What a lovely Christmas!!!

I hope you all had a super wonderful Christmas. Ours was just fabulous. The only thing missing was our DD1 Tahlia and her boyfriend Luke, they are still on the other side of the world. BUT, we got a phone call from them on Christmas morning - we were over the moon. It was so lovely to hear her voice on such a special day :o). I can't wait 'til they visit in February!!! DS Ross and his gorgeous fiance Alicia came over in the morning too. Within minutes it was wrapping paper and pressies everywhere ... loads of laughs, they are all still just big kids - bless ;o).I finished the bag for my MIL just in time!! I put the last stitches in on Christmas Eve afternoon ... the same with a couple of little toiletries bags that I made for Alicia and my SIL Cheryl. Phew ... I was cutting it fine ;o) LOL I always do. Here's the bag for MIL ... the stitchery on this one is by Bronwyn Hayes, it matched the fabrics perfectly (I love her stitcheries!!!) but the bag is a JoyPatch design, it's called "Sowing the Seeds of Love" and you can find the pattern with the original stitchery on it here :o). I'm pleased to say that my MIL loved the bag :o)!!!I finally got to unwrap my pressies from Dawn (my partner in Janet's Christmas swap), and Maria in UK,who was my 'mortal' in Helen's Stitcher's Angel Swap. This is what Dawn sent me, an armchair caddy and a matching pincushion ... aren't they gorgeous, the stitching is so neat - thanks so much Dawn, I love them :o)!!!! Thanks also to Janet for organising this last minute swap ... it was such fun :o)!!! And this is what Maria sent from UK ... gorgeous Kaffe Fasset fabrics!!! I love them Maria ... you really are a sweety!! Can't wait til 2010 ;o)!!!!! I also got a lovely gift from Julia - she let me open it early after she read my last blog post ... so of course I didn't need to be told twice ... and this is what I got!! I just love it, it's now hanging with my Christmas quilt in the loungeroom :o). Thanks so much Julie!!!The morning was spent with my side of the family, then we went off to DHs family for lunch ... what a magnificent spread, and everything was so festive. We had great fun ... the guys all had Chrissy ties to wear and the girls all had flashing brooches!!! Here's DH and me in our finery ... lol you can see the tie well enough but the brooch is a bit harder to spot!!I ate so much I thought I'd burst!!! ...... this is just what we had AFTER dessert!!!!!!

We went home for a quick nap then it was back to my brother's for tea. Everybody loved their pressies, and we got some great stuff too :o). Today we've just stayed at home and been totally lazy!! I'm having such fun reading about everyone's Christmas Day :o) - I hope everything went well for everyone and that Santa was good to you :o).

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the tutorial ... I'm working on it and will be posting it very soon :o).

Take care,

Hugs,

Joy :o)

2 more sleeps!!!!!

I'm so excited!! Only two more sleeps until Christmas!!! Can I really wait that long until I open some pressies??? Well, in a word ...... nope ;o). I must confess that I've already opened one ... just one, that's all. These are the gifts I received from my swap partner Dawn - it's a long story, but her little darling Jemimah (3) has already helped her open her gifties from me lol, so I have opened just the one from Jemimah to me (it's the one on the bottem left of the picture).... and this is what Jemimah sent me, isn't it lovely!!! I'm looking forward to stitching it up - Thanks Jemimah, hope you love your little Santa :o).

I also received a gift from Julie - this was totally unexpected and really made my day!! Thanks so much Julie, I can't wait to see what's inside ;o). ...... But that's not all, I've been admiring the very clever work of my friend Jeanette on her blog lately and one of the things she made arrived at my house this morning!!! You can't see them in the piccy, but this gorgeous bon bon is full of toffees!!! YUM!!! What a wonderful surprise!!!!! I'm feeling incredibly spoilt this week - thank you all so much for your kindness :o).

DD2 and I have been busy in the kitchen the past few days. We've finally got the Christmas treats all made. Do you love our little mini puddings??? Soooo easy to make :o). We do these every year.We made these yummy shortbread stars .... I have to tell you , these just melt in the mouth - YUMMY!!.... and we made some 'White Christmas' - sorry, I should've taken a piccy of them, and little cherry chocolates. I did the Ice creams today too - I love this recipe, I found it last year and it was a HUGE hit. It's vanilla ice-cream and you mix in chopped red and green licorice, chopped macadamias, shredded coconut and chopped macadamia cookies. It's so delicious :o) you should try it.

