Christmas time is about the joy of giving....

Hopefully Cassie liked her gifts for the SSS16. I really enjoyed making them. They were different to what I have made in the past.

Gift 1.
Fold away shopping bag.
C is for Cassie.

The outside of the shopping bag

Gift 2
Drink bottle cooler
With added lace and buttons

Just love the OWL button 

Extra embellishments 

Gift 2
Every sewer needs that extra push to drink water.
Just add a standard bottle of water to have by your sewing table. Take it with you wherever you go.

Gift 3
Jam jar lid covers.
Or... for buttons, coins, threads, anything you choose.

Gift 4
Hot chocolate kit and felt stocking 

Gift 5
 Dishcloths....
1. The initial C for Cassie
2. A rolling pin and flour tin
3. Waffle weave.
4. Diagonal knit.

Gift 5
 Reverse side of the dishcloth

Gift 6
A pine cone tree decoration 

Gift 7
 A cute teddy pin cushion

It's Christmas Day and present opening time....

I just don't know what to say. I am blown away with what Cassie   http://cassiescuddles.hoodfamily.org.au has made and sent me. It really has put a smile on my face and made this Christmas a very special one. I am happy.

So I sit here this Christmas morning and just have to take time out to do a special post....

It's so good that Cassie has been blogging a little bit more at the end of this year instead of once or twice a year. When I started emailing and following her it was hard to see what she got up to. That has changed and it has been a joy to follow her blog and having the odd email chat with her.

We were partnered in the SSS16 over at http://santasackswap.blogspot.com.au

We were to make 5 gifts and a Santa sack, stocking or bag. I cannot express how amazed I am with what Cassie has sent me.... I hope you enjoy them too.

HERE THEY ALL ARE. OH SO MANY. I AM SPOILT....

Love the little Xmas setting puzzle, the coiled basket, Xmas balls and bells, the ginger bread man is so cute and the tape measure rosette is fun. It will be added on to my wall hanging. It's very fun..

And of course the bag is a great one I can use to put a special project in...

Wow. Look at all these I get to open.
What a great selection and where do I start.
It's 41 here today so the chocolates need to go in the fridge and be cold and ready to eat at supper time

A pencil case and some wonderful scented pencils.
I have never seen these pencils.
Strawberry and chocolate scented.
Will these help me with that hunger feeling?????

A journal and a lovely cover.
This will be going to work.
I'm sure I will have lots of notes to take.

Another great little bag. I'm yet to find a home but I'm sure it won't take long.
Maybe I can do some stitching on my lunch break.
I can put the needle case in here too. 

A great bag for my tea cup and tea bags at work.. 

A great bag with a zipper to close the top and a side pocket too.
Wonderful. Might be handy at my new job.

Love the saying on this t shirt.
I don't where you got it from but it is fantastic...
****** Cassie made a special order for my t shirt from
https://www.sunfrog.com ******** 

A lovely little needle case. I can see me making a few of theses as gifts... 

If the shirt fits WEAR IT... and it does..
Great for workshops and retreats.
I don't know how she knew my size...

A lovely selection of gifts in this years Santa Sack Swap...

I am about to start a new job so I will be able to use a few of these gifts straight away.

There is a mug bag for my tea cup and tea bags, a special journal and cover, a beautiful pencil case and gorgeous scented grey leads ( I will be taking lots of notes so they will be used )

And then there is this fun t-shirt I will be wearing to my quilt group meetings and workshops.

Of course all the other gifts will be used...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING TOO GOOD OF A TIME TO BE READING BLOGS. 

ENJOY THIS SPECIAL DAY....

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL.... clue 5 is done and dusted....

I'm tucked away sewing with my air conditioner running and watching the last QUILT CAM. I'm in heaven....
Bonnie posted clue 5 early so us down here in Oz made a quick start on the many half square triangles needed.
How easy is this... http://quiltville.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/surprise-en-provence-part-5.html
I always try to do this method when I have a lot to do.
http://chezstitches.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/the-magic-8-revisited.html This is an easy tutorial to follow.
I did make the odd one or two blocks from smaller scraps for a little bit of extra colours but they were all done in no time. All done before Xmas day. Now to wait for the next clue.

The easy 8 way...

All half square triangles complete

Yes I'm a sliver trimmer

So with that I must say to everyone

HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR. 

ENJOY YOURSELF AND MAKE THE MOST OF THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
http://pin.it/mzFpmiL

Tomorrow I can open this....
From Cassie at
http://cassiescuddles.hoodfamily.org.au

Cassie sent this parcel to me for the SSS16

I'm part of http://santasackswap.blogspot.com.au

My SSS16 has arrived & Sunraysia gathering

I am joining in with a few other ladies in the SSS16. My partner is Cassie and my parcel arrived today.
Even though the delivery man left it at the wrong address 2 houses away. I am lucky enough to live in a court and the neighbour delivered it to my house when I got home... I think she deserves a Xmas thankyou for her kindness.
Cassie should be relieved that it got here safely..

THANKYOU CASSIE. Now the wait is on....

My SSS16 has arrived

My gift for under the tree from Cassie.

Now all I have to do is wait...
I have hidden it in the office so it's not looking me in the face for a month.. I don't want to be tempted....


My monthly meeting at the Sunraysia patchwork group was Tuesday night. We hand over BIRTHDAY fat 1/4s for anyone celebration a birthday. This is how I packaged mine. Just adds a little bit of fun...

Birthday fat 1/4s wrapped ready to give

This was this months project. Folded stars. There is going to be a Xmas tree display at the information centre. We are putting the stars and pine cones we have made on it.

Folded stars ready for the information Xmas tree

It's good to see my quilt has arrived at its destination. With an Aussie Hero...
We don't always hear if the were delivered safely. We don't know if our  work is the correct interpretation but we still try.... My last quilt was a beach theme with a Ducati emblem. I hope it is liked. Here is a photo of the group with all their quilts.

  The Aussie troops with their beautiful quilts.

Cassie has received her parcel... NOW SHE HAS TO WAIT........

My SSS16 parcel has arrived...

I have sat down and written my Xmas cards. Written the moving house letters, the catch up yearly letters and have posted them early.

I also got to post Cassie her parcel. I am so happy the postman has delivered to you Cassie

I hope you will be happy with it....

SSS16 all wrapped and ready to be opened

Secret sewing for Cassie

I have been working on a few special gifts for Cassie.   http://cassiescuddles.hoodfamily.org.au
We  are in the SSS 16.   Secret Santa Swap 16.
We need to make each other 5 gifts and a Santa sack, bag, stocking or tote.... they are well on their way...
Here is a sneak peek. Some are blurry, some are only bits. Have a guess to see if you know what I am up to...

Gift 1

Gift 1

Gift 2

Gift 3

Gift 4

Gift 5

Gift 6

Gift 7

FNWF

I have just finished my gift for the CLAYTONS CHRISTMAS SWAP.
Sorry no pictures yet. I hope to hop out into my workroom next week so I can complete the parcel and get it in the mail... Don't want it to be late...

Lots of red and green 

FNWF saw me doing a little bit of stitching. I am working on some secret stitching. So, of course I can't show you the full photos....
But a little bit of progress is allowed.

I see spots....

Lots of Colonial knots

CAN YOU SEE THE THEME THAT IS HAPPENING

Then I went on to some more crochet to use up the left overs from the flower crochet blanket.
They are circles now but will turn into octagons and joined with some squares. It looks very effective in 2 colours so I hope that the scraps will look just as good...

2 spirals of 42