Christmas Angel swap sent

to Sandi (no blog)

I gathered all the required goodies - Karen the swap hostess, supplied a list of must haves.

As Sandi indicated her favourite colours as blue and yellow and said her Christmas decorating is limited to red and green, I tried to ensure the gifts fit within these guidelines.

All gathered ready for wrapping and packing.

(In my haste to get the package in the mail I neglected to get a photo of the wrapped goods).

Fabric postcard - using stitchery design from Bronwyn at Red Brolly.

Applique wall hanging - design from Claire Turpin, published in  Australian Homespun No.103 Vol12 No12.

Something yummy - a mini Santa sack with fruit chews and chocolate.

Sandi chose a stocking - front with the naughty elf 

and the other front with Santa - a stitchery design by Bronwyn of Red Brolly teamed with red on red spots.

 

A little mug mat - using a pinwheel and a free gingie design from Michelle Ridgeway.

and on the back this fun stocking print.

A framed stitchery featuring a little tea with friend design from Bronwyn of Red Brolly.

A Christmas tag - design by Vivian Robinson published in Australian Homespun.

Little Decoration - red felt heart with crochet detail and beads.

Something sewing - sprocket pincushion using the pattern from Cluck Cluck sew, reduced a lot.

Candle mat - my own design in Sandi's favourite colours, with a stitched saying and hand appliqued circles. 

The starter kit included some red and green fabric and a pattern for a pin wheel table runner.

I hope Sandi enjoys her goodies as much as I enjoyed creating them for her.

Enjoy the closing days of 2012.

Happy dancing

All the way back from the Post Office!

(I may have been disappointed if the contents turned out to be something different!)

Thanks Australian Homespun - I won a fat quarter bundle of Helen Stubbings new range 'Life is Beautiful'. 21 fat quarters and a half metre panel.

Yippee - the colours are gorgeous and the designs pretty.

I'll be gazing at this pile of loveliness and just enjoying them all bundled up together - they will get their own space on the fabric shelf just as soon as I get around to cleaning that space.

Thank you Homespun.

The first three days of the Advent swap have revealed some useful lovelies, I'll show them at the end of the week.

 Hope your week has gotten off to a Happy start too.

Summer time fun...

All wrapped up and left with the post people earlier this week, now that it has arrived at its new home I can show you the finished hanging. 

If you have been looking here recently you would have seen quite a lot of the parts.

Bathing boxes at the beach

and the whole scene complete with girls playing on the beach.

I used a combination of raw edge machine applique for the larger pieces and buttonhole hand applique for the smaller pieces, I hand quilted clouds and around some of the shapes. The pattern has all of the work done by machine.

Instead of a hanging sleeve I put tabs on the top for hanging - they co-ordinate with the houses.

The design by Carol Turznik was published in Australian Homespun No 103 Vol12 No12. 

This was a very fun piece to work on and it was hard to send it on its way, so I was very happy to learn that Maria has a bit of a fascination with Bathing boxes and she adores her new wall hanging.

I found these turtles on the specials table at Spotty last week and figured they'd be perfect for backing.

While the fabric is a drill it is very soft and worked well for the purpose.

As it is almost time for celebrating the season of Christmas I included this little fellow and some chocolates too.

He is the one with the bead decorations I was working on a few weeks ago.

Thanks to Cheryll the wonderful host of this very fun swap.

Hope you are able to indulge in some Summer time fun this weekend with the beginning of the season here tomorrow.

Seasons in the sun.

Working on this piece I was reminded of the Old song sharing the title.

While we had a taste of summer today there was not much sun.

Hope your Saturday was sunny.

(All will be revealed when it arrives at a new home)

Building houses

Beach houses that is!

Scattered...

that's where I am right now.

Anyone for vegetables?

Nice new fabric for making a special present. My local Spotty came to the rescue on this one, the bigger better store over the other way didn't have this fabric! As I was there on the Christmas shopping night I got  a good deal too.

A little peace in my weekend.

(Another of the tag designs from Vivian Robinson published in Homespun No38, Vol 7 No6)

I sat on the beach Saturday and stitched this in the sunshine - Perfect.

A little hooky bowl loosely based on a pattern found here.

(excuse the loose thread in the photo - too lazy to take another one now it is finished)

Perfect size for sweets or threads or maybe little Christmas baubles.

This worked up very quickly and I think there will be some more appearing soon.

Now I need to get some serious tidying happening as the Agent has decided after more than 8 years it is time to do an inspection! Honestly he could have waited until after Christmas surely?

Sure hope there was sunshine in your creative space this weekend.

Shine a light

First up a little applique project the design by Claire Turpin published in Australian Homespun No103 Vol 12 No12. Summertime issue - perfect for the coming summertime.

Impossible to photograph on a grey day, I've done most of the blanket stitch.

