Monthly Archive

I was invited a month or so ago by Diane to join a new group that she was starting. There are twelve of us (inspirational women all), who will each make twelve 12″ quilts over the next ear or so. Each will take a turn setting a theme for that month’s quilt.

October was our first quilt challenge, to follow the theme “Dandelion” chosen by Diane.

Here is my effort. I am pleased, but reservedly so. It has been very much influenced by the R.E.M. song “Wendell Gee” and the words printed on it (my handwriting on the blue border and stamped with ink on the gray part) are from the lyric -

“there wasn’t even time to say goodbye…”
“if the wind were colours and if the air could speak”

In keeping with the sentiment of seeds/souls blowing away with the wind, I kept the palette calm and quiet (never can leave those lime/sour greens alone, though!). I think my favourite part is the seeds in the blue border (drawn with pigma pen, enhanced with silver crayon and quilted with mother of pearl coloured metallic thread) but I also like the seeds quilted into the light gray background (same metallic thread).

Between the blue border and the body of the quilt is a tiny insert of black and white gingham that is caught at intervals (alternating left and right) with lime green seed beads.

Visit the twelve x twelve blog to see the other quilts. They are truly wonderful!
(next theme is Chocolate! Woo hoo!! I’m an expert in that!!!!)

I have been eaten. I have been attacked and bitten in HUNDREDS of places, some of which rarely see daylight. Our fabulous new office is overrun by fleas. BLOODY FLEAS!!!

It is an old building and, at the back, there is a weird storage section that has a bare earth floor. The plumbers have been scrambling about in there and have disturbed all of the earth. In this part of the world, bare, dry earth means fleas. And disturbing the eggs means that they hatch and go looking for food. They found me.

We have flea-bombed, we have sprayed the carpet. I have literally hundreds of bites all over me. I am covered from head-to-toe in Stingose to try and stop the itching. It dries to a white powder on the skin so I now look leprous. Very attractive.

And it gets worse. We found a litter of feral kittens in a drain in our garage at the office. They were dying so we collected them and took them to the RSPCA. They had fleas. They over-nighted at our house. SO NOW WE HAVE FLEAS AT HOME AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!

Excuse me, it’s time for another coating of Stingose.

In about 1937 (!), Tracy tagged me for a meme and, absent as I have been, I still haven’t done it. Here goes….

Seven Honest Things About Me:

(given how frequently I spill my guts on this blog, I’m not sure I’ll be able to find seven things you don’t already know!)

1. I am L A Z Y when it comes to stuff I don’t like to do (housework, ironing, paperwork) but have huge amounts of energy for stuff that interests me.

2. I hate my hair. It fell out in handfuls when I was pregnant with my third baby and never grew back. It sucks monkey crotch.

3. I still say stuff like ‘It sucks monkey crotch’. (My mother still winces when I say stuff like that.)

4. Most of the Good Ones (like “That sucks. That sucks the gay right out of Liberace’s anus.”) come from my son and his favourite terrible,internet sites (somethingawful.com) that have me in stitches, too. We share Infantile Humour as a genetic trait. My daughter just raises one eyebrow at us and shakes her head. She is Sensible, like her father.

5. Other people’s kids kind of aggravate me. I love my kids and my nieces and nephews. That’s it. (ah, stop hissing!! the list said ‘honest’!!)

6. But I do adore babies. I could have babies forever. And I LOVE teenagers. Kids start to get annoying around three and stop being annoying around thirteen.

7.I thought I was fairly wild as a teenager but now I can see that I really wasn’t (just a major pain in the ass, but still rather straight) and part of me wishes I had whooped it up a bit more. Then the Other Part of me says, “But then Mr Straight and Sensible Peter wouldn’t have wanted to be with you” and I say, “Y’know, you’re right? He is SO worth not ever having done drugs and only having been drunk once. I’m glad I stayed in Sunday School.”

There you are. Seven. Rather cathartic, really. Anyone out there not done this yet?? Tag yourself and tell us all your secrets!

*ahem* Quiet please, everyone! There are quite a few notices this morning so I’ll try to be quick.

