FinaL For 2011

The final Once a Season Swap in 2011 has been completed with the exception of one. I'm still to hear from Bev as to when she mailed off her gift to Sammi.
Thank you to all the "seasoners" who participated in this swap making it so much FuN!
I hope to see you all again.

~*~*~*~*~

I thought you may like to prepare and note dates in your diary for the swaps that will be up and running early in 2012.
Make sure you don't take on too many swaps if you are busy over this holiday period and SuMMeR here in Australia. Just remember that you have a partner that is depending on you to fulfill your commitment.You are welcome in all of my swaps... or just one of them...(or none at all)... that interests you. They are a little different from each other... well I try to make them that way at least... so choose any or all that you would like to play in.

After all... It's only for FuN !

Once a Season Swap:-  Registration will open on January 15th 2012... mail out on Feb 28th.
Initial Heart Swap:-  Registration will open on January 10th 2012... for Valentines Day.
FYI.......
Lets Exchange will return on February 15th 2012... mail out on March 31st 2012.
AlphBet Challenge will start in ???.... this is a NeW swap... are you up for it?
The details, info and playing rules will be available in the new year too... so all your questions will be answered then... but please email me if you want to know anything!

~*~*~*~*~

I wish you all a very healthy, happy and creative NeW YeaR.

It has been my pleasure to have you come by and visit me this year.

I look forward to our continued friendship in blogland.

See you ALL again in...

                                                      HaPPy  NeW YeAr  EvERyoNe.

SeaSonS GReeTinGs

Wishing you ALL a very Happy Holiday. 

I am very glad that I got to spend this year and this special time of year with you ALL. I have enjoyed reading all your comments, visiting all your blogs and swapping with you or being swap mama to you in 2011.
I will be having a week off from blogging so until next Wednesday,
stay safe, be happy, laugh a lot and love the ones you are with.

The music of Christmas is laughter

The warmth of Christmas is friendship

The message of Christmas is peace

The spirit of Christmas is love

The meaning of Christmas is hope

May all these blessings be yours this Christmas

Merry Christmas.

Be sure to visit next week as I'll let you know of the swaps starting early in 2012.

I would LoVe to have your company once again.

ThE WiNNeR is

I wish I could send everyone a gift as a ThAnK YoU for helping make this Christmas an extra special one for me. I wish you all the very best for the coming holidays.
Fingers crossed everyone...
drum roll please...

No 23...
Cheryl from http://polkadotsandrickrack.blogspot.com in the USA.
I hope you enjoy my little gift to you.
Merry Christmas.

CaTcHinG Up

I have thoroughly enjoyed my blog tour of all the wonderful gifts sent by Santa helpers who played in the Santa Sack Swap.
Some of the ladies have chosen to wait until Christmas morning to open their gifts... how strong willed are they!! .. but for the rest of us whimps... hehe... we have already played with and admired all our fantastic goodies!
For anyone who has linked up... as I said earlier, I will make a random draw for a small gift as a THANKS for playing along and giving Me the opportunity to come by and EnJoY Christmas with YOU! I'll do the draw tomorrow...

so GooD LuCk everyone.

~*~*~*~*~

I also thought you might like to see the wonderful mat that Melissa sent to Bev in the "Lets Exchange" group.
Isn't it beautiful!

I'll show you Bev's once it's been received by Melissa.
It's lovely too!
I know that Sandy sent her mat off to Marianne... but I haven't heard if it has been received yet.
Also I don't know if Naomi and Q exchanged their mats yet?
That's everyone in the 2011 FINAL "Lets Exchange" group. I know I had FuN in it and I hope you all enjoyed seeing the wonderful MaTs that were sent around.

~*~*~*~*~

Here is a pic of the story lap quilt I finished last week. I sent it off to DD2 and I'm still to hear if it arrived. Fingers crossed by everyone PLeaSe !
I was really happy with it... so I hope both DD and the recipient like it too.

I used this wonderful thread for the quilting which I LoVed. The effect was great... having varigated stitches all over the farm. Think about using it on your next project... I'm sure you'll be HaPPy with the result.

I stitched all nine names onto the first border (red) with a light blue thread... and again I was extremely happy with that aspect too. Subtle but readable.

And look at the fabric I found for the backing.... just perfect for depicting Farm Life!

See you ToMoRRoW for the random draw.

Wow... my Santa's haVe bEEn BuSy!

I had two wonderful Santa Sack Swap partners and so as to NOT upset either partner by choosing one sack over the other... I went with alphabetical order opening Kathy's sack first.
Here are all the lovely goodies that were either handmade by Kathy or purchased with me in mind. Oh Kathy... I just LoVe all my "things" and Oh what FuN I had gooing and garring over my lot.
I went through your gifts not once but twice to enjoy all your work and thoughtfulness.
THANK YOU Kathy... I have enjoyed meeting you and getting to know you- albeit only a little.
MeRRy ChRisTMaS my tassie friend!

