this week in this big country of ours there has been more red alerts about natural happenings, fire and water and cyclone yasi. queensland again has been coping with the worst cyclone ever in this region, so much destruction. my home town of melbourne and surrounds has also suffered with floods. we cannot do anything about what the weather brings to us, just cope and bear it, i am ok, but my heart feels for all those who are in the middle of it all.
while i was away last week down at phillip island we went wandering one day to some of the favourite haunts and last post i showed you the old chair my friend got for the house down there, well i also got one!
and i've talked before of being spoilt, well i was again ! and don't you think my bag and new purses look good on my new 'old' chair.
i have got this bag and purses all set up so that if i go out to one of my stitching groups i can just pick it up and go !
one afternoon during the week i got this old favourite of mine, you have seen it before, all together and ready to quilt and i am off and running and it is nearly finished. i have used quiltlite, so it it not all puffy and the quilting is simple, just a means of keeping it all together and putting a back on it.
and there are some little bits of the pear fabric, the history of which jean talks about over on her blog. it is the reason for us being friends!
and i had a day drawing and cutting last monday in the heat, when a couple of friends dropped in to play, getting more ready for this
as you can see, i have changed the template to save a few seams, but i am including the few original ones all in together. one of my well known quotes 'in the whole scheme of things' is being used, as when it is all together, you may notice, but i don't mind.
and i turned this piece of embroidery into a bag for a friend for christmas, she shops at the market and so i thought it would be a good market bag. the pattern is my version of one from the range from mrs sew & so , which you can purchase online.
there was an interesting discussion on melbourne breakfast radio last week about belonging to groups! groups of people getting together for all sorts of reasons and the benefits of doing so. well many of us get together to sew and my monday night girls are all back tomorrow night, i wonder what problems of the world we will solve this year, be they personal or community problems. some have been in touch and also emailed me that they can't wait, so it shows me how important it is, 'getting together'. at my home you are encouraged to come, make yourself at home, make your own cup of tea or coffee when and how you like it and most important of all, it is the one on one conversations round the jug by those who gather together that are sometimes the best.
tell me about some of the groups you belong to, do you walk with a group, drink with one, garden, paint. my life is much richer because of the sewing sisterhood that i belong to, thanks to you all.
now till next time i had better go and tidy up a few things ! feeling so much more fortunate than many at the moment ! if thoughts help, then mine are with you all.