I am ready for Autumn and Winter

As I sit writing this, I'm sitting outside in the wonderful sun! 

The children are at school - breathe and exhale - 

It's actually feeling quite summery ... there's something about this sunshine that's so so lovey, and that is, it only comes out between crisp cold mornings and long cold evenings. 

Autumn is here, the fig tree is laden and I can see feijoas fallen from feijoa trees under the apple tree, ready for the children to collect after school ... I am loving every moment of this season ... and it is these cold evenings that have inspired and pushed me to start creating again ... 

I've recently made three quilt flimsies - including cutting up my vintage linens and my liberty of London stash and I have two lots of knitting on the needles ... 

I am ready for Autumn and Winter 

A good friend - like a quilt is both a treasure and a comfort ...

She Let Go

She let go.

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear.

She let go of the judgments.

She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.

She let go of the committee of indecision within her.

She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.

Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice.

She didn’t read a book on how to let go.

She didn’t search the scriptures.

She just let go.

She let go of all of the memories that held her back.

She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.

She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go.

She didn’t journal about it.

She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.

She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.

She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.

She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.

She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.

She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.

She didn’t call the prayer line.

She didn’t utter one word.

She just let go.

No one was around when it happened.

There was no applause or congratulations.

No one thanked her or praised her.

No one noticed a thing.

Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort.

There was no struggle.

It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.

It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be.

A small smile came over her face.

A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…

Working On Completing My PHD . . . (projects half done)

It would seem I am notorious for starting up a multitude of craft projects and never finishing them, mostly because I either lose interest, life interferes, something better comes along or all of the above. 

I was reminded of this over the weekend when Deb came to stay and turned a pile of my unfinished quilt blocks and embroideries into wee zippered pouches.  One said embroidery I started and finished BEFORE I had the children and it had sat in my PHD basket since then . . . 

There are the sewing projects, with the pieces cut out, ready to go, which have never seen the light of my sewing machine:- Hobo Quilts a project started before Mr Z started school, stuffed Easter bunnies from 3 Easters ago and of course, I'm failing to mention the myriad of crochet, knitting and embroidery projects I have started and are patiently waiting completion.

I have made a resolution with myself, I must finish at least one PHD before embarking on a new one ... and ... I have the golden carrot of a new project dangling out there to help keep me motivated.

How Lucky Am I

Love and Compassion - thoughts colliding in my mind as I madly hand stitch the binding.

My family is two hour drive away . . . Day trips are and have been achievable with juggling.  

What more can I do?  What extra help could I give to my family during this time?  

I can sew . . . I can make a quilt!

Quilts bring comfort and I prayed this one did just that.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. 

My mind was torn between wanting these days to slow down and for the end to not be so close and the days to speed up and for there to be no more suffering.

How Lucky Am I To Have Someone That Makes 

Saying Goodbye

So Hard

Quilt pattern from John Q Adams book Beyond Neutrals - Quilts Inspired By Natures Elements 

Local LAQ disaster saved by Razzle Dazzle Quilter

Welcome To Narnia aka My Lady Cave

In the weekend I decided to tackle Narnia aka My lady Cave

In the year that was 2014, Narnia became nothing other than a dumping ground - whilst I still continued to craft during 2014, it was usually at the dining room table, and only a few quilts.

I used to love making myself a cuppa tea and just sitting in Narnia first thing in the weekend, browsing the many craft books on my book shelf . . . Looking for inspiration or searching for new ideas.  

Sunday morning I got up, made my coffee and ventured into Narnia, appearing out for my next cuppa, the gym or to eat.  

My swap/memento shelves . . .

Just looking at the knick knacks on these shelves brings back memories of happy creative blogging days when I joined in with craft swaps and made friendships around the world.  

Where did those days go? 

Narnia is a small space, the ironing board doubles as a cutting table (unless I have to use the dining table) and I just love my ironing board cover, which also I received in a swap.  

Narnia is named such because it literally is in a wardrobe.  A walk in wardrobe out the back of my Beauty Therapy Clinic.  (I work from home)

Shelving full of fabric.  Now all sorted back into colour order.  Beautiful Cath Kidston, Tilda and Liberty fabric.  Gorgeous vintage sheets.  So much gorgeousness waiting to be used.

Two years ago I vowed not to purchase any new fabric until I used my stash, I lasted 18 months (that's pretty good going for a sewer/quilter/crafter)

My wool and dishcloth cotton stash . . . All just waiting to be used.

I moved my sewing machine (which I have owned since I was 20!) from the dining room table and 

back into Narnia.  In the evening I sat and sewed up the hem on a skirt which had been sitting waiting 3 months.  It felt so good to be back in MY quiet space.

