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

Santa Sack Swap secret sewing

Over the past few weeks I have been doing a little bit of secret sewing....
I can only show you a little bit but I am progressing well.

I have quilted this piece but this is part of the back... I can't show what I have done...

This item is finished and is so cute...

I am very excited because I am on my last gift for this package....

I can then wrap them up and not have to worry about them until November. 

So long as I don't put them in a safe place..... Haha

WIP flimsy is done

I have been having fun using up some scraps. They don't seem to be getting any less. I chose a free pattern from Bonnie Hunters blog. The Spider Web...
http://quiltville.blogspot.com.au/2005/06/string-spider-web.html
I have enough papers and kite centres for 3 quilts.

Before I quilt this one I need some more practice with the Westalee rulers...

So I started playing around with some Westalee ruler quilting on my Santa Sack Swap gifts. I have 2 partners so there will be a lot of hidden work, snap shots and secret sewing happening.
You can just see some of the quilting patterns.

I am linking up with 

http://www.freshlypieced.com

And

Vals Tuesday Archives

http://myplvl.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/tuesday-archives-75-strip-quilts.html

MY SANTA SACK SWAP

Back in June/July I signed up to be part of a SANTA Sack Swap.
http://santasackswap.blogspot.com.au

We were assigned a partner then had to go about making 5 handmade gifts and a stocking/sack or tote to put the gifts in. These had to be done and posted by 25th November and not to be opened until XMAS day.

How hard was that. Having lots of presents sitting around for all that time.......

Anyway, this is what I sent my partner, Mel.
http://pinnylea.blogspot.com.au

Here they all are ready to put in the Sack and post......

Here Is a sweet Mittens stitchery made into a table runner, 2 cotton knitted dishcloths, some tree ornaments and the large SANTA sack to put everything in.

Now someone else just has to fill it each year. How nice is that.......

 A cute square bag, a fabric bowl filled with lollies and a hot chocolate drink pack, a double ended oven mitt and pot holder. I know Mel loves buttons so I gave her a pack of wooden XMAS buttons and then made her a button necklace. If she doesn't want to wear it she can cut the string and have lots of buttons to sew on her projects.

SANTA SACK SWAP OPENING TIME

Its time to open my SANTA Sack 

Mine was from MEL @ http://pinnylea.blogspot.com.au

WOW

I was so looking forward to opening these gifts. It was exciting as I had no idea what was in there...

When you get gifts from family members sometimes you have an idea what it could be. This was so different. But how exciting........

Look at what I got....

There was a lovely bag, a sewing bag for a project with lots of pockets, an apron, pin cushion and thread catcher, pins, needles, sewing caddy, quilt labels, jewellery roll, handmade earrings, stitchery hanging decoration, special herbs spoon markers for my garden and of course my SANTA BAG. Which I'll be using in the future....

All the pins, needles and accessories

Look at theses flattened spoons. Aren't they great.. They are for the veggie garden. Posts for what is planted there. I love them

A cute little stitchery hanging

A jewellery roll. Somewhere to put my jewellery when I travel. 

There is also a pair of earrings that Mel has made. So cute....

Once again THANKYOU Mel for my special gifts.

I do hope you had a special fun filled XMAS with so much love...

This swap was so much fun.

Thanks to Cheryll for organising this swap.

http://santasackswap.blogspot.com.au

Cheryll does organise so many swaps so check in on her and join in. They are so much fun....

CHRISTMAS EVE

Well, XMAS EVE with family and friends, what more is there.

Preparations are in full swing, mince pies made for a gift, 

punch to drink 

and friends visiting.

And then under the tree was still my SANTA SACK SWAP.

I have been very good.

My XMAS tree

I didn't make it to FNSI.

I was babysitting the grandsons as it was the last day of school and my daughter was at work.

I decided to put up the XMAS tree. It is the 3rd xmas since my sons passing so I thought my grandsons are at an age they look forward to SANTA so why not. This is for them....

It is a lovely tree. Part of it was missing but we made do. It has been decorated.

Here it is with my SANTA Sack Swap presents still in tact.

And now for my lights and presents

This is what I was planning on sewing and doing for the night but it did not happen...

My SANTA SACK has arrived.....

Well, I'm happy to say my SANTA SACK has arrived for the swap.

Now I just have to leVe it wrapped up until I am told to open it....

How hard is that...

Here is my gorgeous sack from Mel...

http://pinnylea.blogspot.com.au

If you want to see what it is all about look over here.....

http://santasackswap.blogspot.com.au

MY SANTA SACK IS IN THE POST.....

Back in June/July I signed up to be part of a SANTA Sack Swap.
http://santasackswap.blogspot.com.au

We were assigned a partner then had to go about making 5 handmade gifts and a stocking/sack or tote to put the gifts in. These had to be done and posted by 25th November and not to be opened until XMAS day.

How hard was that. Having lots of presents sitting around for all that time.......

Anyway, this is what I sent my partner, Mel.

http://pinnylea.blogspot.com.au

Here they all are ready to put in the Sack and post......

They are on their way to Mel in South Australia.......

Now remember Mel 

NO PEEKING, SHAKING, RATTLING, SQUEEZING.

Think you can hold out.....

Hahaha, enjoy.

6" & 12" Block swap & Santa Sack Swap

I have been working on my Santa Sack Swap and have finished a special gift BUT haha I cannot show you. It is a surprise gift. We know the swap partners but we can't give away the surprise of what we are making for their gifts. For that they have to wait until Xmas.....

Here is a sneak peak... Can you guess what it is ?????.

Then I had to get finished 2 * 6" double pinwheel blocks made for Shannon in the USA.

We are swap partners this month in the http://6inchblockswapsaustralia.blogspot.com.au 

Shannon wanted Kaffe Fasset fabric. This was well and truly out of my comfort zone. I went shopping and bought some fabric. It's not something I had at home. There it sat for 2 weeks. Soldier on and do it... So that's what I did..... Here they are......

And during the week I received my 12" Maple Leaf block from Anna. We had been partners in January in the Paper pieced Swap so it was good to have contact again. All Anna had to do was make 1 * 12" block. To my surprise she made 3  blocks, added in a 6" block too. But wait, there's more.. A cute little coaster in the shape of a Maple Leaf. It is so cute. I am already using it.

So go and have a look at all these swaps HERE

Slow stitching / knitting Sunday

This Sunday I worked on a few projects and linked up with Kathy at
http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/slow-stitching-sunday.html

First up was some much needed paperwork for the accountants visit this week. Something we have to do but not much fun. So then to relax........

Some secret hand stitching with a button 

and bindings...

I have done a lot of machine & hand stitching this week so I wanted a break while I watched t.v. tonight. On to some knitting..... I was inspired by reading Sheila's blog
http://sewcookandtravel.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/2014-rsc-july-red-week-3.html

Each month she does a different colour dish cloth. I found some cotton knitting thread and off I went.

Thanks for your tips Sheila.