unwanted old mirror. I repainted the frame and replaced the mirror with  a piece of board which I painted with chalkboard paint. Most of the time it is used as a menu board with our meals for the week, but after seeing this post, I created an Easter message which I love.  

 

I hope you are enjoying your Easter.

 

Take care....Di

 

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February 08, 2013

Golden Wedding

We recently had a big event in my family when my parents reached their Golden Wedding Anniversary and celebrated 50 years of marriage. We all gathered near our family home north west of Mackay in Nth Queensland, for a party with family and friends. It was such a lovely weekend, catching up with friends of my parents who were such a big part of my childhood and celebrating such an important occasion.

 

Matt  Mary wedding
Mum & Dad on their wedding day in 1963

 

Collage 3

I offered to decorate the tables...no mean feat considering I had to bring everything up on the plane. There were a lot of long tables to decorate and as my budget was tight, I scoured op shops for glassware with gold accents, and gathered cheap glasses from those wonderful Asian stores that sell everything bright and tacky at rock bottom prices. I ended up with about 60 little vases all packed up inside a large suitcase.  Gold spray paint was my best friend and worked a treat to add some gold accents to the plain glassware.

Collage 1

My plan was to buy yellow & cream roses to fill the vases but sadly Mackay didn't have the same vision as I did and we couldn't any! So I had to compromise and use soft pink and cream roses with chrysanthemums and greenery to accent. Does this type of thing only happen to me or do you have the same problem of knowing exactly what you want but not being able to find it?

Problem number 2 was when I saw what the venue were planning to use as tablecloths...very thin white plastic!! My heart sank! Now this is why I loved living in the country when I was growing up and being from a small community. My parents are part of a theatrical group so we just raced over to the Theatre (yes we have a fully functioning proper theatre in my home town of 50 people!) and grabbed the containers of white tablecloths that Mum had made at some stage.  I spent an afternoon ironing but they were perfect!

 Although I was a bit disappointed that all of my plans and colour scheme had to change at the last minute, the tables in the end looked lovely. My gorgeous man,who was way out of his element, rushed around helping me set all of the flowers up along  the tables in a very limited time.  We finished in the nick of time (I felt like I was on Master Chef & the clock was ticking).

 

 

Collage 2

 

 One of the highlights of the day was when my uncle bought in a massive surprise present for my parents...a Papal Blessing from the Pope.  The blessing has beautifully hand painted calligraphy with the Papal seal & signature on parchment paper and was a wonderful surprise.

 

 

Photo (3)

 I hope you haven't minded me sharing this special family occasion with you.

 

Take care....Di

 

 

 

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January 28, 2013

Wild weather!

It's been a long 24 hours with Bribane struggling through cyclonic conditions with the aftermath of Cyclone Oswald. I've lived in Brisbane for 22 years and have never experience weather like that. I'm from Nth Queensland so I know what it's like to be in a cyclone, I just haven't seen it in Brisbane. It was only the aftermath but the wind and rain was non stop. We are all safe and sound with only minor hazzards:

 

Tree
The strong winds blew over my frangipani tree but it missed the house.

 

Pool
My pool has filled with muddy water racing down the hill from the neighbours above me.

 

Back yard
my pergola shade got ripped to shreds.

 

Ahhhh..Queensland....beautiful one day....cyclonic the next!

 

While we are having floods, there are others in Australia still coping with bush fires. If you pop over to Chookyblue's blog, you will find a way you can help those families who have been affected by bushfires.

 "Caring with Quilts" is a great way to do you bit to help others in need.

 

Caring with Quilts_edited-2
image via Chookyblue

 

Thank you Chooky for organising such a great way to help those in need.

 

Take care...Di

 

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June 15, 2012

Weekend Checklist

I have got to finish this quilt! It's my Woolies Flannel Quilt that I have had pieced for a couple of years. I love this quilt and I am frustrated that it has been sitting in the "to do" pile for so long. So this weekend is quilting weekend and I am determined to finish it.

 

 Weekend Checklist

 

Now I have to be honest and admit that I am a "Stitch in the Ditch" girl. I've tried free motion quilting but it just isn't my thing. I know it's probably just practice that I need to achieve the results I'm after in free motion... but it just hasn't happened yet.

