Girl Kringle 2014

My family has a Christmas tradition.....we call it "Girl Kringle". Each year we each have to make and exchange one gift ( my Mum, three sisters and my daughter )...it is one of my favourite parts of Christmas Day. We have been doing this for around ten years....its beautiful. For 2014 I had my youngest sister, Shell....we start planning early in the year, Pinterest boards are very handy..lol! I decided to do a colour wash of 1" hexies ( these are from Hugs and Kisses, THANKYOU Helen for including me in your blog post :)  ) they are made of iron on "interfacing-like" paper that washes out later...that's right...they don't have to be removed...WINNING!!! I made the hexies, hand stitched them together and then did a raw edge applique design with my sewing machine, then backed and framed it in a 14" hoop.

Shells' 2014 Girl Kringle

I received these gorgeous oven mits from shell, I LOVE them...so retro! She patchworked them and included some sashiko stitching.  So pretty!

My 2014 Girl Kringle from Shell

This year other gifts made were: a felt lap top computer bag, a terrarium and crocheted doily, cooks apron and head scarf, a teddy bear shaped wheat bag. Looking forward to 2015...better get planning...Suze x

Cobar Retreat

Well...what I wonderful weekend! Good friends, stitching, wine and dine, laughter and rain!!!! What more could a girl ask for?



Cobar Retreat Crew....."Selfie" ;)  Kate, Me, Lois ( my Mumma ), Kylie and ( front) Chooky and Caz ( my sister ).

A spur of the moment blog/phone conversation turned into a fun couple of days.  I just love the friendships I've made through blogging, quilting and craft! It's heart warming....and inspiring. This is a picture from Friday's "stitching session" .

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Friday....stitching session may have had some Pimms added to the punch!

I promise I did do some hexies before this happened!! While we were there Kylie and I received a call from Chooky saying she was on her way west! Yeeha! So plans were made and "wa-la" Cobar Retreat was planned:)  Kate and I had planned a sewing day on Sunday while she was in town for a family catch-up....and it grew! What a great day.

Whips were cracked and this is what I stared with...a mud map was made and stitching began! All while sitting out on our back patio watching some of the 57mls of rain we got this weekend shower down...heaven!!! Will take a pic of some finished strips tomorrow with some better light (sorry Chooky)...I've already received a text message asking for updates! We all stitched, it was lovely...thanks Chooky for helping me to get this happening again! 

SKoW...my applique blocks.....just waiting to be stitched together!

 Sometimes the best weekends are unplanned and just "work out" this one was great...hope yours was too. Thankyou to my family and friends...I love you guys. Suze x

Christmas Presents

Happy New Year!!  Hoping 2015 is kind and good to us all. I wanted to share with you the gifts that I received and sent in Chookyblues Christmas Swap. I love participating in this swap, it truly makes my Christmas...I love the spirit and happiness it brings...all over the world- amazing! I received from Noemia in Portugal, some very lovely gifts. A hand towel, apron, soaps, chocolate with a picture of her home town, fabric and four Christmas placemats. Thankyou Noemia...I am looking forward to using these next Christmas:)

 

 

I sent to Carol, in America. I love doing stitcheries and had noticed some redwork on Carols' blog. A friend had recently given me this pattern...I changed it a bit..lol and made this. I love the border fabric, it's from Annie Downs 2014 Christmas range....my favourite designer!! Added one of my favourite books too, sharing the Australian love...Natalie Bird, "Red Home"...I hope Carol loves it!

 

 

Stay cool...very warm here....Suze x