Happy New Years

 I was Caroline's Secret Santa in Chookyblue's Swap, I sent this ornament

a lovely little stocking, designed by my dear friend Helen of Hugs 'n Kisses

and the main gift was this cute little angel sewing tote

designed by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse.

I enjoyed stitching these goodies, quick and easy!

If you get a chance visit Chookyblue's blog and have a look at all the pressies that were exchanged, it makes for good eye candy and inspiration.

So far these holidays Iv'e produced zilch, nothing, zero, not a thing!

I've come down with a nasty cold that had me bed ridden for the last day and half. I've managed to surface today and do a bit of washing and it looks like hubby might have caught my germs, he's having a lie down now. I don't think we'll be staying up until midnight it'll be early to bed for both of us.

Happy New Years Everybody!!

SSCS 2011 Pressies

Well all Secret Santa presents have been opened, Christmas Day was full of excitement, I love surprises. My partner in Chookyblues SSCS 2011 was Kerstin and what a bundle of goodies she sent.

parliament of owl ornies

 zippered pouch, tissue cosy, very cute ring pincushion and sweets

 mug rug

 xmas wallhanging

and handmade gift tags.

Thank-you Kerstin for all the beautiful goodies and thank-you to Chookyblue for hosting another great xmas swap-travaganza!

Secret Santa

My FIS Secret Santa parcel from Kylie of Country Wishes arrived last week but I kept it in the box until our first was allowed to be opened and here's all the lovely wrapped pressies that were inside

 and look at the first one I've opened...

gorgeous bon-bon full of chocky santas!

Thank-you Kylie!!

I'll do a post after xmas of all the rest including the big pressie.

So now I'm counting down the days, only 1 1/2 days of work left for me then I'm on 3 weeks of R&R, spending most of it at home painting my new craft room and then moving in plus I plan to get lots of stitching in...look out Gardener's Journal here I come (That last comment is just for Chooky!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Button Ornaments from Cindy

I took part in the Button Floozies Christmas Button Ornament swap and these are the lovelies I received from Cindy

Thank-you Cindy, they're gorgeous!

If you visit Cindy's blog you'll see the two ornaments I made, the little snowman was my first attempt at working with paper clay, he turned out rather cute and I love the micro buttons I used on the "Let it snow" ornament.

Plus there's a Linky party going on over here if you want to see more!

SSCS is Here!

My SSCS parcel arrived today all the way from Kerstin in Germany and inside is this bundle of wrapped goodies

We're only allowed to open the ornament pressie,

and what a surprise to find not one but 3 ornaments....

.....my very own parliament of owls!

Aren't they adorable!!

Thank-you Kerstin!!

Thanks also to Chookyblue for once again hosting this swap.

Now roll-on Xmas day so we get to open the rest of our packages!!

SSCS parcel for Caroline

My SSCS parcel has arrived safely at it's destination, please bloghop over and visit Caroline to see the ornament I've made for her.

Christmas is Coming and Fast!!

My Friends in Stitching group held a Christmas Ornament Swap and on Friday night we opened our goodies. I received from Dawnie and posted to Jan.

This is what Dawnie sent

Isn't it the cutest little stiched pocket! Thank-you Dawnie, I love them!!

Last week I posted off my parcel for Chookyblue's SSCS 2011, it's going to ......! I bet you thought I was going to tell you but it's a secret!

I'm also stitching for my Friends in Stitching Xmas Swap and it's a secret too.

Tag Book Swap

 Lilac Lane Livery is hosting a tag book swap. It is a shabby vintage cottage chic theme and you must make a tag book with at least 3 tags plus a package to store them in with a charm closure .  How about signing up?  The more the merrier.  You have until November 28 and post by 31st December. I've already started making mine, it's so much fun being creative and using my stash!

Welcome to Hagley Farm School!

Last weekend a bunch of us Tassie girls headed off for a bit of stitching R&R at Hagley Farm School. It also coincided with the Tasmanian Craft Fair at Deloraine. Unfortunately my batteries on my camera died so I can only show you a tour of the school farm. It's the perfect place to hold a retreat.

