Xmas Break, Initial Heart Swap, Xmas Stitching, Tassie Trip.

For someone who was going to post more often in 2014, it has not been a good start so far but I have some good excuses, I promise.
My hubby had some holidays so after the rush of Xmas, we spent much of our time cooling down in here.

Although just before New Year, we did get some large trees cut down in the back yard so spent a couple of days, Chris cutting up the branches,(as I am not allowed near the chain saw) and me helping load the Ute and trailer with all of this.

After 2 days and 9 trailer and Ute loads to the tip, our yard now looks tidy again. Sorry, forgot the after photo. All this was done in high temperatures so no worries about our extra Christmas kilos disappearing.
I also spent 2 days searching the sales for a dress to wear to a wedding but just couldn't find one that I liked. In desperation I looked in our local boutique only 6 minutes away from home, and found something I was happy with....amazing. Last week I went looking for shoes and a bag so now I am all set. We are flying off to Tasmania at the end of this week, to stay with Chris's Dad and to attend our niece's wedding on the 25th January at Peppermint Bay, then back on the 26th in time for Grandma duties and the start of a new school year.
I have managed to get into my sewing room and have a tidy up before commencing on some secret sewing for my Initial Heart Swap gift. I hope to have it finished before we leave on Sunday so it will be ready for posting when I get home. The stitcheries are completed, just getting the fabrics sewn together today.

Above is a sneak peek.
I have also completed the last two stitcheries of a  Michelle Ridgway Xmas design. I am a bit behind as most of the other girls who were stitching along, including Michelle, have theirs finished. I'm getting there Michelle.

For my thread, I used a Cottage Garden one called Mistletoe and am using Nancy Halvorsen fabrics to frame them. The stitcheries are very pretty so am looking forward to having this finished soon.  
Before I go, I want to show you a couple of gifts I received in the post.
I won this gift from Narelle for being part of 1 Xmas Item a Month. Thank you to Narelle for giving us the incentive to get some Xmas items done early. I can't believe I actually posted about a finish every month for the year.You can join again in 2014 so just head over to Pins and Whiskers blog to read all about it and sign up.

A diary, tea, coffee, a beautiful handmade card and a jotter pad that states 'I'm a Quilter I can always use more fabric' all wrapped in  fabric and tied with ric rac. Will have to show this to Chris when he next says "Do you really need more fabric?"
I also won a gift from Cath from Bits'nBobs for being a commenter on her blog for November. Cath also was my partner for the Santa Sack Swap so when I  got another parcel from her it was a big surprise. Luckily she had my address as I was a bit lax in checking out blogs at that time. This will be a good one for my next Xmas item so it is prepared and will journey with me to Tassie. The kit included the stitching fabric, all the threads and beads, just need to work out how to display it when finished. Thank you Cath.

Well must go and give my sewing machine a workout. Till next time ......Happy Stitching.

Sewing Pledge, Initial Heart Swap and 1 Xmas Item a Month.

MAKE THE 7 STEP PLEDGE

I Noela will try my utmost...

·        To always swap on time.

·        To always email a THANK YOU to my partner.

·        To be considerate and thoughtful when choosing a gift.

·        To give my partner the quality of gift that I would like to receive.

·        To communicate when it’s required.

·        To NEVER over commit and let a partner down.

·        To advise the swap mama when I receive my gift.

This I sewomly pledge....

As we are at the beginning of a new year, I have again decided to take the above swapping pledge found over on Cheryll's blog.

I have also joined my first swap for the year. It is the Initial Heart Swap hosted by Cheryll.

This is now closed and I have my partner so I have begun organizing what I am going to make. I joined this one last year and got this beautiful heart from De along with some chocolates. It has been hanging in my sewing room all year and is a great reminder of a wonderful swap.

I have also signed up for 1 Xmas Item a Month with Narelle from Pins and Whiskers. If you would like to join in and make one Christmas item a month, pop on over to Narelle's.

The computer is playing up tonight so I will finish here and see if I can post this.
Happy stitching till next time.     Hugs.......

1 Xmas Item a Month, QAL BLocks 9-12.

It is time for 1 Xmas Item a Month hosted by Narelle over at pinsandwhiskers. You can click on the link in my sidebar to see what other people have been making. My finish for this month is a Christmas mug rug/ candle mat.  Not sure how I will use it as yet so keeping my options open.

