Two Stitching Days In A Row!

  Saturday I headed up to Patch n Quilt in Gisborne 

to catch up with these lovely ladies.

  

There was lots of laughing and chatting.

 Once again we had a swap. This one was a Bird theme.

Once again there was a wonderful selection of gifts.

 I came home with this lovely bag made by Elyte.

Such beautiful appliqueing.

 I made a sewing folder.

 This went home with Jo. 

I think she got my gift the last time too!

Thanks to everyone for another wonderful get together.
Thanks to Mary too for being a lovely hostess.
We did enjoy those lollies!

 I sent an ornament to Barb for Christmas and unfortunately it arrived broken in the mail. 

So I made Barb another one.

Sunday I was lucky enough to go to another 

stitching day with some other lovely ladies. 

How lucky was I to get two sewing days!

The newest issue of Australian Patchwork and Quilting is out. There is an article on our 2015 NOTYQ Quilt Exhibition.

Surprise Reading!

 Back in March at the Friday Night Sew-In, I didn't do any stitching but did some reading of magazines from the library for inspiration (see this post).

 One of the magazines I read was this edition of 

Homemade (Vol 33, No 3).

 I turned the page and what a surprise! 

I was the Star Letter.

It was the Reindeer wall hanging and stitchery hoop
that I made for Pat in the Christmas In July Swap.

This is the prize pack I received. Some fabric, 

acrylic templates, thread, A Thimblelady thimble, 

ten fabric hearts, thank you cards, lovely papers, 

embossing folder and stickers. The fabrics remind me a bit of vintage sheets and are quite pretty.

There was also this covered tape measure. 

I think he is suppose to be a turtle!

This edition must have come out about November or December and I missed it. If anyone has a copy of this magazine they no longer want, I'd love to get a copy to keep. I was surprised I hadn't heard anything from the publishers that I had won. It was only after I contacted them after 3 months or so that my prize was sent to me.

I've Been Published!

 In Homespun! Although not as a designer.

 My bird cage wall hanging I made for Peg 

for our FHFS Spotty Swap.

 It's very exciting to see your work in a magazine.

And I'm in good company. 

This is the issue that my lovely friend Jenny of Elefantz 

has her gorgeous Sweet Tweet quilt in.

I've been having problems getting photos from the camera. The downloading worked Sunday and when I tried on Monday, nothing shows up! I ended up putting the memory card into the old camera and that seemed to work. Hopefully I can get it sorted out.

Such a nuisance!

Tomorrow I'll show you the gorgeous stitchery
I received in Jenny's Stitchery Club Swap.

Santa Sack and In Print!

 My parcel arrived from Simone for our Santa Sack Swap. Wrapped in the most gorgeous red fabric (the colour isn't showing up very well) was this beautiful Santa Sack.

Simone has used such gorgeous fabrics. If only you could see them in person. They are so pretty.

 Here's a close-up of the stitching on the front.

So now the first two presents are in my sack waiting to be joined by lots more!

I got an email from Cheryll (Gone Stitchin') on Monday asking for my autograph! I had no idea why. It turned out Homespun magazine (Vol 13, No 7) has published a photo of my sewing machine cover with the sewing mat Maria (Life on the Block) made for me in last year's Santa Sack Swap. I had forgotten I'd even sent a photo in so it was a big surprise!

A couple of finishes

Thread catchers.An early Christmas hanger. This was a kit I bought from Anam Cara in Kialla Lakes (near Shepparton) a couple of years ago. It's finally done!

Of course, I've also been working on my double wedding ring quilt and a few other bits and pieces.
I've just received the latest issue of Homespun - The Go Green Issue and my Dee Dee Dolphin is pictured in the Reader's Showcase section. It's very exciting seeing your work in print. It must be so much more exciting to have your own design in print! Maybe one day I will too!