October is Pink

It is October again and this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in New Zealand. My friend at Little Bear Studio http://draffinbears.blogspot.com/ has a gorgeous pink blog today so I've decided to 'copycat'...these are a few of my favourite pink things... it is my favourite colour and I get lots of compliments when I wear it. Pink Roses from my dear old Dad's garden which he cared for every day. The garden was his favourite place when he was well. He had 199 roses at one time and this was one of the photos I framed for his birthday once. I love roses too, in fact he took 35 of mine when I moved to Brisbane. Everytime I see a rose I think of Dad. I miss him so much.My grandson's new shoes... hmmm well.. they are PINK! Makes me very humble as I used to give my old boss Stew heaps about his 'favourite' shoes which were red, white and blue shoes .. I told him they looked like union jacks.. (hanging my head now). I showed George a photo of them. He loves Stew's shoes... so good on them for having the confidence to wear what they like no matter what!! But they are PINK?
Of course my little Princess... my gorgeous granddaughter looks wonderful in pink. She was only a couple of days old in this photo And she still loved pink at 2 1/2 years

And here she is 6 months ago on her 5th birthday, her favourite colours are pink AND purple now. Olivia is 5 1/2 now going on 15! I thought I'd given her plenty to keep her amused last weekend but she'd do that and ask for "another job please Nannie".

This gorgeous shrub is so amazing and beautiful. This is all one branch.. so many colours and shades. It was growing over a fence when I lived in Brisbane 6 years ago. I never found out the name of it but I wish I'd asked now.
Of course, my favourite quilt is the one my friends made when I had surgery. I had to say what was my favourite colour.. and so it is pink... I treasure it .. whenever I'm homesick for my friends I have my quilt. Finally this is a necklace my sister bought back from USA in 2007. They go to Israel every year in September and that year I was recovering from my surgery so she bought it for me. And yes, right now they are back in Israel at the Festival of Lights organising the ushers at all the meetings. Hard work but they are very committed christians and have met many wonderful friends from all over the world. I think this is their 10th year of working at the festival.

To all the wonderful courageous ladies who have suffered and survived this incideous disease CELEBRATE.. WE ARE SURVIVORS and each new day is precious. To all those who have lost a loved one because of breast cancer, my heart goes out to you but their loss should be an inspiration to you to take care of yourself and live each day for them as well.

Don't forget my giveaway for my 100th post and check out Diet Coke Rocks giveaway.. which includes a gorgeous quilt and fabric so far... It's her 300th blog!!!http://dietcokerocks.blogspot.com

Two chances to win

Wow I've made 100 posts.

But first here's a photo of the finished quilt and my grandson George who really loved it.

And this is what I did at Sunday's class "Tumbling Blocks" organised by Capital Quilters.

Others used just 3 fabrics .. a light, a medium and a dark... but I was trying to use my stash so mine is a bit different. I think you can still see the 3 D effect on some of them but it was fun trying it out anyway. It'll make a small knee rug or something.

I didn't realise it till today that I'd reached 100!!! .. I'm such a techno phobic person I didn't even know where to look. Have just figured out what 'follower' means haha. So I guess I'd better have a lucky draw!! I don't get a lot of viewers so believe me you've all in with a chance.

Sooooo ..between now and next Sunday 11 October you can go in the draw to win a surprise package of craft items ie. fabric, buttons, ribbons etc etc.

All you need to do is leave a comment saying what craft you enjoy the most and I'll put your name in the draw. I will get someone at work to draw out 2 winners on Monday 12 October. Remember if you don't have a blog you will need to send me your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner.

My friend over at http://diet-coke-rocks.blogspot.com is also having a lucky draw for her 300th post. She's adding something to the prize every day until the 10th of October. Today it's a gorgeous quilt she made .. be lovely hanging on the wall in my room. Have a look through Chris's blog at all the neat quilts she's made in the last few months. She has great colour confidence.... So be in with a chance to score a beautiful package from Chris. I think her instructions were in the blog about Wednesday this week? I've already won a prize on this blog and it was absolutely amazing. (Which reminds me I still have Quilt Diva to finish.)

Hopefully I will get onto sewing this weekend but Sunday may be watching my grandson Cam at motorx which is going to be held in Wellington.

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.