Christmas Sewing

This is what I sent to Shauna in Canada for Chookyblue's SSCS, all wrapped up in a Christmas fat quarter.

And this is what I made for Ann-Marie. Hatched & Patched Bits & Pieces purse - lots of fiddly fun.

Susan x

Christmas Revealed Part 2

Just a quick post to tell you that my Secret Santa was May Kristin. The gifts she sent were beautiful, and she has made my first swap so special and memorable. Thank you May for being so generous and thoughtful (and sneaky).

Susan x

Christmas Revealed

I still don't know who my Secret Santa is but I absolutely LOVE her gift. Look at this gorgeous table runner.

The fabric choices are perfect for me, and her workmanship is amazing. I am very happy with it so thank you again. And thanks to Chookyblue for organising the swap. I hope she has the stamina to do it again in 2012. 

I was also spoilt my friend Ann-Marie at Lavender Blue Stitches who, in her spare time (????) made me this beautiful paper tole picture.

I can't wait to get home and show them off. Thanks girls.

We have spent Christmas with all my husbands family and it has been a lot of fun. Far too much food, wine and chocolate......... but lots of fun. I hope your celebrations, however big or small,  have been fun too.

Susan x

Gingerbread House

Round One of Christmas celebrations has passed without a hitch. Now everyone is asleep, swimming, cycling or online, so I thought I'd use a quiet moment to catch up as well.

The humid weather has played havoc with my royal icing but I'm pretty happy with the results of the gingerbread house that Daniel and I have made (he was mostly testing the lollies) - we didn't put the roof on til we got to Newcastle for fear of a collapse. Just needs a final dusting of icing sugar tomorrow.

Only 6 1/2 hours to go. What time will you be up???

Susan x

SSCS

I have had a lovely week opening the pre-Christmas gifts that my sneaky anonymous secret Santa sent. It has been so much fun opening a gift every couple of days, and it has been driving my kids crazy!!!! I especially love the tin heart - can use that one all year round. I can hardly wait to open her Christmas day present.

Thank you Secret Santa for being so generous - I have learned a lot of sneaky tips for next time round!

Well, I think it's time to pack the 221 and variegated red threads away for another Christmas, and get on with celebrating. Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe family Christmas.

Susan x

A nice drop

Over the weekend we took our Queensland visitors wine tasting. Well how could I resist the label on this local wine???

They also had the Black Thimble Shiraz, and Silken Thread Petit Verdot. Hubby can drink the wine and I'll keep the bottle!

Susan x

Beautiful Morning

It is the most beautiful morning here today. The photo doesn't do it justice, but looking down the valley, there is a low fog and low clouds, with a glimpse of mountain in between.

It's funny how Christmas decorations show how my stitching interests and abilities have changed. I made this wall hanging at a time when if it didn't have blanket stitch, it just wasn't finished.

And as much as I love this Santa swag, the memories of hot glue gun mixed with Santa beard have scarred me for life.

And this little guy from Ann-Marie is just too cute. His legs move, and it seems that the three elves change his position every time they walk past.







Hope you have a lovely day.

Susan x

FNSI Part 2

Well FNSI didn't go quite to plan. I did finish the stitching on the stocking but aaargh, the red thread ran when I rinsed it. I have never had this happen before, and I can't even look at it long enough to take a photo. Oh well, these things happen.

On Saturday I went to Bathurst, and of course I had to visit the Home Patch. These two little decorations are very happily at home now. How much rust does one house need?

 We have had relatives visiting from Queensland, so we have had a good day out today showing them the delights of Mudgee. They are finding it a little bit cool.

I am hoping to have a few relaxed days this week before heading off for a big family Christmas. 

Susan x

FNSI

Finally got my act together to join the Friday Night Sew In. I plan on finishing off my stocking and maybe start (another) little Christmas stitchery just for the therapeutic value. It's not sewing, but I'll probably spend a little time cleaning up my sewing table, so it's not such an eyesore for the visitors on the weekend.

Hope your weekend has just the right balance of relaxation and pre-Christmas fun!

Susan x

Chocolate boxes

I'm starting to feel like I should have a direct link to the Home Patch, so much of what I make is Anni's design. These two little cuties are off to school to two favourite teachers who have done so much for us this year.

