Secret Sewing and Some Finds

Think my camera is playing up -

It's taking funny photos. No not really - only secret sewing being done at the moment, so really can't show you too much.

And some more - think you will guess the theme from this one.

Don't often get time to go to garage sales, but we did today seeing it was such a gorgeous morning to be out -

I had been talking to Michelle about being a bower bird lol.  Just had to bring these goodies home.

And there was more - $20 well spent I thought.  Cheryl

Enjoying the Sunshine

After a long cold winter down here, it has been the most amazing weekend with temperatures in the mid 20s so what's a person to do - garden, a lovely walk in the Grampians and today GD2 pleaded for a chance to test out her new fishing rod she got for her birthday recently  -

Such a cutie pie - can you see the pink fishing rod. Alas no fish, but she had fun.  And nan got to sit and watch and do some stitching.

I also spent some time on these -

Cutting lots and lots of 2" squares - 200 down, 200 to go.  These are for my Natures Journey border. Cheryl

Friday Night with Friends

Well it is the first time I have been able to join in FNWF for ages so I was very excited to be stitching away with everyone. 

First off I stitched all my little xmas decorations onto their backgrounds in readiness to put them together. These were from the class we did in August with Lisa from FignBerry Creations.

Then a bit of stitchery was in order -

So all in all quite a productive Friday night.

Now I havn't shown you the centre block for my Natures Journey  stitchalong I am doing with lots of others -

 Very pleased I have managed to keep up (so far). It's a bit hard to see but there are lots of diamonds handstitched on around the outside of the border.  Next part - cutting and sewing together 400 x 2 inch squares.  Need I say more lol.

It has been a busy week or so - two gorgeous friends, two gorgeous daughters and one gorgeous sister all have birthdays.  I ran out of time to make something for dear Shez, but when  I saw this pattern I knew I had to make it for my other lovely friend, Keryn as it reminded me of her gorgeous sheep  -

And finally, a couple of weeks ago I had a lovely win over at Buttermilk Basin. These were the three lovely patterns that arrived -

 

Very lucky indeed. Hope you all had fun stitching Friday night and a lovely weekend. Cheryl

Not Much to Report

I have been busy stitching, though you wouldn't know it as I don't have a lot to share with you.  Most of it has been secret stitching, but this is what I have to show -

I have finished stitching all my xmas decorations from our FignBerry class a couple of weeks ago.  Now just to put them together.  I did consider making them into a little wallhanging, but have decided I will make them into their intended purpose.  they are a bit cute.

I have  also been appliqueing dozens of little diamonds onto my "Natures Journey" quilt. Half way - will show you when I'm finished. 

 

Three years this month since I started my blog. Wow time flies. Have a good week. Cheryl

Christmas in August

I know it sounds like I'm trying to extend Christmas stitching into 12 months of the year (I already do that lol), but Christmas in August stitching was due to a lovely class we had in Stawell on Saturday with Lisa from FignBerry Creations.  Lisa does amazing xmas projects, so when she asked what we would like her to teach I had no hesitation in saying xmas.

Lisa showing us her very cute stitched decorations.

And look who came for a visit - my lovely friend Shez and Annette from Jindi's Cottage.

One of our projects were these lovely decorations "Twinkling Trees" stitched in CGT "Snapdragon".

And the second project was "Blitzens Tree", a needleturn applique wallhanging and was the project I chose to work on during the day. I even got a couple of blocks done.

I have since re-done my star into the dark red stripe that Lisa used.  Just didn't like this one as much as hers.  They are nice and easy to so, and even better the stitchery on this project is pre-printed.  Well must be off - stitching to be done. Cheryl

CIJ, Natures Journey SAL and FHFS

Well I only just realised I hadn't shown you what I made for Fiona in our Friends Having Fun swap. A ruler cover/bag was the theme this time and I know most of you will have seen the lovely photos Fiona took over on her blog www.bubzrugz.blogspot.com   I know she was really happy with her ruler cover and it has already had an outing -

Loved stitching the cute little stitcheries on this.

A close up of one of these. the cottage garden threads are great for picking up the colors of the fabrics.

And the back.  This was such a fun swap and one that had me thinking for a bit until I discovered this pattern.

And while talking of swaps, I've shown the you the gorgeous gifts I received from Jo in Cheryll's Christmas in July swap, but I havn't shown you what I made.  My partner was Lyn from Queensland -

First off was this wallhanging which is a design from The Birdhouse and one I have stitched several times and I still enjoy it.

I also made Lyn some of my favourite decorations - and of course they are Michelle's designs from Ragtag Stitchin. 

 

And lastly a Christmas bag (every girl needs at least one) - a design from Gail Pan's latest Christmas book and of course you need some goodies to go in it - so choccies, cottage garden thread and a Marg Low pattern/kit for Lyn to stitch.  I had a lovely email from her to say she had opened her gifts and was happy with them. 

And lastly I have been stitching, stitching, stitching on the centre block from Natures Journey, a Hatched and Patched design which lots of us are stitching away on as a SAL over on Chooky's blog.  It has taken a while as my needleturn is very slow, but must say I'm happy with it.  And a big thankyou to Shez who sat there for ages and cut out all the templates for me (I use the template plastic method) -

Ta da.  Now to start the big process of cutting lots and lots of little squares and putting it all together.
Cheryl

Christmas in July Gifts

Well I had been eyeing off my very interesting parcel Christmas In July parcel for a week or more with no clue who it was from, so it was great to be finally able to open it on Saturday.  And it turned out my partner was Jo from ButterZ blog,  I always admire Jo's beautiful work so was excited to see what was inside -

The first one I opened was this gorgeous cushion with a lovely stitched tree and yummy buttons.

And I love this wallhanging - what a cute little blackboard elf to write your xmas list on. Can you see the little knitted stocking that holds the chalk?  I said to Jo that I am so tempted to hang him now and leave him out til xmas.

Jo obviously did her homework to find out I had a soft spot for snowmen (among other things lol).  I have never seen one like this though - it is just amazing and so very gorgeous. It is actually a wine glass painted in a frosted, textured paint (will have to ask Jo what it is) and then with a face and decorations, and I'm sorry I've cut off the stem, as it actually has a votive candle sitting on top.  Love him.

And if that wasn't enough Jo had also made me a gorgeous dishcloth (way too nice to use  for that - make a lovely doiley or candlemat) and knitted Santa decoration, yummy Lindt chocolates (long gone) and coffee sachet. 

What a wonderful partner you were Jo. So very spoilt and I just loved my amazing gifts, thankyou so very much. They will be a special part of my xmas decorating. Cheryl