A little stitching and my blog book

I have been stitching a little lately in between all the sadness of the past week. Mostly it is secret stitching for our Stitching on the lake days on 28 March and 11 April. There are still places on both days so email me if you are interested in coming. I did enjoy stitching these hexies in Japanese yarn dyed fabrics recently.

 I was very pleased to finally receive my 2014 blog book. I ordered it in early January and this time it went back to the US and had to be sent again. It is fun to see all the stitching, holidays, grandies and bits and pieces shared over the year.

 We had class again this week and Sue has been busy making this lovely bright quilt for her new grandchild who will be here soon.

 Lynn came into the shop recently and showed me these wonderful purses which her sister bought her in Japan. They are just so beautifully made.

Weekend at the coast

The last few weeks have been busy and I hadn't blogged about a lovely weekend at the coast recently. Each year a group of us head to the coast, Denham's beach in fact, for a delightful retreat. We enjoy each other's company, good food and have a very relaxing time doing whatever we like! There were 11 of us this time.

We started the weekend with fish and chips in Batemans Bay. This was the view from the restaurant.

 This big stingray was a bit exciting to see!

 We stay in a lovely house and this is the view from the verandah.

 Some people swam (a bit too chilly for me), walked, played games, chatted and did jigsaws.

 A few of us enjoyed reading too. This book sounds a bit miserable but is a wonderful read.

 I started to crochet this scarf. I bought the thread last year at a craft show and am lovely making this. It is quite a bit longer now so will have to show you my progress later on.

 There was also some lovely show and tell at our last class before the holidays. Sally had finished her gorgeous bag.

 She has also finished stitching this project from Urban stitches.

Best get organised as Fiona will be here soon and we need to get ready for Stitching on the Lake again!

Birthday blessings

I was so blessed on my birthday a few weeks ago. Then we had a few busy weeks so haven't had time to share it with you. I enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea with my family on Easter Monday....even the little fellows had a little cake. I also went out for dinner with hubby on the night of my birthday which was delicious. There were also some lovely gifts and I was very spoilt.
The family gave me a gorgeous red saucepan. I know it is a useful gift but this one goes into the oven so wonderful for oven baked risotto and casseroles where you need to brown the meat. They also gave me this gorgeous ship charm! Very appropriate.

 It was lovely to receive all these fat quarters from my blogging birthday swap girls. Thanks so much, everyone, they are just beautiful.

 Fiona surprised me too with the beautiful canvas work pin cushion. I just love the colours and is just so special.

 She also gave me this wonderful book by Yoko Saito. I saw it on her blog and was very tempted to order it then! Luckily I didn't.

 Here are just a couple of the wonderful pages of projects in the book.

 Karen also surprised me with this beautifully stitched project basket (for my many ongoing works...) and is is just so lovely.

 I also received lots of lovely cards.

Thanks to everyone who made my day special.

A bit of stitching progress and some mail

Here is my Florist all decorated with felt flowers. I ended up "borrowing" some of Kate's ideas and did just  daisies, a handle on the trolley and apples on the tree. I just loved your block, Kate! Hope you don't mind.

 I also spent a little time putting together block 5 of the My Garden BOM. I do love the fence in this block.

 The postman delivered my 2010 blog book. It was so exciting to see the year in print and I spent some time this morning reliving 2010. It was a very special year with 2 great holidays, great times and lots of stitching.

Stitching day and 2 packages

Here are a few more photos of the stitching day. Najelle came with some lovely goodies from Hobbysew.

Here is one of the little wooden houses with blue window frames! Looks great and might have to paint one like that myself. It started a trend.

It was so exciting to receive two packages in the post yesterday. My blog book for 2009 has arrived and it is lovely. The pictures are so clear and it is fun to look over the year in this book. I am definitely planning to do one for 2010. It was ordered from Blog2print.

The other special package came from dear Lise in Victoria. She sent me this beautiful cup and saucer and lovely card for my birthday! Thanks so much, Lise.

Stitching and some new books

I enjoyed appliquing this tea towel last week. Hobbysew has some of Nancy Halverson's tea towels and books in stock so it was fun making this one out of her latest Christmas book, Tidings.

I have also been stitching these little motifs for a baby block. No! There are no little ones coming (grandies that is) yet but the iron on transfer was fading so I thought I had best stitch it. This is the third project that we received at the Immerse stitching day last year. It is a Melly and Me design for her new patterns for kids called Sew Little.

I was also tempted to order some new books. I saw this lovely one at Robyn's, my quilter, recently and it is lovely.

I do love Bareroots patterns and this has some nice things in it but the book is tiny. I had only seen a picture of it and thought it was the same size as her previous books.

Stitching progress and a good book

Here is the button bead that I created for the little pencil case. I didn't have a matching bead so had fun making my own version. I am feeling very righteous as the notes are written too!

Here is the little Sheep canvas work all made up.

I did manage to add the other 2 rows to the Crazy Christmas quilt. Now to figure out the borders.

I have just started reading "At Home" by Bill Bryson. I bought this for hubby for his birthday and have been waiting ever since to get to read it. It is a fascinating read about homes and the history of houses in Bill's usual interesting and amusing style.

My biggest achievement this week is putting away the decorations. It is a big job, as is putting all the other pictures and quilts back up! I do love the decorations and keep adding to the collection so I am my own worst enemy!

Tis the Season

Chookyblue mentioned this delightful book on her blog recently. The Stitch a long girls are going to do the quilt in this little book next year after we have finished the Gardener's Journal quilt. I mentioned it to the ladies at Hobbysew and we have copies at the shop if anyone is in Canberra and "needs" one. It is a lovely little book by Natalie Bird.

Here is a picture of the other projects in the book.

The stitcheries make lovely cushions. Traced one this morning in case I had time to stitch it before Christmas.

I was also lucky enough to win a lovely pattern by Helen of Hugs and Kisses. She had a very generous giveaway last week and gave away a pattern every day and I won the first one. Here it is. Lucky me and thank you, Helen.

Here is another favourite decoration. It is a design by Vivien Robinson.