Meet Cheryl the Deer

I have had the most amazing weekend at my gorgeous friend Keryn's with some great friends in tow.  Keryn's amazing birthday gift for my special birthday a few weeks ago was a day sewing one of her gorgeous designs.  So meet Cheryl -

Isn't he the cutest reindeer you have ever seen.

Shez and her version of "Cheryl".

Anne and Barb showing their progress.

Keryn,  in charge of the glue gun. Think she was worried about us burning our fingers.

And with not too much whip cracking, as she had some very eager participants, here is our finished "herd" of deer at the end of the afternoon. Aren't they gorgeous?

 

Keryn, my dearest friend, thankyou for the most amazing weekend and for one very special birthday gift.  Cheryl

What I've Been Up To

I know - I have been a little slack on the blogging the last couple of weeks, but work has been taking much of my time and not a lot has been happening in the stitching department.  But finally I do have some progress I can show you -

These are month 4 blocks from Anni Downs' "A Nature's Journey" which I am doing as a stitchalong through Chooky's blog.

I took this lovely Christmas one of Viv's away with me on holidays recently - not a lot done while I was hols as you can see, and not too much done on it since I've been home, but I will get back to it as I love it.

And still on Christmas, but not a good photo I'm sorry.  This is Lisa's from FignBerry Creations current Christmas bom and whoo hoo I am managing to keep up.

And there's been some progress on secret Christmas swap sewing.

Sorry if this post is a bit xmas heavy for some at this time of the year.  Our Thursday night sewing group are stitching a Lynette Anderson design "An Angel's Wish"  - love this Santa block. It is actually twice the size shown here - lots of blanket stitching ahead of me. 

Well I have actually done more than I thought.  Cheryl

A Day of Stitching with Leanne from Petals and Patches

Last Saturday we were lucky enough to have Leanne from Petals and Patches teaching at the lovely local quilt/craft shop where I work -

She had two lovely projects for us -

This gorgeous Paris themed table runner.  It was fun learning Leanne's technique using colored pencils. 

Our second project was this lovely paper pieced cushion.  Can't wait to play with this one either.

Lots of Leanne's beautiful projects as inspiration.

And her lovely new block of the month.

Oh and look who I ran into lol - Shez.

And I have been doing some sewing. Love this cute block from An Angel's Story, an Anni Downs pattern.  Am doing this as a SAL with The Christmas Beetle - I have two lovely Anni quilts on the go at the moment. 

Have a lovely weekend and a Happy Mothers Day to all you lovely mums. Cheryl

FHF Hexie Swap and Natures Journey SAL

I can now show you what I made for Kate, my partner in this fun swap as her gift has arrived.  I didn't go with the paper pieced hexies, instead decided on this -
This hexie sewing bag is a Gail Pan design and you will have to take my word for it, that is has a hexagonal base.

And I made this little pincushion to go with it.

And I have been stitching along with lots of girls on an Anni downs bom "Nature's Journey".  These are my blocks for April -

Am loving working on this quilt

Not sure these look like bees like they are supposed to be.

Have a great week. Cheryl

FHFS and Some New Patterns

I belong to a wonderful swap group of friends "Friends Having Fun" and our first swap for the year was a hexie swap (or paper piecing).  My gift arrived last Friday from lovely Barb.  Do you want to see -

Inside was the most beautiful hexie table centre - now my friends all know how much I love snowmen and Barb always makes me beautiful snowman item in our xmas swap, so was very excited when I saw she had stitched these gorgeous snowmen for our swap this time. Will be perfect on my coffee table for winter. Love it Barb, thankyou so very much..

These cuties are on both ends of the table centre.

And this is the centre. Such pretty fabrics as well.

Barb had also included this gorgeous hexie fabric, a pretty cottage garden thread, which I love to stitch with and some very yummy Raspberry Lindt chocolate.  Loved my most beautiful gifts Barb, thankyou so very much and as always you know just the perfect thing. 

My gift hasn't arrived at it's recipient yet, so will show you what I made when it does.

At the soiree that Shez and I went to a week or two ago Lisa from FignBerry Creations had some lovely new xmas patterns "hot off the press", and of course I had to add them to my ever growing pile of projects -

Loved both these smaller projects.

Lots of stitching in this one, but it was just beautiful in the flesh.

And I had to have this teddy one as well.  Lots to keep me busy. Cheryl

More Soiree Photos and a Lovely Surprise

Shez was lucky enough to win one of Lisa's lovely books at the soiree last Saturday.  Carol in the background busy stitching away (unlike the rest of us)

Well I might have to revise that - everyone on my table looking very studious here

I love pincushions, so couldn't resist taking a photo of this collection of Leanne's lovely pincushions.

Now on my return home there was a parcel waiting for me.  As I wasn't expecting anything I tore it open and it was a surprise birthday gift from gorgeous Fiona (bubzrugz).  Wanna see -

 I had been drooling over these lovely goodies Fiona had been making on her blog.  This cute little bunny and beautiful zippered purse - I will use this to keep my pencils, pigma pens, etc in and she had also included one of her great little thread baskets - will fit perfectly in my sewing bag.

And there was more - the cutest stitched little bear that will hang in my sewing room, and a lovely wash cloth - all beautifully handmade.  Fiona I do love all my gorgeous gifts - they will all be so handy.  Thankyou so much for spoiling me.  Cheryl

A Wonderful Week Away and Stitching Soiree

Well I am back from a wonderful week at Magnetic Island with my family - yes I know life is tough sometimes.

This was the view from our front door every day.  A beautiful 31/32 degrees every day, though I must admit the humidity took a bit of getting used to.

Lovely beaches to swim at every day.

Lots of great things to do with the grandies.

And great to finally get to meet my gorgeous friend Karen from Brisbane, who was holidaying in Townsville and came over and spent the day with us, along with her wonderful grandson Parker and friend Narelle.  We had lots of fun as well as lots of talking and catching up.  Enjoyed our day immensely Karen - it was one of the highlights of our trip.

We flew home Friday, but no rest for the wicked as Saturday saw us heading off to a fun day of stitching with Lisa from FignBerry Creations and Leanne from Petals and Patches -

Some of our lovely projects from the day - sewing basket. needlebook and pincushion from Leanne and Ladybug table centre from Lisa.

This was the project I worked on on the day - a lovely sewing case designed by Lisa.

Loved this one too - and I'm sorry about the photo, but no way of laying it flat to get a better one.  This was one of Leanne's patterns for us "My Sewing Studio" wallhanging.

More of Lisa's lovely designs - patterns for which we received on the day.

Lots more photos to show you of our wonderful day - but will save them for another day.  Thankyou to my wonderful friend/driver Sandy, and lovely to have my stitching buddies Shez, Melody, Carol and Maria to spend the day with.  cheryl