Springtime

Spring again and what a lovely time of year.  Perfect temperatures - not too hot - jacaranda in flower and everything is wonderful.

I haven't blogged for a while.  Seem to have had writers' block and lack of inspiration.  But here I am again, busy, busy with making Christmas gifts, new designs and hospital volunteer stuff. 

Recently, after finishing renovations on a property, we finally visited a couple of dear, old (not so much in ages but in friendship length) friends in their new home in a little seaside village on the Fraser coast.  A beautiful home, lovely little spot but, oh boy, the midges had a field day with us.   Worth it though to see these two lovelies again, celebrate one of their birthdays and to see some of their friends again too.

We have booked our tickets to New Zealand to spend Christmas with some of my family.  I haven't had Christmas there for many years.  This time we will fly into Auckland and meet my parents, who are flying up from the West Coast of the South Island, spend a couple of days catching up with one of my brother's and his family and hopefully an aunty and uncle before heading down to Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty.  A few days catching up with another brother and his family over Christmas before Rotorua, Taupo, Napier and on to Wellington.  Possibly a day or so there too and then across on the interisland ferry to Picton and down to home town Westport.  It will be lovely taking the parents on our journey and also for WH (wonderful husband) and myself to see a different part of the country.  He has never seen most of the areas we will travel through and I haven't for a very long time.

A couple of weeks ago I attended, with a non-crafty friend, the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Fair.  Spent a little money but not too much.  Soaked up the craft atmosphere and drooled over the beautiful work that was on show, especially in the quilt area.  Even my friend enjoyed seeing the beautiful quilts on display.

We enjoyed afternoon tea at Southbank, much refreshed and replenished after being all but washed away during the January floods.  It really is a lovely asset to the city and much used by young and old, singles, couples and families.  I always love wandering through the park and sitting and meditating by the river.

In the very busy lives that many people lead these days it is hard to justify just sitting and contemplating.  A lot of us seem to always have this urge to be busy, busy all the time.  Is this because we feel we should do or we have to or because it is expected of us?  I know that there are things that must be done both at work and at home but it is a shame that the beauty around us isn't often appreciated.  Calmness, serenity, peace and contentment are elusive for many but if we can spend just a few minutes each day appreciating those things we are lucky to have - even the smallest blessings - how much happier we would all be.

Journeys

A scrumptious table centre - yummy cupcakes on hexagon backgrounds.  Except for the machine embroidered cupcakes this is totally handsewn.

Please look at some other creations on the pages at the right.


I have been thinking about the journeys we take.  Not just in travel terms although that is part of it, but in how we live our life.

When we travel how often do we see our destination as the end?  We want to get there as quickly as possible.  But how much more interesting it is if we get off the beaten track, meander around, investigate hidden mysteries, learn new ways and means of getting there, inhale different smells, tastes, cultures, environments and people.

Life is the biggest journey we take.  Of course we don't just want to go from start to finish in a straight line.  There are challenges to overcome, heartbreaks to bear, obstacles to wade through.  Rather like a travel journey we must negotiate hills and valleys, sidetracks, narrow lanes, broad highways, bridges, fast flowing rivers or meandering streams. 

We are always evolving - our personalities, our habits, our thoughts, dreams and ambitions.  This is our journey.

Some people have told me they have no dreams.  I can't imagine having no dreams.  My current life is one of creation, of dreams and imagination.  I love to create and imagine.  The universe is so huge and in our imaginations, our dreams and our creations we can see, be and do anything we want.  This does not mean that we are dissatisfied with what we have and where we are now but are willing to encompass everything that life has to offer.  With an "attitude of gratitude" for what we do have we attract the great things into our lives.

No two people are exactly the same.  Everyone has different characteristics, personalities and thoughts and although we may sometimes not understand other people's foibles (they probably don't understand ours either) we must accept and tolerate everyone for these differences that make them unique and special.  Nothing is every black and white although some people may think that way.  If you are not hurting anyone physically, mentally or emotionally (including yourself) then follow your dreams, take the journeys, think in colours and not just black and white.

I am So Excited

A long beautiful table runner in pinks and greens.

Simple things do excite me and I am so grateful and happy that I have so many blessings in my life.

But what has specifically excited me at this point.  I bought a quilting machine and frame (quilter) from the US and with shipping costs it still cost a lot less than buying something here in Australia.  Bad girl I can hear you say but if I could have bought the same thing here for a similar price then no worries.  At the time I had a limited amount to spend.  The sewing machine is a lovely Juki, very sturdy and heavy and the frame is a Little Gracie.  Together a great pair.  Because I forgot to tell the company to modify the machine for Australian power usage I had to also purchase a transformer to convert it from USA conditions to Australian.  No trouble.  Darling WH put the frame together and I was in business.  Or at least for a short while.  Unfortunately the hand control that came with the quilter stopped working after a while.  To be very fair, the company I purchased from were wonderful but couldn't really understand the problem.  But they did send me a second hand controller which worked for a while as well.  Then needles started breaking and I was getting quite frustrated.  Apparently with quilting the machine has to work very fast but at the same time you are moving it and the cradle slowly so as to create the desired quilting pattern.  If the controller wasn't working properly then the machine wasn't running at full speed and hence putting too much pressure on the needles. So my poor quilter sat idle for many months.  I just couldn't face the frustration of more broken needles and stops and starts.

I finally plucked up courage and sought advice at a local business which makes its own quilting frames and exports them.  Of course I got the spiel about buying overseas and not having local support.  Yes, yes I understand all this and over the months previously I wished I had waited and bought locally.  But the deed was done and I badly needed help.  This business came to my rescue and made me a custom hand control.

By the way, hand controls are vitally important when quilting on a frame as they are hooked onto the handlebars of the frame and plugged into the machine.  It is extremely difficult to master smooth quilting when you have to use a normal foot control as you have to keep moving the pedal as you move along the frame

Well last week, heart in my mouth, I set up a quilt, backing and batting and gingerly turned the machine on and switched on the controller.  Oh wow.  It worked and how beautifully it worked.  I was laughing and excited.  Anyone who called on me at that time would have thought I was mad.  How wonderful to be able to quilt.

