Pantaloons and Petticoats Exhibition

This is the publicity photo sent to my local newspaper by the President of Parramatta and District Historical Society for the current 3 month exhibition at Hambledon Cottage Museum at Parramatta. I do look a bit tired after working some crazy hours to get the exhibition mounted and ready to hang by 1st April. I'm yet to take some detailed photographs of the 30 textile items and 30 or so vintage corset advertisements and Fashion Plates from the Edwardian Era. Sydneysiders can see the Exhibition on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am till 3.30pm at Hambledon Cottage Museum cnr Gregory Place and Hassall Street Parramatta, entry $4 and $3 concession. The Exhibition finishes on June 30th 2011.

Report on my recent trip to Canberra

Thanks to my online friend Doreen I DID manage that trip to Canberra to see the Exhibition of the Ballets Russes costumes at the National Gallery. I caught the 6.10 am train from my home to meet the CountryLink train at Strathfield station for the 4 hour 15 minute trip, arriving just after 11 am on the Thursday. My little portable DVD player with earphones came in very handy for a movie or 2 during the trip up and back.

Doreen met me at the station and we drove to the National Botanical Gardens to see an exhibition of large scale lace that had been recommended to me, called "Rhythm Interrupted - Life Redirected" by Jenny Rees and Vicki Taylor. 15 large panels 1.22 metre x 80 cm were worked in linen and raffia thread in bobbin lace with non-traditional plastics and chunky materials as embellishments to depict the progression of life before, during and after a bushfire. The girls used Jenny's experience of losing her home in the January 2003 Canberra bushfires and the more recent Victorian bushfires as their inspiration for the works.

Doreen and her lovely husband Stephen fed and watered me and gave me a much appreciated comfortable room for the night. That night after dinner Doreen showed me all her wonderful textile work and we talked and talked like we'd known each other for years. We even chose a similar friendship gift for each other, crazy quilted 3D hearts. On Sunday afternoon after a leisurely lunch we visited the Ballets Russes exhibition, and I ran into 2 fellow Embroiderers' Guild members also visiting the Gallery, what a small world! Fabulous exhibition, can't believe the costumes were largely trompe l'oeil effect with paint and cheap fabric. Finally Doreen delivered me to the return train in ample time for a fellow traveller to take a photo of us on the station seat. What a great trip, thanks Doreen and Stephen for your hospitality and friendship, must do it again some time.

Beginning a new course - Intermediate Historical and Contemporary Embroidery

HUGE apologies for such a long break between blog posts ! Finally the Sydney night time temps have started to fall which means easier, more restful sleeping and I'm starting to get my energy back a little. Also I've started my Intermediate Historical and Contemporary Embroidery Certificate Course at the Embroiderers' Guild NSW and everyone knows that the time alloted for homework assignments is NEVER enough, no matter how organised you are, LOL. Our class meets a different tutor each month over 2 years to study a different subject.

In February we looked at how to research Embroidery using the Guild and outside resources. We each chose a different piece of work from the Guild's extensive archives and studied it, then worked a sample from the piece. Finally we designed a contemporary version of that sample. Fitting the whole assignment on the set A3 page (equal to 2 A4 or standard pages) was the hardest part, but I succeeded eventually after much editing then trimming and gluing printed pages.


This was my chosen piece, an embroidered sage green wool jacket by Beatrice Russell from our Collection, featuring 12 graduated needlewoven motifs in silk thread on front, back and sleeves. Stunning !!



Above is my historical sample being set up. I hooped up a piece of hand dyed felted wool fabric in a similar colour to the jacket which I was lucky enough to find at the CraftExpo in Sydney the week before. Then I threaded my warps through a central point (Stef Francis variegated silk perle) and anchored them in the binding of the hoop for some tension.



I chose to work just one small segment of a motif, which I called coral or anenomes rather than stars as the catalogue card stated.
Although I couldn't hope to match the beautiful colours Beatrice had hand dyed for her original piece, I chose some colours similar to hers in perle cotton and silk threads. I anchored my thread on the back then started needleweaving using a back stitch, graduating to over one thread/under one weaving when I divided off, then wrapping towards the end of each warp. Luckily I choose a technique I have done before for my first assignment, no use re-inventing the wheel as they say. However I'd forgotten how long this technique takes and how fiddly, but the results were quite good. I wish I had time to work more of the motif, but the aim was to show an understanding of the technique used, and I did that. Here is the weaving completed, and below the finished motif segment after all the ends were plunged through the wool and secured with small stitches in machine thread on the rear, as in goldwork embroidery.




