Here's to a happy 2015

2014 wasn't the best year for me and my blog was sadly neglected ... but I've turned a corner, closed a door and I'm looking forward to what's ahead.  To say goodbye to 2014 hubby and I took ourselves off to the other side of Australia and celebrated 5 days in Sydney.

Despite being in Australia for 47 years I've never spent any time in Sydney and now I know what I've missed out on.  What an amazing city!!

The Harbour is spectacular, the beaches and bays are beautiful, the scenery awesome, and the history and buildings are amazing.  Everywhere we looked was a photo opportunity.

Of course, 5 days certainly isn't enough time to explore this wonderful place, but it was a great taster to inspire us for a longer visit.  And speaking of inspiration, each morning we would see this street artist, Pepe, sitting at Circular Quay creating the most wonderful artwork I've seen.  He donates all his works to charities.  Check out his website here:  Pepe Gaka.

We had perfect weather and spent most of the time on or near the water.

 The Sydney to Hobart Yacht race had left through the Heads just days earlier.

 And you couldn't go to Sydney without a visit to Bondi Beach.

Even during a holiday my minds still on shape, pattern, texture, and colour, and I fell in love with the formation and colours of the sandstone cliffs around the water.  Surely thats got to inspire some creative textile work!

But of course, the biggest draw card at this time of the year is the New Years Eve fireworks display off the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We spoilt ourselves with a boat cruise for the night and it was breathtaking - I can't find words to describe the feeling and atmosphere of being on the Harbour with thousands of people lining the banks, and hundreds of boats around us, all lit up and sailing around such icons as the Opera House.  I had to keep pinching myself that it was real. 

When the fireworks went off I felt quite emotional - closing the door on 2014, wondering what the year ahead will bring, and just being overwelmed by the magnificence of the fireworks display.

It was spectacular, and we didn't want the night to end - it will be one we will remember for a long time to come. 

Even though the holiday was short lived we weren't too disappointed to return home though because there was more excitement ahead.  We had a new puppy arriving .....

We've been looking for a few months now, and two days after Christmas I found this little treasure on the internet.  As soon as we saw that fat little tummy we knew she had to be ours.

The waiting was unbearable, I was counting down the sleeps like a child waiting for Santa Claus, and never slept a wink the night before.  I was in excitement overload.

 And on Monday she arrived!  Meet "Darcy", our new little jack russell baby.

I can't believe how much joy she's brought me in just 4 days.  I didn't think there was a cure for a bereaved heart, but now I know that a tiny bundle of warm furry love can cure the deepest of sadness. 

I've already started a new sketchbook and my minds ticking over for design ideas, what an inspiration she is.  So here's to 2015 being a productive year and one I can share with you all.  I hope that the year ahead will be a good one for you ... full of love, joy and happiness, and I thank you for taking the time in your lives to read my blog and share my life.

Merry Christmas

I want to take this opportunity to thank all my blog friends for your support throughout the past year and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming year.  May you all find the time to tell those you love just how much they mean to you.

For us, this Christmas is a mixed up one.  This past week has been a very difficult one for our family.  My mother underwent an operation for cancer, then Thursday we had to put our beautiful little boy Sammy to sleep after 17 years of unconditional love from him, and the following morning my husband suffered a heart attack.

Fortunately the wonderful doctors and nurses saved his life and he is actually coming out of hospital Christmas lunch time.  So this Christmas Day I will count my blessings and give thanks for still having my mum and husband around to share my life, and for the love I had from Sammy and the years of joy he gave me, even though I have a huge hole in my heart and the pain and loss is unbearable, my life is better for him being a part of it.

Best wishes to everyone.  I hope your Christmas is blessed with joy and love, and finds you surrounded by the people and pets you love.

Many paws make more work

Sammy's never been one for coming into my studio ... until recently.  Now I can't get him out.

He decided he wanted to come in and help me.

We call him the QA Controller, as he always has to check out everything we do, usually after we've gone he snoops around and does his final inspection, but this day he decided to sit with me and make sure I was doing my sewing to his standards. 

He seems quite pleased with it.  Not sure I'm happy about him sitting on my work.  It's nice to have him share my day with me, and have big cuddles, but not a good thing when the item you're working on is a black woollen shawl.

But with a moochy "kiss me mummy" face like that, how could I ever be cross with him.

Hello Possums!

In a previous post I'd talked about visiting Edenvale and trying to see a family of possums who lived there, to no avail, but last Sunday I was once again at Edenvale having a look at an arts and crafts festival and decided to enquire if the possums were still around.

The young girl from the cafe went outside to have a look and spotted a tail.  She went back into the cafe and came back out with half an apple - next minute who did we see peeping out of the trees but one of the possums.

He was gorgeous, so cute and appealing, despite the fact that most people consider them vermin.

He loved the apple and wasn't afraid of me snapping pictures of him.  I stood on a chair to get a closer look, much to the amusement of the patrons sitting around enjoying coffee and cake.