 This is my beautiful handmade sack
Proving I didn't open the gifts earlier...

Xmas things: Silver door hanger,Tree TeaTowel, Chocolates in their very own Sack, handmade ornament (ball) and another handmade TREE ornament... just beautiful!

Sewing:  a box with EvEryThinG one could possibly use, mini sissors, quilters coaster and fabric that some gifts were wrapped in...

For Me: Xmas tissues, note book with pen, make a  list pad and a lovely "book", mini time keeper and game key ring.

Something Special: beautiful mini pillow, handmade personal Xmas book... absolutely wonderful!
Just look inside...

It has inserts of pic's from my blog... and also pic's of our trip to Canada... WOW !
I'm speechless Kathy!

~*~*~*~*~

And secondly but certainly NOT least...
I opened my sack from Laurie.
Laurie handmade lots of wonderful "gifts" for me... embroidering some lovely things to showcase her skill.
I LoVed all of Laurie's gifts too spending quite awhile going over her handiwork several times. Laurie is practically my neighbour, living in New Zealand and although Laurie has been in several swaps with me, this is the first time we have been partners. Again a huge THANK YOU Laurie. You have helped make this Christmas a very special one.
MeRRy ChrisTMaS my kiwi friend!

Another lovely sack waiting patiently...

See still intact...

Sewing: Embroidered needlecase, sissor fob and keeper,gorgeous hanger,buttons galore with a tiny sewing machine sissor fob, red brolly pattern...

For Me: lavender tea towel, craft cards,craft ruler, xmas gift cards, gorgeous pen and bookmark...

Xmas: mini hanger,bun server, tree, ornaments-pudding/cat/angel/snowman...

Laurie did a class and thought I would like this... and she was correct... I DO!

How very lucky I've been to have 2 

such wonderful partners!  

Thanks girls!

~*~*~*~*~

Now after enjoying a good nights sleep, I would LoVe to come by and visit YOU. I would enjoy seeing all your "stuff" so please post a pic or two or few on your blog and come back here and link up.
I'm sure everyone will enjoy visiting with you too...
so put the kettle on... then put your feet up... and get ready for some company!

Is ThaT SantA I HeaR ?

Are you all getting excited? I know I am...  because ToMoRRoW (here in Australia anyways) it will be December 15th... that's OpeNinG DaY of our Santa Sack gifts...

if you want to that is !

I will be for sure, because just like a child I just can't wait any longer... giggle giggle, grin grin breaking into a huge smile!

I know I'm allowed to open them all up 'cause I've been good.... 

well mostly...

so... have you been naughty or nice?

I'll get Mr Linky up on Friday. That will give me time to recuperate after having all the excitement and time to admire my goodies. Come on by after you have posted your gift pic's and link up. I would LoVe to share your joy with you!

And please EVERYONE... keep your fingers crossed that these beauties turn up at Wendy's home. You see Sammi Bear sent them off and they haven't been delivered yet!

Come on Mr Postman... get them there... PLeAsE !!!!!

Is this the action of a friend?

Would a person who called herself a FriEnD... do this?
Send a package...

Enclose a card with 2 beautiful Christmas ornaments...

Have another three packages all wrapped up so pretty for you...

 and then tell you NOT TO OPEN them until Christmas day!!!!!!!!!
Well ... all I can say is.... some friend... indeed!!!!!

In all seriousness ....
What a good friend I have in Sheryl... ummm  ... although at the moment ?!?!?... huge grin!

 Seriously... THANKS SHEZ !

I'm SoRRy...

I truly apologise for not dropping by your blog and visiting with YOU. I know lots of you have stopped by here and left me some wonderful comments and I haven't reciprocated. I had DD here for the weekend and friends over for dinner on Saturday night... and every other waking moment I was trying to finish off THE quilt. ALMOST there... sigh...
I read all comments and try to reply to them all... but sometimes one will slip through... for those I'm sorry!
I know it was FNSI and I didn't visit to see what you all accomplished... again I'm SoRRy... sigh...
And I haven't even been around to see what swaps gifts have been received.. another big SoRRy for that!

I promise to do better!

Although I did receive notice of another lovely mat being delivered.
From Teri to Sami Bear...

Look at the MESS I've made in my cubbyhole... on the desk and on the floor... in the fabric drawers and on the ironing board. It's making me crazy. I can't handle working in my area with it looking like this. I can't find anything... paper and fabric stick to my feet... it's just frustrating I guess! And time consuming!

But soon, after the quilt is finished, I can spend some time having fun cleaning it all up... yippee!

Don't seem to have so much fun planning to do housework... go figure!

This is the LAST block... just the sashing with names on it, one border and then quilting... phew... if I say it fast it doesn't sound so bad does it?

Anyways please wish me luck... it must go in the mail by weeks end!!!!