Tuesday 31 December 2019

A New Year Begins

As we sit with our feet up enjoying a glass of tipple to bring in the New Year, we cast our minds back to what a great year we have experienced this past year, and look forward to another year hopefully full of more adventures and achievements. We trust you too can relate to this feeling.




Both hubby & I wish all my blogger friends a very Happy New Year and hope it will be a better one than the last.


'Til next time,


                                    and thank you for not only visiting my blog but your friendship as well.

Sunday 29 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along Days 23, 24 & 25

Yah hoo!! Finally, although a couple of days late, I have finished the little stitcheries that make up the Mystery Advent Stitch-A-Long that I have been taking part in for the month of December. I have so enjoyed making them, and with some time out with family over this last week  deciding what I have come to the point of deciding what I shall create with them. So the net couple of days will be spent with some graph paper, a pencil and an eraser to try and bring a design together.


Here are the last 3 designs:


I trust everyone has had a great Christmas and looking forward to a new start with a new year.


'Til next time, take care and enjoy your holiday break, and


                                                     thank you for dropping by and visiting my blog.

Monday 23 December 2019

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Finally I can sit with my feet up and have a quiet drink with all the pressure ... gone! I have finished all that I wanted to complete prior to the Christmas season, I shall be taking my little Mystery Advent Stitcheries for Day 23 & 24 with me as we head off to join our family for Christmas - Day 25 will just have to wait 'til we get back home.


I got the fruit cake made yesterday and it is all ready to go, hopefully we don't get pulled up for RBT testing on the highway, there is quite a lot (?) of rum both in the cake and on top as well .... oops.






At present I am enjoying one of my most favourite drinks, and no, no alcohol in this lot. I am a big fan of the Bundaberg Brewery Ginger Beer, but at Christmas they bring out a special brew - Spiced Ginger Beer. Oh my gosh, would have to think this is Australia's answer to hot mulled wine from the northern hemisphere. It is so, so delicious and refreshing in our hot temperatures.




I have also been busy with my final 'Countdown to Christmas' project for this year - hopefully they will put a smile on your face.






I would like thank Kris from Tag-Along Teddies for the OPAM that she has co-ordinated this year, it certainly is an awful lot of work she puts in each month - so thank you Kris. Can we hope, it will be on again next year?


What ever you do for Christmas and whoever you are with, enjoy and know that you are thought of at this special time of the year.


For now, both Hubby & I would like to wish all my blogger friends a very Merry Christmas - should be able to post again before the New Year.


 I would also like to thank you all for dropping by and visiting my blog.




"Til next time ....

Sunday 22 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along Days 21 & 22

Oh my gosh, the time has really flown and we are 22 lovely little stitcheries down and only 3 to go, can't wait to see what it is we are meant to possibly make up using them. Although I do have an idea of my own (as do others) but I will wait and see what ideas are suggested to us.


Here is my Day 21 & 22 stitcheries




In between doing these today, I also got our Christmas cake made after soaking the fruit in rum overnight, and sprinkling more over the top when I took it out of the oven - the smell must have got to me though as I just realised I have not taken a photo of it to post here, ah well, will see if I can put one up tomorrow.


Thankfully our family from Canberra have finally have been able to travel up through NSW (bushfires still horrendous) heading for the Sunshine State of Queensland (we too have fires in various areas, but thankfully no where near as bad as NSW) to spend Christmas with the family.


Time now to sit and put my feet up for a break before heading back to the kitchen to begin cooking dinner - oh, I must be bad, hubby does dinner on a Sunday night, woo hoo! A night off.


For now though, if you are travelling to reach family and/or friends to celebrate Christmas, please take care and travel safe.


'Til next time .....

Friday 20 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Alog - Days 19 & 20

Back to my little stitcheries today with me catching up (again) with them. Was not totally happy with the design inside the star for Day 19's, so did a little 'tweaking' again and am happy with it now.


For todays, it just screamed a thread full of sheen for the bow and that is what I did, I pulled out the box with all my DMC rayon threads, had them quite a while and to be honest, don't think they are available now, however, am happy with this one as well. Doesn't look all that different in the photo, but it does shine with the light on it.




Time now, to do a few more bits and pieces ready for Christmas - don't tell anyway, but I still haven't made my Christmas cake yet! Will get the fruit ready and soak it overnight.


So I shall be off .....




Take care my friends,


                      and thank you for dropping by.

Something a Little Different

I have not just been stitching my Mystery Advent stitcheries of late, I have been busy creating the Secret Santa gift for next week. The theme is 'sustainability' and I think I have accomplished this with relative ease considering anything hand made and reusable fits the bill, don't you think?


Well, this is what I created:


2 Calico shopping bags that roll up for you to take shopping
2 Mesh (with coloured tops) bags for fruit and veges to take to the supermarket
A terylene throwover (flies have a habbit of hanging around on Christmas Day)
A sewing mat with little rubbish bag (my recipient enjoys sewing too)
A wooden (double) trivet that Hubby generously made for me to add - it actually comes apart and makes two trivets.
Plus a Santa Sack to put all the items in.
Oh, forgot, I am also including a recipe book for kids - she has two toddlers.




