Minki Returns

Delivering the Quilts

2008-06-17T16:36:00.002+10:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day for our group. We Care-Quilts for kids. We delivered 27 quilts to Ronald Mc Donald House.

We set off from Myrtleford on our journey bound for Melbourne at 8am, not as sharp as hubby the driver wanted as one lady was a little late.It was a cold and foggy morning but the feeling in the bus was warm and happy. There were 10 of us including Hubby the driver and the hubby of an elderly lady as she was worried about leaving him home alone so we took him along.

Hubby said about two hours along the Hume highway on our way to Melbourne there was a Mc Donalds and he thought that was a good place to stop for our morning cuppa,he of course was thinking of the sausage mc muffin he could have. We all tried telling him he was wrong but you know men. Well when we arrived at where he thought the Mc Donalds was he realised he was wrong. But never mind we all had some lovely goodies to share with him and he didn't go hungry.

After a short break we were off again, and before long we were on the outskirts of Melbourne. Despite a few nearly wrong turns we found the street with not too many hassles. The staff were waiting for us with a lovely light lunch and a very welcome attitude. We were treated to lunch and two DVDs about the house and then a tour of the houses. It is a series of terrace houses two turned into accommodation which hold 37 rooms and 2 isolation rooms. They all are well equipped with everything you would need in a home away from home.

We presented them with the quilts and then we gave them a wall hanging to hang where they would like. And soon (almost 3 hours later) it was time to head for home we had a 3 1/2 hour journey ahead of us. Loaded up with our smiles and two huge platters of left overs we waved goodbye boarded our little bus and we headed for home.

We arrived home happy and tired after a wonderful day. I will share some photos with you all. There is one that looks like a tree. They call it the tree of life. It is absolutely beautiful. It is some beautiful polished wood for the trunk with gold leaves each one engraved with the name of someone or some company that has donated something to the houses and we were told we would be added.

So now our work begins all over again. We have 5 children locally who are suffering serious or life threatening diseases and we have promised them quilts then we will begin some more for Ronald Mc Donald house as we told them we will be bringing more soon.

Unfortunately there will be no end to the need for our quilts as long as there are sick children.

I hope you have enjoyed sharing part of our journey over the past ten months and I will be keeping you informed of our progress.

Finallyl!!!! An End to Our Hard Work

2008-06-15T14:48:00.003+10:00

Well at last we are reaching an end to the last 10 months hard work. As most readers know I have been co ordinating a small group of willing workers and we have been making quilts for seriously ill children. We have been working hard making quilts to be distributed through Ronald Mc Donald house in Melbourne. At last we have reached that goal.

Wednesday June 11th 2008 we held and afternoon tea in the local church hall to display the quilts we have made, to present two quilts to families and draw a raffle we were running for a fund raiser. It was a wonderful day enjoyed by all who attended.

Also on Monday June 16th we have a bus trip planned to Ronald Mc Donald house to present the quilts. Hubby and I have just collected the community bus ready for tomorrow, hubby is driving and quietly looking forward to it I think.

I have made some mosaics of the the photos I took on Wednesday there is some shots of the quilts on display and the other one is of the quilts singularly you can check a previous post for the rest of the quilts.

So watch this space for the photos of our fun day in Melbourne.....

And what is next we start all over again making more quilts unfortunately there are still sick children out there....

A Gift from my friend

2008-05-27T17:02:00.002+10:00

Received a wonderful surprise from my friend who by the way is in her 80s and never ceases to amaze me with her creativeness. She has been for want of a better word decorating shopping bags with panels, applique and cross stitch. And here is the one she gave me I just love it...

WE Care...Quilts for Kids update

2008-05-02T20:55:00.003+10:00

I haven't posted here about the We Care quilts for kids for a while so thought better bring you all up to date.

We are currently running a raffle for a beautiful quilt it is 54 inches by 54 inches in soft pastel shades and beautifully quilted. Tickets can be obtained if you contact me. The raffle will be drawn on June 11th 2008. We are having an afternoon tea and displaying all the quilts we have finished in the past six months. Yes we have been going six months now. We are also having displays from the local quilt shop and scrapbooking shop as well as other items.

We are planning a trip to Ronald Mc Donald house in Melbourne on June 18th and we hope to deliver 30 quilts. We also have made a special quilt for the house to display to brighten their surroundings. As we are a non profit group we asked one of the local social clubs for assistance for our trip and we amazed they gave us a donation of $500 which is more than enough to for our trip there will be a large chunk left over to purchase more supplies. Of course the local paper covered the presentation of the donation and we made the front page of the paper and here we are they even have us on the Internet. I am the one accepting the cheque.

http://www.nenews.com.au/Stories/maStory02n.htm

So as you can see although I have been quiet we have been busy and we are enjoying our work as much now as when we started and we have grown to eight very hard workers.I have included a photo of the quilt we are raffling but it is not a good photo but does show you the beautiful quilting.

Scatterday I am finally here

2008-04-26T20:37:00.002+10:00

Well better late than never they say so here I am.

The letter M. Easy for me, working on an initial quilt for a little boy Matthew so found all the categories there.

this quilt is being made through my Quilts for Kids Group we approached Matthew and asked him would he like a quilt. He said yes and decided on an initial quilt. Sent us a list of 12 things he wanted that started with M here are three of them

Music well that is self exploratory.

Dangerous. well most boys would deny it but they can be dangerous.

Cold Things. had to be a milkshake

Scatterday!! Again!1

2008-04-05T12:10:00.002+11:00

My goodness Scattterday comes around quickly. I really thought I would have trouble with today's letter However once I started it all fell into place.

Resturant....Now this was a hard one, no resturants in Myrtlefird that start with A. So we went to Albury yesterday (now that starts with A) alas I forgot my camera. Not to be beaten we found a resturant beginning with A and went in for a coffee thought they might have a postcard. No, no postcard but they had a flyer okay that will do I took it scanned and here it is....
Something you find in the dark....This was easy, granddaughter Amy blowing out her birthday candle. She turned 6 on Wednesday and as brother Sam and Daddy were away at Cubaroo she came for tea at grandma's and wanted a chocolate cup cake so I made a circle of 6 chocolate cupcakes with a large candle in the middle. Turned the light out (in the dark) and took her photo.
Turqouise....Was always going to be hard, I thought and looked all week. Had almost given up this morning when I had a shower and applied my moisturiser. "Aqua Depot" in a glass jar with a turqouise lid. Voila! I got it.

So looking forward to next week being a little easier.

Scatterday. I am cheating!!!!!

2008-03-29T09:50:00.002+11:00

I am cheating today because I couldn't find any XRays, xylphone or any Xs at all for that matter. So it was opt out or cheat and I thought I'd cheat. This is what I decided.
Xcellent......I know it is spelt wrong but that is all I could think of.
XCELLENT Quilts.....made by XCELLent workers....for an XCELLent cause. Three Xs

These are just some of the 20+ quilts out group called "We Care" have made for Ronald Mc Donald house in Melbouren. We hope to deliver them real soon.

