On the eve of a New Year

Here we are on the very last evening of 2018 where we reflect on the year just gone and wonder what the new one will bring. For our little family this past year hasn't been easy and I know it is has been a tough year for others as well...maybe the planets were out of alignment during 2018??!! For now we try to concentrate on "the now" while trying not to overthink but just being grateful for the little things in life like long slow walks close to home.......

 Family always come first and the little ones were full of smiles with their gifts on Christmas day......

 On boxing day we enjoyed their company and the weather was perfect for a cool down in the now crowded wading pool!!....

I've still been stitching for my next market day and I find it very meditative doing these latest bowls by hand.......just the thing in front of the telly at night........

and a larger one and some quilted purses and pencil cases including some using William Morris prints.......

It might have been one of the busiest weeks of the year for most people but there is still normality in life that included this lovely email and photo I received from a friend who was visiting the Love & Desire exhibition at the National Gallery in Canberra where she spied one of my William Morris Appliqué books for sale.........how wonderful and looks like fabric for sale too.........

I am thrilled that two of my quilts now have new homes....this one is now also living in Canberra with the before and after photo.......

and this quilt has a new home in Upper Manhattan, New York......I was very excited when I heard it had arrived safely......maybe one day I will see where it is resting in its new abode....

It is definitely now Summer and we've been having some very hot days, so we are enjoying the blooms before another heat wave hits us..........

The William Morris rose will be frizzled in the piercing sun in just a few days.........

and who would have thought that just two days after Christmas Larry would see these at the supermarket...who cares that it is not Easter - still yum!!.........

So as this year is almost over we prepare the new calendars. I have a William Morris one of course........

But at the shops some weeks back I noticed this one full of English Country Cottages and Gardens. I turned over the back to see what was inside and was immediately struck by one image that was the very same image I had taken back in 2012 in the UK on one of our very first Whitecroft Morris tours and you can see a record of that by clicking on this post here.  

The photographer and I almost stood in the very same position but I think the calendar photo was taken long before mine judging by the size of the plants........

and my images........

As I was searching for my photos I came across more in the same street.........

Such wonderful memories that we hope we can do again in 2020.  So as this year closes we are hoping for a more restful and enjoyable year ahead. The "Happiness Is" desk calendar is almost complete but instead I have this new one from Sophie........inspiration and calm and I am sure what the world needs more of. So until next time.........may the coming year be full of wonderful memories for you and your loved ones and thankyou once again for sharing in our lives xx

The "Jolly" Season at night

True to our word we returned to the city to see the Christmas lights at night. We decided to do it on my birthday on Tuesday...my choice as it was a quiet day. It was restful and enjoyable and the city was surprisingly quiet...in fact some shops were closing up early! I left my good camera at home so just used the phone........

 Larry gave me a voucher for my birthday to do a Lino Print Class with a talented (and very young!!) artist by the name of Lucy Timbrell. It was set up in an unused warehouse - a great space managed by WOTSO Workspace, an Australian organisation that seems to be spreading its wings to Asia. Such a fabulous idea and I enjoyed my class immensely. I recall my late Mum doing lino prints on tea towels and aprons as I was growing up in the 1950's and 60's. I do wish I knew where all her tools and rollers ended up......and how special it would be to have her here so she could see what I was doing.......

Beau is now on school holidays so we had a sleep over last weekend with a visit to a nearby playground the next morning that included a pre-Christmas bakery treat. The "Happiness is" quote from my calendar was most appropriate for the weekend!......

Sugar overload for the kiddies and a festive cappuccino for Larry..........

During the week a visit to Santa was on the calendar but Maisie wouldn't have any of it. She sat on the sidelines with Poppa......at four and half she is still not so sure about the big man in the red suit........

Outside one large store we noticed an advertising board for personalised chocolate bars and lo and behold it was Emily and myself on the placard.....such a strange coincidence but of course Michele had the usual spelling with two "L's" that Beau is trying to obliterate!.........

We caught up with the family during the week for my birthday  - in fact just last night with one side so it has been a lovely long birthday this week......

And of course a blog post would not be complete without images of the littlest member of the family seen here at the beach with his Mum & Dad recently.......

 Also this week I received a delightful but intriguing gift in the post. Larry and I 'puzzled' over it for a while thinking they were jigsaw pieces but none of them fitted. I also noticed that some images were from my very first fabric collection - 'Adelaide'  that was released with Jason Yenter of In the Beginning fabrics way back in 2010 - I cannot believe it will be 9 years next May! I certainly didn't blog as much as I do now as you can see on THIS LINK. Anyway I sent a thankyou card in the post and then heard from the giver of my gift who explained they were thread holders!! How absolutely wonderful and she made them herself - thankyou Darylin xx

 So the house is now ready for whatever Christmas brings. It is still lovely to get cards in the post but I am not sure that so many of us do it like we used to. I still get pleasure and some cards make me smile..........

 So huge hugs to all of you "out there" that might be reading this. A very Happy Christmas to you and your loved ones from our house to yours xx