Non quilty blog post

Hello readers

When I last posted I was thinking that I would be here chatting about some different aspects of my life than previous posts have only alluded to. Now while we all try to keep a modicum of privacy within the social networking sphere,  I feel the time has come to disclose to my regular readers more about the person they are reading about.

So with some misgivings but with a great deal of optimism (I have always felt well supported by those who choose to visit my blog) I want to discuss some of the other things that make me who I am.

I came late to the quilting and sewing world and I took it up at a time when I needed a distraction from the disappointment and on-going depression I felt from resigning from my job.


In 1999 I went back to school full time after my youngest went into pre-school. I completed a  12 month bridging course that allowed me to apply to study for a degree at university. I wanted to study in the social sciences field. I had to do my degree by distance education as the local uni wasn't running the course. Over the years it was a struggle to study and still care for a family of five kids and a husband as well as work casually for an organisation who supported people with disabilities.
But I managed it, as my family were great, especially the bloke who it must be said went beyond the call of duty to support me.
Anyway through out the years of study I also carried some fairly big life limiting health issues.


In 1994 I made the now regretful decision to undergo weight loss surgery (WLS) and had my stomach stapled. I thought it would end my days of dealing with a larger than optimum body and allow me to participate in life more.
You see I was/am according to the medical professionals 'obese', 'super obese', or even worse bariatric. I am not keen on any of these descriptors and in fact prefer to be just a fatty. Mind you this is when talking about myself I don't really think anyone will have a need to address me as this is Jan the fatty!
Anyway, what is my point here? Over the past 12-18 months I have been reading a lot about fat acceptance (FA) in the blogosphere. It has made interesting reading to me, a person who has for the most part of her life lived with the 'shame' of being a fatty.
What is the FA about you might ask? In simple terms it is a movement that directs its efforts at changing societal attitudes toward people who are fat. In their work they are also attempting to alter internal and medical attitudes, and reduce the hatred and discrimination faced by many big people.

Another movement, Health at Every Size (HAES) promotes that health is independent, not dependant on body weight. Individuals can pursue mental and physical health regardless of their physical appearance or size.
Okay that's the end of my little essay. Plenty more time for further posts on the subject and I certainly don't want to come across as the know all of either the FA or the HAES movement. I am still finding my away around the movement, the actions and the people, and I have made some great new cyber friends.
I intend to blog more about this subject, amongst the quilting and sewing posts. These things are important to me right now.
What do you think, if anything, about the whole idea of it? I have probably been a bit too brief about this very important discussion but I must be honest and let you know that mentally I remain tired, strained and non to clear in my thinking.So this is all I could manage.

Hope I have not put anyone off with my meandering ways today.

Take care

Quilts & More

Here I am again. I have even managed to bring some pictures with me.

The first is a picture of our pretty ornamental plum tree. It took us three tree purchases before we managed to keep one alive. So you can understand our pride. 

 The next is a common old marigold but I love them. So vibrant and tough and they coordinated well with the baby quilt following it and that is why I chose it. :)

Not sure if you can read what I have written on the label, I didn't have the patience tonight to play around in the picture editing program.

But here it is:

A baby boy for Brooke and Shaun

and for Kye a little brother.

I hope this quilt keeps him warm and let's him know

he's loved like no other.

I like to write a personal note it makes the quilt more special.

I love bright colours and could not bring myself to make the regular blue for boys or pink for girls. They are having a boy but on the off chance the scans were wrong this will be fine for either sex.

I made it much larger than the usual baby quilt. I don't think I am able to make a small quilt.

I quilted it simply with straight stitches.

This quilt has been built to withstand many washes.

Regular readers have seen the following quilt in its infancy. Thankfully it is now done. I am so glad it was very time consuming.

And another large quilt completed. This is for my bed and featured a most beautiful fabric by Moda called Chrysalis.

 It was a real challenge for me, but I am pleased it turned out okay. A few mistakes that I tried to quilt out but I'm not concerned. 

Swinging in the breeze.

I will be back soon for another chat, and I warn you it may be 100% different to tonight's. :)


Take care

What do you do on a Saturday night?

Well what do you do? If your a tired old girl like me you might be sitting at home. The bloke is watching his favourite footy team playing on one T.V and the princess daughter is watching DVDs of "The Office".  

Well not for me tonight, I am not interested in any of it. So here I am bashing away on the keys writing a new post, checking my facebook page-which really hasn't changed since the last time I looked, reading other blogs and eating my evening meal whilst sat at the computer-ohm ah, don't tell will you?

Had a lovely small family get together BBQ here last night. We have a young couple (from the blokes side of the family) visiting for a month. They live in a small town called Einbeck, Germany and to say they find the contrast of our wide brown land a shock is an understatement. Marlene, is a newly qualified teacher and she is the one related to the bloke showed us photos of her family farm where they breed the beautiful Hanover horses. The farm is of course lush and green and refreshing. Oh if only...

They have come to us as the partner of Marlena is a mining engineering student, looking to carry out some work experience. Unfortunately for him it is not that easy to just walk in and work Strict policies prevent this. But anyway they are keeping themselves busy and the girls are taking them to various places.

