Jingle Bells...

When I was little itty bitty way back in those olden days.... I was very scared of loud noises (I am still!!) but thunder storms really frightened me and mum says I used to just disappear - nowhere to be found....

From October onwards humidity would build up and the most amazing storms could happen..... To try and allay my fears mum and dad would tell me Father Christmas was getting himself ready for Christmas and banging around with the parcels....

I am waiting to hear those sounds of Santa getting ready.....

However, as Santa's helper I am beginning to sort parcels too.... this year I have joined in with Chookyblue's SSCS... over the last year of blogging I have seen this event unfolding on other blogs so I was excited to join in the fun this time ....

We all have an overseas partner {mine is (insert name here)} and so I will make something special as well as add a pretty Christmas tree ornament.

I've chosen my fabrics and I am going to make a (insert item here)

you may see some of it over the coming months... but it is SECRET.... so no telling okay?

Narelle from Pins and Whiskers has been reminding us about Christmas for a while

you can add your item and leave your comment HERE 

Allie also challenged us to just have fun each month and link up HERE  .....

I have a couple of Christmassy goodies to show

I did already show off my Christmas Stitch wallhanging finish in more detail HERE

and this week I finished this Hot Pot Mat

 I find I never have enough mats to put things on in the kitchen

How are you getting on with Christmas.... only 3 months to go!!!

Get those bells jingling

Prettiness ....

Sheila hosted a fun swap - Postcards.... and did a tutorial for us to get a headstart.... it's over HERE incase you would like to try too....

Rosie was my partner and look at this awesome postcard she sent... it has beautiful old lace with some hand sewn ribbon flowers and beads... it is just so elegant and pretty....

and two ultra cute buttons came along with it.....

Thanks Rosie... I love it very muchly

I think I'm going to have to find a special way of storing and showing postcards

I wanted to send Rosie a quilt and I love seeing them hanging on a line..... this is the postcard I made...

Fiddly doing that tiny little Foundation quilting... and of course a little birdie

Teresa sent this lovely Wonky Square block last week - isn't this a lovely selection of fabrics?

it is a lovely addition to my collection of blocks... soon I will be needing to put them all together.....

I also got a pretty bookmark and Portugal pin...

see how they work beautifully in my latest bookclub read....

Thanks Teresa....

I also recieved the last pincushion base in my group so I have been stitching it and will be posting it off to DeeDee tommorrow ...... this is the little patch I added...  DeeDee likes Victorian so there is some lace (maybe not Victorian but it is certainly old), some roses and french knots and a little bag charm....

Hope you love your pincushion DeeDee.....

Hope you all have a lovely rest of the week.... and can spend some time in your happy place....

This Tuesdays Treasure.....

Well, my friend Bobbie... who is the local gadget queen gave me this treasure.....

A door peeper.....

(I think she thought I might need it to check out for paparrazzi coming to my door...

...... or so I can quickly put a bit of lippie on and give my hair a brush when George arrives)

I use it to check out the colours when I'm placing a new block.....

or to see the overall effect of a new quilt.....

This is one of my Butterfly Garden blocks....

I love the way it downsizes the projects and gives a useful perspective

makes quite fun photographs too!

Melody hosts Tuesday Treasure.... I'm just going to pop over HERE and see what else there is... Melody has some lovely china

Hope your day is lovely ..................

A short intermission

A few weeks ago Scott wrote and asked to do a short profile on my blog......  I have to admit I was surprised but it seems my fame has spread.....

However, I did think George Clooney may have called by - but he hasn't ... and no paparazzi have visited... I have tried to be scandalous... in fact I did shock one awfully talented quilter who said my way of needleturn was a 'waste of time' by suggesting that people can have different ideas to hers..... oooopppsss... 

Anyway... should you be interested to have a visit over HERE... there are some links to some other interesting blogs... good for passing a few hours on a Sunday morning .....

A few pretty Spring colours from my garden.....

...... and later we can walk in one of our lovely local parks all done up for Carnival time ......

...... next week we will get back to normal blog activities...... my sewing machine needs oiling.....

Hope your weekend is going just the way you want it to....

'Tis The Season.... 'Tis done ......

This year's Stitch-A-Long hosted by Chookyblue has been the pretty 'Tis The Season wallhanging designed by Natalie Bird.....  month by month Chookyblue has cajoled - and even cracked the whip - to get us going....

This week I have done some quilting and binding

'tis done

I used fabrics I had.... so it is a 'scrappy' Christmas hanging

bordered in a dark blue

the sashing has gold - which glitters prettily in the light

I found some old sheets vintage stripes for the backing

quilted around the blocks and a bit of fun on the borders

used the wreath block for my label

(I love the little silver reindeer) 

Thanks Chookyblue... I haven't got a Christmas hanging - it will be such fun to decorate this year.

The Stitch-A-Long blog has loads of different ones that people have made... pop on over HERE if you need a bit of Christmas inspiration... it's not too late.... yet....

Now I really am famous...

... you all saw my amazing Spring Swap gift from Melody......

well, now she has made a pattern and tutorial... so you can make one too......  (but don't forget I have the original!!!!) .... aaaaah... fame at last.

Just pop along HERE and get out your felt and have a stitch..... it's fantastic fun to work with....

Yesterday I played with my slicing...... this is growing.... you see there is another grandiebaby arriving in a months time... and it might be a girl.... a nana must be prepared.....

(me, being me ran out of the pink for sashing so had to trundle off to a LQS and buy some more... such a hardship......)

... but I won't be doing any more today.....

 ... off to see quilts... and teapots... and crafts... and gardens.... and flower arrangements....

wish you could come too!

Prizes and Creations

Lovely Teresa over in Portugal and Sue from Quilted Hugs have both paid me such a compliment....

Thank you Teresa and Sue .... I love your blogs too.....

There are rules to this award...

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

2. Share seven things about yourself on the post.

3. Pass the award to fifteen bloggers that you think deserve it.

4. Lastly, contact all of the bloggers that you've picked

 for the award.

Those 7 things about me....... hmmmmm

1- Nanahood is the best job I have ever had

2- If Hubz didn't bring me coffee before he went to work I don't think I'd wake up till mid-day

3- I am trying to grow my own vegetables

4- I have 3 lovable brothers ... it was great being the only girl...

5-  I have 2 lovely male cousins... - it was great being the only granddaughter

6- I think my family live too far away... but my friends make it bearable 

7- I grew up on a farm.... and loved it.....

So there you have it.....

Now to find 15 others.... Oh... the other thing I should have told you is that I am by nature a rebel... and as such I tend to break rules a lot.....I have broken a rule by telling you 8 things about myself now....

and now I am going to break another....

I love all the blogs I read... and find then all inspiring, entertaining and I have just loved meeting people from all over the world.... we read each other and comment and do activities together.... it is quite an amazing phenomenon .....

So you are ALL Versatile Bloggers to me... and I hope some of you can play along and tell us 7.... or 8 (if you are a rebel too) things about yourself.....

Talking about Awards... I neglected to show you these a couple of months ago....

 

My darling Daughter in Law in England put a couple of my goodies I made for preciousness into a local show..... a first and a second... how fun is that?

Of course you know who is the Award winner in my opinion... isn't she beaut?

I did say Nanahood is my favourite job? 

I get paid in hugz.....

Oh - and if you think I am sitting here idle....

I've been slicing.....

I've been piecing.....

I've been binding.....

I've been stitching.....

........... I have been making UFO's .........

there WILL  be a finish ....... sometime!!!!!  Aaargh