Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Transplant Waiting List


So today is the official day.

31st August 2011 - the day that I join the active waiting list for a double lung transplant.

I was diagnosed with my lung disease nearly 22 years ago now, and around 10 years ago I was told that I would eventually need a lung transplant.

I guess that now is my eventually.

If you've never discussed organ donation with your family, then I hope that this post just might be a catalyst to sit down with your loved ones and have that discussion, and then join the official organ donor register via Medicare.


From the Donate Life website:

Organ & tissue donation facts

  • One organ and tissue donor can save the lives of up to ten people and significantly improve the lives of dozens more.
  • Australia has a world class reputation for successful transplant outcomes.
  •  Australia also has one of the lowest donation rates in the developed world. 
  • 98% of Australians agree that organ and tissue donation has the potential to save and improve lives.
  •  40% of Australians do not know the donation wishes of their loved ones. 
  • Less than 1 in 5 Australians (only 17%) have had a memorable discussion with their loved ones about their donation wishes.
  •  The most important thing that helps a family's decision is their knowing the wishes of their loved one. 
  • Australia's family consent rate is low with less than 60% of families giving consent for organ and tissue donation to proceed.
  •  Around 1700 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists at any one time. 
  • On average, people on the transplant list must wait between 6 months and 4 years.
  •  In 2010, 309 organ donors gave 931 Australians a new chance in life. 
  • The number of organ donations in 2010 was the highest in any year in the past decade.
  •  Australia's improvement in the first full year of reforms (increased by 2.5 donors per million people) compares favourably with that achieved following other countries' reforms. UK achieved an increase of 1.5 dpmp in its first full year of reforms; and Spain, descirbed as the world leader in this sector, also achieved an increase of 2.5 dpmp. 
  • In 2010, the Australian population had 13.8 donors per million people. This exceeds the 2008 (12.2 dpmp), 2009 (11.3 dpmp) and the 9 year baseline average (10.2 dpmp).
  •  Australia's rate of cornea donation puts it in the top five countries for corneal donation rates. 
  • In 2008, 1096 people donated their corneas. As a result, 1696 people had their sight restored.

If you would like to learn more, please visit the Donate Life website.... and keep your fingers crossed for me!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

In a while crocodile....


Things sometimes happen at a snails pace around here.


The best laid plans are often thrown out the window on a whim.....


.....but eventually, I end up with something special.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Ole - Part One


My SIL is having a mexican themed birthday bash in a couple of weeks time and all the guests are required to dress up (eeeek)!

My first port of call for dress up occassions is always the oppy...

I was in search of something for myself, and also for my sister.
I found this bright stripey dress / tunic thingie, but looking at it on Frances, I have a feeling it may be a bit too small.


Luckily I also found this ginormous skirt.


It's long and wide with heaps of fabric, so I can quite easily transform it into a simple tiered skirt - a la mexican style (or so I'm hoping).

Stay tuned for Ole - Part Two... coming soon

Friday, August 26, 2011

A long lost twin


It seems that one cloth dolly just isn't enough when then are two little sisters enamoured with her.


So of course, the solution was to make another cloth dolly.....



..... with a lacy pettiskirt


.... and halter dress.

I'm hoping that peace will be restored in the household very soon.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

My Creative Space...


In my creative space today...

Some more fabric samples that I picked up from Frankie and Swiss yesterday. I haven't managed to get the colours just as I like them yet, so there's still a bit if tweaking and testing to go.

The home of our creative spaces.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Bursting

Finches Teatowel - Photo Courtesy Shiny Happy Art

I finished this project well over a week ago.... and I've been completely bursting to show it off!

 On my cutting table in pieces

But first, I needed to find a very large box to fit it into without crushing it.


Then I had to make sure that it arrived as a big surprise, while Anna thought that I was still working on it.

The thing that I love the most about making these bags is that depending on the size of the original teatowel, and the placement of the print, you never quite know what it's going to look like until it all comes together.

