Thanks

Today I have to start with a 'Thank You'.

I have really appreciated the support and concern from everyone, as has my girl. She says she felt quite special and it certainly boosted me up as well. I will get back to you all personally soon...
On that front, the surgeon was very happy with her progress yesterday. So we did not need to be in theatre today as was a distinct possibility. The scars are going to be major though, but the surgeon has a fair few minimisation tricks up his sleeve and we are looking into all of that next week. I am thinking a supermodel career may be out....(what a relief!!!)

So, hopefully the sun is setting on that chapter, just as it is on the crop sowing, though school has just rung and said she is complaining of the arm hurting and is sleepy-so who knows!
Close to 1000 acres of crop has been put in here in recent weeks, we have had a mild start to winter, so we are ahead of schedule, but a rain hold up would be a relief for our farmers. The radar says it's close.

Here is the tractor and air seeder at full tilt, I like the crow's appearance.
We have been doing a bedroom revamp this week for my girl (funny thing!!).
DH cut the bed in half with the angle grinder the day after the accident, neither of us could have ever slept again with her up high. Apologies to the woman who contacted me after the accident about advertising bunk beds through my blog....you got on the wrong boat there dear!!
She had been wanting a pink feature wall for ages. I have never painted anything uncrafty in my life but gave this my best shot. Has to wait a week for her pictures and posters to go up and we haven't quite finished relocating all her stuff, but I love the result. The quilts are all still layered in order of receival-her dad does that every night to particular instructions. They all got carted into hospital with her!
My sister imagines my girl probably gets a new one to match the wall-I was thinking about it! I am just so glad I still have her!

Picked up this cool thing a few weeks ago, anyone got one? It is a spinning sewing caddy. I am trying to work out how to liven it up so it is less "brown"!! I'll keep you posted.
have a great day, Tracey

Unpredictable girls

This is a very rascally almost 3 year old.
THIS is also the only time she is ever still or quiet!
This is also a slight problem......
I gave my DN this quilt on the day after she was born, I only had to sew the binding on the night i received the good news because I just knew she was a girl. It is backed with a very cuddly fleecy and she loves it..."my quilty!" or "my Tracey quilty!!"
The problem stems from the fact it was made for a baby and now she is almost 3 and wont sleep under anything else-flatly refuses and quilty doesn't cover her all night and it means her 36 week pregnant mother is going up and down the stairs all night because she is cold.
SOOO...
I had bought some of the Barefoot roses range for a new quilt for her and when my sister was here on Friday she gave me precise design instructions for the new quilt-positively the last time I let my sister near any quilting magazines, she wanted everything...but I lead her in my direction, even making sample blocks while we had lunch!

Here it is cut into yummy 2 1/2 inch strips

And here are the 9 patches checking they like their pink sashing.
I like the pink sashing, the mother likes the pink sashing and Miss almost 3 looked at it and said.....
"I just want my quilty!!"
we are working on the theory that if I back it in fleece we will eventually be able to slip it on her in bed. Pleased that isn't really my problem!

I know I was intending concentrating on the market but my girl was fairly dodgy with what is possibly a recurrence of her stomach and migraine complaint over the weekend and I find sewing therapy to be better looked on by society than-
1. running away to live with the gypsies.
2. Starting to drink prior to 10 am
3. Leaving her on the hospital doorstep with a note atatched- (i think she can talk too well for that!!)
Mercifully she is feeling good tonight and I may be able to sleep at least in hope that she will make it to School tomorrow for the first time in a fortnight.....the joys of children!

Have a good day ...I hope I do!

with 14 days 'til Christmas...

Other than being busy, I have been a little quiet on the computer front this week as I checked my usage and I had racked up a $45 excess bill! We are on satellite so it already costs a fair bit per month....I wasn't sure I was going to be able to convince DH I wasn't having an internet affair so thought I had better cool it off. He would never understand it was an affair with quilts and fabric! I think that all the security updates suck it up as well. Well, we will keep putting it down to that! Thankfully today is a new month so I am good to go!

