A Purple Paisley Pair..

good morning!

thank you for popping in to see me.

i don't know whether i've told you lately

that i really appreciate your visits...

and a big welcome to you

new friends and old!

well, if you popped in to my real house this morning,

you'd find me hibernating a bit today.

the heater's on 'cos it's cold outside..

a kind of dreary looking day.

i've got a throat, slightly scratchy and sore

so i'm nursing it with rest

and the house is comfy and cosy

even though it doesn't look it's best!

yesterday

i was quite industrious

having got this purple paisley in the mail...

i made a pair of purple paisleys..

and called them 'paisley 'if' and 'y'...

"if"

&

"y"

i reckon you'll dig these

if you're a real hippie chick

or just a girl lovin' those sixties and seventies kinda days.

i've matched the backs...

so they look just the same..

one each way...

or maybe with this georgeous fancy pink plate

that my parents gave me for christmas one year.

this purple paisley pair

will look great anywhere!

i'm stocking my little 'madeit' shop

with these two today..

they are 40 cm or 16" square

and being sold as a pair.

{i've had to take action,

as my shelves in there..were getting bare!}

i hope your enjoying a terrific tuesday

whether lying low like me

or as busy as can be...

naturally Carol xox

Grateful For...

a miracle!

i hope you're having a great weekend...

despite the weather being maybe not too sunny where you are,

or that you're not feeling a hundred percent...

are you up to seeing past that

&

able to have a good weekend anyhow,

being grateful for the things in your life that are good

&

precious?

it is easy to focus on what is hurting

than remember

and be grateful for

all those bits of us

that are still working perfectly.

it is easy to forget

those days of summer when

the sun was beating down relentlessly

and you were sweaty and hot

and wished for a cold day..

when you're fed up and ready to complain about winter!

{or vice versa}

it is easy to focus on the problem

&

forget about the big picture!

the big picture in my life

is that

despite the challenges

i see

 growth in my life

&

in the lives of my family

&

the richness and wealth of all kinds of things and experiences

that we enjoy

in our everyday lives.

i believe in miracles..like tuesday.

when mr m rang early in the morning

asking for help,

as well as putting a little cash in the bank for him

i prayed

asking God to fill his car with miracle fuel...

'til he got to a petrol station.

he had 7 km to get to work

after putting all he had..$2.50 in the tank...

{his gas guzzler still registered on empty!}

he made it.

then he had to get to a petrol station

during his break..

a little money was in the account by ten in the morning,

after a dash by me ..to the bank.

he mentioned his dilemna to a mate at work

and was told there was a closer petrol station

than what he had thought.

a hundred metres from the petrol station

the engine spluttered for the second time

and he was just able to make it

by driving exceedingly slowly and coasting where he could..

into the driveway to fill up!

he was able to refuel his own tank then too..

after a weekend without food.

{he had shifted into another house

he had no money - due to a pay glitch over the queen's birthday weekend-

and his friends mum

had emptied all his food out

while helping to clean out the fridge!}

but i am grateful for miracles

i am grateful

it all worked out in the end.

i am grateful for 'maxabella'

and the opportunity

to focus on gratitude at least once a week..

and put everything back into perspective

when we can't see the trees for the forest!

naturally Carol xox

Under the Pecan Tree..

good morning!

under the pecan tree today

are two bleeding hearts cushions

with irises...

just sitting around

waiting for someone to enjoy their soft cushiony goodness

&

soak up a few morning rays of sunshine!

{maybe with a good book or mag in hand..  :-)  }

the pair on a chair...

next to the ferns,

on the fallen leaves...

basking in the morning sunshine...

navy back..elegant!

aqua & fun!

have a heart!

same but different!

they are like sisters

same family

but different...

i hope you and your family

have a fabulous friday!

{if you ain't got one..befriend one or adopt one..

everybody needs a family of some kind..don't you  think?}

naturally Carol xox

ps..i'm joing up with 'kootoyoo'..a bit belatedly..i hope she lets me!

Theodore Kids 'n' Cushions!

good afternoon!

as most of you know,

earlier this year

i organised a collection of handmade cushions

for theodore ...

a town in central queensland

that had been badly affected by the floods in january.

after sending quite a few up there

we found out that there was a need

for cushions in the youngest classes of the local primary school.

with a lot of help from my bloggy friends

we sent along 35 cushion covers

which were filled by jenny sams and her friends up there

and given to the nanango primary school.

a couple of days ago

jenny emailed me with this photo

of the kids at school

with their cushions...



