Happy New Year

To all my friends:

I wish you a wonderful year ahead!  Hopefully full of good things - or at least nothing so bad that you can't deal with it.

I don't live in Sydney (anymore) but really - the harbour is the BEST backdrop for fireworks...

Take Care 
See a lot of you in 2015.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas - I hope you are sharing it with special people.

Thanks for being part of my cyber world.

I've strung these little decorations up in my sewing room - mostly gifts from this year but a few older ones as well.   Not too sure I will want to take them down.....

at least they are relatively safe from the cat!!

My friend Maureen & I swap a cushion each year for a Christmas present..

Here is #1 - 2012

#2 - 2013

and here is #3 - 2014 - I love it!

all of them together.

I don't have pictures of the two I have given her - but this is #3 for this year - in celebration of our trip to Nundle in March.

Cheers everyone!

FNSI

I was determined to make a good showing tonight - no falling asleep on the lounge!!
Thursday gave me a bit of time to cut the strips I needed to make some hashtag blocks to send to Molli_Sparkles for quilts for the victims of the Sydney Siege.  So tonight I was able to get some of them finished - in between playing taxi driver for DD2,

It's been a great year sewing along with everybody and enjoying the treats Wendy offers us.  A huge thanks to Wendy for hosting and awarding prizes and thanks to all the other stitchers who join in to keep everyone motivated.

Merry Christmas to the FNSI visitors - unbelievably this time next week it will be mostly all over!!!  (I know sometimes Christmas drags on - like Birthdays!)

A sad day in Australia's History

You will have heard about the Lindt Cafe Siege - so tragic - no words can convey how shocked and saddened we all are.

But as quilters we can show we care.

Go over here - read about what's happening and join if you can.

So Much Has Been Happening

Thursday - a small & quiet sewing get together...and some presents for me!!

Friday - out for dinner - and some presents for me!!

Saturday - a Sewing get together - and some presents for me!! (and others)

Sunday - a Sewing get together - and some presents for me (and others)

Well, it was my Birthday - and early Christmas swaps etc...

Here is some of what I got from Thursday./ Saturday

Sunday was Sunday Stitchers

a few "extra" little gifts were shared...

These little surprise gifts are always special - especially since they are unexpected and made with a lot of love.
I've decided I really need a "tree" this year.....I haven't worried lately as my girls are all grown up and there are no littlies around - and we have a cat who is just going to love to try to climb it...but this year I going to try to find a big branch or similar just so I can hang all these special decorations.

..and my gorgeous table runner from Noela - my swap partner.

(its going to look great on the dining table) 

...and a decoration

...and a cute reindeer container - it did have chocolates in it - but I think DH & DD2 have had a share...not many left now.....

It was also time for me to receive birthday fat quarters from everyone - Wow!  what a great collection 

Then it was time for us to reveal our Row-a-longs:
too many for one shot - De, Marilyn & Noela

and me, Maree & Debbie

a close up of mine....(just because....)

Most of us still have some work to do on them..Maree finished hers - even quilted but the rest of us seem to have other things to do...so it's on my Christmas To Do list   (I do need a 6 month break to catch up but...maybe not...)

Phew - what a weekend...at least there is a bit of a break until the next Christmas party.

November FNSI

OMGosh it's a month since I posted . . . .Work / Life has been busy...
A late night at work again - thought all that was behind me - so not a lot of sewing done and it's all secret stuff anyway, so I can't show a lot.

I love the incentive of sewing along with everyone . . . .and I enjoy having a look at everyone's posts and progress.  Looking is easy - performing- not so easy!!!
Pop over here and have a look at the others who signed up.
Thanks Wendy for hosting and providing tasty recipes!!!


Oh well not too long til Christmas and holiday time!

October FNSI

I signed up... I had good intentions...but work is still busy...busy period will be over this time next week (hopefully), so a late start... I started to sew this hexie to the background....and then finished it today - and wrote on it before I took a picture (duh!!!  overworked brain)...so here it is before I sewed it on...

Thanks to Wendy for hosting us again - and giving prizes - I was one of the lucky winners last time....
And since I am not posting much lately and to show that I have managed a little sewing here are two things I finished earlier
Some red & white coasters for an Engagement  present for a friend of my daughter's:

and some Aussie hero blocks.

Off to Sunday Stitchers tomorrow - so will get some hand sewing done at least!!

Craft & Quilt Fair 2014

On Wednesday I went to the Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair. met up with quite a few lovely ladies,  wandered around..all day...spent some money.....got a few new ideas......ooh and aahed over some quilts and generally had a very satisfying day. I'm a bit worn out today and a bit more cashless.  Here is part of why:

a few little pieces of Christmas fabric for something ...secret.sewing.... I bought a cute little pack of 1/10ths!!  I unpacked them last night before the photo...shame ...they looked really cute in their little holder...
a few 30cm pieces for some Aussie Hero BOMs I make sometimes,
a bit of ric rac from a grumpy old man who won't sell half metres and rounds the price up to an even dollar ($1.85 became $2, and I couldn't be bothered arguing...but I won't be looking at his stuff again),
a sashiko Christmas tree...(I'd love to start it now but...) and
some red and white to make a quick Engagement present.

