Daisy Made It

Dreary January

There is nothing more inclined to drive me out to my studio than dreary January weather.  Getting stuck into sewing a new quilt when the days are cold, dull and damp is the perfect remedy, especially after trudging round the woods when taking the dogs for a walk :)

In between quilts it's nice to have some small projects on the go.....quilted postcards are so quick and easy to make and can be posted like normal mail if you put them in a cellophane envelope, these are the ones I made for Christmas

Another thing I love to make are teddy bears.  I make full size jointed ones

crocheted ones

and smaller softy ones

I can see other softy animals appearing soon, but for now, it's a quilt that I will be working on :)

Be back soon xx

 

Back on the horse

What do they say? When you fall off a horse you should get straight back on it!!! Judging by the time since I was last here, I didn't get back on the horse......but I am now!!!!

Life certainly threw a few things at me, each one of them knocked me down and after a while I forgot how to get back up.  I have started to take a few steps back into sewing and am getting my rhythm back - I forgot how much I loved to sew.

This was a gorgeous memory quilt I made from favourite clothes Tia's mum picked out...she was really pleased with it.

I love making these quilts as everyone is unique. Depending on what clothing I receive will determine how the design will pan out :)

I just had to make this fun embroidered cushion for my daughters boyfriend, he loved it

I also made a cute book cushion for a delightful little girl - it has a large pocket on the front to store their current reading book in and the design of the girl was made to look like the recipient - she loved it :)

I definitely won't be leaving it so long until I'm back with more updates, here's to a wonderful 2017 for us all xx


 

 

 

Daisy Days

Tomorrow is a special day, if she were still with us, it would be my darling Nan's

100th birthday

The last time we celebrated a birthday with her was when she turned 90.  We had a lovely day having afternoon tea at Cannizaro House. Nan was at her most happiest when surrounded by her family, just as we were at our happiest when we were with her.

I love her dearly and miss her more but one thing is certain, we will be celebrating Nan's 100th birthday tomorrow.

So I'd better get baking her famous Daisy cakes - and hope Ross doesn't pinch them all before everyone arrives :)

Always something new....

One thing I love about sewing is that there is always something new to learn, to try, to discover......if there wasn't, it would get very boring.  Last week, I took a class at Patchwork Corner.  It was called Fold and Finish Cushion and used a technique by a lady called Betty Cotton, who named it Cotton Theory.  I love this technique, we made a large 20 inch square cushion with a log cabin style

It's a lot of cutting and quilting at first, but once that's done, it's just a matter of assembling the pieces and you're done :)

This morning I've been playing with some more fabric and this technique and just wanted to show you a sneak peek of another cushion I'm working on.

The possibilities are endless.....a double sided quilt is forming in my imagination, but I'll just concentrate on small things first and finish up some UFO's :)

What are you all working on this week???

It's nearly time!!!!!

Not long now until the new 

erin condren

life planner

becomes available to order.

I love my planner......it not only keeps me organised, but it takes me back to my scrapbooking days.  I have an abundance of cute stickers, coloured pens and washi tape to use in my planner.

I usually plan out my week on a Sunday and then top up through the week as more things crop up and I get busier.  I love the thick, laminated, interchangeable covers.  I love that you can personalise your planner.......I just love this planner.  I have used other planners but they have all fallen by the wayside, not this one though - I love it :)

Check out the new look book for the new release 18 month planner here and if you'd like to get $10 off your purchase, you can use my introductory code 

Jules $10 0ff

Firsts......

After you have lost a loved one, there are lots of 'firsts' you have to face.....usually with some trepidation.  Following Olivers death last January, I think we all dreaded facing the firsts, they all came so close together - first Christmas, first New Year, first Birthday of Oliver, first anniversary of his passing, first anniversary of his funeral.......not to mention all the family birthdays.  They were all hard to face, to get through and left me feeling numb but last week, I had a very different 'first'!!!!

