I love Pinwheels

Finally I have some new sewing to show. I made these pinwheels some time ago and was unable to work out how I could piece them together in a pleasing manner to make a new quilt. My brain would not work on it for me. But last Monday in a fit of activity I managed to seize the moment and went with the black floral reproduction (I think) that I purchsed last year from a store closing in Perth. Luckily I had purchsed a metre and it did fine to enable me to add sashings and and a good 6 inch border. As I flew along like a mad thing sewing it together I didn't give much thought to matching up lines or anything really. And do you know what? I recognise that this is my style. I rarely get things to match and I now know that I am not really worried by that. This is a big thing to admit for someone like me who has a perfectionist streak.

I love to create and then see what I end up with. Even if I work off a pattern my own design elements creep in. :) That is how it is. I love pinwheels and my sister does too and she has asked me to show her how to make them.

So what are you making now?

Time to Say Goodbye

4th September 1932-13th August 2010

It's been a couple of weeks since I was last here and as you will see mum passed away on Friday 13th August at 8.30am. We had her funeral yesterday. It was a lovely service as far as they go. Short, simple and something mum would have approved of.

As per mum's wishes we had a Catholic priest perform the service at the crematorium and then she was interred this morning in the cemetary into dad's grave. Most of the family were there and it gave is some closure. But it sure feels weird. I go to call mum before remembering she's not there any more. My sister-in-law she still does this and her mother has been gone 8 years.

Oh how will we fill this hole left behind? I guess we will.

Life just goes on, another day dawns.

My friends have been a great support. Their love and caring, flowers, kind words, food are all very much appreciated. The coming together in such times makes me feel so much more connected to the rest of humanity more than ever.

It is very welcoming.

I love you mum and will do my best to achieve my goals.

I give you this one thought to keep -(This was sent to me from a friend) sorry do not know original author. 

I am with you still - I do not sleep.


I am a thousand winds that blow,


I am the diamond glints on snow,


I am sunlight on ripened grain,


I am the gentle autumn rain.


When you awake in the morning's hush


I am the swift, uplifting rush


Of quiet birds in circled flight.


I am the soft stars that shine at night.


Do not think of me as gone -


I am with you still - in each new dawn

Mum is still with us. She is hanging on much longer than they predicted. She is a tough old bird this one. She is never left alone. Family are there at all times. Some come for the day. Another, my daughter actually, does the night shift and sleeps there on a little fold-out bed. Tending to mother, gently and lovingly. This time spent with her nana is something she will remember always. We are all incredibly sad.
It almost seems as if I am holding my breath, waiting for the call. The call we don't want, but know must occur.
I am intending to take on a new sewing project soon. I just feel the urge to create and engage myself in something to make me focus. I feel that I have been driftng along, not really focusing on anything. But now my mind needs something, anything to do. Stop the whirling in my brain, al least for a little while.

Mama is fading

I write this post with a heavy heart. My dear little mama is in hospital nearing the end of her life. I knew this time would come but the closer it approaches the more I realise that one can never be fully prepared for it. My mother has that dreaded smokers disease emphysema. Now of course any death is traumatic, but this particular one is nasty. To sit and watch, helpless while she struggles for air is nearly indescribable. She is scared. So are we. The doctors tell us it could be hours or it could be days. So we wait. When the phone rings I steel myself for the blow. I cry. I cry a lot. Every time I try to talk about her I cry. I am known as the sook in the family. I admit it I am.
But do you know what my people, freinds etc they are worth a few of my tears.

I love you mama and will miss you and your matter of fact manner.

Fresh is best

Quich & Salad. Is there anything better? This is a meal we had a few weeks back and I took photos because I liked the look of the colours in the salad and becuause the meal was very nice to eat. My daughter made the quiche under the helpful advice of moi.

It was all gone that night, no smoko for the bloke for work.

Our goal is to eat more food that is fresh, crisp, colourful and not so processed. I reckon it will be a slow changeover.

Good morning.
 Is it just me or are you also amazed at the speed of 2010? I am shocked to see that the date is already 2nd August, when I was so sure it was January just a few weeks back. Is this a sign of me getting older I wonder.

Well, on the sewing front I don't have much to report except that last week I took delivery of some special fabrics from here.

As I may have said before I love bird fabrics. Little birds, bug birds, all types really. When I ordered the large bird fabrics as in the above red bird I had it in my mind to use it for appliqueing with. You know just cutting around the shapaes and then stitichign them onto cloth. However since I have them in my hot little hands, I feel torn, and don't want to cut into them now. After all what would become of all that white fabric surrounding the birds, leaces and flowers?
Does anyone else have this dilemma or is it my OCD showing itself?
Also is there anyone who can tell me how they use their large design fabrics?
Otherwise I will continue to drape them decorativley over the baskets strategically placed about my home.