A Great Start to 2012...

What a lovely start to 2012 for us, the weather here is perfect and we have about 3 weeks left of Summer holidays...

First Project for 2012 Complete…

Well the first project for 2012 is complete and sitting on DD2’s bed.

DD2 has asked me to teach her how to sew, she picked some fabric from the local fabric shop and chose to make a cushion.

I had purchased an old sewing machine last year for her so she could learn on something that might have a bit more resilience than my modern machines.

Top view of the pillow shows how it joins up nicely…

This is the side Ally did mostly on her own…

This is the side I helped teach Her how to cut, iron seams and sew everything straight.

She did a great job for her first attempt...She will have lots of practice as she has lined up a bunch of projects already...

I love that she wants to learn how to sew...

That is it for me for now, I must get back to the sewing room...

Happy stitching

Amanda

Merry Christmas

Just popping in to say 

And not forgetting the reason for the Celebrations...

I pray this Christmas is a safe and happy one for you all, may your hearts be filled with joy as you celebrate the birth of Christ and enjoy your time with much loved family and friends…

Many Christmas Blessings

Amanda

To Do's

“Summer to do list”

Ok so now I have been working on my Summer to do list and am just about ready to add it to my Blog.

I do have a few extra things to add so keep an eye out for changes over time.

These are not in any kind of order, and I may have managed to get some done already.

·      Bake Christmas Goodies

·      Organize meal plans

·      Sew a Union Jack table runner

·      Finish the Disappearing 9 patch bed topper top

·      Have Fun

·      Reduce…Reuse…Recycle…Spring Clean everything.

·      Tidy up my Blog…Learn the “How to’s”

·      Sew something out of one of the new books I got

·      Do a Tutors Course in Orton-Gillingham for Dyslexia

·      Get back into my walking routine

·      Lose more weight

Maybe that is enough for now…

I will tick them off as I achieve them, and add to them as I come up with more bright ideas.

Very happy Stitching…

Amanda

Update...

"Update on Union Jack"

 I have managed to get the A2 sized "Union Jack" done... I went off to Officeworks and had the pattern enlarged to what I thought would suit.

It was a challenge, again...

 But not too hard, just having to get my head around "which way was I placing the fabric again"?

It came together nicely.

 Looks familiar doesn't it.

 Love these colours.

 Final piece to stitch together...

 Viola! all done, well the top was but I still had to put a lining and back on it.

She can use this for her dresser, or wherever she likes really.

Finished pUnion Jack is at the top of the page along with the one I made earlier...

hope she likes them...

happy stitching

Amanda

What a Day, What To Do...

It has been raining all blinking day...

What have I been up to all day then?

Well you may ask, and I shall delight in telling you I have almost completed a Christmas present for our dear sweet “Adopted” daughter Rachel…

She loves all things “Union Jack” and I found a pattern for a paper pieced mug rug sized union jack over at the Four Twin Sisters site.

I know you are probably thinking how crazy I am doing a union jack for my first paper piecing attempt… you be the judge (be nice though).

I have Pieced it, added batting and stitched on a back...now all I need to do is some hand top stitching for added effect and hey presto a little union jack mug rug is done.

Because of time issues I have only made this size (10 inches x 5 inches) but will in the near future make her a table runner that she can put on her duchess.

i may even get that done before Christmas but I am not holding my breath, because I am busy and have more stuff to make.

I forgot to mention how lovely it was when we went to Southbank with my Sister and her family (when they were here in October). we went to Max Brenner (first time for me) and had a decadent time.

This is my Danish hot chocolate (extremely sweet) I could not drink it all so had to leave it in the end...

This is my Dessert, how decadent does that look?

it was chocolate ice-cream with choc fudge, choc dusted crispies and choc coated crunchy toffee...with a melted chocolate sauce to pour over it.

Did I manage to eat that ? no way...I ended up giving all but 1/2 a piece of fudge to my nephew and I ate mainly only the ice-cream.

This is Hubby's dessert, he didn't want any but I thought perhaps a piece of fudge would be small enough...think again.

he had the chilli hot chocolate and loved it.

So if you ever see a Max Brenner around and are a chocolate lover, do yourself a favour and have the chocolate experience of your life.

well I must get a wiggle on, I am popping out to pick Hubby up from work this afternoon and it is getting close...keep an eye out for my "Summer to do List" coming soon....

Happy Stitching

Amanda

Christmas Swap

C.R.A.F.T. Christmas Swap

it is that time of year again...

Some of the nicest ladies in the world are members of  the C.R.A.F.T. group online…it was time for our annual Christmas Swap, my partner was Lynda from Brisbane (not far from me).

We met up today to swap our gifts face to face.

I met Lynda in October this year at our Retreat and she is a very nice lady…

We met at the Kuta café on top of Mt. Coot-Tha what a view…

We had to choose gifts that we thought our swap partner would like, starting with each letter of the word Christmas…

The Gifts were wrapped individually with a tag on the front for each letter.

                   C- Charm Pack “Ruby"

           H- Humbug Bag

                   R- “Red” & green Angels

                  I-      “Incredibly” cute Owls

         S- Snowflake Soap

T- Tea Cup

M- Mesh Bag

   A-  Amanda’s Key

      S- Spotty Scissors

Pictures at home…

Close up Pictures, Don't you just love those cute little owls and coloured Angels.

I Love Ruby fabric...

This bag is just gorgeous…

I am so Blessed by Lynda's beautiful and thoughtful gifts...we had such a lovely time at lunch, can't wait to do it again...

I am still working on my "Summer to do List"...I will post it here when I am finished it. 

Summer is officially here as today is the First of December...we had a lovely day, the heatwave broke and we ended up with a big storm in the Ipswich area, which I had to drive through to get home from my lunch with Lynda.

hope you are all stitching up a storm for Christmas...will let you all know what the Book winners think of their books when I hear from them.

Happy Stitching

Amanda

Give Away Draw

Time for my Give away to be drawn….

Using the random number generator…

For the Summer Book

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 24

Result:

19

Sharon-NZ said...

hmm summer adventures........ LOL getting the new wee terrorist under control methinks over the xmas summer hols.....Omy....

Winter Book

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 24

Result:

24

Anonymous said...

Hello Amanda,
I see you have friends all over the world. Now, I write from just around the corner (Germany) :-) Here the Winter ist comming and we will prepare the Christmas celebration with snow and cold windy days. A warm cup of cacao is the most wonderful think after a long walk outside and sitting with my children and talk about the little problems in there life and big love we have for each other.
I hope you have a wonderful summertime.
Maybe I can win the Winterbook... 
Send Anna best wishes from me!
Petra from Cologne in Germany.

Congratulations to Sharon and Petra, I will contact you by email for your postal address.

...Happy Stitching Ladies...

Amanda