It is very not and humid here. Thank goodness for the air conditioning. But, we have a cyclone hovering off the coast.
They are talking about 45 knot winds on top of super high tides. I sure hope it changes direction. Just in case it keeps coming I have all the washing on and am getting things tied down. Not much I can do about the big trees out the front. They have become stressed by lack of water and all this heat.
My eldest grand daughter turned 8 in December. This is the time to start to teach her how to use a sewing machine. Small problem. I could give her one of my machines but mine are Bernina's and that means that they are heavy and I don't want to give any of my machines away. I did have a Husqvarna Machine, but I have lent that one to a friend and I know she uses it all the time. Only thing to do was to buy a new one for Monique.
I am not familiar with the Janome but an entry level machine is less than half the price of the equivalent Bernina. It is also far more intuitive and quite light to move around. It has all the stitches that a beginner sewer would need, including some fancy ones. Grandma just has to work out how to use it so she can teach Monique.
Being a sewer myself I also know the extra things you need for the machine. Like bobbins, cutters, extra feet, needles etc. So, I purchased these along with the machine.
I found the little bag on sale while we were in Caloundra. I bought it not knowing what I would use it for but it is perfect for all these extras.
When her sister turns 8 I will buy her a machine as well. I remember that I hated having to share my mothers machine between her and my sister. A girl should have her own. I hope she likes this. It is not something that you can take for granted. I taught my daughter to sew at the same age and she loved it and has always thanked me for teaching her. Fingers crossed.
Those few days away have given me a different perspective on home.
We stayed with old friends at the house at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. We have been travelling up there for years and it has always been a favourite holiday destination. It is still a favourite destination for lots and lots of people and many more have moved there full time. This has made for thick traffic and people every where. The beaches and forshores are crowded and there is no parking anywhere you go.
it was wonderful to get back to isolation. Deserted beaches, no traffic and peace.
I have thought all January about my new year resolutions and decided that I will have a wish list. I never know from one day to the next just how I am going to feel and if I will need to take to my bed. I would feel a lot more comfortable knowing that these were wishes and I could just let them go if I have to.
No 1 on the list is to go to India with Pammie at the end of the year. I will not commit till a lot closer to the date.
The trip is mainly to textile centres that I missed on my trips to India. She has a great article on her blog about quilting in India and Africa and the links between the two countries.
No 2 is to make 50 place-mats for charity, so far I have finished four.
No 3 it to complete the remainder of the children's classes for the year.
No 4 A couple of bunnies for my grand daughters for Easter.
This is a very short list. I may have to add more to it later.
I haven't been up to Toowoomba for over 6 months, so, a visit was over due. I wasn't sure if I was up to the 3 hr drive in each direction but found that I could handle it without any problems. The problems come when I have to stand up, sit down or walk. This called for another nifty solution in the form of another booster cushion, with handles to make it easy to carry. (It is a rough job as I did it the night before the trip.) Works a treat!
The moment the car hits the highway past the city limits my blood pressure goes down and that feeling of well being settles over me. I get to the top of the range and I am in another time zone. Magic. Besides spending time with my friend Angela, which is always great, I got to spend some money of fabric, which I don't really need but want. We arrived at the patchwork shop and there outside was the exact fabric that I needed for backing a quilt I am making AND it was reduced to $5.00p.m. from $27.00pm. Had to have that.
Then there was all this other fabric I had to have.
This is for library bags for the girls.
And I have used all my charm packs so had to get one of those.
Angela also gave me a pack as a memento of her trip to Canada, so now I have two.
And as I am contemplating doing a bee embroidery I might need some lining depending on what I make, so I bought some bee fabric just in case.
I left the shop with a bag full.
Then we had lunch at a new Deli, chicken and Leek pies with a great salad. We finished the day shopping at Hanna's Department Store. I love this shop. You get wonderful service and no pressure and they write the dockets the old fashioned way and add to totals using mental math! (There was more than one docket!)
