Tuesday 7 September 2010

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.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Hope you are well over there! on the other side of the world.
Love the dress. Kxx

Selina said...

Ooooh, the sneak peek of your stocking looks very good! You are just so quick! I think we need to see the dress modeled before we can make any judgment on whether or not it's any good :) The fabric looks gorgeous though!

xx

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

Good grief, modelled!! I’m a bit freaked out by that. I’m so white, my legs are almost blue! I need to apply some fake tan before any chance of a photo shoot I’m afraid.

RebeccaMom said...

I was thinking of you too. Sewing always helps to calm me :) Let us know if you hear of any "crafty" fundraisers for earthquake victims. I would gladly make something to raise money to help out!

Heidi said...

that earthquake was so scary we have alot of quakes in Alaska and you always wonder if this is the big one....I love your projects!!

EYE can make that! said...

Where are you holidaying in Australia? Gold Coast? Would love to meet you and take some family photo's if you're coming to my neck of the woods :)

D. Jean Quarles said...

Oh I can't wait to see your full stocking. Too cute the little sneak peek. Have a great week.

Serenata said...

Oh come on Sarah...model your dress for us! :-D

Terrible news about Christchurch. At one stage we were going to go and live there...seems rather frightening now. I have friends I have lost touch with who live there...I do hope they are okay. It worries me that they had a lovely new BRICK house and it does concern me how it might have withstood the quake. Can't beat the old wooden buildings!

The stocking looks like it is going to be very special and I'm sure the recipient will love it. You are certainly organised!

As for an uneventful week so far...not much luck. MIL was rushed to hospital by ambulance yesterday and DH spent all day in there with her. DS1 wants to chuck in his studies...he only has 8 months left! Nothing like events to keep us on our toes.

sallgood said...

Earthquakes are just so scary! I've been through a few, but you never get used to them!!!

Your sneak peak looks so cute!

Floss said...

Thanks for keeping us up to date - sometmes these events seem so far from you, but others who live even further away really have no way of knowing distances etc! I'm thinking of everyone who has been affected, like your lovely daughter is...

Our eventful week is two days of strikes at the beginning of the school year. Wonderful. Son 2 is currently listening to the radio before popping in for a lesson with a non-striking teacher at 10h30, and Son 1 will be back home by 12h30!

Me and Ma said...

I am glad that you are all safe sarah, I did think about you when I heard it on the news, but had a feeling that you were not in that region. Dress looks fab. x

quilary said...

Good to hear that you are ok. It was so lucky that that damage was mostly to property and not life with such a strong earthquake.
Love the sneak peek of the christmas stockings - only now you have made me realise how close it is getting that busy time of year.

Colette said...

Glad to hear you are all ok, my sister-in-law and her family live in Christchurch so we've been very worried, luckily they are all ok too - very shaken though.

You are so quick with the stocking! I signed up after seeing your post about the swap, I can't make a decision on what to make though, need to get busy! Thanks for the inspiration. x

Croap Queen said...

Phew, glad you're all ok. Have been hoping to catch you on MSN but you haven't been about.

I did read that right, didn't I? A dress? Blimey, I'm in shock too, lol.

Jo x

Between Me and You said...

Thank you very much for the quake info - my cousin lives in Christchurch but was very fortunate to be staying with friends out-of-town when the quake struck.I haven`t been able to contact her since it happened but have heard from other family in Oz who are on Facebook that she`s ok - it`s pretty serious by all accounts - another friend said she thought her time had come!