It's been a while! And news of Gympie Quilt Show

 Yes it has been a while...an awful long 8 months actually! Now I know some people wonder why I (and others), blog but here it is. I recently watched the King's Coronation but it was one of the guests - Nick Cave who intrigued me so it led me down the rabbit hole of Google and lo and behold I found Nick blogs as well.......right here: The Red Hand Files and what a fascinating blog it is. Nick has turned it into a forum where others can ask deep and meaningful questions and with Nick's experiences in life he gives his perspective. So once again I might pop up from time to time as I actually find typing "life" on the keyboard quite therapeutic...after all you don't have to read it! So why the flowers? To break up my natter and just because!....

The other reason is to say I am sorry to those who enjoyed my stories in the past and emailed me to say how much they have missed them.  There were several people who also asked if I was okay?!! Well yes and No.....more of that later. We have moved and that has kept us very busy. The cottage was supposed to have been completed for moving in on December 14th but sadly we are 5 months on and there is still things to be done. We left selling our house for as long as we could and eventually sold in late October. We took a lesser offer as the family wanted a long 4 month settlement...perfect we thought but alas we had to put everything in storage and stay in holiday accommodation for almost 7 weeks. I will miss the garden but am so glad all the packing and unpacking is finally done.......

Two weeks before we moved in (and while out enjoying a walk!), I decided to have a heart attack! I already have some issues with my heart that prevented me from having two chemotherapy drugs when being treated for cancer. This time my usual angina didn't resolve and it was our eldest daughter Emily (an RN), that took matters into her own hands and organised an ambulance! I was told I had a "type 2" attack...never knew there was more than one type! I was also told I now have atrial fibrillation and the ticker sat on 150-170 for 8 hours despite various treatments. I also had an episode that I have been experiencing for some years where I feel like I am going to pass out.......that in fact was my heart stopping for 3 seconds so I was glad it was finally recorded. So in a couple of weeks I am having a cardiac loop recording device inserted before a decision is made about needing a pacemaker.  That procedure was delayed by a month as Larry and I finally decided to succumb to Covid 3 weeks ago! A few days after the heart attack I was meant to appear at a special afternoon tea for a fundraiser for restoration of the Morris stained glass windows at St Augustine's Anglican Church. Dear Larry stepped in and I was told he did a grand job and I (and everyone else), was most grateful........

So all is well and we are very happy living in a small village community. The outside has much to do but inside is almost complete......

In the 7 weeks since moving in we've inevitably rearranged things a few times. We have just one living area with a separate snug for Larry and a sewing space for me that is a room we had built inside the double garage. That too has been rearranged a few times......

6 weeks after moving in some of the fencing finally went up but I decided they needed "dressing" so stitched up some bunting from some Morris furnishing samples I've been given over the years....but I won't share the photo of the baby brown snake I found last week behind the bedroom door! Larry was shaking more than me as we have never experienced a snake inside!

We have a fold up bed and a sofa bed in my sewing space for when these treasures come to stay........and yes they are growing way too fast! Beau is over 11 now, Maisie will soon be 9 and little Wade will be 6 in October and here he is on his first day at school......

The other reason I decided to blog today is to share the news of a special event I will be attending in early July. Kathy asked me before Covid and then when it was rescheduled I was in the middle of the cancer muddle! So finally it is happening.....a grand big show in Gympie, Queensland. You can read about it here: Gympie Quilt and Craft Spectacular. Last year I decided to make a new piece just for the occasion and I am so glad I had completed most of it before we moved. It is a tryptich with inspiration from 3 embroidered panels designed by John Henry Dearle for Morris & Co. back in the 1890's and stitched right here in Adelaide and now on display at Carrick Hill........this link shows you many of their treasures and where I found this image....Furniture and Furnishings....

My three panels are on cream and I've enjoyed adding hand embroidery and beading to each one.......

Kathy asked me to bring a load of my Morris inspired quilts for the event but several of quilts have been given away.....but I will be bringing all that I have and especially showing this new work for the very first time.....so I hope I might see you there! I must away as I have a stack of baking to do for Emily's biggest morning tea fundraiser in a couple of days!