Zoom, Zoom February

While February rolls over and March is knocking on the door .... Mother Nature is being a b***h!

Where to start? I've been making some more masks as even Grandson J needs some for school.

My 2021 Blog Book arrived in the mail ... I've been having these printed since 2007/2008 but this one was the thinnest.

Murder in the Caribbean is getting close ... here is the layout and I've managed to join a couple of rows. I'm liking this one.

The crochet hook has been in action as I've run out of dish cloths.  This pattern is Waffle and a involves a new stitch for me ... 'Front Post Treble Stitch' ... simple to do after a you tube lesson.

Belvedere the Rustic Reindeer went to live with his new owner just in time for Christmas 2021 and his brother has finally come together and will live here. Grandson M was checking him over and may have had sticky fingers by the spot on it's cheek.

Chookyblue held a Zoom day yesterday to celebrate her 15th year of blogging. I had great plans of joining in for the day ... Thursday/Thursday night in town at Mum's ... come home Friday ... plans for Sunday ... so Saturday WAS going to be MY day ... until Mother Nature threw a tantrum! Hubby phoned Friday morning to say he'd had 10 inches of rain (250mm) overnight and had never seen the creeks run so high. Of course nothing compared to what is still unfolding further south but it stopped me getting home due to the bridge going under water.  I did manage to get home Saturday afternoon ... it took some very careful driving around back roads and finally through our paddocks to get to the house as the road into our place has washed away.

Finally after unpacking I closed my eyes to the rest of the house, set myself up with a headless reindeer, wool and crochet hook, and enjoyed a few hours with lovely ladies from all over.  The quilt I showed was from a local workshop in June 2012 and the pattern was the instructors called 'Ribbon Stars'. Bit of a record for me as the quilt was finished by the end of 2012! Thank you Chooky for hosting and I'm so glad I made it eventually.

Hubby is out checking fences this morning and later I'll head out and help with repairs. Time to grab a snack and a cuppa and hang out the next load of washing.

An October Finish

I've been working somewhat slowly on these jolly fellows ... one each month ... and now ...

My complete set of cutlery pockets.  One fellow wanted to show off his cutlery skills  ... ready for Christmas Lunch.

Here For August FNWF

Better late than never ... I haven't been anywhere ... just haven't been in blogland while the everyday stuff has taken over. 

SO ...

It's head down and ... sew!  You thought I was going to say something else. I have 3 small sewing related goals for each month and these jolly guys are on my list. One each month ... I made a start.

Thank you Cheryll for a lovely night ... it's nice to join in again.

Let It Sew, Let It Sew, Let It Sew!

Just a couple of last minute makes because I'm officially on holidays.  I've had an appliqued block sitting around for about 2 years that I had intended to make up into a library bag for Grandson J ... DONE!

Since I work on a Monday I rarely get to our patchwork days but as yesterday was the first day of 6 week school break ... me and my crochet made it to town. While there the girls were making lovely table runners so feeling full of inspiration, this morning I tipped out my Christmas fabric scraps and whipped up 3 small table centres and 2 place mats.

The place mats were initially also centres, but as they were shorter and wider I wasn't happy with the look. When I stitched the points down ... I was presented with the perfect cutlery pockets.

Happy Days ... Sewing while the mojo lasts.  Also going to tag ahead of time for 1 Xmas Item A Month 2018 and OPAM 2018.

Dec The Halls

Or Dining Room in my case. 

Keeping with tradition, back when my kids were in school, we always put decorations up on the first weekend in December.

Merry Christmas

New traditions and special memories at this time of year. Grandson J gets to hang his personalised bauble on our Christmas tree.

Pa and Grandson J stop to check out Mr (or Mrs) Emu at the Rockhampton Zoo. We spent a lovely weekend with extended family and SIL's family to celebrate Christmas together.

Then it was time for more baking. Of course I thought I could tackle a Gingerbread House from scratch. It's a little bit wonky or I could call it a Gingerbread Bush Hut. My Santa gather around the wood burner chimney each year ... lucky it's Summertime.

 Out to the mailbox and want do I see ... a parcel of goodies especially for me :o) I was super lucky to win a prize for the last Friday Night with Friends hosted by the lovely Cheryll. It's always nice to sit and stitch with friends and these sweet treats were an added bonus. I look forward to many more Friday nights, starting with my new pattern ready for next year. Thank you so much Cheryll xx

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, safe travels and special times with friends and family. May your New Year bring health and happiness with plenty of time for creativity.

A Christmas Scent

Yesterday my kitchen had the 'smell' of Christmas ... Gingerbread!  Icing was a bit rushed and needed a smaller nozzle but it still tastes great!

Just had to try out these animal shapes for Grandson J.

Whipped up a batch of shortbread first.

We had a little visitor last weekend so it was time to hang his bauble on the tree xx

Thinking now that it's time for a coffee and maybe I need to taste test ... again.

Enjoy the Season

A New Year and FNWF

Looks like this new year is off to a flying start and I've almost been left at the starting gate ... but I'm not going to let that faze me ... I'm just going to jump on in when I can!

Starting with last night and all the Friday Night Friends over at Cheryll's cubbyhole. I only had to applique the 'Blessings' block to the background and the circle 4 patch, then finish sewing together Block 2 of A Merry Christmas Garden.

