Christmas Day Is Over and Done With

First of all a belated Merry Christmas to every one

This year Miss 22 and I also got our first Santa picture together.  Took us all these years to get one.  I do remember as a youngster she did not like Santa, my have times changed.

December has been a busy month for me, working and then going away to another concert .... Shania Twain this time ...... then doing a roadie with Miss 22 from Christchurch to Gisborne over 3 long days.

Shania was awesome and now I have only two more concerts on my list to go to.  One in January and then another in March.  I am concerted out now.

Down in Christchurch I got to go to the best Christmas shop called The Christmas Hut and bought my first Lemax Village item which is in its box till Christmas next year.

This Santa was huge in real life and at $3950 a bit out of my price range.

And also Miss 22 took me to a great Christmas light demonstration.  This is just a small collection of the lights and so dedicated we went in the rain.

Finally after travelling for three days we got home on Saturday just before the bad weather hit and had a days relaxation before I started the preparations for Christmas day including shopping at the supermarket and I must say I struck it lucky as it was not that bad the four times I went (3 because I forgot something).

I had a fail with my non-fail pavlova (a KIWI icon) so made another and only done a basic topping but it was still yummy

And what sewing have I done this month ...... only a block for QBSA.  The block is called Card Trick

Can't believe it is 2019 next week.  Where has the year gone?

Goodness Me

Goodness me it has been nearly 2 months since my last post.  It has been so hot to really do anything here.  Humidity 2 weeks ago was at 99%.  I was very glad I was not working in our un-airconditioned hospital that day.

Though to hot do do really anything I have stitched some 1" hexi flowers and even made a block for the Quilting Block Swap Australia group I am in on Facebook

I have also made a secret gift for someone but will post that one next month after they receive it.

I have also been away to a few concerts in the last two months.

First up was Bryan Adams.  This concert was fabulous.  As a teenager I loved his music and still do, so was rap that I got to see him live

I went with a couple of friends from work, and when going to and from the concert on the buses that were provided, we were the naughty girls at the back of the bus lol

I then went to the Taupo Summer Concert and though George Thorogood and the Destroyers had to pull out, they were replaced by The Orchestra (ELO) and boy were they fantastic.  They were a great ending to a great concert, which also had Alanis Morrisette, Colin Hay and Fairground Saints.  Again I went with the same ratbags as my last concert with hubby in tow to doing the driving this time.

Then last weekend I went to see the greatest band out ...... QUEEN + Adam Lambert.  Now I thought Adele was the best concert I had ever been to, but Queen out done her.  

This time I left the other ratbags behind and went with Miss 21.

Amoung these concerts I also went to a wedding of some very good friends and my baby was one of the wedding cars.  He scrubbed up very well I must say.

A UFO Finish & More

Well some sewing is happening here among the hot weather we have had.  
This Celtic Sunrise paper-pieced block was sent out to my partner earlier this month.  It would be the hardest block I have had to do to date, but I persevered with it.

I have also been stitching up a storm with the hexagon flowers and these are all in the mail or ready to go into the mail.

Here in Gisborne we have had some lovely weather in the last couple of weeks and someone has finally done the rain dance as it has been showering on and off today.  Below is a picture I took on my walk earlier this week of where the two rivers meet in Gisborne

And finally to my UFO finish. These blocks were ones I had made for swaps but not good enough to post off, so they went in a UFO box to be made into a tablerunner.  Well a couple of years later it is made. This project is also part of Sew It's Finished and 1 Xmas Item a Month which you can go and view by clicking on the links on the side bar

While at it, I thought to practice some free-motion quilting and I think I have done a pretty good job too. 

Santa Is Doing Some Early Deliveries

Well in the last month and a bit that I have been here I have been sewing up a storm for some Christmas swaps I am in.  I was worried I was going to be very late with them but all but one is on their merry way.  
It is so good to be stress free now, and hubby after having a rough time of it in the last year is absolutely loving it in his new job.  Knowing that we are never going to move again for a long, long, long time is great, it will probably be into a rest home in many, many moons if we do.  It also so nice to be living in your own home too.  So many things to do, short and long term ..... which reminds me I must get on to our grotty shower being replaced, but having high pressure water is fabulous after many years living on farms where it is often not.
Anyway, here are the gifts I have sent all wrapped, bar one as it is a secret swap and the wrapping paper will give it away.
This one is for the Advent Swap I am hosting over on Our Craft Group on Facebook and this parcel is currently winging its way over to Hungary

Then for the Santa Sack Swap this is winging is way over to Germany

and for the QBSA these gifts are winging their way closer to home but still over some water to Australia

The other swap I have sent of is SSCS which is a secret one and the other to be sent is another secret Christmas swap too.

Feels so nice to finally get things finished and sent off

Batiks Look Great

Well things are slowly getting back to normal here and sewing is happening.  This month I am back into those monthly swaps I am in with a vengance and for the 12 inch block swap I am in I made this Air Castle block in Batiks for my partner Karen and I love the way it turned out.

All Moved & Back Into Everything

So everything is out of storage and I have been in the house for two weeks now.  There are a few things needing to be done - new curtains and shower definitely, and we are slowly doing the little bits and pieces.  It is strange living in town after 40 years on a farm and I think I will take some time getting use to it, but I will.
Anyway I have not really posted about any sewing or swaps I have been in as I was on little amounts of data and everything was packed up, but as of today ....unlimited internet data (a living in town bonus) and my sewing/swaps etc are unpacked so here I go.
Now before I packed up I was in a swap over on Facebook on the Bee In My Bonnets Sew Alongs and it was a Pot Holder / Trivet swap using a patterns from Lori Holts Farm Girl Vintage Book. I was lucky to send to the lovely Sue Bellei and here is what she received from me

And the lovely Laurel Fletcher sent to me this gorgeous one

I also have made some blocks that are due and over due for the block swap I have been in for the last few years.  The BearPaw points were a mission to do but I think I got them nearly.

I made two for my partner Deb as in the rush to try and get hers completed and sent before I packed up the room last month I accidentally made the 14" block, not the 12" I was suppose to so am sending both

And the October one to Cathy.

Well that is all for now.  I am at this moment backing everything up so not to lose things especially photos so I will get back to that again.

Long Overdue Updates

With the move and my study I have not updated much on swaps I have been in, so will try and do some in the next week.

In September for the QBSA I sent this block of to Elizabeth who asked for a block suitable for children

And in the same month sent this one off to Raelene who asked for a star block

For the November swaps I sent these 6" blocks to Helen

and this 12" block to Mary for the QBSA