About

G'day and thanks for popping in. It's always nice to get a bit of an insight into a blogger's world. So read on if you want to know more about me.

Basic Info

Name: Fiona
Age: 44
Status: Married 11 years to Dean (lovely guy)
Children: Duncan 9, Tristan 8 and Frances 5
Location: On 5 acres at Wollongbar on the north coast of New South Wales in Australia.
Study: Bachelor of Education & Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History. Altogether it took 9 years part time by correspondance.
Vocation: Upper Primary School teacher for 13 years before leaving to raise the three children.

Blogging

Name: Finding Fifth (comes from driving my friend's car in the 90s and trying to find a 5th gear after only ever driving 4 gear cars)
Photo: Tumut River Valley near Lacmalac
Started: June 2011
Why: Blogging is a bit like keeping a diary but you get to connect to links and stick in a whole bunch of photographs to help document your journey as well.
Tip: I tend to stay away from critical remarks - not a fan of negatively toned blogs. I love witty and down-to-earth ones though.

Quilting

Started: October 2010 after watching an online tutorial by Jenni of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. My mum is an amazing quilter and so she nearly feinted when I told her I had bought a sewing machine, got lessons and started quilting. 
Fabric Love: Linen, textured solids, gingham, upcycled vintage sheets, Heather Ross, Denyse Schmidt, French General, Lizzy House, Aneela Hooey, Sweetwater Designs, Saffron Craig and Japanese prints. You can see more on my Pinterest board. 
Quilt Book: "Simple Home"by 'Sweetwater Designs'.
Equipment Must: A sharp blade in a rotary cutter. I need to buy one of those circular sharpeners!
Technique Love: Hand quilting with DMC floss.
Technique Learn: In 2012/13 I learned English Paper Piecing after being inspired by the Flickr Community and my lovely friend Kristy from Quiet Play. I am in a virtual Paper Peicing Bee called Wombat Stew.
Quilt Group: I am a part of a group but it is a virtual one called 'Quilt Club Australia' on Facebook.  Feel free to join me there.

Other Interesting Info About Me

Book: 'The Lord of the Rings' by JRR Tolkien
Children's Book: I had Trouble in Getting to Sollar Sollew' by Dr Seuss
Movie: The Last of the Mohicans
Album: 'Flags' by Brooke Fraser
Artist: John William Waterhouse
TV Series: 'Larkrise to Candleford' and 'The Wire'
Channel: The History Channel
Historical Figure: Captain James Cook
Current Figure: Barack Obama
Causes: Women's health after childbirth - fistula and prolapse repair (see the work of Dr Catherine Hamlin)
Ambition: To live in Scotland for a few years.
Flora: Flannel Flower
Fauna: Birds
Secret Hobby: Lego

Culinary Indulgences

Breakfast: Pancakes with lemon and sugar
Lunch: Crusty bread roll with BBQ chicken with mayonnaise and salad
Dinner: Vegemite basted roast lamb with gravy, roasted pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot , potato, garlic, onion, Yorkshire pudding and cauliflower and broccoli au gratin
Dessert: semi-freddo
Restaurant: Mexican, Indian, Thai or Italian.
Alcohol: Moscato 
Hot: Strong white breakfast tea in a china cup
Regular: Mineral water

Identifying? Inspired or Hungry? 

I also host a weekly fabric linky called 'Sunday Stash' where you can show off your latest finds and then skip around and see what lovelies others have found. You are more than welcome to come and join in THIS, or any other, Sunday. For more information click here.