Hope I don't get Xited for cheating.......

Scatterday I am Early

2008-03-21T22:57:00.002+11:00

I am early for Scatterday but have a busy morning tomorrow so thought I would post before going to bed.

This week the letter was N and N is for
Little.....Necklace...And this is a special necklace, a healing stone "moonstone" helps with panic and anxiety. It was bought for me by my husband and he didn't know what it was and until I realised for some reason I was able to leave the house without the panic neither did I. When I looked into what this stone was I realised it was the reason my panic had eased and now I wear it whenever I leave the house..
Human....Nanna....Nanna Kuhne almost 90 years old and wonderful Mother, Nanna and Great Nanna as this photo shows. She is my mother in law and a wonderful one at that. Four generations here. My Husband(son) my Daughter ( granddaughter) my Grand daughter(Great Grand daughter)
Mineral.....Natrojarrosite...Okay I cheated, googled mineral starting with N and this is one of the many that came up.. Natrojarosite (Sodium Iron Sulphate) is a Selenite_Crystal. Yellow-brown to brown-light yellow streak. Occurs in tiny crystals which are hexagon. It is translucent.
Look forward to seeing all the posts tomorrow and learning what we are working on this week.

Scatterday here I am again

2008-03-15T10:13:00.002+11:00

So good to back in the land of cyberspace. After our move in january I wasn't able to get broadband internet here so had to go back to dial up till they were abale to install satellite broadband which they did a couple of weeks ago. Now I am finally organised again and can participate in the fun of Scatterday.

Today's letter L is an easy one for me to start back with.

Household Items ....Loo, we always call it the loo in our house this one is in the laundry and my goodness look at the cobwebs when I loaded the photo I went straight away and cleaned them shows I don't look behind the loo doesn't it.

Things that are round...... Lid, I found the lid to my crayons sitting on my desk so was easy to photograph it..

Tools....Spirit level had to go and find it in hubby's shed and take a photo he had three hanging neatly on the wall so was easy also

Looking forward to next week hope it is just as easy.

My Goodness!! A whole month

2008-03-14T10:28:00.002+11:00

I cannot believe it has been a whole month, but finally I am back in the land of bloggers. I couldn't be bothered when I was on dial up everything was so slow, but now I am on satellite it seems things have returned to normal and I can return to blogger land.

I will be participating in Scatter day again tomorrow.

Also I would love you to visit this blog and see the give away quilt, and tell them I sent you as I would love the quilt to add to the stash I am accumulating to deliver to Ronald Mc Donald house in April.
http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/

Watch this space as I will participate more now.

Christina

Back Again & Scatterday

2008-02-01T20:20:00.000+11:00

Here I am back again sort of. After moving and waiting three weeks for the broadband connection, then to be told broadband is not available here I am now on Dial up.... so slow... I have made enquiries about Satellite and am awaiting the replies.
I haven't had a chance to catch up on the past three weeks but when I read the letter Z a feeling of dread washed over me. However Dear Hubby came to the rescue again and we were able to find three catergories without any trouble here they are.
Zebra....My favaourite tea mug with a funny looking Zebra on it.
Zantac.....The favourite remedy for indigestion, but doesn't work for heart attack as my hubby found out after he had pushed himself too far after we moved. Yes he is okay thank goodness but at least it has slowed him down
Zippers.....And here are two on a favourite winter jumper of mine nice and warm and sloppy covers all the bits
Look forward to seeing what everyone else has done and sending this early as with dial up I don't get on too early in the morning now wait till all the housework is done and then can sit and relax

Will be Missing In Action

2008-01-11T21:03:00.000+11:00

Will be missing in action for the next three weeks. We are moving and they tell me it takes that long for the broadband transfer.
So no Scatterdays till further notice, will look forward to catching up when I return
Christina

Scatterday ...... The letter Y

2007-12-29T09:06:00.000+11:00

Well the letter Y didn't prove to be as hard as I expected once I thought about it. Here is what I came up with

Green........Yuletide means Christmas season which we are just heading out of, so naturally what is green and associated with Yuletide. Christmas tree, now I could have just photographed the Christmas tree but that was too easy so I photographed two ornaments that are Christmas tree and green, one a beaded one which you need to look hard to see and another was given to me in a swap.......

School Days...... a little harder till I drove past the school yard the other day and saw it. A yellow slide in the school yard. So I asked Hubby to go back and photograph it for after all he likes playing this game too. He said I will get him locked up but he didn't and got the photo.

Animals....... We are a little short on animals starting with Y and I thought of Yabbies but hubby said enough was enough he was not going looking for yabbies in 30+ deg heat so I cheated and googled this one.......

So until next week that is it for us. Hubby and I.

I am off to do some more packing we are moving house in a little under two weeks

Scatterday The letter S

2007-12-22T09:29:00.000+11:00

Well here we are Saturday again, and it is Scatterday, I found today quite easy and took all but one photo this morning.

Christmas... Was easy as already had this photo, Sam with Santa and of course Amy is there also. Two of my beautiful grandchildren and look at the magic of Christmas in their eyes.

Medical Things..... Our local Dr's surgery such as it is taken this morning in the midst of the storm. Don't get me started on this surgery, we have one to service the town here and they are not very dedicated Drs. Took Hubby there this week, he has emphysema and his breathing is getting much worse, he has pain in his lung and a bronchial cough. Dr practically ignored hubby all he did was ask if he was still smoking and when hubby said yes he said I can't help you till you give up. Now I know their policy but hubby suffers PTSD and he has tried every way known to give up and not succeeded, so I do think the Drs should be a little more understanding. Well guess we now find a Dr in another town.

Beverages....... Soft Drink and this was all I had in the fridge, Lemonade for Amy as she likes upside down lemonade and cordial.(that is where you put the lemonade in first) Coke for Hubby and Ginger beer for me.

Okay Merry Christmas to all the fellow Scatterdaisies and looking forward to next week

Two More Quilts go to Children

2007-12-17T20:24:00.000+11:00

Today we had our monthly GTG of our group Quilts for Kids. And we prepared blocks for three more quilts, two of which are already promised to children.

We were also able to share in the joy of presenting two more quilts.

Firstly we gave one to Maddie's brother Liam. You may remember we gave Maddie a quilt a little while ago. She is progressing well with her treatment for Leukemia. Well we like to give quilts to siblings in some cases and we believed in this case it was apt. So we made Liam a Pokemon quilt one of his favourite characters. We presented it to Liam's Aunt Nikki.

Then we gave little Blakey who is three and has Perthy's disease a degenerative disease affecting the hip. He was delighted and asked us could he keep it and we said of course and he said "good I am not letting the doctors or the hospital have it,I will tell them you said it is mine." A delightful little boy who may face two years of plaster casts.

