Gifts

 I was so spoilt for my special birthday! I feel like I have been celebrating for weeks. Thanks you to my family and friends for spoiling me so much. My lovely stitching friends gave me a voucher for dinner at one of my favourite restaurants and some money to spend on Liberty fabrics when we get to a craft fair again!! 

My girls gave me 2 amazing gifts. Lyndal made me a Liberty jacket!!! And I also received a lovely new flash handbag! 

On Sunday, Fiona and David came to stay and took me out for a lovely dinner. It was very special to catch up with them. Fiona also gave me these gorgeous earrings!!

On Monday, my dear sister in law, Janelle, took me out for morning tea and surprised me with beautiful flowers and a lovely book of almost 50 years of memories we have shared!

I had also orderd my 2020 blog book and here it is. It is quite thin compared to my usual ones but still a nice memory of the strange year that 2020 was. 

Craft Fair Shopping

After and while I was working on the BeBe Bold stall I kept seeing things that I just had to have. Jane carries some lovely Japanese crochet books and I kept looking at them. Not sure if I will be able to interpret the graphs (as I certainly can't read the Japanese!) but it might be fun to try. I also bought some fine thread to crochet as well. Brings back memories of crocheting doileys when I was in my 20s! 

 BeBe Bold also has some lovely patterns, fabrics and notions. These just had to come home with me.

 Jane uses this tool to make lines for sashiko. Thought I might need one. Jane had also made a lovely little bag using these apple core papers. It might be fun to make some of these with my Japanese fabrics.

 I showed you some of these fabulous birds that Doreen is making and when I saw this book, I couldn't resist.

 AK Traditions had a lovely stall as well and these dollies are so gorgeous. Little Alice might like one...when she is bigger. The colouring book is gorgeous too and I think I would like to stitch them!

 You can't go to Sydney without buying some goodies from the Hatched and Patched stall. I was quite good really as I could have bought so much. I bought a little kit and Anni's new book for Quiltmania, called The Home Patch. It has so many lovely projects in it.

It all looks quite a lot really. Must get going on my retreat kits so I can have some time to make some of these lovely projects. Lots of fabric being cut, notes almost written and photos taken. It is only 2 weeks till our retreat! 

Deliveries and some stitching

The post man was very kind this week and brought me this lovely book by Gail Pan. It is just gorgeous, Gail.

 These lovely fabrics arrived in the post a little while ago. Thanks so much, Gail. Can't wait to play with them.

 I also ordered this gorgeous book by Wendy Williams. It is so beautiful!

 I have been stitching away at my table mat by Lynette Anderson and have now prepared the outer edge. Needs another iron and then the top appliqued in place.

 As we are working on this book, Stitch it for Christmas, next term, I started the cushion as well. Any excuse to stitch Christmas things.

 Yesterday I was very busy and made Herbie and Percy, the helicopter and plane, from a pattern by Melly and Me. They were a bit of a fiddle but are very cute. They are part of the little men's birthday gifts.

I am getting a bit excited about next week as I am off the Sydney to work on the Be Be Bold stall at the craft show! I will be there each day except Sunday, from 9.30 till 2.30. Hope you come and say hello!

Craft Show Shopping

Shopping, shopping, shopping! It was so lovely to see all the samples on the stalls and it was all very tempting. I couldn't resist Natalie Bird's new book, Red Home. It is full of beautiful projects,

 There were some great books on Quiltmania's stall. I bought this one even though it is in French! Can I remember any of my schoolgirl french! There are wonderful pictures and diagrams so that will help.

 I have been admiring this range for a while so the layer cake just had to come home with me.

 A few new patterns to make!

 My biggest spend was on Anni Downs' stall as the kits for the projects in her new book were so lovely.

 Just NEEDED some wool too.

Oh dear....so many things to make but such fun buying them.

Shopping

It has been so exciting to see all the lovely things people bought at the Craft show. I did a fair bit of shopping myself even though I went needing NOTHING! I also had lots from last year that I haven't even finished or started. Oh well...it is fun to see everything and so tempting. I was very impressed with the Quiltmania stall as the books were lovely. I ended up buying this book and the projects are very special.

I bought some fabrics and couldn't resist some more wool for a scarf. Last year's scarf isn't quite finished!

My favourite purchase was Anni Downs' new book. Hobbysew is getting the book soon but I couldn't resist it.

Anni signed it too.

Anni had some lovely kits for the projects in the new book too.

I also couldn't resist these woven wool felt kits.

Then there were a few patterns as well. Just a few of them might be nice for a little person in the future.

It was great watching Sue Daley demonstrating and I bought some of her bits and pieces to do some hexagons and to try her applique techniques. I am fiddling with the papers at the moment for a little project for the next stitching days.

My other naughty purchase was another lovely cardigan from Claire Patterson. I so enjoy wearing these hand knitted cardigans.

Two new books and some little "Quilt a Gift" projects finished

The mailman delivered these two books the other day. I have a few jelly rolls and haven't made anything with them and have just enjoyed looking at them! This book might inspire me. I also ordered Lynette Anderson's book as well even though I am not into cats and dogs. There are so many lovely projects in this book that I couldn't resist.

I have had a lovely time finishing off a few more of the projects in the "Quilt a Gift" book. Classes start again today at Hobbysew and I wanted to have a few more samples made from the book we are doing this term. Here are some more of the decorations, though this time I used felt behind the appliques and fabric fused on in the lower ones.

I just loved stitching these little birthday bags.

Here is the little cushion from the book too.

The postman has been

It was so exciting last week to open a package that arrived on the front verandah. It had these lovely books and some fabric in it. I have been a little naughty on the internet. This book is by one of my favourite designers , Barri Sue Gaudet of Bareroots fame. It has such a lot of beautiful projects in it. Can't wait to make some of them.

I also couldn't resist Nancy Halverson's new book with lovely sewing accessories in it. It has some really special patterns in it.

I also ordered a little of Nancy's fabrics. Two of them are from her new range and they do look lovely and will go with my stash of her fabrics very well. I also bought the sample squares of the I Believe range as they are such nice fabrics.

I had a lovely email today from Tudy in the US, who won my Giveaway recently. Thankfully the package arrived safely. Christine has also received hers her in Australia. Thank you, Tudy and Christine, for reading my blog and for commenting on the giveaway.