HaPpY NeW YeAr!!!!

Well, I guess you have already noticed that I have been a little absent from my blogging duties. I am such a bad blogger.
It has been an absolute whirlwind here the last few weeks. I resigned from the job I loved for so many reasons but the only reason I can mention here is because of my poor health. It was quite devastating. But thank goodness, that is all over now.

As a result of the stress I was feeling at work and the coinciding phone call from my husband, I managed to swiftly go back into shock and found myself back to square one. That combined with the little "procedure" I had in hospital a couple of weeks ago, I have really been hit for a six!

The little "procedure" was to have a curette, some biopsies done and an IUD inserted to stop the menacing hemoraghing that has been plaguing me the last two years. It was crucial I have something done ASAP as I almost bled out and didn't even realise just how incredibly close to death I really was. Then the night my husband called with some bad news for me, I had my very first appointment with my ObGyn, where she very quickly told me she thought I had uterine cancer and that she needed me in hospital within the next three days. This is what led to the biopsies, curette and IUD and as you can well imagine, left my head spinning. (For those of you who don't know, my husband and I are no longer together).

I have since developed an infection and I do believe an allergy to the IUD but I can't be sure as nothing is open over the Christmas/New Year break so I can be checked out. I have been prescribed antibiotics but I have since developed a chest infection and a sinus infection and goodness knows what else. I'm sure I that was a lung I just coughed up :-(

So I am sitting here on New Years Eve, all alone, as sick as a dog, as crook as Rookwood and not a soul to comfort me or keep me company. My head is pounding, my chest is tightening and I feel like death warmed up. It is an awful 38 degrees celsius (100.4F), it's humid, muggy, sticky and gross. I dream of a land covered in snow and ice that will cool my aching body.

So, for me, I am quite happy to see the end of 2012, although I must admit, there were some really GREAT times to be had. I became so much stronger than I ever imagined I could possibly be and I moved forward with my head held high. I have overcome so many hurdles, obstacles and challenges, OK, so maybe not always with a smile on my face, but I have overcome, I have triumphed and I have survived.

As I sit here on the precipice of 2013, I find myself very proud of what I have overcome but I can also see so many areas of my life in which I can make improvements. I am not perfect, so very far from it but I can see some parts of me that I can certainly work on in 2013.

What about you? Have you overcome any challenges, obstacles or hurdles in this last year? Can you see anything in or of yourself that you would like to improve in 2013?

I'd like to share with you with this beautiful image of Newcastle that I captured. That is Fort Scratchley there on the hill. I love this photo, because it is not a part of Newcastle that is often seen - well not from this angle anyway ;-)

I am so looking forward to what 2013 has in store for my family and I. I hope you are too <3

With that, I am planning on participating in Chantelle's (of Fat Mum Slim) Photo A Day Challenge
for January;

How about you? Would you like to join in too? It could be fun, promise :-)
Just go HERE to learn about how to join in. It's not too late.

And I will leave you with this;
Now is the time to meditate on this past year, on memories had, friends and family we have loved, lost and also missed, the work we did, and time we spent. Now is the time to plan, think of the future, and start again.
Whether you put down a vice, pick up a good habit, or continue as you were, may your year be pleasant and spirited. Happy New Year, may it be a good one, and just as Sydney Smith said;

“Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment.” -Sydney Smith
English writer, Anglican cleric, wrote a poem about salad dressing

HaPpY NeW YeAr....

Oh, and I do not have thise biopsy results as yet.

On Hiatus

Hi there lovely people. I guess by now, you've noticed that I've been a bit absent from Gladys and Maude. I haven't forgotten about you or about Gladys and Maude but I have an urgent health issue that I need to concentrate on and focus all of my energies over the next week or two.
I will be back as soon as I am able and until then, please be patient with me.
I look forward to meeting you back here very soon.
In the meantime, have a fabulous week :-)

Bespoke Satchel and a HUGE Hello!

Have you ever tried to post a blogpost from tour iPhone? Well in theory, it should work but I have found that I was unable to place my images into any order and I was unable to add any description to my images. It was quite frustrating. I thought that once I posted it, I may have been able to edit - no, not from this phone. I am currently editing on my iPad now >_<  
Ok, so I thought I'd be able to edit from my iPad but it seems that is an impossibility too. I can only get so far then I am unable to shift the page down to continue. Please bare with me until I can get my hands on a pc to edit this post and publish another. 

Miss 17 asked me on Sunday to design and make her a satchel. She had purchased some fabric from Spotlight and wanted the whole satchel out of the one fabric. It took me quite a while to convince her that it really needed some more colours added to break it all up a bit.
She had quite specific requests, including that it could be no larger than an A4 piece of paper. I cut a satchel out of paper, the size of an A4 sheet and then I cut one out of an A3 sized piece of paper to show her how big they would actually be. She chose the A3 size.

This is the finished satchel

The front of the satchel with various strips of fabric across the front. 

Quiet Time

I know it's been a bit quiet here at Gladys and Maude but truth be known, behind the scenes it's been quite chaotic.

It all stated about 4 weeks ago with the birth of the beautifully precious little Miss Peaches

 

Then there was the tragic and sudden death of Buttons

It has hit us all very hard and none more than my cousin and her daughters who all loved him more than any words could ever convey. Button's was only four years old and contracted a deadly bacteria. It was one of the saddest, most tragic things I have ever experienced.

Then only a few short days later, poor old Stewie had to be put to sleep with the very same bacteria. It was just awful. His mate, Spooky still calls to him. Man it's sad ;-(

 

Only a day or two later, my cousin was called out to a terrible raging fire in a suburb close to me.

I was more than happy to jump out of bed at 1.45am when she called to bring her crew some food and drink.

