FIS Gifts sent

I was thrilled to find that I had to make for Dawnie in the Friends in Stitching swap. I had so many ideas of what to make. At the time I also had a lot of little red 3/8" hexie flowers with no project in mind. A mini quilt in reds and creams!

I loved every minute of making this little quilt. The finished quilt is 10". The only problem I found with making such a small quilt was that the slightest fraction out is magnified. There was quite a lot of reverse sewing! White quilting on dark red fabric was also a challenge.

We also had to send five small gifts to open before Christmas starting with each letter of SANTA. I couldn't resist putting them in a Christmas selvedge pouch!

In fact I loved this mini so much I am using my 1/4" hexie flowers to make myself one. It will be 8" square. I think 2014 may be a year of mini's for me.

I am really enjoying seeing all the Christmas swap gifts sent and received. So many clever bloggers out there!

Susan x

Online swap

My partner for the online Christmas swap was De. We had to send five small gifts for early opening S-A-N-T-A and one main present for Christmas Day. This is the beautiful table topper De made. It is too lovely to be put away yet.

And the gifts of solar Santa, cloth reindeer, Toblerone treat and and nativity.

I love these peaceful days between Christmas and New Year.

Susan x

Christmas mail

I have been lucky enough to receive some lovely goodies in the mail this week. Elyte from Tea, Fabric and Other Things sent me a delightful and unexpected gift. I think I almost have a collection of sweet calico bags now, and the fabric is very much my cup of tea. Thankyou!

Sue (no blog) sent me these cute potholders, I think they may be cousins of Peg and Dale.

And last but not least, my Friends in Stitching Christmas package arrived from De (not too happy with Australia Post but that is another story).

Feeling revived today after cooler temperatures overnight and today. Wishing everyone a happy, safe and peaceful Christmas.

Susan x

Naughty, naughty

I am so naughty, I've been cutting paper with my rotary cutter!!

Thanks to Sharon I have followed a Facebook link to Sarah Fielke and a tutorial for a gorgeous Christmas decoration make from old books or sheet music. I paid $6 for a hot glue gun at the Reject Shop and now there's no stopping me!

When I've made 12 of these they all get glued together in ball. Wish me luck, last time I used a hot glue gun (about 9 years ago) I ended up in a rather sticky mess. I do feel a bit guilty about cutting up an old Enid Blyton book, but it wasn't a favourite, and may well have ended up in the recycling anyway.

I also had a fun trip to the post office today. I wonder where these are off to.......

Hope you have a great week.

Susan x

Needle case swap

As you know from my last post I took part in a needlecase swap with Friends in Stitching. This is the needlecase I made for Kerri from Willowgrove Quilting. It's based on a pattern by Carol from Cherry Pie Designs. I first made it at the Stitching Post retreat last year, it's simple and small and easy to pop in with a bag of sewing.

Fun and games here as phase two of our bathroom renovation began yesterday.

Only three more sleeps until the Bathurst Bloggers Meet on Saturday. We have a lot of girls coming from near and far for a day of shopping, sewing and fun. Can't wait!

Susan x

FNWF

I had a great FNWF. It started with a family walk by the river at beautiful Lawson Park. It was so lush and green.........wish it was like that in my garden.

Followed by fish and chips for tea. Then lots and lots of productive sewing.....just a sneak peek....... I'm much happier about my SSCS gift now.

Almost forgot to open my needlecase swap. Kerry has done lovely work with the wool, beautiful detail. Thanks Kerry.

Have a great weekend.
Susan x

A lovely gift

It was my birthday a few days ago and I was lucky enough to have Jo in the birthday swap for my online stitching group. Jo made a lovely project bag using French General fabrics and filled it with a charm pack, mini scissors, chocolates and magnets. Thank you Jo, I love it.

My family gave me an iPhone so there hasn't been much sewing happening while I'm playing with that.

My nephews quilt arrived in Melbourne safely and in time for his 18th, and it sounds like he really liked it........phew! It's rather special to share my birthday with him.

I'll be back soon with a pic of all my birthday fat quarters and hopefully some actual progress on Irish Circles.

Susan x

What I made for Kerry

I joined the Friends in Stitching online group this year, and one of the requirements is taking part in the birthday gift swap. You can imagine my surprise when I found out my partner was Kerry from Cottage on the Hill....yes the Girls Day in the Country founder. What do you make for someone who has their own patchwork shop?

After lots of thinking and mind changing, I decided to make the Pockets to Go caddy in Prairie Rose fabrics. We had to use a saying and a button, so I put that on one side and some fussy cut hexie flowers on the others. I liked it so much I made one for myself that you can see here.

I hope Kerry had a lovely birthday, and enjoys my gift as much as I enjoyed making it.

Susan x

Natalie Bird Swap

Tonight was opening night for the Friends in Stitching Natalie Bird swap. I knew Teresa was making for me, and I was not disappointed. Teresa has made me a gorgeous big block keeper and a sweet little mug rug........a first for me on both counts. And in my favourite French General too. Thank you so much Teresa, I love them.

Back to my nine patches. Hope you're having a great Friday night.

Susan x

Friday Night With Friends

I have signed up for FNWF tomorrow. I'm planning to make my nine patches for April, and a little more Floral Beauty.

There will also be some excitement when I open this package from Teresa as part of a Natalie Bird swap.

So pop over to Cheryll to sign up for a night of stitching with friends.

Susan x