Stitching Around the Block

It's only taken me 3 years to turn my Stitching Around the Block flimsy into something. I decided I needed a cushion for my chair so this afternoon I made one.

Stitching around the block was a project run by Hugs n Kisses. You can still find the instructions here.

My team included Kez, Dawnie and Bec. Sadly Dawnie's block went missing, lost in Australia Post somewhere. 

Christmas 2013

Christmas Day always goes in the blink of an eye. Traditionally it's always quiet at our place and most years we disappear camping but this year since we're both back at work on the 2nd we decided to just have some R & R at home with a few day trips in between.

We did feast though, bacon and eggs for breaky, delicious salmon and salads for lunch and roast lamb and vegies for dinner followed by trifle a traditional family recipe.

The online group I belong too, Friends in Stitching, did a secret santa swap. We had to send five items, S for Santa, A for Antlers, N for Nativity, T for Treat and A for Angel plus a main gift.
Bec sent to me

The main gift

Thank you Bec! I sent to Helen, you can see what I sent here.

I also recieved a gorgeous gift from long time school friend Valerie

A beautiful scarf and the most adorable minature schnauzer brooch, just like my lucy.

My boys spoilt me too, beautiful earings, itunes card and a gel nail kit (lets just say I'm no professional when it comes to nails!)

So Christmas is over for another year, I hope you all enjoy a great New Years and all the best for 2014!

Xmas swapping for 2013

Xmas parcels are on there way tovarious destinations and one even touched down at my place from a fellow Friend in Stitching

I made a lovely purchase for myself this week, too cute to resist

Look for a rose by any other name on Facebook, she has some great pieces at excellent prices.

and the last two ATCs for the Alphabet ATC swap are completed and on there way to the US.

AQM 2013

I've spent the weekend in Melbourne at Australian Quilt Market (AQM) with Helen for Pattern Press.

As always I had a great time, talking the quilting lingo with many shop owners and catching up with many designers. All the best Aussies were there, Lynette Anderson, Gail Pan, Annie Downs, Natalie Bird, Libby Richardson, Monica Poole, Jodie Carlton, Melly and Me, Rosalie Quinlan, Nicky Tervo and of course Helen Stubbings just to name drop a few. Some of us had a great night out on Saturday, they really are an inspiring bunch to be around.

The Pattern Press stand looked fabulous as always.

Here's Helen with machine quilting extraordinaire and sister Tracey Browning and in the centre Cornelian, a new BOM.

More Hugs 'n Kisses, Opus Tweet another new BOM on the left was very popular.

The Pattern Press stand was also supported by Melissa Grant of One Day in May and Paula Storm Designs (sorry no pics). Lovely to meet both ladies.

I did get to do a little shopping, fabrics and patterns, lucky Helen had some room coming home in her suitcase.

As always the weekend flies by too quickly and now we're sitting waiting for our flight home and back to my real day job tomorrow.

Roll on Pittsburgh USA 2014!

Gift Giving

I have been gift giving

Ornaments and table mat went to my blogging friend Sue whose home was badly damaged in recent floods and she lost all her Christmas decorations. I know how devastated I would be to lose all my precious handmade xmas ornaments so I wanted her to have some keepsakes to replace the treasures she lost.

The ornaments are designed by Lenna Green from The Stitching Cow and the reindeer mat is by Gail pan from her Simply Christmas Book.

I also sent one of the bags I recently made to fellow Altered Paper Swap member Denise, she wanted to buy one as she doesn't sew, so I decided there was no need to exchange money and sent it to her.

It's always a nice feeling to surprise others with a gift, makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside 

Swapping needlecases and a finished top!

Online group Friends in Stitching recently held a needlecase swap, I made this for Cathy

And received this one from Kez...do you reckon we were inspired by the same project?

Last Saturday night I stayed up late until I finished piecing this quilt top together

The pattern is called Ruth's Quilt by Leanne Beasley...I love all the pretty soft floral prints and the hints of blue amongst them. This quilt is for me, because sometimes we just have to spoil ourselves.

Apparently Christmas is coming...and fast!

Everyone has been reminding me we are on the downhill sraight to Christmas so to get myself in the spirit I decided to do a little project. This really cute doily is a design by Gail Pan from her Simply Christmas Book. It was so fast to whip up, I'll definitely make a few more of these for pressies!

What are your favourite quick projects to do for xmas this year?

School Fair Totes

School Fair is coming up so I thought I would make some totes using some of my vintage sheets.

This is a great reversible bag pattern by Very Purple Person.

The second one I made the straps a couple of inches longer.

So easy to make and I think they're perfect for Spring/Summer.

Friends put a smile on our faces and a spring in our step xxx

Here's a little birthday package I put together for Susan of Thimblestitch. 

