Classes and kits

Where has the week gone? I can't believe it is Friday again. We had a busy day on Wednesday at the shop with social stitching and then classes. So nice to see what the ladies have been working on. Bronwyn and Lynn have finished their bookmarks.

 Bronwyn has also finished her little needlecase from last year's stitching day and her scissor keeper is almost finished.

 Lynn was using this beautifully embroidered needlecase.

 What have I been doing? I have been busy over the last few weeks making samples and writing notes for the stitching days coming up in March and April. Yesterday I cut out lots of parlan, interfacing and fabric to start making the kits.

 I know...they aren't on for a while but I am heading off in a few weeks on holidays and just want to be organised.  Here are some of the photos and bags ready for packing.

 My stitching has slowed right down but I have been doing a little handquilting on Christmas Fun.

Avril and Tim"s wedding

We have had a busy but lovely weekend with Sunday being the wedding of our youngest niece, Avril, to her special young man, Tim. This is where we were in Wollongong! It was a gorgeous day for a beach wedding. Unbelievable after a week of rain almost everywhere! 

 Here is the groom with his best men waiting for the bride to arrive.

 Ma and Deirdre, the mother of the bride, watching for Avril.

 Ma and pa ready for the ceremony. That umbrella was a great idea as it was very hot.

 Here comes Avril with her proud Dad.

 Couldn't resist loading this post with pictures as hubby took some lovely ones.

 This one was posted on facebook today and is beautiful.

 Here is our family after the ceremony. We were a little glad to be in the shade.

 I stitched a card for the happy couple. I used Lynette Anderson's wedding picture from Your home or mine and added the beach.

 Saturday night was special too as we inducted our new minister in church. This very special band were the Pastoral "Seekers" and performed a version of "A World of our own" in a fun service to welcome Chris and his family.

More of Wednesday

Karen popped in quickly on Wednesday to show her lovely Teahouse block from My Town. The quilt is finished now in the Homespun magazine but we are still working on it! Looks great, Karen.

 Liz has been busy too. She came to the Summer stitching day a few weeks ago and has almost finished the canvas work. Doesn't it look beautiful.

 In the evening, Sue was very excited to show us her finished Little Village Hanging. Sue has done such a good job.

 Sally has been busy too and has finished this delightful quilt for one of her grandchildren. The little dogs and cats are so cute. She used charm squares to make the centre of the quilt.

Wednesday stitching and classes

It is always lovely to catch up with the ladies at social stitching and at classes in the afternoon and evening. It is always so inspiring to see what everyone has been making. Janet had made the most gorgeous tiny knitted hat for her new babe, due soon,  but I forgot to take a photo. Donna had finished her embroidered keyring from the Summer day of stitching at the shop recently. Doesn't it look beautiful? I was very impressed with her Winnie the Pooh key on her keyring. Think I need one of those!

 Classes started yesterday and it was very special to catch up on all the ladies' news and to see what they have been stitching. Can't fit it all into one post! Bronwyn had made some lovely things over the break. I just love this hanging from Anni Downs' Some Kind of Wonderful book. Must make one of these!

 Bronwyn has also finished this punch needle bag from Anni's book The World as it Should be.

 Doesn't the punch needle look good?

 She had also made a toaster cover.

 Bronwyn had also finished this lovely drawstring bag from last year's stitching day. Hasn't she been busy?

Stitching ...

I have managed to do a little stitching in between wedding festivities and trips to the coast. I have finished January's blocks for the SKOW Stitch-a-long. which is exciting. If only I could keep up with Fiona !

 I have appliqued the parts of block 7 of In my Garden. Need to force myself into the sewing room to sew it together.

 Woo hoo! The fourth border has been added to the Christmas Fun BOM. Now to get to the quilting.

 Most things have been set aside to work on some secret stitching and note writing for the stitching days Fiona and I are running in March and April.

Best get back to it!
Just a reminder to my class ladies that we start this coming Wednesday, 1 February. Looking forward to catching up with everyone.

Lucy and Peter's wedding

We went to Lucy and Peter's wedding on Friday morning in the courtyard of Canberra Baptist Church at Kingston.  The weather was so perfect for an outdoor wedding. It was a very special celebration. 

The service was followed by morning tea which included these lovely cakes!

Australia Day

We had the loveliest Australia day yesterday celebrating with Fiona and David on the beautiful South Coast. I am reading Anh Do's wonderful book, The Happiest Refugee, at the moment and there is often mention made of what a wonderful country this is. As a fellow migrant, I wholeheartedly agree. We headed to the coast on Wednesday and it was lovely to share yesterday with such dear friends. 

 We had a lovely walk on the beach.

 Fiona made the whole day so special with lamingtons. Aussie serviettes and delicious prawns for lunch.

 We even met little Nala! She is terribly cute (even for a non pet person like me!)

 Fiona and I hadn't been able to catch up around Christmas so it was lovely to exchange our gifts. Fiona had made me this gorgeous Christmas hanging with Happy Stitching on it. So appropriate!

 Fiona also bought me this delightful pattern by Lynette Anderson for some gorgeous stitched slippers. Must find time to make them!

We also had some time to organise our stitching days that are coming up soon and had a lovely afternoon of stitching too.