So our supply of quilts is depleting so we will have to get busy and make more.....

Scatterday the letter D

2007-12-15T09:25:00.000+11:00

Scatterday again and I found this week difficult.Never the less I have managed to take some photos with the help of hubby as you will see

Sewing.... Was hard till I thought about it and founds some Dragon blocks that I have ready for a quilt for the quilt for kids group.

Vehicle.....Now this may be a cheater. DH's( Darling Hubby) car and he is a darling he drove all around town last night looking for a car that started with D and even went out to a mate's to take a photo of his Dodge truck but it wasn't there. So we had to settle for his car. Which technically isn't his car as it is registered in my name but he drives it the most.

Touchy Feely ........... Firstly our Dog Ebony she is definitely touchy feely and here she is begging for a scratch. Secondly two of my Darling grandchildren Amy and Sam, enjoying the wonderment of Christmas. Amy with the Advent Calender her clever mum my daughter ( Michelle ) made and then meeting Santa.

Onward to next week will go check what we have.

No Scatterday again.

2007-12-08T17:24:00.000+11:00

There is no Scatterday this week as I am afraid I have not had enough time, where the time has gone I do not know. Will make sure I get on the ball for next week.

My day so far......Firstly a quick tidy up as had the Quilt for Kids group was coming this morning to see two quilts presented. Then SIL arrived early crying help. She had forgotten how I told her to make the carry bag for one of the quilts so I quickly whipped that up giving me time to quickly wash the brekkie dishes and we even had time for a cuppa. Ladies arrived followed at 11 am by the mother of one of the babies and the great gran of the other. One baby is 12 weeks old and has a hole in the heart, had a stroke last week and is blind in one eye. She has an operation this coming Friday so keep her in your prayers. The other baby in Brisbane was born 3 months too early weighs about 600 grams and is not doing so well. Both were overwhelmed with the quilts and very grateful.

Then after all left Hubby arrived home and SIL stayed and had lunch with us. After she left I decided to make the Christmas puddings three in all. All Gluten free, they are cooking as I type, five hours cooking. Have to make three as we have Christmas dinner as a family Christmas Eve, then we go to SIL for Christmas lunch so that takes care of two and I give the third to a niece of my daughter's who is Coeliac also.

So now to decide what is for tea.....

No Scatterday this week

2007-11-29T21:53:00.000+11:00

We are going away Friday for the weekend and will return home on Monday. I will publish my photos when I return home because I know my sister has a hobby which starts with M and I am sure she will have some weapons that start with M also.
See you all next week
Christina

Scatterday

2007-11-24T07:13:00.000+11:00

Scatterday is here again. this week the letter was T and the categories were

Clothing...I chose a T shirt simple, in fact all my choices today are simple.

Purple... Tye Dyed Fabric, not 100% sure this is Tye Dyed but it looks like it could be.

Hot Things..... Of course had to be my morning pot of Tea could not start the morning without my cup of tea.

Looking forward to next week.

Quilt delivered and On it way

2007-11-22T21:43:00.000+11:00

Late this afternon I met the Aunt of the little girl, Maddie, who will recieve one of our first finished quilts. Nicki, the Aunt is a lovely lady and was so grateful for all we could do. She loved the quilt and was amazed with how much work had gone into it. Nicki told us Maddie's grandmother will deliver the quilt to Maddie this weekend.

She told us about Maddie, she is just 3 years old. Just on a week ago she had an odd looking rash on her tummy that spread and her mum took her to the local Dr in Shepparton Victoria where they live. within 24 hours Maddie was in Melbourne in the Royal Children's Hopsital and had begun aggressive chemo and other treatment. They have been told she may lose the ability to walk for a while because of the treatment and it is looking like that will be the case as she is tottering over a lot. Maddie faces several weeks of this treatment then chemo once a week for two years, yes I did say two years. She has a98% survival chance so that news is good. Presently Maddie , her mum, dad and baby sister (4 months old) is staying in Ronald Mc Donald house.

MAddie has an older brother who is 10 years old. He is staying with his Grandparents in Shepparton. He is devastated with all that is happening and very confused. So I offered him a quilt also. His Aunt was astounded. I asked her what he would like and she said he likes Pokemon, it jsut so happens we have a pokemon quilt on the go, so a quick ring around tonight and we will finish it off for him tomorrow.

The Photo above is Maddie's Aunt recieving the quilt From me this afternoon.

We have been informed Ronald Mc Donald house in Melbourne would like to recieve quilts to pass on to sick children, so after we send the first batch of quilts to Westmead Hospital we will be sending quilts to Ronald Mc Donald house for a few months.

Quilts for Kids Update

2007-11-20T18:44:00.000+11:00

While I haven't been writing of our progress with the Quilts For Kids, it doesn't mean we haven't been busy. I have a band of willing sewers and I have to work hard to keep in front of them.

We have finished five quilts, four cot quilts and one single bed quilt. We have three single bed quilts almost ready to quilt and we have7 other quilts in block stage some almost finished and some still a little way to go.

I have made a mosaic of the quilts we have finished. The bag is for the Southern Belle Lady quilt. Recently we heard of a local family who has a niece in the Royal Children's Hospital, she is three years old and just diagnosed with Leukemia. She faces years of frequent trips to hospital so we decided to present her Aunt with a quilt and ask her to pass it on to her niece. The only single bed one we had finished was this one so we hope she likes it. I made the bag and added the soft toy so that mum just has to grab the bag when she heads off to hospital.

Scatterday The letter H

2007-11-17T07:22:00.000+11:00

Oh dear another week goes by and I have not posted to my blog. Life gets rather busy sometimes....

This week the letter was H and the Categories were

Human... And I thought Human Hair, and my beautiful granddaughter Amy has her ballet concert this weekend she is preforming 5 dances on two nights because the theatre was not big enough to hold everyone . Last night was the first performance and tonight we are going to watch her. It takes hours for my daughter to do her hair and she sits patiently while her mum does it and she is only 5 years old. Doesn't she look lovely.

Toys... Horatio and Hamish Two of my wonderful teddies given to me by my youngest son quite a number of years ago when I had to go to hospital for an operation. Also the letter H in the alphabet train hubby makes. The other H set in a mosaic.

Soft... My beautiful Healing Heart Quillow is so soft and cuddly.The hearts were sent to me from two online Quilting groups in May after my sister died. I had enough to make my quillow and four cushions one for each of my sisters and one for mum. They all love their cushions as much as I love my quillow which lives on my bed.

Scatterday

2007-11-10T09:37:00.000+11:00

Another week has gone by, the time sure goes fast these days.

