Giveaway at My Sister Made Me Do It !!!!

 Check out this great Giveaway at My Sister Made Me Do It Blog.  Beautiful Fat Quarters to win and lots of other wonderful ideas.
  
      

It's here!  February 23rd..............One year ago today I started my blog.  In that year I have met new friends, learned new sewing techniques, started and finished projects, and just plain had a great time with you guys!

So I have been telling you that even though I had the "Official Month before my Blogiversary Giveaway" that I would have a real blogiversary giveaway too, so here it is!

The Fat Quarter Shop has offered to sponsor my giveaway with this fabulous prize from their fabulous shop..........are you ready????

How about a Fat Quarter Bundle of Tweet by Timeless Treasures?? Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!  I wish I could enter this giveaway too!
But since I can't I will give you the lowdown on how to enter.....you have four chances to win:

Wheelie Walker Bag for FNSI

This will be the back

This year we are making Wheelie Walker Bags for the Retirement Centre instead of swapping gifts at Christmas. We are also doing this in July as by the end of the year everyone is sooo busy. I have chosen something bright and cheerfull, hopefully it will brighten someones day. I will also be making one for a male as well. I have quilted the panels with wadding and backing and have made them into squares, now all I have to do is the binding and the ties. I was hoping to get it finished for FNSI but it didn't quite work out the way I had planned.

Cushions for Bella !!!

My sister was delighted when her son presened her with a beautiful grandaughter Bella 2 years ago. They live in different states in Australia so she doesn't get to visit as much as she would like. Last christmas she went out and bought a lot of pretty dresses with net underlays and all the things she thought that a little girl woud like. My sister was very dissapointed to find out that Bella will only wear shorts with horses on them!!!!!. I found this cushion panel in my stash so I make two cushions for Bella. I had the blue check and a couple of zips. I am happy again to be able to make something and not have to buy anything. I am sure Bella will love the cushions.

Giveaway at Val Laird Designs !!!!!!!

Check out this wonderful Giveaway at Val Laird Designs, there are some wonderful craft ideas on her Blog.

Lucky Me , I won this giveaway!!!!!!

 

This beautiful strawberry pattern was a giveaway from Lydia's Treasures and I was the lucky winner.

I would like to thank Lydia for this wonderful giveaway and I will be waiting for the postman every day. Congratulations on your 3rd Birthday of having a Blog. Go to Lydia Blog and have a look at all her awesome

projects.

This pattern is Strawberry Frenzy by Natalie Ross

Gift Bags for FNSI

This is what the finished bag will look like.

I had all these gift bags cut out ready to sew for FNSI. The finished size is about 6 x 8 inches. I still have more to make as I am doing one for each family member with their name and the year 2012.   I still have to do the embroidery on calico and stitch it on to the front of the bags. 

Cracker Swap !!!

Lisa hosted a cracker swap and my partner was Anne.   I received a lot of lovely  gifts.  The mug rug is too beautiful to use so it is hanging  in my sewing room as a decoration. There was also a fat quater of christmas fabric just perfect for a little gift bag that I am making for my family for Christmas 2012.  Some beautiful cottons , ribbons and buttons where also in the cracker.  Thank you Anne for these beautiful gifts and a big thank you to  Lisa for hosting the swap.

2012 Calendar.

I embroidered this calendar for friends as a Christmas gift.  I have only just finished it.   We will be going to visit shortly and will exchange gifts.  This will be a lot nicer then putting  the gifts in the post.  It is also wonderful catching up with old friends. Kay and I have been friends for about 20 years, even though our lives have taken us in different directions, we will always be there for each other.  I bought the calender and there is room at the top to embelish however you would like, I chose machine embroidery, of course,I thought I would also personalize it with their names.

Christmas Present !!!!

I received this beautiful table runner for a Christmas Present. It was bought in Rockhampton,Qld. Australia. The machine embroidery and cutout work is stunning. The cutwork extends along the sides to the other end of the runner where the pattern on the end is repeated. There is also a tassel on each end. I just wanted everyone to see what can be achieved with an embroidery machine.  There are many things that can be done on an embroidery machine it, not just T shirts and  Towels. A big thank you to whoever made this, I love it.
I hope one day to be able to achieve something like this.

Secret Santa Gift from India.

My Secret Santa Gift came all the way from India, Wow!!!!.  Two beautiful doilies embroidered with holly. This would have been done in a large embroidery hoop.  A big thank you to  Sue from Cute Embroidery for organizing  the Secret Santa. It is wonderful to receive gifts from all over the world.  Cute Embroidery is a great site for anyone wanting help with machine embroidery.

Birthday Present!!!!!!

I belong to an embroidery group Cute Embroidery and one cutie secretly sends a birthday gift to another Cutie. All I know is that my parcel was sent from New Zealand.   I received a beautiful hand towel and dish towel embroidered with dragonflies.  The photo doesn't show the shine on the wings, which was done with mylar. I love dragonflies and  as I haven't tried embroidering with mylar yet, it is now on my to do list.  My birthday is between Christmas and New Year, not the best time for a birthday, but I did receive some beautiful gifts.

New Years Resolution !!!!

My New Years Resolution is to not leave my Christmas sewing till the last minute again.  I am making these gorgeous little bags from Val Lairds Blog ( free patterns).  I am making the bags out of Christmas fabric ( a great way to use up all that fabric) and then embroidering a design with the persons name and the year 2012. I am going to make a set for all of my family and what a great gift for workmates and friends personalised with their name. Could even make some Birthday ones. The bags have plenty room for little gifts. I have made these two and still have about forty to go.  I also have some little Christmas trees to make and they will use up a lot more of bits and pieces I have lying around my sewing room. I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and may all your deams come true.

Santa, Santa Everywhere !!!!!!

I would like to wish everyone a Merry and Safe Christmas. I would also like to thank all my followers and the wonderful people that  left lovely comments on my Blog. I decided to do a Santa theme for Christmas this year. I decorated the inside of the house with Santas. I started collecting Santas as soon as the Christmas decorations where in the shops. This is a photo of my tree and all it has on it is Santas. The Santa on the top of the tree I got at the markets for $2.00. Bargain !!! I really love Christmas, it is such a wonderful time of the year to spend with the people you love.

Cracker Swap

This is the photo of the cracker I sent Anne from  http://snailpatches.blogspot.com/   my swap partner in the cracker swap. I didn't want to put the whole photo on my Blog as Anne might see it and it wouldn't be a surprise. The Swap was hosted by Lisa from

http://mylittlecreativewonderland.blogspot.com/
Check out her Blog for some very creative ideas.