{sorry about the quality..

i don't have winzip on my computer

so couldn't unzip the original file

so just had to copy the little pic that was sent}

anyway...

all of you who made these covers

can be proud of the work you've done

to bring smiles

{even if staged, some of them..lol}

to these little faces.

what can't be accomplished on our own,

can be done together!

have a wonderful wednesday today...

naturally Carol xox

Thinking of my Boys!

good morning!

it's a fresh and crispy cool morning here

and very beautiful

with sparkly frosty bits

and blue skies.

my mr w slipped through the pay system

at work last week

&

i got a phone call this morning

to say

he hadn't eaten all weekend

and was 7 km from work

hoping he had enough petrol to make it there...

so

as mum's need to do in a crisis

i'm running to the bank this morning

just as soon as it opens!

have you ever been called up like this?

another son

is snuggled up in bed still,

next to this...

my husband and his boss drink this brand of stuff

every day at work.

mr w would get his bosses labels and his own

and send them off.

we received four..yes 4 towels from them

over the life of the giveaway.

they are not very thick ones

but are soft and velvety

and make a great cushion cover!

i took a few inches off either side,

wrapped it around the cushion insert

&

secured it with sewn in bits of velcro..

easy peasy!

the ads said that 'things go better with'..this brand

so mr p

will be sleeping like a baby..lol!

{he's allowed to this morning..it's his day off}

i'll let you know how mr m went...

i'm on my way!

to all you superwomen out there

saving your corners of the universe...

have a supercharged monday!

{with no kryptonite in sight...}

{super}naturally Carol xox


update 9.50am..made it to work..one prayer answered! money in bank..1.7km to nearest servo for petrol and supermarket...to put fuel in his tank and his cars tank at 10.00 am morning tea break!

Saturday Gratitude!

hi everyone!

i am so grateful for saturdays,

so am joining 'maxabella' & friends

at her gratitude link up.

it's a glorious sunny day here today

so i took the time to just drive ...

taking the long way around

on the way

to do my shopping for the weekend!

these are a few things that caught my eye...

don't some things just catch your eye..

i just loved this sweet yellow '50's house

with its white picket fence

and glorious neat green hedge.

then there was this...

a poinsettia bush

covered with bright bracts of deep pink...

fabulous!

then i drove past this...

fm 91.5 broadcasts

music all through the night

so that when mr w is away

i don't have to listen to creaks

and noises under the house...

wondering if they're rats..yuk

or worse still people

creeping there!

i went and picked up a nice hot chook for lunch

&

then called in to hungry jacks

for a saturday treat...

a choc top for a dollar..

yum!

saturdays are different.

i like to keep them free

for

spontaneity...

yippee for a spontaneous saturday!

wishing you the same.

naturally Carol xox

Soul Rest...

good morning!

usually

i post everyday

except on weekends.

it is rare that i go

more than two days without blogging...

but

i am just slowing down at the moment...

please forgive me

if i take it easy for a while

&

post every few days.

i just need some time

to think.

i'm always interested

in what you have to say...

&

love you just as much!

"come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

"take my yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

"for My yoke is easy

and My burden is light."

matthew 11: 28-30

do you know what your soul is?

it is your mind, will and emotions...

you

are made up of three parts;

your body

your soul

your spirit.

rest for my soul..i'll be in that!

have a deliciously restful day...

see you in a little while

when i've something else to say.

naturally Carol xox

Glorious!

hi!

these pics were taken

yesterday in the front garden

of

 poinsettia flowers in the afternoon sun...

 "Holy, Holy, Holy,

is the Lord God of hosts,

the whole earth is filled with His glory."

