one has landed

If you bloghop your way to Willow Grove Quilting Kerri has received the giveaway prize I sent. Vikki's should be arriving any minute too.
As for stitching this week I've almost finished the last block of my Angel's Story quilt, I know only 12 months too late for the challenge but at least I've never forgotten about it. I've run out of DMC 167 so I'll have to make a trip into town tomorrow to restock then I can put the last few stitches in. I'm going to hand quilt it using a Perle 8 cotton and the plan is to have it completed by Easter, I just have to remain focused!

A Thank-you and choosing how to help the Haitians

The lovely Peg sent me a gift for co-hosting the Xmas Advent Swap, it's gorgeous. Thank-you Peg, even though Xmas is over I'm going to leave it hanging for awhile so I can enjoy it.

The stitchery is from Gail Pan's blog, one I had saved to do but now I don't have to!

This week I've put together a block for another Snugglybug Quilt, I'm waiting for the remainder to arrive so I can assemble the quilt top and then forward it on for quilting.

I enjoy doing these as I know they are going to children at our local hospital. I pray that they get through whatever illness they have and lead happy, healthy lives.

There's so many charities out there we can support but the big fundraising drive at the moment of course is for the Haitians. There are many ways we can all contribute, Craft Hope and other Etsy sellers, online auctions and monetary contributions. I'm still yet to do my bit and just now I'm just trying to decide which charity to support and who'll use my money the best way to help.

How do you like to contribute?

Quick message

Just a quick message, if you bloghop your way to On My Verandah, Maree's posted some pics of what I sent to her for the Xmas Advent Swap.

Blogoversary Winners

Well I cut and pasted all 1226 comments from the previous 12 months into a word document plus added all 74 followers and then I numbered them all. I then used a random number generator to select two winners, and here they are

That's Kerri from Provincial Patch and Vikki from Sew Useful Designs, so my dearies I will be sending you a surprise in the mail, please send me your snail mail addies and give me a couple of weeks to finish off the items!
Thanks to all my readers and followers for a terrific past 12 months and I'm looking forward to more of the same for the next 12!
Hugs
Jo

It's my party!!

Yes, it's been 2 years since I started blogging! My how time flies.

I've really enjoyed the past two years, my circle of bloggy friends is ever increasing and I love getting to chat with everyone of you. I've even gotten to meet some of you in person and lets just say you've all been as lovely in person as you are in cyberspace.

Now two years means a giveaway but this is only open to all my loyal readers, only those who've been commenting on my blog for the past 12 months will be in the draw. So this weekend I'll be going through all those comments and put you all into a little hat i.e. random number generator and pick out a winner. Not sure what I'll send yet but it'll be something handmade. Come back Monday and I'll announce the lucky winners and what they will receive! Oh did I mention because I'm turning two I'll choose 2 winners!

Cheers

Jo

xxx

Finishes and a teen

Helen and Fiona joined me on Saturday for a bit of stitching. It's always lovely to catch up with friends.
Sorry but no pics, we were too busy chatting.

I started a cover for my work diary and finished it on Sunday. It was inspired my Marg Low's gorgeous journal covers.

I also put the finishing touches on another little sewing bag

and I have to mention "Happy Birthday" to my DS who turned 13 recently. I organised a surprise birthday party and a sleepover with 5 of his friends. They had a great time playing basketball, throwing water bombs and playing computer games. It was a long 24 hours for me with lots of food preparation and cleaning up but it was worth the look on his face when we all yelled out "SURPRISE!"

So he's now a teen, a 6 foot tall one too, he's taller than me now so apart from my dog, Lucy, I'm now known as the short one :-(

They grow up too fast, enjoy every minute of them while they're babies.

One thing I do love is that I still get cuddles :-)

2010 Motto

Creativity Amongst Chaos shared this saying from the 30's

"Use it up,

Wear it out,

Make it do,

OR DO WITHOUT!"

I think it's the perfect "Frugal" motto for 2010! See Mother's Cupboard's  for more frugality!

Don't Panic!

My Blog is under reconstruction and I thought a new name was in order for 2010. I decided on Lilly Pilly as it's one of my favourite Australian Native plants. My backyard is surrounded by them.

Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho, it's off to work I go!

Well my holiday is over and it's back to the old grindstone. It seems nothing has change, no fairy has come in and finished off all those uncompleted tasks from 2009. Ah well at least I still have a job.

My time off was great, I got in heaps of relaxation and a bit of sewing too. We went camping and fossicking, celebrated DS's 13th birthday and enjoyed plenty of time together as a family.

I've already got 3 finishes for January, Rosalie Quinlan's gorgeous Bucket Bag and needlecase

Marg Lowe's  Beautiful Christmas Stocking

and another Rosalie Quinlan project, Nellie's Bag

I enjoyed making all of these!

The advent swap is complete and was successful for some with only a couple who were dissappointed. It's a shame when people sign up for swaps and then don't complete them, it's so disheartening.

Anyway my resolutions for 2010 include no swaps, oh apart from the FQ Birthday swap I signed up for but that doesn't involve hours of work. 2010 is going to be all about me and finishing off projects that I've started like An Angel's Story, The Quilt Aid quilt, Gardener's Journal and various other quilts in different stages of construction. I'm going to endeavour to reply to all emails and blog regularly and try and keep up with all those blogs I follow.

I hope 2010 is a great year for you all!

Hugs

Jo