Then came my contemporary version of the motif, with gold beading wire warps and variegated knitted tubular rayon ribbon as the back stitched filling. Cute !

Trip to Canberra to see Ballets Russes costumes

Photo from National Gallery website, see below

I've decided to take matters into my own hands and have arranged a trip in 2 weeks to Canberra on the train to see the Ballets Russes costumes at the National Gallery of Australia. I had been hoping to go during the holidays with my husband, but alas the result from his recent back surgery hasn't been all we had hoped for and he's not up to the 4 1/2 hour trip. So I'm hoping to meet my friend Doreen of Creative Meanderings and see the exhibition with her. I always think it's much more meaningful to go with a fellow enthusiast to an exhibition, don't you?

Hot, hot, hot !

Sydneysiders trying to cool down on Bondi beach - photo by Brett Parkes, Tourism Australia

The weather here in Sydney at the moment is just terrible! Too hot to do anything except sit in the coolest rooms in the house and complain that it's too HOT to go out. Seriously it's been 41 degrees C (thats 105 degrees F) today, it was nearly as hot yesterday and will be around this temperature till Sunday. Nighttime temps. are hovering around the 20 degrees mark outside, but the indoors don't get a chance to cool down much before the next hot day comes along. Sleeping is optional. I've been gathering all the materials for a few small stitching projects in the cool room and have finished a few this week. As soon as it cools down enough, I'll share some photos !!

Floods and searching for perfection

A snake clings to a post in a flooded paddock

Apologies in advance for a long post

We've had a terrible week here in Australia, torrential rain, flash flooding and rising rivers up and down the east coast and fires on the west coast. Brisbane CBD, the 3rd largest city in Australia, was flooded for the first time in 36 years. Lives were lost in inland Queensland and thousands of families face financial ruin with flooded homes and most if not all of their worldly possessions ruined. The people are very stoic though with most pledging to clean up and rebuild. Today on the TV we're seeing huge bands of volunteers registering to help with the cleanup and the Army sent in to re-establish major infrastructure. Apparently they are comparing the damage to Hurricane Katrina in the US, it'll take years to recover, if ever. I'm very lucky to live in the outer suburbs of Sydney in New South Wales, well away from the immediate danger although we have had some very poor weather due to La Nina patterns in the Pacific. The TV footage has been graphic and appeals for donations are running, if you would like to contribute, thankyou so much on behalf of all those affected.

I've been trying to escape now and then through the internet. One of my favourite webfriends Patricia Eaton Birds Nest on the Ground posted a photo of one of her collection of vintage quilts, a wonderful old log cabin design. The quilt isn't perfect and is falling apart in a lot of places but Pat wishes she knew its story. Recently I added some pieces to my collection of Victorian/Edwardian underwear which need repairs. I wish I knew the story behind those pieces, who wore them and when, and why were they pulled apart / damaged as they are now? Did they belong to a large family where they were handed down till they fell apart but escaped the "rag bag", did the owner outgrow them and was getting ready to alter them when circumstances changed through illness/ death / marriage? Don't you wish textiles could talk, VBG?

It got me thinking about our modern quest for the perfect stitch, the beautifully made garments and quilts, the exhibition quality embroideries. Some of my most treasured things are embroideries done by my grandmothers, who were good needlewomen but not experts. There is a certain charm in the stitching, little imperfections that speak of working in poor light without the benefit of modern magnification devices and stitched after a long day keeping house. Some of them are stamped linen pieces which were widely available for the needlewoman to buy and stitch up to decorate her home. Should we dismiss them as not worthy of our admiration or collecting? Some examples will be re-purposed for other crafts which is good if it saves them from bin, but I hope some are preserved in their original state too. Then there are the utility quilts, made for the original purpose of keeping warm and adding some cheer to austere surroundings. They were often assembled by amateur needlewomen too, using magazines and books to learn how to do it. The publications of early 1800s to 1920's did not have glossy photos to guide the makers, and offered very basic instructions. In my 1920's copy of the "Big Book of Needlework" by Odhams there is one page of text describing the types of patchwork (crazy, geometrical and American) and one of line illustrations. In the next chapter there are 10 pages devoted to quilting including 3 pages of line drawings showing suggested designs. Despite having no glossy magazines, patterns, BOM services or the internet to help the makers, books of vintage quilts are illustrated with wonderful examples of colourful quilts worked by needlewomen who shared their knowledge while around the quilting frame, at social gatherings, or with their neighbours and friends. Think of the quilting scenes in "How to make an American Quilt".

