Christmas Catchup 2

I did hope this year would go a little slower than last, but days are buzzing by and I realised I hadn't shown you the rest of my gorgeous xmas gifts or even what I had been making for special friends. 

My gorgeous friend Keryn is one very clever and talented chooky and she knows I love snowmen, so this is what she made me this year - isn't it adorable?  I love it to bits and can't bear to put it away so think I will be finding a permanent home for it so I can enjoy it all year long. 

Don't my friends know me well. Barb and I have done a xmas swap together for about 5 years now and this is the gorgeous wallhanging she made for me this year.  It's just gorgeous and it too is still hanging on my wall (do you think I'm a bit loathe to pack all my lovely xmas goodies away).  Not only that we both love tins and often do a xmas tin usually filled with a sweet or two -

This year's xmas tin Barb found in an antique shop in America and it travelled all around with her.  It's so very special and I feel honoured that she would do that. 

And then my gorgeous friend Michelle spoilt me with one of her beautiful hand made decorations she designs and I just love it to bits. It looked beautiful on my tree of handmade decorations and joined several others she has made me over the years -

Isn't he/she  handsome.  I do treasure these. 

Well at 41 degrees on this Australia Day we have had the traditional barbie lunch and I'm off to stitch under the air con. Cheryl

Christmas Catch Up

I so love Christmas - having family visit, putting out my extensive xmas collection, including many special things made for me by friends, making gifts for them in return.  I again participated in Chooky's SSCS and my partner was Clare from New Zealand. I have already shown you the beautiful cross stitched decoration she made for me, but this was the parcel to open Christmas Day -

Clare obviously did some sneaking around and saw that I love snowmen. How gorgeous is this snowman pot holder - way too lovely to use mind, but he looks beautiful hanging on mu oven.  And she read that I would like to have a go and do some English Paper Piecing so very kindly included some papers and template for Lucy Boston, so I look forward to playing with these soon.  Thankyou so much Clare - so lovely to have you as my partner. Such a beautiful sewer she is. 

Now I was VERY spoilt by two or three special friends.  My friend Karen and I "met" doing a xmas swap several years ago now and we immediately hit it off and were like two peas in a pod we had so much in common, so we have continued doing gifts ever since and have since caught up several times even though I'm in Victoria and she's in Queensland. she never ceases to amaze me with such stunning and beautiful gifts and always me to a tee.  Check these out -

Gorgeous knitted plum pudding and stocking for my handmade decorations tree and the most gorgeous soaps you have ever smelt.

Love these two gorgeous hangers - they are quite large and made from beautiful wool felt with the cutest Santa buttons.

Not a great photo, but Karen also made me two beautiful xmas placemats with the cutest snowman fabric.  I didn't have any xmas placemats, so was perfect. Just had to stop hubby from spilling anything on his lol.

And if that wasn't enough Karen sent me the most wonderful selection of patterns and kits in beautiful wool (which we both love working in) - patterns I'd not seen before.How gorgeous is this.

And this beautiful one.

And love these two from 1894 Cottonwood House.

And absolutely loved these gorgeous Lynette Anderson xmas decorations.  I will have fun fussy cutting that beautiful fabric to make them. Oh which one to start first. thankyou my gorgeous friend - blown away with my gorgeous gifts. spoilt beyond belief.

Lots more to show you, but maybe I will leave that for the next post along with some stitching. Cheryl