I had the most fascinating visit to Melbourne on Saturday for DD's tummy; the only thing missing was Obi-Wan's voice calling...."use the force!"
The lady we saw came highly recommended as "worth a try" so we did. She used kinesiology and muscle testing and reflexology and bells........I was way out of my depth. She told me something at one point and I quizically said, "you reckon?" and was very soon told that "I don't reckon, I know"! I felt like that old 70's song Mum had on all the records that also had Dolly Parton and Kenny doing duets ..."get out non-believers or the rain will never come, someone keep that fire burning, somebody beat the drum!!"- especially as DD has then had her first fully good week in a few months!
She was funny, she walked out of the place and got in the car, then said, "Mum, I have a question, was that lady using crystal balls... because we aren't into that?" I said, no, she was just using her God-given talents to fix you up and then DD announced it had worked, she was better.
I am still more likely to be kicked out than asked to beat the drum, but it is great to see her feeling good especially as the doctors were all just telling us to 'live with it, she may grow out of it, or not.' So I will keep you posted.

Just when I had overcome the aero bars...or they overcame me....I was given this at School yesterday for a year of story time...sigh...now I have to eat them!
School finishes tomorrow and life should be far less hectic, plenty of time for quiet chocolate eating.

Took a photo of this at Ladies fellowship break-up for you, very cute and well loved.
And speaking of cute and well-loved...the day is coming when these are moving on to their new homes, but at the moment they are being dragged around in their Aristocats basket and the pram, being the babies for Mums and Dads'!

There are still 14 days to Christmas...fortunately...as I have decided to make my Dad a whole new Q/S bed quilt instead of just enlarging his other one. I found this great fabric that is just him, even the same tractor, motorbike, dog and woolshed...and he is the quintessential Australian stockman and shearer, always with his wide brimmed Akubra hat on.... this fabric just has to turn itself into a quilt in a fortnight, plus I need to quilt my sisters shirt top, and Roman Holiday pieces and make a few other things...surely all achievable...if Icome up with a plan ...and don't sleep!
Laila's Secret Santa Christmas Swap gift from me has arrived in Norway, thank goodness! For details on what that swap was, visit Donna at Chookyblue.
Have a great day, Tracey

A few quilts for you and more "fun" for me!

Great feedback from you about my Autumn swap, thanks! Loved all the comments from "new" visitors as well. Will probably get some time to work on it again in the next day or two ...but that is it's own story.....

Had tired children yesterday, I took them down to my parent's for belated father's day celebrations and it really seemed to tire them out. Great, I thought, early to bed for them and I may get to spend some time with their father, but as regular readers know, I should never makeplans!

It is 7 pm here right now and I think I may have managed an hours sleep somewhere in the night, between wetting facewashers, trying to tip panadol down a recalcitrant 7 year old's throat, holding the bucket and dealing with the "sand" and the "sand band" that was at some imaginary place a delirious 9 year old went to when her temp. hit 40 degrees...think that was around 2.35 am!!

They are both very flat today, general reports seem to be that this awful flu can last up to 3 weeks and keep coming back. Oh well, DD did manage a nearly 4 days of school this week!

Needless to say, romance is a long way down the list!! And the only sewing today was a lightweight nighty for a hot daughter.

I can't ever remember signing on for 12 months of daughter's chronic tummy pain, then the chesty flu, then the temperature flu, but obviously next time I will have to take a more careful peek at the fine print! No, really, they will be fine,.... and the good news is that I took some pics for you at Quilters.

Robyn has finished her kit, I think it is the Vintage Holiday range. Used 5(?) inch squares and jelly rolls.

Helen got her son's back form the Australian version of the longarmer. Cross hatching in the squares and something else was in the rest! It is flannels.

Thought you may like this wall hanging that Helen received from her group when she left Queensland years ago.

And finally, Robyn was Kerrin's birthday buddy and as Robyn had the enforced 2 weeks in the house with her kid's flu, she whipped up these beautiful angels. Had to get a photo for you (remember if you click on the pics they enlarge)-no idea on pattern details but could probably get them if there is interest...now, off to dose kids and go to bed! Tracey

Picking up the crumbs
It often amazes me that just when you are getting seriously concerned about a situation and think you may not be able to cope any more, you see the light at the tunnel.

