Another Finish

After a number of false starts, met up with a friend today and I think I got it right!! And it was lots of fun and it's another finish for the month!!

Update on my bears and other things

Finally getting a chance to catch up on blogging.  There hasn't been many opportunities in the last week or so.  However, I'm waiting this morning for my eldest DS to complete (hopefully) his last driving lesson and then successfully complete his driving test.  As much as I dread the waiting and worrying when he is out driving, I really do want the test part to be over!!

These are the other two bears that I have been working on.  Their faces are finished, but I have to complete the stuffing of their bodies.

This little bear is made using Debbie Amos' "Summer" pattern.  She is very sweet.  I'm thinking this will be another ballerina, so pretty in pink!  Maybe a tiara as well.

Another Debbie Amos pattern "Beau".  He is quite a character.  Not sure how to finish him off yet - I'm thinking about overalls, but will see how he looks when I've finished his body.

I've been searching Ebay and Quick Sales for old copies of Australian Bear Creations.  If anyone is looking for older patterns of magazines there are a huge number being offered second hand.  Worth a look.  So, now I have heaps of patterns for bears and many outfits as well.  Can't wait to get started!

In one of the early copies, there was a cute little jumper for bears.  I've knitted one - not sure if it was me or the pattern, but something went wrong.  I've managed to salvage it, but doesn't pay to look too closely at it.  It will look cute on a little bear.  I'm going to ask my mother to have a try - she is a far better knitter than I will ever be.  She may work it better. Or maybe there is just a mistake in the pattern!

I've also bought some "fish net wool" to make some of those wonderful scarves I keep seeing in blogland - I think that I need someone to show me.  It's been explained and I have read the pattern - but it's not making sense at the moment.  Sometimes being shown is the only way!!

We'll be coming up to Bundaberg for the Easter break - or most of it, once children's sports and other commitments are sorted.  I'm hoping to get lots of sewing done - including some finishes.  I have two bunnies cut out and ready to go - so hopefully they will be completed before Easter this year.  I think when I bought the pattern I was intending on having them completed about 3 Easters' ago.

We had another day of rain yesterday - but it has certainly cooled off since the rain cleared.  Quite an autumn feel to the air this morning - said in a very Queensland context!

Cheers

Another Bear

It's been a big week. Been away with eldest DS trying to get his drivers licence sorted. We thought we'd come back to Bundaberg as this was where he had his first test. He had two lessons last week, another tomorrow and then the test.

We returned home for the funeral of "Nana". It was a lovely service, but very sad.

I've been bear making while I have been away.

I have only totally completed one - just a little fellow at only 14 cm.

The other two were bigger but I haven't finished stuffing them. Also knitted a bear jumper - very cute. Haven't taken a photo of that yet.

So, hoping to get the other two finished for my OPAM tally for March - just a few days away!

Last week of school for the term. Yeh, holidays!!

Cheers

Another Melody Daly doll- bear

This is the beautiful bear designed by Melody. She's called Anna. She is featured in Australian Bear Creations Vol 4 No 2.

Just gorgeous!

Tuesday's Treasures

I'm going to be repeating myself from my earlier blog - just written this morning.  But my Tuesday's Treasure this week has to be Nana.

As I've said, she was the most amazing lady - her father died when she was only a small child.  They had to move from the small country town they were born in - she had two younger brothers - so that her mother could find work.  Marj (Nana) took on a lot of the responsibility for her younger brothers while her mother worked.  When she was older she went nursing - not being formally trained - but as many did then, she took on the job of nurse and learnt as she went.

She moved to Broken Hill where she met her first husband.  They married and had a daughter.  When she was only a few weeks old, they found out her husband had a very aggressive form of cancer.  He was only in his mid-twenties.  The doctors told them that the treatment would stop them from having any further children and that if they wanted another baby that they had to consider that right then and there.  They decided to be optimistic and their second baby was born a few weeks after her husband lost his battle with cancer.