Today is Scatterday and the letter O was quite difficult. Just when I was about to give up some inspiration came to me yesterday afternoon

The categories are

Breakfast I chose Organic Cornflakes Unfortunately I had thrown the box out and was going to go to the supermarket and photograph another box but was not feeling well all week so you have to believe me. They are Norganic brand cornflakes and have organic on the box

Small Things Now I was really stumped with this one walking around the house and there staring at me were all my little Ornaments. So I photographed just some of my small ornamental bears and some of Hubby Peter's ornamental Buddhas there are plenty more

Shiny things Now this one was more difficult and I had to cheat. Opals, but I don't have any and was going to go to Jeweller's but again have not been out much this week so I took some photos off the Internet.

Oh almost forgot to mention that the wooden O is part of an alphabet train hubby makes.

Well now another week is gone I have met the challenge so onto next week.

I Did it !! Thanks Kate

2007-11-04T14:20:00.000+11:00

Kate has been helping me through making a Mosaic and I have done it. thank you Kate!!!

This is a quilt I have just begun called Summer Pond. Pattern by Sindy Rodenmeyer of http://fatcatpatterns.com/ she is brilliant and her patterns are very cheap or free.... For the last couple of days I have been tracing ironing cutting and ironing and I have finally now have 20 blocks ready for appliqueing..

The pattern of course is a little rough as I couldn't rotate the corners so you have to imagine them facing the right way and I now notice I have the same photo twice twoo fish the same they should be different fish.

So now I will be as clever as the rest of the Scatterdaisies and be able to do Scatterday photos in mosaics easy when you know how........

Scatterday

2007-11-03T09:42:00.000+11:00

Scatterday again! Where does the week go! I actually found this week hard thought it would be easy but thought about it for ages and if it hadn't been for my brilliant hubby and his tools I wouldn't have got a round thing....

Round Things....Angle grinder, hubby says the handle is round and the disc is round so I guess that passes

Vegetables.....Avocado, my favourite

Something you like the smell of.....Okay now this was hard too, so I came up with Aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I don't have coffee very often as it aggravates my panic attacks so every now and then I brew some decaffeinated coffee and enjoy it and what better excuse did I have. I love the aroma of the coffee....

Okay now what's on for next week seems it gets harder every week.

Oh Dear I failed No Scatterday today

2007-10-27T07:24:00.000+10:00

Oh dear I have not got any photos for Scatterday today. I have had an extremely busy week this week , in fact I don't know what happened to the days between Scaterday and Scatterday. I did look for some of the catergories but living in a small country town limits me and my creative brain failed me. I aslo thought of cheating looking for photos online but couldn't do that. Also thought of copying your ideas but I think it is better to fail than cheat....So onward and upward to next week please make it easier......

Monthy GTG of Our Quilts for Kids

2007-10-22T16:53:00.000+10:00

We have had a lovely day together with some of the busy workers of our group and we have achieved a lot today we have 5 quilts sandwiched ready to quilt. And we worked hard tracing a dragon design onto some hand dyed fabric for a stitchery and visofixing some lovely cars ready to be sewn. Again used some hand dye fabric and some beautiful spotted fabric.

Had to take a photo and hubby wanted to be in it as he says he helped which he did he helped sandwich some quilts.... We are so pleased we should have twelve quilts to send in December.

Christina

Oh Dear It's Scatterday Again

2007-10-20T07:02:00.000+10:00

Here is it Scatterday again and I haven't posted again this week....Been very busy sewing cushion covers for this new cafe some friends are opening and this morning up at 5am to bake 4 dozen Gluten Free Muffins for them. And they have decided they need more cushion covers.....

Okay here are my photos...This week's letter was P and the categories were

Sweet Things....My darling hubby and one of our grandaughters okay I hear you say "sweet things?" His name is Peter and he is very sweet.

Metal.... Now had I had my camera with me yesterday I could have snapped numerous metal signs with "Porepunkah" on them as we went through Porepunkah to go to Bright, but no I didn't have it so my sweet thing came up with Prime mover, and we found this toy truck, yes it is metal it is old has our family name on it "Kuhne" My daughter saw it in a shop years and years ago and bought it for us.

Red....Now that was hard looked everywhere for a red Porsche but none in this small town so I came up with this red post pak as I was about to throw it out.

So now I look forward to next week.....

Christina

Scatterday The letter F

2007-10-13T07:07:00.000+10:00

Seems my life is busy and I am not getting round to posting as much as I should. Goodness me if it wasn't fro Scatterday I wonder when I would have time to post.

I found this week hard but once I got started it was easy.

This week was the letter F, categories were

Cold Things And I chose the Freezer and a painting I did a few years ago called A Frozen Place

Signs Now I thought I would take a photo of the Fire Brigade sign but they didn't have one, so I took a photo of the CFA sign and then I got home and realised there is a For Sale sign on the house across the road, one on our place also hoping it doesn't sell then we won't have to move.

The Elements A few years ago we lived in an old farmhouse on an orchard and a Flood went through most horrible thing I have experienced. so here is a photo of the Farm Flooded . Also we are experiencing drought and need rain and we get what I call False Hope Clouds which we got yesterday,clouds that look like rain but don't have any rain. The photo was taken through my kitchen window.

Something seems to be wrong with my date when I publish this it will say Friday and Friday's date but it is actually 7:29am Saturday October 13th.

My goal this week is to publish a post more than once this week. I am busy making the bench seat cushion covers for teh Cafe but will try hard to publish more posts

Christina

It is finsihed

2007-10-09T17:29:00.000+10:00

This afternoon I sewed the last stitch in my heart of hope quillow it is finished and I am so so happy with it. It certainly has been a healing experience as I sewed I read the hearts and remembered each of the people who sent them. For those who don't know I belong to two Internet quilting groups and when my sister died earlier this year they sent me hearts. This is a practice that the groups do they applique a heart to an square of cream fabric and they write a message on it. Sending it to anyone who is sufferring.Such a wonderful experience to be a recipient of these hearts. For the last month I have been working on sewing the hearts together and today I finished my quillow. ..... I received 120 hearts in total.

I will take my quillow along to my Craft group tomorrow they have asked about it's progress since seeing the hearts and they want to see the finished quillow. It is our open day tomorrow to raise funds for the local hospital so will display it for all to see.
As well as the quillow and the cushion for the quillow I had enough hearts for four cushions one for each of my three sisters and one for my mum. Margie's is the largest as some of the special people sent hearts for her also. The rectangle one is for Louise. The orange one for my youngest sister and the blue one for mum. They don't know about them so will be a surprise in the post for them soon.
I am so so happy with the finished result.

Hugz Christina

Scatterday Again

2007-10-06T07:05:00.000+10:00

Wow where does the week go!!!! Here it is Saturday and I am running around at 6am trying to take photos.

Here is the result

This weeks letter was C. The categories were....

