Mug Wrap And Coaster Received

Look what I received from Linda over at the Craft Forum.  Isn't it delightful.  We had a Mug Wrap and Coaster swap.  I don't know if Linda has received mine yet so will not post a photo of it till I know.

Handmade For Christchurch

As you are aware last Monday, Christchurch here in NZ had a devastating earthquake with many, many lives lost and untold buildings and houses gone.  Because of this a group of people have decided to raise some money to donate between Christchurch Womans Refuge and The Salvation Army.  They are asking for donations of handmade items to auction off on Trademe.  So if you can help go to their Facebook page to read about it all.

Handmade For Christchurch Facebook Page

Or to bid on an item

 TradeMe Auction Site 

 

or if you can help with donated goods email them here for details

handmade.for.christchurch@gmail.com

Mug Rug Swap Received

Wow!! I have just received my Mug Rug swap item from my partner and it came all the way from Scotland, my second favourite country after NZ.  I am so lucky.  The fudge was divine and did not last long in this house and the other goodies will be put to good use.  My swap partner was Elizabeth-Anne and you can go and have a look at her blog here if you like.

Also today many of you are most probably aware of the devastating earthquake in Christchurch with large loss of life. Thought and prayers are going out to everyone there.  Thinking of hubby's two sisters and families down there in the worst hit area.  Hoping you are all ok.

Mystery Charm Squares BOM 2011 - Block 1

Well I have sewn my block up for the Mystery Charm Squares BOM 2011 over at Our Craft Forum and I am mighty proud of it.  First time I have done something like this and I think it turned out well.



Sent & Received

Well I finally sent my Quilting Gallery Mug Rug Swap items away on Saturday.  They are currently on their way to the other side of the world.  I do hope my swap partner likes them.  Not only did I send three mug rugs but a NZ themed Fat 1/4 which didn't make the photo

I have also sent my Mug Wrap and Coaster swap Items to Linda from the Craft Forum but will not yet put a picture up of them so she can be surprised when she gets them.

Also I have joined up to the Mystery Charm Squares BOM 2011 over at the Craft Forum.  We received our first block to make and at the same time I received an email from Green Fairy Quilts with some of the new Moda range.  I fell in love with both Lilac Hill and Dragonfly Summer and have decided to do my blocks in Dragonfly Summer so of course I had do do some buying....lol

and here is my first block all cut out and ready to sew

More Views and Snowy

Well I went for a walk today behind my house and up the hill, so I took my camera. One lesson I did learn is that in the heat of the day do not go for walks up hills.

My House

Pouawa Beach

Pouawa Beach

Snowy came for the walk to. My hasn't he grown.  He is 5 months old in a couple of days time.  Currently he is at my feet zonked out.

 I have also finished this quilt top.  Have got the binding, wadding and backing so will wait for a few day of work and trim quilt it etc. Thanks retromummy for the idea.

Finally Finished

Last year I made a disappearing 9-patch table runner top and a little mini quilt top with the left overs.  Well after sitting in my bedroom for a long time I have finally quilted and binded them....YAY!!!!

I have also just finished reading The Return: Shadow Souls - book 6 in the Vampire Diaries and very much looking forward till book 7 The Return: Midnight gets released in March.

Till then I do have Stefans Diaries 1 & 2 to read and The Vampire Academy series along with all my romance novels.

My Views and More Sewing

These photos are looking north to Turihaua Station (click on the name to have a look at the farm website if you want) which my husband manages.  Along the far beach front behind the trees are the main homestead, worker houses and woolsheds.  Our house is further around the far point so not seen in these pictures.  Also the farm extends a couple of km's behind were I am standing taking these photos and to the left of the picture quite a way.  The station is the oldest Angus Stud here in New Zealand.  The beach is obviously called Turihaua Beach, while around the corner where I live it's called Pouawa Beach.  I will get photo's when the weather is nice again.  You can also see we are quite brown.  In the last few days we have had some rain so hopefully we got nice and green again.



Turihaua Station



Turihaua Station - we live further around the point




Turihaua Station 

On the way to town most of the trip is along the beach front.  This is a photo at the top of Tatapouri Hill which is a couple of hundred metres away from the farm boundary.  It is looking south toward Makarori Beach and town is in the far distance over the hill.

Makorori Beach
  

More Mug Rugs

Here are a couple more mug rugs I have made in the last week.
Yes, they are addictive!!!!

And this is the starting of a quilt top.  It's an idea I got from while browsing Retromummy's blog last week.

Mug Rug 2

Well here's my other mug rug which I put the binding on today.  This one I had my first go at free motion quilting.  With a lot of practice I will improve.