 

In between all of that (and of course a million other daily tasks that life throws at us), I became VERY ill due to an illness I've been dealing with for several years. After falling over uncharacteristically a few times at work on the Thursday, I made an appointment to see my doctor. Of course he ran the obligitory blood tests on the Friday.

First thing Monday morning, I received a phonecall from him; "Are you stil alive? Are you still breathing, still standing? Get yourself in here ASAP!"

Aparently if I had let it go just a few more hours, I would have undoubtably bled out.

Hmmm, No wonder I was wasn't feeling too well.

My thoughs drifted to the words of the great Spike Milligan;

"I told you I was ill"

 

Of course, I have been ordered complete bed rest.

How incredibly hard is it to remain in bed? Not only for days at a time but just for hours. It's frustrating. I can't stop thinking of all of the things I could be doing. Creating, cleaning, organinsing, sorting, WORKING!!!

 

So, the story continues and I am back to the doctors tomorrow to see where to from here.

In the meantime, I have managed to learn a bit of knitting....

 

Here is my very first knitted block, a heart in intarsia to go into my knitted heirloom rug. Please remember the only knitting I have done in the past, is a few plain and/or purl scarves.

I have used the delicious hand dyed yarns from Forest Hill Hand Dyed Yarns and I have received some expert tuition from the very talented Letitia from Get Knitted.

 

My second block - another intarsia colour block. Again, using Forest Hill Hand Dyed Yarns

 

Block number three, my very first attempt at entralac, yes, you guessed it. Forest Hill Hand Dyed Yarns again. I think they are just gorgeous. Not quite as bright and vibrant as you see here but very delicious.

 

Who knows, if I am bed ridden long enough, I might even finish this whole rug before returning to work. Gee, I hope I'm not off work for that long ;-( Yes, I actua;;ly do love my job and can't wait to get back to it!

 

In the mean time, please stay posted for more updates from Gladys and Maude.

 

It's been a rough few weeks but we refuse to be beaten. We here at Gladys and Maude will be back and at it before you can blink an eye.

 

Have a fabulous week if I don't see you beforehand :-)

 

Rochelle

 

We Have A Winner!!!

That's right, we finally have a winner for our Mega Blog Launch Giveaway.

 

I must admit, I have had some teething problems with RaffleCopter (that I have sunsequently worked out a little too late :-() SO I have drawn the winner using Random.Org

 

 

And thte winner is......

 

That's right, number 6, Ashleigh McLaren.

 

Please contact me Ashleigh with your mailing details so I can post this awesome prize to you :-)

 

CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS

to YOU!!!!

 

I hope you enjoy your Gladys and Maude prize package valued at $85.38c

Please do send us some photos of your creations so we can see how very clever you are.

Have fun!

 

 

 

 

Only 12 hours left until our mega blog launch is drawn.

Enter HERE right now, or you'll miss out!

Monster Blog Launch Giveaway

Well it's finally here. The complete Blog Launch Prize....
Drumroll please..........

 

To go into the draw to win this amazing prize, please go HERE

Tilda Fabrics Finally Photographed

Finally!!! I've finally been able to photograph the Tilda Fabrics that I am offering in the Blog Launch Giveaway

I have also uploaded some new bunting into the bunting album, which you can find HERE

As you can see, there are 4 gorgeous Tilda fat 1/4's and 1 white homespun fat 1/4.

Of course I am still to photograph the bunting that will go with this fabric, the scissors and the buttons. I can't believe just how busy life gets and how challenging it can be to make the time to photograph some prizes and then upload them to the blog. It's been a bit insane here.

Blog Launch Giveaway

Gladys and Maude are having a Blog Launch Giveaway
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Here it is...

The Gladys and Maude monster Blog Launch Giveaway

 

Here is the Tilda Fabrics that I am giving away in our Blog Launch. There are 4 Tilda fat 1/4's and a white homespun fat 1/4 as well.

Valued at $27.50

 

Gladys and Maude Handmade 7 flag bunting valued at $24.50

3 1/8" Embroidery scissors and tape measure valued at $8.50

 

1 packet of Memory Mates Pastel Buttons, valued at $4.95

2 packets of Dress It Up wooden buttons, valued at $4.99 each

A Natalie Bird Needlecase pattern and pre-printed calico valued at $9.95

Total prize valued at $85.38

 

 

 

 

 

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecoptor above.

 

1. Anyone can enter
2. Giveaway will close on **18th November 2012**.
3. The judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered upon.
4. Gladys and Maude will take no responsibility for any delay, loss or damage to prizes sent to winners.
5. Winner/s will be announced on the Gladys and Maude Facebook page and/or contacted by email.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO GO IN THE DRAW

Welcome to the very first post of "Gladys and Maude"

Hello and welcome to the very first post of Gladys and Maude.

I guess you are wondering what Gladys and Maude is all about?

Gladys and Maude was born out of a desire to create, reuse, recycle and upcycled beautiful fabrics, notions and embellishments just like my Grandma, Gladys used to. She was my inspiration, my teacher, my mentor and my best friend. Most of the things I design and create are because of her.
Maude, was my other Gran. I know she was an amazing lady too by the way her family speak of her. I only wish I had been given a chance to know her. She passed away when I was 18 months old but her legacy lives on. I know she was a creator, recycler, upcycler also.

Gladys and Maude is in their honour. I hope to create and share my fabric, yarn, thread, ribbon, lace, button, vintage, retro, recycled, upcycled exploits here with you. You will find items of interest to purchase including fabric bunting, purses, wallets and hopefully quilts as well.

I hope you enjoy...

So I welcome you once again to Gladys and Maude and I look forward to meeting you here.

In the meantime, have a fabulous day.