I soon had a little crowd of people around me wondering what on earth was so interesting to have a middle aged, seemingly insane woman, pointing her camera up a tree and squealing with delight.

Now just look at that face .... so cute, pity his claws weren't so appealing.  They were like something out of a werewolf movie.

No sign of the rest of his family who were in hiding, but he was enough.  I must've taken nearly a hundred photos of him including one which shows he's got a bad tooth.  Wonder if he'd fancy a dentist.

He then raced back up the tree and as I was trying to photograph him from underneath he decided to bombard me with pooh.  At first I didn't know what was going on, I just got hit with rapid gunfire of hard bullets bouncing off my feet, until everyone started laughing and I realised what was going on.

Then he peeped back out at me with a cheeky look on his face, and I couldn't be cross with him.

Someone else came along with half an orange then, so he was back down in a flash for another nibble whilst I went home for a bath and a change of clothes.  It was all worth it though, I still think they're loveable, until he gets into my roof, and then I'll be cursing him and calling him vermin.

It's only taken me 44 years living in this country to actually see a live possum.  Mission accomplished!

In Remembrance of Archie

In Rememberance of wee Archie ... who brought so many smiles to so many of us ...

may he Rest in Peace.

Thoughts go out to his family

http://feltedhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/heartbreaking-farewell-to-archie.html

With love x

Drawn thread work

Suffering through the hottest summer on record isn't conducive to fine hand work ... I'm either wet through with sweat, irritable and bad tempered, or just plain lethargic and can't be bothered.  But, I have made an attempt on my drawn thread work for Module 11.

It's been a long time since I did such fine work and I'm finding it difficult on my eyes, despite using a magnifier, but I do love this type of needlework.  So far I've managed to hem stitch a piece of linen with mitred corners, and do one band of drawn thread work.

This one is four sided stitch and easy to do once you've done the labour intensive removal of threads.  Weaving the drawn threads into the remaining fabric is tedious, but gives a lovely finished edge and is very secure.  I've got 3 more bands to do and 2 corner bands ... if only the weather would cool down.

Just to let you know the latest on Sammy - he's doing okay.  He's not a happy-chappy having to have 3 lots of medicine rammed down his throat twice a day, but it's keeping him going and he seems happy enough.  I have found my own home remedy to assist him - dried cuttlefish from the Asian supermarket.  Not the white stuff you find on beaches and feed to your budgie - proper dried fish for eating.  I rehydrate it for him and it seems to work wonders.  The vet told me they're going to try it on other cats with megacolon and from now on will name it "Sammy's Cure".  Fame at last!

Merry Christmas every one

Sorry no photos this time.  Life's been a bit of a roller coaster lately.  Sammy's had his 3rd operation since September and doesn't seem to be getting better.  He's got megacolon, which seemingly is common in cats.  We're on the last resort at the moment with some special medicine that hopefully will kick start his colon into doing what it should.  Other than this hiccup all his organs are normal and he's a healthy cat in every other way.  They say "s**t happens" but in Sammy's case, it doesn't!!  Every time I've been to the vets lately its been with the knowledge that I might have to make that awful decision that all pet owners hate, and my emotions have been all over the place.  I build myself up for it, go in with legs shaking and knees knocking, and the vet gives me hope, and we go through it all again a few days later.
Unfortunately I'm going to Singapore tomorrow for 2 weeks, so I've got to leave him boarding at the vets, where I know he'll get the best of care and attention, but I'm so worried.
Christmas doesn't seem very exciting at the moment.  The only thing I want Santa to bring me is Sammy's health back.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to every one who follows my blog and for sending such lovely comments to me, its been wonderful to have your friendship all year, and I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy and happy new year.
Take care everyone, and I'll be in touch in a few weeks.
Best wishes x

Sammy's progress

Thank you for all the lovely messages of support for wee Sammy, I really appreciate it, and it helps to know there are people out there who understand.  My little man has had a rough time of it and is still quite poorly, but getting better slowly.  He's on more medication that a hyperchondriac and I've yet to master the skill of giving a cat a tablet.  Fortunately the vet changed the antibiotics to a liquid form which is a bit easier to administer.

He's enjoying a bit of sunshine at the moment, but is still quieter than his normal self.  He's done a bit of yelling at me this morning which I take as a good sign.  He's most happy when he's in his favourite place - the dog's kennel!  Bonnie has never used the kennel, she prefers the more human form of relaxation - sofa's, beds, humans, etc, but Sammy's always loved it in his little house.

I have to keep a close eye on him for the next week and monitor every bit of food and water, and his habits, which is restricting me on things I need to be doing, but I'd rather that and have my wee man, than have time for jobs and not have him.

I did manage to rust some fabrics whilst he was sunning himself in the garden.  This morning I've dunked them in cold tea to grey the colours more.  No idea yet what I'm going to do with them.