So far I have only completed one quilt since my new controller was installed but I have several ready to go including some very large ones.  I am scared but will keep practising and now can look at learning how to do fancier quilting designs and improving my techniques.  Love to learn new things.

So I say thank you, thank you to John Watts at Booval, in Ipswich.  I am so, so happy and grateful.

Some new items available for sale:

 

Set of 4 placemats using up scrappy strips of blues (my favourite colour)



Yellow gingham and pretty green make a lovely fresh table centre.

An original design - one of my Easy Peasy Designs for Beginners - using Fat Quarters cut into strips

Another long table runner in beiges and dusky pink with machine embroidered centrepieces

Apart from the machine embroidered cupcakes (yummy) this table centre was entirely sewn by hand

A pretty table runner highlighting a lovely paisley print

Discipline

The cutting table - as you can see not much room to actually cut - I am always shuffling things around.

The roller doors with some unfinished objects on that rack and a basked of my original designs made up into fabric packs - currently one bag and one cushion pattern.

Three of my machines - overlocker, embroidery machine and general machine - in the work area.

Area behind my sewing desks.  Laptop normally sits on roll out desk, printer in corner and small ironing board.

My quilting frame and machine with door to patio, bookshelf and fridge.

Looking towards door and window onto patio.  Red quilt is not quite finished.  In the middle of quilting.  Blue quilt is one of my very first projects and now a table cover for desk holding overlocker and embroidery machine.

I am convinced that I need to become more disciplined.  Not that I am undisciplined or unorganised all of the time - my previous careers meant that I did have manage my time and workload well but when you are a 'crafter' time doesn't seem to be as important.  However, in reality, time is important.  We all have the same amount of time each day but how do we use it to ensure that we are not wasting or whittling it away somehow.

I am an organiser of some degree - not as disciplined as many but much more so than some - and my WH and children and possibly even friends and other family will tell you I am inclined to perhaps be a little bossy (I think this comes from being an eldest child - anyway that is my theory and I am sticking by it).  But I do let things pile up then have a big sort out every now and then.

So why now, you ask, should I suddenly worry about being disciplined.  No, this is not something new.  I always strive to be more organised in my 'studio' and in the house but it is not a regular, every day thing.

Take my studio, for instance.  This is our garage (cars sit outside, sorry) and I have tall cupboards, small cupboards, shelves, tables, desks, chairs and a quilting frame (plus a fridge and small chest freezer).  I have drawn up plans on the computer, rearranged them and the furniture physically but still not entirely satisfied with the arrangement.  However, until we fully convert this area into a studio (ie replace rollup garage doors with sliding glass doors) I cannot finalise permanent arrangement of the work area.  I say permanent arrangement - what a laugh as WH will tell you that I love to rearrange rooms and furniture so nothing is really permanent when I get hold of it.  I am happy and grateful that WH has 'allowed' me to use this space - a large double garage - and we will build a new carport soon to keep the cars under cover at least.

But my 'studio' is truly a work space - my 'sweat' shop as my lovely brother-in-law calls it.  In the middle of it and helping to divide my work area from display/showroom area is a large cutting table which has become a holdall for all current projects. 

So my current 'disciplinary action' is to finish all UFOs on my cutting table and reorganise it to be just that - a cutting table.  But how hard is that when I come across fabulous patterns that I just have to make, or designs pop into my head that I need to get into writing and practice immediately, or that I have several large containers with projects yet to be started or even half started.  Do you see what I mean about discipline?

But I need to carry on this motivation to all areas of my life.  I seem to have been roped in to various organisations and sometimes find it hard to say no.  Not that I mind being involved and it does give me some interaction with other people otherwise I would just lock myself away in my studio and create to my heart's content which I would love.  However, perhaps this makes me a very boring conversationalist as many of my friends and family are not crafters like me and not really interested in how to cut up perfectly good pieces of fabric into small bits and then sew them all back together in a different arrangement.  Also, the voluntary work that I am involved with is wonderful, as is most volunteer work, and I am happy to do it but, and I know I am repeating myself, I must get more organised. 

So next week after Monday selling raffles for the hospital auxilliary, Tuesday doing my weekly morning shift as a meet and greet volunteer at the hospital, Wednesday attending the hospital auxilliary AGM (of which incidentally I have just been nominated and elected as secretary) and Friday taking my friend shopping and out to a girlie lunch (which I enjoy doing) that leaves my just Thursday to 'get down and disciplined', create some beautiful objects and catch up with bigger household chores (usually I manage to make the beds, wash the clothes and dishes, and generally tidy the house every day) such as vacuuming, dusting (constant at this time of the year and with our wood fire going every day - yes even in south east Queensland), etc.  Not that I am complaining mind you.  All is good and I am very happy and grateful to be able to do what I am doing.  I have friends who still work fulltime and they have just the weekends and evenings to catch up with their household chores and creative inspirations - now they must be disciplined and I know because I have been there too.  So they provide me with good motivations to get more organised and I will, I will, I am, I am.

Have a wonderful day everyone and make the world a happier place for your family and friends by telling them you love them and how happy you are to know them.

Friends

I have been thinking for some time about friends in our life - the impact and influence they have and the joy they bring.

At 57 I have obviously met a lot of people during the years.  Some of these became and still are wonderful friends.  The friends I have around me at present are a varied lot with differing backgrounds, experiences and personalities but they all bring to me something very special into my life.

Some friends from the past have moved on leaving mostly good memories but lives and circumstances change.  I have moved from one country to another so many of my friends from early years are no longer around me now.  In fact as I was growing up some of my closest friends were my cousins and although I don't see them often it is alway wonderful to catch up with them at any time.

