SwaPs are FuN.

SaFe n SoUnd.
I've already had one block go astray (well it appears to have anyway) so when Barb sent me an email saying her block HaD arrived I felt a huge relief......phew !!!!! It appears her earlier email went to cyber heaven... but she did receive the block.... and that's all that matters.
Barb was my January partner in BSA...who asked for a scrappy nine patch block, using civil war fabric.
I wasn't really familiar with these fabrics.. but with a little help from my local quilting supply store I hope I picked what Barb had in mind.

Once a Season Swap  has closed for the Autumn swap... and I have sent out ALL emails with the SeCrEt partners details... SO if anyone hasn't received theirs... PLeAsE contact me.

Remember.... it's an  "AuTuMn"  theme.

A MiXeD BaG

Hubby went off to a friends "send off" last night so I spent some quality time in my sewing room. I finished up a few things so now I can go back to StArTiNg  projects....lol...
we are all GooD at ThAt.. aren't we ??

No 1... finished off the final few "Oz Comfort" QAYG blocks...      all ready to send on Monday!
No 2...packed up my valentines day swap "apron" and goodies for my swap sister in the USA.
No 3...completed my 2 Mug Rugs for the swap hosted by Michelle at Quilting Gallery.



for the sewing room of ???





Can't give too much away



Also... yesterday the postman delivered a little envelope with a lovely gift from a FRiEnD!

ThAnKs very much... but mum's the word !!!!!

My Thanks goes out to three wonderful FRiEnDs who filled the spaces on my PIF. I've got my thinking cap already on for a NiCe gift for YoU.... you won't know when... you won't know what... but it WiLL be delivered.

CoLoUrFuL FRiDaYs

WeLcOmE BaCk..... fellow CF-ers.
This Friday we could show OuR favourite colours... but that's HaRd because I like a LoT of colours. It seems whatever project I am working on I find another colour or shade that pleases me. BUT today I decided on two colours in nature that I like... green and purple. So here's some pic's....






Of course these are only a FeW but hey...
it's MY first time back after the holidays.

I still have available spaces on my Pay It Forward list... so if one or two more of my FRiEnDs would like a handmade gift ..by yours truly...with NO catches... then leave a comment saying you would like to be on my PIF list. Then sometime during the year I WiLL SeNd you something NiCe.
I know you all have been busy giving to the flood victims but now it's YoUr turn.
If you then feel like it, you can do the same to your friends and ..... Pay It Forward.

AnOtHeR YeaR OLdeR

Yes.. Australia is another year older after we all celebrated our national holiday yesterday. Technically not our birthday BUT the celebrations feel like it is!  And boy.. do we celebrate....

definitely a BBQ.....

And some lamo's ( lamingtons... yum! )

Some more formal.......my hubby had HIS ceremony over 20 years ago. Now he is Canadian / Australian !

Time at the beach... or poolside... or concert.... with some friends.

Then fireworks at NiGhT... wow !

Some of our TrEaSuReS...

I hope all my fellow Aussies had a GrEaT  "Australia Day" .

Two Satisfied with One Finish

I hope technically I am able to satisfy both groups....

my PhD commitment and the Xmas Item a Month group, with the one finish !?!

This table runner [now labeled "Deck the Table"] was cut out last year but NOT finished so I entered it onto my PhD list. And ...as this is also a finished Xmas item... I guess I can cross it off and add it on... at the same time....if you get my drift ?

I don't suppose I need to show 2 pic's though.....lol...
but actually here are 3 pic's ....

wow.. that's CoNFuSiNg !!!!

LaSt DaY to SiGn Up.

If you have been thinking about joining Once a Season Swap... then please email me as sign ups CLoSe midnight January 25th (oz time)... that's tomorrow !

If you need more information just go to my earlier post (Jan 1st) and read all about it.

It should be FuN and we have 16 "seasoners" from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US.

So come on... Join In !!

Friday Night Sew In

Don't you just LoVe Friday nights when you get an excuse to go sew.... as if we really need it... but hey..
I OnLy join in because all you other lovely crafters are doing it .. !!! (insert chuckle here)

Of course I always start my FNSI with the obligatory bobbin winding.

