100th Blog Post Giveaway

Wow this is my 100th post in just 8 short months. I can't believe it. I had toyed with the idea but thought I would have nothing to blog about, nor would anyone be interested in what I was doing. How wrong I was. But finally there was a Christmas swap I wanted to do with Chookyblue, and having a blog was one of the requirements, so with lots of encouragement and help from Chooky, and lots of support and encouragement also from Michelle at Rag-Tag Stitchin" (who has now become a dear friend), I started on this adventure. And I say adventure because I had no idea how much blogging, and the swaps I did through all your wonderful blogs, would become such a big part of my life, and I would make so many wonderful friends through both.

So as a little thankyou to those that have followed me from the beginning, and new followers as well, I thought a little giveaway was in order.  So if you would like a chance to win one of the following, simply just leave a comment. I've gone with a sewing theme -

1st draw - a lovely pattern kindly donated for the occasion by Michelle of Rag-Tag Stitchin" (thankyou so much Michelle) "Sewing Notions Bear tote", and a Hatched and Patched pattern ":Sewing Sampler". Also three fat-quarters (sorry I've chopped them out of the photo) and two lovely cottage Garden threads

2nd draw - "Stitch a Little" pattern from The Birdhouse, two fat-eights, variegated DMC thread and birdie thread keeper.

Will announce the winners on Saturday. Cheryl xx

Still on a High

after a most wonderful day on Saturday at the Stitching Soiree I attended with Lisa from FignBerry Creations,  Jennifer Knol and yes, Vivian from Vivian's Creations managed to attend despite being very ill these past few months. And Karen from Mrs Martins Quilt Shop was there with a wonderful shop.It was one of the best days I have attended, and we were thoroughly spoilt with so many new patterns and kits to play with over the next few weeks.  

And I got to meet Julie, my partner in the Let's Celebrate swap with Mrs Martins. Was so lovely to meet you Julie.

These were the goodie bags that met us on our arrival.

Patterns from Jennifer - these were amazing - top right is a needleturned cushion (large I might add), and the quilt is a paper pieced dresden plate. The birdie purse we received a kit to work on on the day if we wanted.

This little tag from Viv was just so gorgeous - I traced it straight away ready to stitch. Viv had designed this and Karen stitched it for her and wrote up the pattern. Also from Viv was this very cute bag and I will be making this one very soon.

These sewing accessories  from Lisa I just loved, and so different from the usual sewing accessories I love to sew. And they came pre-printed ready to start stitching straight away. The little pocket holds a small cutting board, pencil case to match and a lovely big pincushion.

More yummy patterns from Lisa - I loved them both, and will certainly be making both really soon.

Mrs Martins had done some gorgeous kits up for some of the projects - loved the colors in this one

And last from the goodie bag were sewing bits and pieces - the cutting board will fit in the little pocket I'm making.

Lots more photos, but I'm sure I have overwhelmed you enough today. Will show you my purchases during the week.  Mmm - this is my 99th post.  Cheryl

Stitching Soiree

Woo hoo - I am off to Melbourne tomorrow for a Stitching Soiree with Lisa from FignBerry Creations, and usually Viv from Viv's Creations joins her, but Viv has been very unwell, so this time it will be Jennifer Knoll.  I'm not that familiar with Jennifer's work, so am looking forward to seeing her projects, and of course love Lisa's as this is the third soiree of hers I have attended. It has become a twice yearly event - Autumn and Xmas (October).  Now Lisa said bring some show and tell - no worries I'll just finish the project from the Xmas Soiree and take -

Cute xmas stitcheries  - titled "Christmas Eve".

Sorry bit blurry, but think you can see what a cute wallhanging it is.So thought I would spend yesterday putting it together ready for show and tell.

Does something look amiss with this picture. Yes - one block has gone awol. I know its been completed, and I spent half the day turning my sewing room upside down, but no missing block. I've obviously picked it up with another project I've been working on. And I could re-do it, but of course it came as a kit with just enough fabric to complete the 9 blocks and anything I have in my stash is not quite the right color. So no show and tell, but will have lots of show and tell on my return.

