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These are the lovely gifts I received from Grethe in Chookyblues Secret Santa swap

The table runner is just lovely and so beautifully sewn

Also love the little purse

Grethe also included some post cards and a calendar from Norway, her home country

Thank you Grethe Love them all

Was going to include a photo of the placemats I got as my main gift from Wendy in the Advent swap but it is blurry so that will have to wait for another day

Merry Christmas

JUST WANTED TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY SPECIAL BLOGGING FRIENDS

YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT HAS HELPED ME THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL

XXX

Doing a Happy Dance

Iam doing a happy dance

I have a shower Whhoo hoo

We have been showering at a friends house so it is lovely to finally have a shower at home

The bathroom is nearly done

A few trims to put up A coat or two of Estapol and Iam picking up my border tiles tomorrow

The vanity was connected today

So Happy!!

Mess and a couple of presents made

This is what my bathroom looked like last week

It looks considerably better now but my house is still covered in dust

Will share some photos of what it looks like very soon

Oh I wish it were done!!!!

I did finish a couple of small Christmas gifts

I wish I could make this darn thing put the words next to the photos

Hopefully I will get some cleaning done this week in time for Christmas day

Secret Santa Gift has arrived

My Secret Santa in ChookyBlues swap has been revealed

It is the lovely Grethe A Quilt Lady Blogspot from Norway

I have never met any one from Norway before

So exciting

Not only did I get one ornament, but three

Two lovely hearts and the cutest little stuffed angel

Now looking forward to opening my main parcel on Christmas day

Thankyou Grethe So nice to make a new friend

We have been busy here

Renovating the bathroom

I can,t believe it is happening so close to Christmas I have been waiting for so long for it to happen

My house is protected by a layer of dust

Love the mail

We have been up the coast for a bit of R and R

Nice to be home

Have been catching up with my Blog reading

Before we left I was so thrilled and surprised to receive this beautiful Owl pot holder from Teresa at All Things Vintage

I mentioned to her that my Quilting Group were called the Night Owls, so she "just had to make me one" An added bonus was one of ChookyBlues lovely cards

How lucky was I?

Thankyou Teresa

Love it

Too nice to use for a pot holder Just maybe it might become a mug rug

At the moment Iam just enjoying looking at it

Also waiting for me when I returned home was my Advent gifts from Wendy from Sugarlane Quilts

It has been lovely getting to know Wendy through this swap

So beautifully wrapped

Tomorrow I can open my first one

I forgot to take a photo of the gifts I sent to Wendy, but she has a photo on her Blog

Bird of Paradise

When we first moved to this property about 11 years ago, it was just a bare paddock

We have worked hard to establish a nice garden, perhaps in hind sight a little to big, but any way thats the way it went

About a year after we came I planted a Bird of Paradise It grew slowly and didnt really do anything

Last Monday it was Lorraine's birthday and guess what ?

My bird flowered on that day

I have managed to finish a couple of Christmas projects Just have to add numbers to the Advent calendar Iam going to paint them on

The bon bon was fiddly to make, but worth the effort I will fill it with sweets for a Christmas present

So Thoughtfull

Next Monday would have been my Darling daughters birthday

In the mail this week I received the most thoughtful gift from my dear friend Chris (no blog)

She remembered it would have been her birthday so sent a little gift to let us know she was thinking of us

I first met Chris in !1962 when we both started high school and we have been friends ever since

We live far apart but still manage to maintain the friendship

Thank you dear Chris

Your gift means so much

UNWELCOME VISITOR

While cleaning the cobwebs in the carport, right at my backdoor look who I found curled up in the rafters

A very unwelcome visitor so close to the house

Now I am concerned as to where are his brothers and sisters and his Mum and Dad are hiding

A couple more "Lorraine's Flowers"

And been busy in the garden

This N That

My spring garden is showing lot's of colour

I thought I had lost this clematis It was just a little brown twig' then lo and behold ' these gorgeous flowers appeared

