Stitch in Spring Workshop

We are so lucky here in Victoria to have lots of wonderful tutors and I love attending all their fantastic workshops.  Last weekend was another wonderful one, this time at Port Campbell on the beautiful Great Ocean Road.  It was run by Gum Valley Patchwork and Linda had thought of absolutely everything.

This was the venue - the Surf Lifesaving Club.  Not a bad location.

Very hard to keep your mind on the stitching and not be drawn by this wonderful view.

Our two gorgeous tutors, whom I've stitched with many times before - Leanne from Petals and Patches and Natalie from The Birdhouse.

These lovely goodies from Linda greeted us on our arrival - a gorgeous bag (and she had made one for every one of the 160 guests), some yummy chocolate coated licorice from the local chocolate shop, fabric, pen and small ruler and some binding clips.

Leanne's two lovely projects - a lingerie and shoe bag and jewellery pouch.

And Natalie's were this lovely elephant bag, which was the project I stitched on during the day and a very cute needlecase.

And because the originals are always so much nicer than the pattern cover - all so lovely. Enough to keep me busy for a long time to come. 

I seemed to have taken lots of photos, so will not overload you with any more for this post, but will show you some more next time. Cheryl

Travel Swap

Well it was time to open our travel swap gifts yesterday as part of the No Fuss Swappers group.  Such fun little swaps they have.  This time we were to send a laundry bag, luggage tag, fat quarter and some sweets.  These are my lovely gifts from Helen -

This is the laundry bag Helen for me - really too lovely to use as a laundry bag, but it will be very handy and a great size. Love the fabric.

How great is the luggage tag. Helen also added a lovely fat quarter in my favourite red and some yummy Peaches and Cream lollies.  Thankyou Helen - it was a wonderful parcel.

My partner to send to was Vickie. Now I'm hoping Vickie has opened her parcel so I don't ruin the surprise.

I made her laundry bag in this lovely red stripey Gail Pan fabric. The fat quarter I thought kept in with the theme.  Thanks girls for another fun swap.

Just wanted to show you my next block in my Autumn wool project I have been working on -

Still stitching the wool tree down, but nearly there.  There nearly wasn't Autumn leaves as a background.  The instructions required it to be stitched on a "Star Single" foundation paper, which I had never heard of, so I winged it and it somehow miraculously worked out.  Next block is apples. Cheryl

Stitching Progress

During the year I have been working off and on the FignBerry Christmas mystery block of the month "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Block No 6 is completed.  Three to go and the mystery will be solved.

This is the collection so far - lots of stitching in these, but I am enjoying them and trying very hard to keep up.

Work is also progressing on my lovely wool Autumn project and I hope to have some more progress on that to show you next time.

I did finish this little couch caddy from a recent Gail Pan class and made it up with yummy French General fabrics for one of my most gorgeous friends for her birthday.  Think I will have to make one of these for me also.

And I couldn't finish without showing you my beautiful new bear that my lovely friend Maria handmade for me - she's in good company as you can see and I am so in awe of her beautiful work and how she manages to get those tiny little pieces turned inside out. Thankyou so very Maria - I will treasure her.  Cheryl