Have a great weekend. Cheryl

1 Xmas Item a Month

Lots of lovely xmas items over a Narelle's blog "Pins and Whiskers". Narelle hosts 1 Xmas Item a Month - a great idea to get some stitching done for yourself or for the gift box.

This month I decided to work on a UFO - this is a Mums Moment pattern - showing it's age I know.

But I had completed the stitcheries - just needed to make those cute little stars, put it all together and add the border.  Not colors I normally use for Christmas or use at all really, but followed the color theme they had used and was quite happy with how it turned out.

Just thought I would finish with a little op shop find during the week - they are painted wooden figurines and look very at home in amongst my bits and pieces.  Cheryl

North Pole and Other Bits

I have made a little progress on the QAL "Welcome to the North Pole" I'm doing with Val and the others.

Still appliqueing Block 2 from last month "Elves Recreation Centre" but getting there.

Not sure why this photo hasn't printed properly and can't fix it, but I couldn't wait to prepare this next  block "Sprinkles Ice Cream Shoppe"  - how cute a name is that?  Thought I was very clever (and not that you can see it), but tea-dyed some waffle weave fabric for the house/cone.  Thanks Val for the motivation to keep going on this lovely quilt - am enjoying it.

I posted these very bright parcels off to somewhere in Australia today as part of Cheryll"s Color Swap. Such a great swap - loved doing this one, and have enjoyed seeing all the lovely goodies people have been receiving and sending.

I have a taker for these -
 Would anyone be interested in swapping this pack with me - it's a Sue Daley pack called "This Goes with That", and comes with all templates and paper pieces required to make it. The cost was 60 something dollars, and I then saw it on TheQuilted Crow website as a bom, complete with lovely vintage/reproduction fabrics, which I signed up for, and so didn't need this pack. Would be happy to swap it for a pattern and a fat quarter, or three fat quarters.

Cheryl

Some Weekend Stitching

The weekend proved a bit busier than I was expecting, but did get a little more stitching done on Michelle's BOM  "Christmas Memories:.  Loving stitching this -

One reindeer nearly done, onto number two.

Bought two lovely new booklets this past week - some very cute smaller projects in Marg's book - great for gifts, etc and Gail's is full of lovely xmas projects (now why would I buy that lol). Think the first one I will HAVE to tackle is a very cute snowman pillow. Stay tuned.

Finally a couple of mls of rain overnight - the first in three months I think. Will freshen up the garden. Have a great week  Cheryl

Some New Sewing Accessories

I think I'm a bit obsessive compulsive with sewing accessories lately. I made a Rosalie Quinlan needlecase for Julie, my swap partner in the Lets Celebrate swap, and was pleased with how it turned out so thought I would make another.

Found a fabric with sewing notions on it - not that you can tell with the stitchery appliqued onto the front lol.

So of course it had to have something to go with it - still need to sew it together, but this will be a little zippered purse to hold rotary cutter, scissors, etc - was a pattern from a class I did with Natalie Bird from The Birdhouse.

Enjoy your weekend and autumn sunshine. Cheryl

Some Redwork Stitching

Many of you would know how much I love redwork stitchery, and always have some (several) redwork on the go. I was very excited when Michelle (Rag-Tag Stitchin) released her first BOM, and of course I signed up immediately.

Made a start today, and hope to get a bit more stitching done on the weekend.  Stay tuned.

I had been admiring this one on a group blog that Peg belongs to, and Barb too is stitching this one, so with some encouragement from Peg I decided I "needed" to do it also - "Its a Redwork Christmas" from Rosalie Quinlan - still have the blanket stitch border to go on Block 1. 

Both Christmas?  Funny about that. Cheryl

I Have Been Busy Stitching But ..

lots of secret sewing so not a lot to show you -

but I did take a leaf out of Sharon's book and prepare the next couple of blocks for our Friends Making Quilts SAL of "Girls Day Out", and would have done more but got lost in all my Christmas patterns looking for possibilities for upcoming xmas swaps - lol there went two hours.

I havn't shown you my finished projects in Chookys stitchalong - this was March's project from SKOW book - now my pincushion looks a bit "rustic" - not as easy getting perfectly round circles as I was expecting and will re-make and do some more of these at some point.

