Rocking Rolling Riding

I'm guessing most of you would have heard about the huge 7.1 earthquake that rocked Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand.  I had several very sweet blogger friends worried about us, but we are far from that part of the country luckily.  My brother and his wife and daughter did live through this terrifying experience though.  Their house seems to be fine but hundreds of others didn't fare quite so well.  The central city is completely cordoned off with many beautiful old brick buildings destroyed or crumbling.  Other areas have huge damage to houses, some completely unlivable. 

But no one was killed!  Amazing really as there have been some very lucky survival stories and plenty of injuries.  Apparently if you are going to have a major earthquake, then 4.35am is a good time to have one.  If it had been during the day, it would have been another story.  The damage is just tragic to look at.  All that upheaval for a city is too much to imagine.  How long it will take for most people to get back to a fairly normal life is unknown.  Schools are opening tomorrow if all goes well.  Some workplaces will never open again.

Daughter No.1 went off to school today to try and organise a fundraising collection for the people of Christchurch, after thinking that her $5 might not make much of a difference.  I explained to her, if everyone in NZ gave $5 then it really would make a difference.  Every little bit helps even if it just buys a few bottles of much needed water.  Those people would be very grateful indeed. 

Now while all the news coverage has been on, I've been busy sewing.  What else would one do in a crisis?!!  Anyway, now you might not believe this, but I actually made myself a dress!!!  Shock horror I know, and with my white legs!  I was put off making myself clothes as they never seem to look good after all the work put into them.  And I'm not sure if this was a huge success either. But, perhaps with a little belt or tie around the waist it will be OK.  I'm not sure about the sack look really.  It will be lovely to wear in hot Australia in a few weeks.

I've also completed my stocking swap.  I've decided to get on with swaps at the beginning while I'm still excited about them.  So here is a little sneaky peak at it...

It's double sided just in case one side isn't really her.  It's a surprise swap (meaning we don't directly swap stockings) so I don't think I'll be spoiling it for anyone.  I've not known my swap partner before this so I'm sure she won't know me either. 

I really enjoyed making her stocking and using lots of lovely Christmas reds, which of course I have plenty of.  I have made two presents to put in it as well.  I must get it packaged up and sent off soon.  First I must buy some goodies for her children, I know they always like to get things too.

And if you thought I might sit back and relax a while, wrong!  The big girls picked out some fabrics for me to make them dresses too.  I rather like them.  Bet you know which is my favourite fabric.  Yep, the red spotty one of course.

I don't know about you, but my house is a complete tip.  Yes it usually is, but really I should at least hunt out the vacuum cleaner I think.  All those threads on the carpet are starting to look pretty messy.  I do hope you are having an uneventful week.  There is too much bad stuff happening in the world for my liking.