Christmas Goodies to share

Hope you all had a good Christmas Day with family and friends. We had a lovely quiet day at home; ate too much and opened some beautiful gifts. First I would like to share my gift from Lyndell as part of the Fat Quarter Swap ; we swapped a small gift instead of fat 1/4's. Lyndell made me the most gorgeous small pillow and some buttons (I have a thing for buttons LOL).

DD2 has been guarding my gifts from Kaye - my partner in Cheryll's Secret Santa Swap. Well yesterday I was finally allowed to open them - I can honestly say I was spoiled well and truly. An apron (worn to cook the turkey), 4 spools of ribbon (I never have enough ribbon), a beautiful Babushka doll to cross stitch; 2 cross stitch patterns; a box of my favourite chocolates; my advent calendar "Angel" (shown in an earlier post); my very own Christmas stocking; a felt purse to make and a miniature Christmas Tree - has pride of place on the fire with the carol singing mice. Those of you who follow Kaye will know 2013 has not been a good year; ending with the passing of her beloved mum in November yet Kaye continued thinking of me and sent me these beautiful gifts. Kaye has been an amazing partner and I truly feel I have made a new friend through this swap. 

Can't wait to do it all again in 2014 ♥♥

Merry Christmas Everyone

One of our family traditions is to open one gift on Christmas Eve; DD2 chooses the gifts from under the tree and for me she chose my gift from Stanislava my partner in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Swap.  I have been so spoilt; Stanislava has made me a gorgeous wall hanging/mini quilt. It is just divine. A big thank you

I would just like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a healthy, safe and prosperous 2014. 

Last FNSI 2013

I joined Wendy and friends over at FNSI for the last time this year (where's it gone??). I worked on some 12" blocks; they're for a swap. There are 12 of us in the swap so 12 blocks to make. We're all using black and white plus an accent and I chose red. 4 down 8 to go.........

I would like to thank Wendy for hosting this blog; part of the joy is seeing the amazing things that are happening out there in the craft world. Wishing each and everyone of you a truly blessed Christmas XXX

Confessions of an addict..... and more

Well Sharon did say they were addictive and now I believe her. It's been stifling here today 44C so we had the whole family making flowers. Very pleased with the results DD2 especially took to them like a duck to water. We upcycled some sheet music that dates from 1930's and used some coloured photocopy paper for a bit of contrast. More to make tomorrow as it's going to be a scorcher again..... Not sure we'll be breaking this habit for a while......

I also received squishy mail today. My block from Noelene in the Quilting Block Swap Australia 

and my stockings from Nichole my partner in the Quilting Galleries Stocking Swap. I'd seen the photo's of the stockings on FB but that really didn't do them justice. Nichole has also made me a beautiful Christmas Cactus out of seed beads; I can't imagine how much time went into it but it is just divine. I'm completely blown away by the amount of time and love that people put into gifts for complete strangers it really does shows the true meaning of Christmas.

Hope you're all on track with your Christmas preparations. Might see some of you tomorrow night at FNSI; it's sure to be a great night - last one of the year.

Help please - paper flower ball

I need some help please. I was reading blogs over the weekend and found a wonderful post about making a flower ball from an old book music paper and thought DD2 and I could make those. I remember the paper had to be cut into 3.5" squares but then the computer had a hissy fit and all my pages disappeared. I know I should have booked marked I but didn't. If any one knows what I'm talking about and knows the link I'd be really; really grateful if you could post it/link it (DD2 is hoping to make some today!). Thank you.

Surprise Mail

Well I was going to show off my stitchery and iPad holder (which I will) but my darling husband brought the mail home today and what was in it? My Secret Santa Swap from my partner Kaye; my goodness what a box full of goodies; I'm absolutely overwhelmed, especially as (those who follow Kaye's blog will know) 2013 has not been the best. I couldn't have asked for a better partner. Now to show you what has arrived :) My DD2 has wrapped the box (prevents accidental squishing and poking LOL) and has firmly informed me I can't open it until Christmas Day (she's 11 going on 50!!!).

First this is what the box looked like when I opened it:

We (DD2 had to help!) delved further and found Angel (she's now got pride of place between DD1 and DD2's Advent Calendar's); 

a gorgeous stocking and some beautifully wrapped gifts

Words can't express how much love and Christmas Spirit has been put into my box ♥♥♥♥ Thank you Kaye.

Now to show you what I planned. My mam lives with us so it is very difficult to make anything without her knowing but today I managed just that! The guise was making 12.5" blocks but secreted under the table was fabric for an iPad stand - must say I'm pleased with how it's turned out;

and I found the backing for the stitchery I've been doing and I've finished it. My mam knew I'd been working on this but I've managed to keep it from her; the colours will go perfectly with the new quilt cover we've bought her for Christmas. 

