Friends with Benefits Swap

I was lucky enough to be paired up with Shez for the Friends with Benefits Swap organised by Kathy at Sew-Happy House.  Here is what Shez sent me -


A beautiful wall hanging which I love, love, LOVE!!!

This is so pretty and the stitching is perfect!

Some lovely soaps - I've never seen these before

A stitchery guide book - I've always fancied having a go at ribbon embroidery.  Shez, how did you know??

This is the parcel I sent to Shez - it's still winging its way to her.  I forgot to take photos of the individual items - duh!!!!

I have really enjoyed being part of this swap, so a big thank you  to Kathy for all the effort she put in organising it, and to Shez for being such a wonderful and generous swap partner.

I have plenty more to blog about - another just-completed swap, and a couple of wins, plus two new swaps that I have just signed up for - but that will have to wait for another day.   It's way past my bedtime!

See ya!

FNSI - Getting back to my SKOW quilt ... AT LAST!!

I don't know what it is with my Some Kind of Wonderful quilt, but I seem to have quilters block when it comes to getting on and doing it.  I started off all guns blazing in Nov/Dec, but after half finishing each of the first four blocks, I just stopped ... and haven't touched it since.   I have great intentions and all, but when it comes to it I just can't get going again.  That is, until last night.  Here is a photo as proof that I am back in the game!

Not finished yet obviously, but the preparation is all done and now I have to get on with the stitching.  I want to do this house block and the garden block by the end of March, in line with the schedule for the SKOW SAL being run by Chookyblue.  I'm then going to keep up with the monthly deadlines, while catching up with the Dec/Jan/Feb blocks that I haven't completed yet.  A bit backwards I know, but if I just start from where I left off then I will always be behind.  This is going to be such a great quilt when it's finished... and it will be....on time!!!

Thank you to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting the FNSI.

See ya
Helen

February Monthly Make

It is officially the first day of autumn, and the cold weather has struck already.  The wind has blown all my potted trees and outdoor furniture over, and apparently we can expect worse (gale-force) over the next few days.  Good friends of ours are getting married on Saturday so that is pretty unfortunate, but that is Waikato weather for you.  Luckily for Little Miss I have started on her winter wardrobe already - she's going to need it sooner rather than later it seems!  

My February make is a heavy polar-fleece coat. I haven't finished the hem or the sleeves, as I intended to do those later in the season when Little Miss will be wearing it - she is growing so fast these days!  And I have to practise making buttonholes before I attempt them on this coat as I've never done them before.   I love this coat,  I want one for myself!  Little Miss picked the colour - she is currently obsessed with having everything match the colour of her eyes - and I think she made a great choice.  It's gorgeous!!

Head on over to http://www.flickr.com/groups/1818802@N24/ to see and drool over what everyone else has been up to during February.

Take care and keep warm...

Helen

One XMAS Item a Month

I had been working on something at the beginning of the month for this project, but due to some 'technical difficulties'  that is not my February finish.  I have, however, just finished a cute little apron for Little Miss.  The plan is to make up a little basket of kiddy-sized baking items and maybe the dry ingredients for a biscuit or cake mix in a jar.  I have made the apron in a size 4, but it seems quite tiny, so it may not be able to stay in the cupboard until Christmas.

I'm sorry about the poor photo.  It's a rubbish angle, but I'm sure you can get the idea. The original pattern (Butterick) has two pockets on the pattern.  I'm not sure if I should add them, or maybe just one, or leave it as it is.  What do you think??

Have a great weekend everyone.

FNSI

So if I pretend that I live in the US can I say that this is still Saturday?  I ended up falling asleep at 7pm last night with Little Miss so I didn't manage to get online to post a photo of my FNSI accomplishments.  Not that I have a stunning completed project to show anyway!  I managed to cut out and get started on Block One of the Summer Block Party quilt designed by Donna's Quilt Studio (my local quilt shop). I love this fabric... I can see it made into some beautiful little dresses for my blue-eyed girl.  I gave up having only completed three quarters of the block - I'm going to have to unpick some bits as the points around the outside of the block are not lining up properly.  I have SO much to learn - it looks easy in theory, but I really struggle!  Any way, here is the photo.

I've seen the completed quilt at the shop - gorgeous!  Donna is one very talented lady!

I hope everyone else had a successful FNSI.  See ya next time!

Helen

Knitting Basics - Youtube video

Just found this video via an online forum I sometimes check out.  I can already do the basics but for anyone wanting to learn I think this video is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uw-nUvGrBY

That's it.  Nothing else to show.

See ya

Little House Swap

Well, I'm a bit late posting this, as both my house and Cherryl's house arrived at their destinations last week,  but I'm afraid that's how things roll around here these days.

The Little House Swap was organised by KirstyJ at http://fourhappyviolets.blogspot.com/ , and I was paired up with Cherryl . Here is what she sent me

Along with my house, Cherryl included a cute diary and this delicious fat quarter.

 I just love the details, and she has even added my initials!  Gorgeous!

Here is what I sent to Cherryl

There were a couple of other little goodies in the envelope as well.

I have really enjoyed this swap, and it's been great to see all of the variations appearing on the other blogs.  I will definitely be making more of these - in fact a good friend of mine has just moved house so I want to send one off to her asap.  Now that I've worked out how to do ladder stitch (I hope I'm calling it the right thing!) it should be a breeze!!

So thank you Cherryl for helping to make my first swap a real pleasure.  I hope we can meet up in blogland again sometime soon.