Summer day

Last week was busy as I HAD to get my Summer stitching class at Hobbysew,which is on in January, organised. I had put off making the samples as there were so many other things to stitch. Anyway, I worked hard and stitched and wrote notes and took pictures and here they are. I think the January class is almost full but we plan to do the day again in February.  Here is the appliqued cushion.

 I had a lovely time stitching this little carpet for the keyring.

 We did this little doll a while ago but the little garden on her dress is fun to stitch.

 This gorgeous canvas work is one of Fiona's beautiful designs.

I am busy at the shop now making up the kits for the class. Now to get back to some Christmas stitching and probably doing a bit more of my many UFOs.

Hobbysew party

On Saturday there was a Christmas party at Hobbysew. Lots of ladies and one man attended and it was lovely. The show and tell was inspiring and included amazing machine embroidery, quilts and hand embroidered projects. 

 There were also great specials for the ladies and delicious morning tea, of course.

Christmas Parties

What a busy week. There were some lovely parties. Book group had a lovely night with yummy pudding and great chat to end a year of lovely times. Then there was a beautiful high tea out at Gininderra Village with the Wednesday morning stitchers. The food was delicious and we had Secret Santa with some gorgeous gifts.

 Here are some of them. Made me feel very Christmassy!

 Janet knitted these precious little decorations.

 This is a hand made glass ornament. Just gorgeous.

 A couple of the ladies made my little bags as their gift. This the one that Jan made.

It was a very lovely time. Thanks to Jan for organising it all.

Treasures and summery stitching

On Sunday we went to the national Library to see the new Treasures Gallery and to see the wonderful exhibition of documents they have on display from Berlin. The treasures were very special and included these not too wonderful pictures. This is an original sketch of the first settlement where Bruce's great great's would have been.

 Some words penned by Jane Austen.

 This book was printed by William Morris with his wonderful scrolly borders. Well worth a visit and it is free.

We then looked at the amazing documents at "Handwritten: ten centuries of manuscript treasures from Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin". It was wonderful to see manuscripts written by Mozart, Einsten, Bohnhoffer, Cook, Curie and so many more. Well worth seeing though you do need to book even though it is free.

I have been busy stitching this week to get some much needed samples finished for a class I am teaching in January. Haven't been at all motivated but now there is a deadline! I am stitching a little carpet of flowers to go in this keyring.

 This will be a cushion.

 This lovely canvas work is one of Fiona's and still has a few rows to go!

I have been making a few Christmas things too that can't be seen yet. I have also decorated! I will take some pictures soon.

Special days

Our lovely Thursday Bible study ladies has a beautiful lunch at the Botanical Gardens to farewell Anne. We have been lucky to have Anne join our group over the last few years and will miss her as she heads back to Victoria.

 Couldn't resist taking a few photos in the gardens as we wandered around. Wild strawberries...

 flannel flowers

and some lovely fluffy flowers with bright pink edges. We thought they had been coloured in with a highlighter.

 We also met this lizard on the path.

 On Saturday we attended the wedding of Debbie and Dan at Canberra Baptist. It was a perfect day and they had the courtyard beautifully decorated.

 Here are Deb's proud parents.

 The afternoon tea was so delicious and looked fantastic.

 These strawberries, cream and toffee were absolutely delicious.

 Here are the decorated cupcakes. A few of us baked the cupcakes and Heather decorated them so beautifully.

Here is a picture of Deb and her sisters and sister in law.

December is here

Oh dear. It is the 2nd December and I have hardly done any of my decorating. Might have to get going today! But I do have some Christmas goodies to share with you from the shop this week. Some ladies have been very busy getting ready for Christmas. On Monday, I had a Christmas day at Hobbysew and we had a very lovely day stitching, painting and chatting along with a little eating too. I should have taken some photos of the ladies but forgot! Barb had these wonderful cross stitches to show us. They are 2 gorgeous cushions to decorate her home this year.

 This isn't Christmassy but I was so impressed with Barb's curtains on her little painted house we did at the May stitching day. How impressive are they and how tricky to get them in just the right place!

 Roni had made these great felted trees! They have wire in the centre so you can bend them however you like.

 On Tuesday, Coralee impressed everyone with all the projects she had completed for Christmas. It is exciting for me to see my patterns all made up too. Here is starry Santa.

 This great tree is made with folded fabric and looks fantastic.

 Then check out all of these decorations made into a hanger.

 Coralee also made a few hexagon decorations...just a few!

 Sorry for the blurry photo but here is the felt decoration and the canvas stocking from the last stitching day.

 These are lovely coasters.

 Lynne has been making hexagon decorations too and has used the most amazing fabric that fits perfectly into the centre of each hexagon!

 Helen has just finished this beautiful stitchery.

I do feel fairly inspired now to get my decorations out and at least make a start!

A great weekend and a bit of stitching

We had a wonderful weekend away at Mt Victoria on the weekend for a family reunion. We normally get together on Boxing day but as each family has grown this has become a huge gathering. It was decided to have a lunch earlier this year and it was mainly for the "older" members of the family. We had a wonderful time at Bev's guesthouse, Closeburn House in Mt Victoria. Here are Aunty Shirley (90), Ma, Pa and Uncle Alan. Aunty Dorothy would have been looking down from heaven and wishing she were there!  

 Here are nearly all their children and their husbands and wives. We enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch and had a great time catching up on all the news. A few of us stayed overnight and enjoyed the guesthouse. Must go and visit it again.

 I have been stitching a little. I am very pleased with my little stitching bag from Some Kind of Wonderful. It was a bit time consuming but it went together well except for the times that I didn't take care with my measurements!!!

 As we were travelling I did a bit of secret Christmas stitching in the car.

 I also managed to applique a few pumpkins on Friday for the In my Garden quilt.

 Here is the last stitched block of Christmas Fun. Now to make the pieced blocks and put it together.

 It was very exciting at Hobbysew yesterday as the new Vignette magazine arrived! I wanted to shoo the customers away so I could read it! Hobbysew has them now if anyone wants one in Canberra.