I should not forget I have also been working on my 'Countdown to Christmas' item for this month as well - to be revealed next week.


For now though, at this busy time, make sure you take a little time out for yourselves.


'Til next time,


                                           and thank you for visiting my blog.

Wednesday 18 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along Days 16, 17 & 18

Here I go again, lagging behind with my stitcheries, however I do have good reason with me trying desperately trying to finish off my Secret Santa gift - all but there.


For now though, here are my latest for the Mystery Advent Stitch-Along:


Day 16




Day 17




Day 18




I am hoping by tomorrow I may be able to post my Secret Santa project.


So with this in mind I shall close off here and head back to my sewing machine for the last little bits to finish off.


Have a good night my friends,
              
                                        and thank you for dropping by for a visit to my blog.

Sunday 15 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along Days, 13, 14 & 15

No wonder it is called the 'silly season', I have gone from behind with my little Mystery Advent stitcheries to being ahead and having todays done before lunch.




Friday's got finished yesterday (Saturday) morning as I had spent a couple of hours at the hairdresser, and yesterday's was done yesterday afternoon/early evening whilst we were at the Sandstone Point Community Christmas Carols in the Park - with a twist.




So to begin, here is Day 13 ....






Now for Day 14 (yesterday)






The twist I spoke of with this one is, as mentioned we were at a Carols in the Park (carols to begin around 6.30pm) to and hubby was on 'cooking duty' with the Vietnam Veterans food trailer cooking up sausages around 3.30pm  and I was sitting on the sidelines stitching my pudding and all going well. However an ant decided otherwise and bit me on my lower eye lid, and oh my gosh did it hurt, off came the glasses real quick and I began to try and get the critter out of my eye. Eventually I did and squashed it to pulp and flicked it on the grass with a few good words. I then took off for the first aid station and thankfully there didn't appear to be any damage, but they did suggest a little bit of ice be put on it. This I did, had a snag or two, deciding to hold off on my stitching and see how my eye developed. Oh I also had an ice cream sundae with butterscotch sauce and a flake bar in it - yummm!


Anyway, before the light faded I was able to finish off my little plum pudding stitchery. Thought, yep, I can post these two when we get home, well .... that didn't happen, so having got on with the task this morning, here is today's stitchery:








I did take some photos of the carols in the park, but have not downloaded them yet - can't have everything ahead of time, but I will let you know that my eye is OK this morning after putting some drops in it last night before heading for bed.


Now it is time to get ready and head off to another Christmas lunch with friends, so whatever you are doing or wherever you may be .....






                                            and thank you for stopping by to visit my blog.







                                       

Thursday 12 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along - Days 11 & 12

Woo hoo! Finally caught up with myself and even going out for lunch (again) I managed to get the little stitcheries for yesterday and today finished on time.




Was in a quandary as to what colour to make the snowflake and after several attempts came up with a variegated white (DMC #4015) and a very, very pale blue (DMC # 775) which gave the white just that tinge of colour on the white background.


Have a couple of extra small 'Santa Sacks' to make to take out to lunch with us (yes another lunch) on Sunday with some friends. We will still have two more dinners out next week with other friends - I reckon Christmas is a season of weight gain and then we take the whole of the following year to get it off before we start all over again next Christmas. One could honestly think it was a conspiracy of the weight demons - but they shall not win! I am determined not to go overboard at any of the morning teas/lunches or dinners we are going to.


For now though I shall head for the craft room and cut out those extra santa sacks ready to sew up tomorrow, along with doing more on my Secret Santa project.


'Til next time, thank you for dropping by, keep stitching and take care.

Wednesday 11 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along - Days 9 & 10

Sorry I am late posting these (Days 9 & 10), thought I would be able to add todays (Day 11) as well, but not to be - went out for morning tea and lunch today, and as much as I enjoyed myself out and about, it does bite into my stitching time.


Here are the 9 & 10 that I finished this morning.




I did have the time this afternoon to get todays done, however I chose to catch up with some sewing of my 'Secret Santa' items. The cutting board came out and away I went. The sewing machine and the overlocker were going full bore. I am quite happy with what I am creating, and will post the photo of all the bits and pieces soon. But it now means I will have to catch up with my daily stitcheries tomorrow - that's OK, I feel I am far enough ahead to spend tomorrow afternoon sitting and doing the hand stitcheries. Looking at the diary I seem to have a reasonable amount of time up my sleeve to finish off the 'Secret Santa' things later in the week and maybe over the weekend.


For now though, I thank you for dropping by for a visit, and I shall make an effort to catch up and stay on track with my stitcheries.



