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....

Travelling Treasures

Back in March, Debbie started Travelling Treasures.

I was lucky enough to win in October and this gorgeous collection of bits arrived from Bev C.

Bev included two machine embroidery blocks - one especially for me - It will be great hanging in my Sewing Space....(I used Bev's picture)... a project for 2014.

What will I take and what will I add??? Its a Mystery.....

So, to be in the draw to win, leave a comment on this post and tell me......(before Midnight Tuesday 12th November Brisbane time), what you think I am working on in this post.  If no one guesses - I'll let Mr Random Generator pick a number.

FNWF November

Like a lot of other sewers I joined up with Friday Night With Friends - and did some secret sewing.

Here is a hint.....could be a lot of things

The first Friday certainly snuck up on us.

Saturday was a Sewing with Friends day too - but more of the secret stuff...
Time is certainly getting away from me lately...so this is a quick post...but I'll be back soon for Travelling Treasures

Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair 2013 (2)

Today (Sunday), I went to the Craft Show again - I scheduled the extra visit to take a Janome workshop - showcasing their brand new 15000 machine - sewing & embroidery - its a dream machine - and a dream to own at this stage!!

I made a few extra purchases today so here is my loot!

Some Washaway stabiliser, Silver & Gold embroidery threads (in different tonings), 3 tiny charms to add to my Quilt Diva wall hanging (a bargain at 3 for $1) a pattern for some Fat Fairies (as well as a stamp for their faces and stamp pad) and a Mug Rug (using those new dissolving hexagons), some iron on transfers, 3 fat quarters and "that book" from Natalie Bird.
(There might be a few other little things that I am not admitting to for now....)

I also had time to see the quilts.
For those not in Brisbane - unfortunately one of the quilts was stolen on Day 1 - such a dreadful thing to happen and I am sure there will be changes for next year.....but it's sad to think that someone could take something so precious.

There were - of course - a number of outstanding quilts - this one in particular was photo worthy..  A friendly White Glove lady pointed it out to me (Thanks Cheryl!!!)

The hexagons are 1/4".  Go figure

Sunday is a very relaxed day to go to the show - a lot less people and a few retailers were offering discounts.

FNSI

I don't have much to show. . . .
Now that I work in the City - surrounded by shops - very dangerous - I thought I'd take a quick look in Myer before I came home...- that turned into quite a long look and then, since I am now a bus traveller (after 35 years of driving to work  [insert disgruntled face here]) and I didn't make the 7.20pm, I had to shop more and wait for the 8.20 bus.
Needless to say it was late when I started....but I did get some of the blanket stitching done on this block.

I hope everyone else was far more productive and had a lovely treat to help them.
Thanks Wendy for hosting us all again.

Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair 2013

I went along to the Craft Show today - and it was great to have a quick meetup with some Brisbane Bloggers.  Had to borrow (pinch??) a picture from Teresa.
Its worth popping over to Teresa's blog - more lovely pics - of people, goodies & food....

Val, Teresa, Tatyana, Sandi, Marilyn and Noela and (at the back) Lynda, me, Michelle and Fiona.   It was especially nice to see Fiona who had risen early and travelled a great distance just to see us (oh - well maybe she was coming for the craft show....)

Just two pictures of something I bought:   (There is a HINT here for someone, somewhere)

In fact a few people in the group shot bought the same book...(a clue)

PS - Its Friday Night Sew In this week - so pop over here and Link Up.
I might do something with a new (tiny) pattern I bought.... 

September SAL - now done!!

After all the ups and downs of the thread issue - the silk one I ordered was totally different to the cotton one one but still nothing like the original - I have finished the heart and appliqued it on.
I used some plain threads and swapped colours a lot.  I was lucky in that the variegated thread had long lengths of each colour - so it was easy enough to blend in.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes on me "Missing in Action " last Friday - after nearly 3 days of almost total R&R I am much better.

Friday Night with Friends

I had to take a "Pass".  I have been sick for 2 days and just couldn't muster enough energy to do any sewing...just TV and reading.

Sad...sorry to have missed out - I'll be back next time.