Farewell 2012

I am always in two minds regarding New Years Eve. Happy to look back on the successes and events of the past year, sad that another year has passed so quickly, but always optimistic that the new year ahead will bring more opportunities for my family and friends to realise their dreams, big or small.

I am ending the year by starting a new project. This is my first Floral Beauty block, and I hope that by the end of 2013 it will be finished, and my needleturn will have improved!

Thank you for sharing 2012 with me, especially for all your kind and positive comments, which have added so much to my blogging experience. I hope 2013 brings you peace, contentment and lots of stitching time!

Susan x

Floral Beauty

What was I thinking?? Late last night I decided was a good time to dig out my stash and think about what fabrics to use for Floral Beauty. As much as I love red and cream, I want to include other colours in this quilt. I feel really uncertain about all the fabric choices for this quilt, so I'm just preparing a couple of blocks at a time to see how they go.

I have just started stitching the first block, and all these needle turn points will either kill me, or make me a pro. This is not going to be a fast project!

For relaxation (?????) I have started sewing the little hexies together for my bag. They just don't want to lie flat yet.

We had a very exciting trip to Bathurst on Thursday. We have been looking for new dining furniture and a coffee table for some time and found it on sale this week when we weren't really even looking. What's more, they delivered it on Friday. So the past two days have seen a BIG clean out in the kitchen/dining area.......where does all the junk come from?
It has definitely created a need for some table runners.........and perhaps some art work on the bare wall where the old hutch was.

Time to sit quietly and sew for a while I think!

Susan x

SSCS sent

I really love being part of Chookyblue's SSCS, but I do find it a little nerve racking deciding what to make. So not only was I happy that my parcel arrived safely in the Netherlands, but very relieved that Anita was happy with what I had chosen. I enjoyed making it too.

It's an incredible feeling to share Christmas and gift making with someone on the other side of the world. Thank you Chookyblue for organising the swap, and if we all say pretty please, will you do it again?

Susan x

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. We have had a wonderful day........lots of presents, far too much food, and a glorious inch of rain (hopefully more to come).

It was especially exciting to open my SSCS from Anne-Heidi. Look at the gorgeous bag she has made for me.

I love the way it stands by itself. Gorgeous fabrics, and so many inside pockets. Even hubby commented on how good he thought it was! Thank you so much for being my partner Anne-Heidi.

Lovely fabric on the inside too.

So depending on where you are in the world, I hope you have either had a peaceful and happy Christmas day, or are about to enjoy one. Merry Christmas.

Susan x

Just in time for Christmas

I wasn't sure if I would finish Rosalie Quinlan's Christmas wreath for this Christmas or next. A Friday night watching movies was the perfect opportunity to finish the stitching, and out came the staple gun today.

It was a beautiful pattern to work on, and I love the look of DMC 221 on off white linen.

Only three sleeps until Christmas.......everyone is starting to get a bit excited here.

I hope you all have a happy, peaceful and safe Christmas.

Susan x

Blue Home

I love red, but my friend Ann-Marie loves blue. So a while back I made her a Blue Home pincushion for Christmas. I love this project from Natalie Bird's book..........small pieces of all the things I love.

First day of holidays today. Just need to turn the temperature down and it will be perfect!

Susan x

What I wore Wednesday

Inspired by Wendy I feel brave enough to show myself wearing my new dress. Last day of work today and out for lunch.

Have a great day.

Susan x

Christmas Goodies

Some of the best gifts come from sewing buddies. Ann-Marie of Lavender Blue Stitches gave me a bundle of my favourite French General fabrics, and this gorgeous reindeer ornament. I have three little reindeers now..........I think I am a reindeer collector!

I also got some happy mail from Quiltsmith.......the pattern for my next quilt. Floral Beauty by Irene Blanck. Not a great photo, try this link

Off to finish hemming my dress.......I may reveal it tomorrow.

Susan x

A change of pace

I used to make lots of clothes for myself and the boys but haven't for years..........too busy stitching and patch working.

But I'm tired of clothes that don't fit, that are too long or too short ............So today I have dragged out a pattern and some fabric for a summer dress, which I bought quite a while ago. It helps that Nanna is visiting, and she has helped me make it fit.

It's coming back to me, but the zip is not as easy as zipper bags! I'm on a mission to finish today before Nanna leaves tomorrow.

My husbands workplace had a family day yesterday. Check out the wheels!

School is almost finished, and only nine sleeps til Christmas. Have a great week everyone.

