I Got A Pressy!! A bag for Jill and our big weekend.

Look what I got in the mail!!!!Maria was my swap partner for the Stitcher's Angel swap run by Helen of Hugsnkisses recently and I sent some gifties over to her in UK .... now she has sent me these as a thank-you!!! She absolutely made my day!!! There's fabrics, a Christmas decoration, a gorgeous hanging heart made from buttons, some ribbon, a notebook and a gorgeous bag that reflects my coffee addiction perfectly!!! Thank you so much Maria, you really put a smile on my face :o)!!!Still on sewing, I've managed to get a bit of stitching done myself!!! Not a lot, just enough to stop me getting withdrawals ;o). I've (almost) made this bag for my UK friend Jill - (yes I know it needs handles!!!) and I'd like to put some Aussie items in it for her ... any bright ideas on lightweight things I could include - as I don't want to make her suitcase overweight LOL. It's about 15" square and I've got a small Dugong (yep, a dugong LOL she loves them!!!) some Australiana fabric, some little scissors, and a couple of patterns by Aussie designers so far ...... I'd really welcome your input.

How cool are these guys !?!!??We had a great, and very busy, weekend. We did the annual MS 10km Moonwalk last Friday night and these guys really dressed up for the event. Very cool. The walk was through Southbank, across the Story Bridge (the one we climbed), through the City, over the Goodwill bridge and back to Southbank. Here's hoping the walk raised HEAPS of money for Multiple Sclerosis!!!!

Saturday night we went out for dinner with friends to a Turkish restaurant ... what fun that turned out to be!! We hadn't had turkish food before and it was GREAT!! .........and then the bellydancer came out!!! ...

...... and here's DD2 doing her little dance ..... :o)!!!!!

Then Sunday it was off to Seaworld on the Gold Coast with Jill, my dear Mum and my brother and his wife ... don't they look fabulous in their 3D glasses LOL - they were eager for the movie to start ;o)!!!

That's Jill on the left, then my SIL Cheryl, my brother Nigel and DD2. We had a great day until the storm hit. It didn't hit too badly down the coast but oh boy, they really copped it in the north-western suburbs - trees uprooted, houses unroofed, one poor young man lost his life .... it was pretty savage. It's heartbreaking to see the damage, my heart goes out to them all.

Before I go, there's a fabulous giveaway over at the Stitching Cow, well worth a look. Click the cute house block logo on my sidebar to see what I mean.

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)

A day out and More hexy fun!!!

I love the days when I get to go out and about to different patchwork shops. Yesterday I went to the new "Quilter's and Embroiderers Store" that used to be at Auchenflower, but now it's at Salisbury and it's HUGE!!! I really wished I'd had more time to explore!! Next I went out to Jimboomba to see Tereasa at "Homespun and Beautiful" - a gorgeous shop with so much to see. I had seen this pattern ... on their blog and I knew I had to have it!!! Think I might use these ... and maybe some of these after I dye them ........I can't wait to get started :o)!!! I also visited Chris at "Buttons and Bows" at Beenleigh, I always love to pop in there, such a friendly store. Both "Homespun and Beautiful" and "Buttons and Bows" are stocking my patterns now, I'm so pleased they do :o).
I've also made good progress with my Rebel pattern from Angels In Disguise, I need to decide what background fabric I want to use then I can start putting it together, at the moment it's just carefully placed so that you can see how busy I've been ;o) ...I'm really enjoying making this one, but that's no surprise cos you know I love hexys!!!!
I'd better be off ... I have a lot of orders to fill.............

Take care ...

Hugs,

Joy :o)

A Great Night!!

Saturday night was a really happy night. We celebrated the engagement of DS Ross and his gorgeous fiance Alicia at such a fun party filled with loads of family and friends. Not even the rain could dampen our spirits. You can see by the smiling faces on the happy couple that they're set for a very happy life together ....... honestly, they're like that all the time!!! Still cloudy and overcast yesterday ... but we took my dear Mum and her friend Jill (from UK) to the Botanic Gardens. We had lunch there and a wander around the beautiful gardens. There were loads of water dragons running around making the most of the cooler weather ...some water fowl busy nesting ... this little guy kept bringing twigs and leaves to the other one for the nest ... so fascinating to watch!! ...and of course the plantlife was outstanding - how gorgeous is this giant Magnolia!!??!!
Hope your weekend was fabulous too :o)
Hugs,
Joy :o)

I forgot to tell you!!!

With all that's been going on around here lately I completely forgot to tell you that I'm in this month's Patchwork and Stitching!! I was so excited when I got my copy ... I can't believe it's taken me this long to tell you about it LOL.They've done such a fabulous job of photographing my little project ..... I love the pink china - wouldn't mind if that found it's way into the parcel when my babies come home LOL!!!!

I'm making a birthday present for a dear friend ... and I've got to give it to her tomorrow so I had better go and finish it - why do I leave things til the last minute (????). I'll post a piccy of it next time :o)...... so for now, take care .......

Hugs,

Joy :o)

Lucky Me!!!

A couple of weeks ago I won a giveaway on Honeysuckle Cottage's blog and it arrived today!!! There were 4 patterns to be won and I had no idea which one I would get, but I really didn't mind which it would be cos they are all gorgeous. This is what arrived today .......And when I opened the package this is what I found ........ one of Natalie Lymer's new Christmas patterns!!!!!Complete with sparkly stars and a fabulous fatty of red polka dot fabric and some red ric rac braid ... just perfect for me to start making one of the bags!!!

Thanks so much Kim, I love the pattern and I'm going to make lots of gift bags for my Christmas presents :o).

Hugs

Joy :o)

Bin there, done that, got the Tshirt!!

What a fabulous day!!! We got up early this morning as it was our big day for the Story Bridge climb. It was my birthday pressie from DH. I must admit to being a little bit nervous (actually I was more than "a little bit nervous" - ok, a LOT more LOL!!!) but determined to do it. And do it we did, I really shouldn't have worried, once I got over some initial jitters I was fine for the whole thing and I have to say, if you get the chance you should do it cos it's great fun. Here's us (DD2, me and DH) at the top 80m high with beautiful Brissy in the background - I think we were on the home stretch by this time so we're looking pretty relaxed :o). At first I was disappointed that it wasn't a more sunny day but during the climb I was glad it wasn't too hot.Then when we got home just time for a quick clean up ... and to change into our new Story Bridge t-shirts before DHs folks came over for a visit. A lovely afternoon .... lots of coffee, (Hummingbird) cake ....... and cupcakes - (both made yesterday) ...we had a really pleasant afternoon. An all round lovely Sunday!!!

Hope yours was fabulous too ...............

Joy :o)

P.S ..... I've done 86 hexagons for my "Rebel" wallhanging now ... only 48 to go :o)!!!