A Win, A Buy & A Swap...

Here's a update on a great win I recently had from Cheryll of Gone Stitchin'. Cheryll very kindly offered up a Christmas stocking with a whole bundle of goodies in it.

Isn't it amazing how things show up just when you need them most. I was feeling quite down when I got home from work that Monday, my first back at work since the jury duty so had been over the details many times with those who asked about it. Waiting for me at home was not only the furboys but a few other treats that brought my spirits right back up to where they should be & more.

Here's my beautiful parcel

And all the lovely little parcels inside, with the most gorgeous stocking

And after the OK from Cheryll that I don't have to wait for Christmas to open them, here's all the goodies!

So many precious things. I'm so happy I have no patience as much of it can be used to decorate for Christmas so I get to have these gorgeous things around me for the next few weeks.

At the back is some applique panels with old fashioned Santas, the book with the cotton reels on it is a 2012 Diary, nice & light to carry with me, a plastic box for little treasures, 3D Chrissie tags or parcel decorations, wooden JOY decoration, a tree decoration with a reindeer on it (& the red pom pom), a gorgeous Christmas tree decoration, some Christmas ribbon, a teapot with a ped on the back to stick important papers & 'Must Remember' on the front (can definately sue that!), a lovely tissue holder for in the handbag & a pack of 6 wine glass charms (that I think would make great Christmas buttons for a stitchery - button deprived in Perth).

Thank you so much Cheryll. I was so lucky to win & appreciate it greatly.

Also on my doorstep that Monday was my latest purchase from the Book Depository UK. Friendship Stripes & Scraps by Edyta Sitar. I have an online order in at my local library to receive an email of all new craft books in quilting, sewing & knitting . When I find a book that I love & has many useful patterns I think I will make, I go ahead & buy it. This one uses 1 - 2.5 inch strips to make up the houses, baskets & shapes that make up the quilts & table runners. There's a table runner added to the 'to do' list to try this method out.

Also on my doorstep that Monday night (good thing the neighbours are honest!) was a swap parcel. Shez & I joined in with SewHappyGeek in the UK to do a Wall Hanging or Table Runner Swap.

My Wall Hanging that I angonised over & am pleased to report my partner Jen loved was blogged about back here. That lime green, black & white colour scheme is really growing on me. Mind you, my car is lime green so it has long been a favourite.

It was an anonymous swap so I had no idea what I would receive or from whom. I gave my favourite 3 colours (of the moment) as red, white & yellow. We all posted teasers of our projects on the Flickr group page so there was about 3 that fitted my colours & request for a table runner. Funnily enough, one I coverted, ended up being Shez's swap present - we do love similar colours & fabrics.

My partner who sent to me is Kwooten2, a mum from the USA, currently living in Germany. She designs T-shirts & sells them on her website & has the best named Facebook Group - I Don't Have A Problem, I Have A Well-Rounded Fabric Stash. But if you don't there is plenty of tips on where to get bargains & whose having sales & where to win things on the group wall.

Now to my table runner - it is beautiful, big, bold & I am just loving it.

Machine embroidered with lots of lovely freehand machine quilting. Just lovely & I can see it being brought out for amny years to come for Christmas decorating. Thanks again Kris!

So I hope tomorrow is a Happy Monday in your household like this one was last Monday in mine.


Happy stitching
Tracee xx

One Swap Down, Two To Go....

I joined in a swap with SewHappyGeek in the UK to do a table runner or wall hanging. I thought, no problem, do them all the time, lets go. It is a blind swap so no one knows who is making for who & who you make for is not the same person who makes for you so all very sneaky. Lots of blog lurking!

When I got given the details of my swap partner & checked out her blog, they included lots of strange words like 'modern' 'bright' 'geometrics'! So there was my comfort zone, last seen moving fast away from Perth, across the Nullabor & on to who knows where. If it's hiding in your sewing room, send it on it's way & tell it, it's all safe to come home now.

Shez & I compared notes & she was in a similar situation. Of course, she overcome it beautifully & if you haven't seen it already, check out the table runner Shez made for her partner. You can also see what Shez received in the swap. Obviously our tastes are similar because when I saw her gift on the Flickr page for this group I was thinking, that would be very nice for me - lol. You had to nominate 3 colors so we must have said similar ones. I'm sure when I get mine it will be awesome too.

So I pondered what to make while away in Tassie, it moved up to worrying about it while I was in bed with the flu (with too much time to think!) & finally I had a plan to make a quilt as you go star in yellow & blues. That was the plan for last Saturday. So Friday night I flicked through a few new US magazines & changed my mind completely.

Saturday say me cutting out lime green, black & white circles to raw edge applique on to a white background. Never done anything like that before.

I added a nice lime green spot border & the another border made from all the different fabrics used. Today it was time for binding & adding the hanger sleeve. On the Flickr group a link was posted for Triangle Quilt Sleeves. I hadn't seen this before & loved this method, especially as I could put one in each corner so my partner can hang it up the way she thinks is best. Check it out, it is so easy.

So here's my finished product, which with a few other little treats will be winging it's way to the USA tomorrow.

I am loving the finished result so just hope my swap partner feels the same when she receives it.

Fingers crossed!
Tracee xx