I specifically remember this with labour, thinking, "I may have to tell someone I don't think I can do this, this really hurts!!", and then remembering with the next one when I got to that stage that there is only about a minute to go!!!

Back to the real story....On Monday my daughter was about as bad as she gets with her health and tummy. I haven't discussed it much, 'cos what are you going to say?-even her legs were feeling numb (!!???) Then yesterday she brightened up enough that we ran her into school for half a day and, huge news, she has headed off for School on the bus this morning singing and dancing, believe me her parents feel like doing that as well! Her colour really looks good today and there was no mention of anything even mildly associated with pain...so life is good!

Now, if we could only get two to go on the same day then I could get some serious sewing done! Her brother is improving from the flu and is just at the cuddly, achy stage, we have just watched Bob the Builder together and he is curled up under his tractor quilt and asked for some peace and quiet! Know he's sick then!

Great mail this week!!! My stitchery arrived from Anne at Quilting Bebbs. I love it! I have photographed it under a number of different conditions but nothing really does the gorgeous purples justice. Thank you to Anne and to Sweet P Paula who organized the swap.

My Country threads and Country Craft and Decorating came as well, there went a good hour with a coffee.

Thought you may like to see the crumb progress, I took a photo of it with my other shirt quilts for posterity. I am just about to have a shirt rest to finish off some other projects with deadlines, but Joshua's needs to be presented next week so I had better give it some attention.

Thanks to Tonya whose quilts remind me that all the details do not need to be on the back. I am thinking picnic rug after this gets some kind of border. There are quite a few of the slightly smaller crumb blocks to go, they will get the red sashing and be their own quilt..but don't tempt me, I HAVE to finish some other stuff! have a great day, Tracey

One step forward and one step back.

During a fairly quiet post-camp slump yesterday I did manage some progress on my roses, but I am just giving you a tease because I am close to a finish. (I also managed to lie on the bed and slowly re-read a good portion of Harry, but we wont mention that!)

DD has just gone back to bed, the tummy is really not great today, so much for the usual 8 week window between troubles, this was less than 3. We'll keep hoping it is tiredness related and will quickly go.

Very wet and miserable today, I am meant to trek to town for provisions but at the moment that doesn't look at all inviting, neither does a walk-Harry is once again looking the goods!

This is the camp hexagon that had all the girls wanting to learn, out of my LQS sample mailout, can't find the sheet to say what they were.

Have a great day, Tracey

Check-in
Just a quick post this morning. I am feeding an extra 5 men who are here today working with sheep so no time to chat!
Just an update on DD's "scopes" yesterday at the Children's hospital. we left by 5.30 am and were home at 7 pm, absolutely exhausted. She did a great job and everything looked good (we even have pics for Show and Tell!) they biopsied everywhere and took more bloods so all that should be back in a week. Doctors reckon it is looking like a really bad dose of Irritable bowel and may take 18 months to come right-so we are half way there!!! On lots of Lactobacillus type powder and a few other powders to keep everything working, hopefully she will continue to improve.
Bit of stitching in the car, this-

got to a new stage but I will wait to show you the finished product, Cheers, tracey

Trip away

Okay so the photo uploading component of blogger has now gone on strike so this fabulously exciting weeded roundabout looks like it is it!

Well, it actually is quite exciting because it is done, one chore down! My boy and I had a lovely afternoon on this. The dog chased a mouse the entire time and managed to squash anything that was good and dig a huge hole under one of those rocks. I am a great believer in making stuff out of scraps so i proceeded to plant succulents in the hole!!

Oh, we've decided to work again so here are the new succulents!

Melbourne was fine, slight meltdown by the girl when she found out that she had to have a general (probably in the next month) to put the camera in and have a good old look round...but the gift shop seemed to calm her down!

I didn't get any fabric shopping in, just a good lot of organizing shopping, have been busily organizing drawers since I got back. DD has been very miserable, I think the trip wore her out.

