I Ride My Bicycle

So many amazing and wonderful things have happened this year. I never could have guessed that there was more to come!

Yesterday I went over to Cathy's house. We'd planned to go out for lunch, and I'd asked if I could take her bike for a test ride before I began looking at bike shops myself.

When I arrived, she said that she had a surprise for me..... and OMG what a surprise it was!

A big group of beautiful friends had all contributed to buy me a new bike!  UNBELIEVABLE!

I took it for a test spin straight away.

I haven't been able to ride a bike for well over ten years. I was a little bit wobbly at first, but I managed to stay upright.

We went to the bike shop so that I could choose a helmet and a bike lock.

I came home and rode laps of the park with the nephews.

It was soooooo much fun!

There was a huge envelope full of gorgeous birthday cards too.

Thankyou so much to Cathy for pulling off such an amazing feat and keeping it a secret, and thankyou one and all to my beautiful friends.

Best early birthday pressie ever!!!

Thankyou

There is only one special word that I can use to sum up the past few weeks, and that is THANKYOU.

I came home from hospital Thursday night, and it seemed to be all the more special as I was returning home with my shiny new lungs during DonateLife Week.

I waited for 18 months and 6 days. Once I'd hit that magic 18 month mark, I started to worry that the phonecall would never come.

I still have a long road of recovery ahead, with three months of intensive rehabilitation where I have to attend the Alfred three days a week. I also have some problems with my diaphragm so I need to use a BIPAP machine at night for a few months. I'm very wobbly from all the meds so you might see me getting around with a Nonna Walker for a little while!

I couldn't have made it through this entire experience without my amazing family. They saw me at my absolute worst, on the days when it was so just so tough to keep fighting on. They stuck by me day by day, and wouldn't leave my bedside until they knew it was safe to do so. Their support got me through.

I also really have to thank everyone for all of the blog / instagram / facebook / twitter comments. In the first few days, my sister would read them all out to me while I was in ICU, until I was able to start reading them myself. All those positive comments also made a huge difference in keeping my spirits up when times were really tough.

The staff at the Alfred also get a huge thumbs up! If you ever have the misfortune of ending up in ICU, the staff there are amazing, along with all of the staff on the respiratory ward.

I have to also thank my beautiful friend Cathy who is spending the weekend at my place looking after me, cooking me gourmet meals, making me do my breathing exercises, and waking me up at the right times to take my meds.

I've saved the final thankyou for my donor. I now have a chance at living a normal life. Thankyou is not enough, but I just haven't quite worked out the right words yet. 

Cornwall

A little while ago, a lovely blog reader named Belinda emailed me to enquire about a Cornwall cushion that I'd made for a Gleaners Inc customer.

Her FIL has been researching the family history and it turns out that they're from Cornwall, so she wanted to surprise him with a special Fathers Day pressie.

I didn't have another of the same teatowel, but I did find a plain blue and white Cornwall teatowel in the stash, so I popped it in the post, and Belinda transformed it into this gorgeous cushion.

I love the way she has appliqued the feature pictures onto a background fabric to make them pop!

That's one very happy FIL!

Imagine my surprise last week when I found an unexpected parcel in the letterbox. Belinda made this super cute little tin for me.

I'm flabbergasted at how perfect the font and flowers are! Amazing...

Oh, and it has some sweet little vintage buttons inside too.

Thankyou Belinda!

The one where Christmas came early

Packages, packages, packages....

So many beautiful things have landed on my doorstep lately, that it seriously feels like Santa has already been to visit.

This one arrived last week all the way from the UK. Lynsey from Cuteable and Swirly Arts sent me all these amazing treats.

Whoops! One of the Tunnocks Tea Cakes is already missing in this shot, and those Thorntons Chocolate Chunk Cookies are TDF. I've been limiting myself to two per day to make them last.... and vintage fabric and gorgeous tags and my BIL's favourite - Wagon Wheels!

My lovely friend Carly popped in to visit last weekend with a pressie for me - check out the specs cleaning cloth. So much prettier than the ugly grey ones that came with my new specs.

Speaking of specs... did I show you my new specs from Zenni?

One last package for today.

This was on my doorstep when I arrived home on Sunday.

Did you count???

That is a stack of thirty teatowels and one pillowcase from Amanda at Krafty Panda. Amazing. Speechless....Love.

Sigh... I'm so lucky!

Blogging - the Good, the Amazing, the Excellent, and the Ugly

The Good

 

The sweet little floral plate that Cathy spotted for me at the Oppy a few weeks ago.

The Amazing

The fact that Cherie from Waste Not Do Want had a matching one that she packaged up in bubble wrap and popped in the mail for me, along with some lovely magazines.

The Excellent

Being a responsible blogger, I thought that I should demonstrate and photograph that the plates are perfect for chocolate biccies.... just like (slightly melted on the way home) Tim Tams.

The Ugly

Once out of the packet and displayed on a plate.... those seven Tim Tams had no chance (yes - I did eat the entire 7).

A Thankyou

I know I've said it before.... but crafty bloggers are so amazing and generous when times get a little tough.

Jess surprised me with this gorgeous Moby Potholder.

