Nearing the end of 2012

New Years Eve.

This year has been busy.

 I`m pleased to say with encouragement from you all that there`s one quilt finished and a couple nearly there. Also I`ve enjoyed stitching for others as well.

My SSCS gifts for De http://re-de-zinesblogspot.com.au/ .

 A applique Tea Towel, Christmas doll from a Homespun Magazine.

 The mouse ornament from 2012 `Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornaments`.

 The mouse close up was on my earlier post on the 1st of December

  This table mat 

,the star shown on the 1st of December

and fabric goodie bag shown below are my gifts from illene to me.

   

Another exchange that I was part of.

Ellen http://ellen-xstitch-passion.blogspot.com  recieved these gifts from me for `Christmas exchange` by stitched with love_ exchanges wih Lainey.

Kaye sent me these. Thankyou Kaye the nugart was yummy and I loved everything else.

 The reindeer is hanging on my tree. 

 The cute owl is a data traveler. My YD showed me that :).

 The bead mitten and stitchery pattern will be something to do at a later date.

 I love tins to keep threads in.

 Plus the ornament was one I looked,so thankyou for your lovely stitching. 

 Well looking forward to a happy healthy New Year.

Sometime there`s a good movie on at the local theatre on New Years Eve but not this year.

Since we where up at 4am for an early start for hubbys work  this morning I think we will be having an early night.

Thankyou for your visiting over 2012 and look forward to your visits next year.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.

Saviours Birthday

I pray that this Christmas there are blessings for all.

The last few weeks before Christmas we`ve had `Advent`,

 lighting a candle each Sunday at church.

Hope 

Peace

Joy

Love

Faith

 A friend made Joseph and Mary which her holding baby Jesus our `Saviour`.

This is a reminder to me of his birht so long ago but the meaning of Christmas.

Yesterday our Christmas day was speacial for us with some family here.

Of course there was gifts exchanged and festive food eaten.

Merry Christmas.

Clare.

Nearly Christmas

Hello my friends.

The weeks have flown by so thought I`d best say I`m still here.

Like everyone else I`m getting ready for Christmas Day.

 We have some of our family coming to us.

I stitched `Believe` sometime ago from a Christmas issue of `Stoney Creek` magazine.

I`m still looking for a silver frame to complete this.

Next Christmas I will hang it up!

A boxed gift from Lorraine http://grannyloz came a few days ago  for Mrs Martins Quilt Shop `Christmas Angel Swap,2012`.

I`m going to use the lovely box to hold one of my BOMs.

So beautifully wrapped and Lorraine made lovely labels for me. 

All on display.

 At the back is a basket of flowers in a wall hanging,a postcard and kit.

 Then an angel stitched across the top of the stocking.

Stitchery is from `Tis the Season` book.

`Home for Christmas` as Christmas decoration with star gift tag.

 A wool felt bird holding flower for a candle mat.

For something sewing is a lovely needle book.

 I`ve shown a few close ups of some of parcel from Lorraine.

The gift tag I attached to a pair of scissors .

The stitched little bird on the cover of the needle book.

Inside of the needle book

I am now using this lovely needle book. I can`t have enough of them.

Thankyou  Mrs Martin for setting this up for us to do.

Thankyou Lorraine for the lovely gifts for me.

Merry Christmas everyone and I pray you have a blessed `Saviours Day`.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.

Parcels

Hello my friends.

December is here,
the weeks will fly till Christmas Day.

I  have sent my `Angel Swap` .

They are well on threir way and should be there soon.

This came to me yesterday. Today is the first chance to blog of this parcels arrival.

Look at these lovely gifts yet to be opened!

I noticed my SSCS gift for my partner has arrived. I stitched this little mouse for her.

It`s from ` Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments 2012` issue.

By ` `Twisted Oaks` `The little Mouse`.

 I used suggest linen but changed my threads to Cottage Garden `Bush Christmas` 505 for the flowers,  flower thread 3347 for vine,black beads for eyes.

 I added three threads of  DMC 310 for whiskers by the little pink bead nose and instead of cord used green ric rac.

Look at the cute little mouse holding a flower too large for him.

 I will make him again for me.

This lovely star came from Illene my SSCS partner as her ornament for me.

 I have a nativity set that I will put under this. Haven`t decded where to set this up yet. 

Well I`d best get on as have a few chores to do before setting up my Christmas Tree with my ornaments,wallhangs and framed pieces etc.

Thankyou for visiting. Hope you enjoyed yor time here.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.

`Thimbleberries` time again and mail

Hello my friends.

Another `Thimbleberries block` only the applique to do. May get it done tonight depends how I go on other stitching.

Really pleased with progress made on this quilt. Even if I can only work on this a short time today. Next month will be piecing top together. That will be Boxing Day!

Yesterdays mail in our letter box.

This is what was insde my parcel from my SSCS partner Illene http://retdairyqueen.blogspot.com/ 

Thankyou Illene, my first Christmas gifts for under the tree this year. I promise I won`t peek. also thankyou Chookblue. I`ve enjoyed this journey, only waiting to see my parcel to arrive at it new home. 

Today another parcel in our box. This time my `Summer Swap came.

Look all for me.Wow! So lovely with a friendship note too.

A rose button on a lovely pincushion.

A cute pattern of one of my favourite designers and a hoop.

`Thimbleberries` fabric. I`m thinking what`s in my `Thimbleberries box to go with these and what I`d love to make.

Thankyou Donna of  www.donnaslavendernest.blogspot.com  
 Cheryll  I also thankyou for organising this for us

I pray that my Summer Swap arrives at it`s new home soon too.

