More dramas...

I'm having such a good run of late. *cough*
Yesterday I got bucked off a horse, and landed really badly on my left hip (where I've had numerous problems in the past.) Talk about agony! I haven't fallen off a horse since I was 10 or 11, and I've quickly realised that you don't bounce as easy the older you get.
Have spent the day seeing my osteopath and having x-rays. Thankfully nothing is fractured, but I've messed my back up good and proper (I never do things by halves!) So I'm in quite a bit of agony, and can hardly move.
So once again, this blog is on hiatus for a wee bit!

Am I sensing a pattern here with injuries associated with horses???

Something special

"Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate. It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world."

I have just discovered this amazing mission, Craft Hope. They create handmade items for children in orphanages all around the world. They first made pillowcase dresses for children in Mexico, and then beautiful dolls for kids in Nicaragua. And now they are making booties, blankets and beanies for children in India. And they are asking for anyone and everyone to get involved and help.

This has touched my heart greatly. I spent two months in Indonesia doing missionary work, and living with the locals in remote villages. I absolutely adored the children, and each one found a place in my heart. They are so pure, and so beautiful inside and out. They laugh and smile, no matter what conditions they live in.

I am so eager to get involed with this project, and help out. I can't wait to make some blankets, and share some blessings and love to those who need it most of all. I encourage you to get involved too!

I'm good at procrastinating...

You see, there are so many things I should be doing right now.

I have a looming deadline in a few months, and so I really should be working on some stitcheries.

And I have to make two calico dolls for a friend, using the fabric below. I think the fact that these aren't needed till September is why I keep putting them off. But we all know that September will roll around awfully quick, don't we?


I really should tidy my sewing room, and organise the piles of fabric back into neat organised rows. No, I am not showing you any photos of my messy sewing room, and piles of fabric.


And there are numerous unfinished quilts that I really should finish.


But for some reason, I find myself customising and painting a model horse.

*note - progress photo*

Why? I have no idea.

But, I did manage to do something worth while, and create this fabric folder in 10 minutes. Yes, 10 minutes.
A simple little folder that flips out, with three pockets to hold my design book, my designs, and the blocks in progress. We won't mention the fact that I made this instead of actually stitching the designs inside.


And I had a nice suprise this week when I got the latest Homespun Magazine in the mail. I won a book! Yup, a book! It's called "Stitched for us Folk," by Christine Book Designs, and features heaps of Australian folk style projects.

One that has captured my eye is a Hexagon quilt. I have never worked with Hexagons before, but for some reason I like the thought of creating it with other sewers. I can imagine swapping and sharing hexagons with ladies from all over the world, and then putting our quilts together. How wonderful would it be to have bits of fabrics from ladies in the US or Europe or wherever, in a quilt. What a special treasure that quilt would then be.

How about this for some Hexagon loveliness! They look good enough to eat.


Ok, enough of my procrastinating. I really should get back to work!

Back on board...

Well ladies, I'm back! Once again, thank you for all your kind 'get well' comments. It's been great to read them, and I'm so appreciative!

I finally can get through a day without feeling dizzy or struggling with headaches. I worked for the first time again on Monday, but I think I overdid it and had a throbbing headache all afternoon. But apart from that, I'm getting better - yay! It's amazing how much concussion knocks you around, and effects your thoughts and thinking. Mum was quite amazed at all the silly things I was doing whilst I was sick. I'm still not driving (apart from short local trips,) but I'm getting there slowly. I think I'll be wearing a helmet next time I work with my friends horse!

Anyway, lets get back to some normality! I've missed you all, and I feel a bit out of the loop! I've set aside some time this afternoon to browse all your blogs and catch up.



Time for a Paper Bag swap update! I think nearly everyone has sent their finished handmade items back to their partners, and I hope you all enjoyed being apart of the swap. There are a few things I'm still chasing up on, but it's pretty much been a sucess!

So I wanted to share with you some of the creations that have been made through this swap. If you scroll through some previous posts on my blog you will find some items aswell.

Michelle was a busy girl, and made some great items for Levineke. Check out this lovely folder for Levineke to store all her sewing bits and pieces in. It has pockets inside for all sorts of things, like threads and scissors. Make sure you drop by Levinekes blog to see the other goodies Michelle made her.
I have fallen with love with this gorgeous bag ( yup, another bag!!)that Kris has made for Leah!

Isn't the owl so cute?? Leah loves owls, so it's just perfect for her. Check out Leahs blog for some more photos of the cute bag.

Now, I think this is the first doll that has been made in the swap (correct me if I am wrong!) And this gorgeous little girl was made by Jantine for Tracey. She is a sewing themed doll, with embroidered pockets, and even a little needlebook, and scissors fob. How cute is she??

And check out what Tracey made for Jantine. She used Lynette Andersons stitchery design for the Breast of Friends, and made a beautiful wall hanging. How clever is she?? Go to Jantines blog to see some more photos of the goodies Tracey sent her, and to look at those yummy pancakes she was making when the parcel arrived!!

Isn't it great to see all these wonderful items that have been made? You are all such a talented and creative bunch of women - well done! I hope you have enjoyed the swap, and had a good time. I know I did!

Still sick...

