Snowflake... my pretty little Snowflake....

These have been ongoing for a while but at last I have finished

I used up some of my recycled jumpers/blankets felt to make Christmas decorations.... and I cut up a pretty crochet doily to make the snowflakes....
I don't really like chopping up peoples handiwork but it did have a stain and was 20c

they are all double sided so it won't matter which way they turn

we don't get snow at our place - ever - let alone at Christmas
.... but they do look pretty....

.... even on my rusty flying pigs....

A fun project to stitch in the evenings

I don't send many Christmas cards.. but I thought this year I would send a

Christmas ornament  - hand made  from recycled materials

sound like an aging wannabe tree hugging hippie? 

this native grass has finished flowering... I just love the berries it produces.. an amazing colour in the garden...

(they are closer to the blue colour)

... and that concludes November ....

wishing you all the best for the craziness of December

are you singing "Snowflake, my pretty little snowflake"??

I'm linking up with KerryAnne's linky at Shabby Art Boutique

... and it's not even December yet!!

Today Mr Postie made a personal visit ....

(actually he arrived just as I dropped old vegetable bits for the compost ALL OVER  me and the veranda... I bet he chuckled all the way home!!!)

but I cheered up when I saw what arrived...

well ... I had to clean myself up before opening them.... 

Sharon and I were swap partners for Once a Season Swap and a Candlemat Swap.......

now if you haven't met Sharon pop over to her blog HERE... she does amazing work  and uses such lovely fresh colours..... I just know you will be inspired.....

This is the Summer parcel .... look at the cutest bag in the world ....

and full with these beautiful goodies...

such a pretty cushion pattern and the prettiest fat quarters... with some yummy jelly sweets and lip balm - all perfect for summer...

and this gorgeous Candlemat with a lovely scented candle... the whole parcel was scented....

and can you see the lovely bon-bon (filled with candy canes) that came too.. and look at the lovely star on the tree.....

Now - that is all just awesome...... thank you so much Sharon..... I am flawed by these lovely, lovely gifts....

I made Sharon a summery bag.... this is a design by Jenny of Elefantz and I used mostly fabrics from Nest by Valerie Wells.... 

the rose design is very sweet.... 

and lots of pockets for all those important goodies that need to be carried....

and for the candlemat I used a pattern designed by Annette .....

I forgot to send the Christmas goodie with the summer present so that went in the post later....

Thanks Cheryl for hosting these lovely swaps and thanks Sharon for such wonderful gifts .......

now if you excuse me I have some prettiness to stroke and dream about ....

Christmas Fever......

Most of my Christmas sewing has been secret stuff!!!!  

..... but I can show you this one I made for me.....

This is from a pattern in Handmade (sorry I tore the pages out so I don't know which issue) but the designer is our very own Michelle from Rag-Tag Stitchin' ....  the heart is about 8" tall and has some holly at the top and a tinkle bell on the bottom and I love the feather stitch detail.... 

I also made a bunch of mini Santa decorations....

These are little and relatively easy but fiddly and took longer than I thought to make ... foundation piecing for the main piece... the pattern was found HERE.. and there are heaps of fantastic Cross Stitch and other patterns on her site HERE - also links to load of sites - I wish I had looked there earlier

these are my Christmas items for Allie's 1 Christmas Through the Year and Narelle's 1 Christmas Item a Month.

Thanks to both Allie and Narelle for the motivation and lots of inspiration to get things done

I feel I have done lots... but I still don't feel ready for Christmas .... EEEEEEK

need some Christmassy inspiration - have a look HERE where Narelle has a page of things people have made

............ and now how about a gift for you? .................

I did love making my Doggy Quilt shown HERE.......

The pattern was from Australian Homespun and designed by Toni Alexander... she has had a few patterns in the Homespun and I have one on the todolist for next year......

Anyway... Toni has a lovely blog too over HERE... and she kindly sent me some patterns to offer as a giveaway.....

.... aren't these just awesome? .........

These make up into good size quilts and I can guarantee they are fun to make.....

