.. and the one's I made.... and a new blogger to meet....

A gift that I couldn't share before TheBeardedManinTheRedSuit bungied by...

My SSCS (run by Chookyblue) gift was for Tanje (Nemo) in Norway

I made a little snowflake ornie with a tinkle bell....

and for her main present a tote bag ......

almost a 'sampler' bag... different blocks front and back which make up pockets....
flying geese and block piecing
quilted throughout

lined with lots of pockets inside (as I know treasures leap into bags)

Nemo is fond of mice so I made this little one to fit in a pocket....
(this is a very cute pattern from Bustle and Sew)

I loved making this bag - I hope Nemo loves it too

There's heaps of gifts and ornaments being shown on Chookyblue's blog if you fancy some inspiration

I'd love to introduce you to Helen.....

I met Helen when she came into one of my favourite LQS to buy a quilt.... she was told she couldn't buy one but she was welcome to join a bunch of us and make one.....  we were sewing to make quilts for people affected by the floods.....

She is a great friend and I have no doubt her blog will be great fun... she covers furniture, gets her hands dirty refurbishing homes, and is game to try all sorts of new things... sewing, knitting -  she did make a lovely quilt too (since she couldn't buy one) .... and has a wicked sense of humour.... you can see a few of her projects on her new blog 

I hope you can pop by and say G'day.....

The BeardedManinTheRedSuit came by ....

This year I participated in Chookyblue's SSCS for the first time

I received my lovely parcel with THIS ornament and on Christmas Day I could open the main parcel from Sharon in New York

isn't this bag just awesome... I put it on a chair so you can get an idea of the size... yup... it will fit lots in.. almost the kitchen sink ... and has lots of pockets inside for all those treasures... 

The bag was wrapped in fabric... such a fun Christmas apron, which of course I will stitch together to  wear next year

(I've never had a special 'Christmas' apron)

... the bag was stuffed with lots of lovely little parcels.....

tissues... (which were needed, I do get tears from niceness), yummy different flavoured tea (I am having one right now as we speak), note book and cards and all those DMC perle threads.... and just when I want to learn to do some hand quilting.. these will be just perfect and a lovely quilt card came with it from Sharon

Sharon - thank you so much... what an awesome parcel..

and thanks to Chookyblue for hosting this fantastic Christmas swap - so well organised

There are loads of pictures of such a wonderful array of ornaments HERE on Chookyblue's blog - it's not too early to be inspired for Christmas 2012!!

I had a surprise gift from bloggy friend Cyndi ......I haven't met Cyndi of course so I was very touched to receive this lovely parcel from her...

Such a fun book with all sorts of interesting and different projects....

... it also has yummy recipes to try and pages discussing antique kitchen equipment

(it does worry me that most of these I remember having them in the home!!)

and these lovely charm blocks.... I just love these happy fabrics 

Thanks Cyndi... such a special gift from a special friend - I love it all

this next parcel was a fun charm swap coordinated by Sharon - we all had a few colours of fabric to buy and slice into 5" charms.. then Sharon split them up and sent us each a pack containing one of each of the charms.... what a lovely way to collect a rainbow... Sharon is planning on another rainbow swap next year so if you are keen to collect some rainbow colours pop keep an eye on her blog... 

There was some comments about the way we treat Santa in our house when I showed our decorations so I thought I would show you a close up....

I couldn't resist this ornament when I visited New Zealand a couple of years ago... I guess this is the way he needs to get into houses since we are 'down under' here....

I just wanted to clarify we are not abusers of BeardedManinTheRedSuit!!

I hope he bungied by your place.....

Fantastic Friday .....

Mr Postie popped by (I've had so many visits lately I think the neighbours may start talking!!)

and I am so relieved and happy that a special parcel has arrived for me....

Mr Postie apologised as the parcel looked a bit worse for wear and had been rewrapped by AusPost...