How then did we arrive at the current trend for perfection in all the needle arts? Why do we so frequently unpick (or frog as our US friends call it) our work because we aren't happy with it? Should we leave our imperfections alone and learn from any mistakes so that they're not repeated? Isn't the joy supposed to be IN the making, not the result? Or have we evolved to the stage that we HAVE to have an exhibition quality piece everytime we pick up a needle? I consider myself a reasonably good technician, I can do lots of different techniques, some better than others, and I often wish I could do better. It frustrates me, spoiling my enjoyment. Lately I've been re-thinking why this can be. Shouldn't I enjoy the process (I hate the term JOURNEY) rather than the end result? Is that what the Slow Cloth movement is all about?

So, I ask you these questions and look forward to your comments.

Christmas 2010

My 2 Aussie santa figurines enjoying some sun in the yard

Well here it is New Year's Eve already, where did 2010 go? We had a relatively quiet Christmas here. Hubby had another back surgery on December 6th and in time we hope to see some improvement with feeling in his feet after the nerves in his lower back have de-compressed a little more. We didn't attend many parties pre-Christmas as he's been either lying or standing to rest his back since the op. Christmas is all about families for me at any rate, so I looked forward to seeing the grandkids faces when they opened their gifts and I wasn't dissappointed. Amelie liked her FP dolls house and Riley loved his FP ride on digger/trencher that Nan bought. I was still sewing 3 organza and net fairy skirts for children's gifts till 10 pm on Christmas Eve, but luckily my usual order for new dresses for Christmas for an old friend is postponed for a few weeks.

The weather in December was alternating rain and hot days, so we've been literally watching the grass grow in the yard and have engaged a regular "mowing man" now to save hubby's back. One hot day I gave Miss Amelie some red, yellow and green paint and a brush and set her up under the beach umbrella in the back yard. Mum bought her a paper mache reindeer, and she decorated it with much enthusiasm, not sure if she has talent for art yet though, VBG.



My santa figurine collection went on display in early December, and I'm sure they're breeding in the dark cupboard, LOL. I counted 75 all up, and they're certainly impressive displayed on the entertainment unit and sideboard. Only problem is, they all should come down on 12th night, or is that just the Christmas tree? Ours wasn't put up this year, but I think the house looked festive with the Santas and Christmas cards on display anyway.


Just a few of the santas on display

I'm not looking forward to packing all the Santas away, they're so cheery and I look forward to putting them up in a new way each year. I'm also in the middle of a carpet beetle and possible flee infestation in the house, so am busily vacuuming behind furniture, along skirting boards and putting down surface spray as I go along. I think I can blame the Sydney weather, or perhaps it's just my poor housekeeping skills, creativity keeps one very busy you know, LOL.

2011 Bead Journal Project

Fabulous work from the Bead Journal Project 2010 by Karen L. Cohen, see more here

Some people may remember that my key word for 2010 was "Focus"... Well I DID manage to focus on family quite a bit but I had hoped to spend more time focussing on my stitching, LOL. So in an effort to challenge me to find "even more focus" in 2011 I've signed up for the 2011 Bead Journal Project after seeing it at one of the many blogs I visit recently. Here is one of the 3 blogs created for the 2010 Bead Journal Project to inspire us all. Registration ends on Wednesday 8th December (US time) so nip over if you'd like to join me. The rules are pretty flexible but I'm hoping to be really disciplined. I've been really enjoying beading my ATC swaps lately and also doing a little beading with the kids at the YTFG stitching classes at the Embroiderers' Guild. I've collected quite a few different kinds of beads and I'm sure will collect even more !
This project should mesh quite well with the Intermediate Contemporary and Historical Embroidery course I'm going to be doing in 2011 and 2012 with the Embroiderers' Guild NSW. I might even decide to do my Major Work in beaded embroidery !

