Once a SeaSon Swap

Yes I know... I was a little late getting this swap finished but my partner Lyn understood and let me have a little more time. Unfortunately Lyn has closed her blog so I thought I should show you what I sent to her.
Remember this was a SpRiNg themed swap so of course "flowers" seemed appropriate. This is a 12in "mini" from "The Wooden Bear -Little Quilts 2 " called "July Blooms  " and I added a heart hanger. Perhaps Lyn will place it in her sewing area to remind her of this swap.

This was taken before I actually stitched the buttons.

I also added a few small items so I hope Lyn will think of me whenever she uses any of them.

* * * 

Lyn said that she has lost her mojo at the moment so this little verse may help her get her groove back!.

You should buy fabric because.......


It's not immoral, illegal or fattening.
It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and makes you feel good.
It keeps without refrigeration and you don't have to cook it to enjoy it.
You'll never have to feed it, change it,  wipe it's nose or walk it.
To participate in contests... the one who dies with the most fabric wins...
But most importantly....
Because YOU are worth it!
(author unknown)

ChristMas Thru the YeaR

Wow...
it's almost the end of September!

I've only had time to make 2 small items this month because I've been busy with "swap" catch-ups!
Swaps are a lot of FuN so I'm not complaining but ChristMas is just around the corner and I need a few more gifts. I better get busy for October.... starting NoW !
Thanks to Allie for hosting this encouraging group.
Drop on over to her blog to see what others have made...it's FuN!

Felt tree decorations.

FrIeNdS SwAp

How good does it feel to get a parcel finished, wrapped and sent away to a special FrIeNd.

I mailed off a selection of gifts to Maree this morning and with  fingers crossed she should have it delivered on Friday, just in time to enjoy opening her pressies on the  L-O-N-G weekend here in Australia.
I hope you like the things I choose for you Maree.

Thank You Khris for organising this FuN swap and I hope the swap fairy brings you lovely gifts from your special FrIeNd!

SePtEmBeR XmaS IteM

Phew... I'm just in time....... !
This month I managed to add another item to my Xmas thingy box. Narelle has helped me keep on track this year and although I didn't get anything finished last month... I did have an excuse!

Click here to see what "others" have made for Xmas.

Anyways here is my LaRgE pillow which will be displayed in my lounge room come December. For anyone who thinks this look familiar... well, if you follow me you will remember that I belonged to Stay at Home Robin but as we went away just before the deadline to finish the project... I was unable to complete it until now. It was originally intended for a wall hanging but once I was finished the top I decided it was better suited to be a pillow. I just LoVe it this way and I think it came together really well, especially when I didn't know what the heck it was going to be when I started. If you would like to see it's evolution.. just click on the tab at the top of my page labeled "Round Robin".
Here are some pic's just to prove it's DoNe!

I used a European sized pillow insert.

I added some piping to the pillow too.

ThaNKs Narelle... you've encouraged me once again to

 "get it done"!

How's It all Going?

I have been getting around some of the blogs and catching up on all the goss. I've seen some of the Once a Season Swap gifts that have arrived and they are sensational... so congrats to all you very talented crafters.
Have you all received a package from YoUr partner?  
Mail should have gone by Sept 7th!
If you haven't received anything yet, then contact your partner, please do so asap, then let me know if you haven't had any luck. I wouldn't want to name and shame anyone but I will if it needs to be done.
But I know all my wonderful swappers wouldn't let a partner down.. so all should be good!!!

It's getting near the end of the month so this is just a gentle reminder to get your Santa Sack Swap gifts finished up and wrapped for mailing on Oct 1st. I guess your sacks are filling up very nicely by now!
Is it too early to count SLeePs yet? I don't know about you but I'm excited! .... huge grin !!!

And I don't know if anyone is interested... but you can grab my blog button for your page. That way anyone who wants to keep an eye on the swaps I will run in the future, they can just click on it and go straight to my blog. Easy peasy....!
Just save the picture to your desktop and then add it to your blog page then link the picture to my http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com address and voila! This way I don't have to have the box with the code in it under the button (I don't like those!!!)

I'm So VeRy LuCkY

I keep finding more packages with wonderful fabric in them. These three fabrics were what I had won from Sharon over at Vrooman Quilts some time back... but I only opened them this week. My DD1 had kept them safe for me while I was away and to be honest I had forgotten my good fortune... but aren't the fabrics just beautiful.
Thank You Sharon... I'll put them to good use.. I promise!

AND....
look at what turned up in the mail from my Once a Season Swap spring partner, Lyn.

