An Entertaining Afternoon and OPAM…

Yesterday afternoon a small group of ladies spent a few hours being entertained by Cathy Miller, The Singing Quilter and her husband John at my friend Sue’s home.



It was such an enjoyable relaxing afternoon..
Thank you Cathy and John.  Also Sue and Joe for opening your home for the “In House Concert….”



Last OPAM for the year…… Once again Peg and Kris have organised us all year and I look forward to joining again in 2014. Thank you ladies….




Alexis’s Huge Cushion……




Mia’s quilt…

Marcus’s quilt…….






Elf Christmas Mini…..






Red Hen Stitchery…….






Christmas Bauble…



Can’t believe it will be New Year’s Eve tomorrow.. this year has just flown by far too quickly…



                            Wishing you All a Happy and Creative 2014…..





Hugz  Maria..

SSCS, Let’s Celebrate and A Special gift…..

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas Day. After breakfast we opened our gifts..

I was very spoilt by Laura in the SSCS Swap. I received not one but three beautiful gifts…




Cute Stitched Wall hanging.








Carry All Pouch with goodies….





A Zipper Purse with a Lynette Anderson design stitched on it….

A big thank you to Laura. Also to Chooky and Googy Girl for organising everyone for the swap again this year…..



Then opened my gift from Clare in our “Let’s Celebrate Swap”… Clare made me a gorgeous cushion cover…




look at the cute Heart tails and eyes on the Reindeer. Love it Clare.. It has been a pleasure to be your swap partner this year.


I was delighted to open my gift from my special blogging friend Ellyn….
Lovely sewing Machine Necklace.. Sweet Felt Ornaments




and some perfect “Spotty” FQs to go with my others I have been collecting to make a “Star” quilt…  A big thank you Ellyn… Now I will have to get organised and make the quilt this year. Oh!! I mean next year….LOL


Then it was off to the beach for a Picnic Lunch ….





Hugz  Maria

Merry Christmas and Nice Friends

I would like to wish everyone “A Wonderful and Safe Festive Season” from Down Under …





Over the past week I received some lovely thoughtful gifts from




Helen……..





Christine….. ( not the funny little snowman made by my GS2 many years ago, but the gorgeous bell )





Sisbabe……



and today a parcel arrived from Texas sent by my friend Ellyn….





Thank you to all. XXX

Only two more sleeps and I get to open my gifts…Yah Hoo !!!!!!!!!

Hugz Maria

It is the Last FNSI for the Year!!!

sew I would like to thank Wendy for organising  us each month … It is always fun to join others around the world stitching and catching up with what they have all made…..…

Last night I made a Christmas Bauble


 

and finished the November Stitchery I have been doing with Ellyn.





today we are enjoying a lovely cool day sew I am going to clean out the cave before Christmas..



Hugz  Maria

It’s Opening Day for the “Santa Sack Swap”

Today we were allowed to open our gifts for The Santa Sack Swap organised by Cheryll. My partner was Jan from LITTLE RED HEN….. and look at the lovely gifts I received…


A nice bright tote..





The cutest pouch and card holder purse,





A nice pattern for me to make and Flower Brooch…







Lovely Wool Pincushion,






and a fabulous Christmas table centre…..


Thank you Jan for my great hand made gifts and it was fun being your partner…. Hope you enjoy opening your gifts too…


Hugz  Maria

Update and FNSI….

My November "Aussie Swap" block sent to me by Tracey with a nice FQ .




“Dutchman's Puzzle”  Thank you Tracey it matches perfectly with my others…

I am also a very lucky recipient of these lovely personalised coasters and Bookmark sent to us by the wonderful Swap Mum Cheryll.





Thank you Cheryll for organising us for ALL your Swaps through the year. Loved being in all of them.


here is this month’s OWL “ Trowler”




and it is also time to sign in for any last minute Christmas  sewing with Wendy for FNSI ..




Hugz  Maria

Home Again

after 5 fun filled busy days in the Big smoke…  Arrived Wednesday in time to go to my GDs end of year Assembly to see her receive an Excellence Honour award .






Thursday was spent visiting with my sisters ad niece. Friday just relaxing and cutting fabrics to go into these.  After dinner dropped GS off for Scouts sleep over.





On Saturday before our special visitors arrived DD and I dropped GD off at her dance concert and picked up GS from Scouts.….





DD cooked some sausage rolls while I made sandwiches for our Blogger friends lunch.





Julia, Myself, Tracee, my DD Sandra, Bev and Anthea spent a fabulous day getting to know each other better. Lots of chatting, laughing, eating and drinking. We enjoyed exchanging some lovely gifts and had show and tell… You can see these by visiting the other ladies blogs…








what a great way to spent the day in air conditioned comfort. Hope we GTG again soon….


Sunday was our turn to see my GDs dance concert……









It is always a great show with fabulous dances, beautiful costumes and good music…


today it was time for my  four hour drive home in over 40 deg heat. Thank goodness for the Air Con in the car….
 The road was busy with lots of BIG Semis but when I stopped halfway at the roadhouse for a coffee and lunch was surprised to see this HUGE PINK shiny truck.



A nice young lady was driving it. It was all decked out for the “McGrath Foundation” what a great way to raise awareness for Breast Cancer…….

There was some nice mail when I arrived home but will post later as I am off to bed…

Goodnight,
Hugz  Maria

Catching up… ( Lots of photos )

When I was going through my photos I realised there were some I wanted to use on my blog but other things needed to be posted first..
Each year I try to get Lacy to sit for a Christmas shoot…

She is not very agreeable…



                 “Get this thing off me”




“Okay I am looking”



“Now give me that Smacko…….

when I held a treat above the camera I got a reasonable shot… Like kids there is always a currency.. LOL



My "Neighbourhood House" Blocks…









this is the third year I have joined Beth in making the blocks. You can still join in the fun and read how HERE. I enjoy making them and you may win enough blocks to make a small quilt.


These are  my Aussie Swap Blocks for October from Linda





and December from Kate… Both blocks are great, thank you ladies.





When making Kate’s block I had these HST left, sew what do you do with them ??





I made a Mug Rug to put  in with Kate's Block.. was pleased with it sew





made another to send to a bloggy friend ???







and finally,  last but definitely not least my gift from Pat Sloan for  participating in A 4 A….





Nice goodies to add to my stash…


Hugz  Maria