Two of my wonderful friends live overseas and although they both come to Australia annually it is as if they just live in another town or state.  Email is a wonderful thing and although I am a little slack in keeping in touch very regularly I hope they know I do think about them often.  They are both inspiring women.  My American pal is in her early 60s and travels the world doing triathlons and treks.  She tackled the Kokoda Trail last year and is planning a trek in Nepal later this year.  We met when she came to Australia for a year on a study visa.  Her son is married to an Australian girl so she visits them every year and we catch up for Friday girlie lunchs with other friends and dinners at home.  I always look forward to her being here and as she is a 'crafty' person too we can swap stories of our masterpieces.  My other 'foreign' friend is not really foreign.  I worked with her on a project in QLD Health and then she and her husband followed their dream and moved to the UK - Inverness in Scotland.  I am so envious but so happy for them that they have grasped this opportunity and, as she adds to the bottom of her emails, they are 'living their dream'.  I just love all the pics she posts on Facebook and we have visited them and been shown the delights of their highland home. This friend is not 'crafty' but if she finds any internet sites in relation to my craft she sends them to me and another of her 'crafty' friends.  Both of these wonderful women are warm, intelligent, generous and both have large friendship bases so I feel quite privileged to call them my friends too.

I have a couple of friends that I don't see as often as I would like but I know they both would be there for me if needed and whenever we do catch up it is a non-stop talk fest.  One of these women was also my sister-in-law so we have a family history as well as knowledge of the town we both grew up in.  She and her husband (my ex brother-in-law) live a couple of hours from us and it always gives me a wonderful warm fuzzy feeling when we are with them.  This couple have experienced tragedies beyond most people's comprehension but their love for each other, and the love they attract from others have kept them going.  They have been encompassed by friendships they have made and this sustains them.  My love for them is always there. 

My other friend is a school teacher and we only see her and her husband every few months but we have been lucky to have travelled a couple of times overseas with them and had fabulous times.  Plans are on the drawing board for another trip next year.  This couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary yesterday and I felt so honoured that they chose us to spend the day with.   She is funny and outrageous, warm and witty, intelligent and articulate and best of all, in my corner.

Two of my 'bestest' friends are women I have known a long time.  One is like my second mother and although we are somewhat different in outlook I love spending every Friday with her shopping and lunching.  We also share a love of everything British and a common thread of both being ex-Kiwis too.  She is a fabulous cook, wonderful housekeeper and drops everything to go to someone's aid at any time.  My other friend also shares Friday lunches when possible and I have known her when I first began work with QLD Health and was given her job - she was moved to another department.  We became wonderful friends and she has been with me through the ups and downs of marriage breakup, new relationships and family problems.   We have been able to tell each other everything and know just about everything about each other.  She too has known family tragedy but is the 'rock' for her family providing love and sustenance always.

Just lately I have met two other lovely ladies through our volunteer work.  Again both so different in background and outlook but both so delightful and whom I am happy to call a friend.  One has also been bowed down with emotional and health events but keeps on going and giving her time.  Like me she is an 'Anglophile' and a Royalist and I love working with her.  The other is bigger than life in many ways and her heart overflows with generosity in her volunteer work. 

I seemed to have gone on a bit about my fabulous friends but they and the other friends I have had  have all played a part in influencing me in life's path and the decisions I have made.  They all bring something special and I am so happy and grateful that I know or have known my friends. 

Frosty the Snowman

I think we had our first frost in our locality this morning although Ipswich has experienced a couple.  I must admit I do love the winters here in southeast Queensland.  Yes it is cold at night and early morning, compared to the temperatures during the day but the days have been spectacular.  Clear, deep blue skies and if you can find a patch to sit in the sun just heaven. 

It is normally a bit later when I head out to the studio at present.  Don't like to leave the warmth of the house especially when WH has been up early in the morning to light the wood fire for me.  I am thoroughly spoilt and do so appreciate it.

The photos above show two cushions I have just finished for our lounge.  If you look closely at the pictures you may realise that they are of mushrooms.  When we were in UK and Europe in 2009, my theme for my photo shoots throughout the holiday seemed to be mushrooms.  I found a couple of quirky looking ones in Scotland initially and proceeded to do some close-ups.  Then throughout our stay, both friends and WH kept saying "Oh look, Ruth, there is a mushroom".  Friends at home will understand - especially those who have seen our pics from this trip - mushrooms were a recurring theme and everyone thought I was (am) crazy.  So the pics in the cushions have been modified in Photoshop and printed on fabric.  The pretty blue and gold fabrics in the cushions were purchased in Fiji so we now have unique momentos of two of our lovely holidays.

It is a while since I have 'blogged'.  No excuse really just always found something else to do but will try to be more regular about posts.

We should be in NZ at this moment, looking forward to celebrating one of my younger brother's 50th, but unfortunately this couldn't be at this particular time.  However, we are looking forward to spending Christmas over there and catching up with family.  It is some years since I have spent Christmas with family over there.

Does everyone have a 'bucket list'?  Or maybe you don't call it that but just a list of things you would like to do, see or achieve.  I have a huge bucket list some of which I have already achieved, seen and done.    Dreams are free and the world is so full of beauty and interest waiting to be experienced.

What am I happy and grateful for today?  I am healthy, I have a wonderful family and beautiful friends, a lovely home to live in and especially a super husband.  I am so lucky.

For those I love who are not in a good place at the moment - physically, emotionally and mentally - my thoughts are with you and hopes that tomorrow will be a better day in every way.

I'm Into Something Good

It's been a while since I 'blogged' but I can honestly say I have been very industrious over the last week.

Completed the prototype for my new cushion design as seen in the pic.  Workshop yesterday but only Renee, my lovely step-daughter came and completed a cushion.  It was lovely catching up with her.  When her Dad (WH) came home from house renovations in town he sat with us and chatted.  Couldn't convince him to tackle a cushion though.  Renee wants me to teach her how to sew/patchwork - yay a convert.  Renee is very 'crafty' and we used to attend ceramics classes together.  My elder daughter, Kirtsy, and two of her children also came out later in the afternoon but didn't sew.  Instead I ended up making a bag for Kirsty in a few hours. 

