Final Finish for 2009!

This bag is my last finish for 2009.I hope to be able to use it next year to take as my shopping bag when I do my Christmas shopping.I'm sure I'll feel very festive everytime I use it and I think it's soooo much nicer than one of those green reusable bags...don't you think?

More Christmas Basket gifts.....

Today I've been working on a few draw string bags for my neices Kayla and Sarah and my great neice Connie.Over the coming year I'll be buying little bits and bobs to fill up these bags to suit the individual girls ages,likes and dislikes.I've also personalised each bag with their initials.I just neeed to buy some cord for the ties and they're finished.
Hopefully by next Christmas they'll be over-flowing with goodies.

My Christmas box is starting to fill up....

I thought I'd start making Christams gifts early for next year and put aside in a special handmade Christams basket.I took photo's of these projects that I've been working on over the last couple of days and have now found their new home in it.
The red and white mini cushion I made using the scraps from the Valentine Pennie Pockets I've been working on.
The mini handbag I made by using up the leftover charm squares I'd used for my sewing machine mat and cover,then I used the leftover strips from the bag to make up the mini cushion to go with it.I've been trying to use what's in my stash and I think I succeeded with these two proects.
Hopefully by November next year the basket will be over flowing and I may need to buy another basket???? Here's hopeing!

Valentine Pennie Pockets

Finally I've managed to make one of these up.I fell in love with these pockets when I saw them on the Moda bake site but until now haven't had a chance to cut out the material let alone have enough time to make one up!! Today I had a cutting marathon and cut out enough for eight of thses Pennie Pockets but couldn't wait to finish one to see how it looked all made up.I think it turned out really well so tomorrow I'll hopefully make up the rest and put them in my "Handmade" Christmas box ready for Christmas gifts in 2010.
I know,I know it's waaaay to early to be thinking of Christmas but hey what can I say,I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! hehehehe.

Quick Christmas swap......Thanks Lyn

I joined in a quick Christams swap a little while back and my partner has received what I sent her and was very happy with what I'd sent her (thank goodness)These delightful goodies are what I received from my very generous partner Lyn.I think I've been spoilt and even my baby "Belle" was spoilt with a mat for her food bowls and munchies to keep her happy for quite a while!! Thanks Lyn I hope you enjoyed this swap as much as I have.
I'll also apologise to you Lyn for not posting earlier but with Christmas fast approaching and migraines nearly every day I haven't been up to facing my computer screen for too long at a time.So belated thanks for a wonderful surprise and I hope you and your family "Digger" included of course have a safe and happy Christmas and a fantastic new year.

Hexagon Swap....no:5

I am soooo enjoying making these hexies.They are so quick and easy to make up after you've made a couple of them.
The sheep hexie covered in fairy lights is the one I received from my swap partner Vicki and the flower stitchery is the one I made for Vicki using one of my own designs.The only thing she asked me to do was make my border a yellow fabric so she had a good sellection of borders to mix and match her hexies when she eventually puts them together which I was happy to do for her.
I can't wait to put my hexies all together and see how they look........hopefully in time for Christmas next year???

Quick Christams swap

Theese are the lovely goodies I received from Carol in the " Quick Christmas swap" I participated in.She also sent my baby Belle some doggy treats.We have both been spoilt rotten!
Thanks Carol for being my swap partner and I hope you enjoyed the goodies I sent to you as much as I've enjoyed receiving mine.

A gift for Christmas....finished!

I've had the top of this cushion sitting in a basket for over a month now waiting for me to put a back on it and today was the day! I used one of Jenny's "Shabby Roses" block for the centre stitchery panel and then worked the borders around it.
Keely's room is pink,white with a hint of green so I've tried to tie the cushion colour scheme with her bedroom.I hope she likes it....if she doesn't it's coming home with me!!!

What I've been working on ....

These are a few of the things I've been working on over the last couple of weeks in-between making all those library bags.I finished of blocks 9 of the "tisket a tasket tweleve months of baskets" BOM I've been doing as well as blocks 9 & 10 of the "Shabby Roses" BOM.
I certainly haven't been idle as I also put together the front of a Christmas cushion.I've had the embroidery done for a few weeks now sitting in my to finish off pile.The pattern is by Leanne Beasley and I just love how it's turned out.
I still need to put the back on it and then it's another finish for this girl.I'll be keeping this cushion as I don't have many Chrissy ones....I seem to give away a lot of the things I make so I made an executive decision and decided that this one was for me and no-one else!!

Wooo Hoooo.... 27 finishes!!!

Finally finished the 27th library bag last night after working all day and night on them!! All that needs to be done is to sew up the openings in each bag lining and I'll start on those today while watching a DVD.I'll have them done in no time then comes the gift wrapping next weekend if I've finished sewing up all the openings.....wish me luck!

Alda's Angel Swap has arrived!!

