My dresden

I have just taken part in a swap where the main item is to be a dresden plate.....

Just look at what Sharon made for me..... it is just gorgeous and fresh and happy.... I love it soooooooo much...

Sharon also popped in a bit of extra since bunnies and chocolate are around at this time of year.... a perfect tin for treasures once evening snacks and hot drinks are done with....

I helped Sharon out at the beginning of the year to conquer some fears ... and sent her a mug rug.... (Yes, unbelievably there are people out there who don't like mug rugz!!!!!....)

... now as part of our swap we were asked for some details..... including anything we didn't like.... I said "brussel sprouts" (sorry lovers of brussel sprouts) and reckoned I would be pretty safe in a sewing swap....

well.... it seems I was not safe from Sharons' ingenuity ..... a mugrug... featuring brussel sprouts!

Sharon specially designed and printed these so I am very touched... and it has given me one of the biggest laughs... (I nearly had one of those mature age leaks!)

 I do love those brussel sprouts.... just not the edible kind

Such a lovely bundle, some beauty, some yummy and some laugh.... just perfect...

Righto, Gotto Go.... I need to decide the most appropriate place for the mug rug..... and it's time for a  Beer, Wine, Latte....

Hmmmmm.....

A surprise parcel from E Bunny.... 

how pretty and thoughtful and yummy

(one egg didn't make the picture!)

I love them... I think I know who you are... and I love you too..... thank you....x

Today I worked a bit more on mini quilting on my doily..... 

... and I needed to trace out a stitchery... lots of detail in this one and I tried out a trick that Linda Blake showed us at the Girls Day Out....

make a photocopy of your picture ..... (this will need to be thrown out so don't use your original)

(as you can see I am going to do a stitchery of Michelle's) 

place your pattern on some newspaper or something (I have a plastic tablecloth for craft)

spray reasonably generously with your glue spray.....

then smooth your pre-ironed background fabric (I like to starch mine too) over the paper and allow it to dry for a few minutes....

place over light box... or window.... and trace away..... it's not moving....

when all done take the paper away and chuck it out and then add your favourite stabiliser to your stitchery....

nice and easy ..... I like this method especially for larger, detailed stitcheries....

Anthea was returning a coaster I sent in her parcel by mistake... and with it she put in this fun magnet.... how funny.....

(took me a while as I was looking at those slippers!)

Thank you E Bunny and Anthea..... you made my day...

Righto, Gotto Go...... tracing to be done....

Wallhanging...........

Some time ago a friend gave me a flimsy that she had made and, for some strange reason, didn't want anymore....

I added the blue border and then used it to practice some quilting... tighter than I usually do so the wallhanging is quite firm

It's one of the UFO's that has been lingering in the cupboard... 

I quilted a few different shapes.... little orange peel type on the vase...

... and swirls in the background....

... and kind of paisley shape in the flowers ....

This week at Quilt group I put the final stitches on the binding.....

... for my hand sewing I have done another of Rosalie Quinlans Scandanavian Rose blocks.... as you can see all in backstitch and this one is using a Cottage Garden thread Canna.... 

Righto, Gotto Go..... this is a little fish I saw when in Tasmania..... he makes me laugh ....

Almost time for chocolate eggs.....

I love these little quilt mini's and enjoy getting my swap parcels .... well I also have to make things and send them or I don't get anything!!! .... haha....

I showed my lovely mini from Maria HERE and now that the one I have sent has arrived with Anthea I can show you what I made....

This is a design by Julie Lembit and it from a Handmade magazine.... Issue: "Idon'tknow'cosItear the patternsout"..... the bunny has a really sweet face and I loved making it for Anthea.  A bit of quilting around the bunny to highlight it and some happy zigzag fabric for a border.

I also added this little potholder/mug rug which is a Tilda design... rather cute....

Thanks for hosting the mini swap Cheryll ..... such fun....

Righto, Gotto Go ...... I've got another parcel to wrap and get to the postoffice this week ....

FNWF............

Well, strictly speaking ALFWF (all day friday with friends) ..... so lucky I am ....

During daylight hours I went over to Quilters Angel with my machine and joined up with some ladies there making little bags....

This is Sue ... and she is the instigator of the projects we were doing....

... and this is Kris.... who is ironer and cheerleader....

... and I didn't get pics of Steph and Bev (well I did but they were not flattering at all!).... Steph was fabric slicer and Bev was chief cheerleader and washerupper....

.... we were making these simple, but pretty lined bags....

.. they will be filled with toiletries and pinned closed with a pretty brooch ....

Sue and a friend are working hard to get these bags together for White Light  which is a group supporting women who are in shelter having been affected by domestic violence.... 

I had a free day at home yesterday so I made these.....

I used some chenille for the face washers cut into squares

and simply lined with some pretty fabric.... 

the soaps and washers will be included in some of the toiletry bags

(I think I will do a few for gifts too though - lovely and soft)

when I got home I discovered a visitor just at the verge

the echidna is my most favourite Australian mammal....  they have just the dearest little walk, and pointy nose and button eyes....  this little one shuffled right next to me .. made my day...

I then settled down for the real FNWF......

thanks again Cheryll for having us.....

How did you all get on?  I hope you manage some fun sewing this weekend....

A birthday for Hubz......

I seem to be doing a lot of posts this week... sorry... catching up.....

Hubz has a birthday at the end of March ..... I forgot it in the morning when he went to work 

(loud applause for wife of the year... thank you... thank you)

....... so I fixed up his favourite chair with a parcel....

... and even found a special tin of chocolates to go with it...

(instructions that tin is not to be thrown away)

... finally he has his very own quilt ......

... and he has made all the right comments and sighs and wrapped it around him even in the hot weather.....

... of course a very soppy label went with it.....

... let's hope he stops whinging about not having a quilt when everybody else does!!!!!!!!!

I have forgotten where I got to with my pretty birdies stitcheries each month... but I am up to date

this is March (even if Easter is in April this year)

..... and this is April .... Anzac Day

they are really cute pictures... I am loving this series

These are Christine's designs... I like name dropping the designers I know personally!!!  If you visit her blog you can see the full design at the top left .....

Righto, Gotto Go...... need to find something to sew tomorrow night for



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