Finding balance

It is hard to believe that it will be a month tomorrow since little Wade arrived. These past four weeks have been consumed with thoughts of how he is progressing and even more so for Sophie and Tim. Wade has good days and bad days and the journey is certainly a long one. I went to an information session with Sophie on Tuesday morning to hear of the different support that he may be needing in the future. It included presentations from a social worker, speech pathologist, physiotherapist, discharge nurse and even a music therapist. It was quite overwhelming but at the same time wonderful that so much support is available. We can't just visit when we like and even Sophie has to phone before she goes but each visit is very special. Yesterday Larry and I did visit and it was heart warming to see him having cuddles. Sophie and Tim are not allowed to take him out of the isolette on their own so yesterday it was wonderful to be there as the nurse prepared him......

 It is hard not to think of them all constantly and it is inevitable that the mind goes back to personal experience. I've had some wonderful support from others and in some small way I can understand what Sophie is going through having had her so very sick when she was born 33 years ago. She didn't come home for almost a month after needing life saving heart surgery but this journey is hers with Tim and Wade. We received a lovely card from Canberra a few days ago to welcome Wade, (thankyou Maria x), and I was also overwhelmed with another card that came all the way from the US. This time from the team that have done co-editions of my books - CT Publishing. Their heartfelt words truly touched me.......

So while trying to find a balance without overthinking I've had some quiet but productive time. It is another serendipitous moment that I recall this lovely piece from AA Milne as we are planning to go and see the new Christopher Robin movie next week..........

 I grew up reading AA Milne along with Milly, Molly Mandy, the Narnia books from CS Lewis, Swallows and Amazons and of course Beatrix Potter. One thing my late mother would not allow was Enid Blyton. I have no idea why but it was banned in our house, so as soon as our girls were born I purchased a couple! I have re-read the Swallows and Amazons books as has Larry as he had never heard of them so it was so fitting when we were in the Lakes in the UK last year. But re-reading Little Black Sambo left me bewildered as it is a pretty gruesome tale!.......

 I've also pinned a quilt ready for quilting and of course found a section that I had omitted to appliqué! I have pinned it rather than spray baste as it is quite large and the best space to do that was in the carport.......

I also found a little panel to make a counting book that I think I bought for Beau many years ago.....so now it is complete for Wade......

We have had an enormous crop of parsley so I decided to have a go at making pesto. I threw in some lemon infused olive oil, some dukkah that was in the cupboard and loads of garlic in the kitchen wiz.....two jars ready to go.......

It was scrumptious on pasta and we also had it on steaks cooked on the new Weber Q. We seem to be the last members of the family to have one and it has certainly been well used in the short time we have had it......it cooks the most amazing steak in under 10 minutes with the added bonus of no mess in the kitchen! 

So we are finding balance in our lives and are here for family when needed...tomorrow we are taking Beau and Maisie out for the day so that will be a great diversion. Hope all is well in your part of the world x

A little William Morris

I've been meaning to share again some of the new Morris fabrics from Moda (done in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum), and a new range due out soon from Free Spirit that was developed in collaboration with Morris & Co. ..........

I have to confess I have purchased quite a bit of the Moda range from two local shops and I am sure the Free Spirit range is going to be hard to resist when it comes out early next year! The Moda range is simply delicious.....

 Free Spirit have a delightful video launching the new range but I have to say I totally disagree with one of the commentators calling Morris's designs 'Art Deco.'......I think 'Arts and Crafts' would be more accurate. I think Art Deco came many years later - in fact at least 30 years after Morris died.....

I used some of the new Moda range in the border print of one of my new quilts and I love the red shade. I will be releasing the patterns of both these quilts very soon and I would love some feedback about that. I am thinking of doing hard copies for Curzon Fabrics to supply to the shops here in Australia but also selling them online myself for overseas quilters but in a PDF format. The down side is the patterns are on large A3 sheets so you would need to copy them and take them to a print shop unless you have a printer that does the larger size.....do you think this would be a worthwhile exercise for me to release patterns this way? I just know posting patterns overseas would be cost prohibitive with postage costs....I would love some feedback......(and you might notice I appliquéd some of the motifs upside down on the corners......not sure if I can be bothered doing them again!!).........

Back to matters from home with just a little William Morris thrown in! I received some packages in the mail this week - one of them from New Zealand. I was intrigued by the description of the contents of a 'Beanie for Tea'!!........

 and what a gorgeous tea beanie it is.........a most splendid tea cosy and I just love it! This was handmade just for me by Linda who won my quilt in one of the classes at Symposium last month. She shared with me that the quilt is now hanging above her bed and I am so thrilled that she loves it so much. Thankyou Linda....I hope you get this message....I will write to you but if someone who knows her reads this please tell her how much I love my tea cosy........

I have a fabulous collection of china cups and saucers to go with my new gift but have to confess to not using them as often as I should. It all started when my late mother starting buying me a set each birthday and being a December girl this was my first.......

 The china cabinet is full of more china cup sets and all sorts of other bits that one day my girls will have to decide what to do with! Maybe little Maisie will love it all....even the little cup cakes that are in fact soaps........

 And I have far too many Morris mugs!!.......

 The other package was addressed to dear little Wade and it brought me to tears when Sophie opened it. Sadly I don't have a photo but it was the dearest little teddy I have ever seen complete with a tiny story book about an inch high and a little blanket for teddy to sit on with 'W' embroidered in the corner. The card was written to 'Wade from Teddy' telling him he would watch over him and read him stories.....so precious and thoughtful (thankyou dear Dot and Tony xx).............

It reminded me of some little handmade teddies I have as well so I dug them out and they are now resting with all my other clutter!!.........

 Back to 'the garden'......recently the local council came and gave the roadside trees a very serious prune. We don't like the trees at all but they look worse now and we are not allowed to touch them. At least now the front part of the garden will get more sun so we've been busy planting daisies, lavenders and other cottage plants hoping it will fill up quickly. We also covered some of those awful pebbles with mulch and 'planted' some slate stepping stones and a new bird bath.........

 I can't sign off without a little update on Wade. They trialled him again without the high flow for breathing but he didn't tolerate that so he is back on it again. He is such a little fighter and it is such a rollercoaster for Sophie and and Tim. Last night I embroidered some singlets for him but I might stick to appliqué for the rest......

 Thanks for all your lovely messages and good wishes.......I am so sorry I am unable to email you as some profiles are not connected to an email address. But please know how much they are appreciated. Thanks again for dropping by x