Construction work at The Office is now complete and Peter and Kirsty are slaving over hot computers every day. Peter has written Kirsty’s job description to include “making coffee”. She has to remind him frequently that He Is NOT The Boss Of Her. He counters with “Oh, yes I am” but usually backs down quickly. Even the Managing Director should know his place.

There has been a steady stream of emails over the past week inquiring after Kirsty’s health and general well-being. Thank you all, for your concern ONE of you, however (and YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) (Vel*cough*cro) sent the following impertinent message : “Oi Where are you?”
Young ladies are reminded that the use of casual language is unbecoming.

(HEY, VELCRO!!!! I’m OVER HERE *whistle* !!)

Last weekend, Peter, Kirsty and Ali had a weekend escape to Airlie Beach in The Whitsundays. A lovely time was had by all…

Activities included feeding crackers to cockatoos that visited their apartment balcony, shopping, eating out in a luxurious restaurant with very cute waiters and cruising out to the Barrier Reef on a catamaran. On board the boat, K and P were massaged while floating on the Reef (how awesome is THAT??) and Miss D had her first scuba dive…

She was so excited that she couldn’t stop grinning and laughing. A Monster has now been created and investigations have been made at the local dive school so that the activity can continue.

Excuse me, 4B. Can someone please wake up Miss O’Connor?

It has been decided that regular breaks will be required in the following years and that The Whitsundays, given their close proximity to Townsville, are excellently located for this purpose. It is heartily recommended that those of you who have never been to the Barrier Reef should avail yourselves of this opportunity should it present itself. It truly is one of Life’s Great Gifts.

Monday evenings have been declared to be The Night For Quilting, by a new sewing group. It is pleasing to see students choosing to spend their free time productively (!!) in wholesome activity. I am assured that there is definitely NO loud talking, laughing or chocolate-eating in this group and that they are models of good behaviour. Well done. I can only say that it must be the influence of Tracey, Tanya and Florence.

I am aware that in my absence there have been a number of Unfortunate Events. Some of you have been unwell, suffered bereavement and other sorrows. You have my wholehearted ((hugs)) and love.

We will now all stand QUIETLY and turn to page 47 in your song books.
Hit it, Mrs Feesh…

*sings* In the Garden of Eden, baby, doncha know that I luuu uu uuve you…

The hurrier I go, the behinder I get…

Today, I FINALLY posted off the “woo hoo you won a prize” prize to Margie (had to tell you publicly, Margie, so you didn’t drop dead of fright at the letterbox). Oh, the shame!! I see it is THREE months since I promised these prizes! Tomorrow will be Christiane’s prize mailing day (I ran out of wrapping paper today).
Crafty Pay It Forward-ers, you are next on my list of Gifts to Make and Send! My head is full of ideas (and I’ve actually started!). Nicolette, I’m working up a little gift stash for you, too :*

Behold, the wonderment that is the beautiful glasswork of Chronicler…


How gorgeous is that turquoise-y blue? And I love the way the squares float in the glass. The dichroic glass pendant was sent especially for Ali (who loves blue!) and the sparkle is beautiful. What talent that Chronicler has (have a look here if you want to see more or even buy your own!).Thank you, C, so much for your thoughtfulness!
You can see I’ve been photoshopping - I’m trying to remember how to do all that I learned a few months ago. If you want to see my piece de resistance, click on my etsy button and have a look at the new banner I made for my etsy shop. I am so pleased with myself that it’s nauseating…

Another project that I haven’t mentioned yet…
I am a member of the Twelve by 12 group begun by Diane and cleverly named by Brenda. There are twelve of us and we are making 12″ quiltettes every month or so, inspired by the suggestion of one member each time. This month’s is “Dandelion” and if you have a look at the group blog you will see the amazing diversity of work that this one word is initiating. The quilts are due to be finished 1 November. I have just begun and will post pics of the completed work rather than progress shots. It’s taken me a little while to kick off - dandelion yellow is one of my least favourite colours and it took me a while to mentally put that colour aside and allow other thoughts and ideas to form. I have been helped along in the process by an obsessive re-visiting of R.E.M.’s song Wendell Gee.
R.E.M. songs have a way of embedding themselves in my skin…