What inspires me?

Inspiration is an elusive creature...we spend hours working away...inspired. But when we lose that momentum, we feel lost & empty. We want to create, but we just don't seem to be able to put that thought into action. I have felt this roller coaster most of this year if I am to be honest. Dad's death, huge work commitments of trying to balance too many jobs, DH's work demands, son off to uni, daughter returning home & starting her working life..you know how it goes...our lives are all crammed full of so many demands! Trying to do too much really! Lynda spoke to me of needing purpose to finish a UFO...wise words...as deadlines do add structure...a wedding, a birthday...a new baby. I ventured out into blog land...new places...fresh ideas...and began to find that inspiration again. Beautiful women sharing their creativity & their lives...thankyou! All of my old "friends" lifted my spirit and I found some new inspiration...look at Lori, Karen and Geoffs mum. So what inspires me?

Colourful fabrics piled on a shelf...

Anni's fun stitchery address book...French General fabrics...I ADORE red!!!!...

Kaffe Fassett circles from Jackie...

books...

a daughter's stitcheries...I have spent time tidying my creative space, and found that not only were the fabrics being tidied, but the cobwebs were blowing away from my mind too...early days but I feel refreshed...and I am enjoying my cross stitch! sorry if this was all a bit wordy...there is more inspiration to come! What inspires you?

Cardygirl xx

A good few days....

Lovely to have a few days off work & some peaceful family time.

Both DD & I had to work in Newcastle for the day on Wednesday, so we picked up my mum & brought her home with us for Easter. DS headed home from uni, so we have a fairly busy house for a few days!

It is nice having quiet time off work to just catch up with each other.

Also lovely to catch up with some stitching...

A Leanne Beasley sewing bag, I added the applique behind the embroidery to add more interest...

some pretty fabric to make a birthday cake mat ( love the combo of fabric & threads)...

and a pretty garden pic.

Hope you are all having a safe & peaceful Easter!

Cardygirl xx

Festive Fun No.4

The journey continues......today's offering is quite a few year's old too

(I will start posting more recent stuff as we progress!)it is from a stitchery pattern by "By My Hand" called Holly Jolly Christmas which I bought whilst visiting relatives on the Central Coast of NSW years ago...I liked the naivety of the doll & added seed beads as the holly berries.

We put up the tree last night & decorated it as a family...my children are now adult so, no doubt, we will have few Christmas' with just the four of us left...work, travel & partners will change & enhance our futures.

Cardygirl xx

So many projects....

So many projects...so little time! No doubt we are all singing the same song!

If only the speed of my fingers matched the rapid flitting of my attention span...but at least I can dream.

I have just been chatting with one of my oldest & dearest friends & she commented that it had been a few days since my last blog...she is a nonblogger but "lurks" on my blog so she can keep up with life in the cardy household! I then began to think...what have I been doing???????? She had also been to see a movie called "Julie & Julia" where part of the story apparently involves blogging & she thought of me! I think I need to make time to see this movie. Another thing to do!

I have been stitching...but there are some things I cannot show...you know the deal!

But here are some bits & pieces to look at ...

..... Janelle Wind's teacosy from "Tea for Two"....I love it's fresh prettiness.

My poor crabapple...blossoms suffering in the high winds we have at the moment...

I have also been looking at Clare & Robyn's Christmas Ornament swap...very tempted to join in but I need to look at what else I have oming up..I don't like to let people down!

Hopefully some bits will be finished over the weekend to show & share!

Cardygirl xx

Cracking the whip!

Thanks to everyone who guessed, or suspected, that my last post was my 100th!

Hard to believe (not) that I have prattled on that much!

Keep watching as there is something special for someone that was kind enough to take the time to stop by & comment...look out on Wednesday!

As mentioned a couple of posts ago, my nonblog friend, Lea, was having a little trouble maintaining her sewing mojo....too much to do & tooooo many distractions!

