My lovely SSCS gift....

 What a lovely time I had on Christmas Day opening my SSCS gift. Kaaren had made these gorgeous pillow cases for me with beautiful redwork stitcheries and a crocheted trim......really pretty. I will need to find a special time to use these. Here is a closer look at Kaaren's super-neat stitching......just so perfectly worked....

I just love this gift, Kaaren, and I thank you heaps......also thanks to the Chookyblue Christmas Elf for organising the swap in her usual super-dooper organising fashion......this was my very first Christmas swap....so much fun.....how many days till next year????....lol....

My family and I are on holidays at the beach at the moment and I have some lovely photos off my son's new camera (Xmas pressie)....needless to say we have every moment of Xmas on record...well what else happens when you give a 10yo boy a camera!!!!!!

So I will have some photos to share when I work out how to transfer them to the daughters laptop!!!.....I am posting this from her laptop so I am crossing fingers as I hit the 'post' button right now!!!...lol.....hope you are all enjoying the holiday season......

Secret Santa Christmas Swap.........

.........I was doing a big happy dance yesterday when I popped into the PO on the way home..........

..........How exciting to see a parcel from Canada!!!!!.....My SSCS parcel had arrived.........

Trying hard not to poke and press this one too much, as I am NOT ALLOWED to open this one till Christmas Day!!!!!.....what torture, but I will look forward to this special surprise as I don't often get too many surprises for myself.........

I was however ALLOWED by the Chookyblue Elf (she's the special elf who has organised this swap and set the rules!!) to open the accompanying gift, or should I say gift S......thankyou Kaaren, you have spoilt me with many gifts, and I love them all........look at this absolutely stunning ornament for the tree......so cleverly folded....

.......but wait there's more!!!!!....check it all out.........chocolate from Canada....yum!!!...gotta hide this from the 11yo son!!!!!.........and a lovely pen which I am closely guarding so the 15yo daughter doesn't take off with it!!!......a really cute bobbin decoration , and a needle holder purse made from lovely red/black fabric....

Aren't I the lucky one......I love them all, Kaaren, thanks so much.....

I hope everyone out there is getting festive in spirit, and planning some special times with family and friends this season.......

A Secret Santa Christmas Swap............

I was delighted to post off this special little gift today. I joined in Chookyblue's fun of a Secret Santa swap this year, my very first swap like this........I post to someone overseas, and someone else from overseas posts to me!!!!.........

............Soooooo...........I wonder where this is going?????????...........and who is to get to open it on Xmas Day???????????......That's right......it must sit under the Chrissy Tree till THE day!!!!....such temptation!!!....

  

                             .........Oh, and I nearly forgot, this parcel has a littler friend...........

........and inside is a little Christmas something that can be opened as soon as the parcel arrives.....phew!!!.....that may satisfy the 'pressie opening' urge for a time!!!!

I hope you are enjoying the start of the Christmas Season at your home.

Our family will spend this Christmas in real Aussie style, at our caravan at the beach, BBQing, surfing, canoeing, beach walking, reading, socialising, etc, etc

How will you spend your Christmas?

There's been a lot of talk about thread..........

As all the Stitch-Along ladies begin their needleturn blocks for the latest quilt, Some Kind of Wonderful, there's beeen a bit of debate over the thread to use and why..........

I have enjoyed doing needleturn applique for some time now, and was always an avid Guterman cotton only woman, mainly because of the old argument that the thread type (cotton) should match the fabric type for similar wear and tear qualities. I did find though that cotton thread is not as strong as I would have liked and I did learn of an alternative, which I reluctantly tried (I say reluctantly because it is a polyester thread and it didn't match my cotton theory!!!)  But one try and I was in love with it..........I justify allowing a polyester thread on my needleturn quilts this way.. 

 1..... a needleturn quilt of mine won't hit the washing machine on a weekly basis, so I'm not so worried about the fabrics wearing at varying rates                                                   

2......the stitches are completely invisible, and my work in turn looks more professional                                    3..... the thread is strong and does not fray to nothing as I work with it 

4......it is cheaper as the thread is sold as bobbins so I can have many smaller amounts of lots of colours for variety, which is really essential for applique

........so you may ask what is it called??????.......

It is from the Superior Threads range, more particularly their Bottomline Polyester thread......a 60weight thread (fine), and you can buy it like this..........

 ....it's called a Superbobs Donut....how cool is that???????.........

......every colour to suit.................................

Just ask me in the comments and I can let you know where I got mine and how much I payed.......as the saying goes....."I think it's the best thing since sliced bread!!!!!!".

Oh and I have made a start on my first block, the patty cakes.....here's the proof.........

Anyway, I hope this may be of help to some of you as you gather everyone's ideas in order to make your own decision on the issue of thread............

I hope you are all keeping your hands busy with fabric........

Another new project........and some secret sewing...sshh!!!.....

Having just finished my lovely Christmas quilt Tis the Season by Natalie Bird with heaps of other sewers as a Stitch-a-long, I have decided to join in again. It was so much fun to see how everyone kitted up their quilts, and added their own little touches to theirs....I learnt so much.......

