Hoot, hoot, Christmas is coming.......

I got the pattern for these cute owls from Robyn at Daisy Quilts.  They are quite easy
(I am a very much learner softie maker - and if I can make them anyone can!!)
......and very cute.... don't you think??? 
There is no ways I could only make one.... now there's two and I still want more! 
The pattern is available HERE - incase you get the owlish fancy too.....

I have joined with Kerryanne's Simply Christmas where she has so many ideas of home made things for Christmas...... well, she talked about cake here which reminded me to start mine....
the sultanas and raisins, mixed peel and dates and cherries and pineapple soak in honey and brandy for 2 days.......

This is my favourite Christmas Cake recipe - lots and lots of fruit and nuts and just enough flour and eggs to hold it together and keep it moist.  Usually I make the cake for Christmas day when we all eat too much!!  This year I will have it for visitors from the beginning of December.

I have never had name tags at our Christmas table but Karen from Sew Many Ways gave a lovely, easy idea HERE so I played with my glue gun today (I've never had one of those before so it was a novelty!!)

I can use them for pictures of those faraway darlings who won't be here for Christmas.....

And I have done another advent calender - this one featuring Santa and lots of Christmassy pictures hanging on his tree......

If you need some Christmas inspiration have a read from Kerryanne and Karen.  I'm sure there will be something you will want to make.......

Hope you have had a lovely relaxing weekend.

 

A bit of fun............

You are maybe aware of goats travelling the world via a connection of bloggers (namely The Sisterhood of the Travelling Goat) A few blog posts ago I wrote that Billy Goat Gruffles went off to visit in North Dakota - I await anxiously to hear he has landed safely.

Gertrude the Goat has come over to Queensland from Maria in Western Australia. She arrived a little bit ruffled from spending the best part of a week stuffed into an envelope!  She brought me the sweetest gift tag with her - so very thoughtful and kind..... It is very pleasant weather at the moment and she has been able to explore the nearest city (Toowoomba), wonderful gardens in spring-time....

An important reason for her travels is that she finds a long-term home so several pictures were taken so I could get an idea of her favourite things ....

~ most definitely a range of colours and textures ~

and being the indulgent animal lover I am.... she got colour and texture.....

Once I get can her back into an envelope (she is just a little bit reluctant!) she will go visit Laura for a bit of pampering.....

While Gertrude has been wandering (she likes to explore alone) I finished my Daisy-Do - a design by Jenny of ELEFANTZ.....

AND.... I have been lucky, lucky, lucky .....

Nola sent me these pretty Christmas fabrics..... I know exactly what I want to make....

 

Flooring is being done so I am holed up inside my sewing room/computer room (what bliss)

~ there is something owlish going on ~

Plum Pudding Birds...........

Toni at Red Boots Company made some really cute Plum Pudding Birds - she said she wasn't sure if this was as cute as she thinks....  I thought they were.....

I had some wool felt available so made them up from that.

Toni has a pattern available HERE ....

Can you see a trend in the hair styles.....

mmmmmmmmmm...  maybe feral is the way around here......

I think I'll change my name...........

so this can stay at my house.............

but she belongs to GrandieGirl so will be off in the post to UK tommorrow......

with this advent calender

all the little pictures hang on buttons

So I have added a pocket on the back for them.... it also shows where to hang each picture...

GrandieGirl's big brothers will have fun with this

(hopefully a Christmas elf will put some treats in the pocket too!)

I hope it gets to them in time

Weekend Time........

Weekends are always wonderful...... although I don't have an outside paying job I still love weekends..... Hubz is home and I can get lots of little jobs done - or at least I can supervise them!!!!

I worked hard on Carol's Stitching Around the Block - the tiny weeny hexagons......

There seems to be lots of different instructions for doing these - but being a first timer - and them hexi's being so tiny I made cardboard templates, basted, starched, pressed, pinned and stitched very, very carefully.....