Hobbies...Now that should not have been hard, I am hobby mad and so it hubby. I found these two Cross stiches that a friend of mine made me a few years back. I need to get hubby to frame them. This friend is a male and his cross stitching is lovely. He did the fishing one for us as hubby loves fishing, and of course me with my teddys here they are going fishing too.

Furniture.....this was easy although difficult to choose what to photograph. Hubby is always making things especially coffee tables I have three. This one is his latest creation

Pizza Toppings.... At 6am??? Where do you find a pizza. Hubby had cheese on toast for brekkie so cheese is a topping hence my photo. Although hubby did tell me cheese doesn't go on top it goes on the sauce. Do you think I should stop asking for his help?

Okay on to next week looking forward to seeing what it will be

Christina

Busy Busy

2007-09-30T08:01:00.000+10:00

Haven't been spending much time here but I have been busy sewing. In the last week I have made 8 swap blocks and yesterday I finished the first of three quilts for my niece. She is expecting a baby in November and wants a quilt for the floor a small quillow and a cot quilt. I made the floor quilt and today will start on the small quillow. The cot quilt she wants made when the baby is born.

The floor quilt is reversible first one I have every done like this wasn't easy but think the final product is not too bad. I did the centre panel and quilted it then add the side panels sort a method of QAYG.

I have been asked to make some cushion covers for a cafe. A paying job. they want twelve scatter cushions for out doors and some bench seating cushions. They dropped the fabric off last night so will make a start tomorrow on them. This one is a paying job so will enjoy the fruits of this labour.

Christina

Scatterday Again Already!!!!

2007-09-29T07:20:00.000+10:00

Wow where has this week gone, it seems to go so fast. I haven't posted in a week. Have been busy here sewing. Caught up 8 blocks owed for a special swap and now working on a Cot quilt for my niece who is having a baby in November.

Okay now for Scatterday an easy one this week and Hubby is starting to join in and help me.

The letter W

Tools were easy as hubby has a shed full, we chose the welder and the welder mask

Black Thing again easy and from hubby's shed a water pump.

Game again immediately I thought of my grandchildren they are always playing "What's the Time Mr Wolf" so here they are with their mum and dad and grandpa ( hubby) playing their game.

Looking forward to next week haven't had a peek yet to see what it is.

Christina

Scatterday But a bit early

2007-09-21T20:15:00.001+10:00

Saturday is Scatterday but I am always a bit slow so decided to publish my photos tonight. This week the letter was B and so much easier than last week's Q. I had so much fun this week and no trouble knowing what to photograph.

My Favourite things ..... I collect Teddy bears so no problem here, well there was a problem deciding as have over 300 in various forms, stuffed, ceramic painted. I absolutely love my Bear Table, was the reason I learned to paint, wanted to paint it, took it along to my first lesson but the teacher suggested something simpler saying she thought I was a little over ambitious. The bear table painting is titled Group therapy as each bears leans on the next. On my Bear table is three of my favourite bears. Edward(Ted) Bear, he sits with his hat in front of him, I made him he is ceramic. Then there is Bear in a Box, given to me by my granddaughter Amy, very special to me. And my Bear plate a Franklin mint plate given to me by my daughter.

Shop.....Bakery a wonderful shop here in Myrtleford. Has the most delicious cakes pies etc, none of which I can eat as I have Coeliac Disease.None the less thought I would share this lovely shop with you.

Big Things....... The Big Tree a tourist attraction here in Myrtleford. Yes it is actually called the Big Tree. It is an ancient Red Gum, once a popular meeting spot for the local Koori people. It has a girth of 34ft 9 ins ( 10.6 meters) Height is 80 ft( 24.4 meters) Spread is 90 ft( 27.5 meters)

Can't wait to see next weeks letter and Category this is so much fun.

Another Quilt Top

2007-09-19T10:03:00.001+10:00

I am waiting on the batik fabric to finish my heart quilt so the past couple of days I have been working on a new quilt for our bed.
I am addicted to swaps, although will be taking a 6 month break soon when the current ones are finished. Last year my redworks swap ( which was actually blue work) came back and I decided to make a blue and white quilt. The embroidered blocks are little comical garden creatures and I have used a white tone on tone in between as well as white sashing and borders. Plan to quilt a large daisy type flower in the centre of each white tone on tone block, and perhaps lines on the sashing, then the same daisy pattern on the borders joined by stems. I am a real novice quilter and hoping I can manage this, I am thinking I would do free motion quilting for the daisys if I am wrong please feel free to correct me and tell me the correct procedure.
I am trying to learn how to put my photos in a collage so this is my first attempt at this also so please advice will be gratefully accepted.
Christina

It's Already Scatterday Again!

2007-09-15T08:13:00.000+10:00

Wow where did the week go, haven't posted in nearly a week how slack is that?

Okay Scatterday today and I am certainly glad this week is over and hope next week's letter is an easier one. I really thought I would fail but have managed not to but think one could be a cheater.

The letter was Q and the subjects music, clothing and square things

Music was easy daughter had a necklace with a quaver on it so I photographed that.

Square things took some thought and I finally came up with Square Quarters now I wanted some for a swap so I cut an 8 inch block into dour 4 inch quarters

Clothing was a problem, it was suggested to me a Quicksliver T Shirt, short of accosting a teenager down the street (who I couldn't find anyway) I was not sure how I could photograph this one. Now this is where the judges may deem me as a cheater. I googled Quicksilver T Shirt and copied the photo :-)

So next week better be easier

Christina

A Sad Day

2007-09-09T11:48:00.000+10:00

Today is a sad day for me today, My sister Barbara lost her long battle with cancer in May and today would have been her 61st birthday.

When she died so many of my online quilting friends sent me hearts. They applique a heart onto a piece of cream fabric and send to ones in need. I recieved 100 hearts since the day after Barbara died. So I chose this weekend to put the quilt together. I had enough to make a large quillow and a cushion for my sister Margie and 4 left over that I made another cushion for me.

The hearts are all shades of batik and oriental fabric and they all go together perfectly. I am waiting on some batik fabric to use for the borders but have the hearts all sewn together into a top and sharing some pictures above. There is the quilt top, the cushion for the quillow, the cushion with the green hand dyed borders for Margie and the cushion which I will add some lavender to with the four remaining hearts has an orange border.

When I finsihed the quilt top I lay it over the couch and I sat and looked at it and cried and cried more than I have since I lost Barbara. It is so bright and so much love in it I can't wait to finish it and wrap it around me. Need to wait on the batik for the borders. I didn't sort the hearts and arrange them. All I did was put them roughly into colours and take one from each pile to make 10 rows of 8 blocks and it all went together very well

This heart quilt has some much love sewn into it I am still amazed I recieved 100 hearts, they started arriving the day after Barbara died and continued everyday for almost three months was a joy to go to my letter box each day.

So I will spend the rest of the day just thinking about my sister and will probably ring my other sisters and my mum.