Driving in my car I suddenly realised I was singing along with the radio.  It was the first time I had sung since we lost Oliver.  I can't even remember what song had spurred me on to sing out loud, I was so shocked that I was singing again and I realised that my spirits have obviously lifted enough for me to enjoy music again.  I guess that's called progress.  And while none of us want to think about moving on, the sad fact is that time marches on whether you want it to or not, and we move on with it.......never forgetting the lost ones, never leaving them behind but learning to live life again, slowly, gently and differently than before.

8,401 days ago....

......my gorgeous, wonderful, amazing daughter was born.  I faced that day with much trepidation.......I loved being pregnant, happily sailed through the pregnancy but at 34 weeks, my doctor gave me a little scare.  He started worrying about how big the baby was and whether I'd be able to deliver naturally or need a C-section......I was all for the C-section LOL.....anything as long as I didn't have to give birth.  My doctor gave me a quick scan that day and after seeing Charley on the screen, asked me how tall the father was and then said "look at the size of those feet".....well Ross is 6'4" and has size 14/15 feet and as I looked at the feet on the scan I had visions of trying to give birth to a mini Ross!!!!!

That was that, for the next 6 weeks I dreaded giving birth and as it turned out I was right to dread the process. It was a very difficult, hard, painful (natural) birth and afterwards I was told I should have C-sections for any more pregnancies!!!!

Well I was sensible and decided to stop right there LOL

Although the process was terrible, my child was not.  Charley was the most perfect, wonderful thing to happen to me.  She was the making of me, I realised what my purpose in life was and I can honestly say she has been a delight to experience every day of her life.

We never had terrible 2's, no hormonal teenage years, no tantrums, no worries or fears.....what we have had is lots of fun, lots of laughs, cuddles, tears, discoveries, growth, simple pleasures, friendship, affection, respect and love.

How I LOVE this girl........I never knew there were feelings that could be as powerful as this and just when you think you couldn't love them anymore, a new day dawns and you realise that somehow overnight, your love has grown and you love them more each day.

Happy Birthday Charley and thank you for 23 years of pure bliss xx

12 weeks on...

.....and it still feels like yesterday.

I can't quite belive we're in April - when did that happen?  My mind seems to be permanantly stuck in January.  I keep thinking it's 6 months until summer, until the holiday we have planned....but it's not, time marches on whether you march with it or not.

Things have happened of course, there have been birthdays, occassions, events....but they have all passed in a blur.  I can't really recall any of them and feel like we're all stuck in some bubble.  I can see the world outside, I see things happening but I feel removed from it all....but I guess that's what grief does.

I have some wonderful friends who try to keep me connected to the world, some of them sufferering their own grief and loss and I am so very grateful for them. I have a wonderful family too, who although we are all suffering in our own way, we are all there for each other....what more could you ask for?

Just one thing.......to have you back funny boy xx

Oliver

Oliver Jay Bourton

14 Jan 1992 - 29 Jan 2014

Tomorrow we say our final goodbye to my wonderful nephew Oliver.

Oliver was larger than life, a huge character who had the ability to make everyone around him laugh, a natural joker and also could wrap people around his little finger......if someone was handing out slices of cake, Oliver would get two, with a little flattery, cheek and his beaming smile :)

Losing this wonderful young man has left our family broken, unbalanced, lost and feeling a depth of sadness we never knew existed....we are devastated.

I want to thank everyone who has shown us such love and kindness during this awful time and also thank Olivers many, many friends who have shown us just how much he was thought of and loved.

Tomorrow will be tough.

Caught up!!!!

I did it, I caught up on the Quilty Fun Sew Along.  I'm loving this quilt already, the blocks are all so different and I've loved making every one of them, they are not hard at all....in fact I've enjoyed it so much that I'm a little disappointed I have to wait until Monday to make the next one LOL.

Heres some pics of my progress so far...

Week 1 - Apples

Week 2 - Twinkly Winter Stars

Week 3 - Courthouse Steps

Week 4 - Sewing Baskets

Week 5 - Flying Geese

Week 6 - Chubby Chevrons

Week 7 - Cocoa Cups

Week 8 - Trees

So now I'm up to date with this Sew Along, I'm now off to make a start on the Wishes Quilt Along run by Fat Quarter Shop.  It is for a great cause...are you joining in???