Flat out like a lizard drinking!!

Yes, it's been a busy week (my hubby thought you Aussie readers would appreciate my post title!), hence no blogging for me and not too much sewing either.

I did get a little stitching done ...

I nearly finished the fifth stitchery for the Christmas banner but I ran out of thread so I'm off to the quilt shop tomorrow.

My Tilda sew along task this week was to finish the doll's face and start cutting out her clothes so she now has a face and her clothes have been started.  I thought I'd wait until she was dressed before posting another photo of her.

The third stitching I have been working on is for the Great Global Christmas Swap, I have a little sneak peek for you ...

... a cute little Christmas bird.  I LOVE this pattern so I hope my swap partner will too.

On a different note, our favourite muffin recipe at the moment is Raspberry and Chocolate Muffins ...

I had fun trying to get a nice photo, isn't the Camellia beautiful?  If you want the recipe click on the new recipe tab at the top.

Well, I hope to spend tonight having a catch up on some of your lovely blogs.

Happy stitching, Wendy

FNSI results

I had such fun last night working on my smaller projects, perfect for FNSI.  First I completed this week's tasks for the Tilda sew along, my Tilda doll now has arms and legs and hair ...

It was the first time I had done hair in this way, thanks to Lisa's step by step tutorial I managed although I will never make a hairdresser!  The poor doll really needs some clothes now but she will have to wait until next week.

I also started stitching the fourth Christmas banner stitchery with Sew Happy Me and I managed to finish it this morning ...

Now to have a look at what other's did for FNSI, happy stitching, Wendy

Swaps, hexies and FNSI

I have been on tenterhooks since I received my scissor keep swap over a week ago because the parcel I sent my swap partner, Cheryl, had not arrived at her house!  I even went to the Post Office today to see if they could help and came home to an email from Cheryl that it had finally arrived!  I am so relieved and now I can show you what I made ... 

Needlecase and Scissor Keep - An Angels Story by Anni Downs
Strawberry Scissor Fob - free Internet pattern by Marie Greene

Of course some New Zealand chocolate found it's way into the parcel because every crafting occasion is made sweeter with chocolate!  Thanks to Sandy at Cookies and Cream Craft for organising this swap.

Well, the rugby has been exciting especially if you are an All Black supporter, which of course I am, and I managed to get sewing done as I watched.  I finished the fourth row of my Vignette hexagon quilt ...

So that's 80 hexie flowers with 60 more to make, or 4 rows done with 3 more to go! 

It's Friday Night Sew In tomorrow night (see button in my side bar) so I am looking forward to getting some more sewing done but perhaps a change from hexies ... Happy FNSI!  Wendy

A giveaway

Perri from Stitches from the Bush has a wonderful giveaway on her blog for the following lovely goodies ...

So if you would like a chance to win, pop on over to her blog and enter, I definitely will be!!

I have kept up with my sew-alongs this week, finishing the third Christmas banner stitchery with Sew Happy Me ...

And I have completed the second step of the Tilda sew-along with Lydia's Treasures.  This week the task was to turn the doll pieces and stuff them ...

I am enjoying participating in these sew-alongs, I would otherwise have felt the projects too big but broken down in week-by-week steps they have been manageable so far.  It is also fun looking forward to the next task to be posted.

It is spring here in New Zealand and we are having very changeable weather, in one day we have heavy rain, then an afternoon of sunshine and then strong winds!  The plants are enjoying the season even if we humans aren't as much!!

I love this viburnum when it flowers each spring, the flowers are white and lacy

Of course, the girls enjoy wandering around the garden with me ...

Henny Penny always hopes I will throw her some food!

I have sewn 80 hexie flowers now.  There are two Rugby World cup semi final games this weekend so I plan to start sewing the forth row together.  I can occupy myself with sewing if things get a bit tense watching the Australia vs All Blacks game!
Happy weekend and happy stitching, Wendy

A new treasure and hexies

I received the most beautiful gift yesterday from Cheryl in Australia (she doesn't have a blog).  Cheryl was my partner for The Keeper Swap and I absolutely love the sewing set she sent me.  She even sent me some lovely new scissors!!

I love the bird on the back of the scissor keep and the little sewing accessory has lots of useful pockets inside.  So this gift is my treasure today, my first swap and such a beautiful gift.  I'm linking today with Melody for Tuesday's Treasures.

I choose to work on hexagon flowers during the rugby in the weekend.  It was nice to dust them off and see how much I could get done!

I was up to three rows completed and sewn together and over the last few days I have been glue-basting and sewing furiously, so now I have 77 hexie flowers, three more to go and I can start sewing the fourth row together.  Unfortunately I have almost run out of glue so I ordered more today, I hope it arrives quickly!!

Happy stitching, Wendy

Saturday sewing

It has been a lovely day today, the sun has been shining, the school holidays have started, and I got some sewing done!  Charlie had quite a low key birthday this year, yummy breakfast and dinner on Wednesday (her menu choice) and a friend stayed Friday night.  We went to the movies today and saw The Smurfs, well the kids enjoyed it!  Instead of a birthday cake I made Charlie chocolate cupcakes with raspberry frosting ...

As for the sewing, today I finished this week's stitchery for the Sew Happy Christmas banner ...

Some time ago I signed up for a Tilda Sew Along with Lydia's Treasures and it has finally started.  My first task was to prepare the pattern and sew the pieces together so I got that done today.  I had previously tea-dyed some calico so I am using that for the body and I didn't want such a big doll so I reduced the pattern to 70%.  Here is where I am up to ...

I also completed my first swap this week, the keeper swap, so I will show you photos once my swap partner, Cheryl (no blog), receives them.  

Well, Wales have just beaten Ireland for the rugby world cup quarter finals and tonight we have the England versus France game to watch.  Sounds like a perfect evening to get some Vignette sewing done, my only dilemma is mystery quilt or hexagons, what's a girl to do?

Happy stitching, Wendy

Tuesday's treasure and a finish

My treasure this week is our barometer inherited from my husband's grandmother ...

I love our barometer just because of the way it looks but also because it is old and part of my husband's heritage.  It lives in our entrance hall beside some of my cross-stitches ...

I am linking today with Melody for Tuesday's Treasures, there are always lovely things to see at her blog.

And my finish for the week ...

House wallhanging - Sweet Sentiments by Natalie Bird

My sister's birthday is tomorrow so I got this finished just in time!  Hopefully she will love it.  (It is also Charlie's birthday tomorrow - she will be 15!)

After a wet weekend it is a beautiful day today, which makes the garden look so much nicer, the spring blossoms are flowering and the hellebore's are still going strong after flowering for most of winter...

Notice the cheeky girls in the background, helping me with my gardening?!
Thank you for visiting, happy stitching, Wendy