SSCS 2014

Wow! The last day of 2014. I know I am not the only one to say this year has flown by. I have just amended my 2014 list of finishes. It was not a long list this year, but next year's list should look a bit healthier, if my current 2015 to do list is achieved. Whether it is achievable is yet to be seen.

One final thing I need to do for 2014 is show the presents sent and received in Chookyblue's 2014 Secret Santa Christmas Swap. I may have said this before, but I'll say it again anyway. This is a fun swap. Chooky matches us Aussie girls with an overseas partner, and therefore all the overseas girls send back to Australia. I think the secret stalking is the best part; learning about another blogger, their likes and dislikes and their lives; planning just the right thing to make and send; waiting for the parcels to arrive.

Thank you, Chookyblue for organising it again!

 

Well my secret Santa this year was Christin from Switzerland! How cool, is that?

I got a felt house as my hanging ornament and several machine embroidered red snowflakes/stars that I have been using in different ways,  a container I can use to hold lollies or threads, delicious chocolates and  a Santa table runner.

 The chocolates were in the fridge when I took the photo, not eaten already! LOL (But they are well and truly gone now.)

Thank you very much, Christin!

I had the pleasure to send to Raewyn in New Zealand. My stalking showed a blogger with a lot of talent, so I made personal things.

 This coat hanger was a Mum's Moment pattern.

 The jewellery roll is by Liisa Dawson of The Quilter's Corner.

 The ornament is an Anni Downs pattern that I showed in a previous pattern.
I have heard from Raewyn and I think she likes them.  :-)


One thing I realise I have not shown is the pillow I made for our Sunday Stitchers Christmas swap. It is an adaption of a Kookaburra Cottage pattern. I made it using Paris Flea Market fabric. Again some snooping was in order to make the right thing. I will say Maureen nearly didn't get it. Two reasons, it took longer to make than I thought and, of course, it is exactly my colours, after all I have been collected that fabric range for years.

 Which brings me to the end of 2014. No resolutions for next year, just some hopes and dreams.

I would like to wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. 

May 2015 bring you your wishes and dreams.

Take care,
Cheryl (aka Kayly)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

to Everyone.

I wish you and the world peace and happiness at this time.

Heaven only knows the Earth could do with it.

Cheryl

Last Minute Sewing

Well I had a bit of a last minute flurry of crafty activity.
I finished a very late bed quilt for my 3 year old grandniece's birthday. When I saw her recently, I quizzed her about her favourite colours. She is a very definite little girl: a bit of an old head on young shoulders. She informed me her favourite colours were orange, blue and pink in that order and she liked elephants!

I couldn't believe my luck. Ages ago I made a baby quilt top that was too big at the time, so it has been sitting in the cupboard. It's got blue, yellow (nearly orange) and pink and elephants! I even had the fabric for the borders and back. The fabric range was Animal Crazee.

I made three of these for friends in our small patchwork group. Can't believe I gave them away without a photo.  We had a lovely lunch to end the year.

Today, very last minute, I made 2 zippered pouches to hold hair things as Christmas presents for my eldest grand nieces.

 Yes orange elephants! Definitely lucky sometimes.

Off to wrap them now.

Take care,
Cheryl (aka Kayly)

Chookyblue's SSCS

My SSCS has landed. I won't know who it is from until I open the main present and card on Christmas Day, but in the meantime THANK YOU to my Secret Santa.
Thank you also to our organiser Chookyblue.

 Well packaged!

 The ornament (one of the requirements for the swap) is a very cute little house that is now on my tree, as is the embroidered one on the right. The chocolates are in the fridge, being nibbled at.
I've been snooping and I know that the presents I made have landed, but I won't show my ornament yet as it would spoil the surprise.

 And BTW...look Robyn....there is a floor under the mess you saw in my sewing room!

Take care,
Cheryl (aka Kayly)

Bathurst Bloggers Meet

In a nut shell, I had a great time.
A very early plane flight saw me in Sydney in enough time for a quick side trip to the Homy Ped Shoe Clearance shop. It was not far from the airport and I managed to get 2 pairs of shoes at greatly reduced prices. I was back to the airport in time to meet up with Jannimary and her lovely husband M. They flew back from an interstate event and I was able to hitch a ride to Bathurst with them.
Jannimary's family came from the area we drove through and it was interesting to hear the history of the area and her family.
I could have sworn I took photos of the outside of The Vale where we stayed, but obviously didn't. Check out Fiona's blog Dragonfly-Crafts...she took great photos....even if all the cameras weren't hers.... ;-)
The Vale has a wonderful set-up, suitable for all sorts of groups. Vicki looked after us and let's just say we didn't starve!
I knew some of the ladies and enjoyed meeting the others. They came from all over New South Wales. I believe, one car load drove for over 6 hours to get there. Many are from the land or from towns heavily associated with land based industries. It was interesting and very informative to listen to what they are going through at the moment.
They are all talented, but some make things to sell. A corner of the room was set up with their creations. Note to Show and Tell - the lemon butter did not last long once I got home. It was delicious!

 There was lots of chatting while fingers sewed and machines hummed.

 Heaps of show and tell.

Saturday morning saw us shopping in town. Anni Downs' store, The Home Patch, is a delight for the eyes. Lots of serious shopping here.
We did a 'Make It, Bake It or Fake It' swap.  Georgina got my swap present. Again no photo! Shame on me. I made 2 crocheted hankies and added some lovely smelly body care products. I got a great weighted pin cushion and bin. It has been installed on my sewing machine and has seen action already. Photo next post. (I have put one up on the even darker side - Instagram. Sorry Chooky!)
It was all over too quickly. Plans have been made for next year.
Thank you to everyone for making it a wonderful relaxing weekend away.
 Take care,
Cheryl (aka Kayly)