Wednesday 31 October 2012

Happy Halloween

I know this is not an Australian tradition, but it's a pity. My two girls spent their primary school years in a small country town, with no more than 50 children. Come halloween, they would all dress up and do the rounds of the town and come back with bucketloads of choccies and goodies - they still talk about those fun times.  The reminiscing about halloween was due to this photo my DD1 sent me tonight - my granddaughter dressed up in halloween gear off to a friends birthday party.

Now I'm not into witches too much (apart from the gorgeous one above), but I have stitched a pumpkin or two over the years.

And this one doesn't look too much like pumpkins, it was one of my very early efforts at patchwork.

Back soon. Cheryl

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Just the Binding to Go

I started this quilt last Christmas, and was determined to get it finished in time for this xmas. Just the binding to be done.  It is an old one from The Chook Shed, but have been wanting to make it for a long time.

The Santa is my favorite block
But then I love this cute reindeer as well.

And one more fav.  Take care. Cheryl

Saturday 27 October 2012

More of My Xmas Workshop

I have been doing some stitching on the two projects started at the Christmas Workshop with Viv and Lisa shown in my previous post. But those cute reindeer goodie bags were full of other gorgeous xmas projects for future stitching. How gorgeous is this stitched table centre.

A lovely felt swag.

Table runner

Lots of lovely projects to keep me stitching. Have a great weekend. Cheryl

Thursday 25 October 2012

A Christmas Workshop

Anyone who knows me knows I just love Christmas, so was very excited to be heading off to Melbourne last Saturday for a xmas workshop with Viv from Vivian's Creations and Lisa from FignBerry Creations. These cute little reindeer goodie bags met us on our arrival. (Note the scrummy container of morning tea - 3 pieces of slice).

It was an amazing day - 6 xmas patterns, three from each designer and kits for two of them to work on during the day.  This was the one I started on - nine cute little stitcheries.

The other kit we receivecd was for a journal cover to keep all your xmas card and presents lists - great idea, and I have since started this one.

Will show you the other yummy patterns we received tomorrow. Cheryl

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Part 2 Fee's Doily Swap

Still oohing and aahing over my beautiful bag from Lynette in Fee's Doily Swap (photos previous post). This is the wallhanging I did for Lynette.

Close up of the stitchery,

The lovely old buttons Lynette sent me to use went perfectly with embroidered doily and fabric she had chosen.

Take care Cheryl

Sunday 21 October 2012

Fee's Doily Swap

I participated in Fee's lovely doily swap - we had to send a lace doily, embroidered doily, fat quarter of fabric, 6 buttons and 1 metre of ribbon.  My partner was the lovely Lynette (no blog as yet), and this beautiful parcel arrived on Thursday - sorry I ripped the wrapping off so quickly, so no photo of that, but the most beautiful - and I mean beautiful crazy patched bag - so much work Lynette I just love it, and everyone I've showed to has been oohing and aahing along with me. It is just beautiful and I've been very spoilt. A lovely close-up.

How lucky am I?  Have been laid low for a few days with an inner ear infection, but feeling better today thank goodness. Not a pleasant feeling when the walls keep closing in on you lol. Have a great week Cheryl

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Working with Felt



I have been enjoying working with wool felt of late - it lovely and easy to work with and the finished result quite pleasing to look at.

I joined the Cookies and Cream Christmas club and last month was one of Michelle's lovely designs, which I was very excited about. It is now all cut out ready to stitch.

I do have some other felts goodies I had planned to show you, but my computer is not being very co-operative tonight. So stay tuned.

Cheryl

Sunday 14 October 2012

Some More Redwork Ready

I made a wallhanging as a gift last Christmas from Natalie Bird's gorgeous little book "Tis the Season" and had been wanting to do the full version of 12 xmas stitcheries and make the quilt from the book.  So having seen on Wendy's blog she was doing this quilt inspired me to at least get all the blocks traced ready for those hot summer days under the air conditioner stitching (which I might add seems like it's never going to come).

And talking of Natalie - if anyone feels like a drive to Stawell (Victoria) for the day on Wednesday, 21st November Natalie from The Birdhouse is teaching a class to make a gorgeous sewing bag to hold your large scissors, rotary cutter, etc and there is still a couple of spots available.

Have a great week.  Cheryl

Saturday 13 October 2012

Some More for the Retirement Fund

Not a lot of stitching to show you - lots of secret stuff being sewn, and am looking forward to getting back to my redwork snowmen and gingerbread men soon, but a couple of new things arrived in the mail this week - my retirement fund my husband calls it - as if I won't get it all sewn eventually lol.  Arn't these little felt decorations cute - have really got a bit addicted to working with wool felt this year, and so many yummy colors.

And a new block of the month - lots of lovely birds and birdhouses (a favorite - I have many scattered throughout my home) and in my favorite red, with a bit of brown thrown in.

Have a great weekend. Cheryl

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Some New Stitching and Some Secret Stitching

I have been making these cute water bottle holders, which was one of the projects from a class I did in May - great for your handbag to stop things getting wet from condensation.

Lots os secret stitching happening at the moment, so not a lot to show, but can give a sneaky peak of the project I am working on for Lynette as part of Fee's Doily Swap, which has been lots of fun.

Lots of new things I would like to be starting, but had better be keeping on the straight and narrow til all my lovely swaps are finished. bye for now Cheryl

Sunday 7 October 2012

A Couple of Quilts

It was our local quilt show on the weekend, and while I am not a member of this group (as they meet on Thursday afternoons when I am at work), they did ask if I would put a couple of my quilts in the show. I readily agreed, but of course neither of them had bindings, hangers or labels on them, so was a mad rush to get that done on time. Thought you might like to have a look.  This one is queen size - don't do too many this size any more - take too long lol.

And the Christmas one was done as a group project with my stitching group - was great to see them all hanging together.  Sorry didn't realise this was so blurry til I downloaded it.

Have a great week. Cheryl

Friday 5 October 2012

Some More Secret Stitching

I am doing lots of secret xmas stitching at the moment. This cute little stocking is for Karen, who doesn't have a blog, and doesn't know I have a blog, so thought it was safe to show you.

Finally a couple of warm days in the high 20s and all my azaleas are starting to flower -such a picture and more still to open.

And a few more.

Off to our local quilt show tomorrow, so will show you some piccies over the weekend. Cheryl

Wednesday 3 October 2012

A Couple of New Purchases

I have a new little toy - a new lightbox. My old one was, I must admit a homemade job, and did the trick I guess, but about a month ago when I was using it there was a big bang and sparks shot out of the power point, and after my heart returned to normal pace, out to the bin it went. So the new one I ordered arrived today - why didn't I buy a new one sooner - it is so much brighter.

Also bought a couple of new patterns - not recent ones, but the cute little snowman stitchery and doll caught my eye. 

Cheryl

Monday 1 October 2012

Two More Parcels have Arrived

Oohh the postie bought two more parcels today from Barb, my lovely partner in Cheryll's Santa Sack swap.  Thankyou so much Barb - I promise not too much squishing was done.

Have also been trying out the lovely valdani threads I bought - havn't used this before, and think it is equivalent to 3 strands of DMC so a little thicker, but a nice finish. What do you think?

Cheryl