The one on the left has stitcheries from the Noelle table topper, I stitched them but knew I wouldn't get around to making the cones.

One more day of peace before school holidays............. I love having them at home.

Susan x

It's here, I'ts here!!!

Santa has been and delivered a secret parcel all the way from Norway. It was hard to contain my excitement in the crowded PO this morning. And when I opened it there are five beautifully wrapped gifts, with opening instructions in the card.

My Secret Santa has not divulged her identity, but she has taken pity on me and given numbered instructions to open the gifts, one every few days. Today was number 1 - a beautiful pieced and beaded star. She has obviously been doing her homework, because I would have chosen the fabrics myself. I love it, thankyou so much.

I was also relieved to hear that my partner in Canada had received her gift. Chookyblue, you are helping spread Christmas spirit all over the world - thankyou.

Hope you are having a great day too.

Susan x

Button Cookies

What else to do on a wet Sunday afternoon than cook and sew? I found these simple little cookies at Red Brolly. Yummy, cute and easy.

I have finished my stocking tags..........

........ and put them on their gifts.

Still a few gifts to get, but mostly organised for Christmas. Yay!! Spent yesterday on the mower and whippersnipper, so the garden looks somewhat respectable. I think I've had my fill of Christmas sewing because I keep thinking of all the other projects that are waiting for attention. And it's still cool enough to be quilting.

Be good, it's only 14 more sleeps!

Susan x

Friday Fun

Today I am going to cook and clean like a demon all morning, so I can sit down and FINISH something this afternoon! My attempts at joining the Friday Night Stitch In have been foiled again - but for a happy reason! My three boys have all received awards at their end of year presentations, so we are going out for dinner to celebrate. I'm so proud of them.

These stocking tags WILL be finished so I can wrap and send the gifts.



These two little Hatched & Patched chocolate boxes WILL be finished and filled with chocolates for two wonderful teachers. And hopefully the big stocking will be in better shape by the time I send it to my sister for Christmas (I may have to use the one I made for myself a few weeks ago).

And no pressure, but hopefully postie WILL bring my SSCS. The wait is killing me.

Have a great weekend.

Susan x

To do lists

Lynette Anderson Designs has some really cute Christmas To Do lists, free to download and print. Very handy for the next two weeks.

I had my work Christmas party today - we had a group manicure and pedicure, then out for lunch. There is only three of us so it was easy to organise. I had never had either before, so it was quite a new experience. I went Christmassy and chose "Ruby for Rudolph" polish.

I went home early hoping to find something in my mailbox, but still no SSCS. I hope Santa can find me soon!

Susan x

Newcastle Beach

We had a lovely weekend living it up in Newcastle - the kids were at Nanna's and we had a great night out at a Christmas party.

 

Home safe and tired tonight.

Susan x

Christmas Stockings

I am still going with my little Christmas stockings for gift tags/decorations. I don't think I'll make them up as actual stockings because they are very small and fiddly..... will just make them flat as decoration. I've become a bit obsessed with keeping my stem stitch perfectly neat.......

This succulent has been in my garden for quite a few years, but this week is the first time it's flowered for me. (I'm not much of a gardener, it's probably something really common).

I spent some time decorating today and want to share one of my most-used Christmas patterns. Of course it's from Hatched & Patched........... called A Little Bit of Christmas, it has small decorations, stockings and this cute swag. I think I have given these stitcheries to everyone I know in one form or another.

Having a whirlwind trip to Newcastle for a Christmas party tomorrow so there won't be much stitching this weekend. Hope yours is fun filled.

Susan x

Naughty or Nice??????

This little wall hanging from Anni Downs book 'A Christmas Story' causes quite a lot of trouble as our names get swapped back and forth between naughty and nice all December. Of course I am always on the nice side........ hehe....well, mostly.

Sent my SSCS last week and now the wait begins. Very exciting.

Susan x

Miscellaneous

Yet another cold, wet day here - but no complaining from me. I went to Bathurst on Tuesday, and made the obligatory visit to the Home Patch. Only a small purchase this time ..... trying to be good for Santa and all that. The red crackle fabric is a glorious shade.

