Mum grew up in tough times.  Newspaper between blankets and many in a bed just to keep warm.  Swapping shoes over to avoid holes.  A favorite doll's dress cut up by a sibling... there just was never enough to play with, create with, enjoy.  She won a watch as a prize in a drawing competition at school.  She got into trouble a lot for drawing pictures in the margins of her exercise book.  She had beautiful handwriting.  She loved coats and hats.  She loved her friends.  She always worked to achieve perfection in whatever job she put her hands too.  She worked as a nurse, ran a shop, sewed baby clothes and aprons, made teddy bears, cleaned houses.  She brought us up with music and a pool, a sandpit, a cat, rabbits, tea sets, family.  We were apparently poor but we never knew it.  She taught me to be responsible, to forgive, to be honest, to work hard, to be happy with what I have.  When I was little she used to read to my brother & me in her bed at night.  She always smelled of soap and powder.  She liked roses powder.  She loved all flowers.  She loved pretty stylish things.  Tasteful.  But never had much.  Then she met my dad.  The one who raised me.  Im happy to say her life was very very happy.  She found and married a gentleman.  She never had enough pearls or diamonds or fancy things.... for my liking.  But as I get older I think she saw a great wealth in the love and life they shared.  How could bits of rock & glass ever compare.

My process : making two elephant cushions for my sister who once said she loved them and who know owns nearly all of Melbourne's elephant ornaments  (well Im sure she feels like that sometimes).

I searched around for an elephant picture I was happy with.

I bought two really nice European style pillow cases ready made from Kmart.

I CANT find the pattern but I do recall the design I wanted had plant life fabric behind the elephant cut in a circle shape.  Im sticking with this.

**Im still getting to this project but I am going to embroider some skin lines on the elephant.  And Im going to hand quilt around the elephant and the lines of the plants /leaves.  I will needleturn the circle of fabric to each cushion once all the work is done... to hide any thread tales etc. This is one UFO I want to finish but also want to take my time over.  I really want her to love the cushions.

My beautiful boy.  Samuel is an energetic athletic child.  A true gift.