Happy New Year

1 Xmas Item A Month ~ 2012

As Christmas 2011 comes to a close and a New Year is just around the corner, I've already given some thought to Christmas 2012. It was so nice to be able to go to the cupboard and take out those items made throughout the year to either decorate my home or wrap for gifts. I hope that all you lovely elves who stitched and sewed one or more items each month also enjoyed have your gifts and goodies made early.

Thankyou for keeping me company this year. It would be so lovely to have you join in again for 2012 ... to encourage each other along the way ... once more making 1 (or more) item a month and posting pictures or sneak peaks each month on the 25th.

New friends are most welcome to join in. There's no stress or deadlines here ... it's a stress free zone. No need to post every month ... just when you can. Your item can either be something for yourself to use or decorate with at Christmas, or a gift for giving.
If you'd like to take part, leave a comment on this post and I'll add your blog to the "1 Xmas Item A Month" bloglist on my right sidebar. Thankyou and welcome once again to those lovely elves who have already let me know.

Looking forward to sharing our creations in 2012.
Happy New Year

SSCS Reveal

Here we are ... Boxing Day already and it's predicted to be a scorcher.

I was excited to be able to open my SSCS gift yesterday. Travelling all the way from Norway was the most gorgeous table runner made by Berit. Thankyou so much ... I just love the fresh white/red colour scheme and my new runner will be taking pride of place on our table for lunch today.

I can also reveal my gift to Wendy. On reading her blog I knew she loved anything about peacocks so I was lucky enough to find some peacock fabric and made her this drawstring bag. Wendy has also shared a photo of the ornament and mug rug I sent.

Thankyou to Chookyblue for hosting such a wonderful and fun swap. If you'd like to see lots of pictures of all the wonderful gifts and ornaments that have been unwrapped, visit Chooky's blog for all the reveals.

Boxing Day Sew-In

Like to know more about a Sew-In on Boxing Day? Sandy has all the info so pop over and check it out. BDSI starts at 4.00pm Sydney time on the 26th (3.00pm for me) and runs for 24 hours.

Happy Christmas Eve from overcast Queensland.

Finishes for December OPAM and a PhD

Sitting down to enjoy Carols in the Domain on TV I had no hand stitching to work on so what was I to do? Remembering I still had half the ball of red/silver wool left, I picked up the knitting needles once more and managed to knit 3/4 of the 2nd ruffle scarf. In no time the next day I had a 2nd Red Ruffle scarf fnished...perhaps a gift for someone in 2012.

Another UFO and PhD finished last night.  This quilt was a stack and slash I did at the end of 2006 so it's been a UFO for some time. Last month it became my first quilt on the frame and after some trials the quilting was completed. Monday I machined the binding and last night finished hand stitching the binding on the back and ta da! "Citrus Splash" is a UFO no more.

This one I can also mark off as one of my pledged PhD's. 4 down and 1 to go.

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Joyous Christmas.

FNSI Results

Managed to get a few stitches done last night for Friday Night Sew-In after a long day in town.  I  almost finished the applique  and did the final little bit this morning. I've just now had a moment to cut the 2 1/2" squares and sew them to complete the block.

Month 9 ~ Block 15 ~ "Because I Said So"

Thankyou so much to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting this wonderful get together on a Friday night.  I do hope there will be more to come in 2012.

Festive Wishes

BOM Report

A lovely surprise from Paula for December. Both blocks 11 and 12 of 'Home Sweet Home' so that we could finish the project to coincide with the year's end.

Thankyou Paula for this sweet little BOM. I've enjoyed each month and they were quick to stitch ... here they are all in line waiting sashings etc. January finish?

Progressing along is month 9 - block 15 of 'Because I Said So'. The applique pieces have been added and I'm busy blanket stitching. The thread colour didn't want to photograph well, this saying is 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'.

Wishing all a Happy Christmas

FNSI and Mail

Would you like a second chance to participate in FNSI this Friday the 16th? I'm looking forward to it.

Last Friday's didn't go as planned after a wasp sting on the cheek bone caused a swollen eye and my planned dinner was late and the humidity made things just to hot! This time I'm not making any plans ... just go with the flow and hopefully it will all fall into place.

Plans for 2012 sewing are under way. This pattern I purchased from Cookies and Cream Craft is intended to be made up for a friend. With the 'Blueberry Crumb Cake' Jelly Roll purchased from Want It, Need It, Quilt,  I would like to make a start on 'Dear Jane' and join in with the Janiacs. I've also bought some freezer paper to learn how to use.

A lovely surprise in the mail was from Cheryll. The very appriate covered diary will keep all my crafty dates safe and the sweet scissor fob is already in use. Thankyou Cheryll :)

This gift was hand delivered by gorgeous Kerry. Could those be my daily allowance of chocolate under the watchful eye of Mr Snowman? Thankyou Kerry :)

Another cheery parcel in the mail yesterday were these two bright blossoms from Paula for my October Hexies. Thankyou Paula :)

Have a happy week.

