It Arrived, It Arrived, My Christmas In July Parcel

For some strange reason my CIJ parcel got sent back to sender, no idea why but at least it was not lost in the system.  So last weekend it finally arrived. My partner was the lovely Barb from Barbs Creations and she sent me these lovely items.  The chocolate items did not last long at all obviously.

 Everthing is so festive, and come Christmas they will look fabulous when on display

A Late FNSI Post

Late last week I joined in with FNSI.  I was just about to start my night shifts again so just didn't get around to posting about what I done, but here it is.

This is from the 'Patchwork Loves Embroidery' book by Gail Pan.

I have also joined up to a Sew Along to over at Sunshine Quilting to stitch more of these lovely designs

Another 'Christmas In July' Swap

Over on 'Our Craft Group' on Facebook I hosted a Christmas in July swap.
I was lucky enough to swap with Trish for this swap and gifts were received fast from the postal system.
I sent this mini wall hanging to Trish

And from Trish I received this gorgeous decoration in a box of other little bit and bobs.

I am now taking sign ups for the Christmas Advent swap so go on over to 'Our Craft Group' and join up if you like.

Santa Maybe Running A Little Bit Late For Me, But Not My Partner

I have recent participated in Cherylls Christmas in July swap.  My parcel is still on its way to me and I will post about it when it finally gets here.  Mail delivery can be so erratic sometimes.  I can get an envelope from Australia in three days or three weeks, or even here in New Zealand it can be one day or one week.  Fustrating it is.
Any way I will post about what I sent to my partner Christine from MacDonald's Patch in Australia. We had to make three things using letters from Christmas.  I chose R- Reindeer, S- Snowman and S- Stockings

First I made a little bag made from stocking fabric

Then a little snowman wall hanging

And finally a mini reindeer hanging

Here they are all together

Blocks Galore

I have noticed that I have not posted a few blocks I have received or sent over the last few months, so will update now.  Hopefully these are them all so far but will have another quick look. I am sure there are some 6" blocks missing in this line up.
These are a combination of all the block swaps I am in.
First up some 6" blocks I sent to Delphine back in April

Then a Paper pieced block I sent to Helen in May.  I am amazed I lined those lines up well.

Some 6" blocks sent to Carolyn in May

For the Xmas swap I sent this Pinwheel to Charmaine in June

Then I received from Charmaine this block

In June I also received these blocks from Jan for the 12" Block Swap

And I sent her this block 

I sent these to Juanita for the June 6" swap

And received these from her

This was sent to new swapper Lee for the July Xmas block swap

And I got this one from her

Then for the July 12" Block Swap I sent this one to Lorilynn

Another 12" Mini Swap Finished

At the end of last month another Mini Club swap hosted by Cheryll was finished. This time it was Embroidery (Words/ Verse)... as the theme.
I was lucky enough to send to Lyn from Stitches From The Mainland and sent her this

and then was lucky enough to receive from her to and received this

Lately I have also received this gorgeous book I ordered in the mail and plan on making some things out of it

A Clean Iron

Unfortunately I did not take a before picture, but my iron was very yukky and dirty.  I was trying to clean it using tips from the internet with minimal effect, so I took the plunge and bought some iron cleaner.  I was a little bit skeptical about it but wow!!!! My iron is the cleanest it has been for a long time

This Bohin Iron Cleaner was so good.  I bought it from Grandmothers Garden here in New Zealand and am glad I did.  All I had to do was follow the easy instructions and Bam!!!! It is clean.

After the clean.

I was about to buy a new iron but am glad I did not now as I do like this one.

Edited to add ..... my iron blew up tonight so off to get a new one tomorrow

FNWF Update

Last night Cheryll once again hosted FNWF.  I was working, so I done some stitching a bit earlier in the day.
This pattern I found at Bad Birds and was a nice fast stitch.  I just have beads to put on some of the stars now.

A Nice Day Off

Today I was suppose to be working the afternoon shift at the hospital, but as all was quiet there, I was lucky enough to be offered annual leave which I quickly said yes to.  Once hubby found out he thought we should do something so we went for a drive up the coast to Tokomaru Bay and had a walk along the old wharf there.

It was a lovely drive and I have not been up that way for a while now so enjoyed it.  Best of all was that the day was a gorgeous winters day

FNSI Update

Last night I joined in with the girls for FNSI.  I worked on a stitchery for a swap I am in so can not show you much.  I have used Cottage Country Threads Golden Elm to stitch this. 
Now all I have left is to sew it up and post off next week. This week I also have received some more things in the mail. First some lovely books from The Book Depository.  I enjoyed Lynette Andersons Stitch It For Christmas book so had to get the Autumn and Spring ones too along with a Jelly Roll book by Carolyn Forster

Then I have been reading only good things about Missouri Star Quilt Company so had to have a look and they have great daily specials I discovered, so obviously placed an order and I am very pleased with the service.

The Weeds Jelly Roll I got as the daily special and I had to order a Downton Abbey Jelly Roll too with the other fabric pictured.