A woman of few words?

Uncommonly for me, there are not too many words to accompany this post...I thought I would focus on the pictures!

I am playing with a green/spring toned version of the Beyond Blue raffle quilt created by Marg Sampson-George, Lizzie a Wright and Jean Stevenson.

Loving not having to think....

There might be an enormous checkerboard quilt in my future?

Snippets of inspiration...

Lovely to see.

Re-creating some vintage dresdens purchased at Houston...

Loving the autograph blocks from Stephanie too.

Some whirligig fun....

I do love hand piecing!

Hope you are stitching too!

Cardygirl xx

Okay Chooky, here's a post....

Bitterly cold here today with such a lazy wind. As Chookyblue said, East Coast bloggers MUST be hiding inside, unless you are out playing in the snow of course! It was still sunny here but really chilly outside. Some family members found cosy spots to sit.

We were lucky enough to have our DD and her sweet husband come for the weekend...it is always so lovely to see them. We also had the pleasure of a visit from a friend of DH who now lives in Vermont.

 So not a lot of stitching happened, but I did spend some time this evening cutting out whirligigs. I had a day sewing with Janette earlier this week at Cottage Quiltworks with Judy Newman. It was a lovely day and I created one whirligig...just think, only twenty four to go if I want a quilt....hmmmm?
So stay warm wherever you are, especially on the a East coast of Australia...brrrr!
Cardygirl xxx

Maybe it was amojo?

Amojo: having no mojo; a distinct lack of "mojo"; an inability to become enthusiastic; a sudden and palpable loss of enthusiasm for a former passion.

Do you think that this might be next year's new inclusion in the Oxford dictionary?

I would vote for it, or perhaps it could be included under depressive disorders in the DSMIV?

Anyhoo! My mojo disappeared early this year, originally manifested by acute symptoms- malaise, lethargy, reduced level of sewing interest. I was hopeful that the trip to see the Quilts in the Barn exhibition by Margaret Sampson-George and her students would be the tonic I needed and my mojo would return. Yes, I was in awe of the quilts displayed, managed to find some stunning fabrics in Melbourne, ever hopeful that I would get home and be ON FIRE!!!!! 

I did some cross stitch...

And played with Smitten.

But it didn't happen, I even was blah about reading blogs. OMG, the three month mark passed and my amojia was now chronic! Vainly I tried to fight it, flicking through magazines and purchasing snippets of fabric....still nothing! A workshop with MSG failed to produce any mojo....still I floundered with a heavy dose of the blahs, no enthusiasm for anything.

Every now and then I would get a flicker of something, but generally it passed before I could fan the tiny flame, and...poof!...it had gone again! I even wondered if dear Granny a Loz had packed it in her bag and left it somewhere in the Scottish highlands. We were even contemplating taking a little trip to look for it....that would have been fun!

Maybe the monsters took it during the night?

I don't really know why my mojo went away, I think it was a culmination of things. Whilst our move was two years ago, it has been both easy and hard to settle- finding work that wasn't on a three monthly contract basis, finding like minded souls and actually feeling like we belong. There has been a sense of loss too, missing old friends and also the loss that some friendships were not as strong as I thought, some of these things really hurt. And these hurts have taken time to heal. And then we lost our beloved Molly.

But there were happy things that took a lot of energy too, like seeing our daughter marry and the opportunity to be a daily support for my ageing mother. Work is now settled but remains full time and is quite draining at times, but I work with an amazing team so I do feel blessed. But this leaves little time to create. And I do miss it. I really was wondering if it would ever come back....seriously!

Fast forward to yesterday, which quite prophetically was the 4th of July, Independence Day, well in the U.S., but my deluded brain is happy to think it was special for me too (cue DSMIV again!). 

I digress.

Yesterday I think that mojo found me again. In a technique workshop with Wendy Williams, where I found a happy place amongst the colourful wool felts, perle threads and embroidery stitches which I love. Wendy was inspirational letting my head wander into her woolly world, encouraging me to take some elements of her design and make something for me. I think wise Janette summed it up by saying that I had had no room in my head of late. Smart girl.

So last night I stitched and played with my felts, and now I have five tiny houses that I am loving...there is a plan which I am keen to pursue. Fun.

Fingers crossed I can nurture my delicate little mojo....and feed it so that I can watch it grow within me again. I will feel like reading blogs, planning projects in my head and then actually sewing them! I don't think it is going to be easy, but Saturday gave me the impetus to get going again...here's hoping!

Cardygirl xx

Oops! I didn't post again! Part 3 aka The very late and amended edition!

I know this post is super late, but I like to use my blog as a diary. Whilst it was written a few weeks ago, life interfered, but I would like to add it any way.

Well, finally I am back...again a month later!!!! Some of you will be aware of the terrible weather that lashed Newcastle and surrounding areas this week last month, cyclonic conditions, electricity outages for extended periods, damage to property and, most sadly, loss of life.

 We were without power for 60+ hours and regard ourselves as fortunate as our home was safe and snug, I was amazed at how REALLY dark it is without lights!