(Photo bloglifted from Susan's blog)

Susan and I are members of an online group and we all have to make a birthday pressie for another in the group and follow some simple rules like include a button, use one of three sayings then you must use their preferred colours and styles. It gets more difficult each time to make the perfect gift but I am always up for a challenge!

I chose "Nellie's bag" by Rosalie Quinlan and included a stitchery panel design by Helen Stubbings. There's a button on one side which is a laser cut timber spool covered in the same thread as the stitchery.

Our next challenge is a needlecase and then it'll be onto the christmas swap....ooh did I say Christmas! Too Soon!

Making Happy Endorphins!

The last few weeks have been full on, work has given me many challenges including stepping into an executive leadership role for a week....my boss has nothing to fear from me ever wanting his job, he can keep it. Two days of back to back meetings coupled with contractor issues and my son having minor surgery on his toes for ingrown toenails really challenged the worklife balance and my mental capacity, in other words I was mentally exhausted! So after the dinner was done I did what i do best when I'm stressed I sew! I'm sure you can all relate, it's therapy!

Remember this little tote

Well the talented designer, Pauline from Polly's Keepsakes sent me another pattern to try and I love it!

It's a project bag, full of pockets, a pincushion and, it has a scissor keep and two strawberries hanging on the outside. Easy to sew and very useful!

I feel good after completing this project, maybe I can complete a few more and really boost those happy endorphins!

Do you stitch when you are stressed?

Another year older means more cake

Yesterday seems all a blur now, I think I ate too much cake!

Members of Friends in Stitching (online group) each make a birthday pressie for one other member and the gorgeous Dawnie made mine this year. Dawnie is a beautiful stitcher and she put together this fabulous tote, 

full of pockets including ones I can see through.

We have to include one of three sayings, and this is what Dawnie chose for me

My online friends are so generous, love you all!

Thank-you Dawnie xxx

I'm happiest when I am crafting!

A few cards I've made, lovely butterfly card using Kaszazz products

And a cute little fishbowl, using Stampin Up products

Yes it's actually filled with water!

I have been stitching too, almost finished 'Happy Days'. Since this photo was taken all the embroidery is complete and the hexies all sewn on, juts need to finish the inside pockets and put it together.

I'm hoping I can finish it this weekend and start on my new project! Have you started a new project lately?

Watchya Doin?

Me, I have been winding threads on cards ready for another new project

But before I start this one I have to finish another project, still plenty of stitching to do and hexies to sew on

Doctoring a Bag!

After lots of procrastinating I finally put the finishing stitches into this bag. 

 I loved the gorgeous bag that Lynda had made and Lynda was so generous she sent me enough fabric and a bag frame to make my very own.

You can purchase the pattern called "Doctor's Bag" from Joy Patch and surprisingly it's so easy to make although getting the frame in is a bit fiddly but worth the effort.

Thank-you so much Lynda, I've now got a great, funky bag to take to the Craft Show this weekend!

A Stitching Affair

Last weekend I joined Helen Stubbings and Gail Pan plus a group of beautiful women at the picturesque Tarraleah, Tasmania for A Stitching Affair.

Tarraleah is an old Hydro Town which has been turned into a luxury resort.

 My job for the weekend was to make all the girls feel very spoilt, so I tizzied everything up in pink and blue,

wrapped all their gifts,

put a few surprises in,

(they each got a Tilda Charm pack)

made everything pretty,

 added some sparkle,

 gave them a few keepsakes,

 pom poms on trees,

and I helped the ladies shop!

We all had so much fun but do you know what surprised me the most, there was not one blogger amongst them!

Card making

Had a great day making cards with friends Wendy and Janet.

Loving these little blackboards.

If you'd like a kit to make them, they're $4.50 plus postage, they come stamped and ready for assembly. Just leave me a comment or email me if you are interested.

My kinda sweets

These look delicious and thankfully they'll leave nothing on the hips.

I found a tutorial here

This post is just to let you know I'm still here just pretty busy at the moment, I hope to be back sharing all my crafty adventures soon.

I have been AWOL

Hi everyone! Have you missed me? My little family, including my pooch caught The Spirit of Tas to the mainland for a three week camping/fossicking adventure. We spent 5 days at Murray Bridge, South Australia and attended the Gemboree, an annual gem and mineral show. We then headed north to places like Burra and Olary and then headed east into Broken Hill, New South Wales before heading to Victoria via Echuca. We even spent a couple of fantastic nights with Kez and her gorgeous family where Brett helped out on the dairy. The last stop was at South Gippsland at the Mother and Sister-in-law on their small farm.

I did a little stitching but not as much as I had planned.

Life's also about to change again as my hubby is going back to the mining industry which means I get uninterrupted nights of stitching and TV so I should get some finishes under my belt.

Olary pub

Echinoid fossils found at Mannum, South Australia

Me on the big seat, Broken Hill