The writing stitchery was fiddly too........ although it almost drove me to drink - but Marina (who has been great moral support through this crisis) warned me about the wine turning hexagons into octagons.......

Those little snails found themselves in the hexies too.................

And is that another crazy lady????

The stitchery is now on its way to the UK to visit Lorraine who will work on the next round.

Whilst I sat and stitched the oven was on......

Lovely moist coconut and pecan cake

So yum.....

So very yum......

My favourite magazine hit the stands this week.  One thing I am so enjoying is seeing blog friends in print - and getting to 'know' designers.

Roslyn from Bloom has her first project in it - she has made this beautiful sewing machine cover. 

I love the linen look.  

you can read more about it HERE

Well done - it is beautiful.  BTW Bloom does lovely photography and has lovely garden pictures to look at as well as lovely sewing.

Lisa from A Spoonfull of Sugar has designed this cushion in Cathedral Window prettiness

You can read more about it HERE

Well, I'd love to make both of these projects - so I will be marking the pages.... but first I need to work on this quilt...

and Jenny has sent us the last of the Daisy-Do blocks

and I need to make the stocking for Grandiegirl ....

(I found the perfect angle 'hair' and 'eyes' today)

and the advent calenders.....

(96 buttons to sew)

and the felt decorations...

and the slippers....

and......

and...

......... you understand don't you?.......

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you will be doing.

A Goat goes Travelling and a Stitchery Visits

Billy Goat Gruffles (hereafter known as BGG) has entered the world of AusPost and is heading towards North Dakota, the Yukon Territory in Canada, and Western Australia before coming back home to Queensland..........

As BGG has such a lot of international travel I had to print him a passport and pack him a suitcase....

Inside his passport is a map so each of his hosts can mark the spot where he has been - I hope there will be some photo's and blogposts of his wonderful adventures....

 

Along the way BGG will enjoy some pampering and a makeover and will come back to me groomed and a whole new goat - preferably not so Gruffly.......... and in a good mood - he was in a terrible temper about being stuffed into an envelope......

BGG is on his way Laura
(I hope you have a spare jumper for BGG - that early snow will be a shock to him)

Thanks Elaine for arranging this goatie exchange visit...........
Long Live the Sisterhood of the Travelling Goats......

In the meantime whilst we were waiting for BGG visa to come through I did finish off the stitcheries of our little farm animals. 
Thanks Joy for the prompting to get some blocks finished. 
Joy has not been well, and she is trying to get ready for an international move, - so pop by and cheer her up a bit............

I have chosen some fabrics to make blocks for this quilt...............  one day ...........mmm

Mr Postie came by on yesterday and brought these lovely, lovely, lovely fabrics from Carol

and her exquisite stitchery for the Stitch Around the Block

Helen gave us instructions for the next round.

Hexies - but not just hexies...... 1/2" hexies.......

I have not done hexies!

let alone 1/2" hexies

I don't think you are supposed to learn on something so tiny!

And those fabrics are so, so, so, pretty 

I'm not sure they should even be cut

just stroked..... and patted...... and stroked some more 

I am filled with trepidation and fear

but determined to face my fears

 A fun afternoon today stitching with friends - this was the view when I got home.....

hopefully a burn off and not a bush fire...........

Have a Happy Week everyone......... whatever you are doing.....

Tuesday Treasure

Tuesday brings Tuesday Treasures hosted by Clare.......

My treasure this week is quite a heavy soapstone carving of Hornbills...

This is a photo of a real one I found on the internet....

(Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill)

The artist has carved a very good likeness - he was an African selling items on the side of the road with no formal training and very basic tools....

The soapstone is quite soft and is a commonly used stone for carvings in Zimbabwe.  This is the only piece of soapstone carving we brought - I just didn't have the heart to part with it.....

I am very fond of this carving, it holds wonderful memories as well as being a beautiful piece of art-work.

Have a great week - and to all Victorians - have a wonderful Melbourne cup - we don't get a public holiday but everyone will be watching "the race that stops a nation"