My swap surprise.

As I had mentioned in my previous post that at the Mill Rosie Get together we held a swap. It was all by choice if you wanted to participate or not.

Boy am I glad that I did. I received this beautifully hand made wall hanging from the lovely Christine from MacDonald's Patch

It even came with this adorable heart hanger.

Thanks again Chris I love it!

In the mean time I have been very busy making giant tissue paper flower balls.

My friend Robyn was in desperate need for some ideas to decorate a hall for her friend Elizabeths wedding.

We had to be very budget conscious. So we through a few ideas around and now we are both super busy getting things made.

We have made 18 of these so far we probably need about 22 more then we have to get cracking on the centre pieces for the tables.

No pressure it just all needs to be done by the 15th of December...

Yes...this year.

 I think that we might as well throw in a couple of Birthdays, work break-up a kris kringle, end of year party for meditation and a high tea end of year celebration for our Gisborne quilters group.

Like I said no pressure......hehehehe

What a day we had!

We couldn't of asked for a better day for all of us ladies to get together at Mill Rose Cottage

The sun was shining,

This is the bag that I made for the Annie Downs themed swap

 

It was a pattern out of her book the simple life

I also added a present pin cushion

and a Sewers emergency bag

Can't forget the chocolate.

Then wrapped it with button paper and ribbon.

 

We all met, chatted, then browsed the gorgeous range of everything that Mill Rose had to offer.

Eventually we sat and did some sewing and more chatting.

 So much to look at!

 We did our swap. This is Chris the lovely lady who was the recipient of my bag.

I was also the recipient of her beautiful handy work. I'll have to show you tomorrow for I don't have a picture of it as yet.

We then went off for a beautiful lunch...the food and service was absolutely excellent.

Then back for more sewing.

It was a shame that the day had to end.

A big thanks and hug to Melody the organizer and the Mill Rose staff for their wonderful hospitality. 

Do you want to meet?

Are you free next Saturday the 17th of November at 10.00am?

Would you like to meet fellow bloggers and a gorgeous bunch of like minded people?

Could you imagine your self sitting and sewing in a fabulous little quilting shop that has an array of over 3000 lines of fabric?

What about eating a delicious lunch and dessert that is cooked just for you and you don't even have to worry about the washing up.

Where? I here you say...

Mill Rose Quilting and Gallery 92 Inglis Street Ballan Victoria 3342

Just in case you need directions there is a map here.

The Restaurant is just next door you can find the menu here.

Which always has daily specials too.

Soooo...What will we do? Bring along your biggest grin.....some stitching to do, an Annie Downes themed present if you want to be part of the swap, you could share some past projects in a show and tell, some money for lunch (or you can bring your lunch). Sit back and enjoy all the fun.

If this sounds inviting to you just let me know in the comments.

Shhh! It's a secret!

The last few days I have been very busy making and creating for some secret swaps and Kris Kringles that I have coming up.

So, I'm very sorry that I can't show you any pics for I truly don't want to spoil any ones surprise.

All I can say is that some of them involve a lot of 11/2" squares.

What I can share is a pic or two of some dread beads that I have been making with Darcee.

These are made out of polymer clay. I have never used this before but hay I do love to learn new things.

So we grabbed some clay and instructions from the amazing tool called You Tube.

& Ta Da we now have dread beads in the wonderful reggae colours.

 

and of course we had the not so lucky beads that we managed to burn to a crisp.

Nothing like trial and error.

Very happy 14 year old though...so I couldn't possibly ask for more.

I've been tagged!

Well this seems like a fun way in getting to know fellow bloggers.

so to play this game I have to follow these rules.

Here are the Rules!

1. every tagged person has to tell 11 things about themselves
2. the person who tagged you asked 11 questions, answer them
3. ask 11 questions for the 11 blogs you're going to tag (these people you tag should have less than 200 followers).
4. mention the blog that tagged you but don't tag back.

So lets see.... I have graciously been tagged by Cath at Bit's n Bob's she has an absolutely gorgeous blog that is well worth the look, and she is so lovely to chat to.

Now for the 11 things about me.

What will I share?....and what will I keep secret?

1. I'm happily married and have been for 22 years.
2. I have 3 gorgeous teenagers 2 boys and 1 girl.
3. I adore anything creative and will try my hand at anything.
4. I'm the typical Virgo
5. I probably over spoil my family and pets.
6. I'm not one for romance but I do love to get flowers.
7. I am very down to earth and been known to have a wicked sense of humour.
8. I'm the oldest of 3 siblings.
9. My favourite food in the whole world is Ice-cream.
10. I'm 1/2 Irish and 1/2 Australian.
11. I can count all of my good friends on one hand.

The 11 questions that I have been asked by Cath at Bits n Bobs

1. How many pets do you have? 12 ( a cow, 6 chooks, 3 dogs, and 2 cats)
2. What is your favourite city in the world? I'm a bit bias here but I'll say Melbourne.
3. What kind of books do you read? I generally like the type with pages.
4. Where did you last Holiday? Sydney.
5. What is your favourite animal? I like them all but I'll have to say dogs the most.
6. What is your zodiac sign? Virgo.
7. What is your favourite TV show? Mentalist/CSI
8. What was the best bargain purchase that you ever made? Our land in Bullengarook.
9. What is your favourite season? Autumn.
10. Do you like to garden? Yes I do I find it very grounding.
11. If you could, would you make a ''tree change'' or a ''sea change''? Not on your life, I love where I am.

and here are the questions that I am asking the blogs that I tag!

1. What's your favourite movie of all time?
2. If today was your last day on Earth, what would you be doing right now?
3. What is your most favourite quote?
4. What sound do you love?
5. What was your favourite food as a child?
6. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
7. Are you a collector of anything?
8. Are you a morning or night person?
9. If you had 3 wishes what would they be?
10. Name one thing that you love about being an adult?
11. Now the serious part...honestly how big is your fabric stash?

So will you play?

Here is the 11 blogs that I have tagged.

1. butternutpatch.blogspot.com
2. auntyhennys.blogspot.com
3. margh-margh.blogspot.com.au
4. craftymainemom.blogspot.com.au
5. daisyandjack.blogspot.com.au
6. frogcottagedesigns.blogspot.com.au
7. hobbieswithalittlebiteoflife.blogspot.com.au
8. institchesblog.blogspot.com.au
9. justcraftingmydayaway.blogspot.com.au
10. kraftykaylee.blogspot.com.au
11. lifeisjustsew.blogspot.com.au

To dread or should I say tread!

Teenagers....you gotta love them.

I'm sure that many of us have been there....you know their choice of style in clothing, hