It's Ginda Time

Look who is keeping an eye on my recently deliver purchase from The Fat Quarter Shop.  He maybe is pondering on when he can lie all over the material.

Yes it is Ginda (formerly known as Simba).  He is over a year old now and loves chasing Snowy around.  He really thinks he is a dog.

Friday Night With Friends

This was my first time I joined in with Friday Night With Friends hosted by Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin'.  I found this a motivation to finish some UFO's of mine and this is what I have done with one tonight.

I had a small table runner I had started in 2011 from some 5" charms.  All I had to do was sandwich, quilt and bind, so this is what I spent the evening doing.

So this is what I pulled out of the box.

And all finished, to be put away for Christmas at the end of the year.

Lets Sign Up

Start the of year, means the start of new Swaps, BOM's and joining in a lot of new things or continuing on with what you were doing last year.

So first up this year I am joining in Cherylls 'Initial Heart Swap 2013'.  If you would like to sign up go here.

Also I am making the plunge and joining up in Cherylls 'Friday Night with Friends' which is held the first Friday of the night and that is tonight. Again go here to link up. 

I am also continuing with 'Sew It's Finished 2013'.  I still have a lot of UFO's to finish from last year list and also have added to this list.  If you would like to join go here

Another I am continuing this year is Narelles '1 Xmas Item Per Month'.  The rules are easy and if you can not make something each month that is ok. Go over here and join up if you want.

Also I found this BOM which the first block is already up to do.  Go here to Quilt Doodle Designs to participate.

Also Civil War Quilts are starting up a new BOM called 'Dixie Diary'.  So kept an eye out for it to start.

That is it so far, but I know there will be a lot more.

Shoo Fly Shoo

For my December block for CQBSA I had Cynthia as my partner. She wanted any block, in any colour so I made this Shoo Fly block

Then over at  QBSA I have Debbie for my January partner and as I enjoyed making the Shoo Fly block for Cynthia, I made it again for Debbie.

Lastly here is Snowy, impressed I think that i disturbed his sleep for the photo.

An Extra Christmas Day Pressie From 'Pink Stitches'

Now back on this post I mentioned that I had one pressie from Cara at Pink Stitches I was not allowed to open until Christmas Day for The Coloradoladys Secret Santa Soiree   Well my dear hubby made it the last pressie I was allowed to open and when I did was over joyed.  My first Tilda book.  I have admired them but never bought, but now have one I love.

Thank you Cara.

Well here in NZ we have just welcomed in the New Year.  I am working away at the hospital at the moment, so Happy New Year Everyone.

My SSCS Gift To Tracee

Yesterday I blogged about my gift I received from Cathy at Highland Quilter on this post.  So today I am going to show you what I sent Tracee from Quilt Kitty Loves Life!. I made this little felt Christmas decoration for her and gave it to her along with other goodies she got to open before the big opening day.

Then on the day Tracee got to open her handmade gift which was a table runner which I free motioned quilted.  Slowly getting FMQ right but still a long long way to go. Tracee has also blogged about it here if you want to go and look.

Again, thank you Chookyblue for organizing this swap

Lovely Gift Received For Chookyblues SSCS 2012

Well I finally took down the Christmas tree today.  Just need to vacuum up those pesky pine needles now.  All decorations are put away for another year, but before I done that I remembered I had not taken photos of my lovely handmade gifts and decoration from Cathy over at Highland Quilter, so quickly these were done.

I was so lucky.  First up I had opened my decoration a few weeks back and that quickly went on my Christmas tree.  What was special about this Koala I got, is that a few years back my husband bought me a larger Koala from Australia made out of the same material, though I do not know what it is called. It is gorgeous.

Then on Christmas day we were allowed to open our next gift and I got not only this lovely table runner, but also a gorgeous Christmas stitchery.

Thank you very much I love them. Also thanks to Chookyblue for hosting this swap. I will definitely be signing up next year.

Sad Time

A couple of mornings ago we woke up to the sad passing away of Mr 15's huntaway Hollie.  Hollie was his first working dog given to him and was quite old.  

Hollie passed away peacefully in her sleep.

RIP Hollie

A Quiet Christmas Day Had

So we were all alone on Christmas Day, but that was good.  We had family up before and family here now.  The day was hot and muggy...so much for our rain.  So hot that we sat inside for lunch as it was a lot cooler.

Even Snowy got in with the hat wearing.  And as usual ate way to much food, so lazed for the rest of the day.

Merry Xmas Everyone

Rules For Quilting

Christmas Watching

As a kid I remember watching a movie and falling in love with it.  Now when I think of Christmas movies I think of 'Its A Wonderful Life'.  I just love it and first bought it on VHS, then on DVD and one day will probably get it on Blue-Ray too.

When I have finished everything tomorrow I think I will relax and watch this again.  Hopefully my two teens will be with me but they may go and closet themselves in their rooms and watch another Christmas movie.  They both love the 'Santa Clause' trilogy.

We watch these movies every year.  Absolutely love them.

Another loved Christmas movie is 'The Polar Express'.  When the teens were not teens, we went and saw this at the movies.  It was beautiful and we all fell in love with it and also try and watch this every Xmas.

I know there are plenty of Christmas movies out there, but these are our family favorites.

So what are yours?

SSS

I have recently participated in The Colorandolady's Secret Santa Soriee.  In the last week I have received my goodie parcel from all the way from the United Kingdom.  I was lucky enough to have received from Cara over at Pink Stitches and I got some lovely gifts.  All have been opened apart from one that is not allowed to be opened until Christmas Day.

I love them all very much.  There was chocolate in the parcel to, and on the day it arrived, it was the hottest day here and the chocolate was like water when I got the parcel.  So I put the packets in the fridge and once they were hard again, I munched them all up...yum yum!

Also my parcel reached its destination all the way in France.  I was lucky enough to send to Pippa from Pippa's Patch.  Now I forgot to take a picture before I sent it along so have snagged the photo from Pippa's blog.

I would like to thank Suzanne from The Coloradolady for again hosting this swap this year.

A Cushion Made

Sent late for a swap but sent ..... sorry Shirley.  I made this pillow for Shirlwin aka Shirley from Shirlwins Sessions for Our Craft Forums Christmas swap.  

Now the worse part was I inserted a zip. Usually I hand stitch the opening closed, but no, this time I was adventurous.  Not the best job, but practice makes perfect though, so will attempt again.

So Shirley if NZ post and Aussie post are fabulous, hopefully you get it nice and fast and by Xmas.