Sunday Girls Day in the Country.............

One thing I missed sharing was pics from the quilts show and tell on Saturday at the workshop.........

I was too far back and only had my phone not my good camera with a zoom and they are not good enough to share...............there was lots of Natures Journeys and sadly I missed getting a pic of all the girls with their quilts.............

The girls who brought along their project from last year......Lynette Andersons table runner...well done........they look great and I want to get mine finished..............

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Sadly Sunday morning comes around to quick but we finish it on a high with a big breaky at Mount Misery Goldmine Cafe. Very kindly Lyn has opened especially for us for an early start so we can get on our way..............

Georgina, Jules, Kerri

 

Brian, Sonia. Deb, Googy Girl, Susan

Dzintra, Dory, Shez, Diddles, Gail and Jenny.......

The other girls photo bombing these girls at the table had no idea and probably not until now...lol

Inca, Cheryl, Ann, Marilyn, Sam

Maureen, Linda, Peg, Dale, De

Me and Susan..........

that's it for another wonderful year........

another 346 sleeps until I do it all again.......... 

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finally got some wind to pump some water and fill my bore tanks.........

been washing like a made woman possessed............

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soon I will have some quilts to share......just need to sort the posts and take some more pics of one quilt.............OMG I think this is the year of finishing some quilts.........

it's been a long time..............woohoo..........

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school holidays coming up.......it's going to be huge.........

revolving door of visitors......I can't wait.........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.........

SSCS received................

Slowly I am getting around SSCS posts of your gifts..................I will get to everyone as they get posts up...............

I was spoilt by Sylvia @ Flickenstichlerei in Germany............yes she was a wonderful Santa for this years 8th annual Secret Santa Christmas Swap...........this is the first year Sylvia has been in the swap and she made a wonderful gift...............

not sure of the size but it is quite large.................I took it out to the lawn for a photo as better light............but since then I have placed it on top of my blanket box/coffee table..........it looks fantastic...........Sylvia hand quilted it and did beautiful tiny stitches in the stitcheries..........

You can see the blue angel who brought me rain here...........she also brought some more rain this week and a bit on Christmas Day so she is very cherished...........it's been a good follow up to the rain we had earlier in the month as at the start of the week it was all starting go blue and die.........now it is growing madly..............

And Sylvia made me a little needle book with similar stitching and colours as the runner which I shared here.....................

Sylvia wrote me a big letter......it was just beautiful and I had tears (good tears) in my eyes while reading it.............

Thankyou Sylvia for making Christmas so special.........

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I hope you felt as special as I did with my gift from overseas especially made for you.......

I am so pleased I ran the swap again this year........you need to thank Janice as I was at her place and talking with her when I decided that I would go ahead with the swap........we decided we would both miss it too much making and receiving a gift for/from someone on the other side of the world........

Catch you later

Chookyblue

FIS received.............

My Friends in Stitching Swap partner was Sue from Quilting in Stitches..........

Each day just before Christmas we got to open a little parcel...

S - snowman  press a button on his back and he boxes

A- aeroplane ornament

N - natvity wooden buttons

T - illuminating tree

A - Angel button

It was fun having a little parcel to open each day............

My main present was this gorgeous table runner............

I just love it.........

I was so excited when I opened this up............it looks wonderful on my table.......

It is right where I walk past all day and it looks great.........perfect colours...........and even more perfect design.............the centres of the flowers are the tiniest yo yo's........

Thanks so much Sue you are the best Santa anyone could ask for........

Sadly this is my last swap with this group as I am stepping back.........life is a little overloaded at the moment so something has to go.............it is a yearly commitment and I don't want to let the group down.............thanks girls but I know I will still be in touch on your personal blogs still......

Catch you later

Chookyblue

PS need to find the pics of what I sent to share too............

missed this - swap presents...................

With all the SSCS posting I missed showing some swap presents I made in 2 swaps..............

This is what I made for Bec....in my online group.........a christmas table runner............

A stitchery wall hanging  - this is from A Gardener's Journal  - stitched in variegated threads........I used some civl war fabrics to border it cause I know Bec loves them.............

Also I was part of the Advent Swap organised by Fee..............my partner was Margaret.

These are some of the goodies I sent to Margaret. This pic is from Margaret's blog as I took pics of the christmas stitchery wall hanging and I can't find it. The christmas stitchery is from Anni Downs book A Christmas Story and is an applique that I adjusted to stitch.

I showed this previously but Margaret received it in the swap too - design Natalie Bird Tis the Season

I brought this little cross stitch birdy for Fairy Girl to have a go at. She has not tried it yet but I found some more aida and stitched one for my advent swap parcel. 

Not the best pic but I enjoyed getting back into my cross stitch.................

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Oh and while I am on a catch up remember I was having a giveaway for my 800th post...........(which seems so long ago now) but the lovely Jo - Lilly Pilly won the giveaway and could be in her mail box today..........look out Jo.........

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there was something else I wanted to mention but woops that though is gone..........maybe next post i will remember it.............

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Oh and if you're newer to my blog then don't forget I have the "blog bit's......how to" on my left sidebar.

I started them a few years ago.............every so often I add something.

the main one people use are "changing from NO REPLY" (which drives most people insane) and "adding a picture/image to the sidebar"

let me know if you want to know something and if I can help I will.............it might be something others want to know too..........you never know...........

Hope your getting some stitching done no matter where you are or what your doing.....

........you CAN fit 10-15 mins in and is you times that by 7 thats 1hr plus a week..........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

friendship is precious..............

I had some visitors for a few days this week.................even better when I managed to get her to stay a little longer.........it is just so nice to have Maree and the little farmyards come to visit..............they are so easy to have and my kids are a great help too in keeping an eye on them and entertaining them.........

I have always loved this block since Maree started it..............part of a BOM in one of the mags Homespun i think - she decided to turn it into a cushion.............and guess where it lives at now - my house...............I was so excited when I opened the parcel.........I have loved this from when Maree first started making it..............

EDIT added Homespun # 68 vol 10 no 1. The block is Breast of Friends BOM Block One by Leanne's House.

this describes our friendship so well...............

gorgeous stitching..........

wandering around the garden I took this one too.............

crepe myrtles........

a hardy wonderful shrub..........

We had some fun making key fobs...........

mine on the left...........another friend called in and made one too..........and Maree's on the right........

 

I got a little carried away later and made these other key fobs............heaps of fun

Here's the table runner I made with the candy bar I had of Breakfast at Tiffany's.........added the cream blocks.........

thanks to Maree for the brown spot I used on the binding............

the idea came from Maree so check hers out here......

.....a little delayed in posting as I was a little blah after Maree left...........we were having such a nice time I was a little sad once she went home...........and I also had to finish the binding............

Take care.................Chookyblue

Secret Santa Christmas Swap............

I'll be back in a few days with the SSCS main presents...........I have been in several swaps and have some presents I have to show you all so once that is done I will be back to the main gifts of the SSCS...........

Most importantly this is what I received and sent in the SSCS..........

It has been wonderful surfing all the blogs check out your posts..........

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......I am pretty sure this is the 4th year for Nancy in the swap.....

.....Nancy is from the USA and she sent me this perfect Chooky present......

it even had chooks on the border fabric.........

lots of different chooks.........lots of different applique methods.......

the reddy border suits well on my lounge where I sit and sew etc..........

Pretty sure I won't be using it for awhile as this weekend hot SUMMER is finally coming....

38deg cel on Sunday is forecast............

..the little brown hen on the eggs is my favourite I think....... and here are the other goodies Nancy sent to me..........pattern, charm pack an book name labels..........

thanks heaps Nancy I love the quilt and goodies...........

and below is the runner I made for Anita.........

pattern by The Rivendale Collection - Sally Giblin............

I really enjoyed making this and think I will be stitching another for myself......

....well I can dream can't I..........fabrics are Moda Garden Party..........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

present sent.......

....This table runner has now found a home in Norway with Solvi...........

I am pleased it arrived safe and sound...................and Solvi was happy with her present.........

Til next time - take care

Table Runner.....

Got this one finished..........oh well I just have to stitch down the binding...........and yes I will get that done in the next week but I wanted to show you all........

I don't know what happened yesterday but OMG .........I had 184 people come and visit my blog yesterday (no I didn't keep opening my page myself)............where did you all come from..........63 of these were from Australia.........the most in one day ever.............can't work out the sudden increase.........

...............take care til next post....................