Teresa Gil and Lock Down

 I said on a previous post I would stitch every Royal cross stitch Teresa designed. Then I spotted this one on Etsy, downloaded the chart and can't wait to get started. This is quite a large design, the Queen is wearing a Norman Hartnell gown and the Irish State Coach bought by Queen Victoria in 1852 is in the background. This is the coach the Queen uses for the state opening of Parliament. The title Queen of the world is from a book of the same name by Robert Hartman. Of course I will want the book as well.

 Still in lock down/isolation I can't go to the shops to buy supplies for the new cross stitch and will have to buy on line. Easter will be spent trying to finish my Queen Victoria sampler. Doing backstitch  mostly

 My bedside reading. This book is far far worse than the Ruby Princess and other cruise ships not allowed into the harbour because of the Corona virus. The book is written by the grt grt grandson of the doctor on board and the trip from England to Australia  in 1852 was a nightmare. I went on 2 coastal cruises last year and maybe never again.

 My gym/exercise bike for use when I must take a break from cross stitch.

Or is scrubbing the shower so it looks like new classed as exercise, I think so.

I polished the kitchen sink till it shone, this must count as exercise so now back to my cross stitch.

Charles And Diana Wedding Tapestry

 Another expertly stitched tapestry for that now long ago Royal Wedding. I had never seen this one before and it turned up on eBay, it's a limited edition tapestry and one I had to have in my collection. The seller absolutely for some reason refused to post to Australia. I wasn't even able to send her a begging email. The only connection in the U.K I was able to ask a huge favour of was a seller I had bought lots of very interesting royal items from over many years. This wonderful seller bought the tapestry for me then posted it on to Australia and I can't thank him enough.

 Same seller also covers my parcels with royal U.K stamps so it is always an exciting event when a parcel arrives. Now I have a very interesting collection of stamps some for royal events long gone.

 I stitched the two cat cushions soon after my move, I think they look good on my new lounge and were very easy to stitch. The 2 kits came from Ukraine, great to be able to shop the world with the help of PayPal and eBay. The Punch and Judy cat cushion was made from a panel I collected years ago from the U.K.

 Yes I finished my 125 piece jigsaw, only took about a week so very proud of myself.

Now I could choose my next project from one of these 1000 piece jigsaws but I won't. I chose one opened the lid saw all those tiny pieces and put the top back on the box. Think I will place a note on the box - not to be opened again in my lifetime.

Corona Virus Made Me Do This

 Yes I blame this virus because not only has it labelled me as a vulnerable elderly there has been among other helpful? suggestions why not do a jigsaw. I hate jigsaws, I can't do them and they make me angry and frustrated. This one is an original 1953 coronation puzzle with 125 pieces the one at the back has 75 pieces but I give up. I have some royal jigsaws with 1000 pieces and I won't touch them.
Being isolated has also got me back to my blog but with no cat to help it might not be too interesting.

 I have lots of cross stitch to do, this is the latest Teresa Gil design and is to commemorate Queen Victoria's 200th birthday 1819-2019 and now I am in isolation I might get this finished. I love Teresa Gil designs and will stitch every royal one she has This is my sixth royal design of Teresa's and I look forward to some beading on Victoria when the last stitches are in.

 Also working on this Cat in a Ruff tapestry. It's a Kaffe Fassett kit I bought on eBay

 Also working on this knitted rug in feather and fan stitch stitch. There are 3 panels to knit and I have almost finished the first panel which has taken about a year so no rush job then.

 And I have moved. Decided after Shibella died it was time to move back to Sydney and closer to family. I moved to a lovely 2 bed 2 bath unit in a very convenient location. This shows part of my balcony with my 'garden' only 1 plant to keep alive suits me.

 View from my balcony is the Pioneer Cemetery where my convict ancestor Mary is buried. Her grave and headstone is just behind the fence left hand front corner of the grave with the fence. The grave with the fence belongs to Mary's grandson and a small headstone next to Mary belongs to a baby grandson. Mary arrived in Australia in 1806 and died age 80 in 1862. More on her later so now I feel I have come full circle.

 Looking to my left from my balcony is the back entrance to a very large Westfield shopping centre with a Woolworth's supermarket just inside the door. Now I am in such a convenient location I have sold my car and can walk everywhere and lots of buses and the train station nearby.

Lastly a handy hint for those like me with a scissor collection or lots of royal pens and pencils-do this.

Australia Day 2019 for a Proud Australian

 26th January celebrates the day Captain Arthur Philip arrived in Australia with the first fleet. As usual there are those in the minority who want to change the date because they like to call it invasion day. And also change the flag and change to a republic, but the majority just want to enjoy the day and have a picnic. Too hot for me to go out today so am staying home with the air. con. on and doing a blog post - and about time too. Hard to find much Australiana in my royal household but here is my Barbie from the Sydney Olympics 2000.

 More souvenirs from that time. Two handkerchiefs, a blow up beach ball-never blown up and some rubber stamps featuring Millie the Echidna, Olly the Kookaburra and Syd the Platypus

 I know my old cane doll's pram was made in Australia soon after WWII when there was a shortage of some materials and the maker missed his deadline-my birthday and I had to wait.

