12 Days of Christmas Swap

At the first meet up of the bloggers group last year this swap was organised by Barb and Shez. We were to make or buy 12 presents focusing on our recipients list of likes, that they could open in the 12 days leading up to Dec 25th. We were to do the swap in November our last meet up. I was unable to go and due to family problems didn't get my swap until yesterday,  when I was like a child in a candy shop. Marg and I a lot of pleasure opening the parcels, well I opened, Marg watched!! My partner was the lovely Anne, no blog sadly, smiling Anne as we call her. She is always laughing and smiling and makes us happy just being with her!! Anne has obviously put a lot of effort into my swap gifts...here are a few

For the 14th December, a beautiful rose tin fill of peppermint tea bags and a kit to make Santa tree decorations.

For the 15th December, a duck metal solar garden light, love that face, and some Christmas fat quarters.

For the 16th a beautiful bowl, batik squares, Christmas ribbon and Christmas buttons.

For the 17th a fabric basket with lovelt petal like sides, two fat quarters, a jar pincushion containing, pins and binding clips.

For the 18th a cute dog tea mug and

A few busy days

Time has been rushing by, lately we have been busy.

We have travelled across the Bay to Sorrento, then driven to Harmers Haven to visit Davids sister and family

we were on the smaller ferry going over so we stayed in the car, which was good as the Supervisor slept all the way!

We had fun on a new toy bought for a child but all the big kids had great fun, including me!

Chris enjoying the quad bike

Davids sister and cousin

Serious conversation about the bike, Davids nephew and cousins partner, Chris.

Chris is a keen fisherman and he brought along this snapper he had caught in the Bay...it was over 5kg.

And this is the house Davids sister and brother in law are building, it will be a beautiful place once it is finished, we were told we would be camping, and we were, the shower and toilet were in the shed, the bathroom and kitchen are not yet in the house. It is a very light and airy place and from upstairs you can get a view of the water.

Yesterday we had a visit from Margaret and Barry, Tracee and Alan and I forgot to take a photo. We had a great lunch together, Marg delivered my 12 Days of Christmas swap and we were like two little girls on Christmas morning! I will show you my amazing presents next blog post.

Christmas has continued on here, Marg made me a beautiful apron

one side

the Christmas side....I just love it, thank you very much Marg. This style of apron has a story, Marg made one 2 years ago for a Christmas swap, I opened the parcel and then along came Bad Santa who made us all swap, so I lost the apron!! All is good now I have my very own. Marg also gave me some almond nougat...yum!!

Tracee gave me this beautiful present, an Adele Basheer calender, which has positive sayings for each month, some note cards, a cute little bird who goes in the garden and a soap wrapped in felt..the felt shrinks as the soap is used, how clever is that, and it smells divine!! I will have lots of motivation and positive thoughts for the new year!!

and some sewing has been happening here, I am doing the gathering stitch around the circles, today I will have a break from stitching and do some gathering up, ironing and attaching to fabric ready to applique in place.

I am off to the library in Drysdale to return some books and renew the ones I have not read yet.

Happy sewing.

Boxing Day

We have had a few very happy days, BBQ dinners with the boys, present swapping, roast dinner, drinking and talking and laughing, it has been great to catch up with Adam and Shane. Yesterday the males of the family had a wargame and I sat outside in the sun and cut more circles

A few have their gathering stitch now

The latest Aussie hero quilt is finished and ready to go in the post in the morning

My helper showing his best side!!

the request was for deer hunting, German wire haired pointers (dogs) and the Roman numeral 3. I hope he likes it!!

Quilt and box of goodies packed and ready to be sealed.

Always good to grab a family photo when we are all together!

I have started a new Wasgij.....yep jigsaw backwards, the picture on the box is not the puzzle you are doing

the picture is from the perspective  of the fish on the back wall! Keep the gray matter active!

I was sent this wonderful present from Ondrea, a beautiful stitched pincushion, pins and wash cloth...in my favourite colours too!! Thank you very much Ondera, you are a lovely person!

The Guild in Geelong was approached to make some quilts to be used for reading circles with Mums and children or carers and children. They are being used in a new group to encourage reading together. So the guild has taken this challenge up, I cut up a panel and now am putting plain fabric around them in different widths.

here are a few joined together...just playing with ideas, I will have to see how it grows.