Earlier in the day another of Kurt's daughter's, also a Kirsty, her partner and two children visited so altogether it was a lovely Sunday.

On Saturday I visited the Handmade Expo in Ipswich with the intention of finding out about organising a booth for my stuff.  Some beautiful work was on display and for sale and it seemed to be quite a popular destination.  There was a great variety and all handcrafted - from fabric, paper, canvas to glass, wood and metal plus jams and chutneys and home grown produce.  Definitely not a 'flea market' - all well made quality items and the whole event is very well organised. 

We are in the middle of our south east Queensland winter and the temperatures are a little cool.  Yes it does get cold even in Queensland.  Here, west of Brisbane, our early morning temps can go below the zero mark, as experienced last week, and we do have frosts.  The days have been glorious though.  We are very luck to have a wood fired stove in our lounge and WH gets up very early in the mornings to light it up so the house is lovely and warm when I rise a little later.  Love him to bits.  Because I spend most of my days in my studio I usually let the fire burn itself out but light it again later in the day.  We have solar hot water so unlike many relatives in New Zealand who have to keep their fires going all day to heat their water,  our water stays quite hot most of the time.  Sometimes we have to use the electric booster if it has been overcast or rainy for a day or so but not very often.

My cooking/baking resurgence continues.  Yesterday I made a lovely Lemon Loaf but actually I think it was a Blood Orange Loaf.  We have a few citrus trees and some fruit I needed to use.  I have juiced half a dozen fruit to make a desert for dinner.  No, we don't often have desert as such very often (usually only when we have guests) although I have grown fond of a 'Skinny Cow' icecream in the evening and WH often has a bowl of icecream (he is doing the Hokey Pokey thing at present).  I believe that if I am having skinny icecream I am being very virtuous in my weight watching (I do try). 

Last week I made a lovely Sultana loaf and Peanut Brownies - always a favourite of my children and always demanded of Nana when she visited.  The Minestrone Soup I made recently did several light meals and was quite scrumptious, I thought anyway.  So I am really making good use of my Edmonds cookbook although have referred to some of my many other cookbooks if the Edmonds doesn't provide (not very often I must admit).

What's on the boil this week?  Finishing the dressing gown I started last week, finishing a couple of table runners,  starting a 'sewing' set gift for a friend and a birthday quilt for my brother (hope he doesn't read this) plus a few other projects.  Life is never dull for me.  Love life, love my work, love the world.  Yay to being alive and well and happy.

Thought you might like these words below.  It was sent to me by my lovely friend, Robyn, in Scotland and I just love it:

BANK ACCOUNT!!! This is AWESOME ... something we should all remember.

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each
morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved
perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After
many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled
sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description
of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just
been presented with a new puppy.
Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'
'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is
arranged ...... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.
'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice;
I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the
parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful
for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day
and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank
account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
I am still depositing.
'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Against the Wind

A bit windy today but nothing to complain about when I think about my family in Christchurch and their fellow Cantabrians and the continuing earth tremors they are bearing.  You are in our hearts and our thoughts are with you always.  Don't forget that our house is always open if you need to get away for a while.

Our Fiji holiday doesn't quite seem like a distant memory but WH (wonderful husband) has gone back to work today with a cold so to him I suppose our holiday seems a bit surreal now.  We have unpacked and stowed everything away, the washing is all up to date and I am now printing off some of our pics.  Beautiful memories of a wonderful week.  I have published some of our photos on the Fiji 2011 page.  These are just a sample of the many we took.  I'll publish more during the next couple of days. I am a happy snapper and with a digital camera it is so easy to do this.  WH, however, has some special camera gear and he is more selective in what he photographs.

I have created several digital photo albums, using various software, of past holidays and have been thrilled with them.  What are probably called "coffee table books", they are wonderful to look at and show off.  But this time I bought a photo album covered with Masi cloth (bark cloth) in Fiji and will fill it with some of our better pics.

I am also one of these unusual, I believe, people who love looking at holiday snaps and probably bore many others by showing off ours.  Love, love, love looking at distant shores.  The world is so big - so many beautiful and interesting places to see and things to do.

Today I have also been working on another design for my next workshop on 26th - this time a cushion.  I have several cushion designs ready but I felt they were a little more complicated than need be for relative beginners to patchwork.  I'll work on creating a prototype this week.

My plans for this week include, of course, finalising that cushion design, finishing a table runner with some machine embroidered panels included, quilting a lap quilt (or throw or tablecloth - can be used for anything), finishing a couple of "chookie" cushions for my lovely Aunty Shirley (who collects chookie things) and hopefully finishing quilting a child's quilt that has been sitting on my quilting frame for some time.  Something went drastically wrong when I last tried to quilt it.  The needle kept breaking and in the end through sheer frustration I left it but I know I have to try again.  No use having a quilter there and not use it and I have several large quilts I need to finish.  I am trying to use my positive thinking and put it out into the universe that whatever was causing the problem will miraculously be gone.  Here's hoping anyway.

Home Again, Home Again.

After a fabulous week in Fiji with great friends, Jill and Errol, we finally touched down in Brisbane last night - 10 hours later that we were supposed to but it all added to the excitement.

What an absolute beautiful week we had - meeting people from all over the world as well as the warm and wonderfully friendly Fijians who went out of their way to make everyone welcome and happy.  We also embraced "Fiji time" which is well emphasised everywhere.

A lovely flight on Air Pacific from Brisbane to Nadi was followed on Saturday evening by a quick dip in the hotel (Mercure Nadi) pool and a spot of dinner, swimsuit and sarong clad.  We asked if it was okay to dine dressed as we were and were told "Fiji time - dress as you like, do as you like".  By the end of our holiday we were as unselfconscious wandering around in our swimsuits and sarongs or shorts and singlets as were the taut and trim young things.  Nobody cared, nobody laughed (at us anyway).  Everyone was out to enjoy their holidays as much as we were.