Crazypatch mini quilt

Block pieced and ready to embellish


Completed quilt


I've long admired people such as Sharon B, Allison Aller and Pam Kellogg who do fabulous embellished crazy patchwork. I've always considered myself a passable embroiderer and I used to be a quick learner. However, my latest attempt at a simple mini quilt in crazy patchwork for an online swap hasn't exactly been a fabulous success. Our brief was to use 4 or 5 green fabrics and at least 2 different embroidery stitches to make a little 8 inch x 10 inch quilt to be sent by the end of November. I DID mail it yesterday, but I hope my swap partner is kind when she sees it !! I'd be grateful for any constructive criticism or suggestions to improve it. I could have kept going with a lot more embellishment but really I didn't have a lot of green things to hand and didn't have the time or energy to go shopping. I'm even doing online grocery shopping lately. It costs the same as home delivery (I'm a non-driver) and is delivered inside my front door and I'm spending less as there isn't the impulse buying that usually goes with pushing a trolley around the physical supermarket aisles !

A family wedding 6th November 2010

The family wedding was a very simple but elegant event. The Bride (my eldest daughter) organised nearly everything herself from handmade invitations and placecards to bomboniere tags. Table decorations and flowers, hairdresser and makeup artist were booked online. It's certainly less expensive although I'm not so sure it was less stressful for her (or me either!) The small bridal group travelled in a black stretch limousine booked by her Dad about 6 weeks out from the date rather than use borrowed transport as she lives quite a distance from the wedding venue at a modern Italian restaurant on the Parramatta River in Sydney.
Her oldest and dearest friend was Matron of Honour and there was no best man although the groom's cousin was his witness. My daughter-in-law made the beautiful wedding cake.



My other daughters read a wedding poem during the ceremony, my son was Master of Ceremonies / D.J. and the 2 little grandchildren were supposed to walk down the aisle at the ceremony. They rehearsed beautifully at home, but as the big moment approached it was obvious it just wasn't going to happen, so the Matron of Honour carried the little princess in and his dad carried my grandson in to meet his mummy in the second row.








The Bride wore a Carla Zampatti evening gown with small train in ivory taffeta, borrowed my grandmother's Art Deco Swarovski crystal jewellery and I made a mushroom pink silk rose for her waist and hair decoration.





I also made a second cocktail length dress for the first dance which had to be fetched by a relative after being left at home in the last minute rush !!




We spent the day dodging showers, but in the end the light was great.
Here's the whole family with their partners posing for the professional photographer outside the restaurant, looking forward to seeing her shots in due course.

A different kind of anniversary

Yesterday was the 2 year anniversary of our house fire. The repairs have been finished for quite a while now. However lately I've found myself getting nervous at night again, and have begun sleeping with a night lite. Isn't that silly, but I guess it's a post traumatic stress reaction. As the weather gets warmer I sometimes need to sleep with an open window or the ceiling fan on over the bed. I'm such a light sleeper that any different noise, even an insect moving outside the window, can wake me with a fright. I dislike sleeping medications, so any suggestions about how to get to sleep and stay that way would be welcome !

The family wedding went very well, photos will follow soon, and the honeymoon couple plus one (grandaughter Miss Amelie) are in Fiji this week. I really miss having the baby around 2 days per week and can't wait for them to get back. I'm also going to put up my Christmas decorations before they return, I'm sure Amelie will really appreciate the 50 plus santa figures up on the entertainment unit !!

And the winner is..

My apologies for not announcing the winner of my blogiversary / 200th post giveaway sooner. My oldest daughter is getting married this Saturday 6th November, and of course as I was a professional dressmaker she asked me to make her a second wedding dress for the wedding reception with about 6 weeeks notice. This would not normally be a problem for me, I've made lots in much shorter time frames, but I'm still recovering slowly from a shingles attack in late July and also looking after her daughter Miss Amelie (photo above)2 days per week. It didn't help either when some ongoing clients asked for urgent work in between. Finally we decided on a style together as she wanted something short and easily managed on the day rather than her long wedding gown, and we bought fabric and pattern. I made 2 cotton toiles of the bodice, made adjustments then finally cleared the decks and made the dress in 10 days. She took it home today, along with the bought wedding gown which of course I had to hem up since it was made for a giant !! After Saturday I'll be sure to add a couple of photos here.

So, after putting all commenters into a hat and adding followers.... the winner of mystery giveaway is....



KATE of Kalico Kate

Congratulations, I'll be in touch about getting your snail mail for a mailing soon.