My Angel has finally received her parcel I sent nearly 2 weeks ago so now I can post a photo of what I sent to her.

BOY! I was getting a bit worried thinking I'd written the address wrong or it had gotten lost in the mail so PHEW.... I can relax now.

Alda says she loves everything so that's another big PHEW... I always worry if the stuff I make is good enough to give to other people,isn't that the way.You never think your stuff's up to scratch no matter how many times people say they love it.

Thanks Alda for being my partner and being so patient in waiting for it to get to you.

fifteen down.....twelve to go!

This is what I've been working on in-between swaps and work.There are a total of 27 children heading off to school next year and I decided to make all of them library bags.Most of them I've known since they were babies and I couldn't let the signifigance of this pass without a gift for their new venture....School!!
I still have 12 to finish off and I'll be doing this over the next couple of weeks.
I'll be giving these bags out at the Children's Christmas party we hold each year (the second week in December) so wish me luck,I just may need it to get them all done in time!!

Hexagon Swap....no.4

I've been a bit behind in posting these hexie photo's.The crazy patchwork one was made for me by Natalie. and I love it!!! I've nevere seen crazy quilting up close before and she's done such a lovely job.

The hand appliqued one is the one I made for Natalie.I was under instructions to use certain soft colours with one stipulation that were not to be too wishy washy.

I am so loving making these hexies!!Thanks Natalie for being my swap partner!!

PIF.....THANKS MILLIE!

This arrived in the mail last week and only now have been able to post about it as I've been so gobsmacked I didn't know what to say besides a big THANK YOU!
Millie must have been reading my blog as she's made me this gorgeous quilt in diferent reds and white and I LOVE IT! and as it was totally unexpected I was unprepared when I unwrapped it to find even more goodies in the shape of an applique book and an incense burner thingy.I have been thoroughly spoiled by Millie and still all I can still say is a big THANK YOU to Millie for this gorgeous PIF gift.If you get the chance pop over and check out Millies blog (Millies quilting,on my side bar) as she does some amazing things on it.

Angel Swap has arrived!!

Finally I've been able to take photo's of my gorgeous handmade items sent by "Isabella" from the Netherlands.This parcel of goodies was like a lucky dip and every new parcel brought forth lovely handmade goodness and a few little extras that Isabella included with the swap.

Isabella sent me a lovely handmade journal with my initial appliqued onto it with a felt flower in the corner as well as a little scissor case with the cutest tiny scissors inside and a heart shaped needle caes that opens out like a flower.How beautiful are they!!
Isabella also included some bits and bobs with my swap items.A skein of tuti fruiti thread and boy does it smell yummy,also some pretty green and white beads and some novelty buttons.

All I can say is a big THANK YOU Isabella!! I love them all and I hope the angel who is sending to you is as thoughtful and generous with their handmade lovelies as you have been to me.

Gail Pan's "A Christmas Wish" BOM....Another finish.

When I finished my Christmas Cards BOM quilt in the previous post it got me motivated to finish Gail Pan's BOM I'd been working on .The only thing stopping me from completing it was the fabric choices I needed to make for the last two borders.When my sister Anne came around on Friday to sit and sew with me I discussed my dilemma with her and when she left I'd decided on what I wanted to do.A little while later Anne returned after picking her children up from school to drop something of to me.....the fabric I needed to finish my borders raided from her own stash.She chose exactly the fabrics I would have chosen.The stipes and spots just suited the quilt beautifully.
Soooo Saturday I cut up the strips for both borders and the binding strips and Sunday I sewed like mad and put both borders on!!
I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE how it's turned out and if my big sis is reading this blog a very BIG THANK YOU from your little sis for all your help and support!!!

Christmas Cards BOM.....five years on and it's finally together!

This quilt has been laguishing as finished applique blocks for over five years now just waiting to be put together and when I recently had a clean up in my sewing room I bit the bullet and started catalogueing how many UFO's I had(Truthfully)and had to hang my head in shame.But wait!!! I had a reason....I started full-time work around that time and just couldn't seem to find the time to put them all together hence the many UFO's hiding in my many hidy spots.....out of sight out of mind is my motto but no more!!! I'm going to be slowly but surely going through this humungus pile of UFO's and either finishing them off or giving them away to new homes where they will be loved (and hopefully finished by someone else).
So without further ado here is a photo of my quilt (I'll be keeping this one)!

redwork blocks 2 & 3

I've also been very busy finishing up blocks 2 & 3 of my redwork quilt.I'm loving the simplicity of just using one colour and the crispness/contrast of the red thread on white homespun.I've just started on block 4 and I'll post a photo of it as soon as I've finished it.

Christmas Stitchery BOM......all together now!

Finally the day is bright enough for me to take a photo of Gail Pan's BOM I've been working on.I finished putting all the sashing on last Sunday but I'm still undecided on how to complete it??? I'm thinking of maybe some small stitcheries or vines winding through the sashings or maybe some suffolk puffs at strategic points?? mmmm I'll ponder on it a while before I make a final decision.What do you think would look good?

