Initial Heart Swap

My swap partner, Anna B, in the Initial Heart Swap has received my gift and so thought I would do a quick post to show you what I sent, a small wall hanging. Thank you Anna for the gorgeous e-card you sent to let me know it had arrived.

I combined a free stitchery pattern from Michelle Ridgway with the letter A from her sewing Alphabet pattern to make a larger design, found some fabric that had small alphabet letters on it and used that for the border. I am really pleased with the way it turned out.
I completely forgot to take a photo of the wrapped parcel and chocolates before I sent them hence no photo to show.
Thank you Cheryll for another successful swap.
Well must go as Ruby is letting me know she wants her dinner.
Till next time Happy Stitching............  

FNWF, Initial Heart Swap.

Last night I joined in to sew with lots of other quilters for Cheryll's Friday Night with Friends. A big Thank you to Cheryll for encouraging us again this year.

 I began the night by working on the new SAL 2015 run by Chookyblue and her lovely assistant Susan. I was hoping to get some backgrounds cut out but all I managed,was to sort out the fabrics I would use for Part 1 and make myself some notes so I will have an action plan to follow when I do start tomorrow. I am thinking that I probably will blanket stitch most of the applique so traced the pieces on the back of the sheets so they are reversed and ready to copy them onto viseofix.

I am also still working on Gossip in the Garden, so to actually get some stitching to show, I prepared these hexies for two of the blocks. Think I have to make 75 in all so have about 25 ready, only 50 to go.

I do love those Nancy Halvorsen fabrics. Don't know what I will do when I run out of them.

I also wanted to show the gifts I received from Marilyn for the Valentine's Day Initial Heart Swap also hosted by Cheryll. Thank you Cheryll you are a legend.......

The parcel above contained the lovely gifts below.  

A passport holder, three knitted wash cloths (see my initial knitted into the small yellow one), some chocolates and this little Golden Book which was a great read. I had a good laugh when I read it. Thank you very much Marilyn for the beautiful and thoughtful gifts you have made me. Hope to go for a trip later in the year so will put the passport holder to good use if that happens.

I sent my parcel off on Monday so hope it arrives soon. Can't show a photo as I completely forgot to take one of the wrapped parcel before I posted it.
Well must go, a few more hexies are calling me and hubby wants to use the computer.
Have a great weekend ...............Happy stitching till next time.......

A late Birthday Gift, SAL 2015, Ruby Update.

I received a surprise a couple of weeks ago with an email from Toni of the Red Boot Quilt Company. I had won the Birthday Club gift for December.
I could choose one pdf pattern and also received a $25.00 voucher to Lynette Anderson's Little Quilt Shop.  Thank you so much Toni.
It was hard to select a pattern but I finally went with this one.

I used the voucher to get this pattern and the cat button to go with it.  I think this button reminded me of my cat called Oscar. What do you think? He won't be getting the cushion when it is made though.

He spends most of his time doing this these days. 

I have finally chosen my fabrics for  Chookyblue's  SAL 2015. They are from my stash although I've had to buy a few more background ones to go with them. The fabrics are French General. I have a Rural Jardin jelly roll and some fat quarters, a jelly roll of Le Bouquet Francais and some yardage and a charm pack of La Belle Fleur and yardage too. Also adding a few blues from my blue stash. Need to get into cutting out Part 1 now as February is going so fast.

I will be back later to post a photo of the lovely gifts I received from Marilyn in the Initial Heart Swap run by Cheryll from Gone Stitchin but now my puppy is letting me know she wants some attention and some food I think.

We took her off to puppy school last Monday night, learnt a few tips and she has not been biting so much but we still have a way to go before she stops I think. She looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth in this photo. Oscar is not very happy his peace and quiet has been ruined so we are trying to keep them apart for the moment.
See you soon.  Hugs.......

Our new Puppy, SAL 2015.

Our household has increased by one with a new puppy arriving on Tuesday night.
Her name is RUBY and she was born 15 th November 2014. She is a German Shepherd Cross.
She is very cute although I am already sporting a few band aids from her sharp teeth. She has been sleeping okay at night but early mornings seem to be the go. Definitely not good as I am not a morning person.