It matches with my little Moby (and his family portrait)...

Crafty Rie sent me a huge package of goodies in the mail.

Beautiful fabrics and buttons....

Chocolate and cappucino and soapie mags (these are some of the things that I obsess about over on twitter), and even a lovely teatowel!

Thankyou so much lovely ladies!

Obsession

Obsession: an emotional state in which someone or something is so important to you that you are always thinking about them, in a way that seems extreme to other people

When it comes to colour, I most definitely have an obsession.

So when Nic posed the 'fave colour combo' question on her Yardage Design FB page, for me, it was completely obvious.

But, can you imagine the surprise when I arrived home from my appointment at the Alfred last Thursday to find this package on my front doorstep?

Pink and Orange together are completely outside Nic's classic colour range.... and I know how hard it is for a designer to work outside a fave colour palette, which is why I'm even more appreciative of my very own custom colour Yardage Design teatowels.

Thankyou so much for the lovely surprise Nic - your timing was absolutely perfect!

Zero Words

Yes, zero words today.

There are zero words available to explain why things happen some days.... so I will just tell a story.

My sister has keys to my house, so she often pops in when I'm not home. In fact, she seems to pop in more often when I'm not home than when I'm at home (does that tell you something)?

Anyway, I drove up the driveway on Monday afternoon and noticed the first sign of a visitor. My bedroom curtains were open, and the blinds had been lifted, so that Mr Limpy Houdini Dog could stare out the window and watch the world go by during the day.

Then as I walked into the house, I noticed that my bed had been made.... (I never bother), and as I walked into the kitchen, there was a mystery parcel on the bench.

Of course, I'm racking my brain - online shopping??? I had done a little bit, but the package was far too large for anything that I'd bought.

But, as soon as I'd opened a little corner of the packaging, I knew exactly what it was!

I'd commented on the red yarn that Tracey was using just a couple of weeks ago.... and now it's a vest and it's mine!

You see, I really have no words to explain that amazing generousity.

I can only say thankyou so much Tracey for adding such a beautiful bright spark to my week!

Warming the Cockles This Week

After more than three and a half years of sitting at my computer writing about little crafty bits and bobs and things that happen in my life, I still get totally flabbergasted when I receive messages from wonderful peeps telling me that they love what I do each day.

I get even more flabbergasted when they find lovely things for me and pop them in the mail!

Today I need to thank Zoe for this supercute matching pillowcase set, and co-ordinating fabric, and the lovely card.

I'm having trouble deciding what to make with those kitty cats, but I certainly do have an idea..... watch this space.

Tththankyou so much Zoe!

Time for a Thankyou

I'm interrupting the Hottie transmissions thismorning for a couple of overdue thankyous!

When I opened up the hottie package from Ady last month, there was also a lovely little surprise package waiting for me.

Ady had quite obviously read my mind! I'm still wandering around with my keys attached to the wrist strap that I bought at the Design Market in July 2008. After three years of everyday use, I guess you can imagine what it looks like? Manky!

But look how pretty this new one is!

I'm going to put the coaster to very good use too........ right next to my sewing machine (I always have a cup of tea next to the machine).

Thankyou so much Ady!

I have one more thankyou for today too.

A little while back I appliqued a little tee for Lauren's bubba's 1st birthday party.

Look at the beautiful Convertible Kimono Cord Necklace that Lauren sent to me as a thankyou. Absolutely gorgeous!

Ode to Houdini

A while back, there was a One-Legged Chicken and a Runaway Dog featuring over at Myrtle and Eunice....

It reminded me so much of my little puppy dog Houdini (not his real name).

Over the years, I've lost count of the number of times Houdini Dog has escaped and run away due to the *PO gene that he inherited from his daddy dog Riley.

On one of his most memorable escapes, he made his way to my mum's house, enticed her dog out onto the street, and then ended up in the dog catchers van. There was a huge fee to bail them both out of the dog pound, and then a council fine for me in the mail two weeks later for having a 'dog at large' (he's so scary that he might just lick you to death)!.

When I opened the parcel that arrived yesterday, I was thrilled to receive the beautiful piece of fabric. It took me a minute to realise that there was something actually wrapped in the fabric.

Tania, you've outdone yourself, it's brilliant and I love it!



*Piss Off

Animation Friday - The Scribble Edition 2 - Colouring In

Following on from last weeks animation....

*Please excuse the dodgy mobile phone photos

I've been trying to take a little break from blogging, but you know what? Blogging keeps me motivated and makes me happy. It gives me something else to think about, and allows me to use my brain, so consider my blogging break officially over.... although things still may be a little sporadic.

I really need to thank each and every person who left me a message on the blog, emailed, came to visit in hospital, or popped something in the mail - I didn't get the chance to reply to everyone personally. 

I also need to give a huge thankyou to Cathy, Cathie, Bec, Nikki, Nikki, Cass, Michelle, Selina, .... I hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

I don't really have any news or answers healthwise just yet - things are not exactly going as I'd planned or hoped for, but I'm always ready for a challenge, so here goes.... wish me luck.

Pins and Needles and a Fashion Fail Date

Do you remember the totally gorgeous owlie pins that Amanda made for me as part of our swap a few weeks ago?