I am having a day off today, about to head off to port Fairy with my friend Robyn...officially to organize the accommodation for Quilter's retreat in August but I'm working on that taking 15 minutes, then shop, lunch and massage???

I might take the camera and do the "hey I have a blog and people want to know about Port Fairy" thing!

Cheers, Tracey

How does the Olympus SP550 sound?
It has 18x optical zoom and takes a fantastic close up as well, I think I love it!
Anyone know or think otherwise?
I made an absolute idiot of myself testing all the cameras out while I killed a few hours in town when DD got in some School this afternoon. That is the biggest pain about living 30 kms from town, you can't just drop and run!
I swapped the camera for my purse and took it out on the street to test it, I zoomed in, took the flowers in the pots abd did a lot of distance shots- people were looking at me very strangely!
I have to kill an entire day tomorrow (DD is attempting to perform with her choir at the Eisteddfod) and think I may get the camera, so speak now or forever hold your peace!
We have our Children's hospital appointment, Monday week, (I went private to shorten the wait) it's 6 pm so looks like DD and I will get 2 days in the city, hope she's up to shopping...now where is that old stroller??....
Must run, am missing Prison Break quality(?) time! Tracey

The angels are warming up....

A few weeks ago, when I wasn't coping well with DD's moaning and pains, especially being woken with them, I suggested that instead of telling me she felt bad and sick all the time, perhaps we could try something like "the angels are singing today' or, the more common, 'the angels aren't singing today.'

She has embraced this and my daily reports sound much nicer.

Today I was able to go for a walk and I decided that those Angels may not be singing the Hallelujah Chorus just yet but I can faintly hear them warming up in the wings!

The blood tests have all come back fine so there are no nasties that may have been brewing since last November. I didn't think I was terribly worried about this but 3 people I know have vividly died in my dreams in the 3 nights preceding the results. One was a 2 year old child of a friend, who I was in charge of and drowned in the bath! I woke in a cold sweat and rang her first thing in the morning to tell her not to trust his big sister to watch him in the bath!

Anyway last night's sleep was blissfully death free and today I actually took a walk and wondered why I don't manage it more. It was a sunny winter's morning after rain and I remembered how much my head clears and my perspective improves during a walk. It used to be when I made all my financial decisions-when I could see the forest from the trees! Today I planned quilts and the Bible Study I had to lead at Ladies fellowship.

My head was so cleared that I finished the hot pink floral when I got back, DD was busy making pancakes which is hopefully another indicator that she is improving, so I got to go to the sewing room.

I thought I would let the other improver show you the completed quilt. (Actually trying to eat it I think!)

'Thistle' the lamb, after a week of what seemed like a permanent neurological disorder, has decided to retain his feet and his balance and is now walking again. He is living proof that there is still room for Charlotte's web farming...and If I wanted to get political, which I don't, he is also proof that we should never give up on our lesser abled in general. (Thistle is on the left. Check out those wrinkles on Spring!Far right)

They were so excited about the quilt, look at the little tail going crazy on Spring!

I worked out that this whole quilt cost me less than $10! Fabulous old fashioned quilting. I wonder what the owner of that skirt would say if she saw it now, or the donator of the bedspread on the back! A good reminder that our trash can be very useful as someone else's treasure.

On that note I will upload you two more pictures.-

Thses are my latest op shop purchases. I had DD at school for an hour and felt like retail therapy that wouldn't blow the budget. Look what I found.

Mint condition butter coloured chenille. (2) I shared one out at Quilters on Friday night, it's thick and perfect. The two plaids are a huge green never used cotton lounge cover. Looks like you could back 2 single quilts with it. The blue is another barely used couch cover, lovely and bright.

The last photo is of a piece of some kind of woollen material, yell out if you have seen it before. It reminded me of a quilt, so I bought it, but am fascinated to know what it's meant to be!

Probably half a metre x nearly a metre long.

