Chocolate anyone?

The last finish for OPAM for December 2011...

My youngest daughter has been complaining that she didn't have her very own quilt made by me.... so deciding on her Christmas gift this year was easy.....

Step 1:  find yummy fabric

(I bought 1/2m of 9 mixed browns,
70cm of a dark brown for the border and
1/2 m extra of the dots for the binding - because I looooove dotty binding)

Step 2:  slice and stitch
(disappearing 9 patch)

Step 3:  audition layout ....  

Step 4:  pin unmercifully ....

Step 5:  add quilting guidelines..... 

Step 6:  it is useful to have a multi-purpose template for this process....

Step 7:  sing along quilting with 'Precious'...
(large quilt was quite a challenge in my little machine)

Step 8:  label .........
lovely soft flannel backing

Step 9:  photoshoot.....

72 inch square quilt - good bed size

She loves it

.. and the one's I made.... and a new blogger to meet....

A gift that I couldn't share before TheBeardedManinTheRedSuit bungied by...

My SSCS (run by Chookyblue) gift was for Tanje (Nemo) in Norway

I made a little snowflake ornie with a tinkle bell....

and for her main present a tote bag ......

almost a 'sampler' bag... different blocks front and back which make up pockets....
flying geese and block piecing
quilted throughout

lined with lots of pockets inside (as I know treasures leap into bags)

Nemo is fond of mice so I made this little one to fit in a pocket....
(this is a very cute pattern from Bustle and Sew)

I loved making this bag - I hope Nemo loves it too

There's heaps of gifts and ornaments being shown on Chookyblue's blog if you fancy some inspiration

I'd love to introduce you to Helen.....

I met Helen when she came into one of my favourite LQS to buy a quilt.... she was told she couldn't buy one but she was welcome to join a bunch of us and make one.....  we were sewing to make quilts for people affected by the floods.....

She is a great friend and I have no doubt her blog will be great fun... she covers furniture, gets her hands dirty refurbishing homes, and is game to try all sorts of new things... sewing, knitting -  she did make a lovely quilt too (since she couldn't buy one) .... and has a wicked sense of humour.... you can see a few of her projects on her new blog 

I hope you can pop by and say G'day.....

The BeardedManinTheRedSuit came by ....

This year I participated in Chookyblue's SSCS for the first time

I received my lovely parcel with THIS ornament and on Christmas Day I could open the main parcel from Sharon in New York

isn't this bag just awesome... I put it on a chair so you can get an idea of the size... yup... it will fit lots in.. almost the kitchen sink ... and has lots of pockets inside for all those treasures... 

The bag was wrapped in fabric... such a fun Christmas apron, which of course I will stitch together to  wear next year

(I've never had a special 'Christmas' apron)

... the bag was stuffed with lots of lovely little parcels.....

tissues... (which were needed, I do get tears from niceness), yummy different flavoured tea (I am having one right now as we speak), note book and cards and all those DMC perle threads.... and just when I want to learn to do some hand quilting.. these will be just perfect and a lovely quilt card came with it from Sharon

Sharon - thank you so much... what an awesome parcel..

and thanks to Chookyblue for hosting this fantastic Christmas swap - so well organised

There are loads of pictures of such a wonderful array of ornaments HERE on Chookyblue's blog - it's not too early to be inspired for Christmas 2012!!

I had a surprise gift from bloggy friend Cyndi ......I haven't met Cyndi of course so I was very touched to receive this lovely parcel from her...

Such a fun book with all sorts of interesting and different projects....

... it also has yummy recipes to try and pages discussing antique kitchen equipment

(it does worry me that most of these I remember having them in the home!!)

and these lovely charm blocks.... I just love these happy fabrics 

Thanks Cyndi... such a special gift from a special friend - I love it all

this next parcel was a fun charm swap coordinated by Sharon - we all had a few colours of fabric to buy and slice into 5" charms.. then Sharon split them up and sent us each a pack containing one of each of the charms.... what a lovely way to collect a rainbow... Sharon is planning on another rainbow swap next year so if you are keen to collect some rainbow colours pop keep an eye on her blog... 

There was some comments about the way we treat Santa in our house when I showed our decorations so I thought I would show you a close up....

I couldn't resist this ornament when I visited New Zealand a couple of years ago... I guess this is the way he needs to get into houses since we are 'down under' here....

I just wanted to clarify we are not abusers of BeardedManinTheRedSuit!!

I hope he bungied by your place.....

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

If I were ol' Santa, you know what I'd do

I'd dump silly gifts that are given to you

And deliver some things just inside your front door

Things you have lost, but treasured before.

I'd give you back all your maidenly vigour,

And to go along with it, a neat tiny figure.

Then restore the old color that once graced your hair

Before rinses and bleaches took residence there.

I'd bring back the shape with which you were gifted

So things now suspended need not be uplifted.

I'd draw in your tummy and smooth down your back

Till you'd be a dream in those tight fitting slacks.

I'd remove all your wrinkles and leave only one chin

So you wouldn't spend hours rubbing grease on your skin.

You'd never have flashes or queer dizzy spells,

And you wouldn't hear noises like ringing of bells.

No sore aching feet and no corns on your toes,

No searching for spectacles when they're right on your nose.

Not a shot would you take in your arm, hip or fanny,

From a doctor who thinks you're a nervous old granny.

You'd never have a headache, so no pills would you take.

And no heating pad needed since your muscles won't ache.

Yes, if I were Santa, you'd never look stupid,

You'd be a cute little chick with the romance of a cupid.

I'd give a lift to your heart when those wolves start to whistle,

And the joys of your heart would be light as a thistle.

But alas! I'm not Santa. I'm simply just me,

The matronest of matrons you ever did see.

I wish I could tell you all the symptoms I've got,

But I'm due at my doctor's for an estrogen shot.

Even though we've grown older, this wish is sincere,

Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year. 

(My apologies but I do not know where this was originally from but it is not my original work!! I am not nearly so clever)

Merry Christmas from Hubz and I

A little bit naughty....

sponge cake stuffed with tart cherries, fresh cream whipped with home made vanilla essence and topped with drizzles of melted chocolate

mmmm... just a little bit naughty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This big tote bag went to Sherry in the Santa Sack Swap

- good for carrying projects in -

fun stitcheries

Sherry likes red

nice big pockets for all those treasures

today's Christmas Cheer

........... hope you can be a little bit naughty today .............

Decorations

It has been great fun seeing so many wonderful decorations from all over the world

Anni Downs shared this fabulous Christmas wallhanging which I have just managed to finish.....

Mine is done in felt... you can find Anni's free download pattern HERE 

My tree this year is a palm tree seed branch - dried and painted and filled with mostly hand made decorations

Christmas tree frog has found some fresh greenery to hide in ....

Tis the Season wall hanging and special stockings... one for me... one for Hubz (thanks to Shez)

Val found a really sweet knitted angel mouse pattern which I couldn't resist.... you can see Val's fabulous version HERE and she has the link for the pattern in her sidebar..

Thanks Val... (I think I got the ears too far forward.... but she is still quite cute!)

but I have to admit these are my all time favourite decorations

These are the owners of the stockings in my header

awesome.... just awesome

tear making awesome they are

I only get to hug one so he will have to take an awful lot of hugz in lieu

(and I have half a dozen spare baubles... just in case!!! no pressure)