UFO Thursday

I think this one definately counts as a UFO by now.  I finished block 4 of Red Delicious way back in June 2010.

Yesterday while the rain poured down I finished block 5: Fanfare. Next year I'm going to see if I can get back on track with these and have a Red finish more often.

Pop over and visit Sandy who hosts UFO Thursday for more UFO progress...thankyou Sandy.



Good Weather for Stitching

The last couple of days have been cold, windy and wet ... yipee!  Perfect weather for staying indoors and stitching.  Out came my winter dressing gown which is the secret signal for snuggle time for Jayne.

Friday night is also looking good for more stitching.  I've signed up over at Heidi's ... and there'll be a second FNSI on the 16th as well.

The Christmas Decorations are up ... here is my small fibreoptic tree which is home to my swap ornaments. Note the pincushion to the left? This is my sewing space usually so I've had to tidy up to make way for the tree.

Happy Sewing

New photos added to the 1 Xmas Item page.

December Goals

Making a list each month seems to be working for me ... helps to keep me focused on what needs doing. So here is what I would like to achieve craft wise for the month of

Month 9 - Block 15 of Because I Said So BOM

Inchy Hexagon Swap Flowers

Home Sweet Home BOM - 'M'

Quilting on quilt for brother

Bind and finish 'Citrus Splash'

Block 5 - Red Delicious

Photos of Blocks 12, 13 and 14 of Because I Said So have been added to the page above and my hexie flowers are ready to post. After I have no idea how long, Red Delicious has come out of hiding. I couldn't think what to take to our last patchwork day on Wednesday so out came the red fabrics and patterns and I prepared block 5 of RD and have told myself I must continue to work on it.

Hope your weekend includes some sewing.



November Wrap-up and SSCS

What is it with the mail lately?  I've had post take 14 days to travel between states and even in the same state and yet this parcel made it all the way from Norway in only 9 days.

Yipee!  My SSCS arrived yesterday and was promptly opened to reveal ..

2 pretty parcels ... 1 of which I was allowed to open straight away.

Inside I found this lovely cone with applique heart and inside the cone I found a sweet surprise!

Yummy strawberry sweets with a hidden choc centre.  Thankyou dear Secret Santa ... I shall be good and place my other gift under the tree until Christmas day.

Another November finish for OPAM ... my red scarf with silver ... wool purchased at the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Exhibition.

These hexie flowers have hopefully arrived safely with Debra for November.

November Goals

Because I Said So BOM ~ Month 7

Because I Said So BOM ~ Month 8

1" Hexi Flowers for Inchy Swap

Quilting of UFO Citrus quilt

Quilting of brother's birthday quilt

Home Sweet Home BOM ~ letter 'O'

Red/Silver Ruffle Scarf

One Christmas Item a Month

One Christmas Item A Month ~ 2011

Has it really been a whole year?

At the beginning of 2011 I set out to make one Christmas Item each month so that when December rolled around I wasn't thinking of all the things I wished I'd got round to making. I wasn't alone in my thoughts and have been blessed with the company of blogging friends along the way. We've sewn together and shared each month an amazing asortment of decorations and gifts and now it's almost time.

Here are my two items for November...mug rugs for stocking fillers. I used embroideries from 'Tis The Season' and you may just see more of these embroideries next year.

Thankyou to the lovely Elves who have joined in 'One Xmas Item A Month'. Without our little group I know I would not have achieved as much as I have and it's been a great pleasure to visit and see what everyone has made each month.

Please click on the 'One Xmas' page at the top of my blog to admire the wonderful projects and visit the elves' workshops. Enjoy!

Friday Night Sew-In

Arriving just in time for FNSI was this needle threader which I ordered from Sandy at Cookies and Cream Craft. I've been having so much trouble threading needles ... no more try, try, try again!

Now on with the stitching. Paula at Quilt Happy, Quilt Often has been sharing a BOM titled 'Home Sweet Home'. Here is block 10 'O' finished ... just 2 more letters to go and it will be ready to make up into a lovely wall hanger for my home. Fatique from a busy week was setting in so it was time for bed next.

I have had the fortune to be a lucky winner for FNSI and the mailman delivered this lovely prize to my mailbox this week too :o) Yipee! I'm going to have fun with these.

A big thankyou to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting this monthly cyber get-together and making Friday night's more special.

Monday Show & Tell

Just one little finish for the last week. I purchased the kit for this little Japanese Kimino purse at the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Exhibition.

I'm very happy to report that this kit did not end up as others have gone before ... into a safe keeping place still waiting to be made up.  My little purse has already been put to good use over the weekend as my jewelery keeper when we attended my brother's wedding.

Progress has also been made on block 12 of my BOM and today I'm being a good girl and working on some bookwork with the intention of 'keeping up' this quarter instead of playing catch up :)

Happy Monday

UFO Thursday ... It's Off the Frame!

Promise you won't look too close because I still haven't ironed out the 'bump' in the tracks ... and then there were tension issues ... but 'Citrus Splash' is quilted and off the frame.