More sewing to do now ... and don't worry, the tutorial for the little red bag will be coming very soon, I promise :o). I'll post piccies of MIL's bag as soon as it's done too ..... yep, that's right, I'm still doing it LOL.

Take care,

Ho-Ho-Hugs,

Joy :o)

Time for a Giveaway!!!!!!

I haven't quite finished writing up the pattern yet, but I should have it done very soon (she says with fingers and toes crossed - hehehe!!) so here it is ... I'm so pleased with how they all turned out. I've called them "Old-fashioned Favourites" for the moment ... but if you have a better idea I'd love to hear it - "Memories of Donna Reed" was one name I was tossing about, but it seemed from conversations with others that I was the only one who remembered Donna Reed [sigh]!!! Showing my age I think LOL.

There's a fully lined apron ...... and a pot-holder (do you love the little pink vintage button??) ........

and oven mits......and a cute little recipe book cover, complete with bookmark ;o)!!!!!I've really enjoyed putting this pattern together - I'll be giving 3 away and you can win one just by leaving a comment on my blog ... and if you want an extra entry just mention the giveaway on your blog and link it back to here - easy!!! Overseas entries are more than welcome and I'll draw the winners on Saturday night, the 29th.

I've also been busy stitching other things ... I've been making things for my Christmas Swap partner, (organised extremely quickly by Janet of Wildcraft Farm :o) thanks Janet) and since we are swapping with each other I don't want to give away any surprises - he he it's ok Dawn, no need to cover your eyes, piccies of those will have to wait ;o). I can show you this though ..... I think I must have been the only blogger that hadn't made one of these ... so now I have, I love it, I know I'm going to make lots more - the bears are looking pretty comfy too doncha think?!?!!That's all for now ........

Take care,

Hugs,

Joy :o)

Out and About again :o)

One of the very bestest parts of my 'job' (... I hesitate to call it that because it's something I just LOVE to do) is visiting patchwork shops. This one is my local and I shop there a LOT :o) - it's where I got that most beautiful blue trim that I simply couldn't resist!!... they are at Ross Court, Cleveland if you are a Brissy Blogger and want to check it out ... you won't be disappointed :o). Say Hi to Margaret and Brenda for me :o)!! They have SO much to see and their prices are good too!!!

I headed out to the Northside of Brissy yesterday and I got to call in to some of my favourite shops ..... I saw Claudia at QuiltEssentials at Eatons Hill - I got caught up with chatting and I forgot to take piccies, but you'll love her store - and her new BOM - so cute. Also minus a piccy is Caboolture Sewing Machines and Patchwork - always great fun to visit the girls there - you must drop in if you're in the area, they are at Morayfield Village, just near Overflow!!! I promise to take piccies of both of these stores next time I'm out there :o).

Here's another place I visited just yesterday (and I remembered to take a piccy!!), they have the best range of jelly-rolls, honey-buns (I think that's what they're called, they're 1 and 1/2" strips, like a jelly roll), layer cakes and charm packs that I've seen - all in the very latest fabrics!!! I have a very strong feeling I'm going to be going back again, and quite soon. Only a new shop but WOW, it's grown in the past few months since I was there last. It's Peppermint Stitches, in Sylvan Road at Toowong. You can't miss the gorgeous red store. Say hi to Stacey when you visit :o)!!!Well I finally got my goodies together to send to ****** across the sea!!! I've only shown the wrapped parcel just in case she checks out my blog ... he he I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!!! I've had a blast getting all my Polka dot and Ric Rac pressies together - I think I could quite easily become a 'swap addict' ...... LOL what a way to go!!!But it's not over for me ... I've joined a 'last minute' Christmas Swap with Janet over at Wildcraft Farm and I'm so excited to be doing another. I've been going through my fabrics and making up my mind what I'll make ......... and I haven't even got the low down on what we are to send yet??!!!? I'm sure some of the things I have in mind will match up ;o). If you want to join in the fun I think you still have time ......... I think it's closing on the weekend, SO HURRY :o) :o).

Well that's it from me for now .... I'd better go and make DD2's lunch.

Take care,

Hugs,

Joy :o)