I think I've most of my Christmas Crafting done so time to work on some UFO's I think :)

FNWF and Christmas Trimmings

Well FNWF didn't go entirely to plan (missed out on the dip) but I did get my stitchery completed; just the borders and quilting to go - it might just get done for Christmas as planned but I had "planned" this for Friday. 

DD2 had other ideas so we started to decorate the Christmas Tree and find all the other Christmas goodies - lots of reminiscing happens "do you remember where we got this"; "don't put that on the tree - I did that in Reception) etc. It was time well spent and we finished it off over the weekend. We've put the mice on the fire and from a decoration point of view we're ready. Just need to buy and wrap presents, orgainise food, gifts for teachers, cards to write and so the list goes on but we do have a gorgeous tree to look at.

I've also won Travelling Treasures; completely unexpected but I can't wait to see what comes my way but more importantly what I can find to forward on :)

A severed arm and a Christmas Block

I made some Scandinavian inspired dolls a few years ago and one was returned recently by a friend with a severed arm. Arm reattached and she's recuperating nicely waiting to go home :)

This is the beautiful block I received from Cathy in the Christmas Quilting Block Swap Australia - I asked for a star in traditional colours; it's just perfect ♥♥

Chooky Blue's Secret Santa Swap

Look what came in the post today ...............................

All the way from Croatia. A big thank you to Stanislava. My fingers are soooooo itchy but I haven't squished/poked or prodded. The bauble is beautiful; what's amazing is I collect buttons and the bauble is covered with all sizes of white buttons. Stanislava also added some fabric, a thimble and a fridge magnet; so generous & I love them all.

On a much sadder note Kaye over at Kitten Stitching has posted today that her dear, darling mum died peacefully on Monday. Please pay her a visit and leave her some love and support ♥♥

Swap received .......

I took part in a swap with The Sewing Library Swap Group (on Facebook). This was a swap where those who submitted an item got to "like" their 3 favourite entries and the administrator pulled names to decide who got what. I received this beautiful creation; a big thank you to "Bathurst Mummy".

I made these Christmas Tree Trivets and they ended up with Connie in Western Australia.

We also had a visitor enjoying the sun today ...... (you can't see her but he's keeping a very close eye on our Jack Russell who was also sun bathing).

 I also finished the stockings. It's amazing how a different day fills you with inspiration!

Table Runner & a gift received and some to give........

I've finished my table runner: tempted to start using it now but we have one "Calamity Annie" living here and sure as eggs are eggs something will happen to it - so may wait until nearer Christmas.

I also received a gift from Susan at Susans Sewing Space; we both took part in FNSI; I commented on her blog and she sent me this beautiful angel:

Thank you - but like the runner I'm going to wait until at least December before I put her out!! Isn't she gorgeous ♥♥♥♥♥



Today I made these: 3 sets of stockings for gifts and a basket for a new baby boy. The stockings still need some embellishments but I just couldn't work them out tonight (if you know what I mean; nothing really worked so I'll try again tomorrow).

Christmas Stocking Swap

I've joined Michele at the Quilting Gallery's Christmas Stocking Swap. These are now on their way to USA.

I love them so much I plan to makes a few more for Christmas Gifts.

Giveaway at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Love a give away?? Me too. Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe have an awsome giveaway; go check them out and don't forget to tell them I sent you ..........

FNSI & WOW.............

Until Chookyblue contacted me I had no idea that you people out there couldn't leave comments; I just thought my blog wasn't that interesting to the outside world. I'm amazed at the comments and support I'm now receiving - I feel like I've just arrived. Thank you all so much but especially Chookyblue ♥ ♥

FNSI was a little different here. I did sew but not craft. I went to Adelaide earlier in the week and we went to Ikea and I fell in love with some curtains....... Now I don't know about you guys but my husband doesn't do change very well and after all we had only had the previous ones 13 years!! but they were a bargain at less than $20 plus I could recycle the block out on the current curtains - so I set to work. This is the finished result. Now I've got the prefect motivation for finishing my New Years Day Mystery Quilt as it will go beautifully with the curtains; hubby did agree they look good  :)

I did manage to do just a little craft - a stitchery that I'm going to frame for a
Christmas present......

I also received some squishy mail this week; my prize from last months FNSI courtesy of Wendy - it's just gorgoeus 

and some fat quarters from Maureen - my November partner for the Fat Quarter Swap.

Have a look at what everyone else got up to; there's some very talented people out there........

http://sugarlanequilts.blogspot.com.au/

Thank you Chooky Blue

A big, big thank you to Chooky Blue. Technology isn't my strong point and she helped me with some technical difficulties I was having on my blog (I didn't know I was having difficulties until Chooky told me!! LOL).
Please thank her (with me) by visiting her blog; she's having problems with pesky kangaroo's and still no rain in sight :(

Friday NIght Sew In

Don't forget it's Friday Night Sew In tonight. Wendy @ Sugarlane Quilts is our wonderful host. She also has some yummy fat quarters as a giveaway too.