WOW

I went to the Wearable Arts Show last night and it was WOW! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I guess I didn't know what to expect but it far exceeded my expectations. I am so wrapped I won tickets!

The kids got through on Friday and we've had a lovely (but busy and noisy) few days haha. They grow up so fast. My 14 year old grandson is so COOL!! He has grown heaps and has a neat sense of humour and a great attitude (at the moment). He loved his quilt and thanked me over and over. Did the dishes, helped out and him and I had a lot of chats. I took a neat photo of him with his quilt and will put it on here tomorrow night.

Right now I'm off to bed. I feel like I need to sleep for a week. How I managed as a young Mum I'll never know.. but then maybe that's the difference..I was young then too.

It's freezing

Well, I thought summer was close and now it's freezing. What a cold snap but a pain! My daughter is bringing her children down to stay for a few days and it's snowing in Dannevirke and Woodville and it's not sure whether the roads will be open!!! Grr I was so looking forward to them visiting. I have only seen them at my house twice in two years.. it's always me going to visit them!

Fingers crossed the snow is blown away overnight. I'm off to sew the label on George's quilt. He's really excited to see it finished.

Hope you aren't too cold where you are and Carolyn, my thoughts are with you.. and lots of love.

My healthy heart

I went to PN today and had the echo scan which showed my heart is very healthy. In fact the technician was sick so a Cardiologist did the scan and she said my heart is "PERFECT"..(she also told me to look after it and lose weight and have less stress..so she's not stupid hmmm. I knew that)

It's a huge relief. An HUGE relief. She said chest xray's are not reliable and my heart isn't even enlarged!!??? What do you rely on these days??

I don't blame my Dr for being cautious though. I am very overweight and have been under enormous stress the last two years so a likely candidate for heart attack or stroke. (Whoops she didn't rule out Angina.. I have to have a exercise test to rule that out.. but I'm not going to pay for it. I'll wait and I'll get fit and slimmer slowly but surely.

I am just relieved that the chest pain and breathlessness I've been having is just due to stress at work and seasonal asthma (which is what I thought I had anyway).

And today my heart goes out to my dear friend at Little Bear Studio. Carolyn and I grew up next door to each other till we both left home. Sadly her dear Dad passed away yesterday from cancer. Nothing makes it easier to lose a loved one even when they're suffering. It's a relief to know they are at peace but it's still final. REST IN PEACE UNCLE ALLAN. (We grew up calling our neighbours who were wonderful friends.. aunties and uncles as a sign of respect.. and I still think of them all that way.)

It was another lifetime living when we were children, in our street. We went to one neighbour to get our teeth pulled out or have our hair cut, our Mum's met for morning tea's and knitting!! we skipped on the street because the cars were much slower... we used to go on bike rides and be away most of the day.. our parent's didn't worry till dark. But my Mum is the only one that's still living in the same place.

And it is nearly a year since my own Dad left us.. how fast it's gone and yet he is around me everyday. Every rose bud, every sunny day, the views of the hills... he saw the beauty in everything and I think of him everytime I see something beautiful, in fact I think of him everyday. I still miss him dearly.

I love Josh Groban's song " To Where You Are" which we played at his service

"Who can say for certain

Maybe you're still here

I feel you all around me

Your memory, so clear

Deep in the stillness

I can hear you speak

You're still an inspiration

Can it be (?)

That you are mine

Forever love

And you are watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are

Beyond the distant star

I wish upon tonight

To see you smile

If only for awhile to know you're there

A breath away not far

To where you are

Are you gently sleeping

Here inside my dream

And isn't faith believing

All power can't be seen

As my heart holds you

Just one beat away

I cherish all you gave me everyday

'Cause you are my

Forever love

Watching me from up above

And I believe

That angels breathe

And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up

To where you are

Beyond the distant star

I wish upon tonight

To see you smile

If only for awhile

To know you're there

A breath away not far

To where you are

I know you're there

A breath away not far

To where you are

WOW WOW WOW

At last I've won something and it's great .. it's absolutely great!! I go to and from work on the bus and they've got a competition at the moment. You text your card no to them while you're on the bus and you go in a daily draw for prizes. So I got the phone call and my sister and I are off to WOW next week! Here's a photo of my new Domini duvet .. the curtains aren't wonderful but for $20 they look better than faded pink! I found the cushion to match in Lower Hutt for $10. My bathroom has become light turquoise with a new shower curtain, bath mat and toilet mat all together worth $24 cause they were buy one, get one free! And yes, if I hadn't spent the money I wouldn't be broke by tomorrow night but I REALLY REALLY NEEDED to cheer my little house up last week.

