St Patrick's Day

I haven't had much time lately to add to the blog. A lot of things have been happening in my life, some good & some bad.
I've been working on ATC swaps and not much else.
I've just been to Lisa Volrath's original printables site and checked out her new countdown to St. Patrick's Day. Looks like it will be as great as her other downloads. Pop over and check it out.
Saint Patrick's day just happens to be my grandson Dylan's birthday. He turns 18 this year.

Catching Up

Here's my quilt 'Hidden Wells', which is actually finished. I'm not sure how I can rotate it, as it's horizontal instead of vertical.

I have been so busy that I haven't had time to post until now. We were away on holidays, which was terrific, but it means I have a lot of catching up to do in my everyday routine.
I am participating in several challenges being run by Scrapbook Fantasies, my favorite local scrapbooking shop. I went along to their card club on Saturday for the first time. It was a very interesting experience, and I'm hoping it will help me with my stamping techniques. As well as that I am taking part in a few ATC swaps via groups on the internet.
The free Christmas downloads on the TenTwo Studio website were great and Lisa Vollrath is now offering her free Valentine's Day downloads again. 27 images spread over 14 days, from the 1st Feb to the 14th. Pop over and have a look around. You won't be disappointed.

Children's Movies and Philosophy

Today I watched the children's movie "Kung Fu Panda" for the first time. I absolutely loved it!! Below the surface (for me anyway), it had a deeper philosophical message, 'believe in yourself', that I found really appealing. I also heard something that I have heard before- 'Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present'. It gave me goosebumps. I just love kids movies. Roll on the school holidays!

UFO for which month?

All right, all right. I know I'm behind in posting my ufo's for each month. I'm not sure which month this one is for. It's called 'Fractured Circles', and I did it in a Lessa Siegele class at the Patchwork Retreat I attend each year.

New Link, Same Old Me

OK, this is me sitting in my craft room, trying to decide which one of my many, many projects to work on. It can be very difficult. I know the things I should be working on, but somehow there's always something else to catch my eye (sigh). I wish I could be as dedicated and hard working as some people whose blogs I have read, but I don't seem to have that iron core of discipline. Never mind, life is short and I just try to enjoy every day.
I have added a link to Lisa Vollrath's site where she has a Christmas countdown - each day a new image is posted to download. All she asks is that you post a link to a group or on your blog. There is also other fun stuff to download all year round on this site so you might want to do a little exploring while you are there.

The girls of 'Girl's Night In'

A likely looking bunch.

My Off The Page project

This is my off-the-page project that I made for the Girl's Night In.
I used a laminate sample, leftover from our home renovations. I painted it, front & back, added a rub-on and stickers and sealed it with two coats of dimensional magic. I stuck three buttons to the dimensional magic as it was drying. When it was completely dry I added a key chain fitting.
The rub-on says "Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love time is eternity."

Bras, g-strings and other pretty things.

I had a terrific night out last night, or should I say Night In. I was lucky enough to be invited by the lovely and energetic Joy Skaines, to her 'Girls Night In' event. Our numbers were small, but the money raised will go to a good cause, and who knows it might just be the amount needed to make a breakthrough in breast or cervical cancer research. Everyone was asked to bring a pink off-the-page item for show. What creative & talented ladies they all were. The items on show were fantastic, with bras being the obvious favourite, from Margaret's flower and jewel encrusted work of art, to Joy's s sassy bra (complete with tassels) and g-string combination. Among the items were books, clocks, canvasses, more bras, boxes etc (waiting to see the tin that was left at home). My tiny contribution was a key ring, but since it was my first off-the-page venture, I didn't feel too bad. The night was made even better by the raffle prizes contributed by an 'anonymous' donor. Did I mention that Alicia, owner of our local shop 'Scrapbook Fantasies' was there, along with her lovely mother Margaret(whose pink scones were delicious). Each participant received a beautiful container full of flowers and buttons from generous Joy Kennedy, which was a super surprise. I think I need to go for a 'nanna' nap now to recover from all that frivolity.

August Quilt

I'm not adding a U.F.O. this month (That's right, this one is actually a Finished Object). Since August is my birth month, I'm adding my favourite quilt. It's a Jewel Box quilt with sashings, and I just love the colours. Can't quite remember what year I made this quilt. I'll have to check and get back to it.

Operations & Independence

Well my hip replacement operation has come and gone (as well as two months), and what a difference it has made. One day after the operation, they had me out of bed and walking, using a frame. Where I expected there to be a lot of pain, there was none (just the tenderness around the incision). Six weeks after the op I was off to a patchwork retreat for five days. Although my hip gave me no problems, I did overdo it a little in the walking department. My feet just weren't used to having to do so much, and I had to retire to bed where my wonderful friends waited on me hand & foot (ha ha). I am recovered now and I am walking just using one crutch, soon to be just a walking stick. It's fantastic to have my independence back. I went to patchwork on Saturday (first time since op) which was really great. Today I went shopping at my local scrapbook shop (also first time since op) for some supplies to do an off the page project for a 'Girls Night In', on Saturday night. Should be a fun night as well as helping a good cause.