Blog Hop Party Winner!!

I used the Random Number generator to chose my winner and the lucky person is Maria.

Thank you to all that entered from far and wide.

One Xmas Item A Month

Well the last few months I have been working on Xmas items, but not completed any, but some Xmas themed tissue holders last month which I did not get a photo of before they were of on their merry way.  Anyway, this month I have completed a few items, but as they are for a variety of swaps to be opened next month I can not post pictures of them yet, but watch for my swap posts next month at Xmas.

I can say,I can post a finish I have done this month.  Originally it was for a swap but done a boo boo (didn't think when sandwiching) and have kept it for my self.  This is a easy table runner to make and I am sure I will be making more of them in the future.

The pattern is called a Zig Zag Table runner and used one 5" Charm pack.  I watched this tutorial from the Missouri Quilt Company which is excellent.

Quilter's Blog Hop Party Giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Welcome to the Quilters Blog Hop Party.

So what am I giving away for this?

Two Mini Charm packs as pictured to one lucky winner.

What do you have to do to enter?  Just leave one comment below.  It's that easy.

No jumping through hoops, no following needed unless you want too (hint hint, wink wink)

The winner will be drawn on 27th New Zealand time.

I will ship internationally.

And don't forget to check out the rest of the giveaways here

Finally ensure I have a way to contact you.  If I can not I will have to give some other lucky blogger the charm packs.

12" Mini Swap Received

Once again I particpated in Cherylls over at Gone Stitchin' 12" Mini Club Swap

My partner was Maria who I incidentally sent to earlier this year.  The theme this time was 'Flower' and haven't I been lucky to receive this.

Keep an eye out for what I sent my partner in the next few weeks. It is heading over the ocean currently.

Basket Swap Is Complete

Recently I posted what I sent to my partner in the Basket Swap I participated in over at Flickr.  Well mine has arrived from my partner and here is what she sent me.  I am so lucky.

Say "Hello Nelson"

Years ago my hubby, (well before he was my hubby), encouraged me to go on a Teddy Bear making day.  I went and made a teddy.  I then had plans on making lots, but nearly 20 years down the track I have made now three. 

I am not that great on making them but enjoyed finishing this one finally, though I had specks of crimson fluff on me all the time.  This one was started about three years ago and had been in the cut out stage for a while.  It is all hand stitched.  I have fur for one more teddy so one day may make one again.

Say "Hello" to Nelson.

Block Update

I have been a bit lapse the last few months with my updates with QBSA, but here they are now

First I will start with the missing received ones.

Back in July Ann was my partner and the parcel went AWOL and ended back with her so she has resent it and this is what I received this weekend

Then I had the lovely Traci again for my November swap 

Then for the September swap I had Tarniya and she sent me this lovely block

 And then back in August I had Fiona and here is what I received from her

I can say I have been a lot better at posting what I have sent, so only have Octobers block to show.

Here is what I sent Joanne

A Xmas Mug Rug

I recently participated in a Mug Rug swap over at a Facebook group I am part of called Let's Get Hexied.  The Mug Rug could be any type, not just hexagons so I made this one for my partner Squeakie.

Another Basket Swap

I again participated in a basket swap over on Flickr and here is what I sent my partner. When I saw pink in her preferences this is the fabric I knew I had to use.

I put in some goodies too.

November Blocks Are On Their Way

My November blocks are completed and are currently in a plane heading to other countries.  I will have to work out my blocks from the last few months too and post about them, but at the moment I will just leave it at these two.

First for QBSA I had Traci as my partner and she requested this Lover's Knot in 1930's themed fabric

I liked sewing this block so much I also used the pattern for Erin for the CQBSA

One other thing is, a few months ago I saw on the QBSA a post Sue B had made on a very useful tool called 'The Quick and Easy Block Tool'.  Well I saw it, liked it and had to get it and it is very handy. Mine was ordered online from The Book Depository.

My Baby Girl Is Going Again

Some of you would recall that Miss 17 went in the Army back in July and then was home with a injury 3 weeks later.  Well she is off again next week.  Basic Training does not start until the start of February but they have recalled some back to rehash what they have learnt apparently.  We have no idea why, and Miss 17 went and saw the recruitment officer here in town and he is also surprised they are calling her back seeing as she spent so little time there.  We think is must be her determined, stubborn attitude they are wanting back.  Her platoon leader said to me before she left that she has got exactly what they want.

When Miss 17 found out she turned up at my work place bawling her eyes out and not wanting to go back.  She said had given her an ultimatum, come back or she has to resign and then reapply.  Problem was she starts on the 12th and on the 11th she was booked for her first trip to Australia for a holiday (apparently this was a no-no as she has to get permission from the Defence Force first ...... she now knows this). Anyway after a couple of hours she was fine and she said yes to them.  She told me if she had been given more than two weeks notice she would have been ok, but was a shock to the system.

Incidentally, the day she found out was her old intakes March Out and she was super excited that one in her platoon got top recruit.  There have been a few from her platoon that have gone on leave and so far she knows of none that are going back with her.  I have found out through the wonderful internet of one other person going back (not from her intake), so Miss 17 stated "at least she is not going to be the only one there".

So its going to be another sad time watching my baby girl going again, but at least I know she will be back for Christmas break.  

2013 Monthly Block Experience Blocks Are Finished

I have finally finished all my blocks for the year on time...yay. So here are the last ones.

July's block was Ruins of Jericho.  This block was started with a different colour combination but alas cut something wrong and had to change.  It does look better in the flesh than this photo.

Ruins of Jericho

For August Castle In the Air was the chosen block

Castle In The Air

September was  the Double T block

DoubleT

Then finally for October I made the Shooting Star 2 block.

Shooting Star 2

Now just to plan on how I will put all these together. Also a big thanks to Vicki Tucek from The Pickledish Patch and Our Craft Forum for organizing it all.

A Pleated Tote

I have been in another swap and this time it was for a Tote bag.  My partner was Karen all the way from Canada.  I got close to her favorite colours and made the handles a bit longer which she wanted.

The pattern I found right here at The Long Threads and it was nice and easy to make.

I still have not got my tote yest but have been told it is in the mail.