In and Out at Lilly Pilly

What went out? A gift for Rosie

Thank-you for my kitty!

What came in? Mail of course!!

Lovely books from the Book Depository, don't you love that Teddy Bear!

....and a surpirse package from Brianna of Rolling In Fabric, that I had forgotten all about!

I won a giveaway on her blog! 4 FQ's and the cutest little kit to make a Matryoshka brooch.

Thank-you Brianna, now I need to find the perfect project for these lovely fabrics!

Put an end to Brutality!

http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/animals/live-export/ban-live-export please sign the petition for Getup to join the fight against Live Animal Exports to Indonesia (and the Middle East). They will be going to Parliament today, this morning, with Animals Australia and the RSPCA.

Click the link and add your email address. We must stop this cruel, inhumane and barbaric practice IMMEDIATELY. The Australian tax payer is actually contributing to this practice too which may come as a surprise to you

Please help

Books and Flowers

I have the loveliest of friends, one who recently returned from adventures in the US bought these back for me, the Nancy Halvorsen one is even signed!

I spent all last night drooling over these books, the Anni Downs book is a must have if you're a fan of her whimsical characters, there's some gorgeous projects to keep you busy for hours!

Thank-you H and next time I'm going with you!

And I just have to show you these....

teeny-tiny crocheted flowers from Jack'n'Jill, great for all crafts!

Stitching Around the Block

Well my Stitching Around the Block has gone full circle and has arrived home.

The centre was completed by Moi, the second row by Kez, the third by Bec and the last by Dawnie. Thank-you ladies for joining me in this project and thank-you to Helen for providing us with the pattern. They've all done such a lovely job!

I might turn it into a cushion unless anyone has any other fabulous ideas.

Lucky Girl

Yes, that's me, I'm a lucky girl!

Look at the great prize the lovely Shell and Harrington from The Rasberry Rabbits sent me for their 700th Follower Giveaway...

all beautifully wrapped, those chockies disappeared very quickly and I'll try the tea a bit later...

two fabulous books full of altered art projects! I was engrossed in them for hours last night, oohing and aahing over some cute things to make. I need to buy myself supplies now to have a go at soldering, can't wait to give it a try!

Thank-you so much Shell and Harrington!

Happy Rosie

I love it when friends call in, not so when I'm not home but I do love it when they leave little surprises at the front door. The caller was Happy Rosie, she left a little gift bag and unlucky for me my son was the first to spot it and dove straight in and discovered the chocolate so I had to share it with him. I had admired Rosie's first softies that she had made, lovely little kitties and so we agreed to do a swap. I must admit I wasn't expecting it so soon but what a lovely surprise. The chocolate was from the House of Anvers a chocolate factory and it was delicious with the best caramel centre I have ever tasted. Here's the gorgeous kitty that I'm naming after Rosie

Isn't she a cutie, Thank-you Rosie!

I'm still working on your pressie, it'll be on it's way early next week!

Yahoo

Last week blogger cut my right arm off and this week it's Yahoo! Yahoo is not playing nicely so I can't respond to any emails or blog comments :-( I can read your blogs though!

Meeting for the first time!

On Friday afternoon I met up with Maree from Farmyard Crafts and her gorgeous little cherub, they're in town for a wedding. They've travelled a very long way and I'm so happy we were able to squeeze in some time together. Sorry for not turning on the nice weather for Maree's visit, and yes Chooky it sounds like your place was the place to be this weekend, lovely to hear your voice!

Meeting up with fellow stitching bloggers is really like meeting up with long lost friends!

We started off with a  bit of shopping, firstly at Frangipani Fabrics and then onto The Quilted Crow. We didn't go overboard with our spending as both of us have To Do lists a mile long. Then it was back to my place to have a cuppa, chat and checking out of the craft room.

Here's Maree and her little man, what a cutie he is!

I really do wish all of my bloggy friends lived in the same neighbourhood so we could have afternoons like this all of the time!

Vintage Lace

Following on from the previous post about ATC swapping, Art Joy Stuff's swap arrived safely on my doorstep. I love how Kimberly presents things and I love those Marvel character stamps!

and here's Kimberly's Vintage Lace creation

"Live Life" is a great motto and one we should all live by!

Thank-you Kimberly, this has been a great swap, I enjoyed thinking on a small scale.

ATC swapping

Please bloghop your way to Art Joy Stuff to see the Vintage Lace ATC I made for Kimberly in her Tuesday Trading Card Swap. This was a fun challenge to do on a small scale and I hope to participate in a few more.

Canvas Art

Last night I did a fun workshop at my local scrapbooking store, Scrappers Heaven. The Canvas Art Class was so much fun, modge podging, painting, stamping, stencilling and paper piecing made me feel like I was at Kindergarden. This was my end result....

It's no Monet but I love it!

I can see many of these being made at my desk!

Happy Dancing!

I was lucky to win a bundle of Theodore Cleave buttons by Barb Smith, hence the title Happy Dancing.
Well look what landed in my mailbox today.....

..... aren't they all gorgeous! Some will go to lovely friends on finished projects and some will remain in my must keep forever stash. Now which ones should I keep?

Thank-you Barb, each button is a piece of art to be cherished forever!

SPAM

Apologies to all who have received an email in their inbox from me subject Shoppybag, please do not accept it, delete it, it's spam. Hopefully I can sort it out and you'll stop receiving them.

While the boys are away, Mumma will stitch!

Some of my bloggy friends know that my boys have been away on an adventure for the past two weeks. Hubby and son headed off to the mainland to visit the Gem and Mineral Show in Bathurst, they also drove to Broken Hill and almost made it as far "Corner Country" (where the New South Wales, Queensland and South Australian state borders meet). They returned home Friday night, just in time to see Kate and William kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Wasn't the wedding beautiful, they make such a lovely couple.

So while my boys were away I made the most of my "ME" time and enjoyed plenty of time stitching. Here's some of the things I have to show you

Block one of Butterfly Garden, ready for embroidery

I'm using layer cakes of Strawberry Fields for this, it's so soft and pretty.

I've completed the Leanne Beasely needlecase from The Quilted Crow's Gathering

and made a start on my hexies for the Vignette Hexagon Quilt Stitchalong

  

(Fee and I plan on having one Monday a month to dedicate to hexie stitching, I'll call it "Fee and Me" time!!)

I helped Helen with some or her preparations for her trip to Salt Lake City, I'm afraid I'm heavier than her luggage so I couldn't squeeze into her suitcases, one day I'm going to go with her!! If you're going to the trade show in Salt Lake City be sure to pop by her stand "Pattern Press" and check out all the wonderful aussie patterns she has.

The last two weeks flew by really quickly and I didn't get as much done as I would have liked but that doesn't matter, I don't need to put that kind of pressure on myself.

Anyway I still have this afternnon to myself and then back to my regular routine tomorrow.

Cheers and Happy Stitching

Jo

xxx