This jelly roll of Rounierres has been sitting in front of me for quite a few months. I bought it and the squares planning to make the Chelsea charm quilt, but it is so lovely to look at that I can't bear to cut it open. I was going to start today but I think I'll leave it a little longer.

The cool weather has made me get out my hand quilting. 21 blocks done, and only 235 to go. It might be a while.......

I have been smitten by the Irish Circles quilt that a few bloggers are working on, so am trying to track down the pattern. Patchwork on Stonleigh used to have it but they have sadly closed. If you have any ideas please help this lover of hand piecing find her new project.....

TGIF, and here's to a great weekend.
Susan x

Festivity Stocking

This is the big brother to the little stocking I finished on the weekend. I forgot to sew the ricrac into the seam, so I had to fiddle with it after. Looks better with than without.



It was cool enough to do some hand quilting last night. Maybe I will finish my huge quilt ....... one day.......

Susan x

Macaroon Madness

We have been fans of Master Chef for a while, and particularly love Adriano Zumbo. We have tried his macaroons and they are so yummy. Some clever local ladies even sell them at the Farmers Market. Master 10 has been wanting to try making them for ages and today was the day, and wow, they worked!!!

On the stitching front I have finished my mini stocking. This one is for my neice and will hold her little gift perfectly. It was so quick to do that I'm thinking of making them as gift tags ..... then they can be reused as decorations next year.

The bigger stocking is almost done too.

Sitting here looking at the low clouds and drizzling rain, after a fun family weekend, with some stitching thrown in, I just don't think it gets much better. Hope your weekend was fantastic too.

Susan x 

Rainy Day

Today has been rainy and overcast so I couldn't do the painting or gardening I had planned. So instead, I had a lovely afternoon putting the borders on my In My Garden BOM, and now the top is finished and I am feeling very pleased with myself.

It will have to get in the queue for hand quilting..... probably after summer now.

I've been following the Henry Glass blog hop....lots of free projects and a prize draw at the end. I've been going via Anni's blog.

Hope you're getting some rain if you need it.

Susan x

Christmas Stocking

I am loving Hugs n Kisses Festivity Stocking. The different embroidery stitches have been fun to do.

And yay!!! My SSCS is wrapped and ready to post on Monday. It's amazing to think that someone I don't know on the other side of the world is thinking about my Christmas gift. Thankyou Chookyblue for organising the swap.

Hoping to get back to the borders for In My Garden tomorrow. Have great week... it's nearly Friday....

Susan x

Noelle Table Topper

I have been very good this weekend and finished my Noelle Table Topper BEFORE I started my Christmas stocking.

It's all small projects and not much quilting at the moment. I have started my new Hugs n Kisses stocking .... it has an iron on transfer pattern which I haven't used before... seems to have worked ok (not a very clear pic).



Should be interesting to see how it turns out, as it requires stitches a bit more challenging than just back stitch and french knots. Will test the memory.

I have had a great weekend ....... hope you have too.

Susan x

Mail Day

Because I live out of town I only get mail three days a week..........no big deal....... except when I'm waiting on something. Well now I don't have to wait any longer, my patterns from Helen at Hugs n Kisses arrived today, complete with a skein of Hugs n Kisses red thread. How cute are these.....

The little stockings are only 1" x 3 1/2". And the variegated red is gorgeous.....

And to top it all off I was visiting my parents in Bathurst today and I HAD to pick up some things at The Home Patch for Ann at Lavender Blue Stitches.............. the things you do for friends. I didn't buy much, but I always feel inspired after being there. 

Now I'm looking forward to the weekend - hope you get the chance to do some stitching too.

Susan x

The Wedding Quilt

I am waiting on a new pattern in the mail, but was surprised when The Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini came instead. I pre-ordered it ages ago, thinking it would come for Christmas.... but it's here now. Hmmmm.....not working today.........reading and sewing versus housework.........

Susan x

In My Garden progress

Last night I laid out the blocks for In My Garden, well eight of them anyway!

Block 9 is almost done, so the end is in sight (for the top anyway). I have loved doing the needle turn applique, and gettting a yummy package in the mail every month.

Oh, the Cold Chisel concert was awesome. We had such a good night......but lets just say things were a little bit slow on Sunday.

Susan x