Empty house .......

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmastime..... we had half of our children and 3 of our 8 grandchildren with us.... fantastic.  Mixed with calls and chats from all the other family members  makes it a very special time....

Kathleen, you asked about my North Pole quilt - sorry but it's coming through as No-Reply without any links -  and I have quite a few Kathleens in my address book so I can't respond personally.  I did the North Pole quilt sewing blanket stitch by machine.  Details of the quilt can be seen HERE

This is by far my favourite present... pictures of my children and their families ..... we are very lucky to have such special people in our lives....

I did get a couple of lovely stitchy presents from lovely stitchy friends...

This parcel came from Shez... a pattern (wool applique - wonderful) with a gorgeous pincushion and notions/needle book..... thanks Shez... they will be used so much....

showing the inside of the needlebook - very handy to have space for the threads aswell...

As well as the sweet ornament and pattern, with handmade card (which is now framed to be a future part of our decorating thanks to Shez for the idea) 

... Michelle had also included a pretty parcel with this lovely panel...  there will be two new stockings and a door hanger next year!  Thanks Michelle, I love it and will have great fun making it up.... beautiful quality fabric....

Maria's ornament and card arrived just in time to decorate our tree at Christmas.... thanks Maria - I love it..... so much detail ...

Before Christmas I finally finished this quilt.... Kris donated her UFO to me a few years ago, last year I put together the panels and finally I quilted and bound it just in time to go on a bed this christmas....

It's pretty cute isn't it?

I have caught up on reading blogs but not commented much -  lovely to read what everyone's got up to....

Susan has been doing a circle quilt - you can see it in THIS POST.  Well I really liked the idea and I have some batik charm squares.... so I went shopping for circle fabric.....  I wanted a good contrast ...

I only bought fabric because I needed it so I could use up my batiks..... ??????    It looks like a great mobile project for when I need to pick up and go ......

Righto, I'm off to prep some circles and find a container for picking up and going......

Grinch Be Gone.......

Whilst sorting fabrics for the Santa Sacks I made last week I found some cute little bear pictures....

I made them up into coasters... and the stars into a mug rug.....

I don't need them at all but they are cute ...

I also had a panel with three lovely vintage style Santa pictures... so I added sticky backs and put them on some plain (curtain) fabric.....

These sacks can be used as perpetual gift wraps ... or whatever....

I didn't sew around the edges - I don't feel they need it ....

I might just put paper in them and add them to the decorations.... I love them.....

Mr Postie came by ....

Lovely hand made card from Michelle, with pocket mini stitcheries and an elf ornament for the tree.... and a beautiful hand painted card which shall get a frame and become a decoration (just like Shez has done)

... there is a parcel too but I'm saving it for another day .....

Christine came over to sew and brought these cutest little handmade stocking ornies..... they have gone straight on the tree.....

It's a bit of a family joke that I moan and groan and stress out about Christmas - and about a week before get out the decorations (if we are having guests) and suddenly magic happens.... I pull an alldayer/nighter and the place looks different....

The cards are going on the chimney and Hubz and my stockings with a little vignette on the top and quilt done on a Stitch-a-long at the back....

This little tree is on the dining room dresser..... can't put too much there as that's where the food will go!

.... of course the classy mug rugs are out and next to our chairs!

 (well grandchildren do need stories to tell of their grandparents don't they?)

A frog has moved into the houseplant..... (looks like he found the home brew!)

I just loved making this quilt..... it is so fun and there is heaps of glitter glue on it so it sparkles madly....

 Hubz got stiff legs on Sunday putting up the fairly lights on the veranda.... they really do look magical in the evening.....

These two Santa's usually adorn a cake but I didn't do one this year.... 

A wall of hand made hangings..... I love them all....

So many of my decorations are hand made by friends ... and form a special part of my decorating....

This dish cloth was designed by Maddy, one of my UK grandiegirls....

Thanks to Debs, local daughter the tree has gifts under it.... (she came and wrapped whilst I did the tree).  Nearly all my ornaments are hand made.... 

I love my tree of love ...

Hubz thinks I go overboard sometimes!!!

Well, we do have little boys coming to stay....

It all looks quite festive (except for the boxes etc that are still in the way on the floor!)

Righto, Gotto Go.... there is a mess to tidy up ..... and there is a Christmas quilt I want to finish!

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas whereever you are, whatever you are doing, and however you like to celebrate...xx

Busy week.....

This week I decided to sort my quilt tops.  I am hoping to do some of my own quilting over the holiday season....

I bought this bolt of wadding a couple of years ago and this is the first time I have opened it!  I like to get a bolt although it is pricey but then I can cut to the exact size I want.  Also any left over pieces are all from the same quality and kind of fabric so I can join them.

I also had a stash of backing fabrics - having bought metreage when I saw some on sale - again some time ago!!!  Some of the quilts already had their backings with them.

Out came the quilt tops (you know some of them have been in there so long I had forgotten I had made them!)  It's like greeting old friends!

