Long time no post

This is the gorgeous Christmas ornament I received in the Chooky Blue Secret Santa swap from
Sue in New Zealand. Her stitching is just beautiful!


Sue also sent me this gorgeous keychain fob, which my photo does no justice to whatsoever. It is very clever, all folded fabrics.




Sue also sent bandannas for the puppies. It is really hot here today so they wouldn't cooperate with photos - this is the best I could do!




And I still have another pressie from Sue to open on Christmas day. Thanks Sue, for your beautiful gifts!


Some patchwork friends pointed out that Bonnie at Quiltville is starting a new free mystery quilt. I love Bonnie's quilts and her instructions are always so clear and well illustrated. I sometimes balk at some of her quilts though cos I am a bit lazy and like simple, quick quilts and often hers will say things like here is how to make a 3" half triangle square and then ... "and now make 300 more of these"! At which point I get a little faint. Although her quilts are beautiful, so the effort is rewarded I guess.


But I'm working my way up to this challenge and am thinking of using these Portobello Market FQs (poorly illustrated below) if I calculate I have enough of them.




I bought the full FQ set of this range some time ago along with a pattern which used them. And since then I've misplaced the pattern so I can't remember what I wanted to do with them! I haven't used them, in the hope I'll find the pattern or remember vaguely what it was, but that hasn't happened so I may as well use them up.

New sofas

I was really thrilled to receive my new sofas this morning. My previous sofas were saggy and uncomfortable, as well as dirty and leaking stuffing. I have a bad back so I wanted a firmer sofa as well as one which was more compact and narrow so it didn't overwhelm my small living room.

The puppies aren't allowed on the new sofas, but Sugar already managed to wipe a drooly chin on one. So now I've covered them up with quilts to protect them.

Thanks Anna!

I received a lovely parcel from Anna for JellyWare's Washcloth Swap.

Anna made a gorgeous orange crocheted washcloth in a lovely soft, textured cotton.


And my seeds were some lovely lettuce and tomato varieties - I can't wait to get these planted. Anna also thoughtfully included some yummy dark chocolate - how did she know dark is my favourite?

And did you see this little fellow in the photo?

Unfortunately my photography is even worse than usual today, but he is the cutest little knitted brooch.

Thanks Anna for spoiling me!

Cute dolls and a hand towel

I've been having fun testing Toni's upcoming doll pattern, and although the pattern isn't released yet she is kindly letting me post pics of the two I made.

This is such a fun project to make, the possibilities for different variations are just about endless.

I spent yesterday, still sick, watching DVDs and crocheting this hand towel for my kitchen. Try not to notice my dirty oven! I like this hand towel so much I found I haven't been using it - I still keep drying my hands on an old tea towel! So I'll have to try to break that habit.

Some Eye Candy in Pink

I had a day off work yesterday with a throat infection (although I am sure they would have loved me to be at work, seeing as though I was quiet for a change!) so spent a little time sewing in front of a DVD. I made the little sitchery on the weekend and decided to make a little hand quilted bag out of it. This is the front. Still have to do the back.

I bought another of Toni's gorgeous quilts and was thrilled to receive it in the mail today. Her work is just so beautiful I don't know how she can stand to give them away!

Toni is the absolutely master of blanket stitch - it is all by hand but so perfect and even.

The quilting pattern is so cute, with little butterflies flitting about. And I just love the embroidery on this border (above).

I posted off my washcloth swap pressie last week and Carol has received it. She has a lovely blog, with lots of nice projects on it.

Cucumber Update

Don't they look happy!

Softie bunny

Not much to say today, so thought I'd just introduce this softie bunny I'm working on. S/he is a little wonky, but nice and soft.