I`ve had a lovely few days lately with a stitching day at Katrinas with  Kath there as well.

Well best get back to some stitching before bed.

Happy stitching,

Clare.

More posting

Hello my friends.

Please take time out from your stitching to sit a while .
 I would like to say a Thankyou for the lovely comments. They can brighten my day.

I`ve posted more mail but was so busy forgot to take a photo of my `Summer Swap` . Here`s a little peek. Found this cute sandal charm.

Also I didn`t get a parcel photo of my `Christmas swap with Lainey. Silly me. At least I did take photos of gifts to show once they have been recieved.

 Our loveable cat decided this dolls cot was the right place to sleep.

It was our YDs when she was two. I`m going to fix it up with a little quilt for our grand-daughters Christmas gift.

Well best get back to stitching or I won`t get my last swap posted in the next day or two.

Thankyou for your visit,till next time.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.

Parcel Posted

Well hello my friends in blogging land.

 My SSCS was posted yesterday the 19th Nov. Now I will be wondering how long airmail posting takes for my partner to recieve my speacial gifts to her.

I think they will be well recieved. When all my stitching for Christmas gifts is done I must make these for me. I was delighted how they turned out with some very important suggestions from DH and YD.

I posted it in a box like this as didn`t  want them crushed!

I added her name to labels after this picture was taken,so there would be no peeking! Feel blessed to give surprises and thankyou Chookblue for the opportunity to do so.

While I was out yesterday I was able to pick up my Homespun magazine.

 I so enjoy this magazine and one of my gifts came from an previous magazine. I have on my list to do projects from two designers `Lynette Anderson` and `Lenna Green` plus a new designer from my country New Zealand `Karen Davis` from this current magazine. Will look in my stash as I finish Christmas gifts to put aside to do these at a later date.

Well must get back to my stitching to get another parcel ready to send!

Thankyou for your visit till next time,

Happy Stitching,

Clare.

Stitching along

Hello everyone.

 November here already! Most of us are stitching things for Christmas but mustn`t show. Hopefully some lovely surprises coming.

Hubbys wondering if our dinning table is to be seen ever again!

 You know the saying: `stitching forever house work whenever`.

Not quite like that but you get the idea.

Our one and only cat thinks there`s something for him, funny.

I`ve stitched this using Cottage Garden thread 503 Snapdragon. Have yet to decide my finishing for this and then parcel up.

Time to go.

Happy stitching,

Clare.

New addition to our family

Hello my blogging friends.

I pray that if you are near New York or in that area that you and your family and friends are safe.

We have a new addition to our family.

He disappears when he sit down as there is so much grass.

He hasn`t a name as yet but my friend  Kath thinks Jack will be a good name.

He bleated for his mum at first but since there are other sheep at the neigbours he soon settled down.

We brought him home in a sack in the front of the car with me holding him,talking and rubbing his nose. He was really quiet.

After my shopping time today with my Uncle and then Hubby sorted for his night shift I put  another Thimbleberries block together for `Thimbleberries Day`

Block 10 of `Lakeside` 2008 Thimbleberries Quilt Club.

 I fussy cut to get the birds and flowers. The layout turned out well. Next month is the applique for the centre block.

Here is the gift I made for my friend Barbara `to stitch or not to stitch` blog. After sending I was on tender hooks that it would arrive. Was so relieved to get her email saying so.
The stitching design is a freebie from `A Stitchers Story`. I went through `Freebie Gallery`. I stitched with `Cottage Garden` thread 104 Dog Rose. 

Showing the inside of the blockroll,needle booklet and the back of scissor holder with fob.

Well time for me to go as my stitching is waiting.Nice to unwind after a busy day.

 Hope you all have some down time to stitch too!

Hope you enjoyed your visit to my little part of the world.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.

Out of the cupboard

Hello my friends.

I`ve been stitching but can`t show as yet ! So I thought I`d show my `Yuletide Joy`. This has been in the cupboard for sometime,so out it came.

A bear by a tree.

Ye Old Santa

 And another santa with a snowman block showing on the side

The tree made with strip piecing.

I`ve finished all the blocks but need to put their beads on or stitch a mouth. The beads are somewhere safe! So next time will be a complete top ready for quilting. I think hubby will be wondering why the dinning table has a new purpose!

Thankyou for your visit and love the comments. Till next post.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.

Another quilt finish

Hello everyone.

 Thankyou for coming for a visit.

Today I finished `My Favorite Things` quilt. I  journeyed with Chooyblue on the
SKofW SAL.
 The patterns in Anni Downs `Some kind of wonderful` book. Thankyou Chookyblue for starting and co-ordinating this lovely SAL.

This quilt I mainly used fabric out of my stash,though I did buy a few tone on tones for the background of some applique blocks. Also brought the backing fabric and binding. Loving the way it came together as usually my fabrics come in a BOM. Then this part is sorted for me.

   

I free motion (first time) quilted on this side the sashings and border strips using an off white thread for the top and in the bobbin `king Tut` verigated pink tones in the bobbin. That was after using my walking foot to stitch in the ditch round blocks on the right side with threads reversed in my sewing machine. Then the applique I hand quilted as I need more practice for closer work.

I found this cute cat so he became my label.

  

For some reason this is on it`s side. I used parts of this `Thimbleberries` stencil for my quilt. The blue `Frixion` pen is amazing as the lines disapear when heat applied.

Thankyou for your visit. Hope you come again next time.

Happy Stitching,

Clare.