One day at a time…

Posted on 23/07/2020 by Jan

Over the weekend I started working on a new quilt top. I initially wasn’t too keen on the colours and was going to donate it but its really grown on me as I’ve worked on it so I think it will find a home here once its done. Its no particular pattern, I just make it up as I go along. It was good to do a bit of sewing again, I miss it and its a good distraction from all thats going on in the world right now.

Heres a pic of the fabrics I’m using. It was a set of fat quarters from my stash.

In other crafty news my crotchet rug is growing nicely. Mostly I’m using up leftover wool. However my temperature blanket is behind by about a month, so I need to get back to that this weekend and do some catching up.

On the work front I’ve been back in the office for a few hours this week, next week I’ll go a few more days and work up from there. I’m finding it all a bit stressful to be honest. I’d be much happier just continuing to work from home but I guess we’ll see what the next few weeks bring with Australias covid cases on the rise.

Is anyone else finding their concentration is not so great? I think I’m just mentally a bit weary of it all. Right now I’m just focusing on ‘one day at a time’ as best I can, not thinking too far ahead. I’m grateful we are safe and well & have all kept our jobs, we are more fortunate than many at the moment.

DH had some good news yesterday! Along with increased work hours he received a long overdue pay rise so that will be helpful. We’ve had a few additional expenses this month and the car has more repairs booked. This reduced how much extra I could pay on the mortgage this month but if all goes to plan I will hit that half way mark next week.

A different kind of Easter & Unity Quarantine Quilt

Posted on 13/04/2020 by Jan

Easter felt very different this year. I’ve spent almost every dinner Easter with my in-laws since I was 16 – thats 41 years. My DH has spent every one of his 61 years with his parents for Easter. Its the one time when everyone in the family comes home.

When we were younger we would all go to Easter mass together – the late night service which is really beautiful – lighting the Easter candle outside in the darkness, all following the priest inside and then one by one lighting each others candles so that gradually the whole church filled with candlelight. I’m not a Catholic but this was my favourite church service. The church was a very old, little country town church made of stone, filled with atmosphere. I have many happy memories of Easter with my in-laws.

Even though we talked on the phone it felt quite odd not to be there. Usually they would be getting prepared to go away for the winter months but they cannot leave due to the lockdown travel bans, so they will be having their first winter at home for many years. Hopefully we can get together for Christmas.

So it was a different kind of Easter for us, but I am just grateful that so far everyone is safe and well.

On another note I am enjoying having more time to sew. I’ve been doing Bonnie Hunters Quarantine Mystery quilt – Unity I’ve finished clue one:

… and I’m busy working on clue two right now…

I just love being able to have the extra time to sew, crotchet, read blogs, weed the garden and potter about. I am really looking forward to getting more sewing done – lots of UFO’s for me to finish and so many quilts I want to make.

Happy Easter everyone, stay safe xx

Animal Rescue cuteness

Posted on 13/02/2020 by Jan

As you know Australia has had a catastrophic bushfire season resulting in unprecedented loss of wildlife. Wildlife rescuers put out a call for various handcrafted items to help them care for the animals and the whole world swung into action, with thousands of items being sent to Australia from all over the world.

I will admit that there were some days I cried at the devastating scenes on the news – many Australians felt abandoned by our government, while everyday Australians worked tirelessly, in all sorts of volunteer roles, to fight fires, save people and save animals. After the call for craft help went out there were days I cried at the kindness of strangers all over the planet who sent so much help that its now no longer needed. Believe me, Australians are truly grateful.

My small part was to sew for my local animal rescue, batwraps, joey pouches and hanging bags. The batwraps have a little pillow at one end so the baby can cling to it like it would its mother, then they are wrapped up like a burritto.