This one features couple of very happy accidents.....


When I cut the teatowel into pieces, I didn't realise it at the time, that when I was going to piece them back together, the blue border would become a lovely feature running along the front of the bag. It sort of looks like I've added piping running along the join.


On the other side, I managed to incoporate Anna's signature from her original artwork up the top....

I'm totally in love with this bag..... so isn't it lucky that I have another Finches Teatowel in the stash?

Monday, August 22, 2011

Obsession


Obsession: an emotional state in which someone or something is so important to you that you are always thinking about them, in a way that seems extreme to other people

When it comes to colour, I most definitely have an obsession.


So when Nic posed the 'fave colour combo' question on her Yardage Design FB page, for me, it was completely obvious.


But, can you imagine the surprise when I arrived home from my appointment at the Alfred last Thursday to find this package on my front doorstep?

Pink and Orange together are completely outside Nic's classic colour range.... and I know how hard it is for a designer to work outside a fave colour palette, which is why I'm even more appreciative of my very own custom colour Yardage Design teatowels.

Thankyou so much for the lovely surprise Nic - your timing was absolutely perfect!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Granny Square Fabric is Go!


Gosh, such super exciting news today...

You may remember a little while back I designed and sampled some of my granny square fabric.
I even used it as a background in the promo shot that I used for the Cosmo FFF competition.


Well, in the coming week, I'm moving into production mode, and having it printed right here in Melbourne, by Frankie and Swiss, a new boutique textile printer.

I'm hoping to be able to offer for sale very very very soon.... but at the moment I'm doing a little happy dance!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Manca Un Bottone.... There is a Button Missing


Thanks to the lovely Ainslie from Manca Un Bottone, there's a little bloggy interview featuring moi.



Pop on over... if you dare!

My Creative Space...


In my creative space today.........beads

A lovely little gift from Prue and Robyn at Open Drawer


I have the picture in my head of what they're going to look like once transformed..... I just need to find the time.

The home of my creative space

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Zero Words


Yes, zero words today.

There are zero words available to explain why things happen some days.... so I will just tell a story.

My sister has keys to my house, so she often pops in when I'm not home. In fact, she seems to pop in more often when I'm not home than when I'm at home (does that tell you something)?

Anyway, I drove up the driveway on Monday afternoon and noticed the first sign of a visitor. My bedroom curtains were open, and the blinds had been lifted, so that Mr Limpy Houdini Dog could stare out the window and watch the world go by during the day.

Then as I walked into the house, I noticed that my bed had been made.... (I never bother), and as I walked into the kitchen, there was a mystery parcel on the bench.

Of course, I'm racking my brain - online shopping??? I had done a little bit, but the package was far too large for anything that I'd bought.

But, as soon as I'd opened a little corner of the packaging, I knew exactly what it was!

I'd commented on the red yarn that Tracey was using just a couple of weeks ago.... and now it's a vest and it's mine!

You see, I really have no words to explain that amazing generousity.

I can only say thankyou so much Tracey for adding such a beautiful bright spark to my week!

Monday, August 15, 2011

It was a waiting game....


But, for those of you who have waited so patiently....


Turquoise Flower Brooches...


....and Purple Flower Brooches....


... are both now available in the SHOP.

Have a very lovely day!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Friday, August 12, 2011

Twelve to Go....

"Hot" hottie cover

It's the final countdown.... 2 days left to buy the last twelve Hotties.

It's really simple - for a $25 donation to the Margaret Pratt Foundation (to benefit Heart and Lung Transplant Research), you can buy one of these magnificent handmade Hottie covers.

Just pop on over to Facebook and comment SOLD under any of the photos in the album to make a purchase.

Have a wonderful weekend crafty peeps!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

My Creative Space


In my creative space today..... it's the Leaning Tower of Flower Brooch bases.

I managed to finish the hand stitching on these bases yesterday, so I'm hoping that I may actually have a chance to complete them over the weekend.


The home of  my creative space