Today it has been blowing a gale. I hope I still have some flowers left

I made a couple of cards

And finished another Charity quilt

Friday night I attented my nephews Debut ball I think these days it is called a Presentation ball A fun night

I have lots of photos and He wants me to Scrapbook it for him

It is always nice to have a special project to work on

SILLY ME

Carole at Blogspot Serenditity and Roses was my partner in Khris' FRIENDS Swap

She has received the gifts I sent her Silly me forgot to take photos of the gifts I sent and The photo she has put on her Blog show very little of what I sent

I sent F .. four fat quarters

R... A runner made with lovely Moda fabric... sewn by me

I... Items for her Cristmas table .. four place mats... sewn by me

E.... Embroidery cotton and Edible ... A block of Cadbury chocolate

N... Notebook I made with her name on it and a nailfile

D.. Decorative candle holder

S... Stationary folder .. sewn by me... complete with notelets Pad and pen and envelopes

I will make sure I take a photo next time

My Waratah is in full bloom at the moment I love the vivid red

FRIENDS SWAP GIFTS 2011

I received my lovely FRIENDS swap gifts from Carole

Love each and every gift

F..... four fat 1/8ths

R...... rose bag beautifully embriodered by Carole

I....... Inspiration plaque Faith

E....... Now I had a bit of trouble with this one Embroidery thread Buttons Ric Rac Ribbon

N...... Needle case Again cross stitched by Carole

D..... Diary Funnily enough I nearly sent Carole a diary for D but changed my mind

S...... Spoons and Strawberry wafers We will enjoy those with a cuppa

Thankyou Carole for being a great swap partner and special Thanks to Khris for all her work organizing this swap

What I did with my special birthday button

Vickie sent me the lovliest button for my birthday

Wanted to do something special with it

Over the years I have saved lots of cards given to me by my two daughters

They have just been kept in a plastic bag in the drawer

They are even more precious to me now, so I made this " envelope" to keep them in

Can You read what Lorraine wrote in the big card ,many years ago

Isn't that just so special?

Now I need some help Please!!!!

I have been unable to leave comments on some Blogs But seem to have over come that by signing in and out each time

Thanks Girls

Now I find that the pictures of all Followers have disapeared and even when I visit Blogs there are no pictures there,

so I can't follow any new Blogs Can any one help me with this

Thanks

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FINALLY FINISHED AND ANOTHER CHARITY QUILT

Well my birthday is over now that I have received this lovely gift from Terry

It was long time in the mail and we were worried it had gone AWOL but here it is

The lovliest wool pin cushion

Thankyou Terry

And a piece of fabric that I will certainly put to good use

Have also finished another Charity quilt

A friend gave me the fabric for this one Left over from a quilt I helped her piece

Hopefully soon the quilts will be delivered to the lady who distributes them to the sick kids

My Christmas Album

I started making my little Christmas album with the beautiful things sent to me by Teresa

The button was a gift from Teresa also , some time ago.

Iam having a little trouble getting the photos in

They are not the best photo's and also very emotional as a few days later my Darling girl left us.

My daffodills have been lovely this year

Have lots in various parts of the garden

The wind today has played havoc with them

Stayed inside and did a bit of sewing

Too cold to go outside

Another one done

I finished another "Lorraine's Flowers " table runner

This one was for my Dear neice Jessica in the colours she chose

She was so happy with it

Iam making another one in greens for Lorraine's step daughter in law for her birthday next Monday

Giveaway Winner

AND THE WINNER IS.......................

Fiona of Drgon Fly Crafts

Please send me your address Fiona

My birthday celebrations continued yesterday

Hubby hates when I have a birthday Says the going out goes on for days

Yesterday my Walking Group { you know the group The one where we don't walk any more ,just go out to celebrate birthdays} took me out for afternoon tea

Once again I was very spoilt

More cards and gifts

I think the party is over now for another year