Up in The Clouds!

It is so lovely to be back again - I've said it before and I'll say it again ... thank you Everyone! My one big wish now is to stitch again - it will happen!

My computer decided to play tricks on me and whoopee! I fixed it myself - now with a new, beaut modem and time to spare I will become the fastest one-handed typist in Australia!

Back to the surgeon tomorrow and here's hoping to hear good news. Maybe he will order a special sling for stitching and another for driving.

Meanwhile, I'm off visiting - hope to chat with you soon!

Sunshine and Roses!

Hello everyone - what a wonderful day! So much has happened since I last chatted, but here we are all safe - sound? well I can say that now, but, gee, it has been a bit if a journey. In brief, my surgery went very well, far more extensive than anticipated - 5 more weeks in a sling, pain sort of under control! Ed arrived home from hospital late yesterday, in brief, it is thought that his problems are a result of radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer 2 years ago.

I have yet to read through your emails and intend to start today - I pray God you are all fine and thank you all so much!

One of Our Angels!

Hello to you all - sadly it will be a little while before I will chat again, please keep a little lookout for my return! DH, Ed is in hospital with recurring problem and I will have my shoulder procedure tomorrow. Meanwhile, stay well and happy - I'll have happy thoughts of Blogland and will miss you all!

In Top Gear!

Life is all go - or maybe it is just me! I'm rushing to get lots of little things done pre surgery and waiting for results on Ed. I made some time at the retreat last weekend to follow a little tutorial on Origami Bags shown by dear friend, Ann Thomson!

Janet, of Quiltsalott has done a tutorial in the past and you can pop along to see hers! It is very similar to what I have made. I have made a couple of different versions before and of course had to be a little pedantic and take pics and measurements this time, and must say I'm a happy little Vegemite with this outcome. I even managed to make one for Girlfriend! who was there with me!

Notice it is lined and forms lovely little, pockets on the outside - add about 2 yards of matching cording and four little beads and how much nicer is this than gift wrapping paper!

Out with the old - in with the new!

A very brave move - I'm serious about my Quest for Colour - DD, Danielle has taken the doors away to make a start. New colour 'Blushingham' and look at that gorgeous old hardware that will go back into place.

So what - just a desktop? Oh, yes, but papers in order, no unnecessary clutter, no printouts and notes strewn everywhere - wow! I feel like I have done a day's work already - off now to talk to my sewing machine for just a little while!

Happy day!

Giraffe Garden!

Thank you everyone for you kind thoughts and prayers - we have little further news at this stage - maybe we just have to hope for no recurrences of the problem, but then again we may hear more news later this week and more tests may be necessary.

Meanwhile, let's think about all things quilty - I have been excited waiting for this parcel and am not disappointed - I looove this fabric! Do you ever do that - see a fabric and know immediately it is a 'must have'?

Beautiful colours, I especially love the citron - it will be great fun deciding on a pattern and matching up other fabrics

Our baby twins, who turned six last Tuesday, and lots of the others of the family will see Alice in 3D today - a wonderful day is planned.

♥

I have lot of odds and ends to tidy up this week ahead - I think quite a lot of you know I am scheduled to have a shoulder implant Monday 15 March - darned sling for 6 weeks, it will clip my wings, but I will be trying very hard to flutter about.

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Hope you have been enjoying the weekend!

Pretty and Bright!

Late today is the day - we may have some idea of how things are going Ed-wise! Thank goodness for the light relief of quilting and Heidi's and Byron's birthdays have come at the right time.

I have two quilts to be bound for them (and another two shaggies to be made!) - of course the above is for Heidi - it is a jelly roll pattern!

Wow! Talk about being on a Quest for Colour - I didn't mean this much - however, Byron loves it - the black and whites are puppies which he loves. I don't have a lot of luck depicting quilts for boys - I think I have succeeded here - I'm sort of glad he will be taking it home and not using it in their bedroom here.

All being well, we are off to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D on Sunday, then taking the kids to Timezone (very foolish, I know, it will blow their little minds!) then a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant.

The adrenalin is running - I would like to throw some magazines out for the rubbish pickup that will happen within the next hour or so - not easy, but I feel I need some orderliness at the moment!

Have a lovely weekend - my goodness it is that time again!

Que Sera, Sera!

I am so blessed with so much love and good fortune surrounding me and mine! It is with a very positive attitude I am now facing trials and tribulations again - DH, Ed and I are waiting for a conclusive diagnosis and prognosis on a health condition he is experiencing and I really hope we receive the results by the end of this week! 'Til then, I know he will have thoughts and prayers from so many - thank you!
I had a wonderful weekend planned and I will say it all turned out wonderful even though I missed the first day! Stitching friends all enjoyed a great retreat at St John of God Shoalwater Retreat Centre - a great venue on the beach on the west coast of Australia - pure indulgence!

