It's here!

My SSCS arrived yesterday, all the way from Norway. Inside was a set of lovely crochet ornaments. Perfect for me as crochet is not one of my talents. Annelise has done such beautiful, neat work.......thank you. There was also some yummy chocolates and a very tempting present to put under the tree.

I've had a great morning wandering around the first Mudgee Vintage Markets, the Farmers Market AND the Makers Market. So much passion and creativity in every stall.

I'm off to clean up my sewing room.

Susan x

So predictable

Of course my Christmas selvedges were for a zipper pouch.

This one just has linen on the bottom. I like how it turned out.

I had to do some of that "other" kind of sewing yesterday. I took the plunge and cut the bottom off a long black dress, and then had to hem it. I do not like sewing slinky, satiny fabric at all....or black for that matter! I'm wearing it out to a Christmas party tonight (thinking of all the money I saved not buying a new frock).

I feel like I'm making good progress with the painting. I started putting things back in the laundry cupboards today, I hope I can keep it so neat and organised. My sewing room needs the same attention I think.

Have a great weekend.

Susan x

Bathrooms and stitching

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

Look what came today....

.........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

A night out

I'm usually a bit camera shy when it comes to pictures of me on my blog, but we have just had a fantastic night out at the Mudgee Public School Great Gatsby Ball......it was a great fundraiser for the school, and a nice way to see out our last year in primary school.

Maybe a sleep in tomorrow!
Susan x

Cassilis Stitching Day

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

A week ahead?

As if the year isn't going fast enough, I have just realised I was a week ahead of schedule with my SSCS. It didn't need to be sent until NEXT week, it's not the 18th yet at all. So no, I'm not super organised, I just can't read the calendar!

Susan x

SSCS

My parcels are wrapped and ready to post for Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap. My first ever swap partner sent me a couple of small gifts to open before Christmas Day, maybe so I wouldn't be tempted to open the main gift early! I have adopted that idea too, it just spreads the joy a little further.

Looking forward to another Cassilis stitching day this Friday. I think Kylie from Red Raspberry Quilts is bringing me a yummy fabric treat!

We have had the grand total of 6mm of rain!

Susan x

Bathurst Part 2

Some show and tell.......a beautiful Christmas wall hanging by Suze.  Lynda's quilt almost finished.....lots of detail. And Anni trying to steal my hexie bag!

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The swap gifts. Sue won my gift, it was my selvedge zipper pouch from a few weeks ago.

And of course some purchases were made. I only had one thing on my list, I really wanted to find some zipper pulls. You can imagine how pleased I was to find these at Bathurst Fabric and Trims, and only $4 for a packet of 6.....and metal not plastic.

 

I couldn't leave this sleigh behind at Anni's. The fat quarters are not my usual style, but they are good to have on hand for making zipper pouches unexpectedly!

I think that might be it for now. It was a really great day out.......can you tell?

Susan x

Bathurst Bloggers Meet

I had a great day in Bathurst today,  i love catching up with bloggers. I'm supposed to be getting ready to out tonight, but I just had to show you what I got in the swap. How cute is this apron? Made by Paula who doesn't have a blog..........yet.

And it's reversible! I love it. Thanks so much Paula.

Some pics from the Home Patch...... Fiona from Dragonfly Crafts

Chooky, Peg and Kate

Anni hard at work behind the counter

Exhausted from shopping and laughing.

Back tomorrow with some more pics. I'm a happy little blogger.

Susan x

Bathurst Bloggers Meet

Show and tell packed. Swap gift packed. A little bit of stitching packed.

I'm ready to go to the Bathurst Bloggers Meet tomorrow. Looking forward to catching up with everyone, seeing some show and tell, and maybe a little shopping.

It's been 35 degrees here today, so I'm really hoping the forecast rain and cool change arrives tonight.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Susan x

Needle case swap

As you know from my last post I took part in a needlecase swap with Friends in Stitching. This is the needlecase I made for Kerri from Willowgrove Quilting. It's based on a pattern by Carol from Cherry Pie Designs. I first made it at the Stitching Post retreat last year, it's simple and small and easy to pop in with a bag of sewing.

Fun and games here as phase two of our bathroom renovation began yesterday.

Only three more sleeps until the Bathurst Bloggers Meet on Saturday. We have a lot of girls coming from near and far for a day of shopping, sewing and fun. Can't wait!

Susan x

FNWF

I had a great FNWF. It started with a family walk by the river at beautiful Lawson Park. It was so lush and green.........wish it was like that in my garden.

Followed by fish and chips for tea. Then lots and lots of productive sewing.....just a sneak peek....... I'm much happier about my SSCS gift now.

Almost forgot to open my needlecase swap. Kerry has done lovely work with the wool, beautiful detail. Thanks Kerry.

Have a great weekend.
Susan x

FNWF

FNWF, a perfect way to end the week. Fish and chips for tea, followed by lots of secret sewing, and maybe a little quilting. Pop over to Cheryl to sign up.

I needed a small rusty hanger for one of my Christmas projects. I don't know what has happened in the rusty hanger market but it took a while to find the small size I wanted. Great service and prices from Sarah Jane Country Craft, so I stocked up. Black hangers seem to be what's popular at the moment.

And finally, I can open my Friends in Stitching swap gift tonight.

Have a great weekend.

Susan x