Source: Wikipedia-some of the historical timber buildings

I absolutely love to find out how other people live and so it is a real plus for me. We are hoping to foster a relationship between out kids so that they may have a place to go should they travel to those parts. We are fairly sure they will.

I am what you could call an armchair traveller. :)

Well this is a quick post as I have only just managed to have the quilts photographed and they still need to be loaded on.

I really hope that whatever your doing it's done with a smile on your dial.

Take care lovelies, till next time,

Early Morning

(Photo:Blink of life)

Howdy folks. It is 4.07am, and yes I am obviously awake to write this. :) It was not my choice. I have been having a week of shocking pain and sleep issues. I hope the end is in sight as I am sure I will go crazy if not. I will probably need to get to the big smoke for yet more tests so that eventually I get my CPAP machine which I hope will solve my sleep issues, and the other health issues that brings.

It is so bad lately that I have been only able to do little bits of sewing, reading anything really.

I finally completed sewing the binding down last night. *sigh* it has only taken me two weeks. But it is done and after taking some time to admire the hard work it is destined for this sweet girl.

She wants it known that she helped with the making of this quilt, in that she traced the shapes, chose the fabrics, cut out and ironed the applique onto some of the blocks so that I could do the rest. It was a great help.

So plans for today? My doctor is visiting me this morning. Last time she came she had her beautiful baby with her, such a cherub.

Then I may head out in the car for a drive, although with the way I am feeling right now, that may change.

The bloke also asked me to do some sewing with his work clothes. He wants me to sew the shirt fronts up so he doesn't have to undo the buttons all the time. And then there is a button to sew on. I told him I don't do everyday sewing, but because he is the best bloke around I will, I mean I owe him big time. He is the major encourager with my sewing and quilting. He told me to buy sewing machine of my dreams. You gotta love that.

So it's been a long time since I heard from people, so tell me what your plans are for today.

Until next time,

Being Kind to yourself

I've been tuning in to ABC classical radio and it is proving to be quite refreshing from my usual radio station. Quite beautiful in fact and something very much needed at the moment. I need the serenity it makes me feel. So much has being going on in my little world. Nothing too exciting really, but still draining and wearisome. I have been doing a real number on myself for some time now and it has got to

the stage where I am about to put up the I surrender flag. By this I mean I have not been kind to myself or for that matter not as nice as I could be to others around me either. It has gotten me exactly nowhere but further into the dark abyss that is my depression.

So in accordance with the law of the universe that says when it is a beautiful, sunny, bright, full of potential day, one must be happy, smiling and content. I am. Just for the day though, and then I will see where I go from that. No promises. I am not accountable to anyone but myself. Much less pressure that way.

I have been trying to finish some projects and this has been one cause of my frustration. I am chronically tired so am only able to do things in small time increments. This is very annoying as I have the habit to rushing into things and wanting to get things done last week. Part of a much bigger problem I have. Anxiety/depression are the bane of many peoples lives including mine.

The battle has been big this year, and I am trying to cope the best I know. At the very least I am still here to be counted.

I have frequent visions that I rise from my self imposed nest of comfort AKA the lounge and walk into my kitchen and wash the dishes. I think of it at least three times each day. Then after that I clean the benches; removing every last crumb from every crevice. Then I clean the oven and cook top. Did you know it is good Feng Shui to have a clean cook top and oven? Yes apparently this is the money corner in your house. Heard that on 'The Morning Show' this morning.

Mundane thoughts you are probably thinking but for me they mean I am back participating in my life again. Trying to carry some of the burden that has fallen largely onto the blokes shoulders and to a much lesser extent my youngest daughter.

Some people reading this might wonder at my laziness, but truly I do have a rather major mobility issues that prevents me moving around much and I am unable to stand longer than 2-3 minutes.

But the dream of having my hands in a warm, soapy sink full of dirty plates fills me with hope. (Yes I am easily pleased). I do have a dishwasher, but the need, yes need to wash dishes sits in me. :)

I want to feel productive to the household again and not be a burden. It is not a good place to be that's for sure.

And get this. On Monday night I made a lemon cake. Yes I did. Of course the ingredients were bought to me but I did the rest. Why you ask? Well the bloke, being the kind, generous person he is listened to my ravings about wanting a decent mixer seeing as I had never really had one. So he went out and purhased the one I had researched. I made a great deal with out local electrical shop bloke, who knocked off quite a few dollars seeing as he only had one colour in stock. Red! Be still my beating heart. I love red. It looks so flash. 12 speed, very quiet compared to the thumper my mum had, 3 attachments-whisk, mixer and dough hook and it's motor is a 100 watt more powerful than the sought after Kitchenaid mixer. I am rapt.

Mine is the  Kenwood Patissier which I present to you below. I love that it is all metal and not plastic. I love that the 4 litre bowl has a hande on it. Of course my cake didn't turn out perfect. I read the recipe as needing two cups of flour but it was really only one. So then I bunged in more flour, more sugar, more lemon chucked in some coconut for good measure. The cake had hardly any taste but it was not too bad, and served with cream it was quite eatable. Next time I will stick to s tried and true recipe and not one that I found on the net. Oh and by the way I have no affiliations with the makers of this mixer. :)

Well folks that's it for today, need to sew whilst the energy is there, it won't last.