A big thank you to Narelle for hosting.
I  have also finished Blocks 9,10,11 and 12 of my Aiming for Accuracy QAL.

Block 9

Block 10.

Love this fabric.

Block 11, centre squares have small birds surrounded by flowers.

Block 12, the bottom row. I have done some fussy cutting in some of the nine patches. See below. 

Starting to look really nice now. I have the blocks laid out on the floor in my sewing room for the moment but am running out of space as the top is getting quite big.
Chris and I went to a hot rod show at Beenleigh on Sunday. It was lovely to spend time together doing something we both enjoy.

This car caught our eye. Looks like red is still the favourite colour for our new car.
Well must go as it is getting late. Hope everyone is enjoying the school holidays.  Hugs..........

1 Xmas Item a Month, Aiming for Accuracy Blocks 4 and 5.

A day late in posting my 1 Xmas item for this month hosted by Narelle  from Pins and Whiskers. Use the link to go over and see what other bloggers have made this month. The pattern had this stitchery placed on the front of a gift bag but I decided to make a Christmas Card Holder instead of the bag. These days most people send emails instead of cards at Christmas but I usually get a few and so thought this would be nice to keep them in the stitchery pocket. Haven't got the right hanger in my stash so will need to get one at the Brisbane show in October. The stitchery is a Hugs and Kisses one and has some colour added to it using a Derwent pencil and sealed with fabric medium.

I also managed to finish two more blocks for my Aiming for Accuracy QAL.
Below are Blocks 4 and 5.

These photos don't show the colour of the fabrics that well so hope I can do better with future photos.
I also added some fabrics to my stash on the weekend. I love word fabric and so I was pleased to get some of these. No idea as yet what project I will put them in.

Well must go as I have some secret sewing to finish off.  Happy Stitching till next time.................

One Xmas Item a Month

Today I am posting the Xmas items I made this month.  I have made three and these were for the Xmas in July Swap run by Cheryll. Today was opening day for that swap and I'm sure Debbie my swap recipient has opened them so I can show them here.

Thanks to Narelle  from Pins & Whiskers for hosting this. You can check out what everyone else did by clicking on the link.

We had to make items from the letters in CHRISTMAS. I chose the following :

INSPIRATIONAL WORDS Wall Hanging

SANTA Ornament

SNOWMAN Table Topper.

 Sorry the last photo is a bit blurry. My camera lens had fingerprints on it ( courtesy of my GS who wanted to take some photos) and all my snowman photos are the same although the red and brown fabrics are Basic Grey grunge ones and are bit blotchy to start with so that didn't help.
Well that's all from me today.  Be back soon.     Happy Stitching till then...........Hugs.......

June Brissie Blog Meet, 1 Xmas Item a Month, Poor Oscar.

Another Brisbane Blog meet was held on Sunday and attended by about 14 ladies. We had a great time as usual, stitching, chatting, eating and generally having a great catch-up. Below are some photos of our show and tell

Marilyn with her self portrait by Carol at mamacjt, Helen with a Lynette Andersen design, SAL 2013 Red Home Pin Cushions and Deb's blocks for her Blankets of Love baby quilts.

Susan's beautiful wall hanging (photo does not do this justice), Alison's Red Apple quilt.

Tatyana's first quilt and  pieced block, pin cushion and purses and covered book. 

Thanks for organizing this Maree and thanks to everyone for your company.  Look forward to seeing you next time we meet.

It is One Xmas Item a Month time and here is a reminder of my finish for this month. My Angel stitchery mini quilt.

Thank you Narelle from pinsandwhiskers for hosting this. You can check out her blog by clicking on the One Xmas Item a Month logo on my sidebar.

Now for a very sad tale. My 11 year old cat Oscar thinks he is a fighter but unfortunately he isn't and ended up feeling very sorry for himself when he developed an abscess on his face about a week ago. A much needed trip to the vet, during which he let us know he was definitely not happy, for a clean up and antibiotics and he is on the mend but left looking the worse for wear. Will he learn his lesson? Don't think so, but for now, he is not allowed outside after dark for the foreseeable future. (not sure his new haircut will take off).

Well that is it for me tonight.  Be back again soon.   Happy Stitching till then.........

Sal finish, 1 Xmas Item a Month, Secret Sewing, Other projects.