Well the quilt we're all embarking on this time is by my all-time favourite designer, Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched, so I am extremely excited to be involved in this one. We are making My Favourite Things from Anni's latest book Some Kind of Wonderful (SKofW). At this stage lots of ladies are showing their fabric choices, and I find it so much fun to see all the variations of choice.....see all the fun here....

I have recently hopped on a bus trip to the Craft Fair in Brisbane for the day armed with my wish list, and highest on the list was to choose my fabrics for this quilt.........

...........of course when in doubt, just buy them all, and decide later!!!!!!!.............that's the theory I applied anyway!!!!........

...........I had pulled a few creams and beiges from my stash for the backgrounds, so I only grabbed a couple of newys whilst shopping.......here they are all laid out......I love playing with fabric bundles!!!......

I am now keen to begin but I have a higher priority at present which is also very exciting.....but it is a secret affair.....sshh......can't show yet.....I have joined Chookyblues Christmas swap, and it's a Secret Santa so I have been sworn to secrecy........what I can tell you is that my gift will be sent to someone in another country, and I should receive a present from another country!!!!.....how exciting.....and we can't open them till Xmas day!!!!!..........delightful surprise it will be.......

...NOT a kit this time....woo hoo....

I so often see a quilt I love and lack the confidence to think I can choose the fabrics to have the same effect as the one I admire so much, but recently inspired by Bec's Butterfly Garden, and a local friends progress on hers (yes you, Trish!!!), I wanted to make it myself. I decided I would take the plunge and buy the fabrics, resisting purchasing a kit. .....So.....in Sydney at the Craft Fair, with Mum's help we picked out

(or more like agonised over!!!!) a range of fabrics.........

......here's the result when I had a play with them yesterday, and laid out the first block..........

...............I am extremely pleased with the result...........

.......what do you think???..........so soft and pretty with the butterflies standing out.....just as I pictured it....

You wouldn't believe how looong it took me 'playing' to choose the fabrics etc.....but what fun it was......

I have my templates all ready, bags made up for all 9 blocks with some fabrics already slotted into them to provide some balance across the quilt....
...........soo much fun.........I can see lots more of this fabric play from my sewing room....I'm turning my back on the kit idea I think....
.....I CAN do it......yey........
Have you been playing with fabric in your sewing space???????

I'm still here!!!....and I have some sewing to show you.....

It has been too long since I was here last sending you sewing updates from my farm....I was struck down with yet another virussy thing....bring on summer is all I can say.........

I have been busy working on several projects......and ......wait for it......

I have a FINISH !!!!!.......Yes it's true, and here's the piccie proof...........

........My Tis The Season Christmas quilt by Natalie Bird is ready for the silly season ..........I have made this quilt along with many other ladies in a stitch-a-long organised by my good friend, Chookyblue.

......I hand quilted in perle thread around the darker borders, and I'm thrilled with the effect.......

....but wait there's more........My stack of paper pieced circles of thimbles is growing, and I've appliqued a few to the background fabric. I am loving the relaxing nature of this hand sewing......

Oh, and recently I had an amazing weekend in Nundle at a retreat with the lovely Kerry at Cottage on the Hill........It was a blast, loads of laughs etc, but we were also very productive....
I chose a more complex quilt top (typical me!!!!), and so I brought mine home for homework. Well this week I got it out and had fun on the machine piecing some more rows.

It is coming along nicely, but rather slow going for a "perfect points" lady such as I am!!!! There are lots of star points to get right, and I might add that a little of the reverse sewing has occurred in a few spots to make sure I can live with it!!!!.......But you must agree, Kerry's design is lovely and hers was the fabric choice too....I saw it, loved it and that became my weekend project......

This quilt will be gifted to my Mum, lucky she doesn't blog, so I can keep it a surprise.....she loves repro fabrics, and these colours are 'just her'.

Lots on my plate at present......I am going for an accreditation at work, and the process is doing my head in....also making preparations  for overseas family visiting shortly..........but amongst it all I find my sewing is a must to keep me grounded, and I always make time to fit it in....it provides a balance and  makes the rest cruise better....

I hope you are busy at your craft........

A start on Paper Piecing......

You may remember that I kind-of brought home everything (and I mean everything!! lol), that a girl needs to start some English paper piecing when I was at the craft fair in Sydney in June...

Well I had purchased a pattern, and decided recently to embark into these unknown waters.

As the hexxie bug hit the sewing world, everyone warned me I'd get hooked, and I have only one thing to say to all those well-meaning ladies..."you jinxed me" !!!!....'cause I am DEFINITELY hooked, but not on hexagons....I'm hooked on thimbles, and here's the proof......

....aren't they sweet????.....

.........I just so love fabric, and this is really a lovely relaxing way to play with fabric yumminess........

I'll show you what these circles will become in a little while, although anyone into paper piecing will already have guessed I'm sure!!!

Well all new projects need a way to transport and store them, so I had a play with some lovely linen-like fabrics I picked up in Sydney, and created a project bag from Anni's newest book, Some Kind of Wonderful.

