Memory Quilt Started

I have been absent for a while

Keeping busy painting the outside of our farm house Starting to look good but Iam a bit stiff and sore

Been a while since I have done much of that sort of thing

I made a start on the quilt I want to make using Lorraine's clothes

The hardest part was that first cut

I feel very close to her as I stitch her clothes into what will be a lasting memory of her to hand down to my grandchildren

HELP

Could someone please tell me how to put my followers on the side bar. not at the top of my page
Thankyou

Holiday Time

Last week I was lucky enough to go on a holiday with My Mum, My Sister and My Niece

We took Mum to some places where we used to live and caught up with a few rellies

We were surprised to find that a road had been named for our family and the little creek is also called Jagoe's Creek

By sheer coincidence we asked directions to this road, after we found it exsisted and the lady we asked just happened to live on the property where my great grandfather lived

Her husband filled us in on some family history

I loved spending the time with my family I don't get to see them that often

Initial Heart Gift from Fiona

I have been a bit slack in posting photo's of the lovely gifts I received from Fiona of Bubzrugz in the Initial Valentines day swap

My Initial heart is lovely and made with felt and smells divine

I have never done much with felt, but seeing what Fiona has made makes me feel like I should give it a try

The choccies are well and truly gone and the felt flower brooch has found a home on my winter coat

This was a fun swap I made three new friends and received lovely gifts as well

What more could a person ask for?

I made a couple of new "envelopes" for my precious cards

Just trying to find the right button for the second one

My friend O'faigh sent a tin of coloured strips for Christmas and I have used them to make the envelope with the narrow strips

Well pleased with both

Shame about the quality of the photo!!

I joined an Initial Heart Swap over at Cherylls Blog http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com/

This is what I sent to Sharon at http://lilabellelane.blogspot.com/

Sharon has received her gift so I can show you

Not much happening on the sewing front here

I think I've lost my mojo

Please Mo Come back!

I Did'nt show you some Christmas gifts I made

Just wanted to show you a couple of Christmas gifts I made

My sister loved the placemats

The gift box I enjoyed making

My friends thought I was so clever

Iam feeling a bit sorry for myself today

I spent time in the garden this week and yesterday got bitten by something

My eyes have swelled up and I have come out in a little rash and now my thumb has swollen as well

And to top that off I kicked my toe and it is purple and sore

Sympathy please!

Bathroom Finally Finished

My bathroom is finally done

Yesterday he hung the shelf in the shower and now I can say Done Finished

Love it So bright and cheery

Not the best photos The sun was shining through the window and making it glarey

I think you can get the picture though

And best of all now I can get back to some sewing

Main Advent Gift

I have been very remiss (lazy) in posting my main Advent gift from the lovely Wendy

I received four of these lovely place mats

Also chocolate but that has long since gone

She chose perfect colours for me

This was a wonderful swap and I would like to say a big Thank you to Wendy for being my swap partner and a special thanks to my dear friend Fee for paling me up with Wendy

I sincerely hope Wendy and I will continue our friendship

On the sewing front. not much is happening

I have been busy with the bathroom I have been Estapoling Layer after Layer

It will be worth it

This past week My Son in Law and I have had the unenviable task of sorting Lorraine's things

Her first anniversary was Dec 29th

The family rallied around us and we went out to lunch for a celebration of her life

I have decided that when Iam ready I will make a Memory Quilt from some of her Clothing

It will keep her close

SSCG

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