My life as a pinball...

Or at least, how a pinball must feel!

Bounced around at a whim, never knowing which direction I will take next.

Sounds exciting? Not really, but at least life is full of surprises!

This past week was always going to be a busy one...I had something on every night, a two day work conference as well as the usual work over commitments.

 It was one of those weeks that you have organised like a military operation.

But it also ended up being one of those weeks that you are so glad that you were able to be there for some people that are very dear to you.

My dear friend Bron's son fell from a water tank stand at his farm and was flown to the hospital just minutes up the road from my home during the week. Fortunately the injuries will incapacitate him for a while, but he will recover. Chez Cardy became a defacto home for his wife and young sons so they could be nearby.

And Cardy had some granny practice (eeek!). The most beautiful boys had me walking to the park, spinning them on the equipment and then having a bit of a swing myself...fun!

Fortunately surgery has gone well and he is recovering...time will be the best medicine.

A little progress was made last night on these pinwheels...spinning crazily like me!

I was quite particular about matching my centres (they are matching beautifully!), then realised they have an applique circle over them...oh well- it is all about technique?

But the lessons of this week have been that it is good to be there to support dear friends, little boys are fun and veeeeery busy (!), and that I am no where near being in granny mode yet!

Cardy xx

Being a mother.

Being a mother...just one of so many roles we fulfil  in our busy lives...mother, daughter, wife, friend, colleague...but being a mother becomes a large part of the person that we are.

But, in addition to being the mother of the children I adore, I tend to spend my life "mothering" so many around me...family and friends, and to some extent my experiences as a mother shape the way that I deal with and support the clients in my professional life.

So, wherever you are, whoever you "mother", have a wonderful Mothers Day.

Here, I was fortunate to have my daughter come to visit and then my dear Mum came for lunch. Lovely!

Rather than head out, we had delicious bowls of homemade soup and damper...plenty of time to chat and just catch up with each other. What the day is all about.

My son was too far way to head home, but instead he surprised me with beautiful flowers...I was very impressed by this, he is a thoughtful and sensitive young man...sometimes during the teenage years you wonder whether that will ever happen...so stay strong and know that our sometimes trying, sometimes quite difficult teens do grow into lovely men who do love their mothers!

My Mothers Day festivities actually began last week. My daughter and her sweet beau took me to see Katie Noonan at a lovely venue very near my new home. I have adored her music for a long time, so seeing her in such an intimate setting was brilliant. If you ever get the chance to see her live, DO, she is even better live, and such a funny, warm and engaging lady as well as a very professional musician...and all with the most beautiful of voices.We had such a lovely night out.

Some time has also been spent this week organising my cupboards. Here is a corner of the sewing room ...not fully organised yet, but it is starting to come together...I can even find my STUFF! At long last.

Lastly, I have been waiting for my new chair...to sit and sew, chat or watch the TV.
Love it, love it, love it! My daughter is calling it the Witch's chair!
Here I can sit and plot my sewing future!
Cardygirl xx

A lovely time was had...

What a lovely time I had last weekend with a generous, funny and talented group of ladies! 

Thank you!

What a lovely relaxing, inspiring and fun weekend I shared with Janette, Olga, Cristie, Cathie, Debbie, Elizabeth, Chris and Dianne (hope the spellings are right!). The show and tell was fabulous...and so very inspiring...especially to me with the super jaded mojo! I feel like sitting and stitching...and then stitching some more! Some conversations made me almost wonder...am I in a movie????

Here are some gorgeous glimpses...

 look closely...how amazing is this broderie perse???

 a great challenge!

 paper piecing everywhere...

 a fabulous spot to sit...

 at this most beautiful homestead

 Camyr Allen at Gresford.

 Thanks for letting me share your weekend, and thank you Janet for hosting our stay and feeding us so beautifully!

Cardygirl XX

Packing a bag...

Well, in those famous words...I am packing my bag and will be ready to go!

Not tonight, but very soon! Quite frankly I feel a bit nervous about it all as well.

I have to wonder...how old am I?

As you are well aware, relocating from our home of 21 years to a city we left as idealistic newly-weds 26 years earlier has been quite a journey...in so many ways. Leaving a FABULOUS group of sewing friends (who I still miss so very much) and trying to find a sense of belonging...it takes time.

Relevance you say?

Well, I have been asked away with a group of ladies for this weekend...woohoo!

I have known Janette for a year, and met Cristie recently...and they have very kindly asked me to fill the gap created when one of the "regulars" was unable to attend. How thoughtful of them to help create an opportunity for me to meet some stitchers. I have been lucky to meet some lovely ladies who share my stitching interest since the move, both at Quilt-essentials and also at Pot Pourri Cottage, I recently went to the Novocastrian Quilters...which I will probably join. Funny how having stitching friends is essential to "settling in". So, I am ready-ing my bag for the weekend...

the circle game is on my hit list.

And my slowly growing cross stitch might head along for after dinner.

Wish me luck...I am looking forward to a great weekend!

Cardygirl xx

April is nearly over!

It is hard to believe that April is nearly over...where is this year going?

I look at my blogging stats and see that I am well in the running for a bad bloggers award.

Seriously!

My brain spends time planning projects...constructing them in my mind...even picturing the completed works of art (?) on walls or beds. I gaze at my stash...fondle it...refold it and then pack it back away.

