A Return to Simplicity.

Whilst stitching the "Bon Noel" hanging from the book,  Tis the Season by Natalie Bird,  I saw the lovely "Christmas Joy Scrapbook Album" and knew I just had to make it! You know how much I love Christmas .....funny talking about Christmas at Easter!! Anyway....I have completed the front and back covers. Not too hard although stitching the panel on the front cover was a bit fiddly. The good thing is I only used fabric from my stash and as I didn't have any check for the main fabric I used what I had and this was a spot. I changed it ever so slightly and used a couple of eyelets to thread the ribbon through for greater stability. Can't wait to make the pages. I have lots of Christmas themed papers to chose from. I have also completed a couple  few tea-towels with hangers. I have to thank  Shez  at Enjoying Life for giving me this idea. Thanks Shez........I'm hooked. I went to Spotlight the other day and brought an assortment of tea-towels ...

Very little going on here! Having had a painful knee for the last 3 weeks I have finally succumbed to the need for hot packs and rest and keeping off my feet. Have an appointment for an MRI on Friday 5th April, and I can't wait to see what is going on in my knee. The above were doctor's orders but it took a couple of days of getting worse before I took heed! Having spent the weekend, yesterday and today sitting in the lounge with my wheat bag and all of the "Anne of Green Gables"  DVD's has brought about some relief, so much so that I have done a little stitching today. I didn't get the quilt finished for my grandson number 2, but when I showed him what I had completed so far he loved it and is happy to wait until his Nonna is better. I even have an order for one from grandson number 1 who is nine in October. This should be enough time for recovery, finishing one and starting another! My daughter in law usually makes a special cake when the kids have a bi...

Thought I had better do a post regarding the latest fat quarter swap. My partner for the month of March was Jessica (no blog) and the theme was TWO (2), it could be two colours, complementing or contrasting, two colour fabric as in tone on tone, or two colours of solids or even fabric with two's on it. With choice like that it was pretty easy to find something.   This is was I sent Jessica (I know she likes purple and I decided on two purple fabrics) and below is what she sent me. Thanks Jessica. There were also a couple of birthday people and this is what I sent to them. Above was for Helen P and below is what I sent to Vanessa. Sorry about the wrapping as I had it done before remembering to take a photo. As I usually forget  it seems I am getting better at remembering before  posting. I was pretty pleased with myself for getting this job done early as last month I was late posting stuff off. Sometimes those short mo...

Thanks to Shay from  Quilting in My Pyjamas  for hosting Favourite Things Friday.  Some of my favourite things are the beautiful stitched sayings. I love them on quilts, on cushions, and on bags. They remind me of all the simple but good things in life. This is a cushion on the lounge Everyone knows where this is! True Friend Tote. Lovely saying and one that can give courage to hang in there when it gets tough! Words on wall hangings Words on quilts Middle of Leanne Beasley's Quilt  Down in the Garden. This one took me 12 months to stitch the whole quilt! Notice I love anything to do with the garden! LOL! I also wanted to show my latest Fat Quarter Swap from  Leonie from  Run for the Hills Blog . She sent me a lovely FQ of orange and blue with some hand dyed threads and a cute card. Thanks Leonie and thanks   Cathy  for organising this swap. I have completed my stitching for the pin cushion from A...

I mentioned to my husband that I wanted an old gate to use as a photo prop when I take pictures of the things I make. He is often out and about in the demolition yards and I thought he might find something for me one day. I gave him a vague idea of what type of gate I was looking for and a couple of days later he told me he had found something. It was an old gate from a house that was being demolished and when he inquired they told him to take it before the bulldozers came and it was destroyed forever! Here is that gate. I just love it and it is just what I was looking for. It belongs to another era and is hand made. Nothing is symmetrical on this gate as it has little differences on both sides. Mr B is taking it to be sand blasted and then we will do something with it to restore it. I will then need to give it a permanent location somewhere and a post and maybe some flowers around it. I hope it knows it's loved. Thank you Mr B.......you're...

Can't  help herself........I put the newly completed bag on the spare bed thinking I would put it in the Birthday Love Stash box later! Here is what I found! LOL ! What is she telling me? She approves or that she thinks it's only fit for her to lie on!!  I have had such a wonderful weekend. It started with Friday off from work and going shopping with my daughter. Another pair of new shoes. That makes 4 pairs in the last 3 weeks. I can't help myself when there are specials.............and I do like shoes! What!.......are you calling me Imelda??LOL! Then Friday night with Friends saw me sewing with all my friends and complete my Snow Happens stitchery. Saturday was spent with the Grandies swimming and having ice-cream and Sunday saw me finish my Snow Happens runner. Getting the fabric ready......not looking forward to the squares on point........hope they fit! Hooray..........all finished! The points came out better than I expected and...

Got up early this morning and went down to Farmers Markets at North Shore. Brought some fruit for the grand-kids and us and something naughty for breakfast! Just the thing to have with the first coffee (skinny Cap) of the day and post about last night! A very nice almond croissant! Don't tell the diet police! LOL! Last night I finished the "Snow Happens" table runner stitchery. I only had one snowman left to stitch so it wasn't hard to have this done in a reasonable time frame and still go to bed early-ish! I can't wait to put on the borders. I used the DMC Pearl Cotton No 8 and although you need only use one thread, I'm not convinced I like it better than the regular DMC thread. I have the Santa table runner to go and might start it soon. That will make two items ready for Christmas! Of course I had a helper last night.........she mostly got in the way when I wanted scissors or thread, but she wanted to join in so I really coul...

Tonight I'm linking up with a couple of different blogs and playing along. The first one is  Favourite Things with Shay from  Quilting in my Pyjamas  and it's about one of my favourite things. I would have to say being in the garden is a favourite thing of mine. It offers peace and tranquillity when my mind is full of turmoil and calms my soul and offers peace and sometimes a solution I couldn't see before.  It is just amazing what small things you can see when you look up into the tree canopy. Small and large creatures going about their business with apparently no thoughts of tomorrow! A place for the grand-kids to play and trees to have adventures in. Somewhere beautiful to showcase the latest craft project. And a place to sit and sew and admire nature's colours and provide inspiration for our next project.  Cyclone Yasi blew this tree down, but there is a new one growing in i...