Stitching Group Christmas Swap

I’m part of a little group that meets each fortnight for an afternoon of stitching, talking, laughing and eating.  Unfortunately, I don’t get along quite as often as I’d like, but the time I do spend with “the girls” is great fun.

We met for our Christmas get together a few weeks ago and I still haven’t shown our kris kringle swap items.  This is what I made.

A simple little mug rug to team up with the cute tea for one that I found.  I think they go rather well together.

I was once again spoilt when I received this gift.   A heat wheat pillow and wrist pincushion.

Bron does the most lovely stitching.

We had a lovely afternoon together for our Christmas lunch and are all looking forward to our get togethers next year.

So Very Spoilt

We had a really lovely Christmas this year.  Whereas normally everyone comes to our place, this year we did the driving.

Firstly, we visited Mum and Dad and had morning tea with my side of the family.  Mum had the fine china out, which was made it special.

While we were there I opened my SSCS Parcel from Karol-Ann.  Yes, that is where the being spoilt started.

Karol-Ann made this gorgeous folded hexagon bag.  Her stitches are so very tiny.  Just beautiful work.  The handles are also gorgeous and quite unusual.  I know it will have lots of use.  There is also  a cute mouse pincushion, little notepad and quilt block key ring.  Thank you so much for spoiling me and thanks to Chookyblue for going to all the trouble of coordinating the SSCS.

The next reason that I am so very spoilt is the result of a squishy parcel all the way from the Isle of Man.  Loulee has been busy sewing too. This is what arrived.

A scrummy table runner in nice rich colours.  I have just the spot for this little beauty.  If you look closely, you can see something sitting on the runner.  Here it is a bit closer.

I saw some brooches made out of Manx tartan when we visited the Isle of Man in 2009, but was unable to track down the lady to buy one.  My intentions were to  buy one this year when we were over there, but time just got away on us.  You can imagine what a thrill it was to receive this from Loulee.  She must have had a little inkling that I liked these.  Thank you so very much.

After we left Mum and Dad’s we headed to Mick’s sister’s place for lunch.  We ate outdoors under the big shady trees.  You couldn’t have had a nicer day for it.  It wasn’t too hot, there was no wind, flies or mozzies, the food was delicious and the company enjoyable.

Then we drove to Mick’s brother’s for afternoon tea.  This time I was the giver of something handmade. 

Yes, the gift I finished at the last minute for my sister-in-law.  I love this pattern for a shoe bag out of Anni Downs’ latest book “Some Kind of Wonderful”. I think I’d better make one for myself as well.

Then it was home for a very quiet evening.

By the way, this is what I sent to Judith in the Netherlands for her SSCS gift.  A bag from one of Anni Downs’ patterns and a Christmas table runner.

I also had fun  overing a tape measure, which turned out rather well.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day and that you were also very spoilt.

Merry Christmas

Wow! Only one more sleep till the big day arrives – well not even that, really.

This year we will be doing the visiting, rather than having family here for Christmas lunch, so today has been a rather relaxed day instead of running around madly.  It was a nice change.

The weather was glorious, not too hot, and no storms.

I even did some gift sewing this afternoon.  Nothing like leaving things to the last minute.

We are about to head off to the Midnight Church Service now, which is a lovely way to start off the special day.

I’d just like to wish every one a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Have a wonderful day.

The Postman Has Delivered

I was getting a little worried that my SSCS parcel had taken the long way round to arrive from wherever it was coming, but today when I came home from work Mick announced that there was a parcel for me and that he had taped some paper over the Customs Declaration so that I would not get any hints as to what the contents are.  Isn’t he a good man.  He knows that I like surprises.

Anyway, this parcel came from the UK and I loved the little robin sticker on the front.  There is just something about robins and Christmas that go so well together.

My swap partner is Karol-Ann from England and she had made me this cute little heart decoration.

When you turn it over, she has added a A”Made in Great Britain” tag.  What a great little detail.  I had a little squish of the parcel, but now it will not be touched until Christmas.

Thanks for the lovely ornament. I can’t wait till Christmas day.

This is the little Owly ornament that I made and sent to Judith in the Netherlands.  I’m happy to say that it has arrived safely.

Now to check in with Chooky so that she can tick me off her list.