She met her second husband a few years later and they had two more sons.  Eventually they moved back to Queensland.  Her second son married Chris and Jai's mother.  Marj was able to show them photos of their mother and tell them stories of her before the illness took away her personality and looks.  The boys memory of their mother will always be more positive as a result of her relationship with them.  This marriage did not last but Marj always kept in contact with their mother and was able to intervene and get help when they needed it.  She often took them food parcels and organised clothes for them.  She kept in contact no matter where they lived - often driving many hours to keep in contact.

She was the one who was instrumental in getting Chris taken into care and ultimately into our lives when she could see that Debbie just could not cope with a baby.

Not the best photos - but this was what she enjoyed the most - being with the children, especially her boys.

Marj was a very special lady and one that it has been an honour to know and count as a friend.  RIP Marj.

Melody's Doll

When I wrote last night I was away from home. So at last a picture of Melody's doll.

Her name is Lauren and I found her in Patchwork & Stitching Vol 4 no 3.

The happiest of times and the saddest of times

On 17th March 1952, my parents were married.  60 years later - last Saturday to be exact - we celebrated with family and friends at our place.  It was a lovely afternoon.  They have 4 children, 23 grandchildren, and currently 7 great grandchildren.

One of the bridal party was also there - my aunt.  She was only 12 at the time of the wedding.  I wish I had a digital copy of the wedding photo.  Must organise that!

Anyway, we had a lovely day.  Really enjoyed catching up with everyone.

A lovely lady who we met as a result of becoming foster parents died on Saturday night.  Marj is the grandmother of the brother of two of our boys - if that makes any sense.  She has taken on the role of grandmother to the boys and has been Nana to all of our children.  And, personally, I don't think anyone can have too many Nanas in their lives.

She was a very social lady and very committed to helping people.  Always lots of fun to be around and the kids would call in and see her and have great games of Rummy-O and other card games.  She celebrated all of our family milestones with us and was god mother to both Chris and Jai.  Over the last 12 months and particularly in the last 6, her health was failing.

Last week we went to see her to be told that she was in hospital.  What they didn't tell us was that she had fallen and broken her nose and smashed her face very badly.  She died on Saturday night.  Aged 81.  I'm sorry the boys didn't get to say a final goodbye, but glad their last meeting with her was when she looked just like their Nana.

Trying to find some photos - but haven't got them on computer with me.  This was Nana at Jai's birthday party last year.

Just when Jai was to cut the cake - Nana only just sneaks in, but I think you can see the love she had for "her boys" shining on her face.

On Sunday, eldest DD played in her first netball carnival.  This was the first real games they have played as a team, so at the start they were completely wiped out.  But as they day went on, there was lots of learning happening and they improved with each game - finally winning the last very comfortably!  And DD scored two goals.  Nice.

Sunday morning we got the news about Nana.  Actually got the call while DD was playing.  With the help of the other Mums, I had a little time away from the courts to get myself together so that I could keep the news from DD.  She had such a great day - but was very sad when I told her, so knew that it had been the right thing to do.  

I'm back up in Bundaberg with eldest DS.  This time we're back to see if he can get his driver's licence.  The queue is shorter here - he tried when he was living up here, but wasn't successful.  This time we will do some more lessons in the car he'll have the test in.  That was what went wrong before - he messed up the clutch as he wasn't used to that type of car.  

I had great plans of lots of sewing while I was up here - but that isn't going to be quite the way it will happen as we have to travel back for the funeral and then back up again to continue with the driving plan.  

I'm sure I'll have time for the completion of at least one teddy and maybe even finishing the stitching of a Some Kind of Wonderful block!

Cheers

Teddy Bears' Picnic

I'm bringing my newest bear - Millie.  She is so cute.  She's a bear-doll, so not fully jointed and she was a joy to make.

Thanks for organising this for everyone, Melody.  It's great to see everyone's bears.