A serious case of the mind is there but it is not getting put into action.

So..instead I will show snippets from last weekend...

the octagons slowly growing...

lovely applique...

beautiful fabrics...

 lovely cross stitch from Miss R...

more beautiful fabrics...

aaaah the inspiration of it all!

Currently I am working 9days per fortnight, but fortunately this week there is a Public Holiday for ANZAC day...so there is a plan!

Hopefully Thursday will find me creating something...anything...no matter how big or small...just something!

Watch this space!

Cardygirl xx

Guess who came for dinner...and lunch...and a sleepover too!

After a busy couple of weeks at work, I have been blessed with a visit from two dear dear stitching friends from my former country home...hooray!

We sat up VERY late last night (think early hours this morning!!!!) chatting and catching up with news, family info and just generally enjoying each others company...oh how I miss these girls in my daily life!

There was show and tell.

Today we went shopping at Pot Pourri Cottage (always nice!) and bought some bits and pieces. I was inspired by a teeny tiny quilt on display...how hard could little hexies be? Because they are little aren't they really really quick?????

Well...hmmmmm!

Here is my flower from 1/4" hexie papers. Looks great?

In comparison to R's MONSTER hexie flower it looks miniscule. 

J thinks it would make a great quilt....for a teeny tiny dolls house bed!

I don't think that it is the start of something big.

We have had yummy cupcakes...

and spent time stitching ( I have spent more time talking and procrastinating...go figure!)

So glad they are here!

Cardygirl xx

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to one and all!

We have had a happy day with family and friends that we consider family...lovely!

Some mighty fine cooking was done in that beautiful new kitchen, and lots of happy chatter around the table.

Once everyone had gone home, there was even a little snooze on the lounge...I mean I had a few minutes recharge! Sometimes that is just what we need.

Finally my soul searching quilt top is finished. I have nowhere to hang it up for pictures, so I had to wait until I had two willing "holders"...they were very patient.

Here is a lap quilt I started an eternity ago...it is about to be quilted. Just an easy one.

Hope everyone has had a happy day!

Cardygirl xx

Taking the Liberty...

...and creating something with this beautiful piece I purchased in New York.

I just adored the colour of this piece and have wanted to save it for something special.

In my recent issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited, I saw this fun quilt and knew the perfect fabric for it.

With a couple of solids I think it will sew up quite quickly.

Nice to sew...but does anyone know where on earth my cutting mat is? 

It must be still in a box somewhere....

 Look at the lovely roses Lea gave me....

 Cardygirl xx

Thought bubbles...a contemplation

Do you believe in thought bubbles?

I find they are a frequent feature of my day...and there is often a tinge of anxiety lest I actually voice what is hanging cartoon like above my head. As I often say to a friend of mine...did I say that out loud?

Today was one of those days but I was proud of my restraint...no Tourettes moments but there were a few "waste of oxygen moments" accompanying a crowd of thought bubbles hanging around my head.

Finally the tiler has finished my laundry and kitchen splashback...they look fabulous (I think anyway!)

My fun laundry...oooh orange!

And my spotty stone in the kitchen.

But, back to thought bubbles...today has been a progression of  challenges which has lead to thought bubbles hanging over my head like carnival balloons! Here we go...tradesmen incorrectly connected the washing machine so the machine was filled with scalding water rather than cold ( think major colour  runs...eek!), then an extremely rude and unhelpful gent at the tile shop added some more bubbles! By this stage there were some really grumpy bubbles starting to form ....and not being helped by driving into work on my day off for flu vaccination. I was in danger of a real mood developing!

Then I spoke with my far-flung supporter whose opinion I greatly value. His optimism and rationality started popping the cranky bubbles.And then I pulled out another circle game block completed on quiet evenings this week. Looking good...

only five more to frame.

Then I did that thing that is guaranteed to lighten the mood...put the lead on Molly and go for a walk! We met some new doggy friends and, before I knew it, there was not a bubble to be seen...aaah, sweet serenity in my head again! Home, and a cup of tea in my brand new cup...isn't it gorgeous?

When life gets hectic...walk the dog, a cup of tea and a stitch...simple!

 Cardygirl xx

Circles, dots and multicoloured spots!

This week has seen me going spotty in so many ways...

orange dots...

spreading right before my eyes into a place that makes me smile every time I pass the door!

With regards that elusive sewing mojo, I was going around in circles with that too. So, this weekend has seen me fighting back...and it feels like I am winning at long last!

Last September, I prepared my aqua Soul Searching block to stitch in those spare moments after our move...it has sat in boxes, then on my mini design board since then...with no progress at all. So, today was the day...

and look at it now...

eight blocks complete and only the red block left to do...I can smell a finish lurking close by and, boy, does it feel good. I am loving having the floor space to lay them out.

At night I have been stitching the frames to my circle game blocks...

only six more to frame and then I can start putting them all together.

 I have so enjoyed this BOM through amitie, that I am contemplating doing another with them....food for thought! I have enjoyed the hand piecing, especially when life has been so hectic. The joy of this work is that it has been so portable and easy to pick up or put down, whilst not needing any special equipment or room to set up my sewing machine.

Better get some stitching done!

Cardygirl xx