... the parcel wrapping is fabric and was a bit damp so I left in a sunny spot to dry out... I think it had a swim in the sea on the way over?  (Hubz has given it a check and all is safe Sharon.)

The parcels are from Sharon, who I have not met so I had to scoot over to her blog and get to know her - she is from Upstate New York... 

I got a Christmas parcel from NEW YORK!!!!.... never in my life would I imagine that

Sharon and has such a lot of eye candy to look at there... so great to meet you and your marmalade cats....

Here it is drying out.... I lifted up to get the air in (okay ... so I couldn't resist a peak - just to check for damp of course!!!  but Sharon has it so well wrapped I couldn't see anything!!!)

one I was allowed to open and found this cutest little 'burden bear' with his darling little quilt. A poem came with it all about reminding one to ease the burdens and how life is like a quilt....

I was pleased to note he wasn't even a little bit damp.... phew

(the mind shudders at what could have happened to him!)

Thank you so much Sharon - I will 'bearly' be able to wait for Christmas day

Friday night I had a lot of slicing to do for ....

I have already started on the blocks for SKoW quilt but I never got to cutting all the pieces and strips.... wow, that took a LOOOOOONG time ....

I haven't done a quilt with lots of little pieces so this was a new experience for me...

I needed 374 squares (mostly 1 1/2") cut and a bunch of 2" strips and a few other little pieces to make up some patchwork blocks..... these are now ready to sew on my sneakyextrafnsifordownunderpeople 

Thanks to Heidi  and Bobbi for hosting this fun stitching time -

I took a break in the evening to sit and watch the sun go down

PS... these are sewn up now...... (those square blocks are 3"squares)... very cute... very fiddly for me!

Quiltober .....

Marina is dedicating October to quilting and I have decided to join in Quiltober with her ...

These two are pinned and ready for quilting....

Sweet Dreams may be needed later this month so I must get it ready

... and that is the binding I have gone with....

and my Toni Alexanders Doggie quilt

(which mean there are pictures of Dogs... not that is is my Dogs Quilt)

have you got tops that need to be quilted?

why don't you join us?

I have made a bit of progress at stitching/unpicking/restitching more of my SSCS gift of a (insert item name here) for (insert name here)

and I have joined in with Chookyblue's next Stitch-A-Long... my lovely book arrived last week...

Oh.. it is so scrumptious

I think these are the fabrics I will be using plus I will add some backgrounds for the stitcheries/applique

These are fabrics I bought from Bec when she had a clear out... there will be plenty to mix and match with

(the colours are are a bit more muted than the picture shows)

Jingle Bells...

When I was little itty bitty way back in those olden days.... I was very scared of loud noises (I am still!!) but thunder storms really frightened me and mum says I used to just disappear - nowhere to be found....

From October onwards humidity would build up and the most amazing storms could happen..... To try and allay my fears mum and dad would tell me Father Christmas was getting himself ready for Christmas and banging around with the parcels....

I am waiting to hear those sounds of Santa getting ready.....

However, as Santa's helper I am beginning to sort parcels too.... this year I have joined in with Chookyblue's SSCS... over the last year of blogging I have seen this event unfolding on other blogs so I was excited to join in the fun this time ....

We all have an overseas partner {mine is (insert name here)} and so I will make something special as well as add a pretty Christmas tree ornament.

I've chosen my fabrics and I am going to make a (insert item here)

you may see some of it over the coming months... but it is SECRET.... so no telling okay?

Narelle from Pins and Whiskers has been reminding us about Christmas for a while

you can add your item and leave your comment HERE 

Allie also challenged us to just have fun each month and link up HERE  .....

I have a couple of Christmassy goodies to show

I did already show off my Christmas Stitch wallhanging finish in more detail HERE

and this week I finished this Hot Pot Mat

 I find I never have enough mats to put things on in the kitchen

How are you getting on with Christmas.... only 3 months to go!!!

Get those bells jingling