Santa Sack Swap

More treats were in store for me under the Tree.

I was partnered with Jill for the Santa Sack Swap organized by Cheryll. 

I loved reading her blog and getting to know what she like. 

These are the wonderful gifts I received from her.

 A hand knitted scarf, fat quarter, a cupcake kit, a cone full of chocolate (that didn't last too long.) Christmas tea towel. This lovely hand painted wooden spoon with a cute gingerbread man on it and the bag in which they all came.

Last but certainly not least Santa's Towel! 

I love it!

I love them Jill thank you so much for partnering me in this swap I have really enjoyed it.

 These are the gifts I sent for Jill.

A Candle mat and Candle

 Apron and Recipe Journal

 Hand knitted wrist warmers. 

And the delivery bag.

I have really enjoyed doing Cheryll's swap again this year. 

Melanie xxx

Christmas and Swap Goodies

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and didn't overdo it too much! I know I did!

I had a wonderful day with Alan and all my children and a friend over for dinner it was a lovely.

 I had quite a few swap gifts under my tree. 

Now that the chaos is over I have time to write my blog to show you how generous the wonderful people I have been partnered with are.

The first parcel I opened was from Leanne (Lizzie the Quilter) We had done other swaps earlier in the year and decided to do one at Christmas too. I love the gifts she sent. 

Spotty bunting which will be up in my kitchen as soon as the Christmas decs are down. Covered buttons, assorted buttons ( I'm not sure if Leanne new but I love buttons) Christmas trimmings, die cut hexagons and a beautiful phone case. It fits my phone perfectly too :) 

She also made me this super sweet cupcake ornament.

These are the gifts I sent to Leanne 

 Christmas handbag charm, Frixion pen, button heart, chocolate and some ribbon.

 I also made her this table topper. From a Gail Pan design.

 I have a few more swaps to post about but they will have to wait for another day.

Hoping you are all enjoying the Holidays

Melanie xxx

December Christmas QAL

 I started the day by making some Filo Mince Pies, for an afternoon snack.

 Just a little sweey something to keep me going (I only had 1. They were delicious though!)

I decided to join in with the Christmas Challange when the QAL started a few months ago.

Here it is:- (not as easy as it first looked)

The Challenge

Make a quilt on the theme of Christmas without using the colours red or green.

The small print:

·         The quilt may be any style, as long as it has two layers of fabric enclosing wadding, secured by quilting or tying

·         It may be any shape, but must measure no more than 96” around the outside edges.  ie, it could be a square 24” x 24”, a rectangle  8” x  40”, a triangle measuring 36” on each side,  a circle with a diameter of 30”, or any other shape you can think of, as long as the total outside edges do not add up to more than 96”

·         If the design is not your own, you must credit the original designer

·         It must be completed, including binding, in time for your final photo to be included in our grand parade in December

·         You will be asked to send one photo of your finished quilt with a ruler along the longest edge to prove it meets size restrictions to your hostess  in December

·         To be eligible to win the prize you must have joined at least three of the Quiltalong Linky parties with a post during the weekend showing what you are working at that time. 

The Finished runner measured a total of 68" so it was well within the 96" allowed.

The inspiration for the runner came from the blue and white enamelled cutlery we use on Christmas Day. 

I loved the idea of using mittens appliqued on for the blocks. The strings remind me of my childhood. My mum used to put woollen cords on my mittens so I didn't lose them.

I stippled the setting in triangles and I'm happy with how it looks. 

Well that's the Challenge done. Lets see how much more I can get done this weekend.

I hope you all have a great weekend whatever you are doing.

 Melanie xxx

Santa Sack Swap

My Santa Sack Swap parcel arrived this morning and it was stuffed full of parcels and a pack of paper chains. Lily and I will have lots of fun making those over the weekend and putting them up.

Here are all the goodies. My fingers are itching to get ripping.

Thanks to Cheryll for being Swap Mama.

Thanks to my swap partner Jille for putting such a great bag of goodies together.

I've also managed to get my Reindeers and Sleigh finished and they are pulling a snowman around at the moment. Soon it will be full of Sweets but if I put them in now they wouldn't last very long.

Merry Christmas 

Melanie xxx

FNWF

This Friday out came the Mince Pies and the Mulled Ginger Wine. 

Off I went cutting out my squares. I had decided to do a few more Origami Christmas Decorations.

I'm going to use them as tags on the gifts for my crafty friends.

I have done a few more now so I have quite a few.
Have a great weekend.

Merry Christmas 

Hugs Melanie xxx

Lily's Tree Coasters

I have had a lot of sewing to do this week but it's all for gifts so I can't show those yet.

