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

It's Been A While and Lots Of Happenings

Wow I haven't posted for nearly two months.  So what have I been doing? Since my last post I ventured to Mystery Creek with Kristen and she competed at the New Zealand Gymsport National Championships.  She competed in the Trampoline and done pretty well.  2nd in 13-14yr Syncro; 7th in 13-14yr Double-Mini (with a major save on her last pass) and 10th in 13-14 yr Individual Trampoline and this one was a very close one with 0.2 seperating between 6th to 10th before finals.

Also I have been sewing a couple of item for the Home Industries section for the local A&P Show a couple of weeks ago.  I got a 1st in the Small Wall Hanging.  The pattern came with a button swap I done a few months ago on the Craft Forum I belong to.  Apparently lots of people liked the little saying on it.

Also I entered a Premature Baby Quilt which I got 2nd in and this was donated to the local NeoNatal Unit

Then last weekend the whole family went to Rotorua and both kids competed in the last Trampoline competition for the year and Kristen came home with a Gold and Silver and Anthony a Silver.  It was Anthony's first competition in over 2 years as he had quit and has justed started trampoline up again, so he done pretty well.

While in Rotorua we went to Paradise Valley for a visit and the kids got to pat the lion cub and feed a variety of animals.  I of course got to cuddle the very friendly Donkey.

Oh and I can not forget that I have spent lots on material and bits and peices.  Spotlight last weekend had a great sale on and I got material at $2 metre. So glad I was in Rotorua as we don't have one here.  Also hubby bought me a cutting mat for my birthday.

Who Has Got The Sewing Bug?

 Kristen is taking textiles at school this semester and has been making onesies pj's.  This is her finishing her second pair while I was trying to finish her mini quilt.  Currently at school she is making some summer ones now.

 And talking of her mini quilt, I was given some caring hearts a while ago from the girls in the craft forum I belong to, so I decided to make a little mini quilt out of them for Kristen.

Also with the craft forum I belong to we have just completed an apron swap. This is the one  I sent Norma

Unfortunately some over-zealous person in my household disposed of my parcel which held my apron, but Norma showed me a picture of it.  The flowers are hand painted.  I was heartbroken when I discovered it had gone and the family have all looked for it but we fear it has gone into the rubbish.  So much for putting into safe places.

Some Old Photos

Just the other day hubby's mother sent up some old photo's of him, some of his school reports ....great reading..... and some other bit and bobs.  Reminded me of my box of photo's my mum gave to my sister's and I a couple of xmas's ago when we were altogether.  He are some of my favourites of me.  Yes I can be quite vain....but wasn't I adorable?

Just a baby

Approx 2 1/2 yrs old

Think I was 2 here too

15 yrs goes pretty fast

It's a Giveaway

Come on over to Jaybird Quilts for a fab giveaway

Also at Crafty Jennifer she is is having a giveaway for her First Blog-iversary. So click on the link and head on over.

Look .....what fun!

 Look at what I received in the mail.  Some of my order from Hancocks of Paducah.  I love Moda Fabric!!

 Also I received my item from the last swap I was in at the Craft Forum.  This is a lovely needle case I received from Farmnan62 aka Robyn.

At school my daughter has decided to do Textiles this semester.  This is what she has made first of and is currently in the process of making another pair.  She loves her all-in-ones pj's.

And talking of daughter.  We went up to Auckland last weekend for a Trampoline competition, she done pretty well again and all with a sore ankle.  1st in syncro, 3rd in individual and 5th in double-mini.  Nationals are next month so hopefully she maintains her form.

Giveaway

psiquilt is having a give away so click here and go on over to have a chance at winning a jelly roll

I Have Been Busy

Last night I got stuck into my  "Love Is" BOM.  I had stitched six of them already, but finished up to block 12 last night. Then tonight I have sewn the borders on, then I sewed the blocks together.  This is the half way mark.  Looking forward to the next 12 blocks and finishing it of.  This is the first BOM I have ever done and I am enjoying it.

Also during the week I finally finished knitting my daughter's scarf for school, which she has so patiently been waiting for.  Will keep her warm on those chilly mornings and it is so soft too.

Recently on the Craft Forum we had a "Designer Swap" where we had to make something by the designer Bronwyn Hayes or Leanne Beasley. This is the Quilters bag I sent to Ondrea made from a design by Leanne Beasley.  It is a rather large bag with a pocket on the side too.  The pattern I found in a old Homespun I had.