Here's a picture of one of my friend Myra's quilts. It's all random florals.. beautiful. And at the top is her quilt as you go project using 2 1/2 inch strips that we've swapped last year. I really want to make one of them. I've put in for my annual leave over the next 12 months and hope to spend a few days sewing together. She gives me heaps of inspiration and ideas..

What am I doing tonight.. I'm going to carry on cutting blocks for my cushion covers so can't stay on here third time round. My friend on Diet Coke Rocks is making these amazing gifts for christmas.. she is so clever.. colour is an everyday language to Chris. she has the knack.. I flounder and lose confidence and procrastinate but when I do make something in a hurry it doesn't look too bad. But I keep trying.

Waikato Wow

I'm back. I 've been a little under the weather with what I think is seasonal asthma however the Dr wanted a chest xray which shows my heart or part of it is twice the ratio it should be (whatever that means) so I've had to go back for tests and on Tuesday I have to have an echocardiogram. There goes any more fabric buying or meals out for awhile.. $500.. but it will be worth it to have peace of mind. Both my Dad and my Aunt had heart attacks but they weren't picked up until they'd had echo's. I have been getting very breathless especially with the cough, tired, tight chests and some days I feel absolutely wrecked. And yes, I'm overweight and yes it could be stress too.. ?? After all I do have a BIG heart .. sometimes!!

The trip to Hamilton was wonderful and to see my friend Myra... and her new little house which is absolutely gorgeous and the same rental as I'm paying for my old place. I was so jealous. Myra has lots of 'things' to look at.. and beautifully displayed. Old Wooden cottonreels in baskets... and buttons in pretty jars. She even has found a JONES sewing machine in beautiful condition. Think it's as old as I feel! And she has walk in wardrobes, a log fire, a dishwasher, a garage, beautiful tidy curtains, a huge bathroom and still 5 minutes from town in a quiet neighbourhood... Boohoooo

But I found a couple more bargains to make my place look nicer. I bought a duvet cover last week (before I knew I was going to be poorer. It was marked down from $149 to $30 and is a gorgeous textured fabric, taupe colour.. So I cut the cheap curtains I bought awhile ago (still never found another pair) in half yesterday and have hung them up because they match perfectly. They cover the windows but not a lot of gather... who cares, at $20 they're okay for now. My heart quilt has the same colour as the duvet in the border so all round my bedroom looks lovely I reckon and I feel happy. I also picked up a new shower curtain, bathmat and toilet surround for half price and they add a bit of colour to the bathroom. And tonight I started cutting out the cushions for my lounge. I will post pictures tomorrow night.

Just little things and cheap but they're make my home brighter and me happier.

I've finished George's quilt just have to make the label. But I have lost the picture I had printed onto fabric for it.. It's in a SAFE place but I've forgotten where??? I'm getting another one done and it'll all be ready for him by Friday when he arrives.

Now I'm off to bed. My Uncle and family have been for dinner and it was so nice to see them but I'm stuffed and it's back to work tomorrow.

another lucky find

I need to meet someone who has lunch at the same time as me!!
It is oh so dangerous going to the Hospice Shop (for something to do)...

Today I found this.. a Lazy Susan - I've been looking for one for years. Sadly it's made of Rimu and in excellent condition so too good to cover up and glue a cutting board on it. but I'll back the cutting board with felt or that non-slip matting and then the board will stay on top. Why do I need one because when you're cutting squares or rectangles you don't need to move the fabric... just turn, turn, turn and turn and it's cut.... Perfect!!

Unfortunately it means it''s less money I can spend in Hamilton but I really don't need any more fabric.. so I'll just enjoy myself with my friends. I CAN'T WAIT, I CAN'T WAIT, I AM SOOOOO EXCITED!! After four and a half years I'm going back to see my friend Myra and others in Hamilton. Two more sleeps!

A double door snake?

I have other words to call this but I needed a couple of draught stoppers and found this pattern in someone's blog for a door snake. It's so easy to make. Just measure the width of the door and cut a piece of fabric that width + 4" for tucking in ends x 17" long. Fold in half, right sides facing and sew together. Then put that seam in the middle and sew across one end. Turn right side out. Sew two lines an inch apart in the middle of the rectangle (this piece goes under the door) then fill with foam, stuffing, kitty litter?? or as the blog suggested a cardboard roll with batting wrapped around it. You could also fill it with polysterene beads I guess. It won't matter because the snake moves with the door so it's not going anywhere.

I've filled it with kitty litter at the moment.. cause it was cheap... and it'll do the job for now. Because they've taken all the carpet up in this house and varnished the floors the gap is about an inch

George's quilt - does it need more quilting?

