So much FUN!

Wow! What a weekend!

Our retreat weekend was definitely FANTASTIC...we had lots of FUN...and I am feeling FATIGUED.

Some bloggers headed off from our FAR FLUNG homes on FRIDAY...

we braved rain & FAR FROM IDEAL dirt roads to FIND our way to a place about FOUR hours from my home.

FAR away Mt Tenandra was the destination...a FABULOUS old home now used as a B & B.

FOUR pairs of FRIENDS plus one met there for lots of FRIVOLITY

Time to sit, FIND out more about each other...FLAP our gums (cheeky!)...

eat FAR too much FLAVORSOME FOOD...

celebrate special days in FINE style...

 then try to redeem ourselves by going for a FITNESS walk ..

.it was oh so FLAT!

Saw some FURRY friends...

then with FUZZY heads, we stitched for hours...some FORTUNATE, FAST souls even FINISHED a FIRST project! FANTASTIC! Then off to bed, dreaming of FRESH days sewing ahead!

Enough for today...visit Peg & Chookyblue for more FUN pics...more from me tomorrow!

Cardygirl xx

What inspires me?

Inspiration is an elusive creature...we spend hours working away...inspired. But when we lose that momentum, we feel lost & empty. We want to create, but we just don't seem to be able to put that thought into action. I have felt this roller coaster most of this year if I am to be honest. Dad's death, huge work commitments of trying to balance too many jobs, DH's work demands, son off to uni, daughter returning home & starting her working life..you know how it goes...our lives are all crammed full of so many demands! Trying to do too much really! Lynda spoke to me of needing purpose to finish a UFO...wise words...as deadlines do add structure...a wedding, a birthday...a new baby. I ventured out into blog land...new places...fresh ideas...and began to find that inspiration again. Beautiful women sharing their creativity & their lives...thankyou! All of my old "friends" lifted my spirit and I found some new inspiration...look at Lori, Karen and Geoffs mum. So what inspires me?

Colourful fabrics piled on a shelf...

Anni's fun stitchery address book...French General fabrics...I ADORE red!!!!...

Kaffe Fassett circles from Jackie...

books...

a daughter's stitcheries...I have spent time tidying my creative space, and found that not only were the fabrics being tidied, but the cobwebs were blowing away from my mind too...early days but I feel refreshed...and I am enjoying my cross stitch! sorry if this was all a bit wordy...there is more inspiration to come! What inspires you?

Cardygirl xx

Blogging blankly!

I have always admired all of those pretty blogs out there...

but I am not overly techno savvy ( my family often find me VERY amusing!).

I love the way bloggers refresh their look, add things....sigh.

Cardygirl felt veeeeeery boring in comparison.

(I am not that keen on music though!)

So, for Christmas I was given the book "Blogging for Bliss" by Tara Frey.

Great book, heaps of ideas...quite scary really!

Well this afternoon,with DD's confident help, I have waded in...

lost my footing on a blogbank a couple of times...almost lost in the swirling watersof blogworld...

LOL...and I have titivated my boring old blog...

what do you think?

I am having trouble with the header...need to glamorize it a bit...

do I need to do this in picassa...I am going under again!

Any helpful suggestions welcome!
Addit: A short time later...
How does the new header look?????
Cardygirl xx

A grand day out!

Oh, I love my blogging friends!
Previously my family believed I was a tad loopy & referred to them as my "imaginary friends".

But DH met the lovely ladies today at The Cottage on the Hill, Nundle, & he thinks they are beautiful too! ( Thanks Chooky for spoiling him with cups of tea).

If you are ever in the Tamworth area make sure to visit the wonderful Kerry at her shop just outside Nundle. We had a great day catching up with each other & meeting some new friends too. Good food & lots of laughter...& stitching too...bliss!

It was a bit hard to know where to start...all of these gorgeous fabrics & so much more.

I began a project that has been lurking on my noticebord for 9 years...since a workshop with Sue Cody...I am having fun with these fabrics...

I will post better pics as it develops...

Ladies ...you are beautiful...thanks for sharing a great day with me...you are the best!

Cardygirl xx

Thankyou Blog support & Dresden Stars

Thanks to blog support, you know who you are, for your help in the "button" placement.

You are a blog lifeline for the cerebrally challenged!

I was talking to a friend about Dresden Plates...I have an embarrassingly large collection of 1930's...collected from the Southern Highlands & just about anywhere I can put my hands on them! I made this Dresden Star for my DD out of them, the original pattern had been featured on the cover of the first issue of Quilters Companion ( sorry I do not know who the designer was!). I loved every moment of making it, except for..... the binding...LOL...see my previous blog about my aversion to binding!

My friend is recovering from her heart surgery, thanks for those who sent their wishes!

Be good & if you can't be good hide the fabric at the back of the cupboard!

Cardygirl xx