ChrisTMas GiFtS

I'm in again.

This month I've made lavender bags for FriEnDs. Of course I haven't actually filled them yet... that will be closer to Christmas... but 4 are for "pillows" and 2 are for hanging in wardrobes.
I LoVe the smell of LoVenDeR.. ooppss I mean lavender!

The fabric has lavender bush on it and I can practically smell it's fragrance.

If you want to join in too... just visit HERE.

It's always worth a visit to see what's been created each month... if for no other reason than to gather some ideas for your own Christmas gifts.

Once a Season Swap

This is a quick reminder that YOUR gift package should go out in the mail NO LATER than tomorrow.

This should bring a smile to your face...

Children Are Quick
____________________________________

TEACHER: Why are you late?
STUDENT: Class started before I got here.
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TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
________________________________________
TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.
(I Love this child)
_______________________________________

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?

DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
__________________________________
TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago. 

WINNIE: Me!
________________________________________
TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are. 

What a WeekEnd !!

We've had a huge weekend... (and for that matter a big week leading up to the past 2 days too).

It was my DD#1 hens weekend! I think that says it all... lol ... AND it was the bucks weekend too!   Double whammy!
People staying... shopping purchased... food prepared... drinks chilled... dress fitted... fasinator packed! Then of course AFTER the fact... not feeling tooooo well.... hiccup! No seriously... we had a great time... 

BBQ dinner here for all last night!
Phew! now I have room in my fridge!
Really glad for some quiet time this afternoon though as the last of the family left late this morning.
I'm REALLY grateful for blogger scheduling in times like this... without it, reminders would be forgotten... groups missed... and hey- I haven't even had a chance to sew AnYtHinG...
OH NO... I hear you saying!

But I wanted to thank everyone for leaving comments over the past few days and although I have read them I just didn't have time to answer them... please forgive me... and I may be out of service somewhat until the wedding in a few weeks... so I hope you all understand.
It's a FUN & EXCITING time at the moment though so that's wonderful

AND for everyone who asked about a tutorial for the Christmas Tree hanger (in Narelle's Christmas Item a Month group) I'll do one asap... in plenty of time for Xmas... I promise!

I'll leave you with this...

O.M.G., I'm rich!

Silver in the Hair

Gold in the Teeth

Crystals in the Kidneys

Sugar in the Blood

Lead in the Ass

Iron in the Arteries

And
an inexhaustible supply of Natural Gas.

I never thought I'd accumulate such wealth.

I'm an eLF

Well I am... 'cause I belong to Narelle's band of elves who are making "things" for Christmas. This is the second time this year (being the month of February) and I've finished this small wall hanging. It will probably go to DD2 as she really loves the colours in it. Of course she doesn't know it yet.
OoPps.. perhaps she does now...lol... but she would have worked on me anyways to have it... so why not just give in without a fight!  sigh and grin...

Thanks once again Narelle for hosting this group in 2012.
You are... da best!
Go HERE to see what the other "elves" have made.

LETS EXCHANGE a journal cover... has now closed.
Please check that your name is on my list on the sidebar.
I'll get emails out ASAP.

A chuckle...

otherwise known as a...   FRIDGE MAGNET

NO animal was hurt making this pic I assure you!

What's All ThiS FuSS ?

I don't know about you, but I seem to be able to handle blogger and google's NEW additions/changes given time... but all I read about now is that from March 1st there will be changes to the followers link using "friend connect". I assume it has something to do with this privacy issue?
Does anyone out there understand what's happening?
What is everyone going to use? There seems to be several NEW followers buttons around the blogs I visit.
Will we need to belong to several followers lists?
Will we need to "invite" readers?
My questions are never ending???
I need help!
Some bloggers have opted to join "Linky Followers" and I started too and have my fingers crossed this works just as well as the google followers link did. If on March 1st we all loose our followers link? at least I will be a little better prepared. Having said this, if you want to join/follow me thru the "Linky" on my sidebar, please do... it's free and easy to sign up. I just don't want to loose all my friends.
If you know a better link PLeASe let me know.
If the powers to be come to their senses, perhaps the original link will stay in place and we can forget all this fuss!

Who's a BiRthDaY GirL tomorrow...?

