Christmas day that was

Christmas morning saw me opening my gift from Gina in Wales and it was well worth the wait. I received this lovely table runner designed by her daughter Gemma(I found this quite amazing as we are worlds apart and both have daughters called Gemma). Along with the table runner I got some English quilting mags, a lovely calender and some fabric. Not in the picture is the candle which I had burning all day and by evening the house was filled with the most beautiful smell all Gemma & Lucas' friends commented on it.
Thank you Gina for my lovely gift.

The day that was.
Santa and his helper.

After lunch saw us playing Boule.

Tony who always plays to win no matter what measuring distances between balls.

Obviously Gemma thought she had won this one.

These innocent little whistles saw me with pains in my stomach from laughing and mascara running down my face also from tears of laughter. They came in our crackers and were so much fun. They are all numbered and you get music sheets to play tunes. To say the very least I am a much better stitcher than I am a musician. Lucas thought we could practice and next year do carols on the circuit LOL. I can assure you it will take a lot of practice.

A late finish gift.
I am a real fan of Anni's.
I was pleased with my felting and dying efforts after a quick trip to Amandas for some black dye to get my red darker.

Merry Christmas

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas.

A very quick Christmas gift.
This idea came via Lisa.
Last year I won a give away on her blog it was a copy of the Silver magazine which she contributes to. This was one of the gift suggestions.
Thanks Lisa for the mag and the idea.

Renee has also made some and posted some links to different recipes.

There has been some reindeer action happening here, these guys have all left the herd.

Not sure she quite fits into the nativity.

Christmas is just round the corner

My good friend Amanda gave me this lovely Christmas gift a bottle of local organic olive oil inside this cute little bag which fits my most carried possession, my aluminium water bottle.
Such a useful gift I love it.

A couple of gifts for myself from myself.
I love Paddington Bear - with this.............. I get a case and a quilt top all in one.
This is in anticipation of being a grandmother one day.
Gemma's only response was don't tell Sean!!!!!

I got these from Hettie's Patch.
I was at the shop when the rep came with the samples of this fabric range and loved them straight away....now what to make with them.

A lovely friend gave me this as I had also been drooling over them at Hettie's Patch.
I was trying to convince myself I really didn't need them just because they looked so cute......so wasn't I lucky to be given them.
That takes all the pressure off.

with the lid off so you can drool to.

The final post out from Amitie

The water lily that is on my back yard pond.

It is going to be hot today so it's off to the shops early then cooking all day with the air conditioner on.

Pink Glove Dance

This makes me smile every time I watch it.
What a great fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.
Pink Glove Dance on You tube

It came to me via an email this was the message attached.

Dear Everybody, please watch the video & send it to your friends.

Our daughter-in-law, Emily (MacInnes) Somers, created, directed and
choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division as a
fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help
promote their new pink gloves. I don't know how she got so many employees,
doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really catch on and
they all had a lot of fun doing it.

When the video gets 1 million hits, Medline will be making a huge
contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the
community. Please check it out. It's an easy and great way to donate to a
wonderful cause, and who hasn't been touched by breast cancer?

As I have never attached a You Tube before and when I have seen it on other blogs it usually takes you to You Tube some how this doesn't !!!!!!
Here is the link because I think they have to get the hits from You Tube if you get my drift.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw

I am actually patting myself on the back being able to put the video on my blog.

65 Roses done and dusted

I have posted my block for the 65 Roses quilt.

If you want more info regarding this great cause head over here.

Workshop with Kellie number 2

This weekend saw me at Hettie's Patch helping with the second workshop with Kellie from Don't Look Now. The girls had the option to do the same project as last time or as Kellie says "she just drew this one".
A very cute Christmas project............. look at that little partridge in the pear tree.

The group at the end of Sunday

This is Kellie's new project and once again the photo doesn't do it justice. A Christmas wreath done in pastel colours it is just beautiful. I did ask what it was called BUT ............I have forgotten must be my age LOL. The pattern will be available very soon, keep an eye out on Kellie's blog.
It really is very cute.

This is Earl, Lorraine's husband he is ever so useful no matter what you want, Earls your man lifting, carrying, holding projects to be photographed. He does well to put up with so many women.

This photo is for Georgette ....... Meredith excelled herself and didn't spent tooooooo much time talking.

For more photos of the weekend head over to Hettie's Patch.

Secret Santa

To my very secret - Secret Santa my parcel arrived today.
I arrived home from work today to find the postie had left a parcel. My Secret Santa has not left any clues to who she is. My instructions are to leave a post so that she knows the parcel has arrived in one piece and that I will find out who she is when I open the rest of my presents(there a quite a few of them) so Christmas day it is.

A good cause

I read about this on Sarah's blog - what a good cause.

Kathreen at Whip Up is organising a quilt block drive for Cystic Fibrosis foundation in Australia. All the details and the pattern can be downloaded from here . It is 4 5 inch blocks sewn together and one of them with an embroidery or applique supplied (or you make your own). I even borrowed Sarah's words what else could I say.

Santa sack for Charlotte

A finish - Charlotte's Santa sack.

It is huge you can tell from this photo - Gemma can nearly fit into it.
I am sure Charlotte will be able to sleep in it on Christmas night.

The pattern is by Viv Robinson.
The reindeer go all the way around starting with Rudolf.
I just have to do one row of stitching between the reindeer on the front and the back.

The gum trees on the circuit have just come into flower and this noisy fellow and a lot of his mates have taken a liking to them.

The most giving Gerbera - it is by my front door and just keeps flowering year after year.

Posted off my SSCS parcel this morning - no hints on here as to what I have made my swap partner she will have to wait until Christmas.

Gimpy and family

Meet Gimpy - so named because if you look closely he/she has a deformed leg. I had always thought he/she was injured in some way. I have fed him/her for a few years on and off. This year he/she has 2 babies and a mate who all turn up for some food. I know you should not feed wild birds but his/her legs seems to be getting worse. I make a special mix up for them - the recipe came from the zoo.

This is one of the babies.

The babies are so funny they make the most amazing noise when they are fed.......... both adult bird feed them.

Sadly I now feel the deformed leg is congenital as one of the babies also has a pronounced limp.