Merry Christmas

Yesterday I did a little baking ... oh boy are they delish!

Warm Wishes and a ...

Christmas Wishes

To all my friends ...



Looking forward to a new year of friendships both continued and new.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa

While visiting blogs this morning, I came across the Jolly Jabbers who have kindly offered to pass on my quilty Christmas Wishes to you.

Here's what I found at the Fat Quarter Shop. I would like to wish for ...



I could wish for clothing or chocolates
Should I wish for some lovely rain
Or maybe some beautiful fabric
To make a start on my 'Dear Jane'.

Chocolates would be nice
But gone way too soon
Clothing may not fit me for long
When after the chocolate I balloon.

Rain could be somewhat tricky
To deliver on your sleigh
So a gorgeous bundle of fat quarters
Will really brighten my day.

Thankyou Santa

PS: Help yourself to some hay in the shed for the reindeer.

Christmas In July

July 1 (yesterday) yipee! What seems like ages ago, I joined Karen's Christma In July Swap. We had a list of goodies to gather and post to our partner to arrive by July 1. Mine arrived last Wednesday and I was very good and didn't open it till yesterday morning.
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First opening revealed two lovely gold wrapped parcels and a festive greeting card with quilling.


DD helped with the unwrapping to reveal these wonderful gifts.
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The chocolate is almost gone and I'll be trying Carol's Pineapple Slice recipe very soon. A noodle roll made with beautiful rose fabric, to keep my work safe and Rudolph to hang on the Christmas Tree this December.


I look forward to making the 'Christmas Bon Bon' kit and the pin cushion and tape measure are already in use beside my sewing machine. I'm really taken with the red button christmas tree embroidery, it's so clever. Each was wrapped and tucked inside this pretty floral bag

including a special treat for my girls (cats).

This swap was lots of fun to take part in thanks to Karen's great organizing. I hope Carol enjoys her gifts as much as I did gathering them, pictures below.

Happy Sewing

Birthdays and Belated Christmas

Just having a break from sewing and thought I'd finish off my Birthday goodness pics.
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My beautiful DD sent these fat 1/4's to add to my stash . . .

. . . and my best friend Kerry included a cute cat sculpture with her gift of fat 1/4's. Sorry it's not a good shot of the cat but he is there.

This exquisite table runner is my belated Christmas Gift. As we were both snowed under, we agreed that there was no deadline, and believe me, good things do come to those who wait.

Oh, I really am having trouble positioning these photos. There has to be gremlins in my computer, all the weird things it's been doing lately. Above is a close up of the quilting which is all over the fabric, bringing the blooms to life. (I've also worked out how to crop pictures with my photo program, now just need to get rid of the white backgrounds.)

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Thankyou dear friend.

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Now time for a cuppa and back to the sewing machine, or maybe the washing is dry enough to come in before the next downpour. Suppose I should start thinking about dinner tonight too.

Hope you've found some sewing time.

Quilting Times Ahead

Christmas Day and first on my agenda was my SSCS gift before breakfast. Christmas Wishes and a big thankyou to Cherri, I'm now the proud owner of a LizzyHouse original print. I'll be keeping an eye out for a suitable frame and hanging it in my sewing room to admire. Also a set of Lizzy's Cathedral Cards. To top it off Cherri also included four fat 1/4's of lovely fabric.

A special thankyou to Chookyblue for taking on such a huge task. It was so much fun having a gift under the tree from a new friend.

I was also lucky enough to be gifted a couple of quilting rulers (I've been hinting) and more fat 1/4's from family members.

As promised here is my first finish for Finn's Challenge which is quickly coming to a close. The idea was a wall hanging for me to practice machine quilting, with and without a walking foot, traced and free motion.

As I'm getting more confident at playing around with my blog, I'll be having a face lift for the month of January. I've also decided to tidy my sidebar and start fresh with icons for 2009.

Fingers crossed the building storm clouds will bring some much needed rain this afternoon. So far we've missed out on all the storms going round and the paddocks are desperate for a drink.

Here's to a Happy, Healthy New Year and a wet one for those who need it.

Merry Christmas to All

Finally managed a finish yesterday, my Rainbow Wall Hanging. First finish for Finn's challenge, hanging on my wall and I'm very happy with it. Will show a pic after Chistmas. I've been trying out my maching quilting on it.

Also helped make plans yesterday for our groups shopping trip in early January. That would be patchwork shops of course, can't wait!

Only one sleep to go.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas.

.

Christmas Ornament

Another green Parcel Notice in my letter box on Friday and a trip to town today to collect . . . what did I find?

This lovely china heart ornament all the way from London. Thankyou Lynne, I'll treasure it! Hope my ornament arrives at it's destination soon.

I only hung it outside for this photo, I'll hang it indoors now on my Christmas Tree. It's about 4 inches high.

Merry Christmas

Last One For 2007

My last post for the year, wow. When I started blogging I set myself the target of blogging once a week and I've come pretty close. I'm continually adding to my list of blogs to view and regularly stare in wonder at the beautiful works pictured.

No sewing here since before Christmas but I have been busy in the sewing room. I've set myself up with a 34cm TV in front of the ironing board and am pleased to say that all my ironing is caught up. I've also been busy ironing fabric scraps and cutting them into various size squares and strips. My containers a filling fast and I still have a way to go. Now I have all these ideas of how to use the squares and strips in small quilts but I'm trying to finish other projects before beginning new ones. Cameron helped me to hang my two narrow jungle wall hangings as well.

I've also measured a wall space for a shelving unit of some sort. My intention is to purchase a number of clear storage boxes and eventually find a home for all sorts, bits and pieces, this and that etc where they can live on the shelf in nice tidy rows. Of course this is probably going to be a long term project but I'm OK with that as long as it keeps progressing.

My picture this week is of dear ol' Santa. He was made a few years ago at craft group and I'm happy to say that he was finished in time to be hung for that Christmas. Santa is done by hand in stem stitch and the piecing and quilting is all machine. Now each year he comes out of storage and hangs about for the festive season.

I'm in need of a small wall hanging to take his place throughout the rest of the year. I'll just add that to my 'to do' list.

Wishing all a healthy and happy 08 filled with family, friends and fabric.

Merry Christmas

My side of the family had an early start to the Christmas Festivities. As our families grow we seem to become wider spread so we decided to all get together and celebrate Christmas last weekend. After breakfast it was time for exchanging gifts. A few months earlier we draw names out of the hat and buy for that person. Secret Santa style. Lunch was steak on the BBQ, boiled spuds, corn on the cob and curried prawns to name a small selection of the menu. We cracked bon bons, told jokes and wore our pper hats, followed by the period of inactivity due to full tummies. Its a lovely day when we can all get together.

I have still had time for some sewing and made this Bolster Cushion for a gift. I've had the pattern picked out since early this year so will need to start looking now for next years gift.

I am also determined to complete the top for a queen size bed quilt that started out for my bed but now I've decided it will look much nicer in my daughters room. That means I can look for a pattern for my bed now.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS with peace, health, time spent with loved ones and a joyful NEW YEAR.