I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Look what I found in my mailbox yesterday ... my very own piece of White Christmas!


The lovely Shiree of kiwifruit-shiree made this adorable little quilt for the Four Seasons Holiday Swap and sent it on it's way to my house. I'd asked for some snow at Christmas ... isn't it just perfect. Hanging proudly on my lounge wall, I can't help but smile everytime a walk past.



How cute is that tree? And can you see the garland along the eves?
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Thankyou to Shiree for making my festive season 'snowy' and for the cute tree ornaments already hanging on my tree.
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Thankyou to Margaret for yet another fantastic swap. I'm excited to now own a quilt for each of the four seasons and hope to hang them all together.
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Wishing you both a loving, festive season.

There's A Bear in There

Some lovely friends have commented on Teddy in my header ...

so here he is in all his finery.

"Teddy in a Tangle" is a Liz Stanway design and my choice for my Four Seasons Holiday Swap which has safely arrived at Andrea's home in Germany. He was so much fun to make, especially the baubles. His fur will keep him warm through a white Christmas ... it was getting a little hot for him here is Aus.

Happy Holidays

Happy Easter and Reveals

First of all, Happy Easter to one and all. May your Easter break be spent with loved ones.
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Now I can reveal the Easter Basket in my header. It's a Bronwyn Hayes (Red Brolly) pattern that I purchased while on our shopping trip in January.
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Thankyou to the lovely Julie who organized this Easter Swap at the end of last year. I thought that this little basket with an easter theme would make a lovely gift for Lurline. I also added a few other goodies . . . choc eggs of course . . . a little flower tape measure and a wrist pincushion which I found the instructions for here. You'll need to scroll down to Sunday Sept 14.

I hope I wasn't too cheeky displaying it as my header pic before it found it's new home.
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Meanwhile, these lovely tweets . . . treats . . . arrived in my mailbox all the way from Mel.

The cute chicken is my dining table centre piece, the ribbon is stashed and those Debbie Mumm garden gloves and way to pretty to dirty in the garden. I'll be showing those off while I'm machine quilting at our next patchwork day.

Also, wrapped very carefully was this fancy bird feeder. Thanks Mel, and happy easter.

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Last but not least, I can now reveal my monochromatic quilt for the 4SQS5. A special treat for me as the recipient was my good friend Kerry. I was a bit naughty by pointing out to her, other lovely quilts on various blogs, suggesting that this one or that one could be making their way to her. All the while secretly making this one for her. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it for you.

I must thank Margaret for her patience as illness had me running behind the deadline. However I was able to hand deliver so that saved some time not relying on mailing.

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I have also been able to complete the first block of Red Delicious and have the second block ready for hand sewing at night. Pictures next post. I'm off to crank up the vacuum cleaner for some long overdue housework.

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Happy Sewing

Back with Photos

Everything is back to normal, in the computer department anyway. All it needed was a good clean on the insides apparently so hope it's all good from here on.

So now I can upload pics from the camera again, here is the lovely Autumn Wall Hanging I received from Janey.

In her parcel she included some sweet fabrics . . .

some sweet chickens - marshmellow, yummm . . .

a sweet kitty notepad and a copy of American Patchwork & Quilting. Of course I've already picked out a couple of patterns from the magazine to add to my to do list.

Thankyou Janey for a wonderful treat and thankyou to Margaret for once again organizing an excellent swap.

And here is a finish from me. This log cabin quilt was finished last Saturday but between sick computers and a hectic lifestyle at the moment, I've only now got the time to show it off.

Now off to the sewing machine while I have a spare moment.

Happy Sewing

Lucky Me

Still here, just heaps going on and not enough time as usual. This is just a quick post to brag about some mail I received.

Last Friday my first parcel of Birthday Fat 1/4's arrived from Jeni of With Needle and Thread. They are absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to start planning a project.

Then Monday when I went up to the mail box on dusk in my dressing gown in the wind and showery rain from Cyclone Hamish, another parcel snuggly fitted in the mail box. My 4SQS from the very clever Janey of Sew Stylish. I absolutely adore it and can't stop admiring it. I now have three of the four seasons and I've decided to hang them all on one rod and display them in my lounge room. Hopefully sometime down the track I'll be lucky enough to acquire the fourth season. Janey added a few extras in her parcel so I'm feeling very lucky at the moment.

Sorry no pictures for now. Unfortunately my main computer is down, and I'm not sure of how to load pictures from my camera to this computer so pictures will have to wait. If you click here you can see the photos Janey has taken of the 4SQS.

Happy Sewing

Summer Quilt Safe and Sound

I had an email today from Grace with some good news. Her Four Seasons Summer Quilt finally arrived and she's very happy. I've been visiting her blog regularly and they've had no end of rain so hopefully it will bring a little sunshine her way.

For a lovely green/yellow colourway, visit http://craftygiveaways.blogspot.com. She has some to giveaway.

I'm lucky enough to have a small tv in the sewing room so I can catch up on blogs while waiting for the games to begin. Don't know if I'll still be up when the Aussies enter the stadium, it's been a long week.

Quilting Wishes

Another Finish for Peg's Challenge

I'm cutting it fine but July's not over till it's over. My Summer Swap Quilt is finished, in the post, and on it's way to .........


