Almost Ready

Christmas decorating is pretty much done - two little hearts to be made to add to a swag in the loungeroom and that's it.

The Loungeroom:

Family Room:

Christmas Trees:

Nativities:

A couple of parcels have been sent off.  I'm a bit behind with my Christmas sewing.

Sarah quilted Niner for me and it arrived home yesterday

I love this quilting design; will definitely be using it again.

Sarah also sent me a present - a very cute owl that sticks onto my sewing machine via a suction cap.

Jenni wrapped a uteload of presents last night - a huge help.  So much fun having tiny tots to buy for again.

Hugh Baby!

Had a night at home on Tuesday - started clearing out the loungeroom so that I could clean then decorate for Christmas.

Hoping to have some time over the weekend to at least put up the Christmas tree and a few other bits and pieces.

On Wednesday night we went to see Hugh Jackman.  Such a fabulous show - enjoyed it so much.

So many goosebump moments.

The highlights for me were when Hugh introduced Russell Crowe to the stage and they sang the Valjean/Javert duet from "Les Miserables" and then at the end of the show when Hugh sang "Mack the Knife" - don't know why, but I love that song.

Another basketball game last night after work - I was a little bit tired by this stage but the Hawks won and it was a very exciting game.

When I arrived home from work there were quite a few parcels waiting (lots of on-line present shopping this year) including a surprise packet for me from Sandi - such a lovely surprise and so very sweet of Sandi to think of me.

Having dinner with Mum and Jenni tonight - it's Mum's birthday today.  A very busy weekend coming up with two birthday parties, stitching and a trip to Ikea with friends.  I really need to do some sewing and Christmas decorating - at least I can have the embroidery machine going while I do other things :)

Social Butterfly

The silly season has hit with a bang - last week and this coming week are particularly busy at work, after hours and the weekends.  Lots of fun things happening, spending time with my little sweethearts (and my bigger sweethearts) and some sewing.

Mum and I went to see Schools Spectacular on Saturday afternoon - it's always a highlight of our year and once again was such a fabulous show.  Mum will be 88 on Friday.
 

After the show we visited the babies so I could give them each a package of goodies for December.  ChaCha's Christmas dress isn't quite finished - it will be soon.

Saturday night we were invited to an engagement party.  I was so happy to catch up with family I hadn't seen for ages especially for such a lovely occasion.

Machine embroidered a set of towels for Gabby and Mitch.

Another Stash and Dash bag is on its way to the new owner as a little surprise present.

Yesterday I was back in Sydney with The Schoolgirls - we went to see "Matilda" - loved it, and then had such a lovely time having dinner with my dearest friend Lynell - not often we can say we've been friends for over 55 years.

While I was out socialising Karen quilted two of my quilt tops:

Shortcake - photo borrowed from www.quiltingonthecoast.com.au

and

Off Track - photo borrowed from www.quiltingonthecoast.com.au

Off Track - photo borrowed from www.quiltingonthecoast.com.au

Having dinner with another dear frient tonight.  Wednesday night I'm going to see Hugh Jackman with friends from work.  I need to find some time to start decorating the house.  Everywhere else is looking very Christmassy - maybe tomorrow night as it will be 1 December.

Busy Weekend

Had a great time with the babies on Saturday and hanging out with friends on Sunday.

A friend of mine has an outdoor pizza oven and she invited a few of us over for lunch.  Delicious.

 

I should have taken a photo of the chocolate pizza with salted caramel icecream and strawberries - thanks goodness there were a few of us there to share - it was so good.

Most of my sewing is secret Christmas business and I'm making some progress but nothing finished yet.

The embroidery machine has also been busy.

Cleared some space in the loungeroom to take a photo of Orange Swoon - up on a ladder and still couldn't fit it all in.

One last photo from quilt camp with Sarah - was so lovely to see her again.

 

Orange Swoon

When I met up with Sarah at quilt camp she gave me back Orange Swoon, which she had quilted - it's wonderful.  I started collecting fabrics for this quilt last year and began the blocks in May this year.

I need to find a space in the house so I can take a photo of the whole quilt and show the true colours - it's a whopper at 104" square.  I sewed on the binding last week when I arrived home from Tasmania and stitched the binding down over the next few nights.

I love the quilting design - it doesn't take over from the piecing but adds a lot of interest with the swirls against the sharp angles.

Quilt Camp

It's been a busy few weeks with a trip to Tasmania and an overnight stay in Sydney.

Our on-line stitching group had a quilt camp near Latrobe and it was a fantastic few days away with the girls.  Met up with some old friends and met some friends I've known on-line for years.  I've had to "borrow" photos because I didn't take many.

We met up at The Cherry Shed for lunch before heading off to the camp.  I love this photo of Helen McC.  Was a sign of things to come over the weekend.

The Queensland Girls (Helen McC, Teresa, Norreen and Sandi) made Survival Kits for all of us

and Lib made each of us a thread catcher

 which she gave to us on Halloween.  There was a bit of dressing up that night.

We also had a swap - something we could use while travelling or at camp.  Vicki made me a great holder for all the cables we need to take with us these days.  Terrific fabric.

I had a gigle when I saw the pink lint remover - I'm always covered in threads.

Jo's present to Helen S was a pair of pyjamas - a friend in the US had also bought some of these pj's for me (perfect for camp).

On the floor is the quilt Sarah was making - Cosy by Cotton Way - it turned out so well.

I made Leanne a Stash and Dash bag (Tanya Whelan fabric) and also made one for her Helen (Whitewashed Cottage) for up-coming birthday.

 

I was also able to give Helen her teapot block for the birthday quilt she is making for herself.

There was some sewing done over the weekend - 716 four patch blocks to start off my Rainbow Rows quilt (designed by Lissa Alexander) - one of the "Go Four It" quilts in this year's American Patchwork and Quilting quilt-along.  Another 373 or so to go.

It was such a great trip and then the following day I was able to spend shopping with the babies and their Mums - perfect end to a lovely few days.

Fresh

"Fresh" is a quilt pattern designed by Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms from her "Simply Retro" book and the fabric I've used is from a variety of Fig Tree & Company ranges with Moda Bella Solid 97 for the background.   It's a very large quilt (95-1/2" square).

I love this quilting design - it doesn't overwhelm the piecing but adds great texture.

I started stitching down the binding on Saturday night while the baby slept and finished it off yesterday afternoon when watching a movie with Mum.

Friday night I sewed on the last couple of  "Niner" rows

and last night added the last rows to "Shortcake", our stitching group's quilt for this year.

Next year some of us are hoping to make "Snippets".

Busy week coming up.

It's that time of year again ...

Most of my stitching friends are starting their Christmas projects and that means sneak peaks and no showing the finished goodies until after The Big Day.  I put the quilt piecing aside earlier this week and started some Christmas sewing.  These pretty Christmas fabrics were from a giveaway on Instagram hosted by Samelia's Mum and the green spot was in my stash.

Finished this one off last night.  I have more to do.

On Wednesday Mum and I had a quick trip to Sydney, lunch with Elizabeth and ChaCha and a visit with Peta, Peta's Mum and Smudgie.  Went out for dinner with friends, followed by the first Hawks home game for the new basketball season - very exciting game - always a great game when they play well and win.  Looking forward to the next home game on 25th.

Last night I sewed on the last couple of diagonal rows to Niner.  I've decided to add piano key borders to the top and bottom to make it longer (a rectangle rather than a square) and it will fit better on a queen-sized bed.

Almost the weekend.  Babysitting my little buddy tomorrow night - so looking forward to spending some time with him.