I made a resolution that each FNSI, I would make or finish a

BLaNkEt of LoVe for the project. This way I will have at least a dozen each year and add how many others I get to make as well. Unfortunately this wonderful cause needed 19 tiny BLaNkEts in 2o1o.

I had embroidered four blocks earlier so I only needed to cut out plain pieces to match. Then just sew them to each other. So the top came together VeRy quickly.

I actually joined 2 pieces of pellon for the backing (waste NOT want NOT) and then backed, pinned and quilted in a half hour or so. These BLaNkEtS are only 24" square... so they're QuiCk to finish.

 

And this is the FiNiShEd blanket.

A pretty little one for a beautiful little girl.

I still had some sewing left in me.... so I made 2 QAYG blocks for the Oz Comfort Quilt drive. Go here to see what Jan has been up to. Just my small way of helping the flood victims here in Australia.

Now I can enjoy looking at what YoU have created during your FNSI.

Generous Acts

We are all aware of the generous nature of most people in the community. Just about everyone is trying to donate a little bit or offer some form of comfort or support to the flood victims.
But on a personal note, I have recently been shown the wonderful giving nature of quilters. Two ladies gave their time and effort to make a blanket/s, a blogger friend committed to sending me a handmade gift, then again today a thoughtful gesture by Fiona....... so I decided that I would like to  PaY  It  FoRwArD.

If three of my FRiEnDs would like to receive a handmade gift by yours truly which will be sent sometime during the year then please just leave me a comment saying you'll be part of my PIF.

I would LoVe to do it for YoU!

Then if you feel so inclined you can do the same to 3 more wonderful friends.

I know this project has been around for awhile but I'd like someone else to feel the way I did when I was shown such generousity.

MailMaN's BeeN AgAiN

I received another WoNdErFuL block in the mail again today. I'm being spoilt....but it sure is FuN !!
This 'Log Cabin" arrived from Heather in Nova Scotia Canada who is my January partner from QBSA. I wished for a log cabin in Christmas themed fabric and so this fits PeRFeCtLy into my project.

ThAnK YoU very much Heather.

I finally managed to add round #7 in SAHR. I cannot wait to add some embellishments to jazz it up... but I have to wait for permission from our host Kate...lol. The 3 pieces added this round were 5x5, 5x6 and 5x5 to the bottom. I think I'm OK with it...but I'll just have to wait and see how it turns out I guess.

Note: I was reading Linda's blog "Stray Stitches" this morning and she mentioned scissors.

Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci invented the scissors.

Just another piece of useless information I have in my head! 

Finally FiNiShEd

Last year I planned, cut out, pieced, appliqued and put this project together fairly quickly. Then I backed it, quilted it and finally put the binding on (I even stitched the sleeve onto the back for hanging) ..... then decided there wasn't enough quilting in the sky or in the snow....so the "village" just sat there looking sad and lonely. So yesterday, I got my quilting gloves on and finally FiNiShEd it.... yehhhh !!!


Santa's North Pole Village

 Now, even though the village has to wait 11 months to go up on my wall...the elves are HaPPy... and sew am I!




from  "Piece O' Cake" designs

 I can almost hear the toys being made.....

I've also made another "Mug Rug" and as you can see.. it's for a valentine's day gift.

I also wanted to share a pic of the beautiful block that I received from Barbara, my January swap partner in BSA. It's just gorgeous and sooo pretty.... I know it will be just WoNdErFuL in a quilt!

Remember my post on the neigbourhood house block party ?? 

well... although I didn't WiN any blocks, Beth (the fabulous organiser)

sent me a small "house" to remember the party we shared.

Here it is... I'll make sure I use it in something special. ThAnKs Beth !

SiGn Up for ThEsE

There are a few swaps / groups / reminders in this post...
so please read on!
First...There is just over a week to sign up for
Once a Season Swap ....here.
We have 15 seasoners already.. but more is merrier!

Second..FNSI is starting up again for 2o11.

Sign up here soon but the next night is January 21st.

Third... An easter swap is being hosted by Jewells.

She would LoVe you to sign up here.

Last... but not least!
Paula would love to ChaLLeNgE you!

Visit here for details.