April's UFO finishes and a baby shower pressie

I managed to get two more UFO finishes done this April if i can keep going at two a month I will knock quite a big hole in my UFO list.  I started a weekly sewing group and this has helped me keep some time aside to get my UFO's done.

 

Firstly this table runner has been designed (by me) and waiting to be sewn together for a few years.  I used an Authentic by Sweetwater charm pack and have enough left to make a 2nd table runner.

These hand towels are the last of the pile I started on last year.  Two of these are heading off to Shirley as part of a swap, she made me some dish cloths and these hand towels are in return.

 

Went to a baby shower today for my nephew and his wife.  I decided to make them a Very hungry caterpillar kick rug to go with a few other VHC items.  It turns out she loves green and VHC was one of her favourite books.

 

 

Denim Skirt bag

My niece, who joined the navy in 2010, was home over the holidays and was sorting our her wardrobe. getting rid of all the clothes she will never wear again. She had this gorgeous denim skirt, with an embroidered girl on the back, that she just loved but knew she would never get back into it. She had a thought that it would make a fabulous bag and it did. I made it for her for her 25th birthday. I used the waistband of another pair of jeans as the strap and added a pocket from the same jeans to the spotted lining i made. It just came together just beautifully. She loved it and I was very happy with the outcome.

Blogtoberfest day 3

Another of the sewing companions - this one was made for my GF Meryl for her birthday. I filled it with a pair of scissors, a quick unpick, tailors pencil, reel of cotton and a tape measure. She loved it and has decided to leave it at her dance studio so the next time she had to measure a child for a costume she would have a tape measure on hand (she didn't the day b4)

This is the second hexy flower I have made for the swap at my craft forum , this one I made for Donna. i can't believe that I had to unpick this at least 4 times as i made the same mistake twice in a row ie unpicked it then made the same mistake straight away at two different times, grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Some swaps and a gift

Another month another few swaps.

The brown and cream place mat I made for Elly. This took me way out of my comfort zone as I really do not like the colour brown. In fact its the on e colour I would say I hate. I abandoned my first attempt at another pattern as it wasn't working and I nearly abandoned this one too but I pulled myself together and got it done. Quite happy with the result - I hope Elly is.

This hexy was made for me by the wonderful Vicki for my January hexy that didnt arrive from Tina. Thanks Vicki I really love that you made this hexy for me, it is so pretty.

This is the hexy I made for Ondrea for April. Still loving making the crazy hexy's

And for the gifts I made a quick strip sewn table runner for our friends Sue's 50th birthday in her favourite colours of pink, purple & blue. Great way of using up scraps fabric.

I also made a few pink hand towels for her.

Gifts I have made so far this year

As previously stated 2010 will be the year of the handmade for me.

I have been making more food stuffs including black olive tapenade, Green curry paste, green capsicum puree and a batch of pasta sauce with Royce.

I have also started on my gift box - soooooooooo I have made quite a few hand towels with hangers for the kitchen. I needed to replace some that my mum crocheted for me, they were quite ragged as mum died almost 7 years ago. Thanks to Karen for the idea and the pattern that I tweaked to include the hanger in one piece.

I would really love to make some pot holders to go these also. Might try to do that in between autumn cleaning my bedroom and hallway.

I have made a pile of baby burpers as I know so many people who are expecting at the moment. In fact one of them had a baby girl just yesterday so i need to send them a couple of these for Kate. And another friend has just announced that he and his wife are expecting in November. So all these burpers will be put to good use.

I am also hoping to use up some of my scrap strips to make up quite a few pincushions just like the tuffets in the post below.

Hadmade gifts

I made this mini book of Hope for my dear friend Diane for her 50th birthday last month.

A few swaps and gifts

This year I joined a mini Christmas swap at the Craft Forum.

I received this fabulous velvet stocking from Jeanette, that she filled with all sorts of christmassy things.

I sent to Guiliana. I made her this Christmas star table centre, that I backed with one of my favourite scrappy blocks
.

Here's a few more of the hexy's .

this one is on its way to Switzerland for Helene. I stipple quilted this one instead of embellishing it.

A very pretty white and spotty hexy for Elly.

Love this friend quote on the hexy Elly made for me.

It was my SIL Cathy's birthday on Monday. She mentioned at the last scrap day that she would love a table runner so I just ran this little baby up for her.

This blue cushion is for my friend Meryl for Christmas. I gave it to her today and she loved it. Perfect colour for ehr bed.

Blogtoberfest day 23 -

I am so tired tonight that I couldn't think of a post for today so I thought I would just share some items I have made over the years and given away.

The first was a very simple quilt top that I have given to my dear friend for her granddaughter.

This quilt was one I have had on the go for years (and I mean YEARS) I finally finished this year and sent it off to be quilted and then donated to Victorian fire victims.

Gorgeous quilt I made for my Friends b'day in January.

Canvas I made for John's mum a few years ago its now hanging on our wall.

One of SOF's tins of hope - this one was made for Georgie. A beautiful girl who had been in a comafor a very ong time'

And finally these bags were made for a mother & daughter to hold 8X8 albums made by the Froggy Todd forum ladies.

