MERRY CHRISTMAS

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas. I hope the New Year is a healthy, happy and safe year for you all.
I intend to make some changes to my life next year. Not big ones but little achievable ones. Hopefully spend more time with my husband, after a dreadful year of recovery from back surgery, my daughters wedding (a good thing), and moving our business to new premise (more stressful than moving house) I'm hoping for a more fun relaxed and joyfull new year.

I've missed some of the small things this past year like spontaneous little things, so I will look forward to a new beginning in 2009.
I'd also like to take a new direction with my studio and textile work but just not sure what at the moment. I will reflect over the holiday break and allow myself the chance for change.

I'm wondering if all this reflection has to do with my age, past experiences, the current economic woes or all of these....?

Anyway a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE IN BLOGLAND.

Spirit Doll

My little nephew is nearly 2 and this Xmas I decided to make him his first CQ item from his Aunty Larna. His bedroom is themed in Ships and Pirates so the doll is themed on the sea.
I used sea themed charms like shells, star fish, fish etc and found a fabric I had for the head (I think it looks like Neptune) and a great print of a ship at sea. As this was for a little boy I kept the flowery embroidery out of it. This was a challenge as most of my work contains flowers of some sort.
I do hope his mother likes it as it is meant to hang somewhere in his room.
The aim of the spirit doll is to represent love and affection to the owner offering the owner good things from the maker.
The doll also has enclosed in the middle (stuffing) some of departed Grandmothers' hair and the first hair of the baby boy who is the recipient. Our Grandmother Mary was a very special lady and was a huge influence on my creative self. She single handedly enticed me into being creative.
It has been raining today and roads very slipery.

Our son is housesitting for a friend and informs my husband and I this morning that He has had an accident in his car. Luckily he is unhurt but took out a front fence of a house and the car had the hole right side smashed in. I thank my lucky stars he is OK but I hope he learns from this experience he is not infalable. If only we could bestow wisdon on the youth.
Better day tomorrow.

Teaching Weekend

It's so close to Christmas and I haven't finished all the shopping yet. Uhhhh
I've been asked to teach in Victoria next year so I'm teaching my 'Crazy in Cream and Gold" Crazy cushion. A little town outside Melbourne called Cohuna goes into quilt mode for the weekend. I'm so looking forward to it, meeting new ladies and introducing them to CQ.
It should be a lot of fun.
I'm off to help DH cook chicken satay skewers on the BBQ, I also made a potatoe casserole to have with it. I'm getting hungry just talking about it.
Cheers for now.