Upcoming Hunger Games party

To celebrate Miss 12 turning 13, next weekend we're taking a group of teenage girls to the movies to see the Hunger Games..... If you haven't yet read the book, then you're really missing out!

So instead of the usual party favours, this is what I've been working on.......

A big thanks to Jess of Craftiness is not optional for her great inspiration!

My first attempt wasn't so successful but after that I decided that unlike Jess I would use heat 'n' bond to attach the applique (I just used a pressing cloth so I didn't stick to the shiny fabric). I also used clear thread on top and was much happier with the result.

My daughter is thrilled and can't wait to give the shirts to all her friends. :)

Hippy pants

Miss almost 13 has a school social coming up next week with a 70's theme.... she has the coloured glasses and peace necklace and earring's sorted so all she needed were some groovy pants to wear.  I think these should do the trick (although I probably should have flared the bottoms of the legs a bit more) and when the social is over she can use them as pyjama pants!

Miss 12 decorated an old pair of thongs (flip-flops) with some flower trim to match.

I used the Lounge pants pattern from this book, which was recommended by

 Lisa of A Spoonful of Sugar. They were really quick and easy to whip up and fit Miss 12 beautifully.

I can see myself making more of these soon!

A Christmassy finish!

Club quilt today over a week ago now..... and I've finally done a bit of sewing!

Four little Christmas stockings that have been incomplete for two years now.... I usually never think of sewing Christmas things until the festive season is well and truly upon us and then there's no time get things done. I'm still not 100% happy with how the white on Santa and on the snowman doesn't show up very well but I'd already re-stitched them once on darker background fabric and wasn't going to do it again. I may still whip stitch it or something to make it more visable and then I just need to get some rusty bells to stitch to each of the points on the scalloped top.

The Reindeer is my favourite.... so I think that one will be mine and the rest of the

family can fight over the others :)

The pattern is called 'A little bit of Christmas' by Annie Downs

Nice to finish something for us!

Until next time....

A big week!

Last Friday, saw me finishing up my very last day in the office where I've worked for the last 15 years..... It's a bit daunting to think that I'll no longer be working there but I decided to accept a position much closer to home. I start my new job next Monday where I'll only have a 5 minute drive each morning instead of the usual 45km trip.....will be so nice being closer to home!

After having farewell luncheon's on both Thursday and Friday last week, one for all staff and one just for the Export office where I worked, I also had a farewell dinner at my favourite Tapa's restaurant on Saturday night..... so spoilt!

My farewell gift..... my workmates know me well!

The lovely tray that all my sewing goodies came on.......

Handmade by one of the men in my office to make it extra special!

Amazing cake.... there were actually two of these but the first one was gone in no time!

Beautiful, bright coloured flowers!

More flowers..... these one's were mysteriously left on my desk??

Thanks to everyone who helped to make my last week a great one.... and for all your wonderfully supportive comments and wishes, you will be dearly missed!

Until next time...

Lounge makeover complete

So I finally talked myself into tackling the two-seater lounge that I've been putting off for a while. The re-covering isn't too bad - it's removing all those pesky staples beforehand that's the problem. Anyway... I think you'll agree that it looks much more modern now. The photos aren't the best but I didn't want to put off showing you any longer!

Would you believe that I ran out of fabric with one seat cushion to go (I obviously didn't do my sums very well). When I went to buy more it turned out the fabric had been discontinued and there was no longer any left on the roll in the shop! You can imagine how delighted I was when they rang me the next day after finding a remnant out the back.... phew! I thought I was going to have to start over again.

I couldn't resist adding some red for the cushions.... and can happily say that I have now well and truly mastered my fear of the invisible zip!

Until next time.....

2011 Reading Challenge

Sorry to bore any of you with my reading posts but :-
Last year I joined the Goodreads 2011 reading challenge and set my goal at 50 books for the year.... the same amount I set as a personal challenge for 2010. I'm pleased to say that I not only reached my goal but exceeded it by 17 books!