Scary to think I started this block 12 months ago ... Block 3 has also been coming together and it's time to get back into some needle turn applique big time!

If I may retrace my steps a little ... this is what we were doing just before Christmas to spruce the place up a bit.

This highchair was made by my dad and my children used it when they were babies ... ready now for GS Master J

After Christmas and our guests had returned home it was a quick dash into town for 'stuff' and on with a full muster.  New Year's Eve was a quiet night in with my parents visiting to help ... DS and Master J joined us New Year's Day and lunch consisted of roast chicken sandwiches up at the cattle yards and a cuppa in a pannikin (tin cup) with fruit for after and lots and lots of cold water to beat the heat.

(Trying to be creative)

So now that I have one more week to make the most of before heading back to off-farm work ... I'm off to make the most of it with some tracing and preparing applique pieces. This quilt is going to be my project for 1 Xmas Item A Year. If you'd like to make a head start on a hand made Christmas check it out.

I am looking forward to many more Friday nights with Friends and Sew-Ins and maybe some CTTY if I can squeeze in some Christmas gift making through the year.

Have you heard? Wendy and Dawn are revamping 'Sew Its Finished' ... I know I have plenty of projects that could/should be finished ... but so many new ones that I should/could start too.

One seam at a time ... Happy New Year

How Did That Happen?

Wow for OPAM November ... I have several finishes this month ... I'm thanking the craft fairies for sprinkling something magic around ... it's the only reason I can think of.

Earlier this month I finished 3 small projects I began in September, the tea cosy and 2 teddies. Then I knitted up the blue 'Christmas Story' dishcloth.

On Monday I made it to our patchwork group day and made 6 small Christmas ornaments, stitching the buttons on at home that night.

Also thanks to Friday night's storm and the power going out for over 40 hours ... I have the green 'Christmas Story dishcloth finished.

Of course now just when I have something to share ... my pictures don't want to load into my blog!

Off to boil the kettle and have a coffee ... maybe they'll load later?  Hope your weekend has been gremlin free     >^..^<

Green Hills and Dam

Now that title is sounding a lot like someone's favourite story.  Computer is also charged and operational ... so much nicer all round. What a difference some good rain can make.

Beautiful red from the poinciana tree and the mock orange tree's white blossom has the most lovely fragrance.

We've fenced off some of the house yard so the horses can have a treat.

Still busy moving cattle about so that they all get access to some new green grass. There's not a lot of it yet ( a long way to grow back) so some have gone back to their paddock and the others are rotated about to give the grasses a chance to rejuvenate.

So time to get organized for Christmas with a few last minute chores around the house before family arrive in a couple of days.

To all my lovely blogger friends and visitors, I wish you a Merry Christmas full of love and laughter with those near and dear to you. 

May 2015 be everything you hope for and the weather be kind to all.

1 Xmas Item A Month All Wrapped Up

Good morning to all my fellow 1 Xmas Item Elves, blogging friends and to those who may be visiting for the first time. Well the 15th December is here or almost here depending where in this wonderful world you may blog from .... time for our last sharing of Christmas goodies if you are like me and still had a few more to finish off this month.

My first finish was to add 4 buttons each to these 4 little fabric baskets. They will be filled with yummies and sent home with mum, DD and DIL (and 1 for myself of course).

This is the second scissor keep I made and remembered to take a pic this time before wrapping.

What I forgot to take a picture of was 6 Christmas Cards I made with a bead tree on the front .... still have more of those on my 'to make' list. Speaking of trees, I have a sweet new ornament hanging on my tree thanks to lovely Fiona.

My 'Christmas' Swag is hanging in the dining room and I finally cleared off the dining room table last night and added some cheery red decor.

A big Thank You to all the Elves who created in the Christmas Workshop throughout the year. It has been lots of fun sharing all the gorgeous finishes big and small each month. I'm sure like me you have so many more ideas to try and I am looking forward to more merry-ment and magic in 2014.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

Christmas Business

First order of business is the 2 lucky 1 Xmas Item Elves who have won a small prize. My apologies for taking a week to finally visit all your busy workshops ... so much lovely eye candy to see. I do hope you are now enjoying gathering all your goodies and wrapping ready for gift giving or decorating your homes with your projects.

After adding pics to the 1 Xmas Item page and checking my list I have some great news. Six wonderful Elves made at least one item each month from January to November. Those names went into my lovely new fabric scraps tin and .... (Bells jingling) .... the lucky winner is Noela of  Quilty Bits from the Blue Room.

These 6 names then remained in the tin for a 2nd chance and everyone else's names were also added to the tin .... (more bells jingling) .... the next lucky winner is Shez of Enjoying Life.

Congratulations to Noela, Shez and all the merry Elves who made gifts or decorations throughout the year. It's been lovely to pop over for a visit and see all your amazing projects. Big or small, many or few, every one is made with love and will bring cheer to Christmas. Thank you for being part of this happy little group and I look forward to what 2014 may bring.

Second order of business? Yesterday was the 1st of December so it was time to start wondering which boxes contained which decorations and add a little festive cheer around the house. I've already noticed some lovely trees going up and tinsel being hung so here are my little Christmas corners.

 Good thing we don't need the chimney in summer.

My little forrest.

 'Tis The Season'

Merry Christmas to all.   >^..^<

Merry Christmas

Yesterday I did a little baking ... oh boy are they delish!

Warm Wishes and a ...