Tuesday 30 July 2013

Some Yummy Xmas Parcels

My dear friend Karen and I decided we would have our own little "Christmas in July" swap - Karen was my partner last year in Mrs Martins 'Lets Celebrate' swap, and we were like two kindred spirits, so of course we keep in touch, and a parcel or two gets sent off in the mail every now and then between us.  Karen, as always, spoilt me rotten with these gorgeous goodies I shall treasure -
How beautiful is this stitched star ornament?

And I love my stitchery wallhanging
And a lovely kit for me to stitch/sew - better photo coming up
March is my birthday month - how special having a wallhanging to celebrate the event.
And some lovely fabric and magnet from the exhibition at Queensland Art Gallery celebrating 200 years of British quiltmaking , many of which are from the Victoria and Albert Museum - what an amazing display that would be. I loved our swap as always Karen.

And I have been stitching - this is July's project in Chooky's SAL which I've just finished. A cute little xmas bag from Natalie Bird's Tis the Season" book -
Cheryl


Sunday 28 July 2013

Christmas in July Swap Part 2

This was such a fun swap and I have seen so many amazing gifts made, and so many I would love to make now. My partner I sent to was Simone (no blog) and this was what I made for her -
"R" is for reindeer - must admit was a bit tempted to keep this table runner Simone lol - a Gail Pan design.
Been stitching lots of these little decorations and sent the Santa one toSimone
And lastly this little Cinderberry Stitches wallhanging.  Simone says she doesn't do much stitchery, so was glad I went that way. Back soon. More lovely gifts to show you. Cheryl


Friday 26 July 2013

Christmas in July Swap and One Xmas Item a Month

What an annoying two weeks I've had - no internet service for two weeks. It's like not being able to sew for two weeks. I hate not knowing what everyone is up to lol. I am in the midst of changing providers, but in the meantime my old provider decided to work tonight. So while the going's good I just had to show you my absolutely gorgeous gifts from Sue, my lovely secret swap partner in Cheryll's Christmas in July swap.  I just loved doing this swap - I wonder why?

All so beautifully wrapped.
How gorgeous is this little cushion?
And love this beautiful table centre - and lots of lovely quilting
And how spoilt was I with this most beautiful bag - lovely and roomy - can you see the cute little mouse in the stockings in the bottom right-hand corner.  Just love my gifts Sue - thankyou so very much, and I can't tell you how thrilled I was.

And I've had my One Xmas Item a Month with Narelle at Pins and Whiskers finished for a few days, but of course have not been able to show you, so sorry to be late Narelle.
This is one of the projects from a Christmas in July class with Gail Pan at The Christmas Beetle I did recently. "Running Postman" was the Cottage Garden Thread I used.

Well lovely to be back - still have show and tell from my holiday to show you. Look forward to checking out what everyone has been up to. Have a lovely weekend. Cheryl




Friday 12 July 2013

Some More Shopping

As promised some more piccies from my trip and some of the yummy places I've been to visit.
Rick Rutherford's Country store was one I had been dying to see. I have all the "Australian Country Collections" mags he published, and his store (or this one at least - he has two) has a different style in each room.
He very graciously posed for a picture.

At the moment each room is decked out in a different theme for Christmas in July celebrations. Had to take a photo of the snowy corner.
Some beautiful xmas china. There was even a children's room decked out in xmas. I think I need a gingerbread tree after seeing the one at the shop - all decorated with gingerbread men and houses of different shapes and sizes.
Next I went to visit The Stitching Post - another gorgeous patchwork shop with different rooms and themes. I spent the most time in this room - the Christmas room, of course. Doesn't it look amazing.
The mantlepiece with so many different stockings hanging (sorry for the blurry photo).

