A Surprise Gift

Last week I received a very unexpected surprise from Kim

Kim has undertaken a world-wide venture to celebrate her 60th birthday this year

She sent out 60 gifts to 60 people and I was included

Above is a card of an oil on porcelain entitled 'Ziva' painted by Kim (McCool) herself

The back of the card

The gifts......a cushion, card, beading kit, fabric and thread

A little cross-stitch cushion

Fabric and threads

Thank you Kim for these absolutely delightful unexpected gifts......they made my day!!!

I hope you had the Best Birthday with many, many more to come!!!

Happy Birthday.......love Dzintra xo

~Pin Cushion Swap Received And Sent~

I was recently involved in a Pin Cushion Swap over at Maree's of Ollie and May
The deal was to send a Pin Cushion to a Secret Partner
My Partner was Tatyana and the Pin Cushion above is the one I received off her
Isn't it just lovely!!!
I just love the traditional star pattern.......Tatyana also included a fat 1/4 with a very similar pattern!!!

Tatyana also included some buttons and one of her beaded creations

And also a little owl

The cute little owl is for JoJo

Thank you so very very much Tatyana for thinking of her!!!

Tatyana also included her little card complete with little owls!!!

To see more of her creations go over here

Thanks you so much Tatyana for these gorgeous gifts....I am enjoying all of them!!!

My little package went to Lynda who I had actually met at Girls Day in the Country this year

This is the card I sent her

My little cross stitched Pin Cushion sitting atop a fat quarter

together with some yummy Lindt Chilli Chocolate

Can't help thinking of one of my favourite movies Chocolat when I seen Chilli Chocolate!!!

To see some scenes from the movie go over here

Thank you Maree for running this lovely little Pin Cushion Swap!!!

Sew Cook Laugh Live ~Swap sent and received...a new quilt beginning and some cross stitch~

Recently I was in a swap hosted by Jos

The brief was:  send at least 1m of fabric (could be fat 1/4)
2m tape/ribbon etc
4 buttons
thread
and something your partner will really enjoy

My partner was Michele from The Christmas Beetle
on the questionnaire Michele mentioned she was obsessed by Christmas and that her favourite colour was red
Into this package above went a cake of raspberry soap

French General fabric

1m of cotton tape and 1m of Christmas ribbon

pack of large rusty buttons/bells

A Christmas pattern by hugs'kisses and threads to match

A Christmasey fat 1/4

My parcel arrived last week and it made my day as I had to take it easy with this knee of mine

Thank goodness for Mr Armchair who was able to do some work from home (and still is) and care for JoJo while I had my leg up

I had instructions to follow *grin*

JoJo was to open the parcels with tape on them and not me!!!!!!

She like Michele is also obsessed with Christmas

I specified my favourite colours as soft, warm colours with aqua being my second favourite

I received some perle thread and a reel of aqua thread

a white cotton doiley

Christmastime fabric by my favourite designer Anni Downs of The Home Patch

Some lace and cotton/linen tape on pegs

And a pattern

4 lovely aqua ceramic buttons

Pattern Dashing Thru the Snowcones by Meme's Quilts

A little hanger as well

The tape is sitting up with others now

Close up of the fabric

Here's JoJo excitedly opening the 'taped' parcels

to find some very Christmasey mugs and some muffin cups

Thank you so much Michel......I We absolutely love this parcel and we would love to come to your shop one day in Albury for a visit......JoJo would just think all her Christmases had come at once!!!!!!

And thank you so much Jos from SewCookLaughLive for hosting this wonderful swap!!!!!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in it

The fabric that Michele sent me was just the right size to go with my fat 1/8 of Christmastime that I already had

Laying out the fat 1/8ths

with Michele's fabrics

 

I started the quilt pattern Michele sent me

I have only done 2 blocks so far......I thought I might try appliqueing with blanket stitch on the machine this time to speed everything up but I can't sit at the machine yet!!!!!!!!!

I think I'm going to really enjoy doing this quilt as I've not done anything like it before

I think I might call it Ice Creams and Snowmen

 

Meanwhile I thought I would start a 'scary' cross stitch by LizzieKate I recently bought

using these wonderful Weeks Dye Works thread that came with the kit

I've got lots to do now on the stitching side so I better make the most of it while Mr Armchair is home!!!!!!

My giveaway is still open over here for those who haven't entered yet......Dzintra

OPAM (One Project a Month) December...

Here is the last for OPAM for 2011...

2 items this time...

A Volkswagen Combi Cushion especially for JoJo...

Pattern is 'big camper' by Hot Possum and fabric is 'Now We're Goin' Places' by Monica Lee 

for Timeless Treasures...

I even did the applique with my machine...and this was a first for me...

Back of the cushion...this is the first time I have attempted buttonholes with my machine...

so easy!!!  I'm ready for more ha ha...

Even had some VW buttons by Nikki Tervo waiting for something special like this...

Front of cushion...

and back...

and a little cross stitch for JoJo...

she just loves Santa so this was quite apt for the occasion...

only thing is...I have had it for 2 years...

Thank you so much to Peg and Kris for hosting OPAM for another month...

I know that I wouldn't have finished a lot of what I have!!!

Mandeni Quilt Hanging...with a touch of Christmas!

In Springtime we went to a Hanging of the Quilts at Mandeni Needlecraft...

A lovely Hanging, gorgeous quilts...lots of pics following,

Looks like an Anni Downs quilt here...

love the warm country colours...

 a cross stitch on display in the shop...

and a Christmas section that JoJo could not resist...

JoJo saw a Christmas quilt on the wall and asked for one too...

think I'll have to do that one for her...it's not very often that she will ask for something like this!!!

Christmas has come around so fast this year...

one minute I have a sling on my arm...

and the next it's almost the end of the year...

I feel like I've lost a bit of time!!!

Wishing everybody a beautiful Christmas Season wherever you are,

and a Blessed and Happy Healthy New Year...

'I believe in everything until it's disproved.

So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons.

It all exists, even if it's in your mind.

Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?'

~John Lennon, 1940-1980~

Well said John!!!