Lily has been off school for a few days as they won't let her go because she has conjunctivitis. It's been quite hectic. Going to see Alan in hospital which is a 220 mile round trip and trying to keep Lily occupied. Poor thing her eye is really sore and doesn't seem to be improving even with antibiotic drops.

Yesterday she asked me if I would show her how to use the sewing machine. Of course I was up for that. She made these two Christmas Coasters.

 Hard at work

 One done

Two finished

She really enjoyed making them and was very happy with how they turned out.

I was quite impressed with how quickly she picked it up.
A little Quilter in the making I think.

Have a great weekend

Melanie xxx

I'm Back

It seems ages since I last posted on here.

I've been in hospital, so I'm excusing myself for my lack of enthusiasm. 

To top it off my husband is now in too. 

I haven't felt much like sewing for the past few weeks but my hands have not been idle. 

I have the Decopatch bug. I love it it has kept me occupied whilst I have been recovering. 

These are my Reindeer's I haven't finished them yet and I still have the Sleigh to do but it has made a nice change.

....................................

We had a craft group gathering on Monday where they showed us how to make these

Fabric Origami Tree Decoration

 

Fabric Flower

I think I am going to pull some red fabrics out and make some in varying sizes to look like Pointsettia flowers. I'm not sure what they will end up as but that's the plan. 

Hugs Melanie 

Autumn Swap Goodies

I joined the Autumn Swap organized by Lisa. I was partnered with June from Butterfly Wings

June stitched me a lovely Autumn cushion and added alot of other goodies too.

These are the gifts I sent to June. I really liked the Fall into Autumn chart. 

We both ended up sending the same Lizzie Kate chart. 

What are the chances of that.

I think I will be doing this one again for myself.

A big thanks to Lisa for organizing the swap. 

I'm looking forward to the next one.

Happy Stitching Melanie xxx

Halloween

I joined in the Halloween swap at Blueberry Heart and these are the wonderful gifts that Sharon sent me I was so spoilt.

What a fantastic selection. I wonder how she knew what I liked?

American Candy Corn and  Creme Pumpkins. 

It's nice to taste sweets we can't get in the UK. 

Mmmm

These are the gifts I sent Sharon

I am going to have to make another one of these as I love it.

 My Cauldron filled with sweet goodies!

Love my bottles an easy make and really effective.

Bartholomew the Skellywag with his Pumpkins welcoming Trick and Treaters. We have had some fab costumes this year.

A Creey Character!

Lily wasn't overly keen on dressing up this year but we did get her into a Witches Hat at least

That's my Halloween 2013

Melanie xxxx

Happy Halloween

I hope everyone has a great Halloween. 

Lots of goodies here tonight!

Melanie xxx

Tote Bag Swap round 2

I received a lovely surprise through the post yesterday. It was a parcel with a tote bag in from my partner Grace in the second round of Lia's Tote Bag Swap.

It's fabulous I love the fabrics she has used. She also popped a few more goodies in. Two pieces of Canadian fabric, two packs of really sweet buttons an a cute beaded wreath brooch.

Thank you so much Grace I love it all.

A big thanks to Lia who organized the swap. I've loved joining in.

Melanie xxx

Stitching Sunday

I joined in Chrissie's Stitching Sunday's. I did manage to get a little bit of stitching done on Sunday, not as much as I would have liked but is was Lily's Birthday so I did have a good excuse.

It's from a free pattern and tutorial by Natalie Lymer HERE at Hugs n Kisses. 

Here are some of the girls enjoying Lily's Roller Party. It was hard to catch them all together so this is a few if them. 

They had a great time and tired themselves out.

Melanie

Christmas QAL

What awful weather we had yesterday. It never stopped raining!

I got soaked to the skin when I ventured out to collect Lily's Birthday cake.

 I did get some sewing done when I got back. 

I made a couple of Cheryll's Bon Bons Free pattern here. I adapted it slightly and put felt Holly and Berries on instead of the fabric square.

I think I will be making lots more of these. They look so cute.

I also started on a few Christmas Felt decorations.  I have had the kit for years and decided it was time for them to see the light. They are small and portable so I can take them with me and do bits here and there.

I thought I would opt for the healthy snack option.I had a lovely healthy fruit platter instead of cake.

I will be getting some of that today at Lily's Roller Skating Party. (What was I thinking? All those children on wheels). 

She will love it though and hopefully be very tired when we get home so bath and bed (fingers crossed) I may even get some more sewing done,)

I hope we all have a good weekend and get lots if sewing done.

Melanie xxx

Christmas QAL October

It's Christmas QAL with Joanna this weekend. I'm hoping to get quite a bit done (fingers crossed)

I have got a couple of things cut out already.

Just got to nip to the shops then it's home to stitch :)

Melanie xxx