........and then I quickly filled it with all the paper piecing necessities...........

.........Just perfect.......

I hope you have all been busy with your crafty projects.........

Sewing Room Makeover

I am so very blessed this last week to have had a few lovely cupboards fitted in my sewing room (also used for scrapbooking, and the household office).

...........Here are the before and after piccies....

..............................BEFORE...................................

How messy is that! Really just a mish-mash of whatever furniture was left over from the rest of the house.....
...............................NOW...............Ta-Da..................... THE AFTER...............................

....................and after a little bit of 'playing' the insides of the cupboards look like THIS....................

.............well for a day or so, until I actually use them!!!!! Ha Ha................

Now I have a place for all my 'stuff' and it is a real dream..........and I have plenty of workable workspace too. I will have my sewing machine on a table on the other side of the room.......I'l have piccies of that when I finally get around to making some sense out or the sheer mess on the other side of the room!!!!

So I have been a busy girl, emptying out the room in readiness for the kitchen man. Now I still have stuff in piles around the house that I don't want to clutter my new room with!!!! Aarghh....there's always too much gear when you're a hoarder like me!!!!   So, I now need to sort out other cupboards in the house to fit the overflow.....it's like the domino effect; one job leads to another......so I'd better keep moving on it, so I can find the time to use my new room for some creativity.......

Oh, and I think I need some curtains and pretty things around, so that's a new project to add to the list...

I hope you're having a lovely weekend........

So Very Generous...

Recently I admired some gorgeous key fobs here, and asked Peg if she would share with me how to make one

.......and this was her reply........

Aren't they just lovely. I have only met Peg once, at Girls Day in The Country at Nundle earlier in the year, and we have been communicating via our blogs since then.

Thankyou  Peg, I love them both, and now I'll think of you each time I dive into my bag for my keys......

Don't you love the gorgeous fabric wrapping 'paper', all tied with a bow....this is MY kind of mail!!!...

Hugs and kisses to you Peg, hope you're having a lovely weekend....

Retreat weekend.....

Oh wow!!!. I am just landing back on this earth (after a whole week!!) following an absolutely fun and fantastic time, as well as productive too (of course), at a 2 day retreat hosted by the lovely Kerry at Cottage on the Hill at Nundle NSW last weekend.

 .................busy girls.........sew, sew, sewing away...........

.........Kerry's lovely shop in the background....it was like sewing in heaven.......lol......

This is my first ever sewing retreat, and only one of very few times I have taken my Pfaff to sew outside my home, and I am hooked now....nothing like some company while you sew, and Kerry is the Queen of help and shortcuts. I learnt so many tricks....thankyou Kerry.

.......Kerry at the cutting board.....what an amazing lady.....she cuts all your fabric and you are left to spend your time sewing........you get very spoilt here.........

After visiting Kerry's shop on Friday and choosing our quilts and fabrics, Kerry turns it all into this pile of yumminess overnight....like the "Fabric Fairy" she is...lol....

.......this is what awaited me on Sat morning.........

........During the weekend, the piles became these flying geese units and 4 patch blocks.....

....and eventually, I joined some together to create these stars, the beginning of Kerry's own design called 1800's Star Quilt, with these lovely Civil War fabrics.

....and here's some of the other quilts created by the other girls over the weekend.....all so varied and in various stages of development.......enjoy........

.......there's a couple of ladies missing from these piccies...there were 11 of us all together.......

....and of course, we had to eat!!!!....and consume beverages!!!!....lol........

.......evenings went something like this.....happy hour at our cabins, a short stroll to the hotel for dinner (extremely chilly dash really!!!), a lovely meal, loads of laughs, great stories, a few drinkies, and then a very brisk stroll back to the cabins for some sewing........

Please don't ask me to confess what culinary delights Kerry created for us during the day.....there was cheesecake, scones, chocolatey delicious something....etc, etc.....Tuscan meatballs, spinach and fetta rolls, cous cous salad......oh dear, I did ask you not to tell....I really broke the diet....!!!

All in all it was a fantastic time, a year's dose of laughter therapy in one weekend, and I have now made some very special friends, and enjoyed the further company of some special ladies who had already found a place in my heart from earlier meeting times. I remain forever grateful to the wonderful friendliness of Chookyblue who extended the invite for me to join her for the weekend.....an amazing lady....

.....speaking of amazing ladies.........I am off to take some piccies of a very special parcel that came home from the PO Box with me yesterday....handmade gift from a very generous someone....

.......

I hope you are having a great weekend, enjoying some special times.....

A Lovely Doll Quilt

I have recently been involved in a fun doll quilt swap organised by Christine. I was partnered with a lady called Bonnie in America, which made the swap kind of exciting to know my little quilt would be flying all the way to the U.S., and I would receive a quilt in the mail from there........

.......Well the mail arrived.......

.......A gorgeous doll quilt, and Bonnie added some extra treats for me......

Her hand quilting is so lovely.....thankyou Bonnie....I love it.........