Merry Christmas

I was very lucky to receive this Tilda Angel pattern and kit as a Christmas gift from Karin in Norway this week. I hope you read this post Karin as I am unable to contact you to say Thank you. I have deleted our emails and can't remember your blog name!! If you read this post Karin, Thank you so much, it was a lovely surprise and can you send me an email so I can thank you personally!

I have been busy making these really sweet Bon bons. They are very quick to make and I have given them to many friends and used them for several Secret Santa party gifts this Christmas. It is a Anni Downs pattern and a really cute way to give a small gift or a box of choccies!

I would like to wish everybody a
Merry Christmas
and I hope to see you again soon in Blogland.

Secret Santa Christmas Swapping is Fun

I cannot believe it is over a month since my last post. This year has been extremely hectic and I have definitely not spent as much time as I would have liked doing 2 of my favourite hobbies...craft and blogging. Never mind there is a light at the end of the tunnel...in only 10 days time I will be on holidays for 6 weeks!

I received my SSCS last week and I have just found out that my parcel arrived safely in Sweden today.

Above are the goodies I have received from Caroline in the Netherlands.

Below are the Christmas gifts I have sent to Marica in Sweden.

I have many things to share with you and I will try to be a Better Blogger!!!

Perhaps we could start a new group...BB's...along the same lines as AA.

"My names Cathy and I promise to be a Better Blogger...."

(Yes, I'm getting silly now!!)
Cathyxx

Rosalie and Leanne's Campania projects

Above is a picture of Rosalie's display.

Such gorgeous things.

I am really keen to make the Dolls House quilt....will add it to my growing list!

Rosalie's Christmas Snowman stitchery.
This stitchery is cleverly mounted onto a canvas.... a good idea!

Another stitchery from Rosalie....so pretty and bright.....I would like to do this one too!!

Leanne's Craft and Needle bag.
This was the project that I worked on for the day.

My version of Leanne's bag.
It was a lovely project to work on.....

Campania

This Saturday saw many Tasmanian ladies head off to Campania for the 6th Gathering held by The Quilted Crow ladies. A terrific day was had by all. The guest tutors were Leanne Beasley and Rosalie Quinlan! While the day was all about Christmas there was a definite Halloween theme in the air. The date of this gathering was infact Halloween. Dierdre displayed her amazing collection of Halloween related craft and several bloggers arrived dressed in witchy outfits!!

The beautifully decorated hall.

A Halloween Tree.

My favourite Halloween quilt. (apparently the pattern for this quilt was in Homespun last year....it is now a quilt I am keen to make!!)

A couple of happy witches.

Myself, Jo, Fiona and Dierdre.

Rosalie and Leanne sharing a few stories and the projects for the day.

Ladies having fun....stitching, chatting, laughing, eating, enjoying......

Stitching Angel Surprise

I had a very pleasant surprise in the mail yesterday! All of these beautifully wrapped gifts arrived from my Stitching Angel. I don't know who my angel is, only that she lives in Salt Lake City.....very mysterious and sneaky!

And these are all the gorgeous black and white goodies that my Angel sent.....

A large black and white bag, a very cute cherry fabric bag, a pin cushion, a needle case, plus fabric, buttons, cottons and other notions....


The inside of the needle case...

Thank you So much Angel. I love black and white things and I love all of the things that you have sent! I have been very spoilt!!!

A Stitching Angel

It has been more than a month since my last post. Very slack I know!!

I have been busy stitching during this time. I have almost completed 2 Christmas swap gifts, made 4 Quilt Aid blocks and stitched for my Stitching Angel partner.

Above are the gifts that I made for Jo. I thought it was very funny when I opened the email from Helen and it said that Jo was my partner. It was even more amusing because the weekend after that email I went to Hobart and stayed at Jo's house for 2 nights. I was so tempted to leave "Stitching Angel" messages around Jo's house but I thought that might have been a bit obvious...

Below are the first 4 Quilt Aid blocks I have been working on. I am enjoying working on these blocks so much. They are all different and the fabric Sachet Potpourri is just beautiful. Thankyou so much for this idea Helen....I cant help but think of those women in Africa everytime I work on a block ....

Block designed by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched.

Block designed by Liz Stanway of Teddlywinks.(slightly altered)

Block designed by Rosalie Quilan of Rosalie Quinlan Designs.

Block designed by Helen Stubbings of Hugs'n Kisses.

Raggy doll swap

I have had an extremely busy and tiring 3 weeks, however a few positive things have come from it. The first is that my back-yard is now under control. Andrew and I worked tirelessly to reclaimed the garden beds and found the plants in amongst the weeds!!

The other more exciting news is I have changed my work-load and I am now working .8 again. This means I now have Fridays off and only work an 8 day fortnight. Hopefully I will now have more time for me. I intend spending my Fridays catching up, hopefully going for a nice long walk in the mornings, spending more time in my sewing room, catching up with my badly neglected Blog friends and of course the mandatory cleaning and grocery shopping....

On the quilting front things have been a little quiet. I have managed a touch of shopping, just to keep me motivated....

Sachet Potpourri.

Elm Creek Manor books.

Curiosity has gotten the better of me and I have to find out what these stories are all about. I have read about 100 pages of The Quilter's Apprentice and am surprised to say I am really enjoying it. I thought it may have been a bit contrived and lame....but no it is proving to be a good read....

My on-line Stitching group has just completed a Rag Doll swap. I received the cute Raggy doll named Emily in the green and yellow. She was made for me by Sue and a big Thank you to Sue for her. She is sitting on my shelf in my sewing room. I made the dolly below for Tereasa!!

And finally I am still receiving Thimbles from kind ladies!! This particular one has come from Darwin....Thank you so much Vicki....my collection is growing!!

So hopefully I will be able to keep up with Blogging a bit better now that I have a little more "ME" time. I will try and visit some of my neglected Blogging friends today....the weather is going to be helpful....it is pouring outside again....not sure about that morning walk?..

Cathyx