Sewing with friends

  I had some friends stay for the weekend. 

We had a mini workshop making our Kris Kringle gift for our Xmas break up dinner. We were to make a mug bag and mug rug, following the same pattern.

Here is what we made following this tutorial.       Mug Bag & Mug Rug Tutorial

We had fun making them and can’t wait to see what everyone receives.

More postcards from USA..

 My post cards are slowly coming through to me. These are what I have received lately.

From MONA

from LAURA

from PAM

Unfortunately I have to wait for my parcel with my Autumn mug rug and my panel quilt top. USA says Australia isn’t allowing parcels to be sent and others are told USA is refusing to send to Australia.

Whatever the reason the mail has been slow everywhere. Hopefully I might get mine for Xmas. It will be a nice surprise when they do turn up. The ladies in th USA are phoning their post office regularly to check. As soon as they can send they will..

Postcards & Mug rug swaps.

 I have enjoyed being in the QATW swaps.It is fun and exciting to receive special surprises in the mail.

I received a lovely fabric postcard from Tracey.. Cosmcat…

This is the one I am sending off to my partner. It is for October.. Spring time..

I am also making an Autumn mug rug for a swap too. I went with the lovely colours of Autumn.

I made a maple leaf block into a mug rug. But also made the backing in a light coloured fabric so I could write on it as a postcard.

Halloween swap received

And this is what came in the mail for USA for me. Just wonderful. These are just lovely.

I had to find a cup to fit the cozy.I had this cold drink cup from a cruise that Ihad been on. PERFECT....

They now sit on my desk at work and are used daily. The cup is a great size for a cold drink in the heat we have here.

Halloween Mug rug & Coffee Cozy swap

I bought a new ipad and guess what. ----- I can now do my blog posts from it. Hooray. I always did my blog from the old ipad but due to not being able to update the programs it stopped me from doing my posts. It is so easy now... I took part in a swap with a group in USA. QATW....Quilting Around the World. It was for Halloween. I made this design which I love. I have done it before.. A pumpkin and black cat.. SPOOKY (haha)

and the reverse side....

Due to postage delays we did not receive them in the mail before Halloweeen. This was Jann's reply when she received hers...

I think Jann was very happpy

HALLOWEEN MUG RUG & coffee cozy SWAP

I have taken part in a mug rug swap in the USA.. it is Halloween themed. I had fun making these and forwarding on but not with the postage costs. $38 - - I would have like to have added more goodies but I think I had spent enough.. Here is the front and the back. It is reversible..

Then I added a spooky button.

And am very happy with the finish. I added my name under the leaf.

In the parcel I put a sticky blood red hand print for on a window, an Australian quilting magazine and one of my bird cage key holders. Now we just have to wait for it to arrive

Winter mug rug Swap...

I was part of a winter mug rug swap.
I received my mug rug from Tracey in QLD. It is just lovely. About A4 size.
Tracey used astiff bag batting which I have not seen done before. It makes it more sturdy than usual.
I might try this with the next one I make.



This is what I made. First up was some fun stitching.

A cute little Dresden snowman. I had a lot of fun making this one. Not your traditional mug rug.

It measures 8" from point to pint.

Mug rugs for the girls in my office...

After I received my Xmas mug rug from GG from QATW... everyone at work was interested. I then explained what they were for and they all liked the idea. I surprised them one day with a gift of a mug rug each. I quickly whipped 10 for them all.
I still don't know why when I make my photos larger they go blurry


The tops are made, basted with the wadding and backing...

Now they are quilted and trimmed...

Binding is all cut, ironed and ready to sew on...

Here they are all done and ready to give as gifts..

All the girls in my office loved them...

QATW mug rug and coffee Cozy swap...

I took part in a QATW mug rug and coffee Cozy swap.

This is what I received from my partner.

They are very cute and I will happily use them at work..

I am using them at work.. They brighten up my desk.

This site has a lot of Chatting, swaps, sew a longs, mysteries and just life happenings.

Go and take a look.

http://www.quiltingaroundtheworld.com/forum/

Xmas mug rug swap with QATW.....

I joined in on a little fun Xmas mug rug and coffee cup cosy swap. I had a great time designing this.
There are many patterns around and it wasn't hard to make.
I really wanted something different so I added a pocket for that special treat...

These are the little extras I sent.

1. 

I know my partner was happy when she received these. 

I am still waiting for mine.. international post takes a while...

Now I have joined the Xmas box swap but the site has been down for a while...

Slow stitching & Tea Bag knitting.

It has been a while since my last post. ( my confession ) I just find it hard to be motivated and spend a lot of time reading blogs rather than typing them. 

Anyway, please know I am still around. 

My lovely friend Rosie stopped by for a visit while travelling on holidays.

She is knitting  the famous "TEA BAG " scarf. 

I had one enevelope here full of strings so that was passed on to her for knitting while travelling.

Then I received another package in the mail from Jenni. Thank you. These packages are so appreciated. Thankyou for everyone supporting my friends.

I am part of a Xmas swap over at QUILTING AROUND THE WORLD and my gift is done. Here is the back of what I have made. This is a fun swap and all will be revealed when my recipient receives her parcel.

http://www.quiltingaroundtheworld.com/forum/yaf_postst9356findunread_Christmas-Mug-Rug-and-Cup-Cozy-Swap.aspx#post407114

It's been so long since I have sat and stitched by hand.

Here is only a little bit but at least I did some. 

AND I TOTALLY ENJOYED IT.

SLOW STITCHING SUNDAY

SECRET SANTA SACK SWAP to Sarah

MERRY CHRISTMAS SARAH

I had fun making this Santa Sack and 5 gifts for Sarah

http://sarahdidit.blogspot.com.au

I searched Sarah's blog and found that she was very good at and loved HEXIES and CATS. 

 I am not a fan of either so what was I to make....

First up was my Sack... I love making this style bag..

All ready to be squished in the box and put in the post

All wrapped up and ready to post 

A big sack to fill 

A sea of purple and green. Favourite colours of Sarah's 

Coin collectors wall hanging with some Australian coins

Mug rug for the sewing room 

Clam shell, cat journal cover

My dishcloths 

A money notepad,  kangaroo ice cube tray, earl grey tea and a decoration

HALLOWEEN ORNAMENT SWAP 2014

I took part in a HALLOWEEN SWAP for the first time.

Have a look at this blog to see more. 

http://wisdomwithneedleandthread.blogspot.com.au/p/2014-halloween-exchange.html

This is my parcel I sent off to Frances.

I only sent one mug rug the other is for another gift.

Frances was thrilled with it and she sent me a photo of her Halloween set up. Just lovely.

Then I received from Jayne, Yorkshire Dales, UK, this lovely package.

Hasn't she done a great job with the cross stitch orname to and that fabric is so much fun. 

I did enjoy this swap.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO EVERYONE THAT CELEBRATES.

Play day

I have had a good day playing with a block I had to do. 

It is a Halloween swap, mug rug swap, gift swap and another present. I have doubled up because the dates have allowed it. It all fits in which is good....

I don't do Halloween but I have had fun with these...

What do you all think?

Good enough for a gift?????

I also finished sewing up my youngest grandsons jumper.

Then I did a little sewing down binding finishing off some mug rugs. 

These little beauties are for a friend organising "PINK STUMPS DAY". A fundraiser day for breast cancer held at her cricket club next year... So far we have made about 170.

And to finish off the night watching tv I have finished a cute cotton dishcloth for a friend.

I am linking up FNWF and stitching away.

Go and have a look at what everyone is doing  here with CHERYLL