A Sad loss, a start, and some help needed

 A long time between post,

Unfortunately my Father in law passed away earlier this month - he had been fighting a tough battle with cancer but he no longer had the energy or body to fight with.  I been involved with this family for 20 years and Warren was a wonderful man who called a spade a spade, would give his right arm to help you if your needed help, loved his family and enjoyed a red and chocolate or two.

So many people are effected by Cancer whether it be Breast, Prostate, Bowel, Pancreatic, Bone or Emphysema, mother, father, brother, sister, cousin or friend.  I have plenty of exposure with my dad being diagnosed with Breast Cancer 17 years ago and having a mastectomy, then Prostate Cancer to follow on and my mother being diagnosed with Breast Cancer 3 years ago, as well as my Father-in-law.   Yesterday Shane Crawford cycled through the town on his way from Melbourne to Perth, lets hope he can raise as much money as he can to help more research to try and find a cure for this disease.

A lovely day celebrating Warrens life and as a symbol of goodbye we gave each person that attended a small bag of sunflowers seeds - these were Warrens favourite - to plant in memorial.  Hopefully next year there are sunflowers everywhere, including our place as we have a leftover 25kg bag of sunflower seeds. ;)

So home again and I am still thinking of hexagons.  I so loved Natalie Bird's Quilt that we did at Robyn's Country Hart  retreat.  (see previous post).  I have always wanted to do a Grandmother Flowers Quilt I have an idea in my head but really don't know where to start.

So what do I do instead - start another project - this time crochet.  So I am still doing hexagons, must thank my mum for helping me by picking up the wool at Spotlight.  We only had to substitute one colour but have started.  Mum got me extra of the beige marle so I had added extra flowers in plain to make the rug bigger.  The pattern is from the Better Homes and Gardens June edition.

(only another 98 to go plus 100 plain ones - not that I'm counting)

http://blog.ajpadilla.com 

 www.quiltinggallery.com 

So I have this idea to make a quilt in shades of red and cream but ladies (and gentlemen) I need help - is this one of those quilts that is better in scraps, tones of colours or do you think red and cream with work????

Love the French General range and they have the yummiest of reds.......

End of school is coming up soon - 1 week to go and then school holidays.  We are heading off for a family holiday with a group of 23 friends, then on to Melbourne to visit DH's sisters.  Oh and I might have to extend the holiday in Melbourne as I happened to find out that the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair is on whilst I'm there......sssshh don't tell DH

Keep Stitching,

Nay

PS Anne and I are off to Melbourne to join Gail Pan and Leanne Beasley in a Christmas workshop in November - birthdays presents for ourselves.  Aren't they the best.

Indulge in Stitches, Natalie Bird, Libby Richardson, Country Hart, time with Mum and I hate being sick.....

So,

Last weekend saw Mum and myself drive ourselves to the Novotel at Rowland Flat (the Barossa) to the "Indulge in Stitches" weekend put on by Robyn Welsh from Country Hart in Port Pirie - 

 this is the 3rd that I have been to and my mum's first.  

Mum was exactly like me the first time I went to a weekend away - I'm not good enough, 

I don't know enough about quilting (mum has started quilting - yet),

I wont know anyone there and the excuses keep rolling on.  Guess what she survived!

I will post photos of my projects and purchases once I buy new batteries for the camera.

I have been to a workshop with Natalie Bird before - at Tricia's at Almond Grove - 

Natalie along with Anni Downs from Hatched and Patched

it was to be Tricia's last and I knew that mum would enjoy the stitching.

Robyn normally has them at her shop but having moved recently to Alexander St Port Pirie

 she doesn't have the room until the shop next door is vacant.

Natalie Robyn and Libby

10:30 saw us roll up, parked out front and then we were meet by Robyn and her daughter Abbi with morning tea.  A coffee machine to work out and some lovely food and then it was time to settle in.

One project each from Natalie and Libby with another 2 on Sunday.

Natalie Bird Saturday Project

Hexagons - I mean seriously - I have always wanted to do these but never tried - looked to hard - 

wow was I wrong...helped with the templates...

the table of 7 ladies had decided to start with hexagons as Libby had to get to 4 tables and we didn't want to sit around waiting, it was also mentioned that nobody had done them before so we were all starting something new.  So after a few false starts and Natalie coming to help we all managed to get out a flower or two (I will post my projects in the various stages of finishes once I get new batteries for my camera as they died today after taking the Princesses photo).  Now I can see why these things are addictive and easily portable - and yes I love my sewline glue stick.  

We had 1/2" hexagons to deal with some crazy ladies even attempted the 1/4" hexagons - OMG - these are tiny and one lady even fussy cut rose buds for them...I mean seriously....check out Linda Whites "Dear Prudence" Quilt to see the size of these amazingly small hexagons -  Dear Prudence

Libby Richardson's Saturday project

So after much harassment from two on our table - Libby came across late in the afternoon 

( we were suppose to be first thing Sunday but oh well no pleasing everyone).  

Mum was SO EXCITED about this as she has a few projects at home that she wants to stitch that has painted backgrounds.   

This was so much fun and surprisingly very easy - mum was impressed as she believes that she can't draw, can't paint so was keen to see how she would go, and she finished her drawing - not the stitching but the painting and it looks great.

Natalie's Sunday Projects

Punch Needle - something that I was introduced to by Anni Downs and seriously I had forgotten how much fun it was.  It must be addictive as I stayed up (whilst completing the washing Monday night) to finish it - finished the bird on the weekend and now the house. 

 Bought the kit to make the bag - will show you the finished project - very cute.  

Now have so many ideas going through my head - any stitchery/applique design can be done as punch needle.  

Libby's Sunday Projects

A cute wall-hanging - almost finished the stitching but not quite.

So can say the accommodation at the Novotel is pretty good, the food was amazing and if you went hungry then you only have yourself to blame. 

 I know Robyn and the hotel had a few complaints - that's sad -

 I know a lot of hard work and time goes into these weekends so it must be disappointing when

 some people (two in fact) find a way to complain about EVERYTHING - 

when even Mum says they're B______S you know its bad. 

Came home to three kids, one husband, one father (thanks for kid-sitting Grumpy), a house full of washing and still sick kids.  Mr 14 going on 40 has had glandular fever and an infected ear drum for a week now, Mr "I miss out on everything" and She who must be obeyed had already had their fair share of a viral infection. 

Thought I had escaped it but no Tuesday night I got hit by a "Mack Truck" - went to pick up No 2 from Karate and felt dizzy and started shivering uncontrollably - went home and crawled into bed and 3 hours later with 2 hot water bottles I started to warm up.  

Wednesday couldn't talk, couldn't swallow as someone had chucked a trailer full of glass down there, felt crap and probably looked like it.  Spent the next 3 days in bed - sleeping - dragged myself to the Dr's and yep guess who got Glandular fever and Tonsillitis - so a few days off.  Normally a bonus just not at the moment with 2 new staff returning from their training on Thursday - great welcome really.

Woke up Saturday morning and realised that I could swallow WOW  took the kids to Berri for No 1's footy game - his first hint of activity for 2 weeks, went shopping and came home and laid on the couch for the next 5 hours - didn't expect to get that wiped out - perhaps this really does knock it out of you.

Today stayed quiet - finished my beanie to match my scarf, knitted some more of Princesses scarf, cooked a yummy meat pie for tea and dessert was some lovely Raspberry, Blueberry and Nutella turnovers YUM.  Managed to sit through one of Princesses performances - they're getting longer and more ab-libed.  

She who must be obeyed "Performance"

Back to work on Tuesday. 

Take Care and keep stitching,

Nay