All my bags are packed....

It is all excitement here today as tomorrow I am heading to Sydney and then flying to Europe for the Stitching on the Rhine tour with Natalie Bird. My bags are packed with the kits and some extra stitching for the plane. Our tour includes a few days in Obernai in France, visiting the European Patchwork meeting. We then head to Luxemburg, then Brugges, and lastly we go on a river cruise from Cologne, visiting Amsterdam and a few other places in the Netherlands. So so exciting! Not much to show you yet but I have started stitching a French general panel and started some knitting to do while away.

Spring is defintely here though many of the blossoms are already leaves! 

Stitching

 I have been enjoying some cross stitch lately. Here are my Santas all made up into little cushions. 

I have been sewing one Santa cushion and one of these blocks most days. Glad to be doing a little time in the sewing room. These clever blocks are fun to make.

Lovely Heather taught a few of us how to make felted purses using rocks recently. It was fun!

Beth has made up her beautiful door stop. It looks amazing! 

Great to see these lovely finishes. Barbara has done such a beautiful job on this gorgeous stitchery.

Barbara has been making gorgeous cardigans and singlets and blankets for babies, What a wonderful gift this would be.

I will leave you some pictures of our noisy visitors recently!

Progress

 I have been working on all sorts of projects lately. I am still quilting my The Santa, the Tree BOM slowly. I have completed my 25 little advent bags which is good as there were so many to sew!! Here are the last three.

These stitcheries were completed last year from the Love and Hugs Facebook page. Nice to see them pieced and ready to quilt.

This is a very old project and I am not sure it is going to work. 30 years ago I knitted the fronts and back of this cardigan. I have knitted some sleeves, different pattern as they were very retro and gathered, so will be interested to see if it all goes together and works!

Margaret has completed some lovely projects over the last few weeks. I do love this little zippered pouch and the great Christmas serviette holder.

Roni has been busy making these delightful baubles!!!

Muddling along

 It has been freezing here over the last few days. We are definitely looking forward to Spring now! There was even a bit of snow that I didn't see yesterday. The boys and their dad did see it.

Here is a very strange activity by Jack. He is relaxing with cucumber slices on his eyes. I gather he saw this on a TV show!

I have been busy hand quilting my Here, There and Everywhere quilt finally. Very time consuming but the quilt has been keeping me warm!

I have stitched the last two Love and Hugs for Christmas blocks. Such a generous group of designers to give these patterns away for free.

Last week I received the first part of The Santa, the Tree, the Turkey and me. So exciting and I was very inspired to get stitching!

So special to catch up with stitching friends last week. Roni has wowed us all again with this amazing bunting and some more felt decorations. Seeing what everyone is doing is so inspiring.

The Story of my Day projects

Classes start next week and I have been busy making some of the lovely projects in Anni Downs' new book, The Story of My Day. I stitched quite a few of them while I was away and enjoyed some time over the weekend making them up! This is the very cute little stitching pouch.

 Here is the book cover and below is the ipad or tablet bag.

 I wasn't sure about making the quilt but had started stitching some of the blocks. I don't normally love the machine piecing but these blocks are quite good fun to make up!

 Last week at stitching, Roni brought along some lovely show and tell. These gorgeous little crocheted ice skates are a Christmas decoration! Roni bought these ones but her sister managed to make some of her own. So clever!

 Roni's sister, Barb, also made this amazing cross stitched house decoration for Roni!!

 She also made this wonderful stitched box for Roni. We were all so envious!!!!

Finally...some stitching.

Going away for so long certainly bites into your stitching time. I did stitch but now have lots of bits and pieces to add to my large collection of UFOs. Before I went away I did finish my little zippered pencil case from Jane at Be Be Bold. This was started on the cruise in February.

On the cruise and while away I enjoyed stitching these bits and pieces. I made two of these for labels for the little boys' quilts (started before they were born!) and they are now quilted and need binding.

 This appliqued and stitched piece is for an Anni Downs bag.

 I just wanted to stitch this cute Anni Downs stitchery after seeing Audrey's one.

I also enjoyed stitching this canvas work from last year's Christmas stitching day.

 These two stitcheries are for pockets on the lovely bag in The Birdhouse's new book, In the Garden. I am in the middle of making the bag!

Did you know that Natalie Bird is coming to teach at Hobbysew on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st May? What a great opportunity! This is the project we are doing and if you are close to Canberra, then this could be a lovely day out.

Now I had best go and get organised for our second Stitching on the Lake day which is on tomorrow. Looking forward to catching up with all the stitching ladies and to enjoying the delicious food once again!

Show and Tell and some stitching progress

Colleen has been busy stitching again this week and has finished her stocking from the Stitching on the Lake day a few weeks ago. Looks very good.

 Sue has also been busy and has created this lovely hanging using the stitcheries and appliques from the Stitching in the Hills retreat. She chose to use the 5" blocks in the charm pack and the quilt has turned out very well.

 I have been slowly stitching my Scandinavian rose redwork blocks but had become a little tired of all the red stitching so got out this kit I had bought a while ago. I had all the gorgeous buttons and this hanging was one I really wanted to make ONE DAY. It actually didn't take that long to stitch once the appliques were done. It is from the Nancy Halverson book, Tidings.

 I have also finished the stitchery and applique on this project from the Christmas day in Melbourne last weekend.

 This gorgeous little angel was a special gift from Rose, who we caught up with for dinner, last weekend. She surprised us with this little angel and a lovely little kit to make a little elephant pin cushion. Thanks Rose. They are both very special.