Christmas Secret Sewing ....

So many of us had secret stuff we didn't share earlier and this is mine....

Annelise in Norway was the person I sent to in Chookyblue's SSCS

I sent this bag from Anni Downs 'Some Kind of Wonderful' with the needleholder from the same book and a few other little goodies.

Annelise says it is perfect for her to use to her quilting group ... 

Noela reads my blog so I had to be very careful and I loved making this little mini hanging.....

(also an Anni Downs design)

I loved doing all the little bits of detail on the border (note the hexies ladies!!) and a very sweet angel

I can see myself making this one again .....

the rest of the parcel can be seen over at Noela's 

Righto, Gotto Go.... now this part of the festivities are over .....

Christmas Gifts....

I hope everyone had a glorious day yesterday..... I'm afraid I didn't get to comment on many posts but I did love reading them all

************************************************************

Was I ever spoilt with the Christmas blogger swap gifts....

Cheryll was a 6 item partner and this was the parcel for under the tree.....

a gorgeous cushion ... look at that striking design

..... and don't you love this extra detail of Ho Ho quilting on it?

... and the prettiest buttons at the back to hold it shut...

Thanks so much Cheryll... even the stuffing for the cushion was provided....

I had two 6 items swap partners and this is the table runner I received from Dawnie (who I had not met before)

... the twelve days of Christmas....

there is so much detail in this item... two circles needleturned ... each circle is a different picture of the 12 items in the 12 days of Christmas song... and you can see the fabric is also of the 12 days....

I love the curved border too and see... it was specially designed by Dawnie herself....

Thank you so much Dawnie.... it's a work of art....

My secret partner in the SSCS was Clare  (also someone I have not met before)  who sent me this wonderful wallhanging.....

... again I just want to show the detail with these tiny buttons and beautiful stitching and peeper border....

... and specially signed on the back too...

Thank you so much Clare.... Hubz has been 'requested' to make a special hanging rack for this one ... I love it

I love hand made items... making them and also getting them and these are all going to be much loved and you all remembered each Christmas along with my ornie collection... thank you so much ladies...

I think one of the best gifts is the new friendships our swap goodies bring with them so thanks Chookyblue and Maree for making these one's happen.....

My other favourite gift at Christmas is hearing from family far and wide.... here is a picture of my 6 grandchildren

Righto, Gotto Go.... I have new pretties to admire.....

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas....

My friends in blogland have become a big part of the happiness in my life... thank you to all of you.... some read, some comment, some have their blogs... it's all a wonderful circle ....

This year Hubz and I haven't put up a tree.. so I was delighted when he brought back this little prettiness yesterday... it is a NSW Chrismas bush called 'Albery's Red' and I had seen one on a friends facebook and said how pretty it was

It's still small but we are going to pot it and hopefully next year she will be able to withstand some decorating.... 

There have been a few of these pennyrugs in blogland... and this is my version.....

I made a mess up with the size of the base so I did the 'pennies' a bit different...

... to be honest I think my Santa faces are unflattering... a bit porky...  but I like pigs.. so that's okay

I stitched a few dishtowels to give out at Christmas... so these are gone to new homes....

they are all stitcheries from Gail Pan's book Simply Christmas

For the first time in 34 years Hubz and I are alone this year..... it does feel a bit strange and I am determined to make the most of not being stressed about food and gifts etc.... We have a lovely big ham which I will baste and we will have a Christmas eve dinner and then leftovers for lunch tommorrow.... with beer of course.... perhaps more than just one?

Righto, Gotto Go.... 

WISHING ALL OF YOU LOVELY BLOGLAND PEOPLE'S A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

FNSI and other things....

This last week a few more ornies arrived in the post box....

Susan sent me this gorgeous dainty angel....

and Narelle sent this lovely card... but I'm using as an ornie...

How cute is this mini block ornie from Marilyn....

...and the sweetest tree from Christine...

... thanks ladies... I am getting a lovely scattering of ornies on my bookshelf....

I also got a lovely box of candied nuts from Kris.... no picture... sorry..... Hubz found them.....

Well, Friday evening was FNSI hosted by Wonderful Wendy..... Hubz and I had some leftovers to eat and turned on the TV to watch 20/20 Big Bash cricket....

In the sewing room I worked on some 3 1/2" blocks I had made previously....

... and turned them into rather fun stars....

... then I sat down to watch the end of the game with some hand stitching....

This Saturday morning was Hubz' hobby day and time for bottling the latest brew ... and I helped with the bottle top labeling (very important job)

... it won't be ready for drinking for a week or so but I was rewarded with a glass brewed a month ago with my toastie for lunch....

.... I have placed out the stars I made which now need sashing and 'secondary stars' to be done....

Righto, Gotto Go, nana nap required after a glass of beer then I want to work on those 'secondary stars' .....

I hope you all have a lovely weekend with not too much to do for the lead up to Christmas

not ready....

... simply not going to finish a couple of Christmas items this year....

.... these are the stitcheries for the wallhanging from Gail Pan's book Simply Christmas.... done on some lovely soft linen ......

This year Quilters Angel has been supporting RSPCA......  A quilt was raffled earlier this year

.... and over the last month people have been donating food and items for delivery on Christmas Eve...

I try and make useful pieces with scraps and wadding when I experiment with some quilting....

these blocks were given to me and are made from a fairly course cotton ..... and I have some sweet pooh bear cotton curtaining I used for backing... 

I rather like a couple of cared pets getting a quilt each....

(and I'm sure they won't mind the experimentas quilting)

... the other thing I won't have ready this Christmas is my North Pole quilt... though I have been working on the quilting....

this blue stippling is in metallic blue so there is a little shine to it.....

.. and the borders are with silver thread ....

.. the work to do now is adding all the embellishments on it and sew down the binding .....

Righto, Gotto Go....  I have to start my UFO list for next year??????

Lady Gaga and Me.....

I seem to be doing a bit of this and a bit of that lately but I have got a finish....

This wallhanging is made using Michelle's gorgeous stitcheries and design....

I love it....

 I used for the first time a gadget which promised quick and easy yo-yo's....

... its a lie... it's not quick... and I didn't find it very easy!  it takes half an hour to make a little thing about 3cm diameter.... fiddle fiddle... but sweet and just what I wanted ....

I did another new thing in doing this pretend piped binding..... 

(I followed a tutorial HERE)

In the corners and edges I added a little christmas tinker bell...

and a gold bead in the middle of the (not so quick and easy) yo yo flower....

My daughter is off on holiday and had us over for early Christmas lunch....  dessert was little mini pavlova's.... don't they look beautiful... and they were delicious... 

As for Lady Gaga and me..... apparently she likes this show... well, she is dating the guy who plays that firie in the front...

I know you will be very suprised that I should like a show like this.... however, there really is not much on TV this time of year and this provides some light (and somewhat delicious) entertainment.. 

Righto, Gotto Go.... I must go and find the Lady Gaga in me?