Blogtoberfest day 7

Today I was working on this album that I am making for a wedding present - which had me reflecting on love. This morning Bible reading was from 1 Corinthians 13 - the Love passage (you may also remember that I made a table runner/wall hanging for this couple using this same passage). Alison's Pa also read this passage during the service . So I have decided that is what I will share with you today.

1 Corinthians 13 4-7

Love never gives up

Love cares more for others than for self

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have

Love doesn't strut

Love doesn't have a swelled head

Doesn't force itself on others

isn't always me first

Doesn't fly off the handle

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others

Doesn't revel when others grovel

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth

Puts up with everything

Trusts God always

Always looks for the best

Never Looks back

But keeps going to the end. (the message)

And my table runner/ wall hanging in a different version the NIV.

Oh what a beautiful Day

Yesterday was Bryce & Al son's wedding - two very special young adults in my life. I met Bryce 3 years ago at Nowra Players during the production on the Boyfriend & Alison I know through church and her grandparents (whom she lived with) live just around the corner from us. The wedding was held in the stunning garden of her grandparents home. What a glorious setting for a wedding. We were in a secluded area of the garden with an arch to the left which had a pond behind it, this is where Alison and her brides maids appeared through. The youth pastor at Bryce's church officiated the ceremony and he did a brilliant Job. Grandad read
1 Corinthians 13 (the LOVE passage) from the message (great easy to understand translation). Bryce & Alison wrote their own vows and they were just lovely. Alison is a very quiet talker and found it hard to do that in front of over 12o people but she did great. Bryce being a performer just put on the performance of his life BUT it was so from the heart, his voice started to quaver at the end, I had to get a tissue out.

Afternoon tea was lovely and there was so much. Bryce's had 2 best men and one of them gave the most amazing, thoughtful & funny speech, reflecting on their lives together from the age of 5 (they are 19 now).

Anyway as I don't have permission as yet to put up the wedding photos I thought I would show you a few pics without them in it for now.

Starting with me. I had my hair cut that morning and am experimenting with mineral makeup so i thought I would show a close up of me.

And a few of me in my glad rags, this is my party dress.

The gift I made for them. A table runner with 1 Corinthians 13 embroidered on it. I was very excited when that was the passage used. I am also planning of making a mini book with their wedding photos once i have some more and have them printed.

A close up of the beautiful, simple & elegant bouquet that Alison carried. Her BM's carried purply black lilies.

And during the speeches we had a visitor. Apparently Kingy visits the garden at 4pm each day. But was was so amazing that he accepted over 120 people and just hung around for his feed. Playing in hanging basket and having a fab time. Sorry the pics not to good.

Anyway that's it for now - I hope to be able to share some of the gorgeous photos I have of the new Mrs & Mrs Halliday once they return from their honeymoon.

Gorgeous goodies, more giveaways & everyday news

If you haven't already visited Among the Gum trees you need to. WHY because all nine designers are having giveaways on their own blogs. YES that's right you can enter NINE giveaways. And these are no ordinary giveaways each one is a very very generous giveaway. I am still working my way through them all and adding them to my blog list BUT if you want to enter NOW just click on the link in my side bar to Among the gumtrees and go to each of the nine blogs from there.

Did I mention how generous each of these giveaways are. Also you do need to keep an eye on the Among the gum trees blog as very soon they will be starting their free Christmas patterns, I am very much looking forward to what they all have in store for us.

I helped my SIL & friend Cathy move her craft room the other night and look what I came home with, lots of lovelies. The bright purple furry fabric is actually Tasha's and I have promised her to make a cushion for her room if I can keep the left overs (I think she agreed as she let me bring it home with me). The fabric next to that is 4metres and will be fantastic for back one of my 4 quilts waiting to be quilted. There are 4 lovely Fq's and the sparkly fabric I will be using when I make more bookmarks for work next week.

So everyday news. Well this week is one of those from one extreme to the others weeks, tomorrow (Friday) I am going to the funeral of my ex BIL's mum (we still friends) and on Saturday I am off to Bryce and Allison's wedding. All I need is for someone I know to have a baby either today or Sunday and the cycle of life is complete (for this week).

Today I am baking 4 batches of my Blondie's and brownies for the wedding on Saturdays afternoon tea, finishing of the stitchery for the wedding pressie so I can turn it into a table runner - I am embroidering the love passage of 1 Corinthians 13 "LOVE is patient & kind. It does not envy or boast, it is not proud, rude or self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS."

If our love & marriage is based on these principles (and others found in God's word) we will have strong marriages that will last the test of time & day to day difficulties.

In other family news Haylee has been off work for a few days as she tripped over at work and has been sporting a very swollen ankle and foot, she got so bored sitting around not being able to do anything that we went and bought her Guitar hero Rock band complete Band. So guess what is going to be happening at our place, bands off between brother & sister. She went back this morning and I am praying that she makes it through the day or is prepared to say that she needs to come home if its not coping.

Well I better go and get baking. Might pop back later with pics and recipes for my brownies as Blondie's as everyone who I have ever given them too raves about them and they might just become a favourite in your baking too.

Hugs & Blessings to all

OH by the way its really nice to hear from you when you stop by so don't forget to leave a message - you can also become a follower so you don't miss out on any of my very important news - lol :-)