HUG SWAP FOR ROXIE......2009.

These are the mug hug amd mug mat I made for Roxie.All I had to go on was her colour preference which was for autumn tones.....not colours I've worked with very often so I was a bit worried that Roxie might not like what I finally settled on.But I just checked her blog after her emailing me she'd received her parcel and she loves them. So a big PHEW! mission acomplished.We've also decided we'd like to keep in touch which I think is the best thing to come out of this swap...new friends!

HUG SWAP......2009

I arrived home from work today to find this parcel waiting for me.Roxie my partner in this swap had sent it the same day I sent the ones I made for her (saturday) so hopefully this means that *sooon,very sooon* Roxie will be receiving her hug in her letter box.
I just wanted to let Roxie know that I absolutely LOVE the mug hug and hug mat.All I gave her to work with was my colour preference which was red and white and let me tell you she didn't dissapoint!
I love how crisp the red and white look together and Roxie's stitching is so tiny and neat and the red ribbon to tie the hug to my mug just added that little bit of bling/sparkle to the whole set!
Thank you Roxie for being my swap partner and making me such beautiful items.I hope you like what I've made for you and you receive it very soon.

Hexagon Swap....no:3

The Angel hexie is the one I made for Fayzs.Her only criteria was that it have blue and cream in it so I decided to make up one of the hexie stitchery patterns from my hexie bag I've been slowly working on over the last couple of months.I think it turned out quite well and I love the blue thread I used,it looks so effective.
The rose hexie is the one Fayzs made for me.It's beautiful,I love roses! I think it will look great with my other hexies.Thanks Fayzs for being my swap partner and making me such a lovely hexie.I'm soooo enjoying this swap!

PIF Goodness .......THANKS CLARE!

Look what arrived in my letter box late last week.A very special PIF surprise from Clare over at Clare's Craft room (on my blog roll).I couldn't wait to tear open the packaging to find this beautiful plaque and other goddies she sent me.
I've only just been able to take a photo as it was too dark when I got home to take one and then when I tried the next day during daylight hours the battery in my camera died and I had to recharge it before I could take them (always the way,isn't it?)
I love sewing (well anything crafty) but I've never attempted making something like this.Clare was a bit worried that because it wasn't something sewn I might have been a bit dissapointed.....far from it!!I appreciate the thought and time that went into the making of it and I don't have anything like it in my sewing room.
Clare also sent with this gorgeous plaque a couple of very pretty fat 1/4's and a lovely 1/2 mtr of blue background fabric with chocolate hearts all over it.I can see me using this in a hexagon stitchery bag I've been working on,maybe the framing of them.....
I just wanted to tell Clare that I LOVE everything she has sent me and to thank her for sending such gorgeous goodies my way.

The joy of sewing....

This is what I've been working on the weekend.I've started a red and white quilt,just gotta love that combination! and with this quilt are red work stitcheries by Bronwyn Hayes.I'm making her quilt called cotton country and this is the first stitchery block I've stitched so far.I'm loving the simplicity of her work and just using one colour to sew with.

I've also been putting the borders on Gail Pan's BOM.I still have the final block to finish but I hope to have that done before next weekend so I can start putting it together.I'm thinking of maybe using a 2" sash between each block in a gold toned fabric....I don't want to use another dark colour as I want the finished quilt to be light and airy looking that's why I displayed the blocks on a light coloured material.I'd like to use a white toned/gold background as all my block backgrounds are a crisp white.What do you think I should do?

1st Stitchers Angel suprise.....

Shhhh....don't tell my swap angel that I'm posting this photo of one of the finished suprises I'm making for her here on my blog!! Hehehe if she does figure it out it'll still be suprise because I've made three of them and I'm not telling which one is for her.A girl has to keep some secrets you know!
Now onto the next one.....I'll post a sneak peak when it's done.

Thanks Stefanie!

Look what arrived in my mail box! A beautifully fabric wrapped parcel.A few weeks ago I entered Stefanie's giveaway on her blog and won it!! I was certainly doing the happy dance.Stefanie also included with the gorgeous Aviary charm pack a fantastic mag all the way from America!
I was going to post about it last night but I'd been fighting a migraine all day yesterday and wasn't up to posting about it and wouldn't you know it the migraines still hanging around today!!I hate migraines!
Anyway enough about me I just wanted to say a very big thank you to Stefanie for hosting such a lovely giveaway and being so generous in sending the extras.Thank you Stefanie!!
If you want to check out Stefanie's blog just go to my blog roll on the left and click onto "Quilt buddy" and I tell you,you won't be dissapointed she has some gorgeous stuff there.

The secrets out!

Check out the button on my side bar for the new blog called "Among the gum trees".It will be worth it!I can't wait for the fun to begin!!!