Gifts

A huge thank you to Teresa who was my FIS online group partner for this year's Christmas Swap.  As well as some little goodies for the days leading up to Christmas this is what I opened Christmas morning

These girls are gorgeous in real life - thank you so much Teresa!

 And my unknown at this stage partner (from New Zealand) for Chooky's Secret Santa Christmas Swap sent this gorgeous little girl and appliqued teatowel

I feel thoroughly spoilt and love my dolls and the fact that this blogging world lets us interact with so many people.

D_E

May your day be filled with love, peace and happiness!

D_E

Santa Sack Swap

This year I took part in the Santa Sack Swap organised by Cheryll.  My partner was Lyn (no blog).

We had to send off a sack or stocking way back in July with two presents and then two at the start of every month up until December and then a "Christmas Gift" as well.

Here is the lovely stocking that Lyn made:

The goodies include fabric, scissors, decorations, buttons, lace, coin purse, book light, tape measure, stitch ripper, sweet dish

and the Christmas Gift......this gorgeous little pail........

Thank you Lyn, I feel totally spoilt!

D_E

What a clever hubby!

After making and receiving a couple of mini quilts I thought it was about time that I got myself a mini stand.  Chatting with hubby and I said I would like a wood one and we found an idea (thank you google!) and this is what he has come up with!

and here it is complete with my latest mini received from Shez

Im a lucky girl and cant wait to get my other minis on here as well and perhaps make some more!

Friday Night Sewing was minimal due to a hugely busy week and I was tired.  I did manage to get nearly all the hand stitching done for my project though.

D_E

Friday

and its time for 

Pop on over and visit Cheryll to sign up!

I have a bit of hand stitching to do and then hopefully I will have time to get to the machine as well.

D_E

Trimming the Tree

The tree is up and the lounge room looks very festive:

the tree

quilt that was a gift a few years ago

santa collection

snowmen and other lovlies

D_E

SSCS

I have had a crazy week with heaps of stuff occupying my space, especially work wise, but on a bright note my Secret Santa Christmas Swap arrived earlier in the week from New Zealand.

Im not sure who it is from but here is the lovely ornament that I was allowed to open:


The sweetest cross stitch mouse (the only type of mouse allowed in the house).

My other gifts are still in their box waiting for the Christmas tree to go up.

 D_E

12" Mini

Shez has made me this delightful mini (I also borrowed her picture because my camera isnt charged).  I am pleased to say that he didnt end up like this on his journey here considering he arrived on Monday and it was something like 34 degrees!

http://crafterholic.blogspot.com.au/

My mini is on its way somewhere and should be there anytime soon!

 D_E

Red and White

Our online group opened our swap pressies on Friday night.

This is what I received from the lovely Peg

Add caption

.......a sewing machine mat and cover.  The cover has the cutetest ties which and white with red spots!

Here is what I made for Leanne........

It was another fun swap!

D_E

Its Friday!

and its FNSI Friday!.  Pop on over to here to sign up and come stitch with us!

 D_E

Which one is your favourite?

I am part of the Christmas Mini Swap happening over at Cheryll's  and  I had a few ideas floating around in my head for what to make my secret partner.

Well I couldnt decide which one to make so I made three and will have to pick one to send.

ruffled Christmas Tree

Santa Hat

Christmas Stocking 

Now they are finished I am still not sure which is my favourite..........what one takes your fancy?

D_E

Sitting and Stitching

Its Friday night and while there is no official Friday Sew In, Deb and I decided after enjoying a lovely Thai lunch that we both needed to just sit and stitch tonight.

We have both had a fairly hectic week and just needed some the therapy provided by stitching.

I am working on a couple of Christmas mini quilts and Deb was going to tackle a dolly bed - cant wait to see what that looks like.

Feel free to sit and stitch away with us tonight!

D_E

Just matching up some stripes

Working on a secret project which is what I spent time on Friday night ....

 and then last night was a little tricky.........

but I think I pulled it off!

D_E

The kettle will be on

Pop on over to Cheryll's tonight - the kettle will be on as she is hosting

There has been rumours of tim tams and chocolate...............

See you there!

  D_E

My Some Kind of Wonderful

I have finished My Favourite Things Quilt with the Stitch-A-Long girls and I have three days to spare!

So here it is:

This is the first time that I have done any needle turn on a large scale and also the first time that I have attempted Free Motion Quilting on a quilt. To say Im rather pleased with myself is an understatement!

D_E

A little bit of swapping

Recently I have been involved in a few swaps.