I was happy to spend the afternoon with her (really I was cracking the whip!) & she has produced some lovely bits for pressies, a swap & an upcoming Embroiderers Guild exhibition.

You can hear us "... no Lea...finish that row, then you can have a cup of tea!"

It is always great to spend some stitching time together.

I worked on some stitching for these mug bags...three down...two to go!

Cardygirl xx

Stitching & celebrations!

Busy days, not a lot of stitching going on!

Gradually getting over the very effective virus that laid me low over the last week...the voice is still a bit husky but on the mend.

To add insult to injury, a nastily infected tooth had to be extracted as it was destroying my jaw.

I am not a fan of the dentist at the best of times, but he has assured me that I will love him over the next few days as I start to feel better. Then I am on the very expensive merry go round of getting a dental implant when the bone heals!

Phew!

But thankfully the sanity saving stitching is there for me.

I have been doing the Tail Feathers BOM, here is the first month...

cute stitcheries.

I made mum a mug bag for her birthday, it matches her knitting bag. It holds a cute red & white spotted mug. Nice to take to her craft group.

Here is a pic of me with my sewing assistant/pattern holder.

He makes sewing interesting.

Hope you are having a good week...

Cardygirl xx

Fads & favourites

Isn't it great to see new fabrics & feel inspired?
Your creative mind goes into hyperdrive...but sadly there are not enough hours

in a day to achieve what we would like to achieve.

A common complaint I know!

Here is a favourite...

anything with stitching...I love to embroider...play with stitches & threads

...another favourite is overdyed threads...mmm!

Another favourite is traditional with a little touch of quirkiness!

Add a little braid, some bobbles or ricrac...fun.

A current fad with me is clear colours...especially spots & stripes
...can't get enough of them.

Some of my friends have very cute birthday pressies heading their way this year!
I have signed up for a Sue Ross BOM with Material Obsession...irresistable!I love her work but have never been fortunate to do a class with her...but Kathy from MO is putting together this BOM for people like me!

I am so excited...Kathy was a delight to chat to...I have gone for a less saturated palette ( still a bit conservative)...but it will be great!

Here is a Dolly quilt I did from MO.

Look forward to sharing my progress.

Cardygirl xx

Dolly steps

It has been very hectic in the Cardy household....but hopefully beginning to settle.
Mum is getting better & working hard at increasing her strength to mobilise,

Dad is managing well with a little help.

Small steps forward & they will adapt!

Work has consumed most of the rest of my time...

not much time for stitching unfortunately!

But,after mowing this afternoon, I managed to finish this mug bag for DD...

complete with lime green mug!

Someone, who shall remain nameless, was found investigating the bag interior...

he just can't help himself!

DD is home for a semester break...she will help me get a handle on the housework again.
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!

DD is reading this gorgeous book..

"Backwards in High Heels- The impossible art of being female".

It looks at the expectations put on women by both society & ourselves.

It says "..Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did- only she did it backwards & in high heels." I think we all can appreciate that!

Love to all you special women!

Cardygirl xx

Itchin' for stitchin'...

Feeling refreshed after a lovely Easter break I headed for the sewing room...fingers itching...hello dear sewing machine...bliss!

It was time to construct Rosalie's pretty sewing bag from GDITC at Nundle. I was really happy with the stitchery...I like to use a variety of stitches to give texture & interest...also added a whimsical touch or two to make it my "own". My mum had been given some old ric-racs which she passed on to me, so some green was added at the base for a fun touch.

Toot, toot...it's the parcel delivery with a "squishie" for me!!!!! I love those squishie parcels that I get in the mail...the excitement of new fabric arriving...isn't it lovely? This scrumptious treat came from the lovely girls at Provincial Patch...thanks...I love it. I have some plans for it...but for the moment it is just nice to admire & dream!

A trip out for coffee with my DH & darling daughter made the day a real treat...the usual nasties (aka ironing, washing & housecleaning) are waiting for my undivided attention from tomorrow...oh well today was lovely!

Cardygirl xx