Sewing with a friend

I had a friend over yesterday keeping me company. We had fun sewing together.

This is what she got done.

More blocks done

I have made 2 more 12" blocks for my Teddy Bear patchwork cot quilt.

The colours of yellow, green & white always look so fresh.

SAWTOOTH STAR from Quilters Cache

STAR FLOWER 2 from Quilters Cache

A good days sewing

Today I have been working on some blocks for a Teddy Bear Patchwork Cot quilt.

I am part of  Starwood Quilters Book Club. On this site Susan lists different blocks that match with the book that is being read that month.

Our book to read and discuss during December 2013 is The Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini.  It's a quick, fun read.  Get the book from your local library or bookstore and join us! 

Broken Sugar Bowl block from Quilters Cache

 

In October, the Quilters' Book Club read State Fair: a Benni Harper Mystery by Earlene Fowler.
RIBBON STAR QUILT BLOCK

Catch up day

I have been sewing today but I cannot show you the photos just yet.

I have done my    Block Lotto   sneak peak blocks

&

Quilting Block Swap Australia 6" Blocks for Sue.

Photos will come later when safe to do so. I don't want to spoil the surprise.

But

Here is a photo of my beautiful Hydrangea flowers.

These are growing outside a bedroom window of my house.

My family on Xmas day

Here we are celebrating being with family at Xmas 

Homemade treat...

I was just given a very special gift from a special friend.

YUMMY.

Homemade Xmas cake for my husband & homemade Baileys for me.

With a hand written card by her son James.

Thankyou, we will enjoy them.

Now on to some sewing

I need to say a very big thankyou to my 6" block swap partners.

I have received some great blocks in the past week.

Sue has beaten the Xmas rush. She also added a book mark made out oft he selvedges.

Michell's parcel has arrived giving me a nice surprise for Xmas.

All of these blocks are lovely fabrics.

Thanks again.

It's beginning to look like Xmas

Well the presents are all wrapped up. 

They are just waiting to be handed out on Xmas morning and lunch time when all the family are together.

All the wrappings are so colourful and cheerful.

I can't wait....

In the mean time I have managed to get the mince pies made.

I did make my own pastry but not the fruit mince.

They smell delicious. I can't wait to bite into one.

Yummy.....

My Xmas Tree

This is the only decoration I have managed to put up this year.

I have just sewn on the star on the top of the tree.

It is very pretty.

It is made of triangles sewn together, stuffed with toy filling then joined together.

Add some garlands or other decorations..

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

I want to say thank you to all the visitors that have supported me on my journey setting up this blog.

I am still new to this and learning all the time.

I love getting on and reading/following what others are doing, so keep up the good work.

Well it is that time of year where time is short. Hopefully everyone is busy with friends and family they want to share their happiest times with.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 & a 

HAPPY & SAFE NEW YEAR 

TO ALL

Xmas Puddings

I am home from a relaxing few days away. 

Thought I had better get into the Xmas spirit so I made some Xmas Puddings.

As the were cooking they smelt soo good.

I have one to make for us with extra glacé cherries in the, specially for my husband.

My weekend with a friend

I have had a great weekend visiting a friend at Merimbula on the NSW coastline.

The weather has been comfortable. Not too hot. 

Nice and relaxing listening to the waves crashing on the beach.

I have enjoyed shopping, coffee, lunch on the boardwalk & dinner out too.

How lovely. 

I have even managed to get some sewing done.

I put together these knitted coathangers for Di. 

She just loves them and wants all her hangers replaced.

Homemade Xmas cards

Xmas cards I have made for friends.

They are in the mail

Xmas Pudding Napkin Holder

I painted up this Xmas pudding napkin holder.

I think it would make a great gift idea.

If I buy up on napkins this year these might be my gifts for next year.

Monday ladies Xmas lunch

It is that time of year where I always seem to be out to lunch.

Isn't that good.

Monday just gone my local group went to a cafe/wine bar in New Gisborne.

We enjoyed ourselves but at the same time we were wishing one member good luck.

She has just sold her house and is moving on to Ballarat.

We have decided to car pool and go visit once a month.