Well, look what arrived in the post on Friday! The most gorgeous little bunch of flowers, just for me. They're teeny tiny and truly exquisite. Thankyou so much Amanda!

They look perfect hanging out in the mushie pincushion with the owls.

A little heads up* for this coming Friday - Jodie tweeted a pic of her fashion fail debutante dress on the weekend which was absolutely hilarious, so I'm proposing that this Friday becomes Fashion Fail Flashback Debutante Friday. I'd love to see everyones puffy pavlova disasters!

But never fear, if you didn't become a debutante, feel free to add wedding / formal dress fashion fails to the mix!


* I thought I'd give a few days notice so that everyone can dig their photos out of hiding.

Serendipitous

A few weeks ago, myself and Lynsey from Swirly Thoughts organised to do a little international swap, taking some of our favourite biccies and choccies and sending them over the wild blue yonder to the other side of the world.

 

We both got a little delayed at the start, but serendipitously ended up sending our packages on the exact same day.

We then thought that it would be really interesting to see whether Australia Post or the Royal Mail would be quicker in getting our parcels to the other side of the world.

Well as a matter of fact, when I woke up Friday morning, I had an email from Lynsey telling me that her parcel from me had arrived...... and when I opened my front door to leave the house Friday morning, my parcel from her was sitting on the doorstep.

What are the odds?????

Thanks so much Lynsey, I am super chuffed with all my gorgeous goodies (did you notice that the chook card totally matches my doorchook)? I had to totally resist opening everything yesterday until I managed to take photos today.... it was very difficult!

Just like Magic

I post a recipe for chocolate crackles..... and they magically appear!

Hand delivered by two sweet little munchkins who are partial to giant pancakes with ice cream.

Thanks Cathie.

Generousity

 A gift of artwork for my fridge from Amelie
The stripes at the top match my header - too cute!

The generousity of the blogging community still amazes me to this day.

I've received lots of little pressies over the last few weeks and I've been very slack regarding posting about them. I'm still trying to slowly get back into my everyday groove.

I arrived home one afternoon last week, and found a mysterious (and completely unexpected) parcel in my letterbox. Blogless Jen (aka Jasperboy Jen) had been to the Sisters Market and bought me pressies! There are Zines bought from the Lark stall, a very grroovy Mrs Beckinsale fabric postcard, gorgeous granny square brooch and magnet by Hannah Wells (no website), and there may have been a block of Cadbury Peppermint chocolate which has mysteriously disappeared.....

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou!

Watcha Wearin' Wednesday

Another little package arrived in the mail for me this week - all the way from sunny Queensland!

I absolutely adore floral accessories.... in fact it may just be bordering on an obsession. I spotted these beautiful brooches over at Chasing Purple Dreams a few weeks ago..... and now I have my very own.

Note to self: Get thee to the hairdresser to sort out those grey roots!

Kylie also sent me a lovely matching floral hairclip which is absolutely perfect as I'm still trying to grow out my fringe, meaning that I wear a hairclip virtually every day.

If you'd like to make your own, Kylie has a great tutorial written here, or you could just pop in to Handmade Heaven and buy one.

Thanks so much Kylie, I think I'm in floral love!

Myrtle the Turtle

Meet Myrtle* - this amazing little creature arrived at my house yesterday. When I signed up for the pincushion swap, I would never have imagined that I could have received such a perfect pressie, in all my favourite colours!

Christy from Little Betty Designs has crocheted an absolute masterpiece for me. I'm sure everyone knows how much I truly appreciate the art and skill of crochet, because I've failed miserably at trying to learn it myself.

I don't think I want to stick pins in Myrtle just yet in case she is ruined. I think she'll be joining the gaggle of merry critters that live in my bookshelf instead.

Christy also sent me a lovely little crochet brooch - the perfect accessory for autumn. Thanks so much Christy and Kate!

* When my siblings and I were very little, we had a babysitter named Myrtle, so of course we called her 'Myrtle the Turtle' (nothing else rhymes with Myrtle - right?)..... as soon as I saw my little turtle, I just knew she was a Myrtle.

Faith Karma Fate?

Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?

I really believe it, but then some days I wonder what on earth I ever did to deserve some of the crappy things that have happened in my life over the last few years.

I was asking myself this very question yet again yesterday arvo / evening.......


At about 10PM, my cat knocked (yes, he seriously knocks) on the front door to come inside, and when I opened the heavy door, I found a package wedged between the screen door and heavy door.  When I'd arrived home earlier in the day, I came inside via the garage so the front door hadn't been opened.

Call it Faith, Karma, Fate, but surely it arrived at the exact right time on the exact right day, just when I needed a little buck up!

Kitty from Kitty's Kaboodle sent me a beautiful set of vintage pillowcases (in pink, oranges and reds of course), with a handmade card, and a handmade Noddy and Big Ears Notepad.  You can't see the text in my photo, but at the bottom of the picture it reads:

Now they are having a perfectly wonderful tea party, and Noddy and Big-Ears are as happy as can be.

So a huge thankyou Kitty, for cheering me up and making me as 'happy as can be'.