Thoughtful Friday

"People are like stained-glass windows.

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in

their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within"

Elizabeth Kübler-Ross

fairies in my garden

Little Possum had a friend over for a play yesterday and the 2 little fairies had a lovely time in their own little Fairyland. There was glittery fairydust everywhere and the girls enjoyed their afternoon tea of apple-cinnamon muffins and hot cross buns on a special fairy tea-set.

master and apprentice

Padawan Doodlebug had to pass the next stage of his apprenticeship with Jedi Geek master MOTH teaching him how to build his own lightsaber computer. After a trip to Geek Heaven Computer Parts store to buy the necessary parts, they sat themselves down in the middle of the kitchen for this most important Rite of Passage. It was hard to tell who enjoyed it the most, but at the end of it the kids have a working computer and Doodlebug has earned his very own polyester shirt complete with pocket protector.

The decision to build a new computer was made mostly because the kids insist on using ours complaining that theirs is too slow...... spoilt, they are :) In my day I was lucky to have a stick to scratch in the dirt with for entertainment. OK, I admit that's a slight exaggeration...

(On a completely different topic I can report furious activity on the quilting front.... The promised auction quilt has had a couple of re-pick moments but is progressing beautifully)

silent auction update

I had hoped yesterday to have my items finished, photographed and on the blog ready for the silent auction to start.... but I'm not quite there yet.
I can tell you what some of the items will be, though:


I have made some more pencil rolls like these




Remember this? "I Spy" was lost and FOUND!!
Since I had given up on on getting it back, and that it's reappearance this week was a complete surprise, I have decided that fate has intervened :) I completed the last block and assembled the quilt top yesterday, and will start quilting it tomorrow.

I'll also have some patterns and other smaller items.

While I was sewing yesterday I was listening to ABC radio where they were having a special appeals day not just for the bushfire victims but also for those affected by the floods in Queensland. I was happy to hear about the opening of hearts and wallets all over Australia. The ingenious ways money is being raised by young and old. In times of great tragedy, despite difficult economic times, compassion and generosity prevail.

Thoughtful Friday

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow"

- Mary Anne Radmacher

bushfire appeal

There's been a long break in my blogging. The last week has been introspective as my heart goes out to the victims of the Victorian bushfire and as I count my blessings.

How to help? I have donated cash to the Australian Red Cross appeal, and will put the binding on this quilt

It was always intended as a charity quilt, but just hasn't found a cause yet - I think I just found one.

Next Fri (20th) Woolworths is having a special trading day where 100% of the profits will be donated to the Bushfire appeal.

Silent (quilty) auctions are cropping up:

Handmade Helps Out
Melly and Me
Maree (On my Verandah)

I will be adding to it so come back tomorrow to see my auction items. All proceeds will go to the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

this little piggy came to stay.........

I have this bundle of fabrics sitting on my desk between my keyboard and my screen at the moment..... just so that I can just admire them and stroke them once in a while (it's a quilter thing, ok?) . They arrived in the post this week, and I am just waiting for 3 more fabrics to join my rainbow. Eventually this little piggy will settle on our bed looking like this:

This is Kaffe Fassett's Garden Rainbow Quilt.

January finish

January was going to be the month of "I spy" quilt and Checks and Planes quilt.... but "I spy" became "I lost" (I never did recover the bag) and my areoplane quilt is not quite ready for take off. But I did manage this baby quilt..... an easy tie job.

The Texas stars are progressing nicely too, so the challenge is looking promising for later in the year.