Here is what I have made:

 And what I received:

from Mary Pat 

From Lorna in USA (no blog)

and from Vicki (no blog)

D_E

Slowly...........

I have started to slowly quilt my Some Kind of Wonderful quilt.........its going to be a long process although I have shadow and in-the-ditch one entire row tonight.

FMQ and I are just becoming friends so I will be taking it slowly.

 D_E

Laughter and Chatter

Yesterday was a lovely warm day here in Brisbane and it was also the day that Maree had picked for a Blog Meet up.

We all gathered at the sweetest venue - the Wishing Well Cafe, Victoria Point - where we sat, talked, laughed and stitched.

Susan, Noela, Kayly, Maree, Joy, Me and Deb

There was also some lovely show and tell and maybe some sweet treats after lunch!

Thank you all for a  lovely day.

D_E

Spring

This is my Spring Mini Quilt for the swap organised by Cheryll.

This week it will be on its way somewhere to someone.  Hope whoever receives it loves it!

D_E

Results from FNSI

It doesnt seem much by looking at the pic but I managed to get this woven and about three quarters of it stitched down before the bobbin thread  in my machine decided not to play the game. That was even after I rewound and then sewed a whole row without remember to put the bobbin in!   In the end I just ended up unthreading everything and I will deal with it tomorrow.

D_E

Friday

Its Friday and its the one that Friday Night Sew in Happens on.

I have a couple of projects to work on .........one of them being my Some Kind of Wonderful.

Hopefully I will get some done before I hit the sack to be ready for a long day of work tomorrow.  I dont usually work Saturdays and this one is shaping up to be very busy!

If you want to join in pop over HERE and sign up!

 D_E

A change.......

Last weekend I thought I might change the blog look just for fun.  This is what I picked.......do you like it?  Its slightly different in its layout so I am still getting used to it but I think it will stay for awhile!

 D_E

A Giveaway

Pop on over and visit Michele Mrs Claus at The Christmas Beetle because she is hosting a giveaway for some scrumptious fabric from this range:

Actually, I've changed my mind.......dont go........I want to win! :)

D_E

Not just for dishes.........

My online group had a swap where we had to make a bag from a tea towel......we could add other fabric if we chose.

Here is what I made for Jo

I loved the spotty tea towel when I found it and then I added some gorgeous trim and a doiley.

This is my gift received from Bec

including some extras.............

The bag from Bec must have been made with the largest of large tea towels and Bec also must of know that I just needed towels for dishes as she sent extras (if only we could get away with making bags or other things without doing dishes!).  The Stitch It For Christmas book has loads of wonderful projects so I should have my Christmas craft sorted.

D_E

Birthday Celebrations...

Not my birthday but that of my friend Deb.  This morning we are going to a stitching morning at the delightful Inn Country and then probably out to lunch followed by more stitching this afternoon.

Every year Deb and I make each other a bag for our birthdays.  Some years we even get it finished in the right week.

This is the bag that I have finished for Deb

Hope she likes it!

I also am looking forward to a "chill out" day today after the week that was and some life changing decisions that I now have to make.

Hope everyone has a great day.

D_E

Productive Weekend

It started on Friday night joining in with the Friday Night Sew In and Sarah and Razzy's pre-cut party.

I managed to get a bit done for that with 4 of my nine patch blocks sewn together and the rest in rows waiting to be joined.

The pattern that I am using can be found here.

Saturday I had a lovely relaxing day with friends and i did start by pulling the red striped fabric from my chair for the sewing room.

Today I have completely finished recovering the chair and I am feeling fairly impressed with my first upholstery effort.

before and after (with cat approval)

D_E

This Friday

as well as partying with Sarah and Roseanne (see post below) I will also be taking part in

FNSI

Its been a crazy mixed up week work wise for me with public holidays etc so Im really looking forward to spending some quality time with my sewing machine!

D_E

Its a Party!

Im joining in with Sarah and Roseanne for:

Why dont you join in too?

 D_E

Feeling a little spoilt

Or a lot spoilt.  My Friends Parcel arrived from Michele today.  All beautifully wrapped.

F - French General Coin Purse
R - Red box of red goodies and ribbon "because sometimes Red is needed"
I - Icicle - a gorgeous glass Christmas ornament
E - Embroidery Case - with needles scissors and tape measure included
N - Notebook - for my fabulous ideas!
D - Delicious chocolates - and they do look delicious - hubby has volunteered to help me eat them!
S - Small quilt - this will be great as a table topper!

Thank you so much Michele - I love them all and I love the fact that I now have a new friend.

D_E