So ... if you would like to go in to win one of these... just let me know via a comment on this post which you prefer (or either) and I will chat to Mr Random for 4 names in a couple of weeks ..... 

Toni has set no conditions for this giveaway - but I would really love you to visit her blog... and have a look at what she has in her shop ... drop in and say Hi, you can sign up for her FREE 2012 newsletter and get inspiration from a lovely (relatively) new Ausi designer.....  you will not be disappointed...

Thanks Toni for the patterns... love, love, love them

Stitchery Do Dah, Stitchery Day.....

I did take my hand stitching on my trip away, well... I did have to put the baby down occasionally for feeding and to let him sleep!!!

Some Kind of Wonderful blocks ......

November's Little Birdie..... as we don't have Thanksgiving over here.... this is a sort of lyrebird (thanks Suz) or a native brush turkey... or it could be a kind of Paradise bird, or a Peacock.... or just something I dreamt up ....

This splendid real fellow visited the other day.... a Pheasant Coucal (thanks Bobbie)... gave the other birds a fright.... like a flying chook.....

These are the squares in the top line of my Block 5 Butterfly Garden.....

needle-turn butterfly

stitcheries - backstitch and french knots

machine applique butterfly

The blocks are only 6" squares .... really pretty and dainty....

Catching Up......

How awesome to have some time being fascinated with little limbs and creases ....

Whilst I was in Melbourne I caught up with two lovely friends....

here is Marina and Melody holding up Marina's Flower Garden quilt .....

('borrowed' pictures - hope you don't mind Melody???)

I was so pleased to get a chance to see Marina's outstanding needle-work in person... this is her Patchwork Village quilt...

there were lots more beautiful pieces to see..... and so much more to chat about 

I think I will have to go back ......

and I came back with some lovely gifts....

I had admired this canvas when I saw it on Marina's blog.... so was tickled pink when she found one for me

and Melody brought us each a hexagon fat quarter, with one of her lovely home made scissor fobs, a cute bear Christmas decoration and the ladybird chocs (I associate those with Melody now)

Thanks ladies...

Mr Postie had been at my house whilst I was away....

These are some pretty pretty decorations I won from Selina in a surprise giveaway .....

they are really going to brighten up our Christmas decorations this year... thanks Selina... love them

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Yesterday I sent off this lot of parcels....

SSCS 2011 to (insert name here) overseas in (insert country here), Summer Swap and Candlemat to Sharon, and birthday fat quarters to Peg............ look out for Mr Postie ladies... I hope I made good choices!

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And before you think I have forgotten here is the winner of the charm pack giveaway.....

Mr Random chose # 16 - that's you Michelle..... get your creative juices thinking Little Apples...... it will be in the post soon soon......

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Back at home I was able to go to my flourishing vege garden and pick this crop....

ooooh... delicious ....... 

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I have to admit I am feeling sorry for myself...... I am missing this .....

I better console myself with doing some stitching......

Charming......

A layer cake of Little Apples cut into 4 'charm packs'...

one pack made this little Disappearing 9 patch - it will do nicely for a 'doll' quilt for a little girl at some stage...

that was after I had made this pretty girls quilt

and whilst I am on the subject of Charms

Sharon over at Lilabelle Lane is taking names for a swap of charms
Have a read over HERE - I think it will be fun...  you can link to the join up HERE
first 56 members and we end up with loads of happy charms

Because of postage costs it is going to be for Au/NZ residents only - for the far away friends maybe someone can do another over by your place?

back to my Little Apples...... of course I still have 2 packs.... I think I will make girly bags with one....

and giveaway the other.....

let me know if you want in..... just remember it is not a 'professional' charm pack... but it is one of each of the colours... but I can't guarantee all of the lines are perfectly straight..... you know I drink too much coffee and sometimes the lines move....

Just leave a comment on this post and I'll chat to Mr Random in a couple of weeks.

hope you don't mind waiting whilst I take a break

.... you see I am going away to meet the owner of this new little baby boy quilt ....

Jack's quilt

.... see ya ......