Early Morning

Just wanted to share with you the beautiful morning that has dawned here in Suffolk.

Hipstamatic on Ingrid's iPhone

It is starting to feel like home now.

One container emptied this week and the next one is due on Monday.

Maybe you can spot some touches of China starting to appear 

as we empty the 500+ boxes - only 400+ to go!

I'd best put away the iPhone and computer and get stuck into the next box!

Find your support...

“No one ever got anywhere by themselves. Find your support and keep them close.”

 Anon

Some of my support team

This quote jumped out at me today from the inspiring writing of Scott's blog. It seemed to be a good reminder at this sad time that there are many people supporting each of us, when we need it most.

 When the going get's tough it feels instinctive to hide one's self away or become so busy with life's details. Either way, there's a reluctance to make contact with friends and family. 

When life deals us challenges the only way is to move forward and to move anywhere at all can be very challenging.

 So this is going to be my mantra for now... "Find my supports and keep them close".

How do we find our support? 

• We let people know that we need support
• We start to find a direction we want to go in
• We take a first step
• We look around and recognise who makes contact with us
• We take another step
• Gradually we find we are moving in a new direction.

Remember we don't need to know our final destination, it's the journey and who we meet along the way that count.

Thank you for all the kind words of support since my mother died, it has really helped. I appreciate the kindness of both friends, passers by and strangers, who are just friends I have yet to meet.

In memory

Sadly my lovely Mum died last week. 

She would follow this blog on her iPad and even made a guest appearance once.

Hug someone close to you today.

Apologies for my absence, but will be back again in August.

Let's start getting organised

The thought of several containers arriving in the next month (yes I did say several) is making me feel a little edgy.
Will we find a place for all our things?
Is the garage big enough - in case it won't all fit?
How much can stand outside?
As you can imagine ORGANISE is the key word on my brain.

I started here ...

at my Organise pinboard

Went on to this great blog Storage and Glee
who had lovely ideas like this

via

and ended up writing this blog
to encourage you, dear reader, to do what I have failed so far to do ...

sort out the piles and put the laptop away.

P.S. Any tips for fitting a mountain into a mole hill gratefully received.

I've come a long way in a week

Last week this was my world ... 

millions of people living within a thirty mile radius of me, with all the energy and distraction that provides.

 This week ...

I hung out my washing on a clothes line - the first time for 9 years (the air in Beijing was too dusty/dirty).

Back story for those who don't know me: 
We have lived in Beijing for the last nine years - loving almost every moment of it. I don't miss the crazy drivers or polluted air. Now we are back in the Uk after 13 years away (Copenhagen prior to Beijing).  Our home is in Suffolk, where there are more pigs than people, so we can be sure of bringing home good bacon and enjoying the clean air.

Oh to be in England ...

Adsoftheworld

After 13 years away, we are back in England and planning to stay a while.
Whether you are from the Uk, have been to the Uk or just love "Four weddings and a Funeral" - there should be something to sum up your view of the UK on the map above. Would love to hear your thoughts.
 (Thanks Astrid for sending me this and getting me back in my groove).

It's been a long 5 weeks  away from this blog, but if you saw how far we have travelled in those weeks I think you will understand my absence.
Hope that you will join me again soon.

What brings you REAL joy?

Fresh picked whimsy

Just wanted to share this thought on a Monday in May ... seems so simple.
Thanks to Lori for sharing her creativity.

I should be packing, but ...

I'm sewing.
I find it hard to pack up my creative room, the sewing machine will be one of the last things to box.
Folding up the multiple yards and metres of fabric just makes me think of things that I need to sew... now, before I leave Beijing.

Here is the T-shirt quilt I have just finished a quilt for Alice.

Not only is she graduating from high school this June but she also leaves China after 9 years here in Beijing. Sewing some of her history together in a quilt, seems like a perfect way to keep the memories warm around her.

The squares are all cut from old T-shirts I have saved from her 9 years here in China. They range from her role as the Munchkin mayor in 'The Wizard of Oz', to being a committed member of the school girl's rugby team.

T-shirt quilts are quick to sew.

It's not too late to make one, if there is someone reaching a milestone in your family.
Here's how I did it:

1. Collect old t-shirts (or buy new if you need extra!)
2. Wash and iron them, before cutting a square approx 13 inches (33 cm).
3. Iron some fusible interfacing onto the back of your square. This will help the T-shirt to remain stable and not stretch too much when you're sewing it.
4. Lay out the T-shirts and form a grid. My quilt has 4 T-shirt squares across and 5 down, but you can make it smaller.
5. Choose a cotton fabric that compliments you T-shirts. You will need about 2 metres.
6. Cut this cotton into strips 3inches (7.5cm) wide. This will form the borders to your squares.
7. Gradually sew together to form a quilt top. I used fleece for the backing to make it cosy and quick!
8. Quilt round the squares or simply tie the layers together in places.
9. Add a binding round the edge, I used a chinese red to contrast with the turquoise chopsticks fabric.
10. Check out this link and this one for more ideas on how to make your quilt.

Oh well, enough blogging and back to the boxes!

Words to Live By ...

Reblogged from That Kind of Woman
Originally posted by ringleaderjayy

Where in the world am I?

A thousand apologies apologise for the lack of posts, 

but let's see if you can guess where I am this week...

Clue 1.

The cake shops are amazing

Clue 2:

Everyone walking or cycling by has their own unique and amazing sense of style

Clue 3:

It's April and it's still feels like winter

Clue 4:

The restaurants are soooo good

Clue 5:

Flower shops everywhere to inspire and brighten your day

Clue 6:

I used to live here.

Where am I?

Why, I'm eating ice cream in wonderful Copenhagen.