Emma and Marc's engagement party

We had a lovely day on Saturday in Sydney to celebrate our niece Emma and Marc's engagement. Emma is very artistic and she and Marc designed the invitation. It was very special. The drawing of Emma and Marc was done by a friend and is so good.

The food was wonderfully presented and was delicious too.It was a brunch so there were yummy egg and bacon rolls, banana bread, fruit and all sorts of other goodies. Check out the lovely things on offer on these tables. The glass topped cake stand has Ma's delicious shortbread hearts.

Here are Marc and Emma during the speeches.

And here they are with Ma and Pa. Check out the bunting that Emma made hanging behind them.

We were all so lucky as it was a beautiful sunny day and the rain held off till Sunday. 

It's stitching weather...

It is raining steadily here today and that makes it excellent weather for stitching or perhaps starting to decorate for Christmas. I don't feel too motivated to drag out all the decorations yet as it usually means some cleaning and dusting as well!
We had a busy day yesterday as we were in Sydney for an engagement brunch. Luckily the weather was perfect. I'll share some photos soon. Before that here are some fantastic bags that Linda and Anita made at a retreat recently. This is Linda's bow bag.

Linda also made this special evening bag.

Anita make this great bag which is so clever in its design. The bows at each end create the shape of the bag. I think the designs are all by Monica Poole of Moonshine designs. This one is called the Bonbon bag. Makes me feel like making a bag!

Some stitching and some show and tell

It was good to piece block 5 of My Garden while the fabrics were out and the stitching finished. The little antennae belong to a lovely butterfly button that I will add when the quilt is finished.

I also couldn't resist starting this lovely quilt in Vignette, the new magazine by Leanne Beasley. I have changed the thread colours to suit the fabrics I have bought.

Here is part of the first block.

We had a nice afternoon at class on Wednesday and Jenny had this lovely bag that she had bought a while ago in India. The work is beautiful and it is all chain stitch a little like the one I shared earlier. This time it isn't all filled in which would make it a bit easier.

Margaret as been busy and had stitched the canvas stocking from the Stitching day. Aren't her colours great?

Margaret has also finished her stitched pear decoration. It is great that they will be all ready for Christmas.

A very early walk....

I know that you won't believe this but last Friday I was up at 5.50 am in order to go for a walk! That's not really my kind of thing as I love to sleep in and even 7 am is early for me. I have a dear friend who loves to walk and she invited us to walk up to the Pinnacle at 6.30 am to celebrate her birthday. I huffed and puffed my way up the hill and it was a lovely view. I have lived within walking distance of this view for 10 years and have only been up a few times. I imagine it is wonderful on a sunny morning.

Here I am with some of the ladies to prove that I made it!

It was lovely to get to see Paddy's beautiful "Quilter's Journey" quilt too. Sorry the photo is fuzzy but the quilt looks so beautiful.

Paddy also showed us this great cushion cover she bought in India. It is covered in chain stitch.

Here is a closeup. I'd like to have a go at doing a little version.

Paddy has also been crocheting! Doesn't this blanket look lovely. It will be so warm and cosy.

BOMs are up to date, almost

I finally had some time this weekend and forced myself to go into the sewing room and make these blocks up. Here is block I from the Gardener's Journal quilt I am doing with the Stitch-a-long girls. I put off the machining and it was really easy once I had chosen the fabrics. So nice to be up to date.

I also stitched on the borders and the little bird on this block of the My Garden BOM. This is October's block and I have stitched and prepared this month's too. Might get the borders done today!

Christmas Class, a little finish and a lovely bag

I had to take some photos at work the other day (I couldn't find them in my many computer picture folders!) of these Christmas projects we are doing in a few weeks at Hobbysew. We are having a day Christmas class and these are the projects. Some of you will have stitched these with me in earlier stitching days or classes but it is nice to repeat some favourite ones. The canvas work is one of Fiona's patterns just changed a little. I remember that one of the Queanbeyan girls had this idea and it looked really good.

This little stocking is fun to stitch using felt.

Barbara came to work the other day with this gorgeous handbag. Looks great, Barbara.

I was also pleased to finish off this little canvas work scissor keeper. It is another of Fiona's designs and we are doing it in a Summer stitching day at Hobbysew in January.

New Magazine and Noah's Ark

Hobbysew has the Vignette magazine by Leanne Beasley so I just had to have a copy. Leanne mentioned this at the "Immerse" stitching day and I was looking forward to seeing it. Her photos are beautiful and there are a few recipes and Block one of a Mystery quilt and a covered notice board to make. There is lots of stitching on the quilt but I think it will be a lovely, large quilt.

At the Stitching day on Saturday I bought these Nancy Halverson fabrics, from Cute as a Button, to use in this quilt. I am not into the bright colours so these suit me better. I was just choosing the DMCs to use in the embroidery. Oh dear, another BOM when I have several waiting to be finished. I do love starting new things.

I also bought this latest book by Nancy Halverson. It is filled with lovely projects, as are all her books.

Last night I finished this delightful Noah's Ark stitchery by Lynette Anderson. I thought I was finished yesterday but hadn't stitched Noah's beard!

A little finish and last week's show and tell

Holidays are over and it is time to share some stitching again. I stitched this lovely canvas stocking while I was away and just finished sewing it together. I obviously like traditional Christmas colours so chose to stick with my favourite reds, greens and mustard.

Now a flashback to last Tuesday and Wednesday at the shop. Sandra loves making hexagon quilts almost as much as Judy and here is her latest one.

Barbara has been very busy and has finished her blackwork (really blue) angel. She looks lovely. There is a tiny blue dot in the fabric that matches the blue thread perfectly.

Josie has also finished her stitched stocking from last year's stitching day. Looks so good.

Helen was working on her canvas stocking too and it looks fabulous. Love the variegated green.

In the afternoon, Maxine finished off her little felt pear from the stitching day. It has turned out so well.

Fjordland

We had the most magnificent day in the fjords of New Zealand. It was chilly but there was no rain. Here we are heading into Milford Sound.

Ma, Pa and Paul on the deck watching the scenery with Jeni and I in the reflection. Pa loved sitting on these timber benches.

Here are a few more Milford Sound.

Here we are leaving New Zealand and are heading back to Australia. We had two lovely, relaxing sea days to enjoy.

Christchurch and Dunedin

After Wellington, we sailed to Christchurch. We had beautiful weather and caught the lovely old tram around the city. We checked out some of the craft shops in the Art Centre, had morning tea and enjoyed the markets in the Cathedral Square.

Our next port was Dunedin. Paul and Jeni went on the train trip to the Gorge which we had enjoyed last time. The rest of us actually spent the day shopping, having a coffee and checking emails. There were some bargains to be had in the Farmers store. I bought some great NZ ugg boots for next winter and the men bought some very well priced clothes. These are some pictures taken by hubby as the ship sailed into Dunedin. I didn't see them as I was asleep!

Here is the ship in the harbour.

We then headed off to a day of scenic cruising in the Fjordland and then back to Sydney.