Christmas parties and a new tree

Today is another busy "party" day with both morning tea, lunch and dinner out! It is a shame everything is on the same day. Thought I had best blog first though before heading out. Went to a lovely dinner out last Saturday with some stitching friends (after battling horrific rain, instant rivers over roads and road closures to get there!). The photos weren't too good as it was dark but here is the lovely Royal Doulton decoration I received from Secret Santa (Thanks Maree).

This lovely Santa was one of the other gifts.

I also had a delightful evening celebrating Christmas with my Book Club ladies. Kate is such a lovely hostess and always makes the tastiest pudding and here it is! It was delicious.

Here are some more decorations.

I also wandered into the mall yesterday heading to get some lunch and Bed, Bath and Table had their decorations on sale and I just HAD to have this metal tree and a few other bits and pieces!

Lovely wire tree

I was so excited to put this wire tree up this year. I had seen them on a few blogs and kept my eye out for one and there it was on sale last January!!! I was so thrilled and it was half price. it is actually a card holder but it does look good with some favourite decorations hanging on it. I have hung some cross stitch ornaments, some Nancy Halverson little hangings, my little blue felt bird from the stitching day and a tin Santa, some of Marg Low's decorations using Theodora Cleave buttons and a few others. It was fun decorate.

Yesterday's class was lovely and I really enjoyed spending the day with the 4 ladies. We had yummy morning tea and lunch, thanks Cathy, and spent the day stitching and chatting. 

Decorations

This is another of my favourite Nancy Halverson patterns. I love this quilt and enjoy having it in the entry.

Here is my collection of Christmas trees.

I am off to Hobbysew today to teach my Christmas day at the shop. I am looking forward to sharing some patterns with the ladies and enjoying lunch and morning tea together. I even made some shortbread for us to share.

Red spotty jugs and more decorations

Part of the decorating included taking everything off the dresser and replacing it with Christmas plates etc. These very special red spotty jugs have come all the way from Lavenham in Suffolk. Penny and I had a wonderful time looking at the delightful shops there and I wanted these red jugs! They wouldn't fit into my luggage so John offered to bring them over the next time he was in Australia for work. Thanks John! Here they are being displayed for Christmas. I love them so much I leave them out all the time.

This is a picture of the display in the lovely shop.

Here are a few more decorations. You would have guessed by now that I love Nancy Halverson's books and   enjoy making lots of her Christmas patterns. Here are a couple featuring the lovely buttons.

Here is the little cushion I made with the stitchery I completed earlier. It was part of my Secret Santa gift last night and is now decorating Adrienne's home.

Tuesday and Wednesday's show and tell

Wow! On Tuesday, Helen brought in all her finished Christmas decorations from classes and the stitching day. How amazing it is to see them all finished. They will look wonderful decorating your house, Helen, or make fantastic gifts.

At class on Wednesday afternoon, Barbara brought in the advent "tree" calendar she has been making for her granddaughter. She has made lots of felt decorations, some from the Quilt a Gift book and some she has designed herself and they can be added to the tree all through December.

Sue was making some aprons from the Nancy Halverson "garden Song" book and they are looking great. They are made using a teatowel. Don't the fabrics match beautifully with the teatowels.

I have finally finished decorating (whew!) and thought I might try and share some favourite decorations each day until Christmas. This is a little tree decorated with little stitched and cooked (to harden them) decorations.

Some stitching

It feels like it has been a busy week and it is Friday again. In between my normal activities I have been decorating. I love Christmas decorations but have so many it takes ages to decorate! I love it when it is all done but haven't enjoyed the process so much this time. Still, I am nearly done and have today free to do the tree. I do love seeing all the decorations again and it is nice to remember where a decoration was bought, if it was a gift or when it was made as you add them to the tree or place them around the house.
I finished these decorations this week. They are Nancy Halverson's and I have had the wire hangers for a while and wanted something to hang on them.

I have also stitched these and they need borders and buttons to finish them off.

I have also continued to stitch the Vignette BOM by Leanne Beasley. Though there is a lot of stitching, I have been enjoying it. Might have to leave the other border till later while I stitch a few Christmas gifts.

Emma and Marc's engagement party

We had a lovely day on Saturday in Sydney to celebrate our niece Emma and Marc's engagement. Emma is very artistic and she and Marc designed the invitation. It was very special. The drawing of Emma and Marc was done by a friend and is so good.

The food was wonderfully presented and was delicious too.It was a brunch so there were yummy egg and bacon rolls, banana bread, fruit and all sorts of other goodies. Check out the lovely things on offer on these tables. The glass topped cake stand has Ma's delicious shortbread hearts.

Here are Marc and Emma during the speeches.

And here they are with Ma and Pa. Check out the bunting that Emma made hanging behind them.

We were all so lucky as it was a beautiful sunny day and the rain held off till Sunday.