On Sunday our first visit was to Nadi Town - unfortunately only touristy type stores were open but we did see the beautifully pastel coloured Hindu temple at one end of the main street and enjoyed a lovely lunch (well actually entree and desert) at the elegant Saffron Restaurant on a side street.  The theme of our trip, as with a journey to Singapore some years ago with the same friends, was eating.  So we have many pics of us eating lunches and dinners throughout the week (won't bore you with too many of those though).  No, we didn't just eat and drink.  We did do and see many other things in between.

We took a bus trip to Suva on Monday.  This was a four hour trip there and back with about 2 and half hours actually in Suva.  I must say that the best part of this day was the actual bus journeys.  We had a wonderful Fijian guide who was informative and interesting and very entertaining.  He sang and played his guitar on the return journey.  He talked about how poor Fijians were and how little they earned and we could see by the paucity of the villages we passed - compared to the resorts we picked up from.   However, poor does not equal dirty, and nowhere in our whole week did we see an overabundance of dirty conditions.  In fact, in all the villages, washing was waving on the clotheslines and one thing that struck us was all the napkins out to dry.  Something we don't see in our society now.  We were also awed by all the school children heading to and from school in their school uniforms - and many of the schools wore white uniforms (both boys and girls).  Imagine the job their mothers have to send them off to school daily in clean white uniforms.  And they were clean.  Even young people at one university we passed were in uniform.

Education is one of the most important things in Fiji - educate the children so they can earn good money and help the country's economy. 

Tuesday was spent relaxing around the pool.  WH (wonderful husband and I) went for an early morning walk in one direction from the hotel.  Nearing peak traffic time when buses and cars carrying workers and school children were hustling along the dry, dusty roads. 

We had a wonderful Indian dinner at the Sitar Restaurant a few blocks down from the hotel.  Well patronised and with live music for entertainment.

One of our most memorable days was the Robinson Crusoe Island cruise on Wednesday.  We took the day/night combo which meant were out all day from early in the morning until after 11pm at night, but what a fabulous day.  A journey down the river and out to open water to our island home for the day.  Greeted by a welcoming party - warriors and singers - were then able to do whatever we wanted to for the whole day.  Swimming, snorkelling, fishing, scuba diving, massages, drinks, lunch provided, walk around the island at low tied (about a 20 minute walk), crab racing, volleyball, coconut education or just lying around doing nothing.  Jill and Errol took the fishing opportunity and Jill brought back a beautiful Trevally - apparently getting scarce in Australia.  I had a wonderful back massage.  At night another boatload came in for the evening's entertainment starting with a kava ceremony, a "loau" (not sure if that is spelt correctly but like a NZ hangi or Aussie 'barbie') where the food is cooked over hot rocks, fire walking, fire dancing and other dancing. 
What a wonderful evening.  We were mesmerised by the virile young dancers - they were brilliant and we loved watching them.  I don't think any of us wanted that evening to end.   The boat trip back up river was a little scarey with no lights on the front of the boat.  One of the young staff stood up the front with a torch showing the 'captain' at the back where the river banks were.  But we arrived back to shore safely and all very happy after a gorgeous day.

A visit to Vuda lookout, Garden of the Sleeping Giant and a village was our Thursday afternoon outing.  A lovely afternoon spent with a group of Americans who had just flown in that morning.

Friday was our cultural experience.  A breathtaking day with so many memories.  This was a personalised tour - just the four of us plus another couple in a separate vehicle - in a modern four wheel drive northwards from Nadi through Latoka to the Ba Markets.  What an amazing array of fruit and vegetables and fish.  People (mostly women) come in by bus or other vehicles from many outlying villages with their produce and set it out for townspeople to purchase.  We then went to one of the few traditional villages in the country.  A beautiful setting offering a warm welcome and lunch.  No television, ipods or computers here.  We wandered through the village and school, took part in a kava ceremony (our second) and enjoyed traditional food at lunch. 

Then came Saturday, our last day in Fiji, and what an awesome day.  The 'Whales Tale' cruise from Port Denarau to Snorkel Island - all food and drink provided.  Meeting people of all ages from all over the world, looking out towards the Mamanuca Islands group, catching fish, lunch on our island 'home' for a few hours, sitting in the sea, looking at the coral through the glass bottomed boat, another kava ceremony, entertainment by the crew - so many memories for such a fabulous day.  It was our sixth wedding anniversary and we were honoured, along with another couple celebrating their second anniversary, with a cake, a song and cheers.  What a way to spend a very special day.  A few wines along we reluctantly docked at the end of the day.

Our home coming day started very early.  Plane was due to leave at 8.30, we had a wakeup call at 4.30 but were already up and about, and pickup at 5.30.  But unfortunately things didn't quite go to plan.  Jill had tripped and cracked her head on the balcony railings outside their room and gashed the back of her head quite nastily so we made a detour en route to the airport at a 24hour medical centre where she emerged with a few stitches.  On arrival at the airport we were greeted with the news that flights to Sydney and Brisbane had been downsized necessitating the 'bumping off' of about 200 passengers, us included.  We were sent to the Novotel Hotel for the rest of the day, overnight and given meal vouchers for all meals that day and breakfast the next.  As we hadn't had breakfast we did this on our arrival at Novotel then waited around for about two hours for a room to be free.  Finally we reached our room, changed, made a cuppa then lay down.  Just drifting off when the rude noise of the telephone informing us we had been booked on a flight at 4pm and would be picked up at 1pm.  It now being about 11.30, time for a mad scramble to re-change, re-pack and toddle down to the restaurant for lunch.  Then three hours at the airport before our flight left.  Jill was rested and ready to fly by then and an uneventful but pretty packed flight saw us arriving into a very chilly Brisbane night.  10pm before we got home - happy, thankful but full of wonderful memories.