A warm welcome

 It's me here

Lovely School Grounds and View

Pond across the fence

Modern Architecture

Old Arcitecture

Modern Sculpture 

Vintage Sculpture

Gardens contained lots of beautiful flowers, including vivid coloured irisis

Farmyard Friends - Alpaca

Cows (The school has it's own dairy)

Cutest donkeys 

Goats  

and Horses frolicking in the paddock.

Cathy, Leanne and Pauline were the other bloggers, the rest were all non-bloggers that stayed for the weekend, was lovely to catch up with them all again. We did a bit of stitching, Leanne even had a couple of finishes.

Some of us spent Saturday at the Tasmanina Craft Fair, it's a huge event and I'd recomment to any craft lover to visit. It was well run with free buses between venues and lots of entertainment. A must would be to take a bucket load of money!

Anyway it's be same place and same time again next year!

More Buttons!

The tin of buttons I put together for the Button Floozies Swap has arrived at Mary's place.

This is the tin I decorated

and this is the inside, full of button loveliness!

Please visit Mary's blog to see more pics!

Oh Happy Day!

On Saturday  I tagged along with Helen to a Christmas Gathering organised by Lillian of Esmes

Helen was tutor for the day and had some lovely projects to share.

and Lillian did too

I even ran into some friends, Val (no blog) 

and Kathy from Sew Happy House 

It was a lovely surprise to see them both there and getting to spend the day stitching and chatting with them.

I also met Edwina, no picture but there's one on Kathy's blog, she's a lovely lady too but then all stitchers are lovely!

Also on display was Esme's finished Quilt Aid, simply gorgeous. The photos don't show this quilt any justice but believe me the Ruby fabrics were perfect for this years them "Whimsy and Wonder"

Check out the Quilt Aid website for more info and designs by the other shops in Australia, UK & the US!

The B's have it! Basketball, Buttons and Book!

I've been trying all week to get on to do this blog post, life is a bit hectic at the moment. My workplace is going through a restructure and my manager has decided he's leaving :-( and I've been a taxi service while my son goes back and forth to school and Basketball games.

They won their division, my son is the tall one. At 14 he's nearly reached his Dad's height of 6'5", he passed me inches ago!

So what's been happening on the craft front, well lots of secret squirrel stuff for xmassy swaps so I can't show anything there. I did participate in a Swap run by Button Floozies, we had to alter an altoid tin and fill it with buttons. My swap partner was Mary and this is the tin I received, packed to the brim, full of a fabulous mixture!

Love the bling buttons and those raggedy anne buttons. Thank-you Mary!

I also won this lovely book from Christine at Once Upon a Quilt

and look at this goregous project inside, plus there are some other lovelies too.

Thank-you Christine!!

Now if you've read this far this is a sneak peak of the tin I've sent Mary as she has not received it yet.

1500+

I think the majority of my blog readers also follow Elefantz but in case you've not heard Jenny is celebrating 1500+ followers with a giveaway. So head on over there by clicking on the picture below, you have until the 20th October to be in the draw!!

Swap FRIENDS

Fridays, how many times do you want to hear how much I love Fridays???

Well today is one of those Fabulous Fridays where I popped home during my lunch break to find a big red parcel sitting on my doorstop.

Yiippee it was my FRIENDS Swap gifties from Kymberly!

Kymberly has filled the parcel with the most thoughtful pressies, here's a looksie:

 

Gorgeous organiser!

sweets and scissor fob!

ribbons and threads!

companion, I needed a little 1 " ruler!!

fabulous roll of reds and whites! Yummy!

project book, some cuties in here that will be must makes!

and some Mary K samples, lovely!!

Told you it was a generous parcel.

Thank-you Kymberly for being such a fabulous swap partner

and to our lovely host Khris for organising a great swap!

Kymberly has received my parcel so keep an eye out for a post on what I sent.

Happy Friday!!