I am a bit embarrassed to admit there are 13 quilt tops there..... but one step closer to getting completed as they all have wadding and backing put aside for them

There is not much left of the bolt of wadding now.  This includes a couple of Christmas quilts - I aim to do one of them this coming week!

Mr Postie visited with this beautiful card and ornament from Karen.... thank you so much - I do treasure my handmade ornies more than any others I have.... 

I was so excited to see a finger lime on my little bush..... can you see it - its almost black its such a dark red....  I'm looking forward to it ripening up a bit (it's about 4cm long)  .... lots of flowers so I hope next season it will be loaded with fruit ..

We are expecting an extra two little boys for Christmas (our two grandieboys from Melbourne are coming up with their Dad)

So this week I made up a couple of Santa Sacks to sit at the end of their beds on Christmas Eve....  I need to purchase some cord to tie the tops...

I usually favour buttonhole stitch but this time I free motioned raw edge in black - It gives a scribbly look I quite like - but most of all it was ultra quick!

These are freebie designs from talented (and generous) Toni.  The reindeer is from a few years back but the Santa can be found HERE .  There is also a summer version Santa with a surf board!

Thank you Toni - I do love your patterns and these were exactly what I needed at short notice!

 Treadle and I had a play and I now have 50 x 4 piece diamond shapes ready and waiting.  I now need to cut bigger diamonds to go with these.

My youngest daughter (widget's mum) turned 30 this week.  Gosh.  She is a strong and generous person and a wonderful mother (and daughter).  This was at a yummy dinner out together the night before her birthday.  Widget left the next day to go and meet other side of his family in New Zealand.... wonderful.  I'm sure he will come back with lots of stories.

Righto, Gotto Go..... I am going to pin a quilt! 

Have a wonderful weekend.... xx

Happenings....

Well I never got to playing on my treadle over the weekend..... widget came over and other things happened instead...

Hubz and Widget made this thread holder for me.... I have been collecting up different colours over the last couple of years (I favour a matching colour when I can for quilting so have been building up a stock).

Because of dust and harsh Queensland sun I like my thread and fabrics in drawers and cupboards so this is perfect....

Joy has done a tutorial just today on her blog on how her Dad made one of these... we did exactly the same but my sticks are shorter to make it easier taking from the back of the drawer and of course mine is flat....  and Widget spray painted it for us (It's like doing graffiti he says!!!) 

Sunday night we plonked our selves at a lovely spot in Queens park for the annual Carols .... a lovely view.....  The bright lights are for rides and market - which I personally think are nonsense at the Carols and refuse to support them, though widget tells me Christmas is all about having fun - his mum did take him down there.  Lots of people had glow sticks and the children have such a lot of fun waving them and singing and dancing.... very sweet.

Lovely to see this fun quilt I gave to YD come out and be used.... it's a lot brighter than this and made from blocks I got in a block swap many years ago....

The carols ended with a short firework display - our spot on the hill was just perfect for watching too

At home we have this plant at our front door - we were about to cut it back when we noticed the flowers - have had this plant for about 10 years and never seen it flower...

It's an incredibly lovely scent - so perfect for the front door and I leave the door open in the evenings for it to waft in on the breeze....

I have no idea what the plant is called.... but after it has flowered I'm taking cuttings and making more!

When I went to UK earlier this year I met up with Jane and she shared with me about her secret project of a crafty calender, so of course I couldn't resist getting one and Mr Postie dropped it by earlier this week....

Its lovely quality and full of great ideas, as well as telling the date (with room to make notes)

Here is the proejct for January - she has filled it with ideas for all sorts of different handicrafts - great idea Jane.... I love it....

Jane does all sorts of sewing projects and has classes (I keep promising I will do her socks class - one day!!!!) well worth visiting and having a look, particularly for new crafters

My Tuesday sewing friend Christine went off to Sydney for a few days and came back with this lovely fat quarter and cutest little tin ever (perfect to go in my treadle drawer)

Mr Postie has started dropping off Christmas post at my house... this came from Shez.. thank you my friend....  sadly I haven't put up a tree yet but the parcel is safe!

and Susan sent me one of her angels.... she is so dinky (1" high) and adorable.... love her thank you

Yesterday's sewing saw some more Anthology blocks.... 123/182 done so far

This week I have been trying to spend a bit of time each day on the treadle machine (much to my annoyance the pedalling doesn't show on my fitbit!!!)

I am definitely improving on getting a smooth flow

  the foot is not an accurate 1/4" and sewing on the bias means my corners are not always accurate... whilst I am not worried about it really it is such a boost when they do come out exact.

My treadle is a back clamp and hard to find feet for so I am just going to have to do with what I have and enjoy it anyway.... 

When I admitted to a neighbour I hadn't done anything about a tree she suggested putting some tinsel on one of my outside ones at least.... so of course I did as requested (can't let the suburb down!)

no parcels to go under there though!

Righto, Gotto Go... after this long post I need some coffee!!!

Have a lovely rest of the week....x