For a special lady

Late last year my family faced a tough time when we nearly lost my grandmother. Aged 84, she suffered a ruptured aortic abdominal aneurism while interstate, and miraculously made it through surgery. Through prayer, rehab and a great fighting spirit she has recovered amazingly well. After many weeks of being cared for she has returned home, living alone, but with regular help from family and health carers. Praise be to Him.

A little welcome home gift was in order so late in the summer holidays I finished this lap quilt for her - with just the right amount of roses and prettiness. It's a quick, easy pattern - quilting pros may frown! - with no binding, but just front, back and lining sewn together then turned the right way through. The girls and I chose buttons from my maternal grandmother's button tin to quilt the layers together. Love special connections like these.

Grandma has 12 great grandchildren (my four being the only girls, and the only ones in Tassie!) and she does so love to see them, though not as often as we would like. Sadly, she's 3 and a half hours away but we love to visit every time we head north. The girls were so excited to see her after her having been so sick. It all actually happened in Melbourne, and all of her rehab, so the girls hadn't been able to see her till she got home to Tasmania. You can't mistake how special this visit was!

She's a gem, for sure. You would not believe the amount of knitting she's done for my girls alone over the years, never mind for my sisters and I. We are so blessed to have her. We love you Gaggy.

On the stage

Hello there, people. Wondered what happened to my good intentions over the summer? My plans to renew my blogging urge, to just get on and blog all those ideas in my head, to give back to the community just a little bit in return for the loads of inspiration I take from it.

Well, I don't really have an answer other than life ... busy-ness, a regular job, juggling of things at home on my days off and the battle to find the energy I had as the full time SAHM. I'm loving my two days a week on a 2/3 class just 8 minutes from home - it suits us so well. I'm where the kids are so I get to see them during the day. Each week is much more predictable, compared to relief work at any one of 6 schools last year. Given that hubby and I both taught full time for 3 years pre-kids, you'd think I'd remember the work done here at home. Oh my, to all those out there who are/live with a teacher you know what I mean.

But enough of an update. You would not believe the floating ideas for posts in my head! - there is so much I want to share with you. Even my girls have been on to me - 'Mummy, have you blogged that yet?' 'Mummy, will these photos end up on the blog?' 'Mummy, can you please take a photo of my craft? (to show who ever might be out there!)'

With Easter holidays nearly upon us, I thought this would be a good place to start. Alice made this little diaroma/theatre stage last holidays and was so proud of it. Many hours of painting, drawing, cutting and crafting went into this. Sarah and I helped with different bits. But it was Alice's creation - and the inaugural performance was something to behold!

It's all set and staged ready for Goldilocks, but with just some extra work, you could use it for umpteen other stories and productions. The idea was in one of her craft books and she carried it out so well. If you can't tell, it's a shoe box, the characters are on BBQ skewers, which are poked through slits in the side of the box. 

It's under her bed at the moment - I daresay the Easter weather normally means time for crafty, indoor things so it will probably be pulled out and maybe have a new production staged soon.

Certainly something worth running by the little people where you are. Not only plenty of craft, but oh the laughter and tears in eyes as she put on the show. The video will be one of those to be watched for years to come. So funny - especially when she inserted performers on the wrong side of the box and they were backwards!!!!! Watch for that.

I'll be back tomorrow - guarantee it.

And how's the Friday night feeling where you are??? Have to be one of my favourite parts of the week.