Here is my Weekend list:

- quilt Woolies quilt
- bind Woolies quilt
- finish 2 blocks of embroidery project
- farmers markets early Saturday morning

This is the plan BUT - I have a new toy....

Ipad 3

Somehow I don't think that I am going to cross everything off my list! :)

I'll leave you with this photo from my weekly coffee date with my girlfriends this morning. One of the girls had just returned from an overseas holiday and bought us each a gift!

Photo (30 copy

Hope you have a great weekend.

Take care....Di

 

 

Posted at 05:13 PM in Fabric, family and friends, Sewing/Patchwork | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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May 13, 2012

Turning Cufflinks into Earrings

I wanted to share with you a project that I did quite a few years ago. I love seeing family heirlooms or keepsakes being put to use by younger generations instead of them sitting in a box in a cupboard. I was looking at my Mum's collection of cufflinks that she had inherited from her Dad and her Grandfathers and it seemed such a shame that they were just sitting there. I asked if I could have a pair and this sweet set that my Great Grandfather owned caught my eye. They have his initials on them, which makes them even more special plus I'm a sucker for anything monogrammed!

I popped off to a Jewellers nearby and they attached studs to the back of them. I chose to keep the cufflinks in tack as I like how the shank hangs down but you could have it removed if you perfer.

 

Earings


I can't tell you how much I love these earrings. I hope that my Great Grandfather likes the fact that his Great Granddaughter is wearing his cufflinks - not in the same way that he did, but enjoying them and appreciating them just as much.

 

Take care....Di

 

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May 09, 2012

He had a dream...

Yesterday was a bit emotional for me....my 19 year old baby left for a 2 week trip to the USA. Luke has been talking about trying to get an American Football Kicker Scholarship for a long time and yesterday he left to chase his dream. Luke will be competing at a Kicking and Punting competition in Las Vegas on the weekend. He has always been good at kicking a football and was the kicker for the First XV Rugby Team at school and somehow he heard about Australians picking up scholarships as Kickers or Punters. To live, study and play sport overseas would be a wonderful opportunity so although I was nervous about it, I have tried to encourage him all I can.

As I couldn't travel with him at this time, he is going it alone - probably what worries me the most...no wingman! I know he was nervous...but he wouldn't show it. I could tell when we got to the check in line and he asked if we were going to go up to the desk with him and looked at bit lost when I said no. I could tell when he quietly asked me if he could ring me in LA if he got lost trying to find his connecting flight. I wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be fine but I just said "yes - ring me anytime you want".  He had three mates come to see him off and they filled in time looking at something funny on You tube. Then before we knew it he said goodbye to his mates, gave his sister and I a quick hug and was off through those big gates on an adventure that I hope encourages him to always chase his dreams.

Luke leaving 6
Luke leaving 5
Luke leaving 3 copy
Luke leaving 2
Luke leaving

I can't wait to see that face come back through the arrivals gate in 2 weeks time and hear all the stories (well those he will tell me) of his time overseas.

 

Take care...Di

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February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Val_01

Although red is my favourite colour, when it comes to roses - I'm such a pink and creamy white girl! So I just adore these sweet spray roses that are from my valentine:

 

P2140008

 

P2140013

 

P2140014

 

P2140012

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Take care....Di

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January 27, 2012

Beauty is on the inside

My family was all together this Christmas at my parents farm in North Queensland so Mum an Dad decided to give us all gifts that belonged to family members. As it was my birthday - I was first to receive my gift. At first glance - it looks like an old worn box.

 

Xmas 2019

 

But as the saying goes..."beauty is on the inside"...

 

Xmas 2020

 

This is a set of spoons that my maternal grandparents received as a wedding present. I'm not sure if they are desert spoons or soup spoons but they are beautiful. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Mum also put a note inside saying who owned the gift and how they recieved it along with their photo.

 

Xmas 2022


I also received the sweetest set of plates that I have always loved...

 

Xmas 2024

 

I don't remember when I first saw them or where - maybe my Grandparents?? But I have always thought they were so pretty. For years they have been in Mum's china cabinet and I would look at them and dream of living in a house with a cottage garden just like the one in the design.

Sometimes the best gifts don't cost a cent!

Take care....Di

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