Birthday miles....

Tomorrow I get my birthday present from Ross for my 40th earlier this year........he gave me a fab present - a trip to Las Vegas with my best friend Helen.

So tomorrow morning, me and Helen are travelling over 5000 miles to one of my most favourite places.  We are so looking forward to it, Helen has never been before and I'm going to really enjoy chilling out with Helen, showing her around, shopping and enjoying the heat.  It's currently around the high 20's.......nice enough to chill out by the pool and not too hot to go exploring.

This time round we are staying at the Palazzo in a Bella suite..........we have no shows booked, we are going to see how the 8 days unfold, no pessure is the theme for this trip.........chilling out, relaxing and enjoying the weather.........and that also means no internet - eek - but I'm going to try and leave everything behind me to really unwind.  So I'll see you all in about 10 days.

Have fun......I know I will.

Today was the day.....

...when Charley moved into uni.  I guess I can't call her my little girl any longer, she is most definately all grown up now and fending for herself.

We were all very brave and there were no tears..........I did shed a few in the car on the way home, when I read the card Charley had written to us, but it was only because of what she had said, not because she has gone to uni.  I am so so proud of her and all she has achieved, she is a lovely young woman who is not only following her heart but also God's will for her life.  Her faith and passion for God are stronger than ever and it is one her most beautiful qualities - her love for God.  I will miss her, but I know she is in safe hands and it is wonderful to watch her blossom into her full self..........giving your kids their wings so they can fly is the best feeling in the world.

Here she is hanging out of the window of her room as we said goodbye..........doesn't she look awesome???

Charley's Uni Quilt

Well I realised I had been draggin my heels with this quilt......I'm guessing I was (stupidly) under the impression that if I didn't finish it, the big move to uni wouldn't happen!!!!  Luckily, I came to my senses in time and got the quilt finshed and we're both really pleased with it.

The fabric is Moda's range Posh by Chez Moi and I added a plain cream background and some green binding.  I also added a label - I keep getting told off for net labelling my quilts, and as this was such an important quilt I added a little message.......I think it summed up all I wanted to say to Charley, as well as being like a little pep talk if the need arises.

Hopefully by this time next week we will have unpacked everything a be ready to take Chaz out for a good lunch before we leave her in Brighton........I think our home is going to feel very empty next Saturday.

So I guess this week I'd better finish the cushion I was making for her and then I think we're just about done - eeek!!!

This is the whole quilt...

  

And here's a close up of the gorgeous fabrics....

 This is the label on the back....

Resolved.....

Well, the technical glitch got resolved.....after throwing my hands in the air and thinking all was lost, I went back to website management pages and found a rather superb button titled "reclaim deleted pages" or something along those lines.......so taking a deep breath, I clicked the button and hey presto, the last 5 years of blogging came back to me.......

To say I am ecstatic is an understatement.........I felt like I'd lost  part of myself, all the huge things that have impacted me over the last 5 years were amongst those posts along with all the mundane things that I'm sure no-one is really interested in reading......but who cares, it's all back in it's rightful place and all is well within (my) world........

I have finished Charleys Uni Quilt, she loves it.......and I love her.  Only 7 more days until we take her to Brighton I still have her Amy Butler cushion to finish, but that is a mere 30 minute job.......will post photos of the quilt tomorrow when I've had a chance to take some decent photos......we're off to a leaving party tonight for Ollie, my friends son, Charley's friend and really like a member of our own family.  Ollie is off to Sheffield Uni tomorrow.........I think there will be tears shed, by all of us...........when did all these kids grow up????

Technical Glitch

I knew me and technology never really gelled........and the moment where it all went wrong was never far away.  Well that day is here........

I tried to update my blog this morning, it's been so long since I added any links to the sidebar (ooh don't I sound technical) that I forgot how to do it.......so while I was bumbling around, behind the scenes, I have managed to delete all of my blog entries to date - 5 years worth........I have no idea if I can get them back, I will try but if not, maybe it was time for a new start.

So to help you keep updated, here's a little run down on life for me as of right now:

• Festival of Quilts...had a fabulous 2 days here, the quilts were amazing but have really inspired me to try a lot harder with my free motion quilting
• Results Day...Chaz got all the marks she needed to meet the conditions of her offer from Brighton Uni, but UCAS forgot to send out Chaz's results so that meant many days of stress for Charley and lots of days spent on the phone sorting it all out so that Chaz DID get her rightful place
• New York...me and Ross spent a week in NY, Ross's first time, and we walked our legs off.  Did the usual sightseeing, rode the subway, enjoyed the sunshine and ate at some fab restaurants.
• Finishing Chaz's uni quilt...I should be putting the finishing touches to this today or tomorrow, will post some photos when it's done
• Shopping & Packing...been helping Chaz prepare for her move to Uni.  She leaves on Saturday 26th Sept...I'm dreading it and just know I will cry when I leave her there.

I have a whole list of things to do once Charley has gone, the most important is getting ready for our quilt group having a coffee morning sale in November......we are making some small handmade things to sell to help raise money for Macmillan so I'm hoping lots of people come and everyone likes what we have made.......off to add the binding to Chaz's quilt, see you soon x