Shopping and stitching

I did do a bit of shopping in Sydney. It was too tempting! I loved these new patterns by Anni Downs and also by Natalie Bird.

 This gorgeous boro scatf is so beautiful. Can't wait to make it.....after finishing a few other things first.

 These lovely knitting needles were on my list! Expensive but so good.

 I have been getting a few things finished. This little needlecase was a gift. It is a gorgeous design by Anni Downs.

 This stitchery was finished ages ago and it is now a useful bag.

 My big finish is my Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs quilt and label. This is all hand quilted so that took a while.

 Roni came into stitching this week with this great button necklace on. So lovely.

 She had also finished her lovely Natalie Bird pin cushion.

Lynn had also finished this beautiful zippered pouch.

 Here are my latest Stitch Therapy 365 blocks. We are nearly half way.

Stitching away....

Lovely to have a bit of time to stitch over the last few weeks. It was fun as always to work on my Here There and Everywhere block. Here is block 6.

Here is a closeup of my version of the map of France, highlighting some of the places we have visited.

Finally.....after many months, I put together row 1 of Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs. It hardly took any time to do so will have to do the other rows!

 I loved doing this stitchery from the lovely book. A yeear of Embroidery by Yumiko Higuchi.

 These little stitcheries were already done so it was great to make them up.

 This one had been stitched too!

 I loved stitching this cross stitch and now it is ready to display this Christmas. Thanks. Roni, for the woolly edging! It worked perfectly.

Breakfast and show and tell

Last Saturday, a few of us went out for a lovely breakfast at Ricardos. The food is so beautifully plated!

Lovely as always to catch up with the stitching girls on Wednesday. Lynda wowed us all with her finished tree skirt for her daughter. She used a Bunny Hill quilt pattern for the appliques.

 Beth has been very busy too and has sewn together her Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs quilt! Must do mine.

 She has also finished Part 4 of Here there and Everywhere! Looks so good.

 Roni has been busy too and has finished her lovely Anni Downs decoration.

I got my Part 4 lst week and couldn't wait to start.

Sewing....

I have called this post sewing as I have actually done some machining this past week. My fellow blogger, Chookyblue, has been spending at least 10 minutes in her sewing room each day so I tried it. I do go in there often to cut things, iron things and plan but I don't sit and machine often enough. Well ....it worked. I put together the last block of Scandinavian Rose! I know, you have seen the slow progress of this quilt over the many years (it was started in 2014) but to add the last few little squares was very satisfying. It made me think of Rosalie, the designer too, who sadly died from rotten cancer a few weeks ago.

 I also completed the last block of Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs. I will miss creating these each month. Still tossing up about doing Anni's new BOM that is starting soon Very tempting!

 I have enjoyed cross stitching this fellow too. I have started the third one! It is easy and relaxing to do.

Some stitching...

I have been having fun doing different things over the last few weeks. It has been nice to work on these cross stitch Santas.

 I need to add a hanger to this little canvas work decoration.

 My last block arrived for Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs. It is always fun to work on these blocks.

 I received this gorgeous decoration before Christmas from my friend, Rose. How cute and clever is this?

Mind you, it is time I went into the sewing room to work on some UFOs. I noticed Chooky Blue is doing just 10 minutes per day in the sewing room and is achieving so much. Might need to challenge myself to go into the sewing room and use my lovely machine for just 10 minutes!!!!

Creating...

There has been a little Christmas creating happening here. Some of it is for gifts so I will show those later on. My class ladies have been busy too making beautiful things. Jayne is such a good needle turner who loves using the Lynette Anderson tools. These little appliques on this wonderful ipad case, designed by Anni Downs, look fantastic. I have this kit too and will enjoy making it....after Christmas perhaps.

 Marlene has been busy too and has finished her lovely Anni Downs' pencil case.

 Margaret has had fun making this lovely hanging from a Nancy Halverson book. I have this one and it is one of my favourite decorations.

 I have been stitching too. Here is block 10 of Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs.

 I also enjoyed making up this little zippered pouch for a gift. It is also an Anni Downs pattern.

I had some fun and a little difficulty knitting this little bauble using 4 double pointed needles instead of 5. I have bought a new set so will have another go soon. It is from an amazing book by Arne and Carlos, called 55 Christmas Balls to knit.

Gorgeous gift and some stitching

Lynne came to class last week and showed me these amazing Japanese creations. Her lovely sister-in -law goes to Japan each year and bought her this zippered stitching pouch and this little purse. They are both so gorgeous.

 Lynne also made this useful bag with large hexagons!

I hve a finish too. I have been slowly stitching these houses over the last months and it was lovely to finish this great mat for Christmas. It is a Helen Stubbings pattern.

I have also finished all the blocks now for United Stitches. I will have to prepare some stitching now as these were very handy to just pick up and work on in between other projects. They come printed on too which made it easy. Not sure when I will get round to making them into a quilt.

It was very exciting to get Part 10 of Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs this week. I just had to start!

 Another project on the go is this lovely Nancy Halverson bellpull. The hanger has been in my stash ready for a long while!