Christmas item

The 25th is here again - time for 1 Christmas Item a Month.

Thank you  for hosting it again this month Narelle.  You can go to Narelle's blog to see the beautiful Christmas items made this month.  You will find lots of inspiration.

This month I used up a UFO Christmas block to make some items.
The starting block

 After using the middle section to make a pin cushion, I used the top and bottom thirds to make 4 coasters and a mug rug. These little items are now sitting in my Christmas box, instead of being an orphan block in my UFO stash.  That is a good feeling.

I was going to make something else using another orphan block but time beat me, so that will come later.

Grandie no 8 has arrived

Son and Daughter in Law have their new little bundle, born on 22nd May, a gorgeous little boy, Henry James.

 weighing in at 8 lb.

Already  much loved by big brother, Sammy. 

 Cant wait to have a cuddle or three with this little cutie.  About 9 days to wait.

He is no 6 Grandson.

Fun of the Fair

Great excitement from the boys today - it was the day of their school Fair.

Entertaining with their classes

  

Rides

  

Fairy Floss

And purchases

On the stitching front, the next applique for Rachel's Flower Garden is now prepared for stitching.  Love the roses - I think this is the flower that influenced me the most to sign up for the BOM.

My overlocker is now dressed.

My overlocker now has a beautiful new cover, thanks to the sewing club classes at Sew This and That over the past 2 months.  The project was for a sewing machine cover, but I had more need for an overlocker one.

We used a number of different techniques.  At the bottom of the front panel we used 15% shrinky.   We used the Flip La K twisted hearts template to make the hearts on the front.

The pattern called for pockets similar to on cargo pants on each side.  Because the foot control on the overlocket was bigger than the pockets I made a "pouch" looking pocket instead.  Not as attractive but it is more useable.

  

Mums

My Grandmother, a beautiful, stylish woman.  

 My Mum - 1985. Last photo taken of her

 Me with my two daughters

The new Mums of our family -

 Daughter 

 Daughter

Daughter in law

Daughter in law

These are the special mums who have been and who are in my life.

Friday Night

Last night I joined with our Friday Night Sewing with Friends, a Facebook group where those who can do so  "meet up" on Facebook to stitch together.

 I also joined with FNwF, organised by Cheryll.  You can visit here to check out what all the lovely participants worked on this month.  It always gives lots of inspiration to see the beautiful work.  Thank you Cheryll for organising us to stitch together again this month.

2 groups of lovely stitchers.  That made for a big party.  Susan had macarons to eat.  She posted a photo of hers and I felt just a little jealous.  You see,  I just had a plain old packet biscuit.  Hmm.  Better lift my game for next month.  Or I need to go join Susan maybe.  lol.

During the day my friend and I had got together to prepare the next appliques for our Rachels Flower Garden wall hanging.  Usually we manage to prepare 2 blocks in the day.  However we took a little road trip to purchase our kits from Faeries in My Garden.  This is the full panel from the kit.  Each flower piece is cut and used in one of the 13 projects.

We didn't get our quota finished this time.  Admittedly the delphinium one has soooooo many little pieces to trace and cut.

Last night I fused the tulips to the background, and started the delphiniums, but they are still being assembled on the baking paper. I have to cut lots of little black stars for the flower centres and that was a bit hard to do with the lack of good light.  Maybe today I will get more done.

Gifty and gorgeous things.

Tonight's the night - for the May "Friday Night with Friends".

You can go visit Cheryll to link up and join in.  It will be a lot of stitchy fun.  Thank you Cheryll.

So many beautiful things have come to stay with me lately, and I am a bit late posting about some of them.  I have birthday gifts, just because gifts, and yummy purchases.

I was very surprised and thrilled to receive this thoughtful little parcel from Joy.

    

 A beautiful birthday gift from Teresa.  Love the tag on the front with its little bling.

 and gorgeous gifts inside - beautiful crochet flowers and ric rac, which of course are in the colours I use a lot.  It was such a special gift.

 One of my daughters gave me this beautiful bird mug, and little bird affirmation cards (to the right of the mug, but too shiny to photograph well.)

 Today's affirmation message is

Life's truest happiness is found in friendships we make along the way.

Another birthday gift, the pink fabric on the left, and some fabrics I bought for next sewing club.  The one on the right is laminated fabric.  

  

 Today we visited Faeries in My Garden and came home with this lovely kit, Sophie's Sewing Set.

  

The bottom piece is a beautiful panel, and we cut  the motifs to use in each of the 13 items in the pattern.  They have almost sold out of this colourway and will be changing to the same panel but with a dusty pink background.  We preferred this colourway so were very pleased to be able to purchase it.

Yesterday was Cross Country day for Kai and Charlie.

 Great run, Kai.  nearly at the finish line.

 And here's Charlie pacing it out on the right in the top photo, and in the middle of the bottom photo.

You ran very well boys.

April's birthday stash and the addiction has hit.

In April I managed only a couple of gifts to go into my birthday stash - firstly, 2 more needle books,

 This one can be just a sneak peek.

 As well I have been making some of these very addictive towels - three  have already gone to their new home - and I forgot to take photos.  These two are ready to go, and I have some more waiting to be sewn.

Wonderful helpers

Got to love having our Grandies around to help out around the place.

These Grandies were not going to miss out on the opportunity to help blow out the candles on my cake. They were very enthusiastic.

That was a bit exhausting blowing all of them out and then eating that yummy cake. Not a crumb was left.

But my daughter and I slipped out yesterday to have a quiet celebration on our own – she treated me to High Tea.

lime mint julep and rose mint julep. Yum. So refreshing. Yummy goodies to eat as well..