And April's project was from "Tis the Season" book from The Birdhouse.

And I couldn't go without showing you this lovely gift from my sister -

Isn't she beautiful? Royal Doulton - arn't I spoilt?

Cheryl

Tuesdays Treasures

I am joining Tuesdays Treasures today with Melody from The House on the Side of the Hill. I have many "treasures", as I must admit to being a bit of a collector. You know how it is - someone gives you something, and you love it, and then you find yourself drawn to others that match or go together, So today I thought I would show you some of my old sewing bits and pieces I have.

Love old buttons, especially when they are still on their original cards.

These are amongst several bits that sit on my old Singer Sewing Machine.

Hope on over to Melody's and check out everyone else's treasures. Have a great Tuesday. Cheryl

Birthday Gifts for my Swap Partner Julie

Julie, my partner in Mrs Martins "Let's Celebrate" swap had a birthday on the weekend. Thought you might like to see what I had sent her for her birthday. She spoilt me last week with the most beautiful bag for mine.

An assortment of sewing accessories - scrap basket from The Birdhouse "Red Home" book, which was one of our SAL projects, needlecase and pincushion. Used another of the lovely Cottage Garden threads - this one "Running Postman" - perfect with the French General fabrics as its red and beige.

Cheryl

Friday Night with Friends

I joined in with Cheryll and lots of other fellow stitchers in Friday Night with Friends last night.  Now what to stitch when I have so much "secret sewing" happening at the moment. That would be no fun because I couldn't show you what I was up to. So, of course, start something new.

So a cute little xmas stitchery of Gail Pan's won out. I used a Cottage Garden thread "Cranberry", a very pretty blue and red.

But not before I finished off this little needlecase. Hope you managed to get lots done too. Cheryl

Who Would Have Thought

that swaps and bloggers would have had such a big impact on my life these last 12 or 18 months.  Last year I participated in several swaps and I keep in touch with 2 or 3 of my lovely partners from last year. Karen was my partner in Mrs Martins Christmas Angel swap - we were like kindred spirits - loved the same colors and style and both LOVED xmas. So when Karen was talking about trying Valdani threads I sent her some different colors in the mail to try.  And look at these lovely surprises she sent me in the mail to say thankyou.

How cute is this beautiful cross stitched pincushion?  Don't you just love the saying.

AND a gorgeous wallhanging - a very cute Kathy Schmitz design.

And the cutest little bunny made in lovely Tilda fabrics.  Karen I was just blown away by your gorgeous gifts and can't thankyou enough for spoiling me.  I look forward to our next swap

And I am playing along tonight with Cheryll and lots of other friends in FNWF so will be back tomorrow for show and tell. Have a great weekend. Cheryl

Some Lovely Little Parcels

Thought you might like to see some of these very gorgeous gifts I received recently -

How cute is this pincushion?  My friend purchased these "quilt" pins whilst on holiday in America recently.

This beautiful bag was a birthday gift from my swap partner, Julie in Mrs Martins Lets Celebrate swap. It is just stunning, and as Julie said there are lots of pockets and would lend itself to a sewing bag.  Just love it Julie, thankyou.

This beautiful card came with it.

Mmm and some yummy fabric - I need something special to make with this - its a lovely chocolate brown color.  And who doesn't love vintage buttons - what a treasure. I havn't been to l'uccello in Melbourne, where they came from, but everyone warns me to take plenty of money when I do.

Cheryl

Easter Egg Hunt

I hope you have all had a lovely Easter break. I just had to show you a couple of photos of my grandies on their easter egg hunt using the bags I had made them just for this occasion (from Michelle's lovely pattern in Handmade).

This is my oldest granddaughter, and she was a bit quicker on her feet than her 19 month old sister, so sharing out at the end was required.

Mia's first Easter egg hunt - she thought this was good fun.

 And soon got the idea that you needed to check under the bushes and tufts of grass.

I was lucky enough to have a birthday over Easter, so will show you some of the beautiful handmade gifts I received (among others) next time. Cheryl