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.

Let the festivities begin....

And so begins the month of Christmas! Our first year using our advent calendar in full. Last year I only began making it around the 1st of December. It saw a couple of weeks worth of December but we're excited about giving it a full workout this year! Saw a few versions like this on line so set to making our own. Think I need a number or two in the last couple of lines, though.

With the 1st of December arriving it was out with the Christmas tree and all our little December treasures last night. Daddy was at school late for a production so it was serious 'girl business'. Christmas music up loud, decorating when we should have been eating dinner, eating when it was the normal story time.

We deserved a leisurely evening! Since 2.45 this afternoon we had done 10 single, one way trips in the car around our town plus suburbs - supermarket milk run, school pick up, piano drop off, home, piano pick up, home, Guides drop off, home, Guides pick up, home. We certainly missed Daddy helping out tonight! He was home in time for cuddles though before bed at 8. I had a chat with Daddy while he ate our homemade egg and bacon quiche (it was good!), washing in, fed dog, a shower, then down the road for our gospel community gathering for church. Pete normally goes but justifiably needed some home time. I was just happy not to have to drive far.

Off now for a little Christmas shopping while the girls are at school and Puddleducks. Hopefully, that list will get a few ticks today!

A family tree treasure

Well, I guess you could say my treasure this week is a mix of old and new.

A newly constructed project showing generation after generation of our girls' family tree.

Sarah's mission was to document her family tree for a Girl Guide badge. And what fun we had! She wanted to work on it every chance we had. It became a great way to spend our free afternoons while dinner simmered, stewed or baked away.

Some branches of the family have been researched more than others so our information was a little limited in places. But with more time, phone calls and reading the published family trees tucked away in our parents' cupboards, we could no doubt add even more.

Late one night I went in search of suitable photos to finish it off. The next morning, proud as could be, Sarah carted it off to school and then onto Guides the next day.

A treasure in many ways.

Be sure to visit Clare's craftroom to see what others hold dear.

Today I'm nursing a sore mouth that's adjusting to life without wisdom teeth. There's lots of sofa time, interspersed with little bursts of (slow) energy.

Have a great day whatever you're doing.

x 

Summer sewing

Well the girls and I are off on a little adventure today. No doubt there'll be some serious peace and quiet for Daddy.

 Here's a little of what I've been up to lately - some summer sewing for my big girls. Thanks to Corrie at Retromummy I've been able to make up her sun dress pattern that appeared in Notebook recently. You can still get the pattern on line and it is sooooo easy!

The girls both asked for a swing top first, and they've worn these with a white top underneath and jeans and they look so sweet.

Soon they'll be wearing them on their own with denim shorts - very cute.

The purple floral was material from my Nanna's stash. She made mum a long sleeved 'blouse' back in the 80s with it. Round, self frilled collar and little mother of pearl buttons. You can't quite see the material of the ties - a patchwork style floral/gingham from Spotlight - but it complements the floral so well.

Sarah then wanted a dress in the same pattern. She chose the green trim for the ties. The girls love being able to contribute their own ideas to our sewing. Wearing something they were involved in gives them such a buzz.

Well, there's one more load to hang out and some packing of the car to be done. Have a lovely weekend. Here's hoping it will be a good one for you all.

x

Four skirts for four girls

The girls have been needing more winter skirts of late. They all still love wearing their skirts and pinafores, leggings and tights.

So the thin, cotton summer favourites have had to be put aside and the winter-weight skirts brought to the front of the wardrobe. There were quite a few, but not everyone had a lovely selection that would fit them well for all of winter. The much-loved skirts that the twins have grown in to need to do double the work so there was certainly not enough in their size!

So over the last few weeks I've been buying suitable fabrics, using up stashed denim and making the requested skirts. The final two came together on Friday and Saturday so today was the day. All four wanted to wear their new 'Mummy skirts' to church.

Poor Hannah, feeling miserable with a cold and nasty cough, had to stay home. She wasn't that keen on missing Sunday school and was upset that she wouldn't be able to wear her new skirt! I told her she could wear it anyway and she was rather relieved!

Alice's skirt was a bit of a colour change for us - gorgeous soft cord in choc brown with mauve and cream flowers. But she and I love how it turned out. The cream lace was given from a friend and the yo-yo made from material that was my late Nan's. She actually made my mother a shirt with a self-frilled round collar in the 80s in that purple floral. Ali's cardigan was made for Sarah a few years ago by my wonderful and clever grandmother. She has knitted non-stop for my girls since they were born!!

Sarah's skirt was made using the plain end of a length of embroidered denim. Hannah and Ruby each have a skirt made with the embroidered end and there was plenty left over for a skirt for Sarah. Plenty also to make a frill. Can you tell I recently bought a yo-yo template? Sarah's are made with a gorgeous strawberry print I bought from Corrie at Retro mummy. This skirt was the first of this batch of sewing and saw some mild, early-autumn days with short sleeves and ballet flats. Love something versatile!

Hannah and Ruby were not quite in the mood for a little photo shoot today. They were tired and needed a sleep, which with Daddy's patience and cuddles, they were able to get. Tomorrow we will have a little share - till then think navy cord with appliqued flowers and a button or two!

 And while we were getting ready this morning, me gathering everything for Sunday school, making a quick soup for lunch and getting everyone ready, Sarah knitted this little woollen bangle, beginning to end, all on her own. Five stitches cast on, knitted and cast off. I had no idea she was making it! My clever and creative girl.


And the blue sky? It was a gorgeous autumn day. Daddy and Alice had a long bike ride together yesterday so today it was time for Mummy and Sarah to get our bikes and enjoy a pretty (and flat!) bike trail close to our house. I'm sure bike seats were a lot softer and more comfortable when I was young!

Hope you too had a productive and/or restful weekend. Here's to a new, fresh week ahead!

x