Back home

A few intensive weeks in Brisbane.  I discovered the surgery my daughter had has a nickname of MOAS (Mother Of All Surgeries) and I can see why.  It is brutal and tough, I was told it was the largest of the surgeries they do at the hospital.   A few days in ICU and then a couple of weeks on the ward and at the weekend took her home.  Recovery is always better at home isn't it?   Time will tell how effective the HIPEC (chemo) was (and what next for that) ...... as with all cancers regular scans and tests for the next 10 years at least.

I never even opened my box of projects! but I did do a few rows of crochet in the evenings at the unit, and I did alter a couple of her nighties so she could wear them over the PICC lines.... the sleeve needed to be able to open so I cut across the top and applied some velcro - worked a treat.

Before we left to Brisbane I did finish quilting "Wings and Pretty Things" (designed by friend Michelle)

Hard to see the quilting but curls in the background and outlining the applique ....

Straight lines through the EPP pieces.....

Just waiting for the binding to go on now.....

I just wanted a couple of days quietly at home and the best way for me to rest is to sew.....

These two items were already cut and partly sewn...  you will see they are both the same fabric - because there was plenty!

A favourite top of mine.... Bondi top

The back has a pleat ....

And a wrap around dress ......

Now that it is cooling down I'm not sure I will really have a chance to wear them until it warms up again...

The evenings were spent finishing off the blue beanie.... so now these can be posted to the grandieboy brothers in Victoria.

Oh, and I thought I deserved a treat so got the kit of Anni Downs new fabric range

The girls at The Quilters angel have added a coordinating fabric for binding and included a preprint linen for the embroideries....

... and of course the pattern book

I'm holding off starting this as I still have lots of other handwork projects on the go  - it's so tempting especially with the preprints!!!

Righto, Gotto Go..... a quilt is set up on the frame, scrappy blocks are all over the sewing space and yarn is bubbling out the bucket next to my chair!  xx

Middle of April

This week another 5 blocks to Wensleydale/Tuesleydale were done....

And finally after 11 years Sylvia's Bridal Sampler has been bound....

It has a fun backing too as I had used left over fabrics to make up blocks

With pieced front and back it is quite a heavy quilt

Made from this book - I do love a sampler quilt

Jack's beanie is completed, and now I have started another for younger brother....

I joined one block of curved blocks - I think it's going to work!

Crochet blanket has a few more rows and I will keep working at it, and some other handwork over the next few weeks whilst we stay in Brisbane to support my daughter through her surgery.

A few people have asked so just a short update, google will help if you do want more info....it's certainly been a time of learning for me.

She has Jelly Belly/Appendix Cancer or Pseudomyxoma Peritonei and will by having it removed, scraped and take out any non vital organs, HIPEC chemotherapy and a long recovery.  We have decided to stay in the city and be close by for the first few weeks then of course assist at home as much as we can.

As such there'll be a bit of a blog break since I'm not likely to have much to show but I will be having my morning blog reading as often as possible.  

Keep crafting, keep happy and keep blogging..... xx

2nd week of April

Grandson Jack requested a beanie for upcoming winter...

I knitted a beanie with chunky wool - it is too big even for a big headed person!

I will try threading some shirring elastic through and see if that works

Sewing with friends on Wednesday yielded another 5 blocks .....

I'm rather chuffed how well my bold dark stripes lined up so well!

A good start has been made on the crochet blanket.  I am using Lucy's (Attic 24) Coast Ripple Blanket pattern but with my own set of colours.

A little bit of embroidery has been done for the next section of the Table runner

... and the next attempt at a beanie has been started using 8 play yarn this time... it is a nice chocolate brown and khaki green... not the colours shown in the picture at all!

Righto, Gotto Go.... I'd like to set up a quilt on the frame for quilting..... Wings and Pretty Things that I did ages ago (2020) , designed by Michelle... but first I need to sew together the backing as regular fabric is not wide enough.

Have a lovely weekend.....xx

April has started

This week I wasn't able to sew along with my Tuesleydale friend so I had a day at home..... Funny how usually I manage 5 or 6 blocks but 10 were done when I'm on my own!

English Grandson who is staying nearby commented how he would love his own crochet blanket as the one at home has to be shared.... so I dug in my cupboard and have started one....

... and I have continued making curved blocks - 24 each of these ones....

My Hardanger has been sorely neglected as I have missed a number of embroidery days, but I have started sewing this border of hearts..... 

I'm pretty slow, today I sewed 3 hearts, then undid 5 as there was a mistake, resewed 6 and undid 3 ... and then I got round the corner and across that little bit!  So a lot of practice!

I hope you all have a lovely long weekend, celebrating Easter.  The local family is here for BBQ lunch tomorrow and I'll make a chocolatey dessert... that will be my contribution to festivities.  Otherwise I am looking forward to a quiet few days.

Righto, Gotto Go - chocolate mousse to make... xx

4th week of March

This UFO has been around on my list for some years!.  It was actually scraps from a previous project where I had ended up with a bunch of triangles sewn as HST's at the time.....

I first made them into little pinwheel groups of 4 and then sewed strips

Originally I thought a mini quilt but decided on another project bag instead!

The lining is sweet and the backing is pretty - which I also used for binding and accent on the zip

In the last week I have ended up having 2 machine sewing days with friends so I got quite a few 'Tuesleydale' blocks done....

With all the talking that goes on 5 a day is pretty good!

I changed my ineffective magnets to some pretty poppers

The bag closes perfectly now....

Evening stitching has resulted in another section of tablerunner done, one bit is in such a pale thread it's hard to see, at this stage I will leave it though

Righto, Gotto Go.

Our Widget has his 'formal' this evening and we need to dress up for photo's and the 'walk-in'.  I've not experienced one of these before.  He featured on my blog many times as a youngster and I keep feeling surprised that this is his final year at school.

Have a lovely weekend...xx

Third week of March ....

This month is disappearing .....

I did a basic Log Cabin quilt using most of a jelly roll and quilted it.... it has now been completed.... It's a lap size quilt and I rather like the softness of the colours

Last year my scrap buster project was making lots of scrappy stars...

This top has been put together using half of them (and I still have cut scraps to use so there is likely to be more of these)

This top will be given to the Quilt club, for use in their community quilts project

(I am no longer a member there but I did get a bunch of light fabrics from their stash to make up the stars)

A few more of my Tuesleydale blocks were done .....

I managed to put together my stitch sampler bag.  I did line quilting along the ticking lines and then folded and bound the edges.  Magnetic clasps to hold it shut....

I'm happy with it, thought the magnets are very week and so I will look at swapping them out for something better....

My African Violet which struggled in the pot is flowering so beautifully now it is outside

We got a new recipe book a couple of weeks ago.  I do use online quite a lot but do love a book too!

This lady runs a charity which feeds vulnerable/homeless and funds from book sales go towards it.  I love her recipes and will get her more recent book too in due course.

Her gorgeous dog features a lot in it, sadly he passed away recently but it's lovely to see the bond they shared.

We had family over for a meal so I tried a couple from the book.....

First was brisket done in a spicy barbeque sauce in the slow cooker - the teenage boys wolfed it down.... no leftovers for sandwiches!  There was sauce/gravy left over though and this was lovely on chicken and sausages over the next few days.

Then I made her chocolate cake and icing for dessert..... it was yummy too but sooooo big - loads of leftovers so they took some, and we kept some.

I have picked out a couple more recipes to try..... the goal is for one new recipe a week....

Righto, Gotto Go..... I've had a busy day and ready to put my feet up....  have a lovely weekend...xx