There is a fun swap over at Anthea's blog..I will do a little cut and pasting

it is all about Australia Day

FIVE items are chosen & sent to your partner. They each must start with one letter from the word AUSTRALIA & at least one item must bear the Australian flag.

 Here's some ideas - have fun being as creative as you like:

*A - Australian flag item such as serviettes, paper bunting, little cocktail glass flags/umbrellas

*U - utensil, utterly gorgeous lace

*S - seeds for flowers/herbs, stripey fabric, small sunscreen, sewing thread

*T - craft trims, tea towel (patriotic?), tape measure, tealight candle

*R - rubber bands, ribbon, red buttons, recipe

*A - aqua fabric, apple-print fabric, Australian Tea

*L - lovely hand cream, lollies, liquorice

*I - infuser for tea leaves, ice cube tray, re-usable ice cubes, gel ice pack

*A - Australian fabric, apron, aloe gel

(for example, you might send items starting with A, I, L, R & T)

Label each item with the letter they represent & your own description of that - wrapping of individual items is senders choice.

All items may be purchased - no requirement to make anything.

Please only send FIVE items - strictly no extras - this hopefully gives you enough scope to make this a fun swap, but keep postal costs reasonable. 

It is good fun, I did it last year.

See what I mean, fun!! I hope the model is ok with me sharing this photo!!

I had better head off back to the sewing machine and do some more creating.

Happy sewing.

Nearly Christmas

Here I am home once again after a busy week in New Zealand. My Mum had 4 weeks in hospital with that A strain flu, then it was decided she could no  longer live in her own home. Luckily the local rest home had two rooms vacant and once Mum agreed we could take her straight there. My mother is a very private woman and firmly believes children should be seen and not heard and NOTHING regarding finances, health etc should be discussed with them. So it has been a difficult task finding out where her money is, sorting her clothes and getting her sorted. Luckily most things fell into place. I did have to escape now and then to the beach for some quiet time

one afternoon it was extremely windy and there were about 20 windsurfers hurling around down at Ferguson Park

the tide was out but the view is still good looking over to Mount Maunganui, the tree on the right is a pohutukawa , other wise known as the NZ Christmas tree, so many are in flower at present.

One evening I went geocaching and found a cache right at the far end of this bridge trains use to cross from Tauranga to Mount Maunganui where the port is. No trains went by when I was there but it was super windy, but bonus...I found the cache!!

another cache was near this waka (canoe) which has beautiful carving on it and I believe is used on Waitangi Day.

I found this interesting book swap down the end of the road, I managed to leave some books and took one to read. I think these are a wonderful idea. There are two little free libraries (not phone boxes) in the same area.

pohotukawa flowers,

Super low tide this day and a huge cruise ship in at the Mount wharf. 

I had to have the hire car back on Dec 19th, so stayed in a hotel near the airport that night, 

Jenny came to have a catch up, we had dinner at the restaurant next to the hotel and then after much searching found a geocache between the hotel and the main road. Luckily it was hidden in some trees and bushes so I didn't look too much like I was lurking!! It was wonderful to spend the evening together and have a good natter.

I completed 22 circles while away, most of them at the airport waiting for the plane and the last three on the plane. I need to cut some more circles to do some more.

When I got back there was a surprise from Michelle, a beautiful hand drawn card, elf tree decoration and some pocket mini's stitching patterns. Thank you Michelle, it was a lovely surprise.

I also received a parcel from the lovely Ondrea..it is under the Christmas tree...the excitement builds!!

Four more stars have joined the family.

this elf or Santas helper also came home with me, I found him in the hospital gift shop...love him!!

and this one was a present from Jenny, just love this one too!

Well there is lots to do, I am attempting a fruit and nut cake today, full of dates, nuts and a little almond meal, so had better get a move on.

Very Happy Christmas to everyone and a safe and creative and healthy New Year.

This morning

I spent a very happy hour on the front deck this morning watching many motorbikes go by. It was the annual Santa bike run and there were all kinds of bikes from old Indians to Harleys to three wheelers to Vespas. Many of the bikes were decorated with tinsel and had Santa toys attached somewhere.

  Some riders had Santaheads fitted over their helmets. One Harley three wheeler had a trailor behind with Santa in his sleigh and the reindeer. Was a very happy morning. 😆
This afternoon I have been quilting away on the Aussie Hero quilt

All the plain strips now have some kind of quilting on them

And I have been free range quilting around the corn stalks.

Now I need to finish off all the endy bits while watching George Gently.

Happy sewing.