My gifts

What do you think of this lovely little Santa face badge my mum crochet for me.

She has made quite a few of these.

And then I was given a pair of hand knitted socks. They look like they have a fair aisle pattern but it is all in the wool. No changing colours. 1 ball only.

Heathcote Quilters Xmas lunch

Well, I did enjoy our Xmas lunch out with the Heathcote Quilters.

We went to a little cafe, Gaggle of Geese, and had a lovely roast & Xmas pudding.

We did a Kris Kringle & this is what I received.

I love it. It is my sons favourite colour so have decided to put my little treasures in it.

Wednesday Craft Xmas lunch

This is my Mum's Wednesday Craft group.

We went out for lunch today to  SWITCH at Watergardens.

We had a great time. We all had beautiful meals. It is a very nice, spacious restaurant. The staff were great. Very polite & helpful.
Then back to Maria's to exchange Xmas gifts.

Wow, these ladies are so generous. They also love the folders that I had made and gave them.
Here is a photo of my gifts. I feel so spoilt.

Busy making Xmas gifts

Scraps all around, inside & out

I have been making Xmas gifts for my mums craft group. They have welcomed me into their group so I gave enjoyed making this years gifts for them.

I have made binder/folder covers     

Use fat quarters

A stitchery from a friend

Add plastic sleeves
A sandpaper board for drawing on fabrics
Felt to hold your hand piecing in place
& a pocket for your needle & thread.

Use your scraps

The back cover has pockets for knitting needles & crochet hooks
Or scissors & pen

Use up orphan blocks           

The front cover has a pocket for your pattern
& I have included  a pack of sticky notes too.

A Kris Kringle gift from Heathcote Quilters

I received this lovely little bowl with lid. I am going to use it as a jewellery bowl.

It is in my sons favourite colour so is very special.

Thanks KK....

A little Xmas gift

I received a beautiful hand stitched pot mat today. It's just what I need. I have had a good clean up at home and threw out a lot of damaged goods.

A new gift is always welcome.

Thanks Barb....

Lorna's blocks

I am in an online group called Quilting Block Swap Australia and this is exactly what we do. We are given a different partner each month and notified of what they want. We are to make a 12" block.

Sometimes a special colour or design is requested, other times we can do any block we like in any colour. Why don't you go to the above link for a look about.

This month I had Lorna who requested hexagons or stars in pink, burgundy, green & cream.

Well my 1st attempt wasn't too successful. It looks nice enough but the seams didn't match. I suppose once quilted it may be ok. I am still sending this block on and if Lorna wants to use it that's good.

So I then thought I would do her another block.

I saw this block, named Classic Country 8 Point, on Pinterest.

Here is the link to Country Junktion

I used a new technique to make the half square triangles.

Have a look at the tutorial here. You make 4 at once. The only thing you have to worry about though is that you end up working with a lot of BIAS edges. So Beware.....

My sewing room

I have been very busy in my sewing room this week. It is such a mess but I know where everything is. I need to get so much done to catch up so it is easier to just leave my mess out.

Hopefully by Xmas I will have caught up. At least with the Xmas presents.

Another Xmas present

I just love making my gifts.

The Xmas tree hanger was made out of triangles.

Lots of them. It is very simple to make but very cute.

This is for another friend.

Mussels for dinner

OMG

I just cooked the best meal. 

I watched on a tv show "Paddock to Plate" how to cook Mussels. Never having done it but loving them & eating them whenever I can. I didn't realise how quick and easy they were.

The recipe said 1kg for  4 people. Well we weren't having all the other salad or pasta with them so  I ordered 2 kgs. I thought that there would be a lot of weight in the shell. Then when I picked them up from our local shop I thought there were too many....

I cooked the lot. My husband and I ate the lot.

YUMMY.

I will definitely make these again soon. They were soooo easy.

My grandsons

Check out my gorgeous grandsons.

They are aged nearly 3 and 5 years.

This photo was taken at their childcare centre.

Xmas time is here

I did a workshop in Kilmore at

makeApage Scrapbooking

I made an off the page project. It was a reindeer on a fence.

It was a fun night and I have finished it. 

My lucky friend will be receiving this for Xmas.