It's TiMe ...

to mail off another month of gifts in the Santa Sack Swap.
By now all the sacks would be filling up quite nicely I imagine... making it harder NOT to shake, rattle or squeeze. It's only ??? sleeps until we get to open them all up... grin ... so get busy planning the next (and LAST) months wonders.
I hope you are all taking pic's of your pressies in their sacks ? ... if you are, let me know and I'll publish them here. That way everyone can see what you have to look forward to opening on a special date in December.
Yes... I'm keeping THAT date a surprise... i'm such a tease... but you'll all be notified in December... grin! 

This is what is waiting for Me... from Laurie...

Shez has received these...  from Jeanette ....

And Annie has received these pretties from Naomi.
It's beginning to look at little like Christmas... da..de..da..da..da

GeTTinG ReaDy for HaLLowEEn

Although "Halloween" isn't really celebrated here in Australia... we do get a few little ones stopping by our door for treats. As hubby is Canadian and grew up with this tradition we try to enjoy this time of the year too like other "trick or treat-ors" in other parts of the world.
This fellow is on my front door at present... welcoming all who dare to approach.

And this is how my entrance table is decorated... so far....

I need to make a table topper... and add some spider web... etc
But it's all FuN .. isn't it !

* * * * *

AND FROM NOWHERE....
out of a sunny blue sky this afternoon we had a down pour of rain like you wouldn't believe. I mean it came sooo quickly I only had time to grab the clothes off the line before this.....

Luckily NO damage was done... just water... !

AND NOW... it's gone... back to blue skies... again!

A TriPLet of IteMs

Sandy over at Cookies and Cream blog recently hosted a swap of a sissor keep called "The Keeper Swap".
This is what I sent my partner Larissa up in the Northern Territory. Of course I have distorted the colors so this pic doesn't spoil her surprise.
I hope you like my choice Larissa... and once you've received your parcel I'll post an "in focus" pic.

* * *

I've been busy catching up on housework...yuk... and organising the swaps so I haven't had a lot of time these last few days to do much sewing, but I did manage to make a little something for Allie-Oops Christmas Thru the Year group. I need quite a lot of these little pretties and although you have seen them before... I made two new ones today. Just to prove I'm not rehashing the same "old" ones... here they ALL are!

I'm just glad I didn't say I would make more for each family member than I did... phew.... I still have more to make... and time is getting away!  
Just as well they are quick and easy little projects.

That makes 7 in total... so far... !

SwaPs CLoSeD & One IteM for XmaS

Another lets exchange has closed and this will be the last for 2011. All candle mats (together with a little chocolate) should be mailed on or before November 25th to your partner. I have emailed out details so if you haven't yet received yours please contact me.

I would like to THANK the exchangers who said they would make 2 mats. I appreciated your offer even though they weren't needed. We have 20 players this time too...so a great effort girls!

I hope everyone who took part in the exchanges in 2011 had FuN and will come back again in 2012.

Sew far... sew good.

The SuMMer theme Once a Season Swap has also closed.
We have 16 seasoners this time around which is just wonderful for this time of year. I have sent out all emails with partners details... so if you haven't received yours please let me know.
Otherwise .. all that's left is to have some FuN putting your item together. Don't forget to add a little xmas item for your partner to your package, just to add to the festive season.
Mailing deadline in on or before December 1st.
As this is the last for 2011, I hope all seasoners enjoyed the swaps and will come back again in 2012.
HaPPy SeWinG !

* * *

Although I'm a day late...well here in Australia anyways... I did manage to make a small item for the Christmas bag of gifts. Narelle hosts this group each month and I love being part of her merry band of elves. Visit Narelle's blog "pins and whiskers" HERE to see what others have made... and enjoy!

I made a cup sized heat pad with lavender inside so when the hot cup of tea or coffee sits on it, you get a lovely fragrance filling the area.

BacK HoMe at ThE LaKe...

I LOvE holidays... but I LoVe being home again too!
Bali (Indonesia) was wonderful. We had a fantastic time.. swimming, shopping, snorkeling, eating, shopping, drinking... OH and did I mention SHOPPING! I was smart enough to take an extra (empty) bag so I just HaD to fill it didn't I?... HaD to help their ecomony didn't I?
Well I did to THAT! ... huge grin...
The whole family had FuN and enjoyed spending time with each other too! Great memories !!!

I would like to say a big
THANK YOU
 to all my friends who wished me a good time. I may not have had a chance to answer you but I did read every comment left for me.

* * *

Now down to some business.....

Please check that I have your name listed on my sidebar if you are playing along in the

Once a Season Swap or the Lets Exchange. 

As I've been away I wouldn't want to have missed someone's name and have them miss out.. 

so please let me know if I don't have you listed.....

Registration closes at midnight on OCT 25th (australian time).. that's TONIGHT !

Arnie SaiD iT...

This is where I'll be later today.....

spending days with him...

quenching my thirst with these...

And perhaps coming home like this.....

Here's hoping anyways!
Look out Bali... here we come!
Oh yeah.... Arnie said it...  I'll be back....