Thank you for all your kind get well messages from my previous post! It's been such a joy and encouragment to come online and recieve these messages, so thank you very much.

It's been a week since the horse hit me, and I am still unwell with my concussion. I went to the doctors on Saturday as I was feeling incredibly lousy. I was nauseous, light headed, had headaches, and was just feeling awful. The doctor wanted me to take a week off to rest, and said that I should be feeling better by Wednesday, which was yesterday. Well I'm not. I couldn't go to work yesterday, and I still have terrible headaches, and feel so dizzy. The doctor had said that if symptoms persist I could have a leaking blood vessel in the brain, and I'll need scans. Talk about scary. So I don't want to take any chances, and I'm going back to the doctors this afternoon.

I just wanted to update you all on my condition, and what's happening. I haven't been doing much, and as a result, Block 3 of Stringybark Farm will be delayed. I will do a better update post on the Paper Bag swap when I'm feeling a bit brighter.

Hope you are all well, and hopefully I'll be back on board soon. Thank you again!

I'll be back...

Just a quick post to say that I'm unwell, and won't be on here for a few days I don't think. I was working with my friends young horse yesterday, and got hit in the head. I have a mild concussion, and was starting to feel better this morning. But after going into town to post a parcel, I feel crook and horrible. I think I did too much too soon. So off to bed for me!

And just because I don't like a post without a photo, here is one of my horse Charlie and I. He is my best friend, and have owned him since he was 8 months old. Not very craft related I know, but he is a very important part of my life. :)

Must be the day for getting pressies!

Isn't the postman nice to deliver not only my swap item from Maree today, but to deliver Maree hers too?!! Such fun that we both got ours on the same day!

So now I can finally reveal what I made for Maree! I've been wanting to show you all for weeks now!

These are the items that Maree sent me.....

...and this is what I made...

Yup, another bag!! haha! I made the bag first, and then had stuff left over, so made the table runner.

The first thing that shouted out to me about Marees fabric was 'cherries,' hence the cherry fabric, and appliqued cherry. I hope you like cherries Maree!

The fabric is one of Marees favourites, so I had to use the selvedge, and I think it looks really funky! I love the red ribbon with it too, which can be gathered together to 'close' the bag.

But wait, that's not all! The bag is actually reversible! So whenever Maree gets tired of one side, she can get a fresh new look just by turning it inside out. The green ribbon was one of the items Maree sent, and it was just long enough to gather the bag too!

I call this my 'shabby chic' side!! I had such fun playing with this side of the bag and coming up with something a bit different! I completely made up the design for the whole bag as I went along, and followed no pattern. I find that's the best way that I create- just by making it up as I go.

I also made a little circle of fabric and stitched a capital 'M' (for Maree obviously!) and a flower on the back, then attached it to the bag. But I think I forgot to get a photo of it!

The table runner is simply squares sewn together, with an applique center. I actually cut out one of the flowers from the green fabric of the bag, and used that for the applique.

And then I added some of the buttons Maree sent, and the red ric rac. I also used the ric rac on the bag.
I've heard from Maree that she loves the items and is really happy - so big sigh of relief from me!! I had so much fun making these items for Maree, as she is such a lovely person, and it's been a joy to get to know her over this swap.

*jumps up and down with excitement*

Guess what arrived at my door just as I was finishing my previous post?!! A package from Maree! Yup, my paper bag swap item!


And wow, wow, wow! It's fantastic! Maree has done such an amazing job, and I'm so thrilled with the results. Here are the bits and pieces that I sent her....

And this is the result! A gorgeous wall hanging, that has a beautiful stitchery on it, a fantastic pin cushion (I've been admiring that design for ages!), some very cute farm yard cake decoartions and two sachets of coffee!!


Haven't I been spoiled?!! Here is a better picture of the wallhanging. I love the colours Maree has used with my fabric, and the stitchery design is lovely.


The amount of detail in here is incredible! Check out those fantastic and neat stitches!


I LOVE this little flower that is attached to the wall hanging! It says, "Missymacks paper bag swap 2009." Maree said I could take it off if I wanted to, but no way! I love it and it's staying!



The pincushion is just amazing, and once again, Marees work is just lovely. It's going to have pride of place on my sewing table!


Thank you, thank you, thank you to Maree!! You have done such a beautiful and wonderful job, and I love it all so much. I'll treasure it always!


Now I'm off to have a cup of coffee, and 'ohh and ahh' over my treasures a little more!

More Swap stuff!

Well there are paper bag swap parcels flying all around the world at the moment! How exciting is that?!

Check out the amazing items that Erika made for Beatrice! There is a beautiful wallhanging, which has so much stitching and detail! It looks fantastic.

And there is a table runner too, which is just lovely. Erika has done a great job!

And Sandra has recieved her swap item from Jessica, who made a lovely bag with funky paisley stitching on the front, a notebook, and this groovy little owl! How cute is he?! I just want to cuddle him!

Thanks to everyone who is keeping in contact with my about the swap. I'm sorry if I haven't replied to every email - I've been run off my feet this past week! We only have a few ladies left to send their items (thanks for the emails and heads up girls!) and then it's all done! I hope you have enjoyed the swap as much as I have!