Scatterday

2007-09-08T06:47:00.000+10:00

Today is Scatterday brought to you by the letter "R". Scaterrday was the brainchild of Dy and Michelle. Check out their blogs link to them below, "Random Applique".

The idea is to find 3 photos beginning with the chosen letter and in the 3 categories. This weeks letter was R and the catergories were The Arts, Childhood, The Plant world. Childhood I chose my old report card and photographed Ro Bear reading it. The plantworld was easy we have a beautiful red camellia bush growing in our front yard. The Arts was a little harder but took along my camera to my Art group on Tuesday and Iwas sure someone would be painting a picture beginning with R. Judith had just finished her painting titled Dick, I asked her was by any chance Dick's real name Richard and she said yes so I think her painting qualifies.

Next week will be a challenge the letter is "Q" and the categories are music clothing and square things. Wow this will be a challenge.

I must apologise for the scattered photos I am new to all this and they wouldn't go where I wanted them to go but lets say my Scatterday photos are really scattered.

Aaaargh !!!!!!

2007-09-04T10:26:00.000+10:00

Why oh why do husbands never listen and then when I finally lose my patience he gets all upset....

My hubby suffers from Post Traumatic Distress, along with that he has short term memory, which means you need to repeat yourself several times.....

I try so hard to be patient and most times succeed, but this morning I am trying to do so many things. Visofix some blocks ready to distribute tomorrow for the quilts for keeps girls. Finish my bag just needed a catch for the flap, get ready for my art class and now take time out with my friend Minki and you who are reading this with a cuppa....

Okay getting off the subject here. Hubby ask not once probably at least half a dozen times who rang? Each time I say Lisa, who is the lady that is running the activities program at the school I teach beading once a week there. But the last time I say she has been trying to catch me on my mobile, ( I always forget to take it with me) and it wasn't charged. Hubby says "it is charged "he just charged it for me, I say "not now she was trying another day and got a recording." Few minutes later he says "why did she get a recording", I say "because it wasn't charged"( meaning a few days ago) Hubby says "it is charged". This conversation is repeated a few times till I give up and yell and "Not now she was trying to reach me a few days ago!!!!" Hubby gets upset and says no need to yell and now I am in the bad books. GRRRRRRR!!!!! Come on 12 o' clock when I go to Art.

Sorry to grumble but Minki was my toy cow when I was a child and he always was there for me, I am feeling guilty for my lack of patience and so I turn to Minki and whoever is reading this to make me feel better.

Thanks for reading this far. Better go smooth the waters out with a bit of luck he will forget I yelled at him funny how he never does....... Sometimes I think he just doesn't listen.

What Did I Do Today?

2007-09-02T16:50:00.000+10:00

Father Day? What did I do? Well apart from going to Son In Law's father's home for a BBQ lunch I made a bag.

Through the week I saw a bag at the local patchwork shop I liked and the lady showed me the technique which with the help of my online quilting friends I discovered was called chenille. I had a suspicion it was called that. So I bought some tiger fabric, wanted elephant fabric but couldn't find any and I made the bag. Started it this morning and finished it this afternoon when I came home. All I have to do is sew some Velcro on the closing flap.

So let me know what you think of it.

A New Idea for The Kitchen Curtain

2007-08-31T15:20:00.000+10:00

What did I do today, not a lot really one of those off days I have. I did however make a new kitchen curtain.

Last week we had one of those bad kitchen mishaps. I had a fire. I had made Granddaughter a late breakfast, her and her dad had been up for the morning and she hadn't had any breakfast. I always find it is best to give my grandchildren what they like as it is less waste that way. Fish and chips she loves grilled fish. Cleaned up the kitchen while she ate it. then decided to put some steamed dim sims on for hubby's lunch so put the oil on the back of the stove and the dim sims on the front. Turned them on and went outside to sit and play. Next thing the fire alarm went off, so in I rushed and the oil was on fire, I had turned the wrong jet on. Son in law promptly lifts the burning saucepan over into the sink and turns the tap on. I thought everyone knew that water and oil don't are not a good combination, water and oil don't mix. Up went the flames burning my lovely net curtain.

Now how did I decide on the suncatchers for a curtain, well hubby bought me one yesterday just a cheapy and I thought hey I could make a heap of these and hang them on the window for a curtain. So that is what I have done, have run out of crimps so will finish them off tomorrow when I am minding the grandkids they can help.

Tonight is the first online live auction of my hubby's woodwork so if you have time pop in and check it out.

http://www.thechocolatecrowtrader.com/tcct_chat_room.htm

If not check out his woodwork for sale on

http://www.thechocolatecrowtrader.com/petina

Coffee Morning was a great success

2007-08-28T14:50:00.001+10:00

We had our GTG today the first meeting of our group to make the quilts for the Quilts for Kidss program. I believe it was a huge success, we had 12 people attend three from the local church group who although are not sewers donated $150 to us. We quickly decided to purchase a roll of wadding and a roll of visofix with this money

Much coffee and tea were drank. Jodie the muffins were a huge success everyone loved them and I have posted a photo as you requested. Happy to pass on the recipe if anyone wants it just email me. One of the ladies ( not a quilter I might add ) was amazed and said 'she even has a quilt on her table lol'. I told her that was because my table got cold. lol

People were more than keen to take fabric and begin making the blocks so we now have enough blocks distributed for a boys single bed a girls single bed and a cot quilt. One lady took fabric to copy the cot quilt I made and another lady took some blocks to assemble into a single bed quilt. I did a quick demo on how to apply applique and the ladies were all very enthused. Much laughter and chatting.

We have decided to get together the last Tuesday in September to see our progress and assemble any quilts that are ready to assemble. I am so please all in all the day was a big success and donation was much appreciated and very unexpected.

So from small thing may bigger things come I hope.

I think I am addicted

2007-08-27T15:18:00.000+10:00

I think either I am addicted to HTML codes or I have too much time on my hands lol. I keep finding all these great things on others bloggers and add them to mine. The latest is Tigger and the clock. Either I have to stop looking at other peoples blogs or join one of those anom societys is there one for adding too many things to your blog.
All prepared for tomorrow have everything sorted I think. Just have to make something to eat, will be gluten free because then I can eat it but won't tell anyone that is gluten free and they won't know. Will report on how it all goes tomorrow.
Hubby delivered the boxes to the shop plus a stand which gave her for free and she has ordered some trays now for her FQs. She also taught me a technique so going to have a go when I get time.

Quilts are progressing

2007-08-26T10:44:00.000+10:00

Today I finished my second quilt top. I have sewn two for samples for out GTG on Tuesday. Both very simple, A cot quilt made from fabric donated by Kali Neel and Carol Monshing and Dorothy. It is simple rail fence with a couple of borders. The second one is made from fabric donated by Dorothy of www. chocolate-coated.com and also the navy fabric donated by Carol.