* * *

I'll leave you to ponder these "Golden Rules for Living"...
1.   If you open it, close it.
2.   If you turn it on, turn it off.
3.   If you unlock it, lock it up.
4.   If you break it, admit it.
5.   If you can't fix it, call in someone who can.
6.   If you borrow it, return it.
7.   If you value it, take care of it.
8.   If you make a mess, clean it up.
9.   If you move it, put it back.
10. If it belongs to someone else, get permission to use it.
11. If you can't operate it, leave it alone.
12. If it's none of your business, don't ask questions.

GEM OF THE DAY:
A person doesn't know how much he has to be thankful for
until he has to pay taxes on it !

Once a Season Swap

Yes it's time ... to sign up if you are interested in joining into the last of the seasons swap for 2011.... awhhhhh !
I've changed the swap to a same partner/ same country swap this time but like usual it will have a theme. This time it's SUMMER...
and as we will be mailing on or by December 1st ...lets all add a little something for Christmas... just to make your partner smile. Remember gifts can be handmade or purchased and they do not have to be extravagant...just be sure to take the time to pick something your partner would like to receive. For anyone new to this swap.. go HERE for the original details.
If you are interested in joining in then just leave your name on THIS POST ONLY ( and make sure you leave your email address or a way to be contacted if you are a no-reply blogger). I'll add your name to the list on my sidebar and I'll forward partners details asap after I return home.
Registration will close on OCTOBER 25th 2011... so you'll have over a month to organise your gift.
PLEASE...
do not OVER commit yourself by joining into this swap. Only participate if you will honour your commitment and mail on or by December 1st 2011.

JuSt WonDeRinG ?

What would happen if you started with some scraps of fabric like these....

Pieced them all together like this...

Pinned them into a sandwich like so....

Quilted them together as shown below...

Why... you'd get another "BLanKeT of LoVe"  that's been sewn...

Visit the Blankets of Love blog here.

DawN AsKeD

What’s in a name?

I have been reading lots of blogs where the owners tell of how they arrived at their blog names and I had thought my story wasn’t interesting enough to share. But a friend actually asked me that question yesterday... so I thought I’d would today. 

Visit Dawn to read other stories.

You may need a nap after reading this..... lol !

Anyways, before I start... 

If anyone would have said to me 18 months ago that I would be a blogger on the computer... I don’t even do facebook... I would have laughed at them and said "NNNOOOO" that’s just not me!

So...

I purchased a pattern off ebay and a little while after the mail arrived I received an email from the seller asking me if I would be interested in joining into a block swap. Of course I said no straight away... that wasn’t something I was ever interested in either.. never even had a BOM at that stage... but the lady said why not think about it. 

I then received a follow up email a week or so later and the lady asked me if I had considered the block swap.  I said “how about I give it a go”. I thought it might force me to make blocks that I may not have ever chosen to make for myself... thus making me a better sewer... so I joined in. 

The lady’s name was Sue and she was starting up 

“Quilting Block Swap Australia”.. and the rest is, as they say.... “history”.

Because I joined into the block swap and if anyone out there actually knew me, you would know... I don’t do things by ½ measures... so I wanted a blog like the other members. I didn’t know where to start... but I gave it a go.

Firstly, you have to think up a http address and as I have always sewn in what I called my "cubby hole" I figured that was a good name... so I typed in that address but it was taken. So I simply added stitching before it and all was good. When I went to write the name in the blog title area.. I didn’t like the way it looked so I had a think about it. I couldn’t come up with anything that actually rhymed with Cheryll... ( no nothing!!!) and I couldn't put two "C" words together that wasn't stuffy or made me sound like I was thinking I was a professional ... far from it!.. and remember I was new at this blogging stuff... but I thought well if I’m not at the computer... then I’ll probably be upstairs stitching.. hence “Gone Stitchin”.

It's not a thought provoking name... or it's not particularly witty... but it’s ME!

So if you want to blame anyone for me becoming a blogger... then I‘ll get you to stalk comment to Sue. After all it was all her fault. Love ya Sue!

* * * * *

I wanted to say a big thank you to all my friends who wished me the best yesterday.

I had a really wonderful day...

and look at the loot I got !!!!   huge grin....

FRiEnDs SwaP

My lovely partner in this swap, Maree, sent me these beautiful little parcels of  joy.
This is how they arrived...




and this is what was inside the wrappings.

F = fat 1/4's of fabric, thread & cotton.

R= relax with a cup of tea or three.

I = indulge in some chocolate.

E = embroidery kit, sewing tin & embroidery threads.

N = note pad and nasal hankies.

D =  drawer "perfumed" liners.

S = something for ME... hand cream & body lotion.

Of course it goes without saying... BUT... I just  L-o-V-e  all my goodies. Thanks Maree !

* * *
This is what I sent on over to Maree.... and what makes me SmiLe is that Maree said she was HaPPy!
This was my alphabet interpretation.

F = festive decorations (tree ornament,door hanger & gift bags)..
R = red fabric, red thread,red cotton & red buttons. 
I = inspirational patterns & indulge in some chocolates...
E = embroidered hand towel and face washer...
N = necklace, notepad and nail shapers  (Maree's fav colours) ...
D = drop your shoes into these bags...
S = scrapbooking stuff  (Maree's other hobby ) ...
Thanks also go to our wonderful hostess... Khris...  for organising this GrEaT swap!