Travelling Treasures, Secret Santa, Girl8

Hi everyone,

There is a new winner for Travelling  Treasures.  There will be a long journey this time, all the way to the USA!

Please join me in congratulating Aunt Marti.  Her blog is very interesting and she is a prolific quilter as well.  She won by correctly guessing what Susan was stitching for her giveaway.

I received this gorgeous wall hanging for my Secret Santa gift from Alison.

As you can see, I have the perfect place for it.  I just love that sweet little hanger she included.  Thank you so much, Alison. 

Yesterday we had a visit from the lady that coordinates adoptions.  There has been an enquiry about Girl 8.

Girl 8 was acting silly with the visitor here....Anyway, the lady will be going to inspect the home and interview the lady that is enquiring today.  I'm hoping she has lots of stairs at her house, which Girl 8 would not be able to cope with, so then she will stay with me....

See, she is laughing...anyone can see she is  happy here with me LOL.

All that performing wore her out.  She loves to be under the table when I sew there.

After the lady left, I went out for a short while. Mmm, I just love summer fruits. xx debbie

M&M's, Girl 8 is home

Hi everyone,

Our stitcher's Christmas party was last Sunday.  We had a most wonderful day.  There was plenty of food, laughter, and of course, our Secret Santa gift exchange. 

I made my partner Maree this fabric box.  This is the stitchery by Michelle Ridgway that I have been showing progress as I stitched it.  The gorgeous needlecase was made by my dear friend Marilyn.
Check out Marilyn's blog to see the stunning Celtic knot design she made for her Secret Santa partner. Wow!!  Thank you Marilyn  for letting me use your photo.

I traced another of Michelle's stitcheries (a very cute teddy) and tied that with the red candy cane ribbon around some thread to do the stitchery in redwork if she likes.  The other gifts were candle and jar, lotion, sweet goats milk soap, notepad, tea bags from USA, and mints in a tin.   I will show the gift I received from my partner in my next post. 

I have been asking dear Susan for advice as I learn machine blanket stitch.  She suggested next time it might be easier if I do the blanket stitching first and then quilt around it, rather than quilting the fabric first as I did here.  Thank you Susan for all your help.  We have the same sewing machine, so she has been  so very helpful with all of my questions. 

Dear Girl 8 returned home to me on Monday.  This new picture just melts me.....
This is her with the  bunny after I showed her my new game of bunny bowling.

But...she has appointed herself the neighbourhood monitor as well...so we are working on some very naughty barking habits.  She is frightening young children that walk by on their way to school :(

She likes to lie in the sun for about 5 whole minutes....then she gets hot and wants back in LOL.  See that clay pot on the left? It is huge...and those are potato plants in there. 

I have a nice friend who comes to mow for me in between so I don't have to pay the lawn guy every time. He mowed on Monday and the yard looks so nice now.  xx debbie

FNSI

Hi everyone,

I enjoyed FNSI with you and got heaps done.

 

I was able to get around halfway through another baby quilt top.  This one will be 30+ inches square.  The rows on the left are not attached yet.  Soon.

 

 

 

I also made another little basket to keep so I could trial  more machine blanket stitch.

 

 

Today is our stitching group Christmas party.  Here is a sneak peek at my Secret Santa gifts...I will show more later. 

 

 

 

Sweet Girl 9 left yesterday.

 

 

Only one more sleep until Girl 8 returns, this time with no set leaving date yet...

xx debbie