1 Xmas Item A Month Finish

Yay, I have finally finished a Xmas item.  This month it was a cross stitch I purchased a couple of months ago.

I have got my mojo back with cross stitch at the moment and have got a couple of projects on the way.

Desert Road

Miss 17 has just under two weeks to go till she is off to the Armed Forces.  Now we have been having bad weather in parts of New Zealand in the last week, though here in Gisborne it didn't come near us.  

Miss 17 because of this has been keeping updated on the weather in Waiouru where she will be based for 16 weeks on Basic Training.  She got a bit of a surprise when at the end of May she asked if it snowed there.  We just cracked up laughing.  Obviously someone had not done their homework on Waiouru weather.  Here is an example of the end of May snow which she is guaranteed to experience while there.

Waiouru Museum

Waiouru

 She has obviously gone out and got her self a few thermals now.

A Fabric Basket

Recently I participated in a fabric basket swap over on Flickr and this is what I sent to my partner filled with goodies.  I know she has received it and loves it.

One thing I noted after I had made it was the handles were so long and could not fathom out why, but packaged it up and sent it on its merry way anyway.  I then had another look at the pattern and then realized that instead of chopping the handles in half, I made two of them from the pattern.  Pays not to sew sometimes late at night.  

The pattern was made from Pink Penguins tutorial which can be found here

Lots and Lots Of Blocks

I have been a a sewing mission and have been catching up with Block of the Months and Block swaps in the past week, so this post is going to go block crazy.

First here are the latest blocks made and received for the block swaps I am in.

This month for CQBSA I sent to Fiona and she asked for any yellow star with a Christmas background.

For the May swap I received this block from Vicki called a Coffin Block

Then for the 6"QBSA I sent to Ann and she asked for any star in blue and white.

For QBSA I received from Sue not one but two lovely blocks in my new colour and block preference.

Over at Our Craft Forum I am again this year participating in the Monthly Sampler BOM and finally made my blocks, so all caught up now.  These are being made with Riley Blake Designs "Paris & Company"

Then over at Quilt Doodle Designs I am collecting each month her BOM patterns. I made the first one at the start of the year and now have made up to Mays one. I am using for this one Best Wishes by Dawn Heese of Linen Closet Designs for Henry Glass Fabrics

Then I am also participating in Barbara Brackmans Dixie Diary BOM over at Civil War Quilts and have also made up to Mays block. For this BOM I am using Old Glory Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics.

My Latest Swap Blocks Received And Sign Up Is Open For SSS 2013

This week I received two lots of blocks for swaps I am in.  First were my blocks from Janet in Canada for the 6"Block Swap Australia.

Then from CrafteeCC aka Cathy I received this lovely Churndash for the QBSA made in reproduction fabric.

Finally sign ups are now open for 2013 Secret Santa Swap.  The rules are slightly different this year, so go here to sign up.