Above are a few photos. The second one, she was helping with the zip ties for the temporary fence near the house.  Not sure Chris appreciated her help though.
The last one is of her sleeping, pity this wasn't happening at 3.00 am this morning. This too will pass.....Hopefully sooner than later........

And now to finish, I have also managed to complete my January Anni Downs stitchery for SAL 2015.

Just need to decide on the fabric I am using (hopefully from my stash) for Natures Journey and I am ready to begin in February for the first set of blocks.
Well must go I hear a bit of yelping going on outside so I had better check on Ruby.
Till next time..... Happy Stitching.......

2015 Stitch-a-long.

I have joined Chooky and Susan in another SAL. We will be working on this quilt :

Have ordered my pattern and hopefully will be able to find some fabrics to use from my stash.
Happy Stitching...............

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

Christmas Day is over again for another year and so are Chris and my birthdays. The strawberry cheesecake birthday cake my eldest GS Josh made us was delicious (sorry no photo as it disappeared too quickly).  I hope everyone else had a great day and received lots of goodies from Santa.
We had our big family get together on Sunday as some of the family needed to be elsewhere on the 25 th. Yesterday was quiet but we still had a lovely day shared with my eldest son Scott, his 2 boys and my daughter Kym. Thomas and Jake enjoyed lots of swim time with some new pool toys. Below are some of the photos I took of the day. Tom had his eyes shut in most of the photos. These are the best I could find.

Tom has had long hair for the past few years but as he heads to high school next year, he decided he wanted it short. I am so glad as it will be much easier to look after now.
In closing I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Let's hope 2015 doesn't go as fast as this year has.

FNSI, Santa Sack Swap.......

Friday night I joined Wendy of Sugarlane Quilts and many other ladies for Friday Night Sew In. I didn't get started until about seven pm so decided I would stay inside and stitch instead of going to my sewing room in the garage. I still have lots of Xmas things prepared so decided to finish off a couple of Michelle Ridgway's Xmas ornaments which were about half done.
Once they were complete, I began stitching a Bronwyn Hayes one, which is a free download from her blog. Unfortunately I didn't get very far with this as I fell asleep in my chair and woke up about 11.30 pm with the needle still in my hand.

Christmas by Bronwyn Hayes and Reindeer and Snowman by Michelle Ridgway

Thank you Wendy for hosting our last FNSI for the year. I have really enjoyed being part of them this year.

Also this week I got to open my Santa Sack Swap parcel from my partner, Lyn (no blog) hosted by Cheryll from Gone Stitchin. THANK YOU Cheryll for another great swap.

Lyn and I decided to meet in person to exchange our gifts as we didn't live too far from each other. I'm so glad we did as it was lovely to share a cup of tea while learning a bit about each other, our families and where we are in our quilting journey.
On Thursday night, I got to open my parcel from Lyn. I was very spoilt with all my beautiful gifts.
Thank you so much Lyn, I love all of them. Below are some photos of what I received.

My beautiful tote which contained the parcels below.

They contained a Xmas apron, an ornament mug rug and gorgeous mug, a Rudolph stitchery in a frame, a beautifully stitched wall hanging, a Christmas Goose bag complete with handle and filled with chocolates. 

2 bird tree ornaments and a stitched and painted star Santa.

I have one small parcel left to open(the one with the purple ribbon on it) which I will do on the 25th. The wrapping said do not open until Christmas. Now I wonder what is in it, one more surprise.
A big THANK YOU to Lyn. You have made me very very happy as these gifts are so me.
Lyn has opened my parcel also and here is what I sent to her.

Lyn wanted a stocking so here is Santa beside some parcels.

The stocking had a couple of small parcels inside (above and below this photo)

A Gail Pan wall hanging.

Scrap bin, pin cushion and a scissor holder with small scissors.

Xmas ornaments and a 2014 cushion to remember our swap year.

A Jenny of Elefantz table runner

A small bag & post it notes

Some nibblies.

Sorry for the photo overload and if you have stayed with me till now, that is great.
Some of my family can't be here on Wednesday so today we are getting together for our first Xmas Day. Then we will celebrate our second Christmas Day on the 25th so as well as that, Chris and I can celebrate our birthdays twice too. Only adding 1 year to our age though.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.