Vintage needlework

I thought I'd share a piece of vintage embroidery I found recently when I was looking for something completely different in my storage cupboard in the bedroom. I think it's a side table mat and was stitched by my paternal grandmother who was a good needlewoman. It features a stem stitch filling skirt, buttonhole flowers on the skirt,satin stitch and bullion stitch flowers as well. The linen is very fine and features a finely crocheted edging in pearl thread. The white mark on the right side is unfortunately a hole, it looks like there may have been an organic stain on it which has been eaten by an insect over the years. I'd put it at 1950's or early 60's vintage as that was when I remember her doing this kind of work. I can't see whether it was pre-stamped or whether it was an iron-on transer which was typical of the time. I love it !

Blogiversary Giveaway - deadline extended

I've extended the deadline for my Blogiversary Giveaway till Monday 11th October because I've been terribly busy and haven't had time to put together the goodies parcel yet ! So all comments till then earn one entry in the draw which I'll get a family member to conduct for me. Overseas mailing is not a problem but you'll need to log in so I can request a mailing address if you win.

The photo is of my grandmother's antique cameo brooch (unsure of age) which I was wearing recently with an 1850's repro crinoline at an historic house Open Day. I may post photos of the actual outfit later, I look like Whistlers' Mother in the photo (which isn't a BAD thing, but I look a lot older without my modern purple glasses!)

World's smallest stop motion animation on Sharon B's blog

My online friend Sharon Boggon has the knack of finding the most incredible articles online, and we're very lucky that she shares them with us. The post this morning features the world's smallest stop motion animation, made with some incredible technology that is helping diagnose illnesses in remote areas of the world. Intrigued now?
Have a look here and enjoy.

Spring cleaning

What prompts us to look inwards and evaluate our lives at certain points in time? I'm not sure if it's because Spring ( a time of renewal of Life) has arrived here in Australia, or that it's only 12 weeks to Christmas and another birthday for me. Or is it because my youngest child has turned 25 and I'm feeling suddenly much older! I'm preparing my Curriculum Vitae for the Guild to apply for an embroidery course I'm thinking of taking and that has made me look at what I've achieved so far (or not) as well. This is my 200th post on this blog.

Time has certainly flown past lately, and it's even more obvious when I look at current photos of the grandkids. Riley has just turned 2, and is a dear little chap. He helped celebrate Auntie Bron's 25th birthday last weekend and I was able to snap this photo.


Doesn't he look all grown up?

Amelie at 21 months old is blossoming too. She comes to granny daycare with me for 2 days per week and is going to be in her mum's bridal party (we hope) with Riley in early November.



Amelie and Mum in the ballpit at Riley's birthday party in August

I've been madly Spring cleaning, well sorting out some accumulated junk rather than actual cleaning. I finally got my new rebuilt laundry finished with a large expensive custom made storage cupboard but haven't filled it yet, I need to sort out some other rooms first. I sold my space-wasting industrial sewing machine back to the supplier for spare parts. I wasn't really using it due to my neck and hand problems anyway. While all the contents of the sewing room were moved so that the removal chaps could get at the machine, I bought a set of shelves which was assembled and duly installed in there and filled up ! I found things I'd forgotten I had bought, saved and made. Some more drawers will be the next purchase, unless I can make the time to sort out a partly filled chest of drawers which may fit in the sewing room...

I definitely think it's Spring motivating me to look at things with fresh eyes. I've decided to apply to take an intermediate embroidery course over 2 years. I took a version of the course 7 years ago but feel I didn't give it the attention I could have at the time, between work and family committments I wasted a lot of time. Older and wiser,I think I'm ready to try again with renewed enthusiasm.

On Friday 1st October I'll be drawing a name from the hat for my Blogiversary giveaway, and each comment posted up until then will earn one ticket in the draw. I'll have to make a bumper prize now, considering 2 "special events" have co-incided.

A little giveaway to say Happy Blogiversary to myself !

Project worked by 2 kids in my stitching class in May

I can't believe it was 4 years ago last Sunday that I began blogging about my life and interests. So many things have happened around me over the years and my world has changed mostly for the better in that time. The highlights (and lowlights) included becoming a grandmother here and here, hubby being treated successfully for 2 minor heart attacks, and forced renovations after a house fire. My dear sister-in-law is now in remission from Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)which developed about 2 years ago. Professionally I've semi-retired from costume making except for special customers and have been concentrating on volunteering at historic houses in my area where my dressmaking skills have been put to good use. I also led a team who made reproduction convict women's clothing for a very successful exhibition called "Women Transported" which is touring the east coast of Australia. For my post on that see my costume blog here I continue to swap fabric ATC in my online quilting group and am currently convenor of the Embroiderers' Guild junior group YTFG and co-leader of a local Club. Right now I'm seriously considering whether to take another 2 year intermediate course at the Guild with the ultimate goal of becoming an accredited childrens' tutor. Lastly I can't forget that I'm providing my granddaughter Amelie daycare for 2 days per week while her mum goes to work, and I hope she's enjoying it as much as I am. I'm certainly getting lots of exercise on those 2 days with a little person in the house, LOL.

I had intended to announce a little giveaway in the week before my blogiversary, but got distracted and the date slipped quietly by. It's not too late to celebrate though, so if you'd like to say "hi" in a comment I'll conduct a little draw at the end of the month and send the lucky winner a little parcel. I'll include something handmade by me of course, and perhaps some stash enhancers? Please no anonymous comments, and I'm happy to mail overseas.

Another lovely blog to visit

Image from Dover Books samplers

There are lots and lots of textile blogs out there, just waiting to inspire us all. Some have fabulous work to showcase, some also share a little about themselves (or a lot) and a few do all of the above. One of my favourites is Pam Kellogg's "Kitty and Me Designs". Pam specialises in Crazy Patchwork but also does paper art. Such a lovely lady, great work to inspire you and insights into her life to inform and inspire as well. At the moment she has a lucky draw for a mini art quilt which is well worth winning. Pop in and have a look and scroll through some past posts while your there, you certainly won't be dissappointed in this blog.

A new blog is born

My shingles are almost healed thankfully. This quiet time has given me pause to consider my future and I have a few decisions to make about courses to take and my direction for the next couple of years. Nothing too drastic, but I've been coasting along for a while now and feel it's time to focus on some personal goals.

One decision made already is to start a new blog dedicated entirely to my passion for historic costume. I have a small collection of antique underwear, some babies wear and other interesting costume accessories. In the past I made theatrical costumes and in the last few years have found myself concentrating on historical reproduction sewing, so those interests will be explored further on the new blog which I've called Camisoles to Bustles. Hope you pop over an have a look? I'm progressively moving old posts from my costuming blog Lady Janes Wardrobe and that will now concentrate on other types of costume sewing.

A cautionary tale

Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I'm a worrier, always have been and probably always will be. I sweat the details on everything, that's why I'm so good at theatrical costume making I suppose. It does have certain repercussions though. Sometimes I make myself ill, literally. I shouldn't have been too surprised then when my new doctor pronounced that the tingling blisters in my scalp about 10 days ago were Shingles. They're Herpes Zoster virus, just like cold sores, and you can only get them if you've previously had Chicken Pox but it seems that an overloaded immune system can trigger an attack. Chronic pain (such as I have in my neck area) and not coping well with stress (enough said!!)are probably to blame. Luckily I got treatment quickly and was able to take some medication to stop the symptoms being too severe.

I was NOT impressed though when lumpy blisters began forming on my forehead and over my right eye, very tender and throbbing for the first 3 days. I'm using Calendula cream on my lumps during the day and Calomine lotion to prevent scratching during the night. My scalp is still tender and I'm avoiding combing my hair. Hair washing is a gentle affair, gently washing and then wrapping my hair rather than rubbing it dry or using a dryer. The most alarming stage was on the Sunday evening when my eyes were swelling closed. An after-hours doctor was very reassuring, and suggested Nurofen for it's anti-inflamatory effects. I lost the bridge of my nose somewhere under there, I could easily have auditioned for a part in a Star Wars movie, as an alien in the tavern or street scenes?? Even my little granddaughter Amelie looked at me a bit strangely on the Monday but by Tuesday evening the swelling had subsided.


Amelie loves watching DVD's of In the Night Garden

Thankfully I'm slowly on the mend, but still sleeping 9 or 10 hours every night, most unusual for me. Husband has shared his cold with me, but with all the medication in my system I've avoided getting too sick. I've cancelled all outside committments for 2 weeks though to give myself time to recuperate, and I'm spending time stitching and "researching" on the PC.

So the moral of this tale is: Listen to your friends who tell you to make your own health and well-being a priority and eveything else will follow. Superwoman is a cartoon character, not a real woman, so stop trying to imitate her !