Much Loved

Sadly on Thursday my beautiful and kind Grandmother very suddenly and unexpectantly passed away. She was found collapsed in her home. I feel very sad for my father and his brother and sisters as both of their parents have passed away. I also feel sad for my girls because they won't get to really know their grandmother.

I have been thinking about her and trying to recall memories of spending time with her. They all seem to revolve around food and eating. She was the most amazing cook and would put on wonderful lunches and dinners for everyone. I fondly remember in the middle of winter standing at the stove, stirring the polenta for dinner. The wood stove going for both warmth and cooking. I also remember her spending many hours teaching me how to knit and do tapestries. She would also very patiently listen to me practice my piano lessons on her piano.

I remember my grandmother taking me shopping, to the zoo, to the city and to the local Italian clubs on a Sunday for lunch. I have so many great memories of long driving holidays to see relatives interstate, picnics on cold misty days in the Blue Mountains, picking chestnuts and the yummy food served at each and every gathering.

My Grandmother was so proud of her family. She had seven grandchildren, saw four of them get married and had two great-grand daughters. My Grandmother was the kindest, most loving, selfless person I have ever met. I know that she is in heaven at my Grandfather's side smiling down on us and watching over us.

Where does the time go?

Everyday has been so busy for me, I wake up, feed the kids, tidy their mess and before I know it, it's lunch time. So I feed the kids, tidy their mess and then it's time for preparing dinner. I feed the kids, tidy their mess, shower them and put them to bed. (Do you see a pattern!) This leaves me with so little stitching time. I usually stitch in the evening before bed, so I have only an hour or so at the moment.

We have also been having the brick dividing wall between our kitchen and lounge room rendered. The guys did a fantastic job and considering the floor was carpeted on the lounge room side, they hardly left a mark on the floor. What has been left is right next to the wall and will be easily vacuumed up once the wall has dried enough for the vacuum nozzle to touch the wall. Our house renovations are coming to an end, our ensuite should be done early next year, which will leave us with a little painting and then the new timber floors go down.

So this is all I have achieved recently. I have completed stitching my section of Deb's Emblem Of Love RR. She has chosen the loveliest pink linen and beautiful silks.

I also stitched this little piece for Terry for the Hooked On Exchanging Halloween exchange. It's a little portion of the Prairie Schooler Design "When Witches Go Riding". I have finished it into a long hanging pillow with a beaded border. I have to apologise to Terry as a few days after I posted the exchange, I realised I forgot to backstitch the pumpkin's teeth and the cat's whiskers. I still think it looks good though.

Design: When Witches Go Riding Book No. 148 (Top border portion only)
Designer: The Prairie Schooler
Fabric: 32ct Belfast linen - sand
Thread: DMC
Finish: Beaded hanging pillow

We had a very busy weekend this weekend past. On Saturday we had a look at some timber floors and decking. The prices vary incredibly, so we are now awaiting someone to come and measure everything up for us and give us a quote. We had to drive all the way into the city, so we thought it was a great opportunity to have an impromptu picnic by the water. A little fish and chips and a rug and we had two very happy girls.

On Sunday we celebrated my Dad's birthday by having a family Yum Cha lunch. We had a great time and as you can see by the photos, Amelie thought it was fantastic. She had a try of almost everything and enjoyed it all. While we were dining, a thunderstorm blew over and we had to try and make our way through the Sydney streets with a pram, one umbrella and torrential rain. My DH and I were soaked and not too happy, the girls, who were on the pram and under the umbrella thought it was the best time ever. I suppose that's kids for you.

Very unfortunate!

I saw this meme on Monique's blog and thought it might be a little bit of fun. Type your first name preceded by the word “unfortunately” into Google and see what comes up.

Here is a few of my favourite. Unfortunately Suzanne:

1. starved to death living in the tree
2. has had a calling of the conscience and she's come to look for Barsom in the forest
3. researched this was almost certainly meant seriously as a training flick for the wives of America
4. needs a man who wants her AND her offspring
5. repeatedly exhibits arrogance and pride, naively believing that her position is above others
6. friends and family were often anxious about inviting her to meals
7. the usual comment is, "you look different"
8. is already dating burly, Crazy Joe Davola
9. became pregnant as a teen and ended up marrying her baby's father
10. didn't get to benefit from any of it, which is too bad

I think the last one sums up the whole experience!!

Halloween Exchange

Yesterday morning, bright and early mind you, the postman delivered a parcel containing a Halloween exchange. Ellen sent me the most wonderful exchange package for the Hooked On Exchanging Halloween exchange. She stitched the cutest ornament and included some wonderful goodies. The design is by The Prairie Schooler and comes from last years JCS Halloween issue.