The work on this mini quilt is just wonderful. It is a Viv Robinson pattern and it's perfect for the spring theme. I also received some beautiful fabric from the Moda range called Oasis by 3 sisters.
So now you know what I meant when I said I was so very lucky!

ThAnK YoU, LyN... I just LoVe them!
I think I'll hang the quilt in my guest bedroom!

My PooR PoStiE

I arrived home  to a mountain of mail... you just don't realise how much mail you have delivered until it mounts up... but also with the letters I received a few packages from blogger friends. Now, in no particular order... this is what I received.
How thoughtful are some people......

My friend Sheryl over at - http://shez-enjoyinglife.blogspot.com sent me two beautiful little Blankets of Love

so a big  ThAnK yOu  Shez  for them. I hope you have placed an "Angel" on your blog so everyone will know how generous you are. If you want to know more about "Blankets of Love" just click here.
S is for SUNSHINE and SHEZ...

Shez also included another "Bread Basket" for me as she wasn't happy with her last effort (although I most definitely was) but I just Love this one too! Again ThAnKs Shez!
The owl fabric is just too cute!

Then this huge box was waiting to be opened. It was from Donna - http://donnaslavendernest.blogspot.com
Donna and I actually caught up in Texas and Donna is a real sweetie. Of course I already knew that.... BUT this box of fabric just proves my inital impression of her was correct. How very generous of a quilter to give away soooo much fabric. Thimbleberries... one of my favourites!

I received a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) from Pat who returned the kindness after my package was delivered a few months back. Thanks Pat, I love all the things enclosed.

I'll recharge my camera battery and take a pic later.

I had better get to the local shopping centre now and do some food shopping.... or else.... because the fridge is VeRy empty and hubby would like to eat tonight.... grin... or so he tells me.
I would rather go to my cubbyhole and sew..... sigh... after all "eating is so over rated!...
oh well... there's always ToMoRRoW !
Cheers.

HuGz ... ChERyLL

We're B-A-C-K... after 3 months !

Thanks for all your good wishes...we made it back in one piece !
It was a beautiful morning to fly into one of the prettiest harbours in the world. Even the co-pilot made mention of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the way Sydney had turned on the weather for guests and returning citizens. It was clear, sunny and warm... not like the 107' days we experienced in Dallas. Poor Texas...I wish you something only Texans would understand....R-A-I-N !
Anyways... it was wonderful to step on Aussie soil again, then shower in our own bathroom and then sleep in our own bed. WOW... the simple things in life eh !
It was a wonderful time and a big THANK YOU to all Canadians and Americans for your hospitality!

Unfortunately even though we were on vacation... the weeds in the garden were not... so first thing this morning hubby and I were out front pulling them out and mowing the lawn and edges. In between loading the washing machine and hanging out the clothes I was weeding and cleaning up... by the end of the day we had the front looking like we lived here again and our home almost back to normal. But tonight we are both too tired for anything but (an early) good nights sleep... so tomorrow I'll post about all the wonderful parcels that were waiting for me to open!

HuGz.....ChERyLL

HoMeWard BouNd

G o o D B y E
to Canada and the United States. Although we have thoroughly enjoyed our stay with you... for us... there is no place like

 H-O-M-E ! 

We drove back into Texas.

 Visited the city of Dallas.

Finished up on some last minute shopping.

Organised, packed and weighed our bags.

Went to a baseball game on our last night.

All that's left to do now is get to the airport....

Board our flight.....
and fly on home to Australia.

We'll miss you ! Thanks for a wonderful time!

HuGz.......CheRyLL

I LoVe NawLins

That's how the locals say it anyways....
This city is just wonderful. Hubby and I absolutely LoVe it here... but unfortunately we leave here tomorrow... awwwww!
We have packed so much into our visit here.... my poor feet will never be the same...lol!
Here are just a few pic's. If you ever get the opportunity to visit New Orleans in Louisiana...  do yourself a favour and as "Nike" says... JuSt Do It !  You won't be SoRRy !

Fantastic musicians on every corner.

Our driver "Howard Starr" was such a character.

The VooDoo King and Queen graves are in this cemetery.

The Cathedral ceiling is just beautiful.

Artwork around Jackson Square

Tonight was the start of the seafood festival...fantastic !

We sat and ate Gumbo.... Crab and Shrimp Penn Pasta... we even tried an Alligator Slider.
Then to top off our LaSt night we listened to a fantastic band in an open park on the most beautiful of balmy nights.  How PeRfEcT !
Tomorrow we are off to visit a "Plantation" on our way to Baton Rouge. Who knows where we'll sleep tomorrow night..... ?
Thanks for visiting with me......

HuGz.... ChERyLL