One less UFO

Tonight I finished my third quilt - really truly finished it by putting the last stitch in the binding. It seemed to take forever on this one I don't know why...I mean it took me hours of hand stitching. I felt that absolute rush of excitement and joy and glow at the pure pleasure of looking at something I've created and finished. It's on the bed to sleep under tonight. It's been on the bed before with the binding half on half off and the needle hanging off it, but tonight is different - there's a whole new way of looking at my FINISHED quilt - no niggling thoughts of 'suse when are you going to get round to finishing it .. you better do it before you prick yourself in your sleep. I reckon I must like to live dangerously because that wasn't much of an incentive? Lucky the weather is still cool enough to warrant a quilt..... I put the last stitch in it tonight round at a friend's house - the gorgeous Margie who took the photo you can see. She is such a friend...I said I'm not leaving until it's done!! And she said go for it! It wasn't too late was it Margie? Thanks for sharing the joy of my completed quilt and being so appreciative of it!!

Gone to a new home

My sister Helen came to visit recently which was very special as it was a few years since she'd been here. We've caught up on the east coast many times, but it was lovely to welcome her to my home. I did a bit of show and tell with craft projects, finished (hah, very few!), and wips - one of the wips was my crochet ripple which I was finishing a fluted edging on. Well Hellie fell in love with it! She LOVED it...so I said you can have it - for all those birthdays etc when I haven't sent pressies etc. I'll finish it and give it to you at Christmas. Anyways the visit ended as all good things do and Helen flew home to Cairns. The next day I got a call...chat chat chat and "oh by the way I took the rug!" I laughed and said Hellie it's not finished! There's probably still a crochet hook wrapped up in it! And I haven't woven in all the ends. She said, " no I love all the tassles - I love it just as it is and so do my girls...Maya came in from school and stopped dead in her tracks and exclaimed "Mum, where'd you get that AWESOME blanket?" (Hels had thrown it over the sofa). I just laughed and said well you better find the end and tie it off so it doesn't start unravelling!!

So there you go a WIP in my eyes was a finished work of art in someone else's eyes. I am thrilled it has gone to its new home where it is LOVED. And now I'll just have to make another one for my home. Big sigh! What a shame...NOT! I get to have the fun all over again!

778 done, 222 to go! Blooming hexies

So I've counted them all up. I have made 778 so only 222 to go because i have it on good authority that you need 1000 to make a queen size quilt - that's my 1/1/2 inch hexies. This is the funnest project ever in the world right now. I never ever thought I'd like a hand sewing project so so much. but then I know lots of people out there in bloggy crafty land wouldn't be suprised by that they'd just think "uh, yeah" are you a slow learner or what....yes I am ...about the slowest in the world...Has anyone ever heard of that kid's book "Leo The Late Bloomer". I dont' remember much of the story perraps I'll find me a copy and refresh my memory - 'cos I reckon that's me - the latest bloomer ever!!! But baby am I BLOOMING!!!

Parallel lives??

So this is my day so far...I set alarm for 6.30 am to ensure raising my daughter in enough time to take her to school for a test at 7.30 am. She is doing year 12 so is exhausted from everything she has had on. Wake her, make lunches and a coffee, put away dishes left to drip dry from last night. Feed the cat and give her her epilepsy tablets. Drive my daughter to school. Come home, get myself ready for work. With a few minutes to spare I jump online to pay bills due (yesterday was payday). Reply to a couple of emails (we have an insurance thing happening - the result of 3 burglaries this year). Drive to work. Arrive at work - dive right in. Very busy day at work in sales - grab a drive through burger at 3.30 on my way to see a client. Yep forgot my lunch - it's still sitting on the kitchen bench. Get back to office. Client arrives at 10 to 5. Finish with drop in at 5.30. Ring to cancel vet appointment as now too late. Ring my daughter to tell her I will be home in time to take her to dancing at 6. She is sitting outside playing with dog as she's forgotten to take keys. Run in, she changes and then dash out to dancing. Stop by coles to get 2 missing ingredients for dinner I am planning. Arrive home at 6.30. Greeted by partner "what are we doing for dinner". I tell him tonight's menu. He asks "where's G". I manage to say in a light tone "at dancing" (even though she's gone every Thursday night this year !!!!. I then prepare a delicious dinner. Greeted with "thank you dear" that was delicious". My dinner interrupted by phone call. Granny checking up on overseas daughter. Leave washing up as I realise need to pay another bill. Time to go and collect G. Lessons run over time. Kill time by deleting 135 messages on my phone. Arrive home to find washing up from dinner left for me to do. I wash up and tidy kitchen. Plan lunches for next day. Tell everyone (again) to not let the cat out tomorrow for re-scheduled vet appointment. Go to computer to check for emails from child away overseas. Must ring sister for her birthday next. Vent via blog.

His day. Arise and get to work after short play with dog and eating breakfast. Straight after work visit friends for beers. Arrive home and ask what's for dinner. Shower, sit on lounge whilst dinner is prepared. Compliment the cook. Sit on lounge watching tv for another 2-3 hours patting the dog. Retire to bed. Very tiring day.

That is the household routine most days.

My mother the artiste...