This is what I read for the year:
1) Tomorrow 6: The Night is for Hunting by John Marsden
2) Tomorrow 7: The other Side of Dawn by John Marsden
3) Marked (House of Night 1) by P.C.Cast
4) Betrayed (House of Night 2) by P.C.Cast
5) Chosen (House of Night 3) by P.C.Cast
6) Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods 1) by Melissa De la Cruz
7) Untamed (House of Night 4) by P.C.Cast
8) Hunted (House of Night 5) by P.C.Cast
9) Tempted (House of Night 6) by P.C.Cast
10) Burned (House of Night 7) by P.C.Cast
11) Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush 1) by Becca Fitzpatrick
12) Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
13) Undead and Unwed (Undead and Unwed 1) by Mary Janice Davidson
14) Undead and Unemployed (Undead and Unwed 2) by Mary Janice Davidson
15) Undead and Unappreciated (Undead and Unwed 3) by Mary Janice Davidson
16) Undead and Unreturnable (Undead and Unwed 4) by Mary Janice Davidson
17) Undead and Unpopular (Undead and Unwed 5) by Mary Janice Davidson
18) I am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore
19) Crescendo (Hush, Hush 2) by Becca Fitzpatrick
20) The Wee Free Men (Discworld 30) by Terry Pratchett
21) Awakened (House of Night 8) by P.C.Cast
22) City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments 4) by Cassandra Clare
23) The Devils Kiss (Billy Sangreal 1) by Sarwat Chadda
24) Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld 4) by Kelley Armstrong
25) Haunted (Women of the Otherworld 5) by Kelley Armstrong
26) Broken (Women of the Otherworld 6) by Kelley Armstrong
27) No Human's Involved (Women of the Otherworld 7) by Kelley Armstrong
28) Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld 8) by Kelley Armstrong
29) Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld 9) by Kelley Armstrong
30) Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld 10) by Kelley Armstrong
31) Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld 11) by Kelley Armstrong
32) The Scent of Shadows (First Sign of the Zodiac) by Vicki Pettersson
33) The Taste of Night (Second Sign of the Zodiac) by Vicki Pettersson
34) The Touch of Twilight (Third Sign of the Zodiac) Vicki Pettersson
35) Gone (Gone 1) by Michael Grant
36) Hunger (Gone 2) by Michael Grant
37) Lies (Gone 3) by Michael Grant
38) Plague (Gone 4) by Michael Grant
39) While I Live (Ellie Chronicles 1) by John Marsden
40) Incurable (Ellie Chronicles 2) by John Marsden
41) Circle of Flight (Ellie Chronicles 3) by John Marsden
42) City of Souls (Fourth Sign of the Zodiac) by Vicki Pettersson
43) Strange Angels (Strange Angels 1) by Lili St.Crow
44) Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
45) Betrayals (Strange Angels 2) by Lili St.Crow
46) Jealousy (Strange Angels 3) by Lili St.Crow
47) Defiance (Strange Angels 4) by Lili St.Crow
48) Stray (Shifters 1) by Rachel Vincent
49) Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
50) Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles 1) by Kami Garcia
51) Divergent (Divergent 1) by Veronica Roth
52) Blood Rights (House of Camarre' 1) by Kristen Painter
53) Cheat the Grave (Fifth Sign of the Zodiac) by Vicki Pettersson
54) The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
55) Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynne Barnes
56) Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress 1) by Jeaniene Frost
57) One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress 2) by Jeaniene Frost
58) At Grave's End (Night Huntress 3) by Jeaniene Frost
59) Flesh and Blood (House of Camarre' 2) by Kristen Painter
60) The Help by Kathryn Stockett
61) Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress 4) by Jeaniene Frost
62) This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress 5) by Jeaniene Frost
63) One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress 6) by Jeaniene Frost
64) Reckoning (Strange Angels 5) by Lili St.Crow
65) First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World 1) by Jeaniene Frost
66) Angelic by Kelley Armstrong
67) Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong

Once again there is a lot of superantural fiction in the list thanks to my sisters influence which I mentioned in last years post here.  I'm still really enjoying what I read although I might try to throw a few classics into the mix for this year..... maybe :) 

Also, if you'd like to see how I've rated any of the above books you can check them out in my Goodreads. You can also read a bit about the story and checkout other peoples reviews which is where I get a lot of my recommendations.

Lastly, if you've read something that you think I might like.... please share! :)

Until next time.....

FIS Swap

Now I can show you the things that I sent to my Friends In Stitching Christmas swap partner Jane of Sweet Cinnamon Stitches ..... the main present that she opened on Christmas day is one of my all-time favourite patterns by Janelle Wind - A Frilly Dilly Bag.  Jane tells me this has been on her to-do list for some time.... I guess she can cross that one off now! :)

This is the inside of the bag showing one of my labels..... I had these made up quite some time ago now but usually forget to put them on the things I make.... glad I remembered this time!

And these are the other little pressies I sent that were opened each day on

the five days leading up to Chrissy:

This was such a fun swap to put together!

Until next time....