We then headed upstairs via the lift and found some seersucker table cloth materials. Had to have some of this. I made one square tablecloth,
and one round one, I like the round one best. It sits better on the table. I might have to think about remaking the red one.
I came home tired but very happy.
My ankles and knees have decided that they will only work for a short period of time, then they say "that's it we are on strike!" As a result I am doing a lot of sitting, again. This has given me some time to ponder the problems of getting up and down into a chair. They Physio says that I am doing damage to my other shoulder getting up and down and I couldn't stand to lose the other shoulder as well.
Then I came up with a nifty solution. A bolster cushion. I sent my husband out to buy me a 10cm thick piece of high density foam and it works a treat. I can stand up and sit down without using my arms. I made an under cover while I was thinking about how I would cover it.
I have so much fabric here I will never use it all so I have pulled out a charm pack and patched it. It now sits on one of my design boards ready to be made up.
I have sent my husband out again to buy two more cushions. The second is a bit smaller in diameter and this one I intend to add handles to so that I can take it with my. I don't care if it looks strange as long as I can stand unaided. (The doctor has given my a disability sticker for the car so I won't have that long walk from the car-park to the ferry.)
So I am on the machine and beginning to quilt again.
I am really going to have to find something out of the box for my friend Pam for Xmas 21019. I just receive the most beautiful collection of gifts.
These dolls from Pakistan are now hanging on the wall with some of my other textiles on display. I love the handbag the women is holding.
And this pencil case from Nepal will hold some of my special pencils.
And this holder is going to the next patchwork meeting as something we all might make.
These mirrors are had to find here in Australia. I never thought to buy a supply when we were in India. They were all over the place there.
Don't you just love this Elephant. He was on the card and is from the Jim Thompson Museum in Bangkok. I saw him there and didn't buy him but now he is mine.
So I am going to have to search really hard this year to come up with the right things. Good thing it is only January, I still have 12 months to look.
Thank you my friend.
The holidays are over. All the visitors have left and it is just my husband and myself and the dog. There are lots of little reminders that the grandchildren and their friends have been here. Like the post it notes with drawings on them all over the house. Jasmine used up a whole packet. (This is to show Grandpa that she can use her imagination.)
Or photos of the children on the beach celebrating New Year.
Monique turned 8 years old and was told she could have a cat for her birthday.
She has wanted a cat for so long. She cried when she opened the envelope with the note saying there was a cat for her waiting at the RSPCA. Such excitement on the part of both girls.
Slight set back. Looks like Monique is allergic to cats! Look at those puffy eyes.
It is time to have a look at the past year and think about what I want to do in the New Year.
2018 is a year I would rather forget but I did do some work and made some horrendous mistakes. Mistake No 1 was the Cross Stitch that I read the measurements back to front. I think that one will never be right. The only thing I could do was to un-pull all the stitching, turn the fabric and start again. Not sure I want to go there. Maybe next year or maybe it would be a good project for this year? My body and mind are still rather slow and unpicking doesn't take too much brain power. I will think about it.
Looking at the short list from last year there is a 50% success rate and considering how ill I have been I am rather surprised at that outcome.
I'm not sure what I will do this year. Some knitting? I might be able to embroidery again, we will see. I thought I might be able to sew some library bags for charity. So, no plans for 2019 at this stage. Still just getting from one day to the next.
Well, I slept through New Years Eve. But on the first of January had Lunch with 2 of me children at the Indooroopilly Golf Club looking out over the fareways while a cool breeze blew.
On the way out we ran into another Family. Stone Kerlews are endangered and these parents were super careful of their chick.
It is summer and it is hot and sticky. The beach is there to enjoy and the coffee shops are packed.
We are swapping houses with our son, who has invited 2 other families to come and share the week with him and his family. I have cleaned the house, put new sheets on all the beds, put out fresh towels for everyone, even cleaned out the fridge. But just what do I need to take for a week back in suburbia? Decisions, decisions.