Well I suppose I've blogged more this month than I have for many other months...does that count...am I slightly more back in the habit? I hope so...i don't know my life is busy although I still think I was time at times. Time is precious and not every day do I make the most of it. So much of it (my time) is dictated to with work, family, commitments and then sometimes I'm the kind of person that just needs to be for 5 minutes. Today I had 1/2 hour between a drop off and pick up so I got on the computer checked emails, read a few blogs then waiting for something to down load i played scrabble. 15 minutes later I was still trying to win a game against the computer and my mind is saying to me...susan stop your time is precious and here you are wasting it playing computer scrabble...what about all the creative projects you were going to do tonight...see you''re your own worst enemy...anyway I played for a while it's still open on my computer and now I beat myself up about wasting my precious time...I think I'm going mad or already mad...Anyway by coincidence the pic I've uploaded is one of my mum's creations. My mother - Christine West - of Birregurra is a textile artist. Her talents are boundless and she is a particularly wonderful felter. The hat is just one of many on display in her studio. She is so creative and inspriring and I doubt would get distracted by solitaire, but I will ask her and check with her on "Distractions from tasks on hand" and not just laborious houseworking tasks but genuine creative, fill my heart with energy and happiness projects. I'd be interested to hear from other struggling creatives - is that what I am? Do other people do the same - do they find themselves off on some irrelevant path when that's not where they want to be. Perhaps today it's a fatigue factor - I'm feeling tired and now going to head to bed and read?

View 2 Random stripes

Another view of my zig a zag crochet throw. Not quite finished around the border - I'm doing a wavy edge..

Short and sweet tonight xx

oh-o missed a day

Yesterday was very busy, can I make it up with 2 posts today? I worked and then last night we had the high school musical "Honk" - the story of the Ugly Duckling as a musical. It was brilliant - so fun and fresh. Bridget was part of the ensemble and had a small part as Father Swan. She was fabulous. And I just didn't have any puff left in me when we got home. Today has rather taken its toll as well. It's an emotional roller coaster at the moment with B leaving on Friday for the US - off for a cultural enrichment experience for 5 months. Lucky girl!

Day 4 - Dreaming of sleep

I have just made it today.... I'm dreaming of snoozing away like my sleeping pets...let me introduce our 2 very special members of the family. Firstly Gypsy the cat, she adopted us some years ago at the vet's guess at about the age of 6 months. She is the skittyist cat you'll ever meet. I think the result of severe trauma - she arrived without a tail and she is not a manx, she is a common domestic cat - I shudder to think how she lost her tail. Turns out she's also epileptic and is permanently medicated to avoid the terrifying fits she has which can propel her from the bed to a wall and then the floor. For some particular reason she took a shine to me, living in our front garden and appearing every night to me when I drove the car in the drive. After a couple of months I remember thinking ' there's that cat again...mmm I think she might be living here....yes I'm not the quickest of people, I took the plunge and offered food. It was weeks before she would come inside...but now she sleeps on my head at night (photo for another post) so she's well and truly relaxed at and home 5 years on.

Then Matilda arrived. The girls Chrissy pressie nearly 2 years ago - a gorgeous love at first sight (well for the humans anyway) lab/retriever pup. She was without a doubt the cutest puppy you will ever seen. the so cute the grannies stop the pram kinda cute and tell you what a beautiful baby you have. I thought that was only with babies but no it happened all the time at the park with Tilly - but I run away from the story. I sensed something wasn't quite right with out beautiful new bundle, she was very very clumsy....to cut a long story short ...she's blind...fully blind. I took her off to the eye specialist who confirmed the diagnosis. The pet shop refunded the full amount and we end up with the best dog in the whole wide world. She is so much fun and so lovable - she can keep you captivated for hours with her antics.

So we're the home for pets with special needs. (2 is plenty!)

Anyway Gypsy and I are off to bed....xx

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Quilt #4 for me

So here's another one of my quilts - it's not quite finished (it needs binding), but it's on the sofa bed ready and waiting for a VIP guest arriving late tonight. Yes we have a granny arriving for a 2 week stay. Yippeeee!

This quilt is really simple and quick to sew - it starts with a hero fat quarter and then just worked around in strips to whatever size you like - this fits my double bed sofa bed nicely. One big giant log cabin! I have a smaller version almost done for another VIP but it's a birthday surprise so has to stay hidden for a while longer.

I have a lot to learn about our digital camera - lots to improve on my technique. I love other peoples blogs for lots of different reasons but the overwhelming reason is the beautiful images that truly inspire and transport me.

Round and round the garden market totes

Absence from blogland doesn't mean absence from craft and here's proof - 2 of my market totes. The earthy one inspired by the colours of the pilbara in the north of the state and the bumble bee (or jaundiced zebra as I like to call it) - inspired by ...well ...um ...I'm not sure exactly...just colour play really. I love picking up the skeins - starting with one and adding another and another, discarding one, trying another, until I have about 4 left cradled in my arms by then I'm in a frenzy of excitement and can't wait to cast on; then I can't wait for the first colour change, then the second....round and round the garden until the bag is finished. Then the metamorphis magic of felting them. They truly take on a whole new character - the original bag has melded into a new form. I love it! I positively skip and dance around the washing machine and as I shape and stuff them. I admire them from lots of angles at morning and night whilst they dry... I know I'm talking to those that understand - you do don't you?

I love the idea of going to my local farmer's market at Clontarf and coming home with them stuffed with organically grown goodies...can't you just see the celery and silverbeet and baguette sticking out the top? Freshly brewed and fragrant coffee in the other hand and a delicious bakery treat to enjoy when I get home.. what a perfect start to the weekend on a Saturday morning. My bags are for sale at my stall - not that I've had one for a while - but I think I'm getting inspired again to stock a stall.