The wind was playing with my photo session so this is the best shot I could get. I've quilted a large daisy in each of the 16 blocks and a scroll type design in the borders. While far from perfect I'm happy with the process and now all I need is lots and lots and lots of practice.

Top made end of 2006

Quilted November 2011

Now to tie off the threads and get a binding on.  I would love your opinions on when to add the binding. Do you sew the binding on to the front now and then trim the batting/backing or do you trim before sewing the binding? I've done it both ways but prefer to trim first.

Sandy @ Cookies and Cream Craft hosts UFO Thursday and has also been working on her UFO ... pop over and say hello.

Show and Tell Monday

Just a couple of things to share with you on this Monday for show and Tell hosted by Sandy @ Cookies and Cream Craft

A trip to spotlight and some more skeins of thread meant I could finish  Month 7 - Block 11 for Because I Said So BOM.

 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'

Last week at patchwork I was able to trace the sayings and prep the fabric for Month 8, blocks 12, 13 and 14 ... lots of stitching and applique about to take place.

There's also been a little more Christmas sewing happening and 2 more mug rugs are finished ready to wrap. Sorry...only a sneak peak here.

A stroll around my garden this morning and this is what I found in full bloom.

Sunbake anyone?  These two found a rare patch of green grass and decided to soak up some sunshine.

Happy Monday

November Goals ~ October Wrap-up

Well here we are, the 1st of November ... and Melbourne Cup Day. The one horse race of the year that I get a little excited about. I'll be watching it at home on the TV and of course I can't just sit and do nothing so there will be some sort of sewing going on. What do you have planned?

 

So on with my goals for October ... I'm happy enough with what I achieved and if it didn't get finished it simply rolls over to November ... no pressure!

 

October Goals 

 

Month 6 of Because I Said So BOM

Month 7 of Because I Said So BOM

(almost finished - ran out of embroidery thread)

Letter 'H' of Home Sweet Home BOM

SSCS gifts made and wrapped

(these will also be for 1 Xmas Item)

Quilting done on UFO Citrus quilt (started)

Quilting done on brother's quilt

Finish half knitted scarf
1" Hexi Flowers for Inchy Swap

GST/BAS (tax) for the quarter

 

November Goals

 

Because I Said So BOM ~ Month 7

Because I Said So BOM ~ Month 8

1" Hexi Flowers for Inchy Swap

Quilting of UFO Citrus quilt

Quilting of brother's birthday quilt

Home Sweet Home BOM ~ letter 'O'

Red/Silver Ruffle Scarf

One Christmas Item a Month

 

From my garden this week ...

 

UFO Thursday ... Bumps in the Road

There is no shortage of UFO's at my place ... just the time and inspiration to work on them. This top was a stack and wack I pieced 5 years ago and it was about time I got to the quilting. My first quilt loaded on the frame and ready to go but .... here's the first bump in the road.

When I'm quilting there is a little bump somewhere in the track and my quilting goes crooked. Needless to say there has been some un-sewing happening so I need to find that bump. Sandy hosts UFO Thursday over at Cookies and Cream Craft so pop over, say hi and see what else is happening this Thursday.

Here is the second bump in the road. On my way to patchwork yesterday morning this is what I found ... heavy enough but I managed to drag it off the road.

Some more hexie flowers blossomed yesterday but I can't show them just yet. I've added some October Christmas Items to the page above also ... you might like to check out what everyone has been creating. Now back to that quilting.

One Xmas Item and Some Buys

Oh dear, I thought I had another day up my sleeve but today is the 25th in Aus. I quickly put the finishing touch on this little hexie ornament and it's all done.

I finally gave in to Mug Rugs and made this little Tis The Season stitchery into one last week.

How did everyone else go this month with an item ready for Christmas?  It's a great feeling to know that my handmade goodies are ready and waiting to go to their new homes or decorate my home this Christmas. This challenge has been made all the more enjoyable for me knowing crafty elves are sewing along together ... thankyou :o)

On Saturday my alarm went off at 3.45am to travel by bus to Brisbane for the Craft and Quilt Exhibition.  We had a great day made all the more special because I got to meet up with Jeanette. After a lovely chat over a coffee, we went our separate ways to browse, buy, and oooh and aaaah over all the gorgeous quilts.

I was very good and only bought a couple of things although there is always that item you didn't buy but wished you had. Guess I'll just have to go back again next year. This glittery ball of red wool with metalic should make me two scarves ... I'm hooked on scarves.

Mum and I had hoped to attend the workshop for this little Japanese purse but it had filled quick smart so the kit came home with me. I bought another clasp incase I make a second and also bought a couple of fat 1/4's.

On the way down we stopped at a park in Gympie for a quick breakfast where this swan family was also enjoying some breakfast.

Arriving home after 10.30pm we had a quick cuppa, a little show and tell and crawled into bed just after midnight. Phew! But well worth it!

There's much to do in the garden ... can you see the busy buzzy bee?

Happy Sewing