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!!