I even had time in Fiji to buy some fabric - one of my little vices when we travel.  I still have fabric from Scotland and Denmark from our trip in 2009 that I haven't yet found a use for, although I did use some of the Scottish fabric in a quilt for my sister last year.  Fabrics that I purchase on holiday has to be used for special projects - for our home or for loved ones.

I will post some of our holiday photos on a separate page soon.  Hope you enjoy this short account of our Fijian sojourn and the photos.

We and our friends are thinking of ways in which we can help the Fijian people - with dignity, friendship and love.  Many strive to work hard to earn enough money to educate their children so they can have a better lifestyle and in turn can help their communities.  How do we do this? 

Up, Up and Away

My title today could either describe the windy weather or the fact that we are preparing to jet off to Fiji on Saturday for a wonderful week's relaxation with a couple of great friends.

So windy today that I put the washing out at morning tea and within an hour it was dry even though we are into our second day of winter.  Looked as if it was clouding over ready for rain but so far nothing.

Another busy week - a full day out on Tuesday with my morning shift at the hospital and afternoon at the library - but I have produced a few things and pics follow below.

I have been very disciplined and not bought any fabric although did go onto one of my favourite online fabric stores in the US and was in the process of ordering some but stopped myself.  How good am I?

The Dresden Plate set that you see below is the second I have made.  The first sold recently and you can see it in the Creations Gallery.  I have this new set down in Cafe Kiks at Fernvale along with quite a few other items.  Selling slowly but a great kick to see my creations on display for sale.

In trying to be good (see my halo) I have been utilising scraps and making things up as I go.  For example the yellow round placemats set, blue (don't you just love blue - I do along with white and yellow) table runner, green & black cushion covers, pink table centre and blue bag are all made from scraps.  In the centre of the blue table runner, if you look closely, you will note the little triangles.  These are leftover corners cut from the blue bag fabric.  During my bag workshop on Sunday I asked the girls to put all their cutoff corners into a box for me and from them I will make potholders, cushions or, as in the case of the blue table centre, table decor items. The dog blanket is made from fleece and folds up into a roll with the head at one end and the tail at the other (of course).

I am also trying to be very disciplined in delving into one of several project containers and finishing half started items before starting others.  I did say "trying".  Sadly I don't succeed very well with that line of thought.  Often, if an idea occurs to me, I will tackle that to the finish and the UFOs (unfinished objects) are left in that state for a while longer.

I have had some lovely phone calls this week - I talked to my sister which is always a treat (I really miss the close contact with her and just love catching up whenever we can - she lives in NZ and I am in Queensland); my sister-in-law (not strictly speaking now as I was married to her husband's brother who has since passed on but we continue to be good friends and she is like my big sister); a couple of friends and my lovely daughter, Fiona.  Fiona works at The Coffee Club at Brisbane International Airport and is often spotting celebrities wandering through.  Sometimes she can talk them into having their photo taken with her.  Certainly not slow in coming forward is my Fiona.  So if you are ever landing at or leaving from Brisbane during the week stop in and say hello to her.

Whatever you give out in life is what you receive back in life. 

Give positivity, you receive back postitivity; give negativity, you receive back negativity.

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

Not strictly true about the raindrops, although it did rain quite heavily last night and there are still puddlies lying around.

Four days since I wrote anything but what a lovely four days.  I was happy to have a visit from one of my stepdaughters, Kirsty (I do have a daughter called Kirsty too so a bit confusing sometimes) with her wee two year old, Mia.  It was lovely to see them both and I made us some Lemon Muffins for morning tea.  No, surprisingly not out of the Edmonds cookbook this time but from a muffin recipe boo.  I was able to help Kirsty with her resume and job applications so hopefully it will help.

On Saturday, another of my stepdaughters, the lovely Renee, and two of her stepchildren and one of their friends, popped out in the afternoon.  Aisling is due to sit her driving test tomorrow so this was a practice run for her to drive out to see us.  I always love seeing Renee and I was doubly privileged because she and Aisling came out for the bag workshop yesterday afternoon along with one of my friends.

We had a lovely afternoon and the three girls went home with a bag they had made themselves quite proudly.  I was really happy as this was my first workshop in my studio, using my own design (see the bag design on the My Designs page).  I had cut all the fabric out for them and all they needed to do was sew it together.  I have several packs made up for this design so if anyone would like one please contact me (email: ruthj01@iprimus.com.au).  The packs (includes original design & instructions, fabric for outer bag & lining, and iron-on pellon) are $25.

My next workshop (June 26) will be a cushion, again of my own design. 

Today I was very disciplined and very productive - finishing off a bag and four cushion covers and starting a table runner with some scraps left over from the bag.  I am trying to be very, very good and not buy fabric for a while (unless I see something that I really have to have - fabric shops for patchworkers/sewers are like lolly shops for children) but use up my 'stash' which is quite substantial.  I do try to keep as many leftovers or scraps as I can, cutting them into squares.  I have small plastic drawers labelled with the size of the squares from 1 1/2" to 5", other drawers with bigger pieces of different hues, plastic containers with even bigger pieces for fat quarters, homespun, flannel or fleece, nursery fabric and larger pieces (metres, half metres). 
And that's not all.  There is more.  That is just the fabric I have told you about.  There is still my patterns, books, magazines, battings (wadding), threads and other craft items.

I am still trying to become more organised and every now and then I have a big "sort out" and reorganisation. 

I just love my studio and am so grateful to WH (wonderful husband) for letting me use the garage as a studio.  I have managed to furnish it with cupboards pulled out of a couple of houses we have renovated, old dressing tables and chests of drawers, bookcases and tables.  Except for my cutting table and small desk for the laptop and, of course, my actual sewing equipment, nothing in the studio is new.  We have plans to remove the roller doors and replace with sliding glass doors and we have a lovely chaise longue in the house that I will also put out there.  I have drawn and redrawn plans for the layout of the studio and it is, at present, an ever evolving creation as I work out which works best where.  I even have (and yes it is new) a TV on the wall on which I occasionally watch Sunrise and the Today Show but always, when I am home, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. 

