Some Stash Empire Building ....

..... Quilting Fabbie-style:


I had to spend some time in Mount Waverley yesterday, helping out my elderly parents with the visit of the  Chronic Heart Failure Nurse from Cabrini Hospital (sounds very ominous doesn't it?) and then with a doctor's visit to care for the open wound on my DM's leg (she knocked her swollen calf on the hospital bed and caused an enormous haematoma on her leg (about 2 inches long by over 1 inch wide!).  So, after I finally dropped them off home I went to have a very late lunch right next door to the Quilt shop, Somerset Patchwork and Quilting, in Mount Waverley - Natch!

I just couldn't resist these 19th century reproduction fabrics:

and the gorgeous colours of these variegated threads from DMC.

hugs, 

Boy, it is hot!

... and Furio agrees with me.

This is how poor Furio is coping with a Melbourne Heatwave (9 days in a row over 35 and counting!)

Poor Furbaby!

Also, please check out the Giveaways on the sidebar of my blog - there are some great ones there for you to enter.

hugs,

Look at what I have stitched lately....plus my TUSAL update

.... I have been getting quite a lot of stitching done lately, despite or maybe because of the latest crisis re my Dear Mum's health.  So, I thought it was time that I showed you what I have achieved lately.... and doesn't it give us such satisfaction and contentment, to finish a stitchy project or plan one or buy some new stash?

First up is my February ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL - Gingerbread Cookie from LHN.
(The theme was candy canes - so I managed to fudge this one into the SAL).

 Then the March themes was Own Choice - so I chose this cutie, it is a Stacy Nash pattern.

I have also done a bit more stitching on The Six wives of Henry VIII (The Primitive Hare)

... and on The Faerie Queene Sampler (The Scarlet Letter)

Next up is my March stitching for the Halloween Ornament SAL:

This is the pic from the JCS 2012 magazine:

...and this is how much I have stitched so far:

Lastly, I have tried my hand at a little bit of designing for myself.  I decided I wanted to make a stitchery for my sister, so here are my scribblings and then my start on the stitched design.

I have also kitted up my April choice for the Halloween Ornament SAL (own choice) - also from the JCS Ornie mag - I think it is the quilt on the bed and the pussy cat which makes me want to stitch this design.

Lastly, here is my TUSAL for the new moon:

My Travelling Orts (from stitching on the train to work)

... all of my other Orts for this month:

.. and both lots of Orts together:

... and here is my TUSAL jar (vase) so far for 2013:

Sorry for the lengthy post, thanks for reading this far,

hugs, 

P.S. As you may have noticed I have changed my blog header photo but I would rather have a collage of photos as I had before (ie with new pics) but I cannot remember how to do it - can anyone help?

Thx, Kaye

I am going, going, gone Mad!!!!

.....Yep, I am pretty sure that I have lost the plot, am one sandwich short of a picnic and am not the full quid!

Melbourne is in the middle of a March heatwave - over 10 days in a row around the mid 30s (95 F) - and what am I doing?  Buying  new WINTER CLOTHING!  Now, this is not because I am travelling to cooler climes (no such luck!).  No, it is because I just cannot resist the new season's clothes which are already in our shops - see MAD!

Do you want to see what I bought?

A lovely warm drapey jacket in dramatic red and black

Some detail

How cute is this going to look with opague tights and black boots?

Heart detail of the bodice

A top which works like a snug - perfect over a sleeveless LBD.

Detail of the neckline

 ... and then a couple of more transeasonal tops:

On a more serious note, it could be that I am feeling under a lot of pressure and I do tend to succumb to retail therapy to get me through the tough times.

You may have read in my last post that last week my Dear Mum (91) was hospitalised with a chest infection, this turned to fluid on the heart and lungs and now, whilst she has been sent home, she has been diagnosed with Chronic Hearth Failure.  Now, I know (from my reading on the web) that this is a disease which can be managed but at 91 it is a very serious condition.  Needless to say, I am very worried about her and what the future will bring.

Here is a pic of her at Christmas time (she is on the left).

I would like to say a big Thank you to all of you who have already sent prayers and kind thoughts her way - I really appreciate it and love you all for thinking of us.

On a happier note - I have a four day weekend this weekend - so lots of stitching is the plan.

Love to you all,

So sorry.....

I am so sorry that it has been over 11 days since I posted!!!!  I am so far behind on all my news and events which I wish to post about.  However, my Dear Mum who has just turned 91 was taken to emergency last week with a chest infection so all of my time has been taken up with hospital visits, looking after my 93 year old father and, of course, work and looking after my own family plus my 86 year old DFIL who lives with us!  I have been stitching (it is amazing what stitching you can get done at 3am whilst waiting in Emergency) but have had not the time or energy to blog, I am so sorry.

My Mum  is on the improve, thank goodness and is looking forward to going home either today or tomorrow (we hope!).

Anyway, I wished to share with you the lovely gifts I received from Sarah in Stitches. Such a lovely giveaway.

It is always exciting to receive that parcel from overseas:

 .... and look at all the gooodies!

Thank you so much, Sarah, I feel very lucky to have received such great gifts from you.

... and just to finish - here is Furio who thinks he needs to go shopping with me!

Love to you all,

hugs,