More crocheted stars and Christmas trees from the tutorials found over at The Royal Sisters.

One brown sock is finished...

an anklet with a fold down cuff.

Pattern is Czarina's lace from Knitting Knee-Highs by Barb Brown.

Down to the foot of the first blue sock, absolutely no chance of a photo of that one today.

Lots of things started and not many finished, I may need to set some time aside soon for finishing up!

Hope your week has been productive.

Changing Needles

I gave the knitting needles a couple of days rest and started a little Christmas stitching.

First up a stocking...

it's almost a sock!

Then some little tags.

Both of these are taken from designs by Vivian Robinson, published in Australian Homespun No38 Vol7 No6.

The hook got a little workout too,

a Christmas tree and a star.

Patterns found here. 

Pretty yarn gifted by a fellow crafter - thanks Mel.

At least that was productive.

 Then I made a big mess of trying to wind this yarn from a skein.

The yarn came from the op-shop and is quite old, there is a lot of it but fortunately for me it is tied in small skeins so I won't get completely tangled.

Happy creating/

Posie wants to picnic

Posie has picked her favourite picnic rug to take on the picnic today.

We'll be heading out to meet the rest of the picnickers soon as the sun is shining and it is not even cool here.

The pattern for Posie the Bear was published in Australian Homespun.

She is a real character with her very large feet and her wobbly head which make her look a bit dreamy. She is only 6 inches tall and is very happy with her pretty pink bow.

Let's go see who else is playing at the picnic today.

Beaky bella

Joining in a again today with Melody for the Teddy bears picnic with one of Harriette's friends.

This is a little bear I made from a pattern which appeared in an early Homespun magazine. She was a bit of a challenge as she is only about five inches tall and skinny for a bear. Her nose is made of a separate piece and is quite pointy, just right for getting into the honey pot.

Hope your day is sweet as can be.

DeeDee Done

A recent rearrangement of the crafty things unearthed a number of incomplete projects - and as I came across each one the words I started this early last year kept coming out of my mouth. It seems that the beginning of 2009 saw me suffering a severe case of Startitis, I know it had something to do with the lack of a day job and thinking I had all the time in the world to complete the myriad projects which I began.

The good thing about the beginning of 2010 is that I have actually been completing some project whether they are newly started or older ones which I have picked up again. See previous post re House quilt.

Today while I was waiting for miss nudie to choose the colour for her clothes I got distracted by this project which has been on my 'want to do list' since December when I saw other creative bloggers making them for gifts. Fortunately for me Dee Dee made a quick decision about colour and fabric choices so we were underway early and did not give up until she was done.

Oh, yeah she is hanging out on the back of The Happy City quilt, I was going to take her to the beach for a photo shoot but my camera decided today was a good day to run out of battery, (must put those on the shopping list). This is a truly delightful design from the team at Melly and Me and was published in Australian Homespun in December of 2009, she is now available as a pattern.

And when the camera is doing go again I'll be able to show you the goodies I got at GJ's Sale yesterday - lots of fun.

Hope your Sunday was full of fun creations. Happy Stitching

How many new projects can you start on one weekend??

First there was the little Sweet stitchery which is part of the Stitcher's Angel project from Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches - I actually managed to complete this. This is small and I thought no problem, I'll easily complete it in the time it takes one movie to play - was I ever wrong! Some how I managed to get my thread in a big mess and it took almost one whole movie to untangle enough thread to finish this piece. I had to sit through a second movie to get the stitching completed - a good way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon. Then there is a new knitting project which I started more than once on Saturday evening, but it seems to be going okay now. the colours are deeper than they appear in the photo and I am really liking the softness of this yarn which has a chenille texture to it. I got it at Lincraft last week a serious impulse buy - it was all about the colours. It is destined to be a neck collar, rather than a full length scarf.

Sunday I just had this urge to try making myself a new top, I figured if I started now it might be ready for when the weather heats up. There was a time when I used to do a lot of clothes making but not recently, I have to say I am happy with how this is coming together. It is not quite done but it fits and really I just need to do the cosmetic bits like the hem and finish the second arm hole - not sure what happened to the lining part of the pattern but improvised with bias tape it works.

You're right it will need a good wash and iron when I am done, this fabric has been in my company for many years and the creases just wouldn't iron out.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Go on over and say Hi to MissyMack, she has had some excitement this month - what with her Breast of Friends block being featured in this months Australian Homespun and now she is celebrating 100 posts with a giveaway.

Oh, that will be me soon too, it seems I have been talking too much here and I'm almost up to three digits.

Well I hope Monday has been good to you.

Happy Creating

Surprise!