I can hear the protests out there but unfortunately (well I think fortunately myself) I am a self-confessed Anglophile and love anything British (of course I have British - Scottish and English - ancestry), devouring magazines, travel guides and books based on anything from that neck of the woods.  WH and I travelled to UK in 2009, but only spent 10 days there before moving through France, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany to Denmark (where WH was born and where he has a lot of relatives). 

There is still so much of Britain (and indeed Europe and the rest of the world) that we want to see and are planning a journey next year.

Tonight I spoke to my beautiful sister, Frances, in NZ.  Her eldest daughter, Tania, arrived in London last week and I am looking forward to hearing her updates and photos as she tackles the daunting task of settling down in a 'foreign' country so far from home, getting her bearings and finding a job.   I wish her all the best but I am so envious of her opportunity. 

The photos I have added today are of some of the creatures we see in our 'backyard'.   Enjoy them and all that nature offers.  I am so happy and grateful that I am able to see them and take pleasure in their freedom to just be.

 I joyfully say thank you to all who contribute to my life.

Love is in the Air

A little cooler again today but lovely and warm inside thanks to my WH (wonderful husband) who rose very early this morning and lit the fire so it would be warm for me.  I just love and appreciate him so much.
Sitting here sipping my honey and cinnamon drink, supposedly has lots of good for a number of different ailments and general wellbeing.  I am not sure about this but it tastes yummy.  Nice to start the day with anyway, following my 5am cuppa that WH brings me in bed.
I had an informative day yesterday at the museum workshop learning how to properly tag and label historical items.  Both speakers were easy to listen to and interesting.  Some of the objects that attendees had brought along were so interesting expecially when we heard the stories behind them.  One of our contributions (from the Ipswich Hospital Museum) was a tonsil guillotine used in the 1920s.  Horrible little contraption and fortunately a more humane form of dissecting tonsils is now in use, thank goodness.  Another instrument we had was not described in detail but certainly made our male facilitator blush when the implications became clear that it was used "where the sun don't shine".   Great fun.
Normally on a Friday I pick up my friend, Trish, and take her into town shopping and meet another friend for lunch.  But she is in NZ at present so I have decided not to do the Friday thing and stay home and sew instead.  Considering that I have out for three days already I am looking forward to not going out.
I thought I would share a couple of photos from our garden.  Well, when I say garden I should add that I am not a gardener and we don't really have gardens but just lots of trees and shrubs, including Frangipanis which don't need much looking after, a large Jacaranda and equally large Poinciana.  The frangipanis were just glorious last year but this year, with all the rain, haven't flowered as profusely.  They don't like wet feet apparently and were definitely water logged this year.  Only time will tell if they survive and return to their beauty next year.

I would also like to share with you an email that I received this morning from my beautiful sister-in-law, Reina.  We get so many emails floating around and a lot do touch the heart chords but I thought this one was particularly lovely.  It is called "Vitamin F"

Why do I have a variety of friends who are all different in character? Some of them can be considered marginal even?  How do I get on with them all?  I think that each one helps to bring out a "different" part of me...
With one of them I am a polite, good girl.  I joke with another friend.  I sit down and talk about serious matters with one of them.  With another I giggle at every silly thing.  I have my tea with one and dance with another.  I listen to one friend's problems and give her advice. Then I listen to another advising me.
They are all like pieces of a jigsaw. When completed they form a treasure box.  A treasure of friends!
They are my friends who understand me better than myself,  who support me through good days and bad days.  They are like colourful anti-depressants that I take on different days.

Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health.  Dr. Oz calls them Vitamins F (from Friends) and counts the benefits of friends to our well being.
Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes. If you take Vitamin F constantly you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your tense moments it decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50 %.
I am so happy that I have a stock of Vitamins F!
 
In summary we should value our friends and keep in touch with them.  We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together, not forgetting to open our mouths big to swallow the floating vitamins F!!

Please say thank you to all your friends for their well beingness and being there for you when you need them.

The Wind Beneath My Wings

Title chosen today not just for the beautiful and inspirational song but also because it is definitely a little breezy today.  My morning for my volunteer shift at the hospital and working with a lady, a friend, who has weathered life's storms - marriage breakup, brain tumour and breast cancer - but gives herself wholeheartedly to her friends and life and I love working with her on a Wednesday morning. 
I think winter has started with a little kick today, in Ipswich.  Weather here is cooler than in Brisbane and with a wide range from minimum to maximum temperatures every day.  Supposedly 5 to 22deg C today.  But apart from the little chill factor and wind, a gorgeous day as is every day wet or fine.
Yesterday I did my shift at the Lowood Library, very diffferent from the hospital work.  Small library and usually quiet and peaceful unlike the tos and fros of a fairly major hospital.  But I do enjoy the different environments, the people I meet and those I work with.
Tomorrow I am off to a workshop at the Ipswich Workshops Rail Museum.  We are going to learn how to mark and tag museum objects and also how to write labels and provide information to visitors.  I must confess I have never been to the Rail Museum even though it has been in existence for a number of years.  I was always going to take visitors there but unfortunately never have.  Well I will see it for myself tomorrow.  It is supposed to be an excellent attraction and has won a lot of tourism awards.
Baking this afternoon again and this time Ginger Crunch has popped perfectly out of the oven (well it tastes okay anyway).  Another Edmonds recipe.  I do have many (I said many and I mean many - who doesn't have many) cookbooks but often return to my good old Edmonds.
This has been, so far, one of those weeks where I seem to spend more time out than at home which also means my craft work is slow.  But next week I should be able to clear the decks (well the projects that I can see anyway - not those hidden in my big plastic containers or in the cupboard).
I have come to believe and use affirmations and really feel that they help me (as long as I remember to use them - make it a good habit).  Susan Jeffers is a world renowned inspirational speaker and author and I subsrcribe to her newsletter.  Please let me share with you one of her affirmations:

THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE DEPENDS ONLY ON ME.