Why Fiona from BubzRugz is...

HaPPy BirThdAy to You
HaPPy BirThdAy to You
HaPPy BirThDaY dear Fi-on-a
HaPPy BiRtHdAy to YOU !

Stop by Bubz Rugz HERE and wish Fiona a "good one"...

“ Quilts are like friends –

    a great source of comfort”

MonDay MorNinG

What a GreAt way to start off a week... with a surprise!

I received my "blog name" hanger from my secret partner Jess at The Elven Garden blog. Jess was paired with yours truly in Samelia's Mum name game swap. How clever of Jess to incorporate my blog name in the quilting. She has actually written a tut about how to do it over on her blog HERE, if you would like to try it some time. Of course I didn't know it at the time but Jess had been stalking my blog... scary eh?... and did a great job on my gift... so a big THANK YOU goes out to her.

I can't show the name game I'm making as it isn't quite finished just yet. More on that later.
This was a really FUN swap to be in... and I read there may be another one, so keep watching Samelia's Mum's blog on that if you're interested!

My partner in Once A Season Swap was Elaine and as she has already received her gift I can show you what I sent earlier this month. Elaine is a trike pilot (interesting eh?) and she said on her blog that she also likes to knit. SO what better way to pass the time during Autumn than knitting something for perhaps "winter". I also thought the warm and cosy neck cowl I knitted would suit her while flying... no long tails to get in the way.  Elaine said ALL the gifts would come in handy!

Thanks Elaine for your nice comments too!

And I have another finish this month.
My "Monthly Make" is done and dusted... feels good to have all but ONE wip finished for February!
I made this quick play rug for DD#1 acquaintance who is expecting soon.

Love the fabric ~ Pooh Nature Friends by Disney~ which came in a beautiful pastel green (my favourite colour) soft, colourful AND neutral so suits a boy or girl I think!

I backed it with flannel (as winter is approaching) just as an added layer of warmth for the little bub.



I hope the new Mum & Dad like it too. xx

AfterMath of FNSI

Before I show you what I accomplished in FNSI last night (it's now Saturday morning here in Australia)... does anyone else loathe the new computer proof letters we have to type at the bottom of most comments. 
I know I do! What were wrong with the other letters... they usually didn't form words... so they were NOT for computers... but now I have to look twice every time and then still get it wrong sometimes. errrr..
NOT happy Jan!

Anyways... that's my Saturday morning gripe!
Phew.. feel better now!

I have DD#1 wedding in March so I wanted to celebrate it by making another 12in MiNi for my entry table.
So last nights FNSI was perfect timing to tackle it. My night started with an idea in my head... now that's always dangerous... but I managed to find fabric in my stash (smiling here) that were perfect...

I measured and cut them...


Stitched the sashing & border fabrics...


Did some of this...

Perhaps one of these too...







Then used some pins...

Added some embellishments of pearls & crystals...
And FiNiSheD with...

I wanted this mini to be simple, but traditional and elegant.
I'm very happy with the finished result!
Perhaps when I actually hang it I'll take a better photo of it. It really is pretty in silver & white!

How was YOUR
"friday night sew in" ?

My OwN BOM

I have been kept busy with lots of "other" things this week... but I am still managing to do a little sewing. I am trying to do at least a block a month on my "The Night Before Christmas" quilt by Bunny Hill and finished block #2 "the stockings were hung" this week.

There's a lot of sorting, measuring, cutting, piecing, placing, adhering & more stitching in this 20' x 14' block.
Then add on some embroidery... & TaDah!

I just LoVe the colours used in this quilt and am looking forward to having it this Christmas.

I am also working on my Monthly Make for February. It should be finished any day now. Here's a peek.

I'm passing on this beautiful card I received on behalf of... drum roll please...
ALL the 2011 Angels...
a THANK YOU from the John Hunter Hospital.

Kaye (my secret partner in the Initial Heart Swap) sent this beautiful gift.

Technically NOT a heart... but it has "hearts" on it... AND... 

Kaye was worried that I wouldn't like it and I don't...  I  LOVE  it !   

Thanks Kaye!

See you ALL at Friday Night Sew In - TONIGHT. 

Go HERE to sign up and play along with us!