Usually I take handwork to retreats - this time I took my basket of Kaffe's and machine stitched this flimsy. It was a great diversion inspired by one of Kaffe's designs from one of his earlier books - it turned out exactly as I envisaged, quite a large quilt and when quilted I will hang it on my family room wall to brighten up a rather dull space in my otherwise bright house. I have spoken about my quest for colour and it seems to be happening.

There has been quite an injection of blue into a very lilacy-pink quilt - maybe a blue striped binding cut on bias - we'll see!

Yes, 6 years old today - Byron and Heidi - my babies are growing up - I have told them both I need more baby grandchildren now! Unprompted, that dear wee boy put his arm around his sister's shoulder for this pic! See why I love them so much!

♥

Lots of good happenings and news here, but we must away at 6:30 tomorrow for a specialist consultation in Perth in the early morning. Lots of best wishes to my new Followers and I do have some email replies outstanding - I hope to get back to replies and browsing soon. 'Til then -God bless!

This Week!

It has been a lovely week. I'm not sure what we have in store for the weekend - let's think positive! I am scheduled to go on a super retreat late this afternoon and I'm really, really looking forward to it - now I am just hoping I'll be able to make it!

Tuesday evening I went to Secret Quilters - a lovely, recently formed group - no, no, not my work - isn't it just gorgeous and created by Helen Rhodes, Textile Artist, It has been a real thrill to me to befriend Helen and one day I look forward to doing a workshop with her. Now I must say, I have no talent in this area - but who knows, maybe Helen can show even the hopeless something, lol!

Here's Helen's William Morris - machine appliqued and beautifully machine quilted to the enth degree - stunning!

Gorgeous Helen Brown with her lovely smile - showing her sort of vintage card-trick quilt. I love the mood and the feel of it - one day I will do a quilt using this block!

I also had a wonderful sewing day with Girlfriends! on Wednesday - a wonderful lunch, wonderful company and conversation, a tiny tipple of fine West Australian wine and not a stitch sewn - now how good is that? - thanks, Ann for a great day!

A little re-vamping in my house - I am on a quest to bring a little more colour into it! Being a lover of natural flowers, I don't get too involved in artificial - I rather fancy this little piece sitting on the top of the tele cabinet, though!

The magazine rack is another new addition - it belongs indoors near the tele cabinet to hide a power poit. I thought I would pop it outside in front of my beautiful big fern to show it off. The cushion is a very dear treasure of mine and should be shown in all it's splendour - it is a gift given to me many years ago by Jenny Reynolds, a very esteemed and well known Australian designer/quilter. No, no, not our Blogland Jenny of Elefantz - a wonderful Australian talent, too!

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With a very anxious heart, I wish you all a happy weekend!

Away With The Fairies!

This weekend I have managed to get quite a bit of stitching done - I just couldn't wait for a complete finish before I started snipping - hmmm, yes I think that will be okay!

I still have two borders to add! Peg of Happy in Quilting sent me a pic as inspiration to do the borders - I'm happy with them - cut 6 inches wide and I pre-quilted before I attached. The blocks are cut 6.5 inches square and I have used Thermore wadding and it is fluffing up nicely. Thanks, Peg, you are a Darling - oh, happy days in Blogland!

Books, Dolls and Roses!

It seems to have been a very long week - sadly very little stitching - lots of spring cleaning ... even though it isn't spring! I received this book in the mail this morning - the title says it all!

At a very quick glance - I'm smitten! I have always felt so sorry I missed Gwen's first book and I think, I'm not sure, I'm one of the first Australians to see her second book! Maybe it is time - time to abandon the neatness and precision of traditional quilt making and move on to a bit of creative freestyle - I must admit my inspiration won't come from within and I will have to keep getting it from other sources - but, that's okay!

Here's another couple of pages from the same book - lots of fun!

Have you noticed my two new Kimmi dolls - I love them! They have been calling me for a long time and now I have indulged - maybe they won't call anymore - I'm so happy with these little ones!

Yes, I have discovered Fishpond and another two new books - purely for coffee table purpose!

A beautiful climber, Don Juan - he has survived our very hot weather!

It is so lovely to drive into the garage and be greeted by these pretties - makes my heart lift!

Another weekend is nearly here - I hope to get some sewing done - I hope yours is a good one, too!