I also spent last night working on my Dorset buttons for Module 10.  The first attempt was awful, but I'm gradually getting better.  I find the hardest part is centralising the spokes.  The are fiddly to make, but look really nice once completed.  I'd love to know how to do some of the other Dorset button designs, but can't find any instructions on the web, so if anyone has any links I'd be most grateful to hear from you.

And guess what turned up in the post this morning ......

.... no points for guessing what I'll be doing this afternoon.  Yes, feet up, fire on, cup of tea, packet of chocolate minstrels (courtesy of my lovely daughter - to cheer me up), Sammy on my knee, getting lots of cuddles, and  inspiration galore on the DVD.  I'm off to enjoy.

Mixed emotions

Everyone's lives are full of high's and low's and mine is no different.  Full of enthusiasm I cracked on with the noodle box.  The machine lace was hand tacked to the dyed purple fabric, then attached to pelmet vilene and cut to shape.  From there it was many hours of hand stitching blocks of straight stitches all over.  The inside lining of the box was the same without the machine lace.

Then the two layers were placed together and machine stitched at the bottom and around the edges.  All going well for a time - now its sat for 3 days waiting for me to stitch up the sides and complete it.   All enthusiasm went out the window after a death and funeral this week.

Then I got a "high" .... I decided to treat myself to a Dog Daisy Chain design.  I read Jackie's blog each week and have always loved her designs but recently one colour scheme in particular spoke out to me and I just knew I had to have it.  Its funky and fun and makes me smile.

Then yesterday I crashed back to "low" mood.  My precious little boy Sammy is in hospital and very poorly.

He's an old fella now, nearly 16, but has always been in good health and is the gentle-ist of souls.  My heart is in my mouth waiting to hear from the vets if he's going to be okay.  All thoughts of stitching and amusement have vanished whilst I wait patiently for him for come home and sit on my knee so I can cuddle him and smother him in kisses.

A busy fortnight past

What a busy few weeks we've had.  I've hardly had chance to read blogs, let alone make any posts.  Hubbie's been on 2 weeks holidays so we decided to redecorate the kitchen/dining/lounge area.  Being optimistic we thought we'd knock it off in a week and still have time for gardening and maybe a few days away down south ...HA! it took almost all the 2 weeks to finish the decorating. 
It was a good break though, after finishing Module 9, and gave me chance to clear my mind and do something different.  I was really pleased with my feedback too, so now I feel inspired for the next module.
On Tuesday we heard on the late evening news that 4 southern right whales had come into the Dawesville cut (between the ocean and the estuary).  This is something we've not experienced before, so yesterday I took my parents down there to view them, but they'd gone ... obviously travelling up north to warmer waters ready for calving.  Its a shame we hadn't known about it earlier the day before.

So instead of whale spotting we took a walk along the channel and watched the cormorants and pelicans.

I love the pelicans, I think they have such cheeky faces.  Then we got a surprise as 2 dolphins came past, side by side.  Its just such a lovely place to sit and enjoy the water, and how lucky are we to see nature at its most perfect.

Earlier I had said that doing the decorating was a good way to clear my mind ... but clearly, my mind packed up and went away on holiday.  Do you ever do things that are so totally stupid and then wonder why on earth you did it?!  I've started work on my Module 10, where I have to create my 3D piece. I've designed a noodle box made from machine lace based on fossils all linked together.

So ... Tuesday, being inspired and full of renewed energy I spent an hour tracing my fossil pattern onto soluble fabric, using a water soluble pen.  By the time I'd finished it was near tea time, so I put it aside for the next day.

Yesterday morning I woke up to find my soluble fabric blank .... the pen I'd used was a disappearing pen and all the pattern had vanished.  The pen comes in two colours, one either end, a purple and a blue.  I'd used the purple as I thought it was darker - but this was the disappearing ink, however, I'd also used the blue (water soluble ink) to mark the folds and eyelets.  Because the fabric was blank, apart from the blue ink, I thought, Oh I know, I'll get rid of the blue marks and start again, so .... what did I do?  I put a wet cloth over the blue marks to make them vanish and the fabric dissolved as well .... duurrrrr!!!! I'd forgotten it was water soluble fabric too ... like I say, my brains gone on holidays and I've no idea when its coming back!!!!!

So after another hour of retracing the pattern using the correct pen, and another piece of soluble fabric, I've now started making my machine lace.  I'm sure I'll still be at it next week, as I've hours and hours of it to do.  But, its a wet miserable cold day so there's nothing better to do than sit and stitch.

Bonnie's got the right the idea ... just stay in bed.  During the redecoration we ripped out our fire and have to wait 3 weeks for a new one ... only one more week to go, thank goodness.

And , another event in our lives this week was our 20th wedding anniversary yesterday.  Unfortunately hubby is back at work and away from home, but we celebrated with a big family BBQ on Sunday.  I wonder where the years have gone, I'm sure we've skipped some, they've gone so fast, but I wouldn't change any of them.  I love him today just as I did the day I married him, and am thankful to have him in my life.