Susan x

Favourite decorations

These small cushions are some of my favourite Christmas decorations, painstakingly hand stitched by my boys when they were younger (and I could still convince them that sewing was fun). They were about 6 or 7 when they did them.

Hope you have a lovely day.

Susan x

Merry Reindeer

Finished my little Gail Pan runner. It's a little smaller than most runners, but I have the perfect bare spot for it. I ended up quilting some simple stars in variegated red DMC. It is such a good match that you can hardly see them......not sure if that is good or bad.

I went to Penrith yesterday with Mr 13, for a five minute dental appointment (it's a 7 hour return drive). My reward was a quick visit to Post Office Patchwork, where i bought some fabric for my nine patch swap. They were enjoying a champagne lunch to celebrate their last class for the year, I so wanted to just stay there with them surrounded by all that beautiful fabric.

Today is my last day at home by myself with no kids before the holidays........and I haven't sewn a stitch! Better go and do something about that.

Susan x

Celebrating

We are celebrating tonight because Mr 11 has been elected vice captain for 2013, and he came first in his class at Presentation Day today. Very proud and happy parents.

Must go, fizzy drink and lollies await.

Susan x

FNWF

I started out last night feeling a bit flat, but I soon got going. Everyone's plans for FNWF were so inspiring. So what did I do? Well I know I said no more zipper bags, but this one was a special commission for Pop, who needs a new toiletry bag. I had actually sewn most of it during the week and just finished off last night. It has waterproof lining, which is actually a cheap blue raincoat cut up. I hope I never have to sew with PVC again. It's the same tutorial but the large size.

Earlier in the year I won a giveaway on Gail Pan's blog. I had done the two stitcheries for this small table runner, but that's as far as I got. The red background was a gift from Elyte when we met in Melbourne. It's ready for a little bit of quilting and some striped binding.

And some more stitches on my Christmas wreath whilst watching the Santa Clause with Mr 11. It's one of my favourite Christmas movies.

I'm going out for dinner tonight to celebrate a friends half century. Hope you have a happy weekend too.

Susan x

FNWF

I'm not sure if i'll get much done, but i'm here in spirit!

 

 

Working on my Christmas wreath stitchery..........hope you have a productive night.

 

Susan x

Christmas Wreath

I do love a good Christmas stitchery, and working on Rosalie Quinlan's Christmas Treasures wreath certainly makes me feel festive. It's a gorgeous pattern.

My SSCS partner has received her package. This is the decoration I sent.

A quiet day at home with Mr 11 today. And maybe a little stitching........

Susan x

Happy December

My "car" stitching has been this cute stitchery by Marg Low called Stitched Blessings, done in my new favourite thread Running Postman. I reduced the pattern so the finished stocking is 11".

If you are decorating for Christmas today have fun.

Susan x

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas........

Look what postie brought me today.....all the way from Norway! I checked the weather and at the moment it's -16 degrees where this sweet little ornament came from, and 39 degrees here in Mudgee. Maybe I should move to Norway!

I was so excited when I got the parcel, and even more so when I saw that it was from Anne Heidi. It's just perfect for me, so thank you Anne Heidi. I will try to be good and not touch my Christmas present, which is sweltering under the tree wishing it was back in Norway!

It is so hot that very little of anything will be achieved tonight. We have splashed out on prawns for dinner and plan to be very lazy.

Happy weekend!

Susan x

You guessed it.......

.......more zipper bags. This should be the last lot for a while. The novelty has worn off somewhat.

I wish I'd used a bolder contrasting colour for the lining and zippers, but too late now.

Now to pop something sweet or scented inside them all and wrap them up.

I thought i was very sneaky with my SSCS this year, but my partner worked it out as soon as her parcel arrived. Now it is my turn to wait for postie.

Hope you're having a happy week.

Susan x

Purchases and swap

As a lucky regular visitor to the Home Patch, I didn't have a very long shopping list yesterday. Topped up a couple of favourite fabrics, two secret fq, some pelon and walnut shells, and cute little labels. And another Anni notepad, very good for the gift box.

We also had a little swap of Make it, Bake it or Fake it. I was lucky enough to receive from the lovely, prolific Peg. A cute covered notebook, and some Lindt chocolate (yum), all wrapped in some beautiful fabric.

What do you think I made? A little French General zipper bag of course, and I was very happy that Anita picked it out. It will go well with the little purse I made to match her bag!

It is just too hot today, and Summer hasn't even started. I hope you're keeping cool (or warm) wherever you are.

Susan x

I'm a happy little blogger!

