Day 22-23 of my advent calendar & TONY IS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

 Here are the next 2 projects from my advent box. 

December 22

December 23

I can’t wait to make these.

BUT, THE GOOD NEWS IS

TONY IS HOME IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS 

Yes, Tony was discharged from hospital today and set up with hospital in the home.

They will visit daily and hopefully Tony will continue to recover well. He is now back to walking a short distance and is eating well. 

It has been a trying time over the last few weeks with the hospital stays in Melbourne and the extra operations but he is home. I am so grateful and that’s all the Christmas presents I need.

I know there are a few blogging friends going through hard times with family health issues and losses. My heart goes out to them and I do hope they can find it in their heart to have a good Christmas with their loved ones.

Day 9-15 of Advent Calendar & Tony is back in Mildura

 Oh boy. What a few weeks I have had. Tony back in hospital, airlifted to Melbourne again, surgery, recovery and back to Mildura Hospital again. It is so nice to be home and in my own bed. It will be even better when Tony comes home. He is improving and starting to walk again.

So back to my advent calendar envelopes. I got up to date 8 but I haven’t finished sewing them yet with everything that has been going on.  So now I am home again it’s time to catch up with opening the rest.

Here are days 9-15th December. Now I have to start sewing them.

 

Day 4 of my advent box. Tony is in hospital.

 Wow, what a day.

Tony is still in hospital waiting on surgery. The drs are chatting with a vascular team to decide if he should have the infection cut out or should he have the toe/ toes removed. It all depends on his blood circulation and nerve damage. Poor buggar has to deal with not knowing for another night. Hopefully in the morning we will know more.

Anyway, as for me I got home tonight and sewed the day 4 advent project from Chandlers Cottage.

Here is my envelope opened. Pattern, fabric and zip. All I needed to supply was the pellon..

All cut ready to sew.

Zip sewn in

I am slowly getting used to using these binding clips. I do have a few so it’s time they got used.

Clipped the 2 sides together. Sew the lining and the purse together.

All done. Turned right side out

All it needs now is something hanging from the zip. I’m sure I could find something.

So my day 4 is done.

Leesa has contacted me and is sending me some more thread so I can finish day 3 of the advent.

She was very quick, helpful and got it sorted to help me finish the project. Now I’ll wait for some mail.

I’ll post the finished project when I’m done.

Blog comments, Sashiko Lab and Tony update

 I want to start off with, what is going on with blogger and their comments. I am not receiving any via email, like so many of you. I have just gone through a lot of them by reading back a few posts. I really appreciate them, especially at this time when I am house bound. They have made me smile. I am sorry I have not replied to them but remember that they mean a lot. So keep them coming. I am not able to leave Tony and go to my sewing group so the blog is what is keeping me going.

Thankyou to everyone for all your well wishes and kind thoughts about Tony. He is improving. Walking a bit more but only in the home, eating better and talking better. His feet are still in excruciating pain but, the infection seems to have gone. At this stage he still has all his toes. A slow progress. Any progress is good. We have had so many appointments the days are flying by. 

I have actually started to do some hand stitching.

So, while I was in Japan I was lucky enough to have a stitching class at Sashiko Lab.

Sashiko Lab blog

Sashiko Lab courses

We walked through Kyoto back streets which were very interesting. We saw many beautiful traditional homes with very tight car parking spaces. They can park their cars in the most amazing smallest spaces.

Arriving at Kazue Yoshikawa’s home for a Sashiko class

 

and first thing I noticed was this beautiful sink made with the most stunning tiles.

There were 6 of us doing the class from our group. That’s all that could fit.

We were to make a specially designed piece which gets finished into an envelope style pouch that ties closed.

So we started

Maxine kept working on hers in the motel room. She is hooked. Completing the plaited ties.

And I have been working on it at home.

I have since added a 3rd colour. It is looking good. 

Here we are after the class. All very happy

Yes, I did buy some threads, the cute little scissors and marking pen refills.

It was a wonderful class.

Exciting news. Tony is coming home.

 Tony is coming home Wednesday. It will be a complete life change for me. I have finished work to become his full time carer. He is not to be left alone at this stage so it will be a learning curve for me. 

This will be a 24/7 job.

He is not happy in hospital, not eating well and feeling a bit depressed. Hopefully things will change once he is home.