Sunday 8 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along - Days, 6,7 & 8

Oh gosh, I feel as if I have been dragging the chain with these, but in actual fact we were out for dinner on Friday night (Day 6), so did not get it posted.


Other than that, we have had a full free weekend and usually for December that is unheard of, so I have managed to get in and finish off a couple of projects including Day 7 yesterday.




Yes, I took the photo with my apron on, we were cooking a Turducken roast in our new Air Fryer. We are contributing the roasts for our Christmas Day get together, and felt we wanted to have a 'practice' run. Really tasted yummy, although it did fall apart when I attempted to carve it.




Hence, Day 7 stitchery did not get posted either. I then decided, I would leave it until I had done todays (Day 8) and post them altogether.




I am so enjoying stitching these, although I have 'tweaked' a couple of them, but on the whole and pleased with the whole project to date.


Now it is time, to put my feet up under the fan with a nice glass of chilled wine supplied by hubby.


Talking of my wonderful hubby, I have to say that although he considers himself  'supervisor' of this Mystery Advent Stitch-Along, he is also very supportive of me doing it. His comments (most of the time) are much appreciated.


For now though, it is 'wine o.clock' and I feel I have earnt it today.


'Til next time, take care wherever you are.


                                                                and thank you for dropping by for a visit.                    

Thursday 5 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along Day 5

Another little stitchery done, and now only 20 days to go to the big day! Have an awful lot still to do and plan to get into it over the weekend - a free weekend in December? Unheard of around here!


Anyway, here is today's stitchery:




The design shows a little halo above the girls head, however I am unsure whether to put it on or not, your thoughts please.


Think that will do me for now, and head back into the lounge-room and the air conditioner, quite hot here today with the weekend temps to go even higher - good days for stitching with the air con. on.


'Til next time,


Take care all those affected by bushfires etc,


                                                                       and thank you for visiting my blog.

Wednesday 4 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along - Day 4

Been busy the last day or so whilst I redid days 1 & 2 along with keeping up with each days project. For Day 4 it was some cherries that we had to stitch. Again it was red-work, so I made the choice to create my own colour combination.




I mentioned I think yesterday that I was considering moving away from the red which meant re-doing both Day 1 & 2 stitcheries - here they are, and I really am quite happy with them.




Now to head off back to the sewing machine and do a bit more on a couple of Christmas gifts I am still making.


For now though,


                                                                    thanks for dropping by.

Tuesday 3 December 2019

Mystery advent Stitch-Along Day 3

Goodness me, I feel so sorry for Helen of Hugs n Kisses for the hassles she has been having with her systems and website crash over the last couple of days, guess it would with over 2,400 people trying to download the designs basically all together. Got another email from her this afternoon - all should be good from here on in.


Having done the first two stitcheries in a deep variegated red and todays design looked to be in the same colour, I decided to change tack as the saying goes. I am not one for red-work, so have decided to redo stitcheries 1 and 2 again with other coloured threads. You will see what I mean when we see stitchery 3 below - to me it looks so much brighter and therefore in my eye, better. We were given the option of following her colour scheme or choosing our own, also I have changed the angel design from yesterday just slightly.


Anyway, here is Day 3 stitchery - a candy cane.





Over the coming days, I will endeavour to redo Days 1 & 2, then put the new stitcheries up here on my blog.


For now though, I am going back out to the air conditioning and a bit more stitching.


Catch up with you soon,


                                                              and thank you for dropping by.

Monday 2 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along Day 2

It would appear all is back to normal with receiving our designs for the mystery stitch-along. Todays was in our in box before we were out of bed, and no we didn't sleep in.


Todays design is of a little angel which was a very easy one to stitch.







Was tempted to stitch the star in gold, but thought I would leave it as the design suggested.


Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.


'Til then,


                             take care
                                                                           and thank you for dropping by.

Sunday 1 December 2019

Mystery Advent Stitch-Along - Day 1

Just over a week ago I received an email regarding signing up for a Mystery Advent Stitch-Along from Hugs 'n Kisses in Hobart Tasmania.






It sounded fun with you receiving an email with a small stitchery design each day until Christmas. Then I think on Christmas Day you find out what to make all your stitcheries up as. I have not done anything like this before and it was with a little bit of trepidation that I signed up for it - it was free after all, and who doesn't like something for free. Mind you I have recently made a couple of purchases from them and this is their way of giving back to their customers.


So .... today was the first day, only everything crashed this morning and no emails were received. To begin with I thought it was me, having hit a wrong button or something, but there was a message on their facebook page to say as soon as the problems were sorted out, we would get our pattern for Day 1. This arrived mid afternoon and after I downloaded it , traced off the pattern to some fabric, it was stitching time - mind you in between, we have been out for the first of our Christmas functions, but I have managed o get it done in time.




Hopefully I will not be this late in posting my future stitchings, so keep tuned and see what other lovely stitcheries I get to makae.


For now though,


                       Take care,


                                                                               and thanks for stopping by.