Swap Parcels opened

It was very exciting to have a couple of special parcels to open on Christmas morning, both from swaps that I've participated in:

The first is from Tess of Raggedy Station who is also part of the Friends in Stitching online group. We each had to send five small parcels to be opened on the days leading up to Christmas and one main handmade pressie.

These are the five smaller items: Sewing pins, cute Christmas buttons, notecards, Joy Patch Pattern, Note pad holder and scented drawer sachet... there was also chocolate which didn't last very long at all!

The main pressie was this gorgeous sewing bag and matching needlecase....it's just so lovely!

Tess must have lots of patience to make all those sweet little yo-yo flowers with pretty button centre's. The handles are just lovely too and feel really sturdy so I can see this bag getting lots of use!

Thankyou so much Tess.... everything you sent is just lovely!

The second parcel I received came all the way from Sherry of Books, Hooks, Sticks Etc in the USA and was for Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap that I have done for three years now. Sherry really spoilt me with lots of goodies:

So many things: North American national parks calendar, Quilting magazine, diary, candle, Capitol Building jigsaw puzzle, notepads and sticky notes.... and then there were the handmade things!

Lovely quilted table mat, wallet, needle case.... and the main pressie:

A beautiful table runner. The rustic colours will look lovely on my recycled timber dining table!

Thankyou so much Sherry... they'll all be put to good use!

And thanks to Chooky for organising another great swap.

Until next time.....

Swap Parcel Received

We've been away for a few days..... and look what was waiting for me when we got home last night:

All these lovely goodies are from my Friends in Stitching group Secret Santa Christmas swap partner... ???

It's an advent swap so we had to send 5 smaller parcels and one main parcel to open on Christmas day....you can see they're all numbered so I know which one to open first.

I opened the first one today but I'll wait and show you them all together once I've opened them!

Until next time.......

Year 6 Farwell dress

Remember that beautiful bright satin fabric I showed you back here?

Miss 12 chose the fabric and New Look Pattern no.6933 herself and I set to work....hoping that I could manage to pull it off since I'd never worked with anything quite like it before (I think Miss 12 was nervous too). I managed to finish it off last weekend in time for Miss 12's year 6 farewell on Thursday night....... what do you think?

Miss 12 was thrilled and it was definitely the brightest dress there! :)

Taylor Swift Love Story hair completed the look..... compliments of this Youtube tutorial Miss 12 had me watch (much easier than it looks):

Next step....High School!

Until next time......

SSCS 2011

I was very excited to receive my Secret Santa Christmas Swap parcel yesterday.....all the way from Sherry in the USA.

Just look at all these parcels...... Sherry has spoilt me rotten!

Boy, I think I'm going to have to get the kids to hide them so I'm not tempted to open them all before Christmas!

Although, I did get to open one straight away..... this cute little ornament, isn't it sweet?

Thanks so much Sherry and to Chooky for doing an amazing job or organising it all once again!

Oh.... and I managed to get my last swap parcel posted off today too! This one is for the Friends in Stitching online group that I'm part of. We had to send one main pressie and five smaller ones to be opened in the days leading up to Christmas..... I wonder who they're heading to, Hmmm??

Until Next time....

A pressie for my Sister

It was my Sister's birthday yesterday so I can now show what I made for her last week. I've been promising her a bag for a while now and since her taste is a little bit different to mine I had her choose the fabrics and the style of bag a few months back.... with no promises as to when she would receive it, lol.

And it's reversible.... so my Sis gets two bags from the one!

I did the handles in denim so that it would go well with both fabrics and I'm very happy with how it turned out.... She loved it!

The pattern for this one is the "The Reversible Bucket Bag" from The Bag Making Bible by Lisa Lam -

I just love this book with lots of tips and great ideas when it comes to making bags.

Now I just have to find time to make the other one she's picked out... :)

Until next time......

This and That

I have managed to fit in a little sewing lately but unfortunately nothing I can share as yet..... I've finished my SSCS pressie, also a pressie for my Sister's birthday on Thursday and both are now making their way to their destinations!

I wonder where this parcel is going.......??????

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it along to Club Quilt today as I've been busy baking for a Birthday Morning Tea that I'm providing at work tomorrow and I've also been working on another project that I need to get finished asap......isn't the fabric gorgeous and bright? It was chosen by Miss 12.

Hopefully I'll have some more show and tell for you shortly!

Spoilt!

Things have been so hectic here of late..... I have a list of things to do before Christmas that's a mile long! Normally I've finished all my Christmas shopping by now but not this time....I only purchased my first gift today!  Anyway, I've been a very slack blogger! I've had things to post, just no time or inclination to do it.

I wanted to show you the lovely Birthday gift I received last week from Leanne.... one of the lovely ladies in the Friends in Stitching online group that I'm part of.

Leanne is from Punchbowl...so all the items she sent had to start with the letter "P"

A very nice Pincushion

Gail Pan Pattern

Picnic chocolate bar

Spoilt!.....Thanks so much Leanne!

Until next time.....