A Return to Simplicity.

I received this lovely parcel in the mail on the 13th of February. What great timing to get it the day before Valentine's Day. Thanks Cheryll  for hosting this swap. Lots of goodies in the bag and very thoughtful regarding the heat up here in North Queensland, sending chocolate drinks instead of the melty stuff! Thanks Anthea  from  Hibiscus Stitches  for being my swap partner you have really spoiled me. There are a couple of packets of coffee missing as DD and I had a lovely cup yesterday when we returned from our day of retail therapy! Such a beautiful heart to hang in my craft room! I am going to take the mug mat (chocolates look good enough to eat) to work and use with my new cup and saucer I brought yesterday while out shopping. It is a bigger than normal cup and it has a veritable garden of flowers around it......just beautiful and it will be sure to brighten my work day. Now I haven't done much stitching lately but ins...

I have had the most lazy week!  I finished the stitchery for True Friends Tote bag from the Red Home book by Natalie Bird and desperately wanted to put it together, but I had to wait for the fabric to arrive. The thing is, I am sure it was stuck in the post due to the Brisbane floods and I really didn't want to complain about something so trivial as that! I still haven't done anything with the hearts because I decided to wait for the fabric. I also did the stitching for the pin cushion and have the other side traced. I started stitching the little words with 2 strands of thread and wondered why I was having difficulty fitting all the words in!!! Doh!.....I remembered to check the instructions (you know....all the printed stuff that comes with the pattern) and had to unpick and redo them.......much better! LOL! I think I should name this post "The Stupid week"!  I also completed my Valentine Initial Swap and when I had nearly completed the stitchi...

Thanks to Clare at Clare's Craft Room  for thinking of this great linky theme. I love to make dolls of any description and here are a few that I have made over the years. I collected them from various corners of the house and outside we went for a photography session. The first lady is The Secret Keeper....tell her your deepest darkest secret and she will never give them away. Always has  her mouth closed. She sometimes won't even talk to ME!! I have made a few of these as gifts. The first picture is in her travelling cloak. Where she goes is anyone's guess as she never tells! It is rather humid and warm up here in Queensland so in this piccy she has taken it off. Nope.....still not talking! Next we have another delectable lady. I can't remember her name but you can call her the Gypsy Woman.....but,  offer her a few coins and she will tell your fortune.......gaze into the ball!  Who better to find in the garden tha...