Aurelia was most fascinated that Ellen had sent "her" some lovely things, now who's exchange is it I ask. The trick or treat bag and the wooden Halloween ornament are now hanging in her room, but at least I managed to keep the stitched ornament. Thank you Ellen for making this such a fun and wonderful exchange.

I am involved in several other exchanges and Aurelia is already talking about the "things" she will keep for her own room. Talk about bossy!!

Last week I was very fortunate to have a happy dance. Not a stitching happy dance, but I think maybe even better. For the first time since Amelie was born, my ironing baskets are empty. Just before Amelie's party I decided to make one last go at getting it done and after many hours of ironing it's finished, but it all starts again this week. I have promised myself that I won't let it get that way ever again. Let's see how I go!

One Year Celebration!

Yesterday we celebrated Amelie's first birthday. It was a fantastic day, although a little cold and wet. I spent the whole morning cooking and we had a wonderful buffet lunch, yummy desserts and a great cake (which I didn't make this time). We had thirty one people at the party and everyone seemed to leave pretty happy. As usual Amelie was spoiled rotten with lots of gifts from everyone. She was so incredibly tired by the end of the day, she slept through the night for the very first time ever. I only wish she would keep it up for good, but I know that tonight will be back to two or three wake ups through the night.

I have been stitching a little, mostly on exchanges, but with all the party organisation going on, I just haven't had a lot of time.

Dust, Dust Everywhere!

This last week has not been a good week for us. The two girls and myself have all suffered the effects of a very nasty stomach flu that has been going around. We are all better now, but I tell you it really knocked me flat for a few days.

As the title of this post suggests, it's been very dusty around here this week. Not from renovations and not from a lack of house cleaning (although we won't discuss this topic). We have had some very unusual weather conditions, which has meant that red dust has blown from halfway across the country, leaving a red film over everything. Last Wednesday morning, this is the scene we woke up to.

I was able to clean most of the dust off the timber blinds and windowsills until we had another dust storm on Saturday morning. Not as bad as the last one, but enough to leave more dust around the place. Looks like a very busy week of cleaning and dusting!

During the week I also received my Friends Through Thread exchange from Nancy. She made this beautiful pinkeep/scissor & needle holder and a little bag that it can slide into. It's very cute! Nancy also spoiled me with all those other wonderful goodies. Thank you Nancy, this was a wonderful exchange and I really love the whole package you put together.

PS. If you remember I had a problem with a few pairs of Scissoroo scissors rusting? Well I contacted the company that they are made for and distributes them. They sent new ones out and even sent a prepaid envelope for me to send the rusty ones back. Now how's that for service!

For The Love Of Needlework Exchange

I heard from Becky this morning that she received the needlebook I stitched her for the Love Of Needlework needlebook exchange through the Friends Through Threads blog. I love this form of finishing and it's a real lot of fun. I used the same principle as the stitcher's book, but stitched a few less pages for the different needle gauges. This time, to stiffen the pages, I used extra stiff interfacing which I ironed onto one side of the batting. It gave the book the strength to stand up, but made it easy enough to insert the needles into each page.

Design: Black Needles (freebie found here)
Designer: Marie Auriau (Ravenelle)

Fabric: 32ct Belfast linen - White

Thread: DMC

Finish: Needlebook

The New Laundry

What a busy week it has been, stitching, washing, ironing and cleaning. With the laundry having been completed, I had to catch up on two weeks of washing and ironing (well the washing has been, the ironing is a work in progress). All the renovations have put so much dust around the house and it took some time to clean it all away.

I am so pleased with my new laundry, it's so much bigger and brighter, the photos don't do it justice as they were taken on a dark gloomy morning. The painting has not been finished as we are still waiting for the render to dry.

I have finished stitching Lisa's RR and it was a lot of fun. For those who were interested, it's the River Fish Sampler from the magazine Cross Quick Dec/Jan 1989. I stitched the three top most fish.

I have also finished stitching the first section of my Emblem Of Love RR. I have decided to stitch the multicolour version using Gentle Art Sampler Threads, DMC and Olde Willow Stitchery. I have left off the dedication and the date and will fill them in when it's complete. I am not quite sure what I will do with each of these parts yet.

I also completed and posted a small gift for Cathy. Cathy sent me a button to finish my baby sampler a year ago and shame on me, it's taken this long to get a thank you to her. I stitched this little scissor fob over one for her, but what a challenge to finish it. Once I had stitched the little pillow together, I had an interesting time turning it the right way round. I am really pleased how it turned out though.

Design: Floral Bookmark (freebie)

Designer: The Prairie Schooler

Fabric: 28ct Cashel Linen - White

Thread: DMC

Finish: Scissor Fob