Mug Rug

Well I had a few scarps of material hanging around and I have been hearing about these Mug Rugs.  So I decided to have a go at making one.... no actually two. The other one just has to be binded now after having my first go at free motion quilting so no picture yet.



I have also joined a Mug Rug Swap at the Quilting Gallery.  Go click on the pic below and join up if you want

Charming Hearts

Look what I got in the mail today from the Fabric Shack in Waynesville, Ohio, USA.

On a humorous note, being a nurse we love pens as we always seem to loose them so was also excited at the free one, along with a free pattern card.

So what am I got to make with it you ask??

Well I saw a quilt pattern in a Creating Country Threads not long ago and thought....no said...to myself I am going to make that.  I already had a charm pack so just had to order the rest of the material.  I am going to be using Moda's 'Masion de Garance' by French General.

Here is a picture of the quilt, which is a Val Laird design and called 'Charming Hearts'.  It will be the first time I have made something like this so will be taking my time with it I think.

Kristen's Syncro Trampoline at New Zealand National Championships 2010

Well only last night I realised that you could post video's on here so I thought to let you watch Kristen and Mitra in their 2nd placing for 13-14yr old Syncro at the 2010 NZ National Championships.

First is their set routine which everyone has to do and then their is their voluntary routine which is a combination of 10 skills they can make up.

Good Times

Well my Craft Forum Advent Swap finally got to my partner just a couple of days late.  I made a Tablerunner made out of a Moda Charm pack and also gave a pack of Moda Turnovers.  I really enjoyed this swap and plan on doing it again this year.

Advent Swap 2010

Now I said a couple of posts back that evey year the kids have a photo under the Xmas Tree (if we don't forget).  So here's this years one along with the new member of the family Snowy

Kristen, Anthony & Snowy Xmas 2010

A few months ago Tony and our shepherd Sam on the station were models for a drench gun a company is putting out.  I have no idea of the company but I do know the photographer was great. Here is one of the pictures with Tony and taken with one of our huntaway's named Hunt.  The photographer was from Strike Photography.

Tony and Hunt

Happy New Year

Vicki's Having a Giveaway

Vicki at The Pickledish Patch is having a giveaway and she has a lovely prize so click on the button and go and enter



Happenings

So Christmas is over and I have 5 days of absolute freedom from the hospital which is having its' post Xmas rush.  So what to do.  Well I will update my blog I thought...so here we go.

Xmas Day

First of all here are some pictures of our Xmas Day.  We had a beautiful day here in Gisborne... great bbq weather which is what we had.  I have got pictures of the kids under the xmas tree on Xmas morning, however I have just discovered Anthony has taken his camera with them still on it to Tologa Bay for 4 days, so will post these ones later.

Xmas Advent Swap

On the Craft Forum I belong to we have had a Xmas Advent Swap.  Some items in a previous blog are what I received and this is some of the rest.

Then on Xmas Day I got to open my 25th pressie and lucky me received a bag with a x-stitch kit and punch needle kit in it.

Primative Swap

I also have been in Primative Swap and this is what my partner sent to me.  Unfortunately I did not remember to take a picture of what I sent.

Snowy

And have a look at Snowy now. Isn't he growing





A Giveaway

Retromummy is having a giveaway. 20 fat quaters in the Flower Sugar range as pictured. So click here and enter this fab giveaway

It's A Giveaway

Has now closed and winners contacted
Thanks

Well I got a bit over zealous and this month bought 2 lots of Country Threads magazine.  Now in these packs there are 3 craft books and I don't need them all so I thought I will give them away.

I have 2 giveaways and there is nothing special to do to be in the draw just leave me a comment.  However I do need a way to contact you if you win.

The first is Classic Cushions

This magazine has patterns for 27 Cushions

The 2nd is two magazines with a Xmas theme

Creating Country Threads Christmas Special

and

Handmade Christmas In July

So leave me a comment and on Tuesday 14th I will do the draw.

Sorry been working hard at work picking up a couple of shifts.  Will do the draw tomorrow

It's Nearly Xmas And It's An Advent Swap

In the Craft forum I belong to we are having a Xmas Advent Swap. The last few days I have been unwrapping presents my partner Bucknchooky has sent to me.

Day 1 - An Angel Decoration

Day 2 - A Pincushion

Day 3 - Needles

Day 4 - Panels



Our New Family Member

Went to the pet shop on Friday and fell in love.  Took Kristen after school and she fell in love too.  So she rang her dad and begged like she has never done before and we now have a Bichon / Mini Poodle X called Snowy