More School Ball Photos

Thought I would put a couple more of Kristen's school ball photos up.

The photographer Phil Yeo was awesome.  He is based here in Gisborne and you can have a look at his website here 

The theme was "A Night In Paris".  I loved the props he used.

School Ball Time Again

Miss 16 is again at a School Ball.  This year she has changed schools, however a friend said last year he would take her so she could still go.  At her current school she does not get to go this year.  So today I have spent over half a day running around doing last minute things (like a new bra) and having hair and make up done.  Pretty tiring especially if you don't live in town and have a couple of hours between appointments and meeting up with people.  But we got there finally, and now am to tired to go to a fellow nurse and friends farewell tonight...sorry Cookie!!!

Anyway the weather here in Gisborne is atrocious today.  Wet, windy and very cold!  Miss 16 got herself a short dress and complained about cold legs the minute she walked outside....lol.

Kristen and Cathy

Getting goofy photos of Miss 16 is much easier than getting her to pose.....what a nightmare it was.

Winter OASS And A Teatime Swap Too

Again I participated in the Once A Season Swap (OASS) and this time the theme was Winter.  I anticipated this swap early so before the sign up was done I started on and finished it.

I was lucky to get the co-ordinator of the swap, Cheryll this time too.

I was lucky enough to receive these lovely items in the mail from Cheryll, minus the frangipani scented sachet that was in another room in use.  The scarf Miss 16 has tried so many times to claim it, but alas is not able to, though I have caught her once in the car with it wrapped around her neck on a cold day and quickly claimed it back.

Thankyou Cheryll. Love them all.

For Cheryll I knitted this scarf and hope it will keep her nice and warm. I am amazed Miss 16 didn't try and claim this one too....lol. 

I also gave her this Soup cookbook keeping in the theme of Winter.  Soup and winter go hand and hand and Alison Holst is a great cookbook author and has many simple recipes.  I have many of her cookbooks in my kitchen, though not this one yet, which will have to be remedied.

Also over at Our Craft Forum we have recently had a swap themed 'Teatime".  I heard today that my partner has received her swap and her one is on it's way to me. 

I made a Tea Cosy and little Egg Cosies for her and slipped into the package at the last moment a tea bag holder which didn't make it into the photos.

The pattern for the tea cozy was a real easy tutorial from Thisltledown Cozies and you can get the tutorial HERE

Enjoy

And We Have A Winner

Thanks to those that entered and congrats to Jessica who was the winner

It's Time For Craftaholics Anonymous Handmade Gift Exchange June 2012

It's time again for Craftaholics Anonymous Handmade Gift Exchange.

You have until midnight June 7th to sign up

So go here and sign up for it.

Remembrance Charm Pack Giveaway

Just a reminder to enter my giveaway HERE for this delightful charm pack celebrating 200 GFC followers

GFC Follower Giveaway Time

Well, I now over on Google Friend Connect (GFC) have over 200 followers - 215 currently - and I am having a giveaway to celebrate.  I will be giving away from my much loved charm pack stash, a charm pack of Remembrance by Brannock and Patek for Moda.This range has some lovely fabrics and I am sure you will find the perfect project for it. 

So to enter you have to be a GFC follower. Leave me a comment and tell me you are. 

If you tweet or facebook about it leave me other comment with your post link.  

So you should have two entries in total.  

I will post internationally.  

Entries will close Tuesday June 5th, 7pm New Zealand time.

Colour Swap

Recently I participated in a Colour Swap which Lisa over at Lydia's Treasures held.  We needed to give our partner six presents in the colour of their choosing.

I was lucky enough to get Gaynor from over at Stitchers Anon.  The colour I chose was blue and I received a lovely parcel from her.

The box on arrival here.  The mail man even drove up my drive to drop it off, even though it would have easily fitted in my large rural mailbox.

Six parcels awaiting to be unwrapped. Wonder what I got?

First a lovely pin cushion

 A love pin keep

A cute Needle Minder

 A stuffed love heart

A floral needle book

And when I open this one I squealed.  A Blueberry Crumb Cake charm pack.  I absolutely love this range.

So some very lovely gifts I received

 Gaynor asked for the colour turquoise or turquoise and pink.  So after much searching I came to as close to the colour as I could.  Gaynor has received my parcel and I was quite surprised at how fast it got to the other side of the world.  I sent on Monday and she told me Friday she had the parcel.  Now that is fast!!!