 The present occupant is one of my old dolls, her outfit was made in Australia. Many cats and dolls have been pushed around in this pram and even my daughter when she was a small baby.

 Two Australians enjoying a tea party many years ago. My daughter age about two with her maternal grandfather.

 A very Australian looking house. Daughter and her family rented this house for a 10 day holiday earlier this month. I spent a day there and could have stayed longer, just a bit too much bush for me and too open to the local wildlife.

Love this carport on the same property. Built from twigs and small branches it might one day disappear back into the bush.

Goodbye My Sweet Shibella

My beautiful Shibella was helped over the Rainbow Bridge today after suffering a stroke and kidney disease. The stroke came on suddenly and she lost the use of her legs and other problems.
Shibella was 14 years and 6 months old and we were together for 3 years.
Love and miss you forever Shibella. My life will not be the same without you.

Harry and Meghan's Wedding and I am Ready

 I think I have everything ready for my marathon TV viewing of The Wedding and the lead up to the big day. Note the Prince Harry tea bag I have been saving for just this occasion.

 I will be wearing my Harry and Meghan scarf. Look closely at the pattern, very clever.

 Had hoped to have this pretty sampler finished and on the wall by now but sometimes I have to put my sewing down and feed Shibella. The chart is from Cross Stitch Crazy mag.#241.

 And if I had a few more knitting skills I could knit the happy couple.

 The pattern is in English Woman's Weekly 8th May edition. Tom Jones is also on the cover, that is his ear.

 A replica of Meghan's engagement ring. I bought one on eBay from the U.K but sadly it hasn't arrived in time for me to wear while watching the wedding.

But I do have this ring to wear, it is a replica of the Spencer tiara that Princess Diana wore at her wedding and is very sparkly and shiny. My camera does not do it justice.

Golden Jubilee 2002 Latch Hook Rug Finished and More

 My Golden Jubilee hooked rug is finished. I bought the kit from eBay about 3 years ago with no idea how to hook a rug. 31st January this year a new member came to my craft group and showed me how to hook. I started my rug that day, became 'hooked' and obsessed and finished my rug in only 5 weeks.

 The back.

 Showing some of the left over wool. It was a complete kit with hook and short lengths of wool to be pulled through the canvas. The pattern was printed on the canvas but a chart was included for total accuracy.

 I bought an artist board and nailed the rug onto it with carpet tacks. It would look nice on the floor but I'd hate to see Shibella using the rug as a bed or sharpening her claws on it.

 I try to keep the kitchen a bit clear of my collection but look at that empty wall space.

 A perfect place for my rug. I don't cook so it is safe from cooking smells and grease.

I love hand embroidery perhaps because I am not much good at it. These two beautiful pictures came at a reasonable price from eBay and the embroidery is beautiful. The first shows my dream house-or it could be a nightmare. Who would look after the horse? and I always imagine there must be some nasty insect living in the thatched roof.
The second picture makes me wonder what the story is. Is it a biblical scene? A young man off to the Crusades being farewelled by his mother? The way the sides of the panel are cut so close makes me think this is part of a much larger panel which might tell the complete story

Shibella's 14th Birthday

 Happy Birthday to me. You can see I am almost a new cat! I have been to the Vet. (again) and had most of my fur shaved off because I refuse to be groomed. I had my teeth cleaned as well. While I was there I scratched the Vet's hand and made it bleed so that was a bit of good news..

 Every night after dinner SHE insists we have a walk around the Estate together. That should take about 5 seconds max. but she makes it last about half an hour. The only good bit is rubbing my head on this spiky plant.

 So first I go this way.

 Then I go this way.

 Now I am ant watching.

Now looking longingly up the stairs and wondering if SHE will notice if I escape and hide. It is my birthday so I might get away with it. No, I didn't get any gifts. I don't like gifts or surprises.

Australia Day and A Great Australian

 This is a book written by a very brave Australian. Carl is pictured with his younger brother on the cover of his book. Carl grew up in the slums of Sydney with an unstable mother unable to cope after a divorce when Carl was 5. From then on he was badly neglected and in and out of boys homes where he was badly abused. Carl should be mentioned in the Australia day awards for his bravery in speaking out and giving evidence at the Royal Commission into child abuse.

 A keen genealogist Carl has also written about his family history which includes convicts and bushrangers. For a man with such little education he is a very clever man. I hope he will write a book now about the convicts we share on my side of the family

 This is Carl's Great Grandparents. Eliza Jane French and Fred Beauchamp.

 My Great Grandparents Amelia Louise French and Joseph Mason. Amelia and Eliza are sisters and Carl and I are distant cousins. Our Grt Gandparents  were themselves Grt Grandchildren of convicts. While I had a safe, happy and protected childhood Carl's was unsafe and monstrous. But Carl did get lucky as a young man, Married young to a very supportive wife and is now the patriarch of a large family.

 An old photo of one of the Boys' Homes.

Carl's book was launched by the opposition leader Tanya Plibersek