This pic shows the front and backing fabric. I'll post a couple more photos once I know it has reached it's destination. I hope _____ enjoys it as much as I did making it.



Carolyn at Ohio Quilter's Journey asks "What do you do for inspiration??" I'd have to say that Peg's challenge has helped, nothing like a deadline to keep you keen. Pay Carolyn a visit and let her know where your inspriation comes from. She has a great giveaway to go with it.

Each time I've packed up my chenille bag stuff to go sewing, something spoils the plan. This time it was all the rain but I will not complain about rain. We had 100ml (4 inches), more than enough to make our road to town impassible. Slippery mud and flooded creeks. Today is 'project 1' time (in between catching up on all the washing ~ sunshine today) but I've still got a couple more days to make some progress at least on the bag.

Next Friday (fingers crossed) I'm going to visit the Bundaberg Quilters Exhibition. After work first of course, but I'll still get at least 3 hours there. I've been writing up my shopping list and saving pennies, can't wait!

Quilting Wishes

Summer Quilt Arrival

Fantastic Friday strikes again. I made it to patchwork not only with DD joining us but my mum as well. It was great to catch up with the ladies again, and I made good progress with my embroidery, caught up on any news, had a couple of cuppas and then on to Bundaberg to pick up DS for the weekend.

When we arrived home around 6.30pm the mailman had left a parcel in the mailbox. Yippee!!

Raced home, unloaded the car (wasn't too much) and then opened the mail to find this bright and cheery little number .......

I'm still excited and I'm such a lucky duck. Autumn Moon included these other goodies with my quilt as well as a bundle of Moda fabric squares and a couple of postcards. I've already added a couple of projects from the mag to my wish list.

It's a privilege to be part of such a wonderful group of people and I look forward to the next swap and meeting new quilters.

DD has also had her first finish. She hand stitched the binding on her mug mat so that's one down and counting.

Last but not least Peg sent me this in an email. How cool. I have to admit I'm a little worried that the end of July is closing in and it's back to work next week. But today is another cold, overcast day so back to the sewing.Quilting Wishes

Summer Swap Peak and Flowers

I'm back and faster than ever. Sadly my old computer was just TOO old and there was nothing that could be done for it so I had to juggle the budget and buy a new tower. I'm still using my old monitor, speakers etc.

Here's just a little sneak peak at my summer swap quilt. I'm currently doing some embroidery on it and then it's ready to sandwich and quilt.

I've also completed the top for project 1 and ready to sandwich and quilt. Today I plan to get the binding on the rest of the mug mats ready for some hand sewing at night so everything is coming along for finish 5 by end July. More work on the chenille bag is scheduled for Friday (fingers crossed).

You can tell that I'm one of those who have multiple projects on the go all at once instead of completeing one and then going on.

This photo was taken on my mobile phone. One of my mother's pride and joys, bougainvillea. She has a row of pots with different coloured flowers.

It's another cold and blustery day today with showers, perfect for staying indoors and sewing.

Quilting Wishes

Spring Quilt News

I received an email from Gabriele yesterday to say that she has received her Spring Quilt from me. As I only posted it last Monday, I was surprised but relieved that she had received it. So now I can post a picture of it.

I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Four Seasons Quilt Swap. I love my new quilt from Nancy and loved making one for someone else. The element of surprise is delicious.

I managed some sewing over the weekend. As well as working on a border for a group project, I managed to make the tops of 8 "mug mats" from Tazzie's pattern. Now to get them finished for Mothers' Day. Photos once they are finished I think.

Spring Is Here, Woohoo!

Actually we're in the middle of Autumn here but Spring was in my mailbox yesterday. How excited was I after being at work all day, driving 40 minutes to get home and there it was in the mailbox. A parcel all the way from Ohio. I drove the 2km to the house, rushed inside and opened the parcel to find this gorgeous quilt made by the lovely Nancy. I'm still beeming. It was nearly dark by then so I had to wait till this arvo to take a photo and show it off. (Mine will be ready to post Monday.)





The photo doesn't show up her clever hand embroidery.

I'm so pleased it was possible to join the Four Seasons Quilt Swap. Nancy's quilt will be taking pride of place in the sewing room which is also where the computer lives, and help brighten the place up.

More happy news, Gina has joined the PIF fun. I now have one spot left so who wants to be lucky last.

We have our local Agricultural Show this Saturday. It has everything from working dogs, show dogs, horse events, rodeo, pony club, woodchop, and sideshow alley. They always have an excellent display of cookery, craft, flowers, produce, photography and artworks in the pavillion. I only have a couple of entries as everything I've made lately has been a gift and the roses have been deglected but there's always next year.

Pay It Forward Friends

I'm tickled pink that Nancy has joined my PIF. I still have openings if anyone else would like to play along.

My Spring Quilt is coming along nicely. The border is on, just have to finish handsewing it down and then some embelishing. Here's a sneak peak. (Sorry about the shadow)

I spent the weekend in the sewing room which also happens to be the dumping room for anything else that doesn't have a home. Great progress was made with a good load for the real dump, and other things finally finding homes. I also purchased this bookshelf and six containers.

As you might be able to see, one has leftover wool and the other five are ready and waiting to be filled. That won't be a problem. I intend to purchase another bookshelf this week before they run out. It feels so good to get things tidy but keeping it that way is another challenge.