Done at last....

At last at last the three quilt tops are put together! I'm so happy, I just have to figure out if I have to quilt them or beg Verina to do them.

Purchases...

This is for Aunty Jo for her birthday and Christmas (they are close together) I just need to get some quilter's muslin for the hearts to go on. Jo (if you are reading this) I hope you like these colours I thought they looked great!
Here's a cute alphabet quilt I want to make with these funky fabrics. We went to the Doll and Bear show and both Shenleigh and I had a bit of a spend up!!

I want this car....

it's so cute! I love it.

My child... the model!

Chrissy had the opportunity to do some modelling for UndercoverWear on the weekend. She looked fabulous. Someone straightened her hair beautifully and she just smiled and smiled and looked amazing!

I was so proud of her, i thought I would burst!!

A google knol!

Hi there, I'm trying out a new google thing called a knol (who knows why??) it seems to be basically a page that you can type anything and just put it out there. So I've put in a yummy recipe for a passionfruit cake here.

10 commandments for reducing stress

Here is a remind on ways of reducing stress....

1. Thou shalt not be perfect, nor even try to be
   
2. Thou shalt not try to be all things to all people
   
3. Thou shalt leave things undone that ought to be done
   
4. Thou shalt not spread thyself too thin
   
5. Thou shalt learn to say "No"
   
6. Thou shalt schedule time for thyself, and thy supportive network
   
7. Thou shalt switch off and do nothing regularly
   
8. Thou shalt be boring, untidy, inelegant and unattractive at times
   
9. Thou shalt not even feel guilty
   
10. Especially, thou shalt not be thine own worst enemy, but be thy best friend.
    

Thanks to Physical Sense, Physiotherapy, for these!

Quick post

It was cold and wet on Saturday, and i seemed to have drawn the straw for family taxi driver! Any way I did fit in some sewing this weekend, I quickly finished a bag that my neice Melissa had done the embroidery for. It was her birthday, so I spent Saturday afternoon and finished it. She's happy with it!

I'm still working on my three tops. They are all at the same stage....
Here's David and Chrissy trying out a new quilt at Coalgate....

Our A 2 Z Adventures...

David and I have a new blog. Working with our coach recently we were talking about how having weekly 'dates' can be quite lame and not really helping to connect with each other. Mike was encouraging us to have 'experiences' together, so we decided to take turns going through the alphabeth, choosing experiences! So far we have had A (A conversation) and B (Bus trip and coffee at Borders Bookshop). It's so much fun - it really makes you think outside the square and there's the element of competition just to add some spice! I have C (I know what I'm going to do) and David has D and so on.

We want to see how many people will join us. Time invested in your relationship is never wasted. If you are interested, leave a comment and we'll put your names on the blog.

We are having fun!

An award....

Look what I got from Amanda - my first ever award! Thanks so much Amanda - I'm thrilled to get it.

The rules are as follows:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog/
2. Link to the person you received your award from
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

I would like to nominate....

Linda who has a busy interesting life that I enjoy reading about and is a beautiful quilter!

Helen who makes lots of lovely quilts. Thanks for sharing!

Candace who has such a beautiful looking blog and shares lots of bits and bobs!

Katie who is soooo funny, I enjoy reading her blog. She has an AMAZING garden!

Lucy in Holland who takes beautiful photos and makes inspirational mini quilts!

Merith in Australia. I wish I could see in her cupboards. The sheer quantity of things she achieves is mind-boggling!

Keryn also in Australia (sister of Merith). Those girls are incredible I don't know how they do it!

so many amazing blogs... such a shame I have a day job! Thanks everybody for all your great contributions!

Quilty progress...

Here's my wee helper! He is such a light sleeper than no matter how early and how quietly I get up he comes to join me!! The fabric on the right is my impulse purchase. I just loved them so much. The colours are actually much brighter than the photo shows.

Works in progress, the one on the left is the 'Kiwiana' (New Zealand) fabric and the one on the right is for my dad. I think he'll really like the colours.

This is the Christmas Story quilt. My friend Shenleigh and are are going to work on them together. Who knows we might finish them before Christmas (don't hold your breathe)!


And another work in progress!!

Sewing plans!

