Generous Giveaway

Vicki of the Pickledish Patch blog (formerly Tozzscorner) is celebrating her new blog name with a wonderful and very generous giveaway.  Click on her button on the right or the link above to go visit and check it out.  Vicki is joining with Dawn to bring us   a BOM called "Out of the Box", starting on 5th January.  Why dont you pop over there and check it out.

While packing away Christmas decorations for another year, it was a good time to look at some of them and the memories of making them.  From working together in our Craft groups to Ornament exchanges, dressup elf costumes for 2 Grandsons to wear to their Childcare Christmas party.   So I revamped my Christmas scrapbook page to focus on just some of my favourite ones. 

Christmas - and My Next Project

It is so good to be able to share Christmas Day with at least some of our Grandchildren.  This year we were with two of them for Christmas Day, then in the next couple of days we had visits from 3 others.  Just one didnt get here this year. That is the one with the Santa hat over his eyes.  All 6 grandchildren are featured in this collage.

One of my daughters surprised me on Christmas Day with this gift. (which is rather difficult to photograph).

I hadn't mentioned to any family member that I would like a travel iron to take to classes.  However my daughter went along to Sew This and That, my local patchwork shop and asked one of the staff members for help is choosing a gift.  The staff member then rang my friend to ask her for some ideas.  Between them they decided on this little iron.  All of them agreed that I dont let on too much about what I would like - so it was quite a task for them.  So I am doubly pleased with the gift, and that we have such  helpful staff at the store.  It is perfect to use with my new ironing board that I made recently.

My next project will be to make a protective bag for it.  It did come with a light one, but I would like to make something a little more padded to protect it when travelling.  So..........watch this space.

I decided to keep the first sleepover bag -  I made for myself (not quite as well made when under time pressures in a class - noone else would notice probably but I know there are things I could have done a little better.)  So I made two more of them, one for each of my sisters.

I also made each of them a matching shoe bag.  One of my sisters picked it up and said "...and a bag to carry the wine"  When she realised it had shoes written on it she said I would have to make the wine one for her birthday.  I can do that - but that is later in the year.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

I have so much enjoyed my first (part) year blogging.  It opens up a whole new world of friendship, crafting and inspiration. 
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  Enjoy this time of fun and fellowship with your Families and Friends.


Take care, travel safely, God Bless.

Marilyn

Another finished project

On my last trip to Bribie Island Arts Centre we made our ironing board/cutting mat folders. It was so easy to do following Cheryl's expert instructions. She has made a number of them now, a couple of this size, and some smaller ones.

People who have been quilting for some time - like 10 years, say "I had some of that fabric".  Well, I have had this left over piece sitting in my stash for about 13 years.  It seemed like the right time and right project to use it.

We could "share" one purchased ironing board cover between 2 people.  Now I am keen for classes to recommence so I can try it out.

Joy's Christmas Hearts

 Have you checked out this design over at Joy's Quilts blog.  It looks beautiful and she is giving the proceeds of the sale of this pattern to  "make a small difference in the life of a child saved from slavery."  (quote from Joy's blog).  Go over to her blog to read more about it, and if you are touched by it, then it is just a small cost for a beautiful pattern and will go towards making a difference.  Thank you Joy for caring, and for giving us this opportunity.

I will be back with more later, but felt I wanted to share this with others.

Yay!!!! Its back.

Finally I have my internet back.  After all that time waiting it took the electrician just over 1 hour to have me back on line.  

 Firstly, here are the healing hearts blocks I sent off to Shirley in NZ at the beginning of the month,  for quilts for the families of miners who were lost in the recent New Zealand mining disaster....Some of the other girls in my quilting group made some as well.

My quilting group got together for our Christmas lunch and exchange of Secret Santa gifts.  We had a fun day, yummy food, lots of laughter, a bit of stitching got done, and the opening of our gifts.  We had a spending limit of between $10 and $15.  It was fun seeing how people used that limit to come up with their creative gifts. 

This is what I gave to my "person", who just happened to be my lovely friend, Dawn.  I gave her 3 fat quarters, one a Christmas fabric, and the other two in her favourite shade of blue.  I rolled them and put them into cupcake papers, with organza bows on the top to look (sort of) like butterfly cupcakes.  She is such a good cook so it seemed appropriate.  Inside the roll I put 2 patterns which I bought from Jenny's Etsy store.  I wrapped them in a piece of quilter's muslin which she can use for the embroidery on the bag (one of the patterns).  I hope she enjoys embroidering Jenny's designs as much as I do.

I received my gift from Rose.  She gave me some beautiful variegated green embroidery thread and a pack of fork pins.  I will make good use of them both.

My daughter, Harry and I went Christmas shopping at Chermside recently.  We had to have a little Morning tea treat before joining the crowds in the stores.  A beautiful lemon and passionfruit cheesecake for daughter, mini melting moments for me, and Harry had the beautifully presented baby chino.  (but we had to help out with eating the little treats on the side.)

 We came across this childrens bus which he loved sitting in and exploring.  No need for money in it yet - he enjoyed the steering wheel without the movement of the ride.

He is such a delight.  I miss him when he is not visiting, but I am so pleased that we do have him come to visit us frequently.   

Double "SIGH"

I am still patiently waiting for my internet to be connected again.  New phone lines are finally working better, after much static and random loss of service, plus a lot of buck passing as to the problem.

The plan is now in place for mine to be connected - just have to wait for the technician to come and do it.

In the meantime I have 3 sets of cutrains and 2 sleepover bags to make, as well as the yearly Christmas boxer shorts for the grandchildren.  That will keep me from thinking too much about the lack of internet.