Yesterday was cutting out day, I cut 60 blocks ready for applique, drew up some simple designs, wrote some instructions on applique for the begginers. Also cut some blocks Carol and I are going to applique butterflys for a cot quilt and also cut two single bed quilts similar to the photo and two cot quilts complete with sashing and borders. I am hoping for some volunteers to take and sew them.

The pictured quilt for the boy I am thinking may be backing with polar fleece is quick simple and in expensive.

There is a new patchwork shop in Myrtleford. Not new really a shop that has a new owner and she is specialising in quilting fabric. Great hey!!! Anyway DH got the job of making her 8 boxes to display her fabric and she has asked me to make some sample quilts I could teach . Great hey!!!

Well that's about it for today.

The quilts and the circus

2007-08-23T19:42:00.001+10:00

My progress with the "Quilts for Kids" program is progressing nicely. In the last couple of days I have received two lots of fabric donated. Which I quickly put to good use, Have a cot quilt on the way with fabric donated by Kali Neel. and plans for a single bed quilt using some pre cut blocks donated by Chocolate Coated.

Sister in Law is also working hard. Today we went fabric shopping and she has enough pale blue homespun for 24 blocks and she is going to embroider some pokemon characters and make 2 single bed quilts.

Tuesday August 28th is our coffee morning for interested people and although my letter wasn't published in this week's local paper I think we have at least 12 people interested. My plan is to have some blocks organised to distribute for visofixing and sewing and when they come back we will have enough blocks hopefully to assemble 1 cot quilt 1 boys quilt and 1 girls quilt. So we are well on our way to having our first quilts finished soon. My concern now is where to get the wadding from but I am letting it all take care of itself. When we need the wadding I am sure it will become available.

The circus has come to town. My granddaughter Amy was so excited she rang me to tell me there are elephants at the showgrounds. My favourite animal is an elephant. Then she made her mum ( my daughter) come pick me up and I had to be driven pretending I had no idea where I was going, to the showgrounds so she could show me the elephants We are going to the circus tomorrow night and the kids are all very excited . So is Grandma just quietly I have never been to a circus.

Another Painting done

2007-07-25T10:59:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I went to my fortnightly art group and finished my painting of my Iris. Here is a picture I love it and have decided this is to hang in my bedroom.

Can you see the pink penguin in it Hubby always finds things in my paintings

Have decided also to begin assembling all the lovely hearts I have received into the quilt in August it will be three months since I lost my sister Barbara on the 15th of August so time now to start fresh. I have almost decided on the fabric I will use with the hearts. Take a look at the link and see the ones I like http://equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=104 I like Blue space cloud Hand dyed Peacock and Bali texture Hand dyed Iris. Since I have just finished painting an Iris I am very partial to the iris fabric. Just need to save a few more pennies. For those that don't know about my hearts. I belong to a couple of online quilting groups and when someone is ill or loses a loved one the members make a heart in your colour choice and sew it to a cream square and send to you and then you can assemble them into a quilt I have received almost 100 hearts.

Well have procrastinated long enough here must get dressed now and face the day

Hugz Christina

A New Venture Wish me Luck

2007-07-21T20:49:00.000+10:00

Today I set out on a new adventure. Thanks to my friend Jo I discovered The Chocolate Crow Trader, website. It is a place where craft people can sell their wares. So I signed hubby and I up today. We are called Petinas - Country Primitives. Initially we will be showing a range of Salt Box houses and other primitive wood ware. But don't go there yet and look it will all be set up on August 14th. Hubby will be busy fir the next few days making our small range. We start with five items. So wish us luck. We really need to generate some cash as our pension just covers our basic needs and no extras and we would like to be able to have a few little extras. I have included a picture similar to the houses we will be making and will add more as we make them.

Progress with Minki and other things

2007-07-05T10:01:00.000+10:00

Must let you all know, that thanks to Soozi who is on this webring, I found a shop in Melbourne and they rang me yesterday. They have a pattern similar to Minki and some felt, she is going to send me some colour samples and I will be able to pick what I want.

Also my niece, Margie's daughter is expecting her first baby soon, and she has asked me to make a cot quilt, a floor quilt and a quillow. So will be busy for the next few months . We have almost decided on an I Spy style quilt for the cot, so if you are reading this and have a picture you would like to share please send it to me. I am thinking maybe a raggy quilt or have seen a circular quilt that you have tabs on the edge and you pull a string and it all folds up, for the floor quilt. For the quillow we decided to wait till after the baby is born and if it is a girl I have some beautiful raggedy anne embroidered blocks I will use if it is a boy we will have to change our mind.....So no excuse for sitting here is there.....

My trip to Darwin 2006

2007-07-04T16:36:00.000+10:00

I wrote the following shortly after my return from Darwin on a trip in August 2006 , to visit my sister who had Lung cancer. This trip was made possible by the generousity of members of my online quilting group Quilting Downunder. I posted this as a thank you to all who supported me through this trip. And recentlywas reminded of it. So I want to preserve this memory so I am copying it here. My sister Barbara lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday 15th Of May.

My trip really began when I received an email from Christine Abella,offering help. Thanks to Christine and the wonderful QDUers, by the end of that day I was able to make plans to go to Darwin to see my sister Barbara.

The time took forever to come and when it did I was terrified. I have suffered panic attacks for seven years and hardly leave the house, oops should put hardly left the house. The thought of travelling by train and plane really started to sink in and I thought what have I done? Time to call in the troops. So I asked QDUers for help again and they didn't let me down. I know there is no way this trip could have happened without the help and prayers of all you wonderful people. I will never be able to thank you enough.But please know the inner strength and the bravery so many of you said I had came from you. Only once in 10 days did I feel really panicky, there were times when the panic started to nibble at me but I thought of all you people especially Jo from the circus and I got through.

The only way I can explain this was your support, I regularly suffered panic attacks every time I had to leave thehouse. So you tell me what else could it have been that got me through, but the prayers from all of you

My journey began on Friday August 18th, I caught the 5:10pm train to Melbourne and was met by two of my sisters. I spent the weekend withMargie and caught up with family in Melbourne.

Then Monday came all too quickly and I thought well here goes. I had told my DH if Ihated the plane trip he would have to come get me. He told me I would have to go walkabout. But I loved the trip,

Margie was absolutely wonderful and I think she had all the panic attacks for me, she supported me the whole time. But she didn't know I didn't need it cause I had all of you supporting me.We arrived in Darwin at about 2am in the morning and it was so humid. We were ferried to the motel where we were spending the night by bus. When we arrived and checked in we were informed we were to spend the night in the honeymoon suite. We were not amused lol. So here we were in the honeymoon suite with this huge bed, spa and double shower. Margie made a line down the middle and said don'tcross it. Lol just as well we are sisters and could joke about it.