Another weekend hurray! I wish that I could just sew all weekend. I can't get used to working full time and not being able to squeeze in any sewing time! I've got three quilts I want to make before the end of August...

• One for my dad - I made him a wee one at Christmas, but he actually seems to like it so I'm going to make him a lovely one to snuggle under for his birthday!
• One for Eva - she's coming over in August.
• One for Mum to take to Korea out of New Zealand fabrics.

I'm going to do them all quite a simple but effective design. Hopefully I can get one done this weekend. I had a bit back tooth pulled out yesterday and feel a bit poorly today, but it won't stop me from some sewing!

I also brought some gorgeous fabrics yesterday, I couldn't resist them. I'm going to do them as a hexagon project just to plod away at in the evenings. I love having a hand project on the go. I'll put a photo in here later.

Stitchers Angel

I've joined my first swap - see the pretty badge to the right! I've never joined a swap before because I didn't know if I'd meet the standard, but I know I can do stitchery!! I've been doing embroidery since I was 12 years old. Read Hugs from Helen to find out about it.

Work in progress for today....

My first attempt at foundation piecing!
Here is a quilt I'm so happy with its for our bed!! I embroidered around all the hearts at a sad time in my life and looking at the quilt makes my heart warm because so much has changed!

Best reason to get out of bed at 5am!

Yes the Tour started today. In a household of cycling mad boys, getting up early is compulsory. Its one of those things that once you start watching you get hooked!! Two years ago I came home from the hospital having just had my hip replaced. I lay on the sofa and David put on the cycling. The first few days I moaned and groaned but then... I was hooked! Now we look forward to it. Even James got up early. Yes he is lying under a quilt that doesn't have its binding yet!! I have to find the brown fabric to bind it and haven't had time to get it yet. Oh well, still warm and cosy....

Saturday Sewing...

Another top! I was trying out this pattern from Alycia with some fairly poxy fabric that I had. It was so fast, I cut it out last weekend and sewed it up in one afternoon. The contrast was not strong enough but it still an ok top. I think I'll call it "Candyfloss"! I think I'll try and find some flannelette to put on the back and then it can be one for the kids to slob around under!! I've got some lovely fabric cut out to make one for someone I love (can't say who!!) and I think this pattern will be just right. The bag is for a quilt I made but haven't given away yet. I'd lost the letters I made in the abomination that is called my sewing room (gosh what a mess in there) so I can sew them on now.

Junior South Island Cycling Champs...

This is my little champion in the grey looking at the camera!
A determined look on the final straight!
This is Justin ready to go. These boys are so tough, it was freezing cold, raining and slowing, oh my goodness! The wind was blowing a gale - nasty!! James did good though, its his first time and he's really getting into it. He is doing heaps better since we started treating his asthma (oops won't win any parenting prizes there seeing as we didn't pick it up for ages!!!!) and as he is hitting puberty, he will start to develop some serious muscle which will make him happy! Its just so great to have teenagers who are keen on sport. Bring it on!

It's snowing at home...

This is cold cold cold cold!!!!


The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

Henry Miller

This is cold...

It was so cold this morning when I went off for my swim (!!) that the hot water I put on my car froze instantly, and there was ice on the INSIDE of my windscreen! Figure that out.

What to do on a wet weekend!

A finished project in place. This is the guest room in our cottage at Coalgate. Doesn't it look inviting? I wish we could get our act together and get it rented out more!!
Here is a boy completely relaxed with his little dog, lying in the bean bag watching Kids TV. We spent the day at Coalgate, just blobbing! I cut out two quilt tops and then spent the rest of the day reading. David was reading and painting and the kids were just mucking around. It was so peaceful. It was pouring with rain and freezing cold (3 degrees) out side, but lovely and cosy inside!

A neat story....

My friend sent me this very cool story! I don't know where its from or who to give credit to, but I love the lessons in it!


I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraizing a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. 'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas....They sure look good.' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.' 'Would you like take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir.Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.' 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see it,' said Miller. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble,' Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. 'When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like redafter all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.' I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.

A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. 'Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho .' With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath. Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself. An unexpected phone call from an old friend. Green stoplights on your way to work. The fastest line at the grocery store. A good sing-along song on the radio. Your keys found right where you left them.

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived