Plans for 2014 and a McKenna Ryan Self Help Group

I had great plans for 2013... I linked up with Sew It's Finished and Aunt Marti's challenge to do 13 quilts in 2013.  It went well...until the end of October and then I just dropped the ball - perhaps the impending deadline of Christmas...perhaps just got over it - or was snowballed under it?? - or I discovered Candy Crush (NOTE:  If you haven't started on it - DON'T!!! - what a time waster!)
So, already for 2014 I had a few ideas...and now I also have a backlog from this year

My preliminary list for 2014 goes something like this:

Left overs from 2013

• Donna's Dreaming (top finished - to be quilted)
• Flower Box Quilt  (top finished - to be quilted)
• Stitcher's Garden (top finished - to be quilted)
• Best Friends (top finished - to be quilted)
• My Town (from Homespun) - 4 blocks to finish and then put together and quilt
• I Spy - group blocks to be put together and quilted
• Christmas Table Runner (pattern given to me last Christmas...maybe 2014 Christmas on the table???)

The "to be quilted" may not be such a problem - if I get them done professionally - all I have to do then is bind and I don't mind that)

New things....

• Mrs Beasleys Sampler
• RQ Best Friends Forever BOM
• Fiona's Framed Hexagons 
• Green Sashiko blocks done - put together & quilt
• McKenna Ryan - Sea Creatures - blocks done - to be put together & quilted
• Stitch-A-Long...if it happens
• Row Quilt for Sunday Stitchers

I'd also like to do:

• North Pole

That might be feasible - if I don't sleep - or if I can give up work - both unlikely scenarios for now...so realistically - may not happen...and its unlikely that I wont find other things to add to the list . . . 

One of the reasons I have barred my soul over this....I plan to start a McKenna Ryan "Self-Help. Motivating ...etc" group blog.  A bit like Sew Its Finished, where you can post your plans and progress for a MR project.  i am sure a lot of us have started a MR project and then put it aside or have a hankering to do one, so this might help get you going.
I'll do another post when I have it up and running - maybe between Christmas & New Year and anyone who wants to join in can do so. - put your thinking caps on - start planning....or just comment if you are interested.

Travelling Treasures returns to Australia

The TT parcel is probably already on its way back to Australia from its quick trip to the States.

Marti has selected a winner - Pinnylea Creations - so stay tuned for her giveaway in January.

I wonder what's in the parcel now???

Friday Night with Friends - very late

Ooops - it was such a  busy weekend - I forgot to post my meager efforts.
Friday was our work Christmas lunch - didn't really feel too focused by the time I got home - but I did do a bit with these...

I had to add cards to some of them, ready for Saturday's sewing Christmas get together, count a few more, stitch out a few more and generally just organise myself....
That was all I felt like on Friday night..certainly no need for any special treats apart from a coffee...

Better luck in January - gosh another year almost gone.

Travelling Treasures is ready to fly away again!

Remember I sent Travelling Treasures to the USA to Marti??

Well she has posted and is ready for comments - so if you want to win TT back or just get it for yourself, pop over here and leave a comment.

Brisbane Bloggers - Stitchers Inc - Christmas Party

This afternoon we gathered to mark the end of the year as a group and to swap our Secret Santa presents.

There were a few extras - choccies, bon-bons and stars.
Sandi made a bob-bon for each of us - complete with joke, hat, 2 wine glass charms (they make useful additions to earrings!!!), a piece of fabric (I got a purple piece - very lucky!!!) and of course a "snap".  They were beautiful:

 De made these very clever folded stars

There was a bountiful supply of food....

And here are some of the presents....

 Here is mine all wrapped:

Mine came from Maree and was a cute mat to use for Santa's snacks, a box of Maltesers decorated to look like Santa and a box (handmade) containing a set of cards for all sorts of celebrations - they are just gorgeous - thanks again and again Maree.

(we have two Marees - Organising Maree and this Maree who is very big into papercraft...maybe we should call her Paper Maree???)

This is what I made - for Teresa.

Bronwyn Hayes Mug Bag.

I 'think' she likes it!!

Maree, (Organising Maree) who does all our organising, also gave out two "lucky door" prizes.  A big thanks to her!!!

We started the day at high noon - and managed to squeeze in a few minutes of stitching towards the end  ...

A fun afternoon...

Thanks again to everyone.

For more pictures - you can visit Noela  and go here to see Lynda's gorgeous cross stitched ornament/pincushion.  Not to forget Teresa who always does a very informative post. And Marilyn has a great shot of the Celtic table runner she made as well as a lot of other goodies.  More from Cheryll and De

FNSI - November

Well, some would query whether this is "real" sewing - but it suits my purpose for now.
I spent some of FNSI 'doing' these:

(Not very neat around the edges but it's wash-a-way stabilizer)

I am not saying too much about these for now - and whilst this was happening I was catching up on blogs and emails and other "stuff".

Thanks to Wendy for hosting our party and the yummy sounding recipe.

December next time - that is downright scary.....

Travelling Treasures - going to the US!!!

Aunt Marti who lives way over in the USA - was the first to correctly guess that I was working on a hand embroidered tea towel - so I will be posting off those goodies - less a few - plus a few to her very soon.

Marti's blog name is 52 Quilts in 52 weeks - so you can guess she gets through a fair amount of stuff!!  Actually I don't thinks she sleeps very much - I am sure there are not that many hours in a day....

So, be sure to go & visit Marti later on - to try to "win back" the Travelling Treasures!

PS - Dont forget about Friday NIght Sew In - tomorrow night.   (Well really Friday night anywhere in the world.)
Hop over here if you want to join in the fun....