Sunshine

Lots of presents, love + sunshine today as we celebrated Jacks 14th birthday.

Happy Birthday my gorgeous boy!

This photo was taken at the beginning of the soccer season earlier this year, and although he may miss the rest of this season we hope to see him back on the field next year.

Firstly I'd like to say from the very bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to everyone who left a comment and has kept Jack in their thoughts and prayers.

Time for an update, on Mothers Day Jack collapsed and the second 000 call was dialled within a week. We returned home from our second stay in hospital told that as Jack's brain was bruised he needed to sleep for 20 hours a day. I sat for 2 days watching Jack deteriorate further, enough was enough I was not going to wait til I had to make a third 000 call so I bundled him up and arrived in Emergency with my suitcase determined not to leave til I could see even the slightest improvement in Jack. We must always remember that as mothers we know our children better than any medical specialist, always remember that. I demanded a second CT scan as there was a concern that fluid may be leaking from his brain via his nose, thankfully the CT scan was clear. Codeine was finally given and fluids were pushed through intravenously at a rapid pace. After 24 hours with no sleep I saw a slight improvement in Jack, finally! A certain neruo registrar and a certain person from the paediatric brain injury rehabilitation team need their arses kicked, did I say that, I meant a formal complaint needs to be made and within the comming weeks I'll tick that off my to do list.

My Mum cut her trip short and has flown home from Edinburgh to Amsterdam to Singapore to Sydney then finally to my door, she brought some Cath with her!

We are hoping for Jack to return to school in a few weeks, beginning with morning classes and gradually working his way up to a full day at school!

In a split second...

It seems I may have momentarily fallen off the face of the planet, but I'm here, I've just hit the pause button.

My eldest son (13) was involved in an accident and if I was sending you a text message it would go something like this...

jack.accident.pushbike.ambulance.cervical collar.JHH.face.teeth.amnesia

We are back home from hospital now and I am starting to exhale slowly. CT scans and X-rays have shown no spinal injuries or bleeds. Dentist work has been done and he has a mouth guard to wear for the next 6 weeks. The soft tissue injuries to his face will heal in time, we are feeding him through a syringe at the moment. The amnesia though is the most frightening and the most bizarre thing I have ever witnessed, he has no recollection of the accident. He was wearing his bike helmet when the accident occurred, but even this did not protect him from a head trauma, he is still experiencing headaches daily, but he is returning to the Jack we know and love!

As a result of the accident many things are up in the air at the moment, one being the Craft & Quilt Fair in Sydney which is comming up in June. We were to exhibit but I am now in discussions with management, an outcome should be reached next week and I will let you know.

drawing room

Some of my favourite designs from Anna Maria Horner's new range Drawing Room.

Wowsers!

Something Cath

Remember to bring me back something Cath. See you in 6 weeks!

My Mum flys out tomorrow, I've printed out instructions on how to get to the nearest Cath Kidston store for when she lands!

Have a fabulous flight xx

This is...

My latest discovery which is fast becoming my latest addiction.

Bargello cushions!

Another new discovery is True Up, Kim from Dioramarama has just started a new blog focusing on fabric, sounds good doesn't it! Go and take a look!

Thanks Knit Owl for another good one.

I snapped this photo earlier in the week of my youngest one talking on the phone, sitting on the back step, stretching the phone cord to the limit, why is it in our house the cordless phone is always flat! That's Jill sitting there with him, do you think she is waiting patiently for her turn to talk? Good luck Jill 'cause Tom can talk and talk and talk, or do you think she is just blatantly eavesdropping!

Florentine

Inspired by Kim's collection of bargello pillows I gathered some supplies and began the mission today of mastering Florentine Stitch and making a bargello pillow of my own.

photo source via www.desiretoinspire.blogspot.com

With a square of canvas + wool the fun began.


Jonathan Adler has gorgeous bargello pillows available, take a look here.

And now for a little history... Bargello is a type of needlepoint embroidery. The name originates from a series of chairs found in the Bargello Palace in Florence which had a flame stitch pattern.
Traditional designs are very colourful, and use many hues of one colour, which produces intricate shading effects. The patterns are mostly geometric.

No wonder I'm drawn to these pilllows, colour + geometrics!

5am

An early start today, began with cutting paper hexagons, followed with a little hand sewing to ease into the day. I'm loving egg yolk yellow at the moment.

Next up, whip up a few Hello Kitty cushions. Good morning Kitty!

Time to jazz up the morning with a bit of colour and a gallon of white.

Keep the geometrics going with a few simple squares.

Out came the paints in the afternoon...

and more printing too, but more about that at a later date.

Finishing off with a few strips of colour.

I love days like this!