Birds and feathers.....

I love it that birds have wanted to nest at our home....

this is some finches in our garage

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 not sure who nested in here .... they are not there now.... this is in our fernery just a couple of metres from the lounge room..

outside our bedroom is another fernery sheltering the room from the afternoon sun... there is a nest in the corner.... can you see the mommy bird?

.. whilst mum Peaceful Dove was out I went and took a snap of this little guy... I just love those beady eyes....

I have been quilting the Paris Flea Market Jelly Roll quilt...

... smothered in feathers....

... although it is dense feathering the quilt is still soft enough to be cuddly ....

I find feathers quite forgiving.... they just mingle into each other..

Dasher and Dancer are my heroes......

(not sure what happened to Santa's arm!)

Righto, Gotto Go.... binding to do...... too hot really

Blocks and Mothers and Daughters and Memories ....

Over the year Googy Girl hosted a 9 patch swap and a bunch of us made a bunch of 9 patches in reproduction prints... and then Googy Girl shared them all out and sent us loads of them

I love how they arrived wrapped up so pretty with a special card

I counted 113 blocks... so can get a big quilt out of it... I think I might make two different ones 

Thank you so much to all the lovely ladies who contributed to these and especially Googy Girl who coordinated it all and sorted the blocks out.... they are magnificent...

This is a cute pattern by Leanne May (Candlelight Creations)....

 I adapted the original words which were "When I was little you always held my hand" since I was giving this to my daughter for her and her daughter....

I love the little detail of stitching on the light border and on the tags....

I sent this pretty little one to my daughter in UK... she has a daugher who when she saw this said "Can it go in my room?"... so my guess it has gone to the right home....

Whilst I was making mothers and daughter related things I got to thinking about my mom, who was a really good cook, not fancy meals but always tasty.... Sunday lunches were roasts and at night something light... like waffles, or pancakes, or yorkshire puddings, or sardines on toast.....

.. or french toast...

It is so long since I have had this easy and tasty light meal.... with some fresh raspberries and wedges of orange and a sprinkle of cinnamon ... (of course you can use the traditional lashings of maple syrup and a blob of icecream!)

I used THIS recipe (but only used a Tbsp of sugar) .... so yummy so I think this will be back on the regular menu.... and it was lovely pulling out some of those memories too.

Righto, Gotto Go ..... I want to look up some ideas for 9 patch quilts - I am sure I will need to make a shopping list too!

Woohoo... one month till the man in the red suit arrives.....

... so we all need to pick up and start making sure those preparations are all done...

DD2 put in an 'order' for some of those little decorations (paid with cuddles!!) so I am working today on getting my stock up again....

 This time I have done white and also some soft blue with Christmas writing on for a bit of a change...

I'll finish cutting them all out tonight in front of the TV ........

It also starts to be Christmas party time and tommorrow is the quilters party so I have prepared some mini plum puddings

I found how to do them HERE a couple of years ago ..... they are very easy and very messy (but fun!) to make and orange juice could be substituted for brandy (I used rum because that is all I had!)

Because I have a mind like a sieve I like to use el cheepo plastic plates... I have covered it with foil and added some clean lace fabric to party it up a bit.... (it is after all supposed to be a classy affair!)

Sweet to look at, sweet to eat... and a good dollop of booze is just a bonus....

Narelle is hosting One Christmas Item a Month and you can always pop over HERE to see what people have made through the year if you want some inspiration....

Oh... I also worked on some redecorating this weekend....

I have lovely pictures of my grandchildren and I love to add a Christmas flavour to this scene since we are not together at Christmas...

... what do you think? .....

... we are ready for Christmas....

.... I made up the tags... this one creates lovely thoughts....

Righto, Gotto Go, I think I'll have mini pudding for lunch....

Little beauties.....

A friend of mine was a prize winner of viewers choice at the Toowoomba Quilters Show and prizes were given out last week....

Although I have shown some of these individually before I just loved the way Christine set them up in a little scene...

These mini quilts and accessories are all hand made by Christine... even the lovely 'iron' bed ....

I have put my thimble in a couple of the pictures so you can get an idea of the size ....

... so much detail... even embroidered pillow slips.... and a painted bunny on the cot ....

the golly is only about 1" .... can you imagine making that teddy?

... and knitting that white blanket and doilies.... let alone the crazy patch....

... just adorable..... 

I can't get my head around how she does it.....

... I'm sure you will agree a very worthy prize winner...

This time of year our Poinciana (or Flamboyant) tree flowers and I think it is enjoying the fruits of some good rains last year....... it is just the most stunning I have ever seen it...

it is hot and humid and cloudy today but I wanted to show you how dense the flowers are before the storm comes and knocks them all off!

we have had a bit of rain this week and it always amazes me how the grass greens up in a couple of days...

Righto, Gotto Go....  not long to December and an advent calender is required.....

I'm a little bit worried.....

... that people thought that this was really my advent calender.....

...well... it's not...

I found this wonderful picture and idea on one of those social media places.....

... I may or may not fantasize about having it ....

.... but it is more likely to be bottles of home brew beer ....

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This is what I have been quilting just around the edges of the red wool ....

and sewing these blocks.....

... and these ones.....

... some people might not like the wine idea....

.... so I found something else for you to enjoy ..... 

..... which I also do not have in my house....

... though I may... or may not .... fantasize about it...
(it is the silly season after all!)

Righto, Gotta Go.... (humming Jingle bells)

Lovely surprises......

Mr Postie has been around this week....

Firstly this lovely postcard from Joanna for our Christmas postcard swap hosted by Sheila....

as we don't get cardinals here and they are just such a lovely bird I am delighted to have this one to add to my Christmas decorating....  thanks Joanna... it's perfect....

.... also this new mini from Sisbabe in a 'flower mini swap' hosted by Cheryll.... 

I love this label at the back too..... just gorgeous

I put it in my mini hanger immediately to cheer up these hot days....

I just love everything about it... thanks Sisbabe....

 ... and there were some extra goodies.... also some strawberry Tim Tams but I'm not sure what happened to those (!!!!) that thread is just the loveliest variegated pastel pink... so pretty

 .... it's also time for a parcel in the post

This is my parcel which has been popped onto Santa's sleigh in Chookyblue's SSCS swap

... have to wait till after Christmas to see what's inside and where it has gone ....

Exciting times a comin'... gotta love making and sending off handmade pressies..... and then waiting for one to arrive!

These are all ready for posting in December for the 6 items Christmas Swap hosted by Maree ..... this one is not going as far ... but it's still secret

... so that is the secret bloggie stuff all done...

I do like advent calenders and have made some fabric/felt ones for my children and their families.... this year I decided to focus on doing one for us.....

... sooooo looking forward to December!!! .....

Righto, Gotto Go.... hic....