A day at a time

 Hi everyone, I just want to say a very big thank you for your support. I haven’t replied to many emails I have received but please know I thank you and appreciate every message you have sent.

Any way, a quick update. My hubby is now in the rehab ward in hospital very close to home. It makes it easier to work a few hours a day, for my sanity, and still close enough for me to visit twice a day.

I work, visit, home for a nap then back to visit. I do fit in the other necessities like work, shopping, washing and eating. 

So here is Tony saying hi. Feeling a bit tired, sick of being in bed and not eating the hospital food is causing a few problems. He will get there. Now for Rehab to start…….

I am now comfortable with some sewing at the hospital. I am working on a Boro piece. I think I will use it in a back pac I need to make.

Saturday was the first time I picked up my sewing in 3 weeks. I felt comfortable and relaxed enough to pick up my hand quilting.

No. 3 CHOOKSHED challenge for August. I have done some but not as much as I had liked. Anyway. I will continue.

Slow Stitching Sunday

CHOOKSHED challenge 2024

Not so good news

 I’ll be on a break from posting. I need some time to get back on track which could take some time. Unfortunately on the 13th of this month my husband, Tony, suffered a stroke. The ambulance staff had him to the hospital within 20 minutes of the 000 call. He had treatment and airlifted to the Royal Melbourne hospital. Was operated on, stabilised and transferred back to Mildura hospital last Thursday evening. He will be in hospital for some time. Unlimited/unknown. He lost his speech and all feeling down his right hand side. He now has his speech back, can move his right leg but not his arm/hand but has sensation back in it. He can feed himself soft foods with his left hand. It is going to take some time for him to be up and about but he will get there.

So for me, I do not know when I will be settled enough to catch up on blogging so please give me some time. I have to readjust to hospital visits and work. Spending time with therapists and helping Tony as much as possible. 

I know you will support me and some, who know, already have. I do appreciate it.

My FANTASTIC Mother's Day 2016, THANKYOU KRISTY

On Mother's Day this year our daughter surprised us by taking us out for lunch. All we knew was to dress nice, don't have a big breakfast, be ready by lunch time and we will be home for dinner...
MMMMMMMM..... What's going on here.
Kristy picked us up and we left home by 11.30am. Into the city we go...
We ended up at a lovely German Beer house restaurant.
11 people in all and it was a great surprise and lovely day out.....
I was also given some flowers and a new pair of pjs from my daughter and the stepson and girlfriend gave me some summer pjs. I'm set for the year now....

Beautiful daughter, KRISTY & I 

Kristy and I doing a selfie

Happy Pa with Madeleine 

Beautiful granddaughter MADELEINE

Stepson with girlfriend 

Enjoying a cider or 2

Family near and far.

FAMILY FAR...

On Easter Saturday it would have been my mums 75th birthday. Unfortunately this is the first of many we have to get through. We have memories.  Missing you...

This is a lovely photo of mum when I took her out to lunch for her birthday one year not too long ago

Happy birthday mum.
Photo taken February 26, 2012

FAMILY NEAR...

I just love looking at all my photos. After seeing some of our granddaughter it came to me that there was one of my husband very similar. Yes, there is a very strong family likeness.

What do you think..

Madeleine & Pa

Now for my sewing part..

1 Xmas item a month. 

I haven't joined in for some time and I only have a very small finish but it's still a finish..

Quilted Hexagon Coaster

1Xiam with Narelle

A catch up post...

Wow. What a time I have been having... THANKYOU to everyone of you that have been supporting me. You know who you are. You are very special people...
Firstly.
16 days ago I celebrated my wedding anniversary, then my friends special '0' birthday and the day after my birthday... Yet another birthday...
I have some special friends that gave me presents. No I'm not listing them all. But I will show you some little gifts I got off 2 special friends....
Firstly I visited a very fun loving friend, full of happiness, on her way to Tassie. Yes Shez, that's you.
Here is what Shez gave me... Shez knows a little about me and her gift is going to travel with me to my new home... My colours too. Thanks Shez, hopefully you can visit...

Hand towel, soap and moisturiser from SHEZ for my new home.
A beautiful rose from my friend Sue R. garden.....

Then there was a gift from a long time friend.... Sue R.
I encouraged Sue to take up sewing after a hard time Sue was dealing with... I think now Sue sews better than me... She is a very special friend...
My birthday gift was made by Sue and I will take it to my new home too. We all need pegs

Peg bag for my new home.
Made by Sue R.....

