At the beach and a little stitching

We headed to the coast for a church camp on the weekend. These days we don't camp anymore but occasionally we put up the dome tent and camp for a night or two. This is easy camping as the catering is organised so it is only bedding etc that needs to be taken. We actually cheated a little as we stayed at Fiona's on Friday night as it was dark and rainy and not too good for setting up a tent. Lucky us! The next day we headed to Burrill Pines and went to the beach. Sadly this is the only time this summer that I have been! I even went for a SWIM! I know, you can't believe it but the water was lovely though it was very rough and I didn't last long in it as it was a bit wild.

The kids had a great time swimming and playing games on the beach.

Some indulged in a spot of fishing.

I had prepared some of the Stitch-a-long blocks from Tis the season as it was easy to stitch and chat with just one colour.

I managed to stitch one block.

Wednesday classes

Wednesday was another stitching filled day with social stitching and classes. So great to see how much the ladies have been achieving. Karen had been very busy over the week and had finished the cushion applique.

Karen had also made up her candlewicked bag as well.

She had also finished this lovely pin cushion for her daughter.

Paddy had been candlewicking as well. Aren't her leaves beautiful?

Maxine had her delightful bookmark to show us. I do love the colour of the variegated cotton.

Maxine also managed to save her candlewicking. She had sewn a little too close to the edge of the fabric and had to play with it to make up the bag. Well done, Maxine. It has worked out well.

For anyone who may need some, Hobbysew has Parlan in stock now. It is the iron on thin backing (like pellon) that Leanne Beasley uses behind her stitcheries at times. I think the second Vignette magazine should be in too soon! Can't wait to see the next blocks for the Vignette BOM.

A finish, almost, and "In My Garden" progress

Hurray! The quilting and binding are finished on the Crazy Christmas quilt.

I just need to make a label and thought I would stitch another of the blocks to use as the label. Here it is ready to stitch.

I have continued to work on the first block of "In my Garden" I just couldn't wait to start. Here are the fountain...

the trees....

and the flowers.

Stitching and some new books

I enjoyed appliquing this tea towel last week. Hobbysew has some of Nancy Halverson's tea towels and books in stock so it was fun making this one out of her latest Christmas book, Tidings.

I have also been stitching these little motifs for a baby block. No! There are no little ones coming (grandies that is) yet but the iron on transfer was fading so I thought I had best stitch it. This is the third project that we received at the Immerse stitching day last year. It is a Melly and Me design for her new patterns for kids called Sew Little.

I was also tempted to order some new books. I saw this lovely one at Robyn's, my quilter, recently and it is lovely.

I do love Bareroots patterns and this has some nice things in it but the book is tiny. I had only seen a picture of it and thought it was the same size as her previous books.

Wednesday stitching and a start

Lovely to see the girls on Wednesday night. Sue had her little sheep scissor keeper finished. Doesn't it look great?

Sue also brought along some Nancy Halverson fat quarters she has bought from Cute as a Button. Sadly, Rebecca is moving away from Canberra so we will miss her at our stitching days with all her lovely kits and goodies.

Barbara had her finished candlewicking to show us. Looks so lovely, Barbara.

Barbara had also finished another "World as it should be" bookmark.

I couldn't resist and had to start the "In My Garden" BOM! Here is my first little applique for block 1. I might just have to do a bit more this afternoon! I am enjoying a day at home today and am trying to get a few things done. I suppose I will have to run the vacuum around a little too....perhaps!

New BOM has arrived

It was so exciting to get the mail on Monday and find the first block of "In my Garden" by Anni Downs.

Here are the lovely background fabrics and the applique and piecing fabrics. They are quite different to what I usually use but I can see how beautifully they work in this quilt. The kit came with some DMCs as well.

I did manage to get a little stitching done and finished this last, I think, block of the My Garden BOM.

A mistake!

How irritating! I traced this My Garden block onto the wrong side of the fabric! I know you probably can't see any difference but there is. I have done this once before with this fabric (gorgeous fabric by French General) and felt OK as that is going to be my quilt label. But to do it again was extremely frustrating. The little stitchery won't be wasted but I didn't feel like stitching it again.

Here it is half done for the second time.

Hope everyone else is having better luck with their stitching. I am trying to keep up with my BOMs as my new one from Anni Downs, In my Garden, appears to be on its way. Can't wait to see the fabrics.

Ballet Russe at the National Gallery

Adrienne, Hilary and I went to the National Gallery over a week ago to see the Ballet Russe exhibition. It was amazing to see the colours of the costumes but also to see how they are decorated. They were often painted and many were embroidered and appliqued. The photos don't do them justice but give a little idea of how beautiful these costumes are. Some of them are over 100 years old.

Had to put this one in as it was a favourite even though it is blurry.

We really enjoyed seeing this exhibition and enjoyed trying to work out how the costumes were decorated. We also enjoyed lunch at the gallery as well.

The last few days...

As usual, Tuesday and Wednesday were busy at the shop. Hobbysew is having a sale and even though I have a very substantial stash, I couldn't resist getting a free half a metre each time I bought 1/2 metre on some of the bolts. I came home with about 4 metres of fabric for the price of 2. There was some lovely show and tell too. Judy, our hexagon expert, has been making these lovely covered coathangers. She says this is the last one as they are fiddly but they are very special.

Donna has been working on this wonderful carpet of Australian flowers. It is so beautiful and she has designed some of the flowers herself.

In the evening, Sue had made this lovely gift for a new baby.

I have had fun continuing to stitch on this block of Scandinavian Christmas. I think I have finished the middle now and have started the cross stitches.

I sent the giveaway prize off to Sue in the UK yesterday. Hopefully it should be there in a few weeks.

And the winner is....

Thank you to everyone who commented on my Blogiversary giveaway. It was exciting to cut up the names and draw out the winner.

And ...... the winner is Sue Bone.  Congratulations Sue. Could you send me your address by email and I will send your prize as soon as possible.

Over the weekend I couldn't resist stitching a little more on my snowman. I decided to stitch his scarf in close backstitch instead of satin stitch and though it takes a lot longer, it does look a bit like the scarf has been knitted. Now to do the white/ecru parts!

Stitching progress

I am slowly progressing with the quilting on Crazy Christmas. I decided to hand quilt the centre little appliques and had originally thought I might hand quilt the whole thing. I think I chose some fairly heavy wadding and it isn't easy to hand quilt so have decided to machine around the blocks. I am about half way now.

And.....I couldn't resist starting the next block of Scandinavian Christmas. Adrienne came over for stitching last night and I just had to have something to stitch, didn't I? I managed to applique the pieces on and now can enjoy the stitching. 

I am going to stitch up a few drawstring bags today for the appeal for stitching goodies being run by Jenny of Elefantz and the Gum tree designers. She mentioned on her blog that they need bags and also donation of needles, pins and embroidery threads. If you would like to help you can contact her via her blog.

There have been a few people who have had trouble commenting on the blog so if you want to be in the Blogiversary draw then you can send me an email if you wish and I will add you to my list.