January stitching report

I have a dear friend who does a lot of sewing and knitting, who also has a blog, and every other day she puts pictures up of her latest (finished!) project... she really puts me, and the small amount of stitching I've done this month to shame. I can't even use the excuse that I've been ultra busy - she completes all these lovely projects, all while caring for a newborn and an 18 month old!! Some people really are amazing.

But anyway, here is my show and tell for the month... even if it is only a little. I've kept to my word and worked on two unfinished projects (UFOs) before starting on something new.

Firstly, I dug out a red-stitch table runner I started sometime last year. I completed the stitcheries before moving to Bali but then they just stayed tucked away in a plastic tub for four months. I am happy to report that I've cut up the little squares that make up the first borders and pieced the top of the runner.

I'm rather happy with how it's looking! I also cut up and folded/ironed the squares (well, now triangles) that are to be 'prairie points' at each end of the runner...

I should probably explain here that ironing things actually holds up my projects... poor excuse I know, but hear me out. I am privileged enough to have a lovely housemaid while living here in Bali, and sometimes it feels like my iron and ironing board are 'out of bounds'. Our house is split in two, with our housemaid having her own 'domain' at the back of the second house. So for me to iron a seam I need to exit one house, cross the yard, go around the second house and into the housemaids area. And much of the time she is there ironing our clothes, sheets, etc... so she offers to iron my sewing seams. However, I'm not sure if you're like this but I'm quite particular in which direction my seam is ironed, so I prefer to do it myself... meaning that I tend to wait until she's not around to iron (ie, Sundays when we're often out as a family with Tom and Alex). Crazy, no?! I think I may need to get a second iron and ironing board for my sewing room...

The second UFO I've dabbled at this month has been a quilt for Alex. One of my favourite designers is Anni Downs, and I fell in love with her "Boys Story" quilt as soon as I saw it. So about a year ago I started... I cut out all my fabrics for piecing, I traced the patterns for the needle-turn applique, and prepared fabric for the stitcheries that go in between. As gorgeous as the quilt is, it has a few elements!! I am finally proud to announce that I have completed the first stitchery... only 12 more to go plus 9 appliqued squares... hmmm, could be a while. However, as I already cut out all the fabric for piecing, I figured I should 'piece as I go'. So here is half of the first 'block' including stitchery...

Two UFOs worked on... time to start a new project!! You know me, I can't resist a new pattern :D 

I opted for a small cross-stitch and am rather happy with how it's progressing. To give you some background to this pattern, about 18 months ago my grandmother's pet bird escaped from its cage. Heartbroken by her little feathered companion's departure, she opted not to have another bird as she didn't want to go through it again. I decided that 'one day' I would cross-stitch for her a little bird to hang on the wall, one that wouldn't fly off. When I came along the following pattern I thought it was perfect - nice bright colours, and two birds so they can keep each other company (yes, I know they're not real). 

 While they take forever compared to a stitchery, I love how cross-stitch slowly but surely comes to life. Since taking the above photo I've actually finished the green of the feathers. Just the rest of the branch they're sitting on and the backstitch and I'm done!

So that's my show and tell. I thought I'd share one more photo though... Alex often ventures into my craft room while I'm in here (whether it be sewing or on the computer). In one corner are a selection of his toys, but of course, Mummy's toys can be much more interesting! Here's my cheeky little monkey rearranging the pins on my pincushion. Not sure why, but I often catch him intrigued my my pins/pincushion but at least there haven't been any tears as yet.

A bit of a long blog entry, but I hope you enjoy seeing the stitching I've been doing, even if it's a poor excuse for a months worth!!

Take care and until next time xx

White water rafting

So what do you think? Does the hat suit me?

Tom's mate Dan is currently staying with us so last Thursday Tom took the day off work and we went white water rafting. The bus picked us up from the house at 7.30 am which was a bit of a task for me I must say - not used to the early morning starts any more! But it was well worth it - lots of fun and a great way to see the wilderness from a different angle. Along the way there were some amazing rock carvings... whole walls with intricate artworks!

We were able to stop and get some close up photos :)

At another point we were able to get out of the raft and stand under a waterfall.
We were put in the raft with two other Australians as well as the guide. There were quite a few other people on the same day and the boys had lots of fun splashing the other rafts! Unfortunately Tom, Dan and I were all distracted when we got our picture taken...

To get down to the river there were LOTS of steps, so of course, once we were down river two hours later there was no option but to go back up the myriad of stairs. My poor legs (very wobbly by the time we got to the top) are still sore, but the views with the river in the background were a great reason to stop half way up and get a pic of...

As part of the package we were treated to a buffet lunch before jumping back on the bus to come home. A very enjoyable day!!

Resolutions and reflections

First off, and most importantly...

Happy new year!!

It's been an interesting few days for us - Tom has been on call for work and therefore working crazy hours. The downside was missing out on the midnight countdown on new years eve, with Tom called away at 11.30pm! Oh well, there's always next year... and considering I still was recovering from my first official bout of 'Bali Belly', I wasn't much fun on the celebration front anyway. I'm hoping that your new years eve was a bit more exciting than ours!

I'm not usually one to have a new year's resolution (probably because I know that I'm hopeless at keeping them) but this year I thought of a good one - and I thought the blog would be a good way to keep me accountable for once. Of course, it's craft related (sorry to disappoint, not all that exciting really!). Those who know me, and my sewing, are well aware of my (growing?!) pile of UFOs... or 'unfinished objects', ie craft projects I've started and never finished, forever being enticed by a new pattern. 

As there are some big, ongoing projects, and some smaller easy to finish projects, I've decided my resolution should be:

"Work on at least TWO unfinished projects before commencing a new one"

I figure the way I've worded my resolution will make it achievable... and ongoing. For example, I thought if I said 'finish at least two (or all!) projects before commencing a new one' then I would end up ditching the resolution by February. Just getting into my craft room and spending time on a project should be enough. Secondly, I've given myself an incentive... work on some ongoing projects and I can pull out that new pattern I've been dying to do! So stay tuned for my progress.

It's amazing how many fabulous moments we can squeeze into a year isn't it? Moments that change your life like our move to Bali in October, or that build your character like Tom coming to Bali three months ahead of Alex and I. Those months were tough but I can't believe how much I grew professionally and personally, supported by so many wonderful friends in Canberra who I will never forget.

Earlier in the year my friend Alecia and I both graduated with our MBA degrees (which we technically finished in 2011) with a ceremony at Parliament House, Canberra (although I think the highlight was high-tea with our families at the Hyatt just prior to the ceremony!)

The day after we graduated, my little boy turned ONE! How quickly they grow up... he was walking about a week later. 

Within Australia we visited Brisbane (to take Alex to the fun-parks!), Bathurst (to take Tom to the fun-park, I mean Mount Panarama) and Hobart for weddings (two weddings on the same day at the same venue can you believe!) and time with family. We've been to another wedding in Canberra at the beginning of the year, but unfortunately missed a Brisbane wedding at the end of the year due to the move. Congratulations to all my lovely friends who have married this year!!

There have certainly been many 'ups' but there have also been 'downs', but all in all it was a fabulous year and I hope that 2013 is just as good or even better! 

All the very best for the year to come everyone xx

(oh, and be warned... I plan on giving my blog page a 'new year' look - I've decided it looks a bit dark, probably because I pulled it together in cold Canberra rather than sunny Bali! Another thing on my to-do list but I promise, it will happen!)