80th Birthday NAN - gift

May seems to be the month for Birthday's in not just my family, but Dennis's too! I think there is about 8 or more and there is also Mother's Day too!

Well today, the last day in May, it is my Nan's 80th Birthday! I tell you, she is VERY hard to buy for! Usually every year before her Birthday and Christmas, she goes on a spending spree and buys herself everything she needs, so you have nothing to buy her! I don't know why she does it, but she does! LOL!

This year, Mum and Myself decided to make her a quilt together. Being in different parts of Australia it was a little bit of a challenge. So, it was decided that Mum was to make the quilt top, and send it down to me to supply backing, wadding, quilt and bind it. Hmmmmm...... Who got the hard bit?!

Anyway, after burning the midnight oil, I managed to finish it last night before bed! I think she will love it (even though she used to say quilts did nothing for her!)! She sure changed her mind when my Mum her daughter started to quilt!



I am not much of a purple gal, but this quilt went with my lounge suite very well:

And, Sophie had to put her stamp of approval on it before it was wrapped up................

Been at work today, so I will popping around shortly to give it to her!

So that's 2 finishes for May...... Seems I am not going as well as last year!

x Sarah

A very different gift.....

Another gift I received for my Birthday from my very good friend Kristy, was this twine holder/spool. Talk about COOL!

It is made from cast iron (I think, its quite heavy!) with this cute little bird on the top:

With a hook on the side for its own rustic type scissors:

I am sure I will get plenty of use from it! And, I'm thinking I will wrap some Moda Twill tape around it when I use up the twine:

The decorative bottom of the stand:

Such a unusual gift, and talk about *LOVE* it! Thanks SO much Kristy xxooxx

I have been stitching here, and have nearly finished a 'joint' project. I must finish it tonight ready to give as a gift tomorrow..... Burning the midnight oil here!

x Sarah

Gifts for me

Recently I celebrated my Birthday. It was a nice relaxing day at home, just bumming around! Thankyou to all who emailed and TXT'd me xx

My wonderful Friends In Stitching gals sent me a lovely gift! There was a challenge: You must make something that begins with the letter in which you live. The person that made for me lives in a place starting with 'N'.

A cute handmade card:

A Nifty Needlework pouch with a Anni Down's stitchery on the front. Cute fabric!

And, a heap of co-ordinated Notions and a Nice pattern (very clever wording!):

Pretty chuffed with my goodies I tell you!

Thanks girls for making my day xx

x Sarah

Get Red Red Ready for Christmas.......

I will let you all know on a little secret! Have you seen the gorgeous book by Natalie Ross 'Get Red Red Ready for Christmas'? Well, it full of great Christmas goodness! It has 12 *beautiful* Christmas projects in Natalie's funky unique style.................... I tell you, you wont be able to go past the CUTE reindeer clock!

The secret: Purchase the book from me at the low price of just $24 (RRP$29.95) + post and you will receive free (yes FREE) your choice of any one Natalie's patterns! That is a saving of about $20!!!

It is never to start your Christmas sewing!

Tis The Season

I put the finishing touches to the last Tis The Season stitchery blocks a week or so ago! Now I just need some time to put them together. Soon I will be back to my regular Fridays off so I plan to get heaps done then!


I have them all on my Design Wall so I can look at them everyday when I am sewing or on my laptop:

I chose not to stitch the glove block as I liked the others with the borders instead and thought that they looked more suited:

I have also traced the Angel again to one day make the bag as I love it! Hopefully I will have enough scraps left over from this project to make it.

Mini Milk Cartons

Yesterday, myself and a couple of friends went to a paper craft afternoon! Talk about FUN! We all made a card which all ended up SO different. Here's mine:

The little verse reads: "I would give up chocolate, but I'm no quitter'!

Then we had a play with the Big Shot! I love it! We made some mini milk cartons. There is even a stamp set to match! Just like the real thing: 'To Open' with an arrow each end on the inside:

And, there is a 'To Open' on each side to:

I didn't stamp these 2 as I thought I might need the white ink:

One is filled full of Jelly Beans and is on its merry way to my Sister In Law Roseanne. It's her BIG birthday today. Happy Birthday old girl xx

Shhhhh...... Don't tell her I told you it's her 50th!

Stitching........

Long time, no post! But, I have been busy! Stitching this project.

Looking good (if I do say so myself!)! I always have trouble with the dreaded satin stitch, it never seems to look any good, but check out my hearts! Pretty chuffed!

Did you notice that I didn't go up and down or from side to side? Well, I found it SO much easier if I went sideways...... I then ended up with a nice neat straight line on the side of the heart. Pretty clever idea and I thought of it myself! Maybe others do it this way, I have no idea but I will be doing it this way from now on with hearts! Click on the pic for a better sticky beak! If you have not tried it, I must say give it a go, it will surprise you!

Only 4 more to go!
I hope you all enjoyed your weekend.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day Mum! I hope it has been wonderful xx

So now I can reveal what I made for her (which she already knew, but wasn't sure what fabrics!!). Yep, its one of those Nancy Halverson Baskets (remember I said I had another all cut out and bits sewn together - well this is it!):

I love the rim fabric which I am sure I have some left ready for some hexies!

Lots of pockets to fill with sewing notions:

Glad you liked it Mum, and that it wasn't too squished from the postie!

This is my 4th basket! They were fun to make, but I don't think I can bring myself to make any more! Check out the others I made at the beginning of the year here, here and here.

x Sarah

A lovely surprise

I came home from work on Wednesday to find a surprise parcel in my mail box from my wonderful friend Lynda. Thinking she was teasing me quite early with our FIS's B'day gift, and sent her an email to say thanks, she went on to say it is not my Birthday gift, but she told me go ahead and open it!

What a lovely surprise it was!


It was a lovely little fabric bundle of Nancy Halverson fabrics for my Hexagon Quilt!

Totally love this panel, which I will save to place on the back. A piece from the True Friends range which I totally LOVE! I made a bag from this range many years ago and as it is a little worn now, so I use it as my work bag!



What an array of colour and mix of collections!

THANKYOU so much Lynda, it was a VERY lovely surprise!

x Sarah

More hexies

Ok, so I have decided to do a Nancy Halverson 'scrap' hexie quilt! I have bits from quite a few of her ranges, and they all go beautifully together. Once I get further along, I will decide if I need to add any 'other' scraps. So far:

Another 3:



Brings it to 5:


Then another 3 bringing my total to 9!

Pretty chuffed with my flowers so far! I am sure it will be quite pretty!

Some of the girls have gone hexie crazy (have you seen them? Here), I know they are SO addictive, but I had to put them down for a bit while I concentrate on another couple of things which I shall show you within the next couple of days!

x Sarah

Purchases

So, what did I buy? Not a real lot! Don't get me wrong, there were LOTS of things at the show, and with THAT many UFO's here, I didnt really want to add to that huge pile like I usually do!

So, I purchased some pieces of Nancy Halverson fabrics for my hexie quilt, a Kaszazz Project Book, a Spritz Spray bottle, and some Giggle buttons (I just LOVE these, I have quite a few in my stash).


Then on the way home, we stopped into Pauline's shop and I purchased MORE Nancy Halverson fabrics - Forever Spring. How could I resist this bundle:

Delicious hey?!

She is also waiting on more from the range, so I will be back to get more when she does lol!

Just realised Mother's Day is just around the corner, so today is being spent whipping up my Mum's gift ready to post tomorrow!!

x Sarah