Jenny's first quilt. I've had a friend from work here today and showed her how to make a quilt for her new grandson. She's just used my charm squares etc and it's looking great I reckon. Pretty good effort and only 5 hours during which time we had home made potato and kumera wedges. do you know to shake powdered semolina over them in the roasting dish.. it makes them nice and crunchy. (yeah thats from me... who doesn't like cooking!)

Here is George's quilt in good light this time. I've still to sew the binding on but it's in progress today. Do you think it needs more quilting?? It's been quilted to look like hillsbut is quite puffy.. everyone likes it but I guess I'm not used to a puffy quilt. The back is just all the leftovers and similar fabrics. George is 14 in November so I figured he needed a masculine type quilt. It's made in forest colours because he loves mountain biking and the design led to 'mountain' themes. The two kiwis were added because I accidently put a little hole in the border one day. My lovely best friend Carol sewed a second kiwi on and pieced the back for me as I had run out of time before I moved. She took it to the quilters for me and a friend picked it up in PN last weekend. My camera is new but I can't get the colours right.. I am technologically challenged I've decided!!!

I really miss my friends especially Carol and Emma whom I used to spend a lot of time with. And especially sdwing together. But five more sleeps and we're going to Hamilton together. YES, YES, YES. It's the fourth year I've tried to get to the craft show and this time I'm going. Three years ago, I didn't make it because another staff member was on leave, then September 07 I was in hospital, Sept 08 my Uncle had to have surgery for bowel cancer so I went to look after my Aunt, then my Dad had a fall a week later and you know the rest...

So THIS YEAR I AM GOING IN FIVE MORE SLEEPS!!!

The next two years

Today has been really good. My sister and her long time partner came. Ric hung my curtain rails (for my quilts) while we watched, then he fixed my computer desk that the movers wrecked... it'll never fall apart now and we helped where we could.

Oh, it's so nice to watch a man work!!!

We all went out for lunch to Dowse Cafe to celebrate my two years cancer free and to say goodbye to the last crappy two years.

Tomorrow is a new day and the start of the rest of my life.

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dad's I know.

Happy Birthday Boobie

This time two years ago it was the night before my mastectomy and my breast reconstruction. I remember feeling very calm by the time I got to that day because I was going to survive, I was a lucky one but I remember when they came to take me to theatre I started crying at the thought that life was never going to be the same again. I remember my daughter Nette telling me it was going to be okay and god how I loved her for being there for me. But that was two years ago.

It was the easiest part of the last two years.. the breast cancer .... and two mammograms since have been ALL CLEAR!! I AM ALIVE!!

And I am very humble and grateful that woman in New Zealand can have FREE mammograms every two years because if I hadn't had one in 2007 I would not be here today. They got the cancer early, okay I had to lose my boob but I didn't' have to have treatment. And so I was able to have a reconstruction immediately. So Happy Birthday Boobie xox.

If you've never had a mammogram PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE think about yourself .... and your family. Geez a few seconds discomfort could be the difference between your life or your death, between saying goodbye to your kids and watching your grandchildren grow up.

Between being diagnosed and being rid of cancer within 2 months or finding it too late and suffering through months of chemo. Ring your Breast Screening Clinic on Monday girls..

Chris.. One tit wonder... Hmmm one tit and yeah people do wonder about me sometimes. Haha ... I wuvs you and your soh.

So many give away competitions

I've just found another giveaway on http://piwacketquilts.blogspot.com/ . Beautiful fun fabrics to win. Go and have a look.

And yet another surprise give away on http://welovequilting.com/blog. Just pop in and visit and leave a comment.

Retail Therapy - whoops

But hey they're bargains! I've been trying to find a new handbag with lots of pockets and at Farmers sale last week I finally found it! And a bargain.. $40 down from $135.. well I won't tell anyone else that. It has a pocket for my keys and my bus card, a pocket for my mobile, a pocket for my girls stuff, a pocket for this and a pocket for that.. so I don't have to wade down through the crap to find that one little thing. And today I found a new wallet for a bargain again.. Yeah well it's purple but it was only $15 and the black one was $69!!! Exactly the same... I don't care what colour it is.

I also found these at the hospice shop today HALF PRICE! I'm not sure where to put them but I thought they were very different and heavy... NOt sure what they're made of but for $12 the lot I like them.. that's all that matters.

George's quilt is here. It's been quilted but I'm not sure it's enough .... I'm thinking of putting some words about mountain biking between the lines.. . not that they'll stand out.. just to flatten it down a bit more ... will use a similar colour thread and quilt the lettering in between the lines!

And finally go and have a look at http://twiddletails.blogspot.com/ They are giving away a gorgeous hold-all to one lucky person that leaves a comment. I can just imagine all the treasures I could put in it... I might even have to buy more to fill it up.. God forbid!!