1 Xmas Item A Month

This month I thought I was on to it and was going to have my item finished on time, but alas I have got the flu and have been sort of zonked out the last couple of days.  Always a bugger when you are on annual leave as I am, and you get sick.  Anyway though it is not the 25th here in New Zealand any more, in other parts of the world it is still the 25th, so I still sort of sneak in.

Anyway this month I have made a Scrappy String Christmas Tree Table Topper designed by BOM Quilts for my item, and you can get the pattern here

SMS Giveaway Day Winners

Wow, what a great response to the give-away.   I now have over 200 followers via GFC so keep an eye out for a celebratory give-away in the next week.

Anyway onto the winners of the SMS Giveaway Day.

Winner of the Moda Nostalgia Turnover is 

And the winner of the Fat 1/4 and pincushion is

I have emailed both winners and will get their parcels to them in the next week.

Quilting Block Swap Australia - May Blocks

This month I was teamed up with Ank in the Netherlands. She asked for any block in blue, green, warm brown and ecru and loves aboriginal prints So I thought maybe she would like these colours in NZ Maori prints. So I made her a Amish Diamond.

Then a couple of days ago I received my Pinwheel block from Ank in Civil War reproduction prints

Ank's block must have been special as Customs NZ even had to open the package.

Busy Bee Has Been Working

I have been a busy bee in the last two days and shocked myself yesterday morning.

I am not much of a morning girl and when I am not on a morning shift, I sleep in as much as I can.  But no, not yesterday morning.  I was up bright and early and before 9am had been quite industrialist. I made not one but two batches of biccies.  ANZAC and Instant Pudding ones

Instant Pudding Biscuits

ANZAC Biscuits

Put the Apricot Chicken in the Slow Cooker

Apricot Chicken

Incidentally, tonight after making Devilled Sausages in it, the slow cooker blew up, flicking the fuses in the house and giving me one hell of a fright.

Anyway back to yesterday morning.  I de-flea'd the dog, put all the folded washing away, put on a load of washing, made some yoghurt in the maker and also stirred up a batch of jelly.  

Now for me that is quite a lot for first thing in the morning along with some miscellaneous chores.

My husband must have thought I was unwell.  I think I was...lol.

Anyway today has been mainly entering competitions on SewMamaSews Give Away Day.  I have two giveaways going.  Here  and also here.  So go have a look.

Finally, if you are after the Instant Pudding Biscuit recipe click on my Recipes tab and you can get it, or easier still click here for it.

SewMamaSew Giveaway Day Has Begun!!

Yes the day has finally begun.  It is the SewMamaSew Giveaway Day which only happens twice a year.

Now before we go on to what I am giving away, please go over to my other blog 'Michell's Cross Stitch'  and check out my give-away there too.

So what am I giving away today on this blog?

The first winner win get this lovely Moda Nostalgia Turnovers pack.  This has 80 triangles and if you join the half square triangle blocks you will have a 5" square with seams. 

The second winner will get this Pin Cushion and a Fat Quarter with a native New Zealand bird called the Tui on it.

Tui are common throughout New Zealand in forests, towns and on off-shore islands. They are adaptable and are found not only in native forests, bush reserves and bush remnants but also in suburban areas, particularly in winter if there is a flowering gum about.

These attractive birds can often be heard singing their beautiful melodies long before they are spotted. They are recognisable by their distinctive white tuft under their throat, which contrasts dramatically with the metallic blue-green sheen to their underlying black colour.

So what do you have to do to enter?

Just leave a comment.  Any old comment will do.

I would love it if you would follow me, but that is not a requirement.

Only one comment please.

Entries close Friday 25 May 5pm PST or here in New Zealand that is 12pm Saturday

I will post anywhere and everywhere

Please make sure you are if you are a no-reply blogger to leave your email address, as if I can not get hold of you, I will redraw.

And don't forget to go over to Michell's Cross Stitch to enter another giveaway.

Good luck.

Santa Sack Swap Sign Up Is Open

It's back!!! Sign ups are now open and these are limited.  So just click on the picture and it will take you to the sign up over at Cherylls Santa Sack Swap blog.


And don't forget to come over to this blog on Monday 21st at 6a.m. PST for

YaHoo!!!! Giveaway Day Is Nearly Upon Us Again

Now what am I going to giveaway this time?  Well come back at Monday, May 21 at 6 a.m. PST and I will be adding my linky to Sew Mama Sew's give-away linky.  And while you are there you will be able to enter many more give-aways.

So do not forget to come back here on May 21st for my giveaway and to get the chance to enter many more blogger giveaways.