A Fig Tree

I have planted a few of these fruit trees myself this year. This fig tree is just one of many fruit trees that is growing in the orchard of Marieka from Bespoke Bites. She has a few acres of fertile land in the gorgeous Barossa Valley in South Australia. She asked the members of Wombat Stew to make her an orchard full of paper pieced trees.

I had to tweak the round shape to make it look a bit more figgy shaped.

It will join this apple tree from Ms Midge

and this orange tree from Quiet Play.

Actually the pattern is from Kristy as well. She may release it soon enough in her Craftsy Store.

Don't forget that Kristy is starting a new Paper Pieced Block of the Month in January 2014.

It is called Sew Kitchy and should appeal to many people who love retro, cooking and paper piecing.

I am linking up to the Paper Piecing Party.

A Figgy WIP

So this is last month's Wombat Stew block for Marieka of Bespoke Bites. Yes it is late. 

I have done as much unpicking as sewing already today. 

I also have finished the binding on the Parterre Gardens quilt that is to be gifted in a ceremony next Wednesday. 

I have to embroider or write my own quilt label as my go-to girl, Liz, just gave birth to a healthy baby boy yesterday.

Don't forget to check out the Cushion for Christmas blog hop . Did you see these Pipsqueaks from Quiet Play yesterday?

Or check out Ms Midge's version with a zipper tutorial?

Today it is over with Molli Sparkles for a purple string block cushion.

I am hosting on Friday so feel free to check back for a Christmas Star tutorial.

Linking up to WiP Wednesday for the first time in months.

Extending the Coop

The New West Wing

With so many new chickens needing housing it was time to extend the existing coop. Rather than buiding something totally free-standing we decided to expand the existing coop by building on a wing on the western side. 

Our wonderful builder Tom worked with me to come up with a design. It was a little less stressful than an episode of Grand Designs but the original idea was changed a few times.

Even at late stages we were tweaking the design. I asked Tom to put in a door. Sure. No problem. He whipped one up in half a day.

Tom built most of the extended structure before he took down the existing western wall.

Tom built the Big Peeps a ladder leading up to their access door. He even put in a window to the main door to the new sleeping quarters.

These are the facilities inside the West Wing. Two parallel perches for roosting.

The nesting boxes are not in use yet but there are four inside this wing.

The L-shaped run has received a coat of sump oil to preserve the wood. And the whole coop was re-roofed. 

The old roofing material was used to clad the sides of the coop and make it better able to withstand the weather.

It makes the coop look a lot more rustic and more like an Aussie men's shed.

So it is now called the Chook Shed.

Linking up to...

Feeling like a Mama Hen

The Big Peeps grew out of the hutch rather quickly.

So the small chicks and now called 'The Big Peeps' because they have grown teenage feathers and now live in their own wing of the chook shed.

We waited three extra weeks for some special chicks to hatch. One was a Gold-Laced Wyandotte and the other was a Silver-Laced Wyandotte. Both very hard to source locally.

So Edison and Einstein settled in under the ceramic heat lamp. They were a couple of Wyandotte brothers (we are not sure what gender they are as they are very hard to distinguish at this early age) and they were loud. Edison peeped all day and all night it seemed. Duncan came up with a theory "He peeps bause he's tired and he's tired because he peeps". 

One afternoon Frances and Tristan were exchanging the chicks when Edison was dropped onto the tiled floor.

He grew very ill the next day and as I held him in my hand he breathed his last and died. 

When the kids came home from school that afternoon we had a little funeral for Edison and buried him under the lemon tree. The kids said a couple of prayers. Later I saw Frances sitting over there with him saying a prayer, blowing him a kiss and then singing him a little song. It was very touching.

Poor Einstein was left by himself ans his chirping was very sad. I took a trip back out to Farmer McGrath's and bought a white Silkie and blue Araucana chick to keep him company.

They are all fast friends. They spend sunny days outside in the small hutch.

There are new rules though. No picking the chicks up.

Linking up with...

Sunday Stash #91

After nearly 100 posts I feel that it is time for Sunday Stash to have new life. Today it is my pleasure to announce that from 2014, Sunday Stash will make a new home over with Josh at Molli Sparkles. 

Thank you for your support  and I hope to see it continue to grow.
Please head over to Molli Sparkles for today's Sunday Stash and see some of the fabulous things Josh has planned.

Last week's most visited linky was Amanda from What the Bobbin.

Scrap Love

Whenever the Wombat Stew ladies send a block there is always some scrap love included. 

These cuties came with the Artist Trading Cards in October.

See you over at Molli Sparkles for the linky party.

A Girly Story

Melissa of Ms Midge loves to sew. She has a little business on Facebook selling all manner of handmade items. I have bought my daughter a couple of her well made girly dresses.

Midgey has two young daughters. So when it came to making Midgey's teal coloured pouch, I had to include a little girl sleeping in.

Then some toast for breakfast on the back. It was easy to have the wafting smell as the free motion design for this one.

Linking up to I Quilt over at Pretty Bobbins.

A Chinese Story

One of my closest friends, Goldie, comes from north eastern China. Tomorrow she will become an Australian citizen. It must be a huge deal to give up the country of your birth and identify yourself with one that you adopted. I am so proud of her.

I told her that I would be there to witness it nomatter where or when. She lives about 4 hours away in the lovely New England town of Armidale. So tomorrow Frances and I are heading off to get to the ceremony by 2pm and then spend the weekend there.

I wanted to make Goldie something special for her to use. I used my Notebook cover and zip pouch tutorials to make her two practical items.

The 2.5" squares start with the colours of the Chinese flags and then transition to the colours of the Australian flag on the back. 

I enjoyed doing some free motion quilting on the pouch.

Linking up with I Quilt at Pretty Bobbins.