Isaiah 6: 3

enjoy the beauty of today!

naturally Carol xox

On Form!

good afternoon!

today is queen's birthday weekend in australia..

with the exception of western australia.

it's a bit funny really

as the queen's birthday..queen elizabeth that is..

is really in april, i think!

anyway, it's been a lovely weekend.

mr w came down on friday

and so did mr m..

so we have enjoyed beautiful dinners

and our family around us once again..

with the exceptions of mr s..in taiwan

and miss b in canada..and they were missed!

last week my monitor was mucking around

and sometimes deciding to put on a display

and sometimes not..

so we've dumped him

and got in a new model.

i've never had a screen show like this before!

i also got a new hi definition box for my tv

so i can get all of the free to air channels now..

so i've been spoiled in the tech area this weekend.

i did get around to sewing a little though

and used some of the delightful 'dress form' fabric

i've had sitting there for a while...

i love all the fifties shapes of these

and the sharp contrast of black and white on this fabric!

i used the most dramatically shaped black buttons that i had

and some plain black fabric to show up the design more.

today we are enjoying some of this again...

and the day is warm.

i'm so glad it's a good day for the boys to travel with..

i hate it when they have to go on roads that are wet

or foggy!

have a sunny monday...

wherever you are in the world,

if the weather is not

i hope it's sunny in your heart!

naturally Carol xox

ps...this one's still available   sold here...www.madeit.com.au/NaturallyCarol

This Swings With That...

...at naturally carol's..lol...

good afternoon!

a while back

i made a rectangular cushion

with fabric featuring

little girls swinging on swings

under pink trees with pink hedgehogs walking by.

i have been thinking that this cushion

needed a mate,

a little square cushion

with more ruffles and prettiness...

i think they swing pretty well together..don't you?

where are the ruffles, you are asking...

the ruffles are on the back!

this puts it all in perspective...

i can tell you

that even here in queensland..the sunny state...

it is freezing today

and you may want to wear a scarf

like these,

well actually i wouldn't mind one of mels lovely infinity type scarves!

{mel @ 'loved'..makes very desirable crocheted scarves and hand warmers}

swing to your heart's content little girl in a red dress!

if i were you i'd swing all day

under my pink tree..

in my pink forest,

with all the other little girls!

{and hedgehogs..}

'loved' is on my blogroll..if you want to swing by and see mel

or any of my other favourite bloggers

though if i showed all my faves

there'd be a list that would go on and on..and on.

i'm joining in with 'kootoyoo' today

'cos its thursday..despite the cold!

brrrr...

naturally Carol xox

ps..a few cushions have been bought by very kind souls recently...so if you ever drop in to see me here..thank you..and if you think they need tweaking don't be afraid to drop me a note by email!

pps...both swinging girl cushions sold at www.madeit.com.au/NaturallyCarol.

Basking in the Sun!

good afternoon!

&

it is a very good afternoon.

{no, not weatherwise..it is weatherwise

very dull and getting colder by the minute..haha!}

but

i am feeling a warm glow
for making my little speech
last night
and getting through it ok!

just getting all my

jagged feelings out there on monday

helped enormously

to bring my focus

to the task at hand.

so this morning,

is the morning after...

i did a bit of sewing to relax and celebrate

the completion of this task
{and overcoming that little fear of speaking in public

and having a group of people think about what i said!}

this is a shocker..

or at least the colour is!

in 'person' it's an acid yellow

reminding me of new leaves in a rainforest..

the reverse side

reminds me of looking down at the tops of a hundred palm trees...

her name is 'island girl'!

if you're needing a bit of pop, fizz and pep

this cushion is just for you...

it lives "on the edge"!!

i have just had a bit of an epiphany

re the last few days..

and am thinking that sometimes the very things

we procrastinate on

{because they are risky

or take a lot of thought

or are a bit scarey when we haven't done them for a while

or at all...}

can be the most worthwhile!

'just do it'

&

"bask in the sun"

with a grin on your face...

looking for another mountain to climb!

have a lovely wednesday...

naturally Carol xox



ps...'island girl' cushion available at www.madeit.com/NaturallyCarol

Dancing In the Shadows...

good afternoon!

i'm reflecting today

and doing a bit of navel gazing..

join me if you want to.

i have a list of excuses a mile long...

but they just don't cut it.

i have a talk to prepare for tomorrow night

&

for a week

various ideas have been swirling around in my head...

i've been asking them

are you the one..

the theme?

the topic?

...and then my thoughts progress

through other stages

of excitement

and angst.

after a few days i have found

they keep returning

to a particular reference

so

i think i've got a topic now.

but

have i written anything down?

no!

my brain is screaming at me...

write it down!

research

&

organise those thoughts..

but still i don't.

what's wrong with me?

procrastination...