Now I'm still unpacking so can't show you my purchases just yet, but I will, and I promise that will be the last of the shopping photos. Have a great weekend. Cheryl




Wednesday 10 July 2013

A Tick (or two) Off the Wish List

Yes I have a long wish list of things I'd like to do, and I've been able to tick two or three off the list on this trip.  So guess where I've been today -
The Home Patch - Anni Downs' amazing shop full of lots of yumminess and nooks and crannies with little treasures everywhere.
Even got to meet and chat with Anni - not a very flattering photo of me on the right.
Now of course I made a purchase or two - some lovely background stitching fabric top right, a beautiful piece of green hand dyed wool (perfect for xmas) and pattern No 2 of the little xmas ornaments I made for last month's "1 Christmas Item a Month"
And of course there was more (as you knew there would be). Another little snowman for my growing collection, a cute little reel of red/white string and a kit for one of the projects out of Anni's book "A Christmas Story" which has been on my "to do" list. 

I've also been to a couple of other gorgeous shops "The Stitching Post" and Rick Rutherford's Country store (or Christmas store it should be at the moment),so will be back with show and tell from them soon. Cheryl




Monday 8 July 2013

My Temporary Home and Christmas in July Workshop

We are having a lovely (sunny) break in the beautiful Blue Mountains. Thought you might like to see where we are staying for the week - a renovated miners cottage, which is over 100 years old. Sounds like me, doesn't it?
The house is full of many beautiful old fittings and furniture.
And look what was on the bed.

On the way through I did a "Christmas in July" class with The Christmas Beetle.
Gail Pan was the tutor - this cute stitchery was the morning project. Lots of different stitches, although a bit hard to see from the photo. Another lovely cottage garden thread "Running Postman".
And in the afternoon we worked on this beautiful needleturned wallhanging.  Mine is not this far advanced.
And I just had to show you morning tea. They were the best cupcakes I've ever tasted. And she had used Gail's little bird design and topped them with little icing replicas.

Enjoy your week. Cheryl





Wednesday 3 July 2013

Some Weekend Purchases

As mentioned in my previous post I had a wonderful weekend stitching in the beautiful Dandenongs with Gail Pan and Lisa from FignBerry Creations. Karen from Mrs Martins Quilt shop had taken along a table full of yummy bits and pieces, so just had to add a couple of things to the bag to bring home
This is Lisa's new quilt "Rudolph's Christmas" - lots of very cute redwork reindeers, so the book just had to come home with me, although can't show you the book as a friend asked if she could borrow it to drool over, but I have traced the blocks ready to start stitching.
Couldn't resist Kim Diehls new xmas fabrics.

And some yummy wool felts, although the colors are way prettier than they show, and another red fabric came home with me also.
I don't often buy blue, but this was too pretty to resist and goes perfectly with this jumbo ric rac.

Well I am very excited - I'm off on a week's holiday to the Blue Mountains. Susan from Thimblestitch has given me a run down on all the shops I must visit while in the area, but the one I'm looking forward to the most is Anni Downs shop at Bathurst, "The Home Patch". I will pack my laptop and should be able to give you an update or two of what I'm up to. And of course have some stitching packed - my new reindeers and several of Michelle's lovely projects "Christmas Memories", Christmas and Winter minis and Reindeer Lane.  Anyone would think I was going for a month lol. Oh and did I mention I just happen to have time to fit in a "Christmas in July" class with Gail Pan at The Christmas Beetle in Albury on my way through.  Cheryl


Monday 1 July 2013

A Weekend of Stitching

I spent the most lovely, indulgent weekend in the beautiful Dandenongs - a stitching retreat organised by Lisa from FignBerry Creations and Gail Pan. We were thoroughly spoilt with so many gorgeous new patterns to stitch, with kits for several to work on over the weekend.
This lovely drawstring bag was one I worked on over the weekend. This is Gail's sample, but I did finish the needleturn on mine ready to sew together.
Loved this project too - perfect for my growing Cottage Garden Thread collection. Bit hard to see in bottom right hand corner but the front has three rows of paper pieced clamshells on it. Hadn't done these before - very quick and easy and lots of fun.
The wallhanging on the left was another kit of Gail's that we received. Didn't get to start this one, but did manage to complete the dresden plate and stitchery for Lisa's very cute pincushion.

There were several others, including a very cute Christmas applique.  Karen from Mrs Martin's had her shop there, and of course it would be very rude not to make a purchase or two, but will keep that show and tell for next time. Have a great week. Cheryl