And the sound of the storm was relentless- it was almost overwhelming towards the end coupled with the harmonics from the power lines, and the suddenly an eerie stillness fell, I cannot imagine how a tornado would sound!

We had a gas cooktop so I was able to cook for us and Mum, and Mum had a thermos of hot water delivered morning and night. She wanted to stay in her own home so we stocked her up with batteries and lamps, she was well cared for! I showered at a neighbours and we managed well. Molly and Aris weathered the storm also, no doubt quietly wondering had their family not paid a bill!
We had neighbours trees resting in our yard, but no real harm done.

A large jacaranda and gum blew down behind us- really sad to see these large trees lost.
Across the road a large tree brought down power lines and then lay suspended over our neighbours car! The car escaped with minor damage. But it was quite spectacular in a weird sort of way.

This weekend has been all about the clean up, our little neighbours donned gumboots and came to help too which was fun.

We were all very pleased to see the electricity emergency crews make it to our street.
Really, it was all about checking on friends, neighbours and even strangers to make sure they are okay.
Many areas were without power for much longer and some communities have struggled post flood. I noted in yesterdays newspapers that our  little suburb was the second hardest hit in our local government area with 3,600 homes (the entire suburb) losing power  and in the whole are over 10,000 trees were lost.
I attended work the next morning during the height of the storm and the destruction was amazing to see.
From it all I think how lucky we are to have good services, disaster planning and strong communities- we managed where many people in other countries are not so fortunate.

Cardygirl xx

Oops, I didn't post again! Part 2

More Melbourne pics, it was such fun!

We saw all the sights

Walked for miles,

Stopped for coffee,

Admired this beautiful city,

Shopped,

Had more coffee,

Shopped some more,

And just enjoyed mini break!

Part 3 tomorrow!

Cardygirl xx

Oops, I didn't post again! Part 1

Posts have been started and left incomplete....intentions did not lead to posts, and time has gone by so very quickly.

Rather than pontificate on my March and most of April, a few pics may suffice. I headed to Melbourne with dear friends, Loz and FQB aka Janette to see Marg's Sampson George's Quilts in The Barn students exhibition. We had a ball in Melbourne, loving the graffiti, alleys and very cool vibe. I need to go back with my DH and explore! He would also LOVE the cafes, coffee and cake!

The exhibition was fabulous and so well organised by Marg, Jean, Lizzie and Linda- all beautifully supported by a merry band of helpers and husbands. It was an inspiring day and was made even more fun when we met so many virtual friends at long last! 

We then had fun exploring Melbourne. Lots of coffee was sipped, and even a few pastries were sampled! We contemplated walking home at one stage!

As you would expect, visits to L'uccello and Amitie were on our must do list....a girl has to do what a girl has to do! And I even had a private moment with the original Smitten Quilt by Lucy Kingwell...and the Amitie staff did not take their eyes off me!

The "Melbourne girls" very generously held a dinner in our honour on the Saturday night....so much fun! Sweet girls, clever, warm and very funny....great cooks too. It was one of those nights where you realise that we all share a common bond with our stitching, and feel privileged to call these girls friends.

I can't wait to go back, catch up with these girls and perhaps even have a stitching weekend!

I will follow with Part 2!

Cardygirl xx

Autumn? Really?

The year is progressing at a ridiculous speed. How can it be autumn already when it feels like I have just packed away the Christmas decorations. Or is that just me? But as I walk to work in the mornings I see the signs of cooler days to come...leaves changing colour and littering the footpaths, that tinge of cool in the early morning air...signs that refresh my summer weary self.

February flew by with the celebration of another chronological year, our son returning for his final year of study and the relocation of our dear SIL and daughter to Wagga Wagga. I miss their daily presence in our lives, but love to see them enjoying their lives.

And now I get to visit Wagga Wagga...hope there is a fabric shop!

Last week I spent some time making a Bionic Gear a bag to carry around my sewing essentials...it is great and I envisioned making myself another one for specialised sewing "stuff". Technical business this  sewing!

Well, I loaded that bag up last weekend and headed to Denman to have a much awaited weekend with my Upper Hunter sewing friends. I miss these dear sewing sisters since I moved to the Big Smoke...we had stitched together for twenty years, shared laughs and tears, saw our children grow up. So it was wonderful to have a weekend with them.

I played around with a few projects...rediscovering my mojo I suppose. It was fun watching the girls create, especially Lea who was making a cute Sew Together bag. What a surprise when she gave this bag to me! Gorgeous and perfect for my EPP! 

It is already loaded and ready to go! Love it!

Cardygirl xx

Now, that is hard to believe!

The Scene: I have realised that I am going to the Hunter Valley with sewing friends.

The Dilemma: What do I take??????

I really love my DWR, but I take it to each retreat, and it is deflating my mojo just thinking about doing it again. So many little pieces! Whilst I am keen to finish it, I need to do something small, achievable and fun.

But what???

Everything I am doing at present is hand stitching....oh the agony!

Maybe the Smitten Quilt blocks will come along for the ride?

What do you like to sew when going away?

Cardygirl xx