We were too tired to care and we were soon sound asleep.Next morning our brother in law Graeme picked us up for the trip to Humpty Doo, which is about 50km from the airport. We were excited but apprehensive. So we quizzed Graeme as to how our sister Barbara was. He kept telling us she was fine, but she got angry a lot. BothMargie and I found this impossible to believe, as Barbara was the calmest person we knew. But we were soon to find out different.

We soon arrived to be greeted by Bandit and Smokey two wonderful dogs. Bandit a blue heeler cross was given to Barbara by her son who died tragically about a year ago. Smokey is dingo cross heeler and so lovely also. My first sight of Barbara in eight years took me by surprise, I thought I had prepared myself, but I don't think that was possible.She was so thin and looked about 80 instead of not yet 59. However I tried hard to conceal my surprise.

Barbara is only able to spend very short periods out of bed then she tires, we found she would stretch it to an hour then rest for about 2 hours. During each of those hours we spent a lot of time talking, laughing, and crying.She told us the details of her son's death for me this was the first time I heard an accurate account. And when she showed me all the tributes the tears flowed and flowed.

David was 33 when he died. A lovely boy well man I suppose. He did something silly and paid for it with his life.He was a lovable kid, yes I still think of him as a kid. However like all larrikins he spent the day drinking. And then hopped in his car, which was a brand new jeep Cherokee, and didn't put the seatbelt on. Two tragic mistakes, drink driving and no seat belt. He was impatient and went to pass a car and realised there was a car coming in the other direction, spun the car back, clipped the kerb and flipped the car. He was thrown out of the car and there was not apart of his body that wasn't injured. I asked Barb did he die instantly and all she said was I hope so. The passenger was not injured, he had a seat belt on. So please don't drink drive and always wear your seat belts.

Barbara was diagnosed with lung cancer three days before this, she was going to tell her son David, her only child,the day he died.She is grateful he died not knowing. She was given 6 months and that was 15 months ago so she has had 9 months longer than they expected.She now survives on oxygen and does little else but sleep and eat.She weighs about 30 to 40 kilos. Margaret and I made her some pants as nothing she has fits her. She is in constant pain with arthritis in her legs and her feet are so swollen.

Right now I feel numb, I am glad I went to see her and will be eternally grateful to all here who helped me, and also my sisterMargie who was just so wonderful, please don't forget Margie also suffers with anxiety and panic, and for reasons I will never know decided this was the week to give up smoking. So you can imagine how difficult this trip was for her also.

Thursday came all too quickly for us and we said our goodbyes which believe me was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, because I know I will never see her again. We are a family that grew up not being allowed to cry. Every time we cried we told to grow up, so there were not a lot of tears but believe me there was a lot of sadness.Margaret and I did some sight seeing, and I shocked our Jo when she rang me and I was sitting in the main street of Darwin waiting for Margie to finish her retail therapy. We went to Mindil markets and watched the sunset, to the beautiful music of Jabaru, a lovely duet that sing and play all sorts of tribal instruments. I can still hear Jo asking me if I was indigenous when I told her this. LOL Jo I am as white as a Lily.While speaking of Jo this wonderful person rang me almost every day,she boosted me when I was sad and helped me through the scary times.She is the most wonderful person I know. And I am proud to call her my friend. The day she was assigned my mortal in and Angel/ Mortalswap was the best day of my life. My life has been enriched by knowing her.

All too soon we were on our way home. By this time I was feeling homesick and all I wanted to do was go home. Soon Monday arrived and I was on my way home. DH was there waiting for me at the station. We were both pleased to see each other. This had been a hard 10 days for him as he suffers PTSD but he managed well under the watchtful eye of our DGD and DD and his Dsister.

So this doesn't go anywhere near telling you everything that happened but hope it shows you how wonderful this trip was for me and something I will be grateful for till the day I die. I don't know how much longer my sister has left, she has told us he husband has power of attorney and she doesn't not want to be kept alive on amachine. I feel and I hope I am wrong, she was hanging on to see us and my mum who is there this week. Margie disagrees with me, but who knows. All I hope is she doesn't suffer.

Thank you, I am not going to thank you all indivually, but thanks for the donations, the support the prayers the phone calls the emails and everything.There are photos if you want to see them email me and I will send you the link.
Hugz Christina
Have you had a kindness shown?
Pass it on;
Twas not given for thee alone,Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,'
Til in Heaven the deed appears -Pass it on.
~Henry Burton, Pass It On

Wow an order

2007-06-25T10:51:00.000+10:00

I am feeling chuffed today, have an order for 36 rice bags, sure it means work but it means money also and that will sure come in handy at the moment. It is all thanks to my wonderful son in law Rick. I made some rice bags for him a few years ago and he works in a timber mill. Here in Myrtleford it is very cold in the winter when they start work probably around minus 3 or minus 4. So he was showing his off to his mates and they all want one and even asked could I make smaller ones for their hands. Now why rice bags and not wheat bags you say? well it all came about a few years ago. I have Coliac disease which is an allergy to wheat, rye, barley oats and malt. And I belong to an online group. A friend on that group almost swallowed some wheat when her wheat bag developed a hole and she squeezed . So I came up with the idea of filling them with rice. It seems this is also a more hygienic way also and I sold heaps then. haven't made any since and now looks like my market is taking off again. So why am I sitting here telling you well I wanted to tell someone and who else but my blog friends if I have any . Now have just remembered I am supposed to be cooking soup for lunch and it is 11 am not dressed and no soup on. Have cut out the bags will go put the soup on and then it is back to the machine......Hugz till next time
swallowed

Why Minki Returns

2007-06-24T12:21:00.000+10:00

Why have I started a a blog? Why call it Minki returns? As I explained briefly Minki was a toy cow when I was a child, I had lots of home made toys all of which I loved but Minki was special. A protector and a comfort. My childhood was not straight forward may explain one day. So Minki was always there. So now when my life is upside down Minki is something I think about, wonder where she is and what happened to her and have hopes of remaking her one day. so if when reading this you know of a pattern for a cow made from felt with brown patches and a pink udder please let me know.

Who am I? I am a married woman mid 50s. Hubby is in his late 50s, is retired since mid 40s as he had a bad truck accident that left him with Post Traumatic Stress. We spend our days creating him in his woodwork workshop me in my sewing room cum computer room. We have three grown children. Colin who married Karrissa and gave us two grandchildren Joshua and Emily and they live in Newcastle NSW. Michelle who married Rick and also gave us two grandchildren Sam and Amy, they live barely five minutes away. Robert who married divorced and now leads the single life living with hubby's best mate in Melbourne

What do I like to do? I have painted mainly in oils and acrylics for the last 12 years . Firstly flowers and then landscapes and seascapes and currently going through a contemporary stage and back to flowers but more contemporary flowers. I began patchworking I guess about 5 years ago and fell in love with it. I make quilts, bags, dolls teddies and a cows if I could find a pattern.

Well that is about enough to begin with. So until next time Hugz