  

Two baskets of UFO's . . . my plan for this year is to empty these baskets! 

Narnia, my space just for me to sit, drink a cuppa and create.

ALL The Pinks .. .. .. Cascadia

Those that know me well, know I don't do 'random' and the randomness in the layout of this quilt _totally_ did my lil OCD head in!  But I persevered with a mixture of Child At Play, a Pink Vintage Sheet and other pink fabrics in my stash to complete this Quilt Dad quilt Cascadia from his book Beyond Neutral boy oh boy or should that be girl oh girl do I LOVE it and it's pinkness.

Somewhere in cyber space I saw a video clip of John aka Quilt Dad saying his quilts were strong and masculine, which in turn made me determined to make this the girly prettiest most feminine quilt ever 

Linda aka Razzle Dazzle Quilter worked her magic with an all over clam shell pattern, and once I'd completed stitching the binding using a blue vintage sheet, I snuck into Miss P's bedroom and put it on her bed for her to wake up to in the morning.  

I may be a wee bit biased but doesn't she look sweet when she's asleep . . .

Taking Stock - The Quilt Version

Making : A quilt for me !
Cooking : Kai Si Ming - Philosopher ate FOUR (4) bowls
Drinking : Copious amounts of tea 
Reading: Mental Disorders In The Classical World
Wanting: More vintage pillow cases
Deciding: Our bedroom is full of handmade pretties

Smelling: My new coconut lime candle
Wearing: PJ's 
Noticing: Mistakes in my layout 

Enjoying: My new quilt and all of its happiness colour
Waiting: For bedtime 
Liking: My new heart pillow
Wondering: If others spot the mistakes like I do?
Loving: All the prettiness of Tilda and Tanya Wheelan  

Thinking: Randomness does my head in but does look pretty
Admiring: All my 'save for a special occasion' fabrics now combined in a quilt

Pondering: Bed
Considering: Having an early night
Watching: Mad Men season 5 on light box 
Marvelling: I survived the day without a nap
Needing: A nap

Bookmarking: Papers for next year "Trojan War" and "Greek Mythology"
Disliking: Glandual Fever
Hearing: My Mr B outside 

Feeling: So happy he is fit well healthy and recovered from his operation

Quilting by Leanne of Quilt Me Kiwi

Linking in with Leonie of 3xSunshine

Razzle Dazzle Quilt Hug

When Linda blogged it was Time For A Break my heart broke.  Linda is a kind, caring, generous lady and an amazing quilter.  Every now and again my mail box will have a  lovely 'op shopped' surprise parcel and note of friendship from Linda, whom I have never met in person.  This time it was my turn to do something for her .. .. ..  I put a call out on Instagram for 'Hugs and Kisses' blocks using Canoe Ridge Creations tutorial and created a hashtag #quiltforlinda

Over the following weeks, as the blocks arrived and my Mr B became increasingly unwell I often found myself thinking about Linda and her husband and this quote from her blog .. .. ..

"I’m lucky that I knew the love of such a good man. We had many adventures together; I have lots of happy memories"

I hope as Linda looks at this quilt she is reminded of all the love and adventures she shared with her husband and also how as I was pulling together the donated blocks I was given mindless focus to get me through my hard times.  As I hand stitched the binding on curled up on the couch next to my Mr B I knew, that I too am very blessed to have the love of a good man.

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”

Khalil Gibran

Razzle Dazzle Quilt Hug
Inspired by Canoe Ridge Creations
Quilted by Leeanne Quilt Me Kiwi
Linking in with

A Quilt Hug For My Special Boy

I have a lil man who is in need of some extra love at the moment
A Minecraft crazed lil man

One afternoon whilst we were at the hospital my wee man googled "Minecraft Creeper Quilt" and then proceeded to tell me "Mama you could make me this aye"
I looked at the pattern - 5" squares and all in green or black - YES I could make that!
So my wee man and I went through my stash when we got home and pulled all of the green fabric.  He watched me cut the squares, counting how many I needed.
2.5 hours of sewing and we had a 'same same but different' quilt to the picture he had found.



I hand-stitched the binding whilst he was fast asleep in our bed, thinking about how confusing and un-settling the past three months have been for me as an adult, let alone for our children.

The following morning I snuck out early whilst every one was still asleep and hung the quilt on the chicken coup fence.

It was so worth it to see the smile on my wee mans face.
Perfect!

May the love I sewed into each stitch bring my wee man much comfort and love at night xxx

Quilting by Leeanne at Quilt Me Kiwi

Linking in with Leonie over at Show and Tell