Just home from a lovely day out. After picking Deb up on the way, we arrived at The Home Patch for our blog meet as the doors opened. We spent a very happy two hours enjoying the shop, shopping and chatting.

Here's Lea, Deb and Fiona deciding what to buy.

Anni does a fabulous job decorating the shop and displaying fabrics. Even when you think you've seen it all, you still find other little treasures.

I had to quickly pop into Spotlight....for more zippers.....then we went to Chai Wallah for lunch. We even had our own room. Show and Tell was as amazing as always. Chookyblue had some beautiful quilt tops that were on their way to the quilter. And Chookyblue, Janice and Kate all showed their gorgeous SKOW quilts. Lovely work girls. I love seeing the same quilt made with different fabric choices and quilting.

Lea showed us the two antique quilts she bought in the States, and lots of photos from her trip. Must start saving now! No photos, the iPad just didn't do them justice.

We also had a visit from Chookyblue's little sister and her sweet little baby boy.

It was just a lovely, fun, relaxed day out with friends.......very special.

Susan x

Tis The Season

Ta-da! Tis The Season is finished in time for the blog meet and Christmas. I'm very happy with my hand quilting.......I like all those straight lines now.

This is my favourite block.

My portable sewing has been a couple more of these little Christmas cushions by Gail Pan. I love Running Postman from Cottage Garden Threads.

Posted my SSCS on Monday, but still enjoying some festive sewing. Hope you are too.

Susan x

FNSI

A little bit slow getting back after FNSI. It started out ok, but after the kids went to bed I got sidetracked with Christmas and Santa planning for the family. Also did a lot of online Christmas shopping. And I did get some quilting done.

I think it will be okay finished, but as I'm working on it I'm a bit unsure of the straight line hand quilting. Only one more side to go so I won't be unpicking it.

I've spent the morning in the garden and hoping to get back to sewing after lunch. I hope you're having a lovely Sunday.

Susan x

FNSI

I'm joining in FNSI tonight. Perfect cool, wet weather for quilting my TTS. Or doing some Christmas stitchery. Or making another zipper bag out of this fabric.

Also having lots of fun making stop motion movies with imotion app. Hope you have a great night and weekend, whatever you're up to.

Susan x

More zipper bags

Spent last night making two more sets of zipper bags for Christmas.

I love this print. It's from the Moda Basic Grey range.

And trying to get my TTS quilted for the blog meet next week.

Susan x

Hexie love

Half inch hexie anyone?

265 of the little lovelies ready to start Brigitte Giblin's Little Hexagon Purse. I've used up a lot of French General scraps, and added some other reds and creams too, but mostly reds.

I'll be back sewing zipper bags too now that I have replenished my zipper supply. And Spotlight had 25% off zippers while I was there yesterday. Thank goodness I went there before Mr 13 went to the orthodontist!

Definitely starting to feel the Christmas spirit creeping in - six weeks to go!! I think I need to get some elves working for me.

Susan x

Hot off the press

Look what came in the mail today.........a new release.

Happy weekend everyone.

Susan x

Blog meet

Looking forward to meeting up with some fellow bloggers for lunch and shopping at The Home Patch on Saturday 24 November. Pop over to Chookyblue for more info.

With that in mind I am trying to finish my TTS for show and tell. Just quilting straight lines in the borders. I hope this hot weather goes away so I can keep going.

Hope you're having a good week.

Susan x

Sunday afternoon

I think I need an intervention!

Time to go and check my Christmas list.........to see who else might need a zippy bag. Oh, and I've run out of zippers until next week when I can get to Spotlight. Probably just as well.

Susan x

Friday Night With Friends

FNWF started out with me lying on the lounge thinking the only thing I was going to do was go to bed. But after a bit of blogging I got up and got motivated and produced two more zipper bags. These are the medium size.......and they just need the turning hole stitched up. The one on the right is actually a much prettier green than it looks in this pic.

Do you think the zipper pull needs a little something........like a bit of ribbon or a little felt circle? I'm not sure.

Then I noticed the Noodlehead tutorial for the lil cutie pouch so thought I'd have a go at that. Well honestly, ten minutes later it was finished!!! This little baby measures 5 1/2" by 3 1/2".

So after a slow start, it was a very productive night. Catching up on all the usual chores today, and helping hubby enjoy the last of his annual leave.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Susan x

Just in case you didn't believe me........

.........these zipper bags really are fast and easy. I made this one tonight.

I am joining in with Friday Night With Friends on Friday. Hope to see you there. I'll have to come back later to do the button.

Susan x