Sneak

I have seen a few sneak looks at the SSCS presents that will soon be flying about the world to their new homes. I really really didn't want to give away anything that I have made but did so want to share SOMETHING, so..... this is what I am prepared to share!

*grin*

Secret Santa-ing away.....

I have finished my secret santa sewing for what Chookyblue has organised. Can't show you, but it is finished and ready to post.

These are my children at swimming lessons.

The little one, just below, was funny the other week. Swim teacher said he was going under the water to blow bubbles and as expected he would get water in his eyes. Now instead of coming up for air he covers his eyes with his hands and remains under the water!

Two big kids swimming well.

Two smaller kids with lots of bubbles.

My next sewing task is to finish off what I am making for another secret santa s. w. a. p. for a circle of stitching friends I am involved in. Fun Fun Fun! It is exciting, there are so many possiblities to make and/or to add in to the parcel!

Christmas is getting alot closer all of a sudden! I am very glad that started on my stash back in January! How is your Christmas sewing going? Do you do sewing for Christmas?

If you are in the southern hemisphere, how do you use your Christmas quilts at Christmas time? that is if you have any.

When we got home.....

Our new tank was delivered!

We have been putting off a new tank for three years and now we have our tank!

Just waiting on the rain.....

It was great watching the tank get unloaded, certainly much faster than I anticipated!

While Away....

While away I was able to call in to The Home Patch at Bathurst to have a quick visit with Anni.

It was so lovely to see her again, it has been about 7 years since I last saw Anni - we have kept in touch by email and telephone. I have been talking about handquilting hoops with Anni recently and as a result I took my 'Quilt Making by Hand' book by Jinny Beyer with me to show Anni. She loved it. Such clear pictures. I cannot praise this book enough. Thankyou Deb Louie for directing me to Jinny's works.

When I arrived home this was in the mail! This book has been on backorder since June this year, waiting for the book to be released. Oh my gosh, it is HUGE! I haven't had much of a chance to look at it but it has over 4050 blocks.....

While at The Home Patch I bought these two kits to make up for my daughters. They are made in wool, so lovely to applique with.

I had more pictures to show you here, in regards to the books, but have had an awful lot of trouble with blogger moving my pictures about this afternoon so I just left the main pictures in the post.

This came home with us.....

We have been away the past few weeks. Visiting MIL and attending dh's 20yr school reunion.

While away dh got some pointers on professional tanning from a family friend and he gave us some skins to bring home. The back is so soft and supple. The family friend showed me an amazing rug he made from about 40 fox skins, sorry didn't have the camera there, and it was stunning to say the least. The fur was very thick and rich in the red colour, you could not pick an joins in it from the top. He used the white fur to meet and make stars on the rug. he used an industrial sewing machine to make the rug. You honestly would not have thought the rug was made from so many pieces....

My favourite model showing some of our fox skins. hehehe She had the 'head piece' on when we visited my sil, and didn't the dogs go off when they saw MissZ in fox fur!

You can't see it but the noses are perfectly preserved too.....

Trying to show you how lush, thick and beautiful the fur is.

Teatime Tablerunner

This tablerunner is finished now, and I missed taking a final picture of it
so you will just have to believe me that the binding is all sewn on!
This is MILs Christmas present and I finished the binding at her place, hiding from her so she didn't see it. Then when it was finished I gave it to the neighbour for safe keeping until Christmas time when they will give it to her on my behalf.
I gave MIL one of these with 3 panels last year and I made this one from the leftovers, thinking that a smaller one would also be useful.
It's a bit hard to see but on this one I stitched around all the cups and the teapot with gold thread - something I wasn't confident enough to do this time last year! and I was much quicker at making it this time inspite of the extra stitching!

Adding to the Stash

A gorgeous tablerunner for my Christmas stash. I used charm squares from 'Folklorique', the same range I made 'Frances' from.

The peg bag I was working on.

No, the stitchery isn't on it. It's still not finished. I have not been doing any stitcheries lately, they are presently collecting dust! In the cooler months we are inside early and I stitch with the tv on. Now we are coming into summer and the sun isn't going down until about 8pmish and I am spending more time with the garden and other chores. Not to mention the bug factor. With summer comes the little bugs that love your lights after dark, they make it terribly difficult to sew or read if your work room is near or has an external door..... our house was full of them last night.

I used 'Barefoot Roses' to make the peg bag from. Love it. Very pretty.

Another for the Christmas stash.

The stash is growing rather large, however next year I am not aspiring to make all our christmas gifts.....

I mentioned in a previous post that I had been reading Emilie Richards Shenandoah Valley series. There are five books in the series and I am up to the last one. These are great. Her writing is very skillful. I am keen to read more of her books, though I suspect that none of the others are quilt related....

What books do you love to read?????

This is to give you a little taste of what happens here REGULARLY! I have two little boys. Boys LOVE dirt. Boys LOVE water. Boys LOVE mud. Boys LOVE mess!

I think you get the picture here of how hard my washing machine works!