the winter *I* chose happiness

this morning I was delighted to join the Big Hearted Business morning tea in St Kilda.

I joined with a room full of creatives to listen to what Clare Bowditch shared, and oh my, is she an inspiration.  her warmth and composure and confidence just radiates - it was like sitting in front of the sun with cup of tea for an hour.

we heard her take on making creativity work, and on overcoming the obstacles we have, that, it seems are usually in our own head.

she guided us on a little journey, inviting us to reflect on our life in 5 years, what it would look like.  I'm sure there were plenty in the room who'd gone along with clear plans on what they hoped to achieve, but for me that invitation to look to my future brought a welcome epiphany.

and with that, a commitment to express myself more here, and track my journey.

so I came home and spent the afternoon sewing, naturally.

ups and downs

I can't believe I didn't post this over a year ago when I made it, but I didn't, so there you have it.

I made this Charlie and Lola inspired snakes and ladder's quilt for miss Lo's 4th birthday.  the snakes and ladders are raw edge machine appliquéd, and the tokens are free motion machine quilted using felt.

I had masses of fun making this!

what are you waiting for?

always apathetic me, but this is a day to change.  to paraphrase some thoughts lately: it not now, then when?

I'm turning 35 this year, which means it's time to start having grown up conversations with my Dr about my family health history.  and though I consider myself a good listener, when it comes down to it I had to start *that* conversation with my mum all over again.  when I actually started to make notes I realised I didn't really understand the ins and outs of my family health history (parents and grandparents health concerns and the like).

and above all I think it's time to "man up, ladybug" and start behaving like a responsible adult - a person who is mindful with health, mindful with exercise, mindful with expenditure.  I want this to be a turning point for me  at what is (let's be realistic) is probably the halfway point of my life: a point I look back on and realise that this is the year that I got it.  the year I finally realised that NOW is the time to be healthy, NOW is the time to be fit, NOW is the time to look around at the things I have (literally and metaphorically) and be god damn grateful for every last bit of it.

none of this is profound; none of it ground breaking; nothing original.  but it's important to me, now more than ever.

what are you waiting for?

slipping back into the fray

what else to do when you feel like you're wasting your evenings already, as if the weeks are slipping by, and as if there are so many things "to do" that you just don't know where to start?

start blogging again, natch.

sinceI last wrote, I've continued to quilt (intermittently), produced a second (and also thoroughly adored) child,  built and moved into a beautiful home (ok, so I didn't exactly wield a hammer but it was still a tad stressful at times).  and back to work a coupla days a week too.  

I don't feel as if the balance is quite right but then, who ever does?  when it's near enough, I'm happy enough, and that will be fine for me.

love is...

... devoting 7 weeks of your life to support your daughter and her family as they transition to being a family of four.

a quilt made of Amy Butler Love seems an appropriate thankyou for such a gift, don't you think?

40th birthday quilt

back in November, my big sis celebrated her 40th. plans to meet in NY we scuppered as I was in the early stages of pregnancy and so I promised I'd makeher something special.

fast forward to a few weeks ago, and the promised gift had not yet been created. but her arrival in Melbourne for a fleeting visit from London was fast approaching.

I waddled around the Finders Keepers market and saw the lovely Ink and Spindle stand. I was inspired by their packs but opted to select 7 different fabrics from the FQ and other range.

3 power quilting sessions and it was finished!

the back is asymmetrical: 2/3 30s repro and 1/3 plain cream w a thin scrappy strip of the fabrics from the front.

I love the almost Japanese look of the back fabric.

my first attempt at machine binding was a relative success. I'd happily use that technique on quilts again, especially where the quilt itself has been machine quilted.

suggestions, please

my 4 year old niece has broken her arm above the elbow: any suggestions for gift/activities we can send her to keep her occupied?