Christmas swaps

Each year my online quilting group have a Christmas ornament swap and a Secret Santa swap.

I thought I'd show you what I made for my partners.

First off, I made a little felt bird...

And sent it off with some other goodies..

For my Secret Santa gift I made a pincushion..

I got to use some gorgeous variegated threads that I was given for Christmas.

So along with something "handmade",I needed to put something "yummy", something in her favourite colour and something Christmassy.

And here's it all before it was wrapped and sent off...

Hope Bennie likes it!

Have a great day tomorrow!

Merry Christmas

Hope that this Christmas finds you healthy,happy and looking forward to 2015! 

Tasmania

Well we've been back from our trip to Tasmania for a couple of weeks now, but I still feel like I'm catching up...

Here's some of my favourite photos...

We started off in Hobart

View from Mt Wellington

Can you spot my boy?....

From there we went on a cruise from near Hobart to Port Arthur. The cruise was amazing- especially seeing the seals and racing dolphins.

Port Arthur was a great place to visit. Beautiful and historic. 

Even managed to spot a quilt...

From there we went to Bicheno and Freycinet National Park...

Bicheno Blow Hole...My boy trying to give me a heart attack..

Look at it's little Joey!

And then onto Launceston, and further north.

Cataract Gorge...crocheting a scarf whilst the kids went on the suspension bridge!

Then we headed off to a very cold Cradle Mountain. It was so misty and rainy I couldn't tell you what it looked like but to our surprise that night it snowed, which was a consolation....the kids loved it!

We headed from there to fly out of Devonport to Melbourne for a couple of days.

I could rave for ages but hopefully the photos will give you a glimpse into the beauty of Tasmania.

Hope you're a having a good week.

Spring..

Spring is here but currently we don't quite have a spring in our steps as a flu is making us all weary. The plants, however, are enjoying the warmer weather and the weeds are also flourishing!

We have enjoyed the warmer nights and the kids have been making fires in the firepit and playing with glow sticks.

Wish I had some craft to show you but haven't had the energy or inclination. We are about to head off on a big family holiday to Tasmania so I will be busy in the coming days trying to get us organised. Packing for 5 (hubby packs for himself, thank goodness!) is quite a task.

Hope you have a good week.

Weekend away.

So last weekend I got back from my annual trip to go quilting up at Armidale. Unfortunately I don't have a lot to show for my time (except maybe a renewed interest in my craft and children who appreciate me a bit more!) My main project that I took was a flannel quilt that was a quilt that was not co-operating! It was made from a pattern that had been written for regular quilting cottons, but in the kit it had a note saying "Since flannel fabric stretches more, we suggest using interfacing". But unfortunately with these limited instructions I was at a bit of a loss exactly how to do that!!

I did however complete a pillowcase for a little man who likes Ninjas, Spiderman, cats and giraffes...

I also had a very cute cat panel that I sliced up, bordered with a bali pop I had in the cupboard, to end up with blocks like this..(this may be my favourite as it reminds me of my ginger cat, Louie)

So I am currently auditioning sashing fabrics...(feel free to vote!)

And so that I could justify my epic tv watching during the Commonwealth Games, I have been knitting again. I have been receiving a Winter Club from Jellywares and got a lovely skein of Malabrigo wool. So after seeing this pattern, I got knitting, and this is what I ended up with.

It wasn't supposed to have a turnover band but my attaching of the band to the actual hat piece was so shoddy I made it so the band turns over the dodgy join. Still works, I think...

Anyway, hope you're having a good week!

The end of school holidays...

School holidays are at an end. I spent a week with the kids at my parent's farm. It was so warm, the kids braved the river for a paddle

It was nice to catch up with family and spend time in my childhood home.

And meet my Dad's new horse, Buddy. Gorgeous Girl wanted to bring him home! He has lots of personality!

Hope you're having a good week!

Q3 Finish-A-Long List

Ok, so I'm back to writing a hope-to-finish list for the next 3 months. So here goes...

1.This top needs quilting and binding.

2. I want to get this ripple crochet blanket finished.

3. These blocks still need to get into a quilt

4. And my travelling circle quilt top still needs to be moved on from being just a top...

Yep, forever the optimist...

Winter is here...finally..

So it finally feels like winter has hit us after a very mild May and June

The poor old trees and plants don't know what they are supposed to be up to, with a bit of rain and the last weeks of warmth.

Life has been chaotic here with sick kids, end of financial year stuff and the usual bits and pieces.

Unfortunately we had a nasty visit from some roaming dogs two weeks ago and we found our two beautiful bunnies dead. Gorgeous Girl was, understandably, very upset but decided that little bunny hugs might make her feel better so we welcomed Ivy and William into the family. They are already affectionate little things and very sweet.

Ivy

William

We are off on holidays next week so hopefully I will get a bit of time to do some crafting?! (after I finish the 15 sparkly skirts I need to make for a school dance performance!) So hope you have a good week. Stay warm, put the feet up and enjoy a warm beverage..

Random....

Here are some pictures from the last week or so...

My new spotty umbrella....

Some flannel fabrics I've been playing with...

The patchwork curtain tie-backs that Gorgeous Girl made for her room. Love her colours...

"Pillow, what pillow?? But have you noticed this low lying cloud??"

Hope you're having a good week