A Return to Simplicity.

I have enjoyed my first week of holidays and this has allowed lots of catching up with friends, stitching and just pottering around in the craft room. I might add that staying in bed in the morning and not getting out of PJ's until late has been an added bonus. Anyway here's what I have been doing. A Vase wrap from Jenny of Elefantz , you can get the pattern  here  for free on Craftsy . It's called All Wrapped Up and there are lots of other free projects from Jenny as well. Christmas stitchery  by Rosalie Quinlan from Homespun Magazine July Issue is now finished and ready to hang for Christmas. I decided to put a border on and chose a similar design to echo on the sides. And . . . . . . yes I too have the tea-towel making bug and decided to make a few for DIL as I noticed she likes to hang them on the oven door. I picked colours similar to the tea-towels I saw in her kitchen and found the hanger fabric in my stash! Couldn't believe...

After much anticipation the 25th has finally come around and the parcel from the postman that had been sitting in my craft room was opened. What a lovely surprise in store for me! First, that my secret partner was Maria from  Life on the Block  and second was all the goodies wrapped up in Christmas paper. The cutest Santa! Lovely Table Runner. Gorgeous Tea-towel. Extra Goodies that includes a lovely FQ, Christmas panels and ribbons. WOW! Thank you so much Maria for these wonderful gifts, I feel really spoiled by this lot! I am going to enjoy them every year at Christmas time. My swap partner was Peg from  Happy in Quilting  and this is what I have sent to Peg. A table center - "H" for Holly. A couple of Tea-towels - "T" for Tree Didn't want to embellish too much as, they are after all..... Tea-Towels!  Thanks Shez for the inspiration!! LOL! Lace and Ribbon Board...

I started a little early with my stitching for Friday Night Stitch In hosted by   Wendy  of Sugarlane Quilts. I had company and cyber friends to stitch with! Supplies of Hot Chocolate, Coffee and the obligatory TimTams were in abundance! I decided to work on my latest Rosalie Quinlan project (yes another Christmas item) and here is the progress for the night. You would be surprised how long it takes to fill in all the satin stitch parts ! A bit longer than normal when the light is dim as well. Here is what DD was working on. Leanne Beasley's Down in the garden. I had wanted to start on the Star Wars Quilt, but didn't make it so will be looking at the fabrics and beginning to cut some today. I want this one ready for his birthday in October. Thanks Wendy for hosting last night and hope everyone had a lovely night stitching with me,  although I believe I did eat more than my share of the TimTams! LOL !