No more birthdays for now … but I got a bit of stitching done :o)

My SIL took a liking to my rewards card wallet the other night when we all went out for dinner … so I got her to choose some pretty fabric from my stash so that I could make her one … and here it is ……………. This is the “new and improved” inside … I’ve done another little flap at the top to stop the cards falling out when it’s in your bag …….. I also made this table topper with some GAWJUS fabric squares I found tucked into a Christmas card from a dear lady at my quilting group ….. thanks Gerry :o) (no blog)!!!! The little 2 1/2” squares were from the beautiful “Garden Party” range by Blackbird (Moda) … so pretty!!!

I got a bit of gardening done over the weekend …. does it count as gardening if they’re hanging plants???? Well, it does to me, it’s as close to any sort of gardening that I’m likely to get he he he. We’ve just had a new fence put up … it’s colourbond and I must admit I really do prefer our old wooden one, even if it was falling down a bit in places. Anyway, it’s very plain and boring, and it needed prettying up, soooooooo …… I went to the local nursery and to Bunnings … do you have Bunnings overseas??? It’s a HUMONGOUS hardware, they sell EVERYTHING there. I love it lol.

Love the Impatiens ….I got some pretty begonias and geraniums too…… It’s much prettier when I look out of my sewing room window now :o)!!!!!

What did you all think of Cheryl’s fabulous new freebie on the Among the Gumtrees blog????
Isn’t it pretty!!!?! I can’t wait to make it!!! I’ll be designing your next freebie, I’ll be popping it on the blog next month for you so keep an eye out for it :o).

Some stitching, Some Christmas munchies and Christmas Special No: 5!!!

First the stitching!! This very festive and easy peasy table topper was a doddle to make, it really was!!! All it is is 36 charms squares all sewn together .... pre-quilted calico on the back, cross hatch quilted and throw the binding on!!!

This was really fun to make ~ probably because it was so simple, and I think it looks brilliant :o)!! I might make another one for using during the rest the year .... I know I have plenty of charms to choose from. Simply can't resist those cute little packs lol.

We made such a mess in the kitchen yesterday he he ... we had melted chocolate, M&Ms and wafers all over the place ... but we had a LOT of fun too!! Bear's friend Sam came over and we all made little Christmas Cottages. This is Sam and me hard at work ........ This is how the girls cleaned up the mess!!!!!and very YUMMY mess it was too ...... so I'm told LOL!!!!! Hmm, funny, no leftovers!!!???!

Now of course you're all dying to see our masterpieces I'm sure .......... ta daaaaaaaaa..........For anyone who's in the business of making "Edible Christmas Cottages" .... please don't fret, as you can see in the above piccy ~ we are NO threat to your livlihood LOL!!! Poor Bear's cottage collapsed (it's the middle one), it's now a Christmas Teepee lol!!! We had loads of fun though :o).

Now for another JoyPatch Christmas Special ... this time I've picked a quilt-as-you-go quilt that I've made several times. It's made using a jelly roll and charm squares and it really does go together quickly. The first one I made for my DH but it's spent most of it's life so far as a sample in patchwork stores (sorry hon!!!) ... I really must make him another he he he!! This next one was made for my DS and DIL when they got married. I put a border on it to make it a bit bigger ......And this last one was made using the "Aviary" range of fabrics (from Moda) as I wanted to see it in more feminine colours ... this one's my favourite I think :o)!!This quilt is 61" x 63" (without a border) and you can make it with 1 jelly roll and 45 charms plus extra yardage for front and back sashings and binding (1 & 3/4m) and the diamond strips background (1m) and of course your backing and batting. In fact, because each strip is backed separately you can use up a lot of fabrics from your stash and make it totally reversible!!!

I will email this PDF pattern to you on receipt of payment so there's NO POSTAGE to pay!!! Like the other specials, this pattern is just $5.00, but only for a short time :o)!!

Would you believe I'm off to do MORE Christmas shopping today!!!??!

Lotsa Stitching!!!

It's my Father-in- law's birthday on Thursday and we were wondering what to get for him. My SIL suggested a throw rug for these cool winter nights ... well, as a quilt-maker I couldn't bring myself to buy one, so with a whole week (lol and a very optimistic attitude) to make it I set about hunting for the fabrics from my stash. I found some gorgeous garden themed Maywoods that I've had squirreled away for a few years ... perfect!! He loves his garden!! Here's what they became ...I didn't realise I had so much of the panelled fabric, so it also became the backing :o).....DH wasn't keen on the fabric I had chosen for the border so I popped out after my quilting class yesterday and got some more ... he's right, I think this will look better than what I had :o).Not a very good piccy - I wish you could see the quilting better, but I've done leaves and vines on the border - I'm enjoying practising my free-motion quilting lately, such fun!!! I'm using the lighter weight bamboo batting and it's just a dream to work with. The family will be coming for lunch on Saturday so I've got loads of time to get it finished LOL. Hope he likes it :o).

*

As I mentioned before, I went to a quilting class yesterday - it was loads of fun!! We had a choice of 3 projects to choose from and this is the one I chose ...I've never done a round quilt before, never used a 10 degree ruler either so this was all a fabulous learning experience for me. Our teacher, Jan Phillips , was terrific ... she never missed a beat with us all doing different projects .... we had such fun and I can't wait to take another class!! Here's a pic of some of the girls hard at work ... sorry it's a bit dark. That's Jan in the white shirt in the middle of the pic. And here's me with Jan ...that quilt behind us is another of the projects that we could have chosen to do. And here's my table-topper ... well, half of it LOL.....I've stepped right outside of my usual "box" with these orientals ... and I have to say, I really do like them :o).

What have you been sewing this week???