So things are going along ok here, I think I may be getting my mo-jo back (apologies to Austin Powers and please don't tell me that has different connotations in the US!!!) and hopefully DD is close to a bit of School. Thanks for the lovely comments, Cheers, Tracey

Blogging gets more answers!
A short post this morning,we are about to race out the door. DD is trying School for an hour, it's music and choir and she is desperate to sing at the Eisteddfod next week so we are having a try.
Mainly posting to say 'Thank you' to all the lovely bloggers out there who have been concerned about her tummy over the past 8 months, but especially to Quilting Bebbs who has been dealing with a similar situation in her famuily and very kindly emailed me a few pages of information.
I took all of this with me to the Doctor yesterday and we have started on some of the remedies already last night. We are also to go to the Royal Children's to a specialist and had all her bloods done again, to double check that something hasn't reared it's ugly head since November when that was last looked at. At least this doctor didn't just go mad at me and say "She should be at School more, Mum!"
The blood test was an absolute parenting nightmare, last time they couldn't get a vein so it took a couple of goes and cost me a Polly pocket. This time I marched her straight there with no time to think but she went white at the door and started crying and screaming. Said she needed time to get used to the idea and we would come back tomorrow, oh sure, stressing overnight always helps these situations! So that wasn't on the cards, I, the parent who doesn't "do" needles or blood, was the parent who had to go through this for the second time! Between a couple of nurses and me they got the blood. The nurse even told me I did well...I was quite proud!
Anyway, here's hoping we get to the bottom of it, and thanks again! tracey

A rose by any other name...

~Or a bit of an attempt at free-piecing one anyway!

I have a long way to go on this but these are a few early plays. It is trickier than you think if you want to get curves and the shading similar to a real rose. I have collected up a few rose pictures and am using them for ideas. I think I need more shades, I may have to reach outside the stash.

I have always been very surprised that there aren't a bunch of patterns for roses like this, now that I'm trying to make one I can see why! If anyone else decides to have a play, drop me a line so I can look at yours.

This is one of the green and pink ones I did at last year's quilt retreat, pure free-piecing. No picture, a pair of scissors and a machine, it was great fun! I made three that day. You have seen one in a cushion last December.

About to have a present making week, I am way behind and need to get a good few in the mail. I was waiting for some special material so now you winners should be in luck!

This is a bag for my birthday buddy at quilters, it's from the Moda faded memories range.

I have once again retired from teaching. I ended up working 7 out of the last 10 school days and with a sick daughter that wasn't easy. On Friday I actually felt tired down to my bones, I then arrived home to find her crying from the tummy pain and her father almost beside himself. This irritable bowel business is the pits! The most incredible thing about it is that she can be crying from the pain, you put her in bed with a hot water bottle and she goes to sleep within a minute and sleeps soundly all night. She very fortunately woke up just about perfect on saturday morning and spent a beautiful autumn day playing. It once again got worse as she got tired but asleep again as she hit the pillow! At least we had 2 months in between bouts this time and we are hoping this bout is almost gone but surely there is some long term treatment-we've done 4 doctors, naturopath, QX10 machine, Bowen technique and chiropractor. Chiro and QX/naturopath have helped- Bowen is ongoing.

Anyway, that was my little rant for the day, loved the actual working though; it's like with anything when you actually think you might be good at something, it's great to get a chance to do it, -just far too hard to fit it in! Cheers, Tracey

I'm back!!
Wow, almost 6 weeks without my computer was a big test. Why do I feel like I should have accomplished more??!! Well, I always feel like that, there just aren't enough hours in the day.
I have a very short window of opportunity today to post, had to cater a funeral all day, so the many pics I have to update you on my projects will probably have to wait until tomorrow night. My girl turns 9 tomorrow and there is a party of over 20 little darlings to pull together by tomorrow morning and a little stitchery quilt to finish...and a centre block for the new rounds of friendship at quilters tonight. Wow, I really need to get off this computer!!
Thanks for all the comments re:DD's tummy trouble. After extensive treatment we have now had 9 good days in a row-lucky for the birthday! She has been fully ultrasounded and blood tested and it isn't coeliac. I'm not sure what RX treatment is, we've been doing something called QXI0 and that has achieved the best results so far.
With my new start on the computer I have also bitten the bullet and changed to the new blogger so you will have to tell me if everything still works! Cheers, Tracey