Swap Parcel Arrives / Family Memories

My Paper Bag Swap parcel arrived on Thursday. I just love the bag my swap partner Shiree from New Zealand made for me. It will be great to take to group with some stitching in. The parcel also contained some chocolates, soap and bath crystals. Thank-you Shiree. Here is the bag, isn't it lovely!!!!!

Well, it has been a very busy week with me trying to finish the quilt I was making for my DIL's 40th birthday. I came very close to completing it but not quite, just needed to add a few more buttons near the photos and handstitching of about 6 butterflies on the central panel. I was a bit stressed to say the least. I would have finished but cooking lasagne, mini quiches and making my curry dip took priority on Saturday. Needless to say no-one really noticed the missing buttons or the unquilted butterflies, so all I need is another hour (if I can get the quilt back from Deb) and it will be complete. Deb really loved the quilt and says she can't wait to show her Mum who lives in NSW so that's what making quilts is all about isn't it?

The card below was made by my friend, Nancy. I asked her if she could make one for me in black, red and white and add a butterfly on the front. I couldn't believe it when she gave me the card as I hadn't shown her the material I was using for the quilt. It matched perfectly. Thank-you so much, Nancy.

Deb with her quilt. Happy 40th.

My Paper Bag Swap Piccies

Here is my parcel last week, ready to go to the post office and be sent to Shiree in New Zealand for the Paper Bag Swap. I had some lovely materials to work with and was happy with how it turned out.
Shiree has now received the parcel and opened it so I am able to show you what I sent. Below is a photo of the front of the bag I made for my swap gift.

The next picture is of the back of the bag. It is quite big so hopefully Shiree will be able to put lots of supplies in it when she goes shopping for those quilting essentials that we quilters all need to have.

I have loved being part of this swap and must again say a big THANK-YOU to Maree for organizing it.
I am eagerly watching the post box for my swap to arrive and will post piccies when it does.

A Blog Catch-up........

Here I am at last. Where has time gone, you ask?............. Quilting, stitching, painting, babysitting (although my grandsons would not like me using the word baby), a little housework , some plant repotting and that's about it!! Whew ....... I feel tired just reading that.

I have finally finished my Punch Needle Holder. My first WISP for June. I am quite pleased with it as I really like doing punch needle. Have one of Rosalie Quinlan's designs from a Stitchers Dream Day Out I went to in Toowoomba a couple of years ago, so will have to find the pattern and maybe use it for my next project .

The first photo above is of the Verandah Views Blocks, 4, 5 & 6, to which I have added the sashings. The next photo is of the 6 blocks I have done so far. I am using 3 Sisters Aviary fabric. The blocks are arranged where they will sit in the finished hanging.
On the stitching front, I have been busy working on my Paper Bag Swap. Almost finished the stitcheries then all I need to do is put it together. Have already cut out the pieces so am hoping to have it finished and posted by next week. I have enjoyed reading some of the other blog updates on the Paper Bag Swap site and would like to thank Maree for hosting the swap.
On the babysitting front, I had the boys over whilst their parents had a well earned break at the movies and my grandson Thomas stayed with me on Saturday while his brother was at a football carnival. Tom gets a bit bored if it is a long day at footy and Grandma seemed like a better alternative. We played lots of board and computer games, as well spending time in the yard in between downpours. He enjoyed helping me pot some cacti I had been given and eating most of the food in the pantry so in all, we had a great day together. They grow so fast so its good when you can spend time with them and all those extra hugs you get can't be too bad either.

Parcel Arrives !!!!!

I have been stalking the letter box for the last couple of days waiting for my Paper Bag swap parcel to arrive from New Zealand. Well today, it did just that and I couldn't wait to open it. I was not sure what I would make with the materials until I received them. They are just lovely and I straight away thought they would look nice made into a ................. Will just have to wait until it is delivered to my swap partner to see how it turns out and I can share a photo.

The above photos are of the next blocks in the Verandah Views BOM and A Christmas Wish by Gail Pan. Both Block 6. I managed to get them done quite quickly and am now working on block 6 of a Tisket a Tasket.

Last week our quilt group went on an outing to Cleveland to visit some quilt shops as well as having lunch on the waterfront. It was the second anniversary of the group I am in and we wanted to mark the occasion by doing something together. I was very lucky as I had run out of the purple material I am using for Kym's quilt and didn't have enough for the last border. I was going to use some black I had in my stash but found the very same purple material whilst we were at one of the shops. How good was that!!! Now I can finish the quilt as I had originally planned.

Paper Bag Swap

Yesterday, I posted my parcel to New Zealand for the Paper Bag Swap. Above is a photo of what I sent minus the chocy bar which was added just before posting. Looking forward to receiving mine so I can get started.

In the mean time, I am working on a few projects including a bag which I might use as my challenge project for a camp I am attending at the end of August at Tamborine Mountain put on by The Beaudesert Quilters. The theme for this camp is 'Think Pink Cancer Awareness Retreat' and the challenge project they have set is an item you have created that must fit the theme of the camp which is pink. I have a couple of other ideas so am going to see what I can get done before then. I am a little nervous about attending this camp as I feel I am a bit of a novice but am sure I will learn heaps of things over the course of the weekend which will make it enjoyable and rewarding. Just have to come up with something to wear on Saturday night for the dress-up dinner. 'Think Pink'