I have finished my pin cushion for SAL 2013. It is quite a cute pattern. I used a hexagon patterned fabric instead of making the hexagons as I haven't made them before and didn't want to start with half inch ones. The project for next month has hexies in it so will make these as they are a bit bigger. I also used blanket stitch applique instead of needle turn.

Photo 1. Pieces ready to join together. Photo 2. Front of pin cushion. Photo 3. Top of pin cushion  

Below is a photo of the mini quilt I've finished for June's 1 Xmas Item a Month hosted by Narelle from Pins and Whiskers. I had stitched two angel stitcheries, the first one I made into a wall hanging (for last month's item)and this one into a mini quilt for June. Another  Nancy Halvorsen pattern  from one of her books.

I have been doing lots of secret stitching also as I am in a few swaps, mostly Christmas ones so lots of projects on the go. Also for this month's 13 UFO's in 2013, the UFO I am working on are these two mini quilts to be displayed on my table quilt hanger for October and December. So will be pleased to have them finished to use this year.

Secret Sewing

Oct & Dec Mini quilts.

 Well it has taken me over an hour to do this post. I am getting so frustrated with my internet. Have been on the phone for over an hour this morning trying to sort out why I am getting the same e-mails over and over again and not getting the rest of the 45 I am supposed to have left sitting in my inbox. Have to wait for a call back later when someone in the technical department checks it out. No answer to the slow service though. Enough whingeing for now.   So till next time, whenever that might be.  I am going to sew and stitch........  Hugs.......

1 Xmas Item a Month - May

I have been a bit quiet this week as my machine has been away for service and I finally got the call to pick it up yesterday so even though it has only been ten days, it seems like a month or more since I have done any sewing on it.  I worked on my Xmas item last night and finished it off today so only one day late with posting and am happy with that. Below is a photo of my item. Thank you to Narelle from Pins and Whiskers blog for hosting this. Link is on my sidebar if you want to check out what others have made.

This was supposed to be a mini quilt but I have added loops on the top and am going to buy a metal hanger for it when I can find one.  Have quite a few hangers in my stash but of course don't have the right size.  Have also stitched another one of these designs but will just make that one into the mini quilt.  This is a Nancy Halvorsen design from one of her older books.

Also whilst I was at the quilt shop, I managed to see these fabrics (actually my friend Jan pointed them out). Haven't been able to find hot rod fabric like this before so just had to bring some home with me.  Will make a quilt for Chris,when I get a few other things out of the way, to use in the car so all hush hush here at the moment.

Well, must go and do a bit more in my sewing room as lots of things on the go and still a couple more finishes to get done before the end of the month.  Hope everyone has a great week. My quilting group is having a morning tea tomorrow with proceeds going to the Cancer Fund so that will be a lovely start to my week.     Bye for now.... Happy Stitching........

I Xmas Item a Month, Colour Swap Parcel, Purchases.

I am a day late in posting about my 1 Xmas item.  It has been a busy time for me so only a small ornament finished this month. One of a few free stitcheries I found on a blog called Freebies for Crafters hosted by my friend Khris. You can find the pattern under Christmas (Oct 7 2009) and was supplied by Lisa from Button Bliss.

I have also posted my Colour Swap parcel and am hoping it will arrive at its destination today as it didn't have too far to travel. I will then be able to show you what I sent. Below is a photo of the wrapped parcels.

'PURPLE'

I have been a bit naughty of late and  have had a few parcels arrive as well as some purchases I bought while in Tassie.

Fabrics and a pattern from the Frangipani  Patch

I visited the Quilted Crow girls and purchased some Lynette Andersen lovelies. 

These are from the Fat Quarter Shop. Have been waiting for these honeycomb pre-cuts.

The above book was on sale and I have been thinking about buying it for a while so  added it to the above parcel from the FQS.  Not sure when I will ever get to make it.

These were on Want It Need It Quilt. A layer cake of Road 15 newest fabric from Sweetwater and 2 charm packs.

Well that's it for me today except to say yesterday was Anzac Day. A time for all Aussies to reflect and remember what our servicemen fought for so that we all can live freely in this wonderful country of ours.

Our morning tea yesterday. Anzac Biscuits and Coffee.

Well, that's all from me today.  See you next time.   Hugs.......