SSCS 2014

I do love taking part in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Swap

an ornament and handmade item from someone over the seas....

Sorry I'm late in posting this Gracie, I have forgotten what life gets like with 5 extra's in the house (not that I am complaining at all!!)

This year I was sent a secret gift from Gracie... all the way from Arizona, USA

a recap of the lovely cross stitch ornament that has been adorning (and still is) my tree

these lovely handmade microwave bowls were in the main parcel... they are reversable and made from the prettiest of fabrics.....  they are microwave so for use in the kitchen, but I rather think I may keep them in my sewing room to hold treasures in them as they are really so pretty....???

 Gracie also added some lovely fabrics and a bag pattern ...

(you can't really see it in the picture but some of the fabric have a lovely gold shimmer running through them)

I also thought the 'Arizona' themed items were great fun ... cactus jelly (we had some with our cold turkey on Christmas Day'... not traditional maybe, but perfect....  Both Hubz and I like spicey food so are looking forward to trying the Jalapeno sauce....

... a lovely parcel Gracie.... a big assortment and lots of fun opening it all... thank you very much...

I was to send to Sylvia from Germany....

A bit of a mistake with my ornament.... it did not go on the tree... but that is a candlemat or small table topper made from a block designed by Lynette Anderson ... 4 angels... and then a bon bon full of chocs....

the main present is a stitchery designed by Natalie from Cinderberry Stitches

I made it into a tote bag with pieced patches all around and on the back

... always a great swap to be part of....  thanks again Chookyblue...

Righto, Gotto Go...... wonderful rains, but it does make for loads and loads of wet and muddy clothes.... washing to be done! (not that I am complaining!!)

Squeeeling ....

It is crazy busy for me here..... getting things ready for the invasion....  I am a spreaderer... my treasures (fabric and stuff like that) get spread into any unused spaces... so when I say I need to clear space in the rooms for people to sleep... I am not exaggerating.... 

I actually quite like the tidiness.... I wonder if I will keep it...

These sweeties are in the air as we speak... it's such a long way... about 23 hours of flying and then all the waiting at airports etc.....

I need Teeny pads I'm so excited!!! (ooops, should one say things like that in public?)

This week I received patterns from Michelle... I'm looking forward to using these next year.. there is a new alphabet featuring bears and a set of quilt labels to stitch....

Thanks Theresa for my lovely decoration.... so pretty and up on the tree already...

Before I covered up my faithful friend sewing machine I quickly sewed on the latest block onto my sampler....

The rest will have to wait till next year!

This was Hubz job yesterday... we have a rather boring veranda roofing.... so he added a bit of magic....

There is also twinkling lights.... we shall be out here a lot 

... before they left the UK little miss princess remembered someone needed to be told where she would be....

I will be reading blogs when I can but probably not commenting much or writing much over the next few weeks (I'm frightfully selfish about sharing time when family are here!!)

Best wishes for a stunning Christmas ... whatever you do may it be a very relaxing and precious time, some have sadness so special thoughts to you... our absent friends and relatives are in our minds more than ever at Christmas....

See you next year, and thanks for another year of wonderful bloggy friendship...

Friday Night Sew In ... and heaps of baking....

Thank you to Wendy for having us together for FNSI again.....

I was happy to sit and gently do some redwork whilst the cricket was on.... my quilt twinkles in the light and its fun to watch that too...

I have started a preprinted wallhanging by Natalie Bird called Snow Buddies.... it's very cute... At the quilt show in October I got a couple of balls of this Valdani thread.. it's a lovely variegation going from rust to maroon... 

Today I put the decorations on the Christmas cake.... 

I get quite silly stressed with the whole Christmas thing so everyone has to choose something they especially want to eat at Christmas (when it's at our house!)  It just has to be one thing that for them it is not Christmas without it..... my choice is the cake... 

My grandies don't like fruit cake too much... but one of them has said they especially want Carrot Cake... so that got made today and has gone into the freezer and will get some lemon cream cheese icing

It's a lovely moist and easy to make cake and the recipe is HERE

A week ago I made a couple of loaves of Christines almond bread and today these were sliced and dried... they are really yummy so I have to hide these or there will be none left for when the grandies arrive.... Christine has a link to her recipe HERE... also easy peasy to make...