Thanks to the team at Australian Homespun I received this lovely surprise in the mail. I so like the Red Brolly designs. I was chatting with Ms13 about the book and the fact that there are no little people in our family at the moment and she suggested that most of the projects would be suitable for all ages. I think I may just take her advice and make some for me. Hope Life's good where you are. Happy Crafting

A Finish or Two

I am playing Catch UP! The family birthdays keep rolling around and I am so far behind I decided that I should at least attempt to remedy the situation. The first thing I finished was this owl pouch for me. Yes, it is already full, I made it to carry a set of maths cards which I use when working in Primary school. It is perfect in every way, I hope I get to use it though I think that may not be anytime soon. Then there is this version of the Saturday Morning Tote designed by the talented Gail Pan, which appeared in Australian Homespun No. 70. Using left over Paris Cats fabrics in the blue colour way I have pieced the front and strap, the back features the fabric you see on the sides of the front. Yes, I did have a play with ricrac again, I think I have figured out how to get it on straight, don't be lazy and change the foot on Nomee, she like it much better that way.

Still on the sewing table a mug bag using more of my coffee themed fabrics and a sewing compendium which also features Paris Cats fabric.

On the crochet front I am almost finished my twelve sided couch blanket. Yesterday I finished the last ball of multi coloured yarn and as I have plain blue leftovers in the same brand I am putting a plain border on it, one more round to go. I am pleased with how it looks and it is so cosy to snuggle under, it has been keeping me warm while I work on it on these cold nights we have been having lately.

Wishing you all a fantastic week and for those here in Victoria a successful start to term three.

Happy Creating

Fabric & Bag

How cool are these beverage fabrics? It has been so cold here recently that there has been a lot of tea and coffee drinking going on! I recieved the tea bag fabric in the package from Donna @ Kindred Crafters this week and was reminded that I had the coffee fabric in the stash. Saturday I put together a fun project using these fabrics, but I can't show because it is for a gift. Today a friend came to visit, she has been wanting to make a bag for a while but was not brave enough to try on her own, after having a very close look at some of the ones that I have hanging around here, yes - that is literally, they do hang around my house, I gave her some fabric and supervised the sewing. She went home very happy with this little number hanging over her shoulder. It is the Saturday Morning Tote designed by the talented Gail Pan published in Australian Homespun No. 70. The best bit is that her birthday is coming up this week and she is so happy that she learnt to make a bag that she insists she does not need another present! How easy is that? I had lots of fun, we laughed plenty and I got to do what I like best, sharing good company and my skills. Have a fun week, and for those of you on term break... Enjoy! Happy Crafting

All wrapped up!

My package wrapped and ready to go in the Christmas in July swap organised by Mrs Martins Quilt shop now that this one has gone in the post I can get back to some of my unfinished projects. All will be revealed when the package arrives at its intended destination, oh and then I can show you what came for me, I haven't cheated. I just put my package in the warehouse when it arrived last week so that I would not be tempted. This week I made another Angel this time from a design by Sally Giblin of The Rivendale collection which appeared in Australian Homespun July 2008. It is one of four designs which were made into a wall hanging but as you can see, yet again I have completely veered off the track and finished this one by itself with a co-ordinating felt backing.

Hope your weekend is a productive one.

Happy Crafting

Annie has arrived..

No, I did not recieve more mail this week, but... Veronica sent a message today to say that the Annie I sent has arrived safely at her new home and has settled in well with her new family. Here is the little package I sent with her a blankie to keep warm, a piece of Australiana fabric (a reminder of her homeland), a piece of Mary Engelbret travel themed fabric - considering she had to take a big trip all the way to Chile and a little Annie face dangly. Thanks to the lovely Aunt Pitty Pat for organising this fun swap and Denise White of the Cats Pyjamas for the fantastic easy to follow pattern for the doll. The Annie Head is from Australian Homespun No. 32 and is a design by Sandra Paull. Hop on over to Annie Flikr group to check out some other versions who have recently found there way to new homes. Tomorrow I am going to participate in the local event for 'World Wide Knit in Public Day'. The weekend is here, Yippee! Enjoy it wherever you are.

Happy Crafting

In the Mail today...

Look what I recieved today... My Paper Bag swap goodies from Jantine. A beautiful sewing themed dolly to hang in my crafting space, she has beautiful embroidered pockets on her dress to help keep things in their place. Jantine also made a little needle book with two pages and a cross stitch scissor fob and attached the scissors, I'm sure someone must have told her about my disappearing scissors.

The post people have been working together as Jantine sent a message to say that her package arrived today, so now I can show what I made for her.

The stitchery is a design by Lynette Anderson which appeared as one of the Breast of Friends blocks in Australian Homespun a couple of months back, of course it wasn't a stitchery design I just made it this way. I had so much fun creating this little wall hanging, with some sewing themed fabric squares and the fabric and notions which I recieved from Jantine.

Thanks to MissyMack for hosting this swap it was a lot of fun.

One last thing today, hop on over and say hello to Mini Monty Mama as she is celebrating 100 posts with a give away.

Happy Crafting