A few weeks ago, I was looking through some old copies of Patchwork and Stitching and found the loveliest doll designed by Melody.  Just gorgeous - she's now on my list of dolls to make.  Thanks Melody!

Cheers

Another finish.

Meet Millie. She's my latest bear-doll. Another by Debbie Amos. She was lovely to make. And I think she is very cute!

Some pictures!

Here is the doll Annabella.

And the ballerina bear.

Hopefully there'll be a photo of Millie my next project tomorrow!

Another week gone and another starting

We've only got three more weeks school left and it will be school holidays and 1/4 of the year gone.  Where has it gone?  Seems like yesterday we were getting organised for Christmas!!

We've had another busy week - some get togethers for our kids, sport, dancing - all the usual.  Today, I'm waiting - eldest DS is visiting girl friend at the Gold Coast and as he doesn't have a licence, I'm waiting - so catching up on some internet banking and some blogging.  Haven't been near a computer all week, so have only caught up with bits and pieces through email.

I finished my cream bear this week - the friend I am making it for is sending it to USA for her niece and she wanted a ballerina bear, so the bear now has her very own tutu!  I've also been teaching a friend doll making - not sure I'm really qualified, but I'm happy to teach her what I know, so that meant making up the doll first.  I've made this doll but some years ago now, so thought I'd better refresh my memory.

A doll-bear I started while still in Bundy is now just waiting for a dress - she's all together with her nickers on - but no dress.  Thought I might have got it finished this morning, but decided that this was the day to completely pull the kitchen apart, take drawers out and clean behind them and completely re-organise the whole place.  It wasn't finished when I had to leave, but hopefully by the time I get home, we'll be ready to start putting everything away.  It'll be a tomorrow job as well, I would think.

I'm trying to be very ruthless and cull.  But find it very hard.  I have culled my recipe books - don't think 30 years without making one single thing out of them is being very ruthless!!  Still hard to do.  Hoping to do some further culling with everything else.

I've also been through my wardrobe and culled there as well.  Sent the biggest bag to Vinnies on Friday.  Took it straight there so that I couldn't change my mind!

My parents will be married 60 years on Saturday - so we're having a family get together to celebrate the milestone.  Keeping it simple and everyone is bringing along some food to share, so it shouldn't be too stressful.  Still need to get the verandah looking a little tidier!  Be nice to catch up with everyone.

I think it's going to be another busy one..........

Cheers - hope everyone is having a great time.  Thinking about the people in the south of Australia who are still coming to terms with everything they've lost in the floods.  Australia is a funny country when it comes to water - we seem to be either worried about not having any or struggling with too much.

Marg

PS:  Pictures will have to come later.  Forgot to bring my phone connection!!

First two finishes for March

Firstly a mug bag and matching mug rug. This was lots of fun. Definitely make more of these.

My second finish was another Bear - once again Debbie from The Quilter's Shack. The mug bag was theirs, too. I just made the rug out of scraps.

Our girls will stay with us!

After a very nerve wracking week, we got the news early on Monday that the birth father had not bothered to show in court so the order was granted and the girls are with us until they are 18!  Celebrations ensued.  Unfortunately, the birth father organised to go to the school the oldest boy goes to and take him.  So far the police have not been able to locate him.

It's all very difficult.  Luckily for us, the birth father doesn't think girls are worth much, so he'll probably leave our two alone.  Sometimes sexism can be so handy!

I've made some slow progress on a few sewing things - the only photo I have is this quilt top that I finished.  Hoping to get it quilted over the weekend.

I've started work on Country Blooms from Patchwork Pumpkin - this is my progress so far.

There's more applique to add on the end and stem stitching to link all the flowers , leaves and stars together.

I've been working on another bear which will be making it's way to the USA for my friend's niece - have to get that finished this weekend.  There'll be some photos once that happens.

Cheers

Marg