Some of you might know our decision to move on and sell up. Well it is done and our house is on the market. We spent the start of the long weekend cleaning up our house. Our daughter, Kristy, came to help. Now she doesn't like gardening but she did a great job of pruning and helping where we needed it. Filling bins, cleaning sheds, cutting plants and anything else we needed. Making lunches and teas was a fantastic effort and help.
Thanks Kristy. Luv you and your help, even though you are sad....
WE ARE ON THE MARKET......

HOUSE FOR SALE IN LANCEFIELD, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

HOUSE FOR SALE IN LANCEFIELD, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

WELL, THEN THE WEEKEND TURNED BAD...
MY HUSBAND HAD A STROKE AND HAS BEEN IN HOSPITAL FOR OVER A WEEK.
HE HAS HAD SURGERY AND LUCKILY ALL HIS SENSES AND FEELINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL. YOU NOW WOULD NOT KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED. HE IS A BIT EMOTIONAL BUT HE WILL BE OK. HE CANNOT WORK FOR 3 MONTHS & BEING SELF EMPLOYED IT.  WILL BE HARD. HIS HEALTH IS WORTH MORE THAN MONEY AND WE WILL MANAGE...

It has been a hard week and our daughter has looked after me by cleaning our house ready for inspections and having my dinner cooked of a night to make sure I have eaten.
She is very special. Along with all our friends that have visited my husband in hospital and supported me in special ways I have needed. THANKYOU EVERYONE. YOU ARE VERY DEAR TO ME....

My husband is home and we are dealing with his recovery.... We will get on with the job of moving to a calmer place and look forward to an easier life....
At the same time as our daughter dealing with a lot of life changes too. She has a lot of emotional changes and moves happening. Career and relationships....
Our eldest son has also been very emotional after having his first child and our first granddaughter.
Our life has changed so much in the last week the future is one to look forward to.

 

Our sweet little MADELEINE

Look at that happy smile. What a treasure.

I am still sneaking in a little bit of sewing in late at night to calm me before bed....
More of this project will be shown soon. It is an Easter gift for a local friend. A commission job...
A local person doing something special for his nephew. Hopefully I will have it finished by Thursday.

Oh what a Sunday...

As I lay here watching Molly on TV I am reflecting on my day...

I went into the sewing room this morning and finished my talking book. I listen to this to give me some relax time. So while I was listening I did some great sewing...

Firstly, I redid and finished my block 2 of the Splendid Sampler blocks...
http://www.thesplendidsampler.com/2016/02/17/block-2-wings-2/

I wasn't happy with one of the corners with the butterflies. The colours just didn't work for me.. So after I worked the stitching for the antennas I unpicked some... The gold coloured butterfly didn't work but once I changed it around the blue floral did...

Block 2.. Splendid Sampler.....
This is the corner I unpicked

I spun the block in the corner from the yellow butterfly to the patterned blue design. Good choice.

I am happy with the changes I have made.
Spinning the block was a good idea...

Now I am happy with what I have done...

Next I worked on 2 aprons that I need for some birthday presents next week.

I have been looking for this pattern for a while and a member of the Kilmore quilters  group sent me a link of the pattern her mum used...

So here it is...

http://peanutlifeadventures.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/diamond-apron.html
This is what I followed

Well this is what I did and I finished the two of them. All be it I still had some hand stitching to do...

Oops don't forget to angle the straps at 45 deg.... I didn't on my first but the second sits so much better.

Look at the angle I have put the neck straps. These ones work 

Here one  is finished 

Now I am sewing on the buttons....

Sewing on the buttons to make them finished..

 And they are done..

Aprons are finished

Next on the list was to finish my little purse..

The hand stitching binding is done and the press stud is on. It's finished...

The binding being done...

Sewing the binding, press stud and finishing

My little purse is finished

I also got some patches sewn on to my hubbies blanket. We started it years ago. I think when hubby started the Ulysses Motorcycle group. Every where  he has been in Australia... on his bike has a patch and there are extras from our trip overseas....

So I finally got to add the last additions of his HOG memberships...

Tony's motorbike quilt.
I originally bought a wool blanket from the local op shop to 

Here is another Aussie Hero Laundry bag.. The matching quilt will be finished this week...

Aussie Hero Laundry Bag