I hope 2014 brings you creativity and adventures, and the time to enjoy them.

I absolutely love Chookyblue's SSCS. Its so exciting to think of all those handmade gifts being sent around the world My partner was Laila from Norway. I really wanted to make a gift that Laila could use all year. I had a lot of trouble deciding until I noticed that she had bought some fabric from the Everlastings range, and I just happened to have a charm pack. So I made Anni's sewing bag......and sent some other little goodies to open in the lead up to Christmas.
It's such a cute little bag and so easy to adapt for different fabrics and people. Thank you Chooky and Googy for making it all happen again, and for spreading Christmas cheer all round the world.
I treated myself to a Bordeaux Berries runner kit for Christmas, so I have been indulging in some needleturn appliqué since Christmas.
Are you stitching your way through the holidays?
Susan x
After a very early start we have had a wonderful Christmas Day, made even more special by the cool weather and rain.
I just love my SSCS gift from Anne Lise, a set of beautiful Christmas placemats. Thank you so much, they looked fantastic on my red tablecloth.
Anne Lise also sent a kit for this reindeer cross stitch. A sweet little project for the lazy few days before New Years.
Thank you Chookyblue and Googy Girl for making the SSCS happen again this year.
Hope you've had a great Christmas Day......time to relax!
Susan x
I've been thinking about my Christmas shopping list today. It's going ok so far but I needed something extra for my 14 year old niece, maybe a cute little bag or purse. Had a quick look around the shops, but couldn't find anything I liked at a price I liked. Home to Google free patterns......dig through the stash......and tada!
The print is actually a nice bright purple. There's two pockets inside, and I added the wrist strap and magnetic closure (very shocked to find these in Mudgee).
The really amazing part is that I started cutting this out at 4.30pm, helped with a school assignment, cooked tea, and finished the purse by 7.30pm! It measures about 7.5" x 5", and the pattern was a free tutorial at Positively Splendid.
There is something wonderful about random surges of unplanned creativity. Maybe now I can move on from zipper pouches!
Susan x
We've had quite a lot of mess and inconvenience while our bathroom and laundry was being done, but I still found time to do some stitching. As much as I enjoy painting, my poor arms need a break. With secret sewing under control I've been working on another Irish Circles block. I really love this one.
And indulging my new found love of selvedges. These ones are Christmassy.
Better show you a pic of the bathroom. I am so happy with how it turned out, it was a bit nerveracking choosing the tiles and fittings, and hoping they would all work together in the end. Unfortunately we will need a lot more rain for our tanks before we have too many baths!
The laundry is almost done too. The walls are finished but I have 7 doors and architraves to paint yet.
Have a lovely day, hope you find a moment to enjoy some stitching.
Susan x
.........a beautiful collection of nine patches from the Traditional Nine Patch swap. I'm looking forward to planning a layout for them. Thank you Trish for organising it all.
It's been a busy week with our renovations. The builder has finished the bathroom and laundry, and now there's a lot of painting ahead (and not so much sewing!).
Hope you have a great weekend.
Susan x
What a beautiful day we had in Cassilis yesterday. The weather was perfect, and Linda set our table up under a lovely shady tree.
One of the locals is obviously a fan of vintage cars. They were so well kept. I wish I could borrow one as I'm going to a Great Gatsby themed ball tonight.......would have looked very flash arriving in style!
Julie had a special quilt made up of her Dads ties for show and tell. It's hard to see in the photo but the bow ties made from ties really sparkled in the sun.
Lea's "forgotten" quilt........almost finished.
I was working on a redwork Christmas stitchery, and another Irish Circles block.Yes that is a layer cake of Midwinter Reds in the background, delivered by the lovely Kylie. I think I might put it in my Christmas stocking.
We have just had a sudden downpour of rain and hail, a blackout, and 17mm of rain......makes for a quiet Saturday afternoon.
Enjoy the weekend.
Susan x