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May 26, 2007
May 25, 2007
Here is the work on the ‘Cross’. I have been working on RRs, so not alot done. I have changed a couple of trims, and worked a little more on the ‘friendship’ section. Only 5 weeks to moving day, so I need to get working.
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I was tagged at the beginning of the week ( by whom I cannot remember-sorry) to show our workspaces. Mine are very meager, and messy, but I couldn’t be fagged cleaning my ’studio’ just for a pic. It is my room and and can keep it as I wish (as in it is not family property and they don’t get an opinion on it!) I would not normally show pics like this, but I don’t actualy have alot of stash, and I think it is good for others who have limited incomes, to realise that it is all in how you use it, not what you’ve got.
This is my chair and the plastic drawers, and basket, hold all my beads, threads, ribbons, charms etc, everything I use while embellishing a block. That’s it. HONESTLY!
This is the said messy workroom. The baskets at the back have basically crap my SIL gave me, but I can’t chuck it in case she visits. There are a few trims and my dyes live in there too. The bottom basket has sewing machine stuff. The old iron is corker. I NEVER iron clothes, so it is very pleased of this hobby of mine, and the fact that I use fuseable interfacing as block foundations, so it gets a regular workout.
And this is the shelf that holds everything else I own. Fabrics mostly . Baggies I have been sent, and laces and trims (from Lily’s block) There is also a couple of containers of buttons. So that’s my stash. It isn’t large, but it does me just fine. The only thing I would probably like more of is beads, different shapes, sizes and colours.
May 21, 2007
Jakkie’s block is finished. I posted a final pic in the previous post, so you can see the progress on the block, if you are at all interested! I like purple at the best of times, but I particulary like this block. It is very pretty, and I love that the crocheted doily worked , yeah!
So , here is the finished block ( I do think it is finished too)
and some close ups
…and the ‘art’ shot. You don’t often get to see the dimension in CQ blocks, so here is my effort for your enjoyment.
May 20, 2007
I found the following on Charlene’s other blog (which I enjoyed reading by the way my friend). Now, you probably all know, I’m not overly fond of my kids (you know what I mean), but I am incredible protective of them, after all, they are mine, and I want them around so I can enjoy them leaving the nest!! Reading the following really touched me. It wasn’t credited to anyone, so I cannot name the authour for you, but I thought it was worth sharing, and it reminded me that I AM a mother.
I also thought it worth sharing as friends of ours lost their son last night. We have a large ‘boy racer’ culture in NZ. Scotty was killed at an illegal street drag. He came from a good family, but he made some bad choices, and got into the wrong crowd, and has has lost his life over it. I feel for his mother, and there is nothing I can say to her that will matter…
The following made me think that we can only do our best, the rest time we are just holding our breath, waiting to see if they come out the other side .
Being A Mom
We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of “starting a family.” “We’re taking a survey,” she says half-joking.” Do you think I should have a baby?” “It will change your life,” I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. “I know,” she says, “no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations.”
But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of childbearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never again read a Newspaper without asking, “What if that had been MY child?” That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die. I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of “Mom!” will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.
I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby’s sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.
I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no Longer be routine. That a five year old boy’s desire to go to the men’s room rather than the women’s at McDonald’s will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.
Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her That eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she Will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs. I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.
My daughter’s relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with Women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.
My daughter’s quizzical look makes me realize that tears Have formed in my eyes. “You’ll never regret it,” I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter’s hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings …
May 19, 2007
This is ONE of the current round robins I am working on. This is the Do Your Block RR, where I embellish a 6″ block. I have three RR on the go. I have 3 RR on the go. No, make that 4, plus other various projects I would LIKE to contribute too. So time management is important here. So, with that being said, I am off the PC and onto the arm chair. That should take care of all of 17 out of 10000 steps! lol
There is alot more to do on this block.
Haere ra.
(edited to add)
I have added in a third shot of Jakkies block. The colours are much truer in this block, especially with the SRE. I guess you can see my obvious problem…the big ‘gap’ in the top left of the block. Any ideas? It needs to be a ‘weighty’ embellishment to balance the block.
May 15, 2007
I had this weekend away, which is my idea of bliss for mothers day. Slept in, stitched, read, nice meals. Myself, my Mum and Nana went out for lunch on Sunday together .
I finished up my Tradewinds block, now I have to find some time with my mum to help me put it all together. I AM NOT a sane quilter, so sashing and borders, and things that matter, for a nicely finished project, are not my strong suit.
Here is the progress on the cross. Mum has given me some great ideas for finishing this as well.
Close up on the Playcentre logo and the stitching around it
And a closeup of the middle of the block. There is still ALOT more work to do on this area.
May 10, 2007
…Linda over at Chloe’s Place. She has popped her head back up into blogland. Please go and leave her a comment, telling her we miss her and want her back. If you haven’t come across Chloe’s Place before now, go and check her archives, she is a fantastic CQer, and her blog is well worth an afternoon.
May 10, 2007
Another wee key ring card holder for your veiwing pleasure. I used yellow in this, and I actually like it. It’s not to bad as an accent, I guess. The actual name of the ribbon is arabian gold or some such thing, so not really yellow eh? For new readers, these are ATC size.
May 9, 2007
I have been tagged by Sharon B to reveal 7 things about me. What to tell you…
1)I cry at the airport always, whether I know people or not. It’s just always so freakin’ sad…or happy!!
2)I struggle every day with ‘mummyhood’. It is only the fact that they are good looking and intelligent that gets them and me thru the days, and it’s apparently socially unacceptable to abandon your children and to return to your no committments, sex, drugs and rock’n’ roll lifestyle that you enjoyed(?) prior to children.
3) I have told this before – I have tattoos and mutiple piercings (came with the aforementioned lifestyle)
4) People who knew me in that aforementioned life, find it hard to equate me with the rather responsible, reliable and respectable person that I am now. Maybe those kids are good for something after all.
5) I LOVE reality TV, the trashier the better
…later…
6) I am actually quite content with my life. I DO love my kids (just in case there is any doubt) and I have a great partner…just sometimes…you know
7) I knew a friend was pregnant before she knew, I knew it was twins, and I know it is boys, which I can’t say out loud, because she desparately wants girls. I know alot of things before they happen.
I am supposed to tag seven more people. If you would like to respond please do so, if not, well I knew you wouldn’t anyway (haha)
1) Lauri
2) Anita
3) Alison
4) Dy
5) Sandie
I can only do 5. The online community is quite small and most have already been tagged.
…and Cat. i would like to know seven things about Cat.
May 7, 2007
I did a bit of work on this last night. I am very pleased with the way it is coming along so far. The logo at the top of the pic is the Playcentre logo. Playcentre is where Belinda and I met. I want this piece to have a totally encrsted look, without being overdone. Oh, who am I kidding? I LOVE overdone.
There are lots of beads scattered around that aren’t showing up in the pic. Will try a daylight pic tomorrow.
