Finally a new post

Hello, well it seems to be about time I posted, I've a photo to put up and also some news.  First the news, I've very recently had some surgery, I had my right breast surgically removed, my choice.  After having had breast cancer and living with one breast for a little over 18 months I decided I needed to be a woman with no breasts, not the half and half woman I was being.  There were a few issues with my right breast, but no cancer (that we know of anyway) and it was playing havoc with my head and worrying about what was going on.  Yes, I'm a worrier and no matter how hard I try I find it difficult to not be that way.  Anyway, I am very happy with my choice, I feel more at ease and relaxed and am certainly a lot cooler..  (no bra)  Yes, I am laughing and will continue to do so, life is good and laughing makes it so much better.  One of the things that has helped me greatly has been the overwhelming support I have had from my family, friends and complete strangers..  It has been fantastic. 

Okay, on to the photo, just before I went into hospital I got the latest Quilting Arts magazine and once again was inspired to try a new technique.  Nothing new there!!!  lol  Anyway, I started stitching at a friends, so she started stitching too..lol..  leading other people astray again..   I finished stitching my test piece that night, the next morning I painted on the dye and left it to dry while I went to hospital for the surgery..  Always good to have something nice to look forward to after surgery..  The technique is called Mokume and while my stitches where a bit wayward, the end product is interestiing and a bit like it should look..  enjoy

zentangles............

Me again, wow, two posts in two days, woohoo....  I've been lured over to the darkside of zentangles!!  Below is a pic of my very first one, and ............. something along the same lines but free machined embroidered onto black silk then quilted along the main lines only..  Something I was keen to have a go at...      Thank you Carol....

Secret Santa has arrived

Yippee, my secret santa parcel has arrived, and I got all excited and of course wasn't going to wait or anything to open it..    This secret santa is one organised by the etsydust team (Etsy Down Under Street Team) and has been great fun and worry.  The worry bit from me on what to send and is it okay and enough and and and.....  worry worry worry..    I did get it sent away in time though.. 

Below is a pic of the goodies I received, a gorgeous hand made card, necklace, booklet, tag, stitchery, ring and some glass beads and a recipe for milo balls, which sound so yummy and so easy...  this secret santa must know I'm a bit lazy in the kitchen these days and like easy and yummy things to make..    lol....

So to my secret santa, thank you it's been great fun..

Frogs again

Not sure if you can see them clearly enough, but there are three green tree frogs coming out of the candle holder that lives under our lychee tree.  There had been four, but one hopped off before I could take the photo.  During the day the frogs stay safe and cool in the base of the holder, I've counted 7 in there at one time!!  I'm tickled pink that they have taken up residence and seem so happy to be there.  At times during the day you can here one of them croaking, which is also lovely..

I've been busy making Christmas cards with free machine stitched designs, and also I've made some small (very small) books from a workshop I attended at the local Fibre group I belong too.  The books have turned out really well, I'm sending one to my 'secret santa' person in another group I belong too. I hope she likes it!!

hugs til next time

Catch up

Hi again, well, I've had a wonderful time since my birthday, I had a lovely long lunch with some wonderful friends and then that weekend I drove up to Mission Beach (about 2.5 hours north) with another wonderful friend. We stopped at a small town on the way and left some money there! We found some fabulous tops, fabric, beads and some bits in the second hand shop. Took us 6 hours to drive what should have taken 2 and a half hours!! lol

The weekend in Mission Beach was a stitching weekend, we met some wonderful new friends of the stitching world and viewed their equally wonderful work. Was very inspiring. The place we stayed at was very close to the beach (1 minute walk), so some time was spent wandering about on the beach, just beautiful.

The photo below is off a quilt I finished this year, it started as a paper bag swap, has some strips from a strip swap and was quilted by my sister, Lynne. It fits the bed I made it for beautifully and already it has had lots of admiring comments.

birthday flowers

Hi again, this will be a record, two posts in two days!!  woohoo... thought my opening picture should change to these beautiful flowers sent to me from my lovely girl friends at Livin' Laughin' Lovin' It!!  Though they hadn' signed the card, so it's only a guess the flowers are from them!!!  otherwise anonymous 'girls' sent them..  LOL...

hahahaha

I see the opening photo is not really 'welcoming'....  hahaha...  oh dear I do have a rather sick sense of humour....