(Deeper Meaning)

I stand tall and take responsibility for my experience of life. I blame no one for how I am feeling today. I can’t control the world out there, but I can control my reactions to it all. I can choose to be the "victim" or I can choose to be the creator of powerful and loving thoughts, despite what is happening in my life. I have the strength to act and react to all situations in a healthy and life-affirming way. As I do, I watch the quality of my life getting better and better.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

It really is a beautiful day today.  After the rain yesterday the sky is brilliant blue, the sun is filtering through the trees, dew drops hanging off the branches and a very slight breeze.

Coconut Dream Slice (another from the Edmonds book) in the oven and I can smell it, steak & kidney in the slow cooker and so time for blogging while I am eating my breakfast.
I think I must have blogged in my sleep last night.  Words tumbling one after the other.  I have so much I want to write and could write all day.  Writing is a love and words are a passion for me.  My first career was as a journalist in New Zealand.  But life has sent me in different directions at different times.
First of all I want so much to say how much I love and appreciate my WH (wonderful husband).  Amongst the many beautiful things he does for me, he always brings me an early morning cuppa in bed at about 5am and makes the breakfasts at the weekend.  There is nothing like sitting on our gorgeous patio eating a beautifully cooked breakfast, reading the papers and chatting whilst at the same time soaking up the serenity of our rural setting. 
I have been thinking about all the women who have influenced me in my life - there are many and I am so grateful for all of the encouragement, support and love I have received from them at different stages.  They are so varied in their outlooks, lifestyle, personalities and characters but I feels so lucky to have known them.  Today I am surrounded (in thought) by my lovely mother, my fabulous little sister, super sisters-in-law, wonderful aunties and cousins, beautiful daughters, step-daughters and daughters-in-law, gorgeous nieces and amazing friends.
Some of these have not yet met any curve balls in life to dodge but many of them have and I truly admire their ability to rise above these adversities and travel along life's path with an understanding and generosity of spirit and love that has encompassed me and those they touch.
And yes, there are many males who have influence me too but I will talk about them another time, except my WH who is the biggest supporter and encourager of what I do and where I am.
What's on the agenda for today - Coconut Dream Slice almost ready, kitchen cleaned, washing to hang out then I will hit my "studio".  I hope to finish off a beautiful Dresden Plate Table Centre & 4 matching placemats today, plus several cushions including two "chook" cushions for my Aunty Shirley.  She loves chooks and Blue Willow china (as does my Mum) and has quite a collection of both.  Like my Mum, she is also very "crafty" and makes beautiful cards and jewellry and also sews.  So it was lovely having her to stay for a couple of days last week and talking craft.
I have discovered The Secret by Rhonda Byrne and have the DVD and CDs (which I play in my car).  I am now reading The Power.  Much of what is in both these books is something I have known for a long time and have tried to follow as much as possible in times of trouble.  The law of attraction and positive thinking have helped me in the last 20 years and although at many times I have been deeply bowed by life's obsacles I have come through the dark tunnels into light at the other end.  I have combined this with creative visualisation and spiritual guidance.  I cannot control anything that anyone else may say or do but I do believe that what we put out into the universe comes back to us and my wish is that everyone I love knows happiness, enjoyment of life and fulfilment of their dreams and ambitions.

The Start of Something Big

Here goes - my first post on my first blog.  Exciting stuff.  I have been trying to create a website in two different ways.  One, I taught myself HTML language and started that way.  It was going okay and I was nearly ready to expose it to the world wide web but something happened to one of my pages and I could not figure out what I did wrong.  So secondly I bought a website creation software package (not very expensive) and am trying that.  However, it is a tedious process so I thought why not a blog in the meantime.  This way I can let my friends, family and hoards of fan (yeah right) know what my wonderful husband (WH) and I are up to and also showcase some of my work.

My inspiration for setting up a blog is my cousin, Lee-Anne, who has her own blog, Tales from the Garden Gate.  She and her family are living the simpler life amidst the debris of a throw-away society and from this I gain encouragement that we can live more simply and in a serene and loving way.

Much of my inspiration from everyday living comes from women such as Lee-Anne and other family and friends, who have overcome adversity, sadness and grief, illnesses and accidents, to live richly rewarding lives.  My mother was my first inspiration.  I know she is my mother and I should say things like this, but it is true my mother is an inspiration to me.  Despite her funny little ways she has the biggest heart full of love for all her family and friends, she is one of the most generous people I know, she is a fabulous cook and housekeeper and has always been there to support me - even though I live in a different country.  From her I did not inherit her wonderful green thumb (or fingers) or her great cooking skills but I do have a passion for handcraft and Mum is always making something.  My sister also shares these skills plus she is a good gardner too.  Who decides what genes go where in children?

I hope that I can share my thoughts about other inspirational women in the future.

Today I am not very organised.  Sometimes I am very disciplined and have a list of tasks I want to accomplish that day, that week, that month.  I also have many lists of ambitions and dreams.

But I did make a batch of Ginger Biscuits from the great NZ Edmonds Cookbook (I think every NZ woman has a copy).  However, I did not have any crystallised ginger so substituted raisins and powdered ginger.  Tastes okay to me.  I don't bake very often now that the children are all grown and I know if I did bake I would just eat it myself.  But I am involved with the local hospital ladies' auxiliary committee and once a month we sell slices, biscuits and cakes at morning tea to the hospital staff to raise funds.  This will be my first effort for the committee so thought I would get back into practice. 

I have also spent a couple of hours in my "studio" putting some finishing touches to several projects (don't dare ask me how many projects I have started or in the pipeline) and preparing fabric packs for a bag that I have designed.  I am planning a small workshop on Sunday for beginner patchworkers (basic sewing skills needed).   My plan is to design a range of beginner patterns and hopefully compiling into a book or at least selling them through different outlets.

Some of my handcrafted items are for sell at a local coffee shop but mostly I work on private commissions.  I will post some pics of my work over the next few days so you can see what it is that I do.