Happy Mail ......

Last week I got a wonderful surprise parcel in the mail....

Wrapped in wonderful surprise Christmas paper (love it!)

Toni's new book Happy Quilts.... full of wonderful bright and happy quilts and matching softies...

I love her designs and have made quite a few of her quilts in the past.... now trying to make a tough decision of which to start with????  I think I'll try a softie as I haven't done one of those before...

... specially written inside and I just love the happy picture of Toni in it too...

The book was launched at the Spring Festival in Utah and has been on preorder sale for a while at several online stores.... you can read more about it on Toni's blog and there are heaps of prizes to be won....

Oh, and the reason for me getting sent a special copy by Toni.....

aren't I the luckiest to have seen the quilts before anyone else!!!  I can tell you it's jolly hard keeping secrets like that!

Righto, Gotto Go ....  the weekend looms

A most amazing weekend....

This last weekend I was very lucky to be invited to a girls time away weekend - and wow were we spoilt...

Every single meal was a gastonomic delight - I have NEVER tasted food like that....

.... just not the sort of meals you would duplicate at home

(my photography is not good - you just can't see what was there - this is chocolate desert)

... there were little personal treats all the way through the weekend....

and parcels on our beds - there is enough fabric for a quilt in there!!

... fantastic views  all day long...

... everywhere you went was something more to see...

... cutest little piglets to visit and feed....

... and activities to do....

(I'm useless at any sporting thing but it was sooooo much fun!)

 ... we even did quite a bit of stitching....

.. and coctails in the evenings....

... sitting chatting around a pit fire...

Instructions were pyjamas and tiara's as the dresscode for the weekend...

(this is not everyone - and our lovely hostess hid rather a lot!)

... a weekend to remember ....

This weekend was all expenses paid - an unexpected invitation by a special woman with a big heart that was so very much enjoyed... 

Good food, good fun, good friends and a bit of stitching.....

Righto, Gotto Go - it's not easy getting back to reality!  

More blocks and a finish....

More Sampler blocks done this week....

Sylvia's Shooting Star

Spinning Hourglass

Star of the Orient

Tennessee

I'm sure you will be relieved to know there are only 2 more blocks to make for this quilt!!!

I have done quite a bit more of adding the sashing to my blocks - but still a long way to go...

... this is how they are looking - these are not joined - just placed together to start sorting where they will go....

My eye mask is finished and ready for use.....

... It works! That wild hair of mine!!!

Righto, Gotto Go.... I've got lots to do!! I hope you find something fun to do today, tommorrow and all weekend....

... more progress....

Hubz has been away for a few days so I take advantage of that time by making up a big bowl of soup, staying in my pyjamas and stitching the days away....

Firstly I added the next border onto In My Garden....  the stitcheries are not that clear in the picture but they are very sweet 

... then I started work to catch up on The Splendid Sampler blocks....

hmmmmm

 .. that's better .... 

Hand in Hand designed by Kari Carr

Inspector Sidekick designed by Michele Foster

Derby Day designed by Pat Sloan (bonus block)

Goose on the Loose designed by Amy 

I have two more prepped up which I will take to Friday night Sew and Stitch tonight .... 

... lots of HST in today's work - rather satisfactory seeing a pile of little trimmings...

Last evening I finished off the stitching for my eye mask.... you can see the shape in the stitchery...

.. the next border of In My Garden needed lots of 1.5" x 2.5" rectangles - I chose to make them by sewing strips together and cutting them back... 

... there is some regularity in the strips but they worked out okay ..

... and that's the top finished for that quilt - I love it....  I think I will get a bit more of brown for binding?

Hubz and I have been filling spaces with some new plants... this little hibiscus decided to flower - the flower is almost as big as the plant... so pretty...

Righto, Gotto Go - I can probably finish off that eye mask this afternoon...... Hope you have a wonderful weekend....

Progress

Another 4 blocks for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler done this week - 

Sawtooth Star, Silver and Gold, Sister's Choice, Square and Star

... I've also been doing a bit of sashing - there is lots to do as I'm going around each side and then trimming back to sort out the fact that my blocks are not all the same size!  I've done these 20 so far (they are not joined yet)

Loving the look of it... exciting... 

The centre of In My Garden is completed now - those hexagons took me a while and then were appliqued on with the little oval stitcheries.... looking very sweet I think,,,,,

the next step is cutting more fabric to go around the edge with these other stitcheries...

... meanwhile I have another hand sewing project on the go - I want an eye mask to use at a sewing retreat I am going to in a couple of weeks ...  

Our little Australian native bees are very sweet and little, don't sting and I think it's a compliment that they come into my garden.  The garlic chives in my herb planter have gone to flower and the bees have been collecting pollen like mad.... I hope you can see them here - looks like they have big boots on -

Righto, Gotto Go ...... border fabrics to choose and cut.....