Then for good measure I made a large batch of Choc Chip Cookies... I have this recipe on my blog HERE... just scroll down... again easy peasy and I used a mixture of white and dark choc chips...

Righto, Gotto Go... all this domestic goddessing I have very sore feet now... I think I need to put them up with a cold glass of beer!  

Preparations....

A lovely little swap group I am lucky enough to be part of is opening gifts for the 12 days before Christmas...

Shez is the naughty elf who has sent me gifts and these are my first 6 gifties

cards, a photo album, cheese snacks, a hoop deer decoration, round ornies for my tree and a coffee mug

They are all perfect and it's such fun opening a present up each day

Hubz says he has never known me to wake up so quick and bright in the mornings!!

This week this lovely little Angel came to live with me... It's from Susan and is made from paper clay which was pressed into a mould.... so clever and a lot of detail in it... thanks Susan

I rather like that cheeky Santa on the card too!

Today my Christmas preparations meant I had to be a bit of a domestic goddess.... I have iced our fruit cake..

I like almond icing ... so that went on first...

.. and then a layer of icing.. normally I would make royal icing but this year a bought a packet that you roll out... easy peasy that way....

... now it's gently hardening and then I will add a ribbon and some ornies on top... it is being guarded by a Santa and Reindeer (who came to live with me from Keryn's house... they are so beautifully made...) and a frog with a headache... (I think it found Hubz beer!)

Hand sewing has happened and I have finished this block of my sampler.. there was quite a bit to do in this one... 

This is a recent picture of grandiegirl Maddy... she went to the Christmas Carol service in the village where she lives... just wanted to cuddle the baby Jesus all evening

very sweet

Righto, Gotto Go... I am getting stuck into Hubz beer and my new Cheese straws from Shez.... it's been a hot day

Chookyblue has suggested a Christmas challenge... I'm in... what about you... 

'Tis the Season....

... for parties....

A Friday evening sewing group I attend at The Quilters Angel had their Chistmas party and Kris so kindly hosted us at her gorgeous new home 

... so prettily decorated ....

..... for gifts .....

... where gifts were presented.... home made cordial and a bag of treats.. patterns etc.

(how cute is that little bag)

... and Kris gave us each a lovely handmade boot to hang on the tree... I do love my special decorations...

The FHFS swap group I am in is opening it's 12 days of Christmas presents and these are what I have had from Shez.... some Christmas cards, a photo album, hand stitched deer picture (oh it is dear).. and today a set of 3 handmade ornies... they are on the tree already...

Thanks Shez... gorgeous gifts...

We had a few lovely cooler evenings so I hand stitched down this binding... so we have a new quilt...

"Baby It's Cold Outside" is one of Toni's patterns.... I love the freshness of this one

.... for family....

... well... I am excited for Christmas but my big count down is for my eldest daughter and family to arrive from the UK... including these 3 elves..... this time next week they will be waking up to their first morning in Australia... those lovely jumpers will not be needed....

I CAN'T WAIT..... but I have to... so I better keep busy

Righto, Gotto Go ...  lots to sort out.....

Today ....

... is my youngest childs birthday

this is the widget's mother... and we will all have lunch together to celebrate

Today .....

....we are allowed to start opening our FHFS presents

mine are from Shez and today I got a pack of very nice cards .... we ALWAYS run out so thanks Shez... perfecto....

Yesterday .....

I opened my box of decorations and our tree is dressed

lots of handmade ornaments .... I love them all

baubles and lights

a little bit of magic

... filling corners with Christmas quilts ....

Last night.....

.... it got quite cool after our hot weather so I didn't mind sitting with a quilt on my lap doing some binding .....

Last week ......

I had some lovely mail with Christmas lovelies... 

This lovely tag came from Marina .... so clever with her colours and a rusty bell on the bottom

Michelle sent me one of her embroidered angels.... those bullion roses - oh my

Thanks to Maria for a fat quarter of beautiful Christmas fabric.... it is pretty and strokable....

(Japanese made... such lovely quality)

a Michelle Palmer original drawing on fabric from one of Santa's elves

Clever ladies, wonderful ideas....  it's beginning to look like Christmas over here....

Righto, Gotto Go.... the thing about decorating is you move things ... and find dirt (well I do... I'm sure others don't!!)