There were a few other expenses too - some parlan, something from the "new ideas" department that I really cannot show and I re-joined Queensland Quilters...and purchased the fat quarter for the 2015 Challenge - another Christmas break project...(I need at least 4 weeks off to even skim the surface of my proposed To Do list).
I'm not so sure where all the $$$$ went but I didn't buy anything just for the sake of it.

It was good to see a few new retailers too.

I've been busy and a bit distracted lately, hopefully I can get back to some more blog posts, visits and comments over the next few weeks...though I do have a few things on my sewing (and working) plate/s.

Riverfire

DH was lucky enough to score an invitation to a Riverfire event - so we watched from the Sky Lounge at the Brisbane Convention Centre - usually I am only there for craft shows - didn't even know they had levels above the halls - the Sky Lounge has a large deck and a great view of the SouthBank Area - although QPAC is in front so you can't see the ground level.  But most of the fireworks happen up high so it was a great view:

But even more stunning was the food...this for pre fireworks 

as well as little buckets of fish and chips, mini burgers (sliders) and steamed bun with Peking duck.

Then after:

Wonderful night!

FNSI - September

I had great plans -but DH decided we should go out for dinner - so nit much sewing done...I did do a little more on some secret sewing...and today (Sunday) is the big reveal so I think it's OK to show this little bit...

Hopefully next month I will be better organized more productive

Thanks to Wendy for hosting - we had a lovely email chat during the night!

FNSI - August

I joined in with a lot of other crafty people all overt the place on Friday night...I did some of my Cross Stitch - which hasn't seen the light of day for a while . . .
I did a bit more on Saturday night while watching the news 

I will do three more squares after this to make it a 3 x4 pattern...

I'm a bit late posting this - seem to have a lot of little bits to get done - looking forward to Sunday Stitchers tomorrow.  I've just finished cooking a vegetable slice to take and also prepared Sunday's dinner in the crock pot.

Thanks everyone for your company!!   Seer you next time.

Retreat - 2014 - Day 5

Sad today...last day...and only half a day..

Here is the Progress Board:

My bobbin case - almost 6 bobbins used:

 We have had a ball - laughed, sewed, talked, ate til all hours of the night....

Til next year girls - thanks for the company.

Retreat - 2014 - Day 4

Not so many of us left now - started the day with 6 - but 2 have left...
Here is the Progress Board:

I managed to move 2 stickers today..One more I Spy/Novelty Disappearing 9 Patch....

and the main part of French Collection.

I had hoped to finish the top, but decided I needed another fabric for a first border, so it will have to wait a bit. But I am really happy with how it's looking so far....

The main finish of the day was this quilt top - it's queen size - but it's "awesome"...well done Nolene.

The actual colours are so much richer...and the yellow is an orange, but it's gorgeous.

Well half a day or so to go - luckily I still have til next Monday before I go back to work, so hopefully I can finish a few more things...

Retreat - 2014 - Day 3

Some secret sewing today, some progress on another I Spy quilt top but not finished...so just a quick look at the Progress Board:

Retreat - 2014 - Day 2

A full days sewing today - well after a late-ish start - then again I am on holidays so who wants to be up at the crack of dawn??

By mid afternoon Saturday....
An ironing mat...mug bag and matching coaster...

and #1 I Spy/Novelty top all put together.

I have also put together several blocks of my "French Collection" set...more to go when I can lay it out a bit....

I haven't taken many photos of the food - its always scrumptious - but here is tonight's dinner...

and the "progress board" at about 10:00pm.

Another pic... This is a quilt made by Fay.  She has been a member of our group since day 1 but this is the first time she has been able to come along...she has churned through her work and put this one together.... 

That's Fay on the left.

 Rachel's pile of hexagons she is cutting

My workspace

Retreat - 2014 - Day 1

Lunch at Mt Alford Pub - its not Beautiful but its Friendly...

The starting point...so many projects to do....

Friday night finish:

 Pictures tomorrow.

FNWF - August

I joined in with all the other FNWF'ers but not a lot I can show for my efforts this time round.
I did some tracing and ironing of circly shapes for my row quilt and I can't show that though these may or may not be a hint:

I really love this fabric so if its missing from YOUR bag when it's returned you will know who to look at!

I filled a lot of bobbins ready for next weekend - not very exciting that part.

I sorted a few things ready to pack...Very boring.   But all necessary. 

 I hope to do better next time.  Hopefully you were all a lot more productive.

Friday again

Today is Friday Night With Friends so I hope to spend time with my cyber friends, sewing or prepping or whatever I end up doing.

And - looking to the right I can see. . . its only 7 sleeps til I go on retreat. 

(well, truthfully I don't need to look at the counter - its firmly implanted in my head!!!  LOL)

 I have been sending daily emails to all the gang and found this image to include a few days ago:

that just about sums it up!

I have 3 projects all packed & sorted out my clothes (its going to be warm during the day)...
Eagerly anticipating.

Looking forward to everyones' company tonight.