&

the deadline grows closer...

closing in on me

by the minute.

shadows & reflections...

i'm dancing in the shadows of life...

not participating...

that's what procrastination produces,

shadows and reflections...

nothing concrete, nothing real...

time slips away with nothing produced

except guilt!

i confess i'm guilty,

now to repent and get on with the

doing!

i'm so tired of procrastinating..lol,

why is trying to do nothing so wearying?

i even feel energised just making up my mind

to get on with it..

&

 just do it!

see you around..

i have work to do.

naturally Carol xox

Grateful for a Weekend Afternoon!

good afternoon!

what do you like to do

when the weather is dreary

{or even if it's not!}

&

you have an afternoon free?

this is what i like to do...

blockbuster or dud?

i don't know yet..

but that's half the fun!

i'm just getting into this one...

looks promising!

these plus a little blogging

&

a chat to my sister..hopefully..

and sunday afternoon looks scrumptious.

i'm grateful for free time!

&

i'm joining 'maxabella' and her grateful friends...

hoping you're having a simply serene sunday!

naturally Carol xox

Fly With Me!

good morning!

i got off to a flying start this morning..

sewing up two cushions

from a fabric made just for people

who enjoy flight

in a slightly vintage way....

nothing but blue skies from now on!

did you ever think there were so many songs

which are flight connected?

they keep popping into my head...lol

zoom! zoom! zoom!

there are a few 'red baron's' in there too...

come fly with me,

let's fly, let's fly away!

even king david in the bible said

 "oh, that i had wings like a dove!

i would fly away and be at rest..."

psalm 55: 6

at a time when he was stressed out...

"but i will trust in Thee"

ends the psalm,

as david decides that he will complain in the Lord's ear

and will be heard by Him,

and the Lord will save him as david trusts Him to...

like a soft landing after a rough flight...

happy landings this friday...

naturally Carol xox


ps...both plane cushions sold at www.madeit.com/NaturallyCarol

Out of the Box!

good afternoon!

this is the box that was delivered yesterday...

this is what was in it..under all that bubbly packing!

i won!

nicole mallalieu's new book

hot off the press...

"you sew, girl!"

i will...thank you nic...i've learned some things already.

this is my favourite project in the book

at the moment...

just the sweetest thing..

'the wristlet'.

thank you to jodie at ric rac

for making three of these available for us to win.

must get back to my reading,

and sighing over the pictures...

oh to have skills like that.

the rest of us will just have to make do

with what we have!

naturally Carol xox

Adventure With 1000 Homes of Happiness!

good morning!

early this morning

i had a mission in mind.

a couple of weeks ago

i made a request to '1000 homes of happiness'

to be able to release one of their origami homes!

i had in mind to call it

companionship

here is the little home of happiness..'companionship'

that kellie sent me...thank you

for this priviledge of being able to send one out into

the wide wide world...

why don't you go and say hello to her today.

it is sitting on the dashboard of my car..

ready for it's adventure.

there are a certain couple of benches downtown..

in midcity gympie..lol

that attract a certain group of older gentlemen

outside the westpac bank.

they sit on those benches and chinwag

about whatever is passing by...

just taking stock of the day

and solving the world's problems, i presume.

so today

early in the misty morn...

the little home of happiness and i

set off to start an adventure...

we went down to mary st

and found the bench on which 'companionship'

was going to sit...

just outside the westpac bank.

there were a couple of lurkers there already...

dressed in there fluoro work vests and steel capped boots,

waiting for the bank to open.

i placed 'companionship' on the end of the bench

propped up sitting in a little groove

so it didn't fall down onto the pavers.

so there she sits

comfortably waiting for a new friend

to take her home!

it looked like the street was pretty empty...

but as i drove off...

i saw the old fellas

just standing around the corner of the bank...

with curious eyes and little smirky grins

waiting for me to drive off!

probably thinking that i may be strange

with my camera in hand

placing little paper houses on their favourite bench in town..lol

that was a lovely bit of adventure

for a misty wednesday morning

with promises of sunshine and beauty...

&

just now a brown box was delivered by courier...

i'll show you what was in it,

tomorrow!!

have a lovely wednesday...

naturally Carol xox