Catching Up Some More....

Another thing I made last year 

(I will add them to this years OPAM though)

this little wallhanging which was sent to Christine is an FHFS Christmas swap

My daughter had these 'hand' printed plates made for us .... they are so fun and made of proper stuff so can be used.... love them

Another 'hand' made gift was this special Christmas dishtowel....

... awesome....

... and my Christmas postcard arrived from Eglia in Brazil....

(done in the Brazilian flag colours) and really clever and pretty...

I also scored some new fabrics at Christmas... 

a set of foxy fat quarters.... (not sure at this stage what I will make with these)

.. and a set of English themed fat quarters (I am going to make a bag with these ones I think) 

Righto, Gotto Go... I'm still finding stuff that I put away to make space for visitors!!!

Charming Stars....

Last year I joined in with Terry's Charming Stars Sew-A-Long

now all my stars are joined together and borders added

It's very soft and pretty ... I used a range called "Papillon"
and the pattern is from Moda HERE

I think it will be fun to quilt too.... 

Thanks Terry..... I started Scrappy Stars the year before and those blocks are still being made (though mine are squares instead of Stars)...

I wanted to do some mindless piecing the other day so I made 11 more of these... I think I have all 81 that I wanted now

 and this year Terry is going to do a lovely nine patch/snowball one with scraps .... tempting????  My scrappy quilts are always very scrappy ....

Thanks Terry..... I love your sewalongs, scrappy makes and low stress

Righto, Gotto Go.... I have pinned a scrappy quilt which has been waiting a couple of years and want to get it quilted (Bonnie's Trip Around the World)

I always start the year trying to get some UFO's done...

Righto, Gotto Go.... quilt, quilt, quilt.... after coffee .....

Catching Up.....

I didn't sew much over Christmas but there were a few things I hadn't shown

Last year for gifts I did a bundle of these....  and filled them with a bottle and gave them away

(I think I made about 10 altogether) and the tutorial for these can be found HERE

I also added some stitcheries (which I have had for some time!) to some purchased aprons....

... this sheep (which is my favourite stitchery of all time I think) went as a gift

... and this one will stay with me...

I received this fun scissor fob and thread from Christine.... it even matches my scissors!

... I think my Mother In Law found the perfect mug for me and sent it over from UK with my daughter...

Righto, Gotto Go... time to fill up that mug and do some more "Growing Old Disgracefully"

Happy New Year....

I am slowly coming back down to earth after a lovely few weeks...... needless to say there are tons of pictures and we did so much together.... my son and his son came up from Melbourne, I have a daughter here nearby with her son and my daughter and her family were over from UK... it was crazy busy happy.

I didn't do much sewing but I thought I would share some of the decorations I made and sent out last year

.... the folded hexagons....

measure, fiddle, fold, press, fiddle some more....

add a button...

(HERE is a link to a tutorial for these)

PS... you do need wine or similar substance
... and chocolate... lots of it....

... add a loop....

I had a few cards with holes in them and they looked nice inside...

.... I also made a selection of flannel boots (left overs from my recent quilt top).  strips joined together then a piece of wadding and backing, trace the shape, sew around and cut out with pinking shears

... and I have started stitching for this year ...
(it's therapeutic!!!)

Chookyblue is hosting a SAL (with trusty sidekick Susan)  and we are doing Anni Downs brand new design called Natures Journey... the book has only just been launched so while we wait for the orders to arrive our project this month is the lovely free stitchery she put on her blog at Christmas... (HERE) 

I was lucky enough to have some lovely friends come over and stitch with me yesterday... they even brought lunch and then another dropped by with some flowers.... 

(the chicken and salad was wonderful too!)

when I was putting away my glass of water I spilt a bit.....

Grrrrr... so cross....   I have had this happen before and I thought I had soaked all of them even though they are supposed to be colour fast.... lucky I had another one traced but I am going to resoak that thread!!!!  I love their threads but I am a bit fed up that this happens.

Righto, Gotto go..... thread to soak, 

SSCS 2014

I do love taking part in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Swap

an ornament and handmade item from someone over the seas....

Sorry I'm late in posting this Gracie, I have forgotten what life gets like with 5 extra's in the house (not that I am complaining at all!!)

This year I was sent a secret gift from Gracie... all the way from Arizona, USA

a recap of the lovely cross stitch ornament that has been adorning (and still is) my tree

these lovely handmade microwave bowls were in the main parcel... they are reversable and made from the prettiest of fabrics.....  they are microwave so for use in the kitchen, but I rather think I may keep them in my sewing room to hold treasures in them as they are really so pretty....???

 Gracie also added some lovely fabrics and a bag pattern ...

(you can't really see it in the picture but some of the fabric have a lovely gold shimmer running through them)

I also thought the 'Arizona' themed items were great fun ... cactus jelly (we had some with our cold turkey on Christmas Day'... not traditional maybe, but perfect....  Both Hubz and I like spicey food so are looking forward to trying the Jalapeno sauce....

... a lovely parcel Gracie.... a big assortment and lots of fun opening it all... thank you very much...

I was to send to Sylvia from Germany....

A bit of a mistake with my ornament.... it did not go on the tree... but that is a candlemat or small table topper made from a block designed by Lynette Anderson ... 4 angels... and then a bon bon full of chocs....

the main present is a stitchery designed by Natalie from Cinderberry Stitches

I made it into a tote bag with pieced patches all around and on the back

... always a great swap to be part of....  thanks again Chookyblue...

Righto, Gotto Go...... wonderful rains, but it does make for loads and loads of wet and muddy clothes.... washing to be done! (not that I am complaining!!)

Squeeeling ....

It is crazy busy for me here..... getting things ready for the invasion....  I am a spreaderer... my treasures (fabric and stuff like that) get spread into any unused spaces... so when I say I need to clear space in the rooms for people to sleep... I am not exaggerating.... 

I actually quite like the tidiness.... I wonder if I will keep it...

These sweeties are in the air as we speak... it's such a long way... about 23 hours of flying and then all the waiting at airports etc.....

I need Teeny pads I'm so excited!!! (ooops, should one say things like that in public?)

This week I received patterns from Michelle... I'm looking forward to using these next year.. there is a new alphabet featuring bears and a set of quilt labels to stitch....

Thanks Theresa for my lovely decoration.... so pretty and up on the tree already...

Before I covered up my faithful friend sewing machine I quickly sewed on the latest block onto my sampler....

The rest will have to wait till next year!

This was Hubz job yesterday... we have a rather boring veranda roofing.... so he added a bit of magic....

There is also twinkling lights.... we shall be out here a lot 

... before they left the UK little miss princess remembered someone needed to be told where she would be....

I will be reading blogs when I can but probably not commenting much or writing much over the next few weeks (I'm frightfully selfish about sharing time when family are here!!)

Best wishes for a stunning Christmas ... whatever you do may it be a very relaxing and precious time, some have sadness so special thoughts to you... our absent friends and relatives are in our minds more than ever at Christmas....

See you next year, and thanks for another year of wonderful bloggy friendship...