Happy and Blessed Easter

I cannot believe that I have not updated my blog in a while so I want to wish you all a very Blessed and Happy Easter.

With the weather being so hot here in Melbourne Australia I can say that I have done very little in the craft line, my hands get too sweaty and hot to tat so my work is not pleasent to do, so it stays covered up until the cooler weather comes along.

Sending big hugs to you all
Joy

Hello to everyone,

I have spent the last few weeks reading 2 very interesting books, I love reading and biographies are my favorites...  we can learn so much from those that have gone before us, these 2 books were on the life of one of my favorite movie stars, and I think that maybe he will be one of your favorites too.

Unfortunately he is no longer with us, but his brilliant movie career will live on for many years to come.......the man I want to mention is Cary Grant,  a giant of a man in the movie world and adored by many.

I never realized that he had such a tragic childhood, seeing him in a film I don't think many folks would have thought that either, but reading the book "Good Stuff" written by his one and only child Jennifer Grant and "Dear Cary" written by his late wife Dyan Cannon has certainly put new thoughts into my head about what life can be like after a tragic upbringing and how one can feel guilty for things that , as a child we can blame ourselves for when we were only being bystanders.

I agree tragedy comes to us all in one way or another, but how we deal with it is so very important, these books enlightened me a little more, and I understood a little better in more than one way on my own journey of life, and I am so very glad that I read them.

When it all boils down to is this, Love, friendships, forgiveness, honesty, and a listening ear are some of the most important things we have at our disposal, and cost us nothing, without them we are nothing.

What happened to Cary Grant as a child happens to other children in this world, my only hope is that they will seek help and gain the love that they deserve......they didn't ask to come into this world, but they are what the next generation will be and maybe that could be and would be a far better world.

I have no connection with either writer's or the publishers of these books but if you get the chance to read the books I hope that you will take it....... don't look just for Cary Grant the famous movie star, look around you at the children of the future.........being a film star, having all the luxuries it can give a person isn't worth going through the misery of ones past and always feeling the guilt that was never yours in the first place

Hugs
Joy.

Happy New Year to you all.....I am putting a couple of my bobbin lace items here for you to see, They were done a little while ago
Hugs
Joy

Missing top bar

Well wouldn't you know it that as soon as I say something is very wrong it becomes right again...I am now seeing the top bar of my blog...is Google playing games I wonder LOL
Hugs
Joy

Blog top bar

Hi All,
I am having a problem with my blog again, I cannot see the top bar on my or anyone elses blog...the one that says.... next blog, new post, design, etc, please can anyone help me out???
Thanks in advance
Joy in OZ

Hi Folks,
Well they say that one never stops learning....so I have taken on a new hobby once again...it is Zentangles which is a form of art and meditation, you don't have to be able to draw  so stop saying" I cant even draw a straight line" because you don't need one, anyone can do it, you would be surprised at how easy and calming it is.
I am attaching my first try here on my blog so hope that you like it and that you will Google Zentangles for yourself....go into the Zentangles site to learn all about it
Have a great day
Hugs and Love
Joy

Hello from "Down Under"
Seems like ages that I wrote something for my blog. reason being that I have been trying to learn a new craft.......it is making Turkish Oya Knotted lace and having lots of fun in the effort.....I long to be able to make the Oya Flowers but that is going miles ahead of me at the time of writing.
I bought 3 cheap cotton hankies to practice on...Yes there is that word again Practice, Practice and more Practice LOL but though that I would show you my attempts so far so here is a photo of how far I have got.
Its not finished yet.
Hugs
Joy

Monday 3rd September 2012


You may ask what I am thinking and doing today so I will open my heart and tell you.
12 months to the day my husband Bernard passed to be with the Lord, I am living every minute of that day with sadness in my heart and many tears, I know that I should be grateful for all the years we had together, and I am, but I must admit it is a lonely road to travel.


Yes we had our ups and downs but tell me what couple doesn't?, that's part of life I guess, and also a part of growing up.


My advice to you all is this.. "make every day count, treasure every minute you are together and make sure that you laugh a lot ....forgiveness is the biggest thing to do and sometimes the hardest, but nevertheless it is necessary, when you feel life is getting harder then dance like you've never danced before, sing the loudest...while no one is listening"
That's what I am trying to do today...not easy but at least I am trying
Love to you all
Joy

Hello

Hi All,
It has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote anything on this blog so I though that I would do so  now.
It is getting very close to the date of my 1 year without my DH, on the 5th September 2011 he passed to be with the Lord and I am starting to get teary already........I must admit I have been very lonely even though I am very near to part of my family.
After 59 years of marriage I guess that is to be expected but it does'nt make it any easier, I have had the Lords help to get through this time so I should really be grateful for that, and I am believe me, but I miss Bernard so much........maybe it gets better with time, I will just have to carry on and make the best of it.
Love and Hugs to you all
God Bless
Joy

Split Chain Doily

I have started to tat the Split Chain doily from Linda Davies's pattern, Many thanks to Linda for being so generous with her patterns and her wonderful advice, I am posting a photo of the doily that I have done so far.......I have dreaded doing split chains for many years but this doily was too gorgeous to miss so here is the photo, and I am thrilled to say that I am no longer afraid of this technique.....LOL

Hugs
 Joy

Hell All,
I have just finished my first term teaching Tatting at the Crib Point Community Centre and I am very pleased with the results...I start a new term on the 23rd of this month with a set of newbies and the first class will be a social class......what a joy it has been to share this wonderful craft of Tatting with others and an added benifit of  Tatting taking in new folks who can eventually pass it on.
Hugs
Joy

Hello All,

Well I said that I wouldnt get another dog when my 2 darling Poodles passed away but I relented and got this gorgeous 3 year old Chihuahua called Tara....she is simply adorable, so affectionate... and cuddles could go on all day long LOL.
I put her into the big cage for the first day so that she could make friends with Buddy Boy my British Shorthair cat, the cat is bigger than Tara!!!! The cage is down now and they get along O.K.
I love her to pieces
Hugs
Joy

Another sad time

I am having another very sad time as my two gorgeous Poodles had to be put to sleep, Mindy was going on 14 years and had a very bad heart and was nearly blind due to cataracts, she was very unsteady on her feet and was falling over, Jaycee was 13 and he had health problems too plus he had an anxiety disorder after Bernard passed away, I couldn't leave him for a minute, he would cry if I went into another room, it was heartbreaking.

I miss them terribly but have many happy memories to look back on,
Hugs
Joy

Short Holiday

My Daughter and I went on a short holiday to a place called Lakes Entrance here in Victoria, Australia.......I was really feeling washed out after the loss of my husband but I am pleased to say that the short holiday really helped me, having my daughter with me was a bonus, she made me laugh, something I havent done for a while, Yes things do get easier with time.
Love to you all
Hugs
Joy

New Printer and scanner try out

My printer gave up the ghost so I had to get a new one.......I have been playing with it this morning after I downloaded it all yesterday and thought that I would just have a go.

I found this gorgeous photo of Bernard taken sometime in 2009, before he got sick so I am posting it here for you to see.

Hugs to you all

Joy

Rest in Peace, we will be together again one day

Another sad day

Hello All,
It was another sad day for us yesterday, our youngest daughter and her DH had to have their faithful dog Doohan  put sleep, he had been ill since just after Christmas and the vets couldnt pin his ailment down, he was given medication for a time and he seemed to be coming good, then it had to be stopped as it was dangerous if carried on any longer, poor Doohan went backwards very quickly and yesterday 10th April he had to be put to sleep.

He was 12 years old and a more faithful dog you couldnt find, we all had a very teary time as Doohan went over The Rainbow Bridge to rest in peace.....attached is a photo of him sleeping on his blanket the night before.

He will always be a part of you right there in your heart, a warm and fuzzy feeling , as it was right from the start

RIP Doohan

Man and Women's greatest friend

For Doohan 10^th April 2012

Blogger

Since the change for our blogs I am finding that I dont like it at all and I am having so many problems with it.
No longer is anyone responding to my additions to my blog but even if anyone did I cannot see it....if anyone is having the same problems please let me know.

Also who likes this new blogger change?
Hugs
Joy

Tatting with Sulky

I am so thrilled that I am tatting the Stumpy design by Kersti in the finest thread I have ever used.... after seeing Diane's (Lacelovin Librarian) Stumpy bookmarks I thought that if I could get the tread here in Australia I would have a go.

Well I managed to purchase the thread ........Sulky weight 30 number 4006 and I love it...I may have to get some kind of magnifyer to attach to my ordinary glasses but it is coming along fine so here is a photo of how far I have got with it....oops got the cotton over the top but you can see it O.K.

Many thanks to Diane for getting me going with her delicious photos on her blog and hugs to Kersti for the pattern

Hugs
Joy

Another Stumpy design by Kersti

Here is another Stumpy made with the Sulky thread weight 12...slightly thicker cotton and lovely to work with.

It ma not be perfect but I am thrilled to be working with such fine cotton...so practice ...practice...practice
Hugs
Joy

Tatting again

Well folks I am tatting again after going to the Quilt and Art show in my little seaside town and doing a demo, it really got me going again .
I did a length whilst the two day exhibition was on and I gave it to a lady who was on my demo table demoing Rushed Roses, she was thrilled to little bits and it going to sew it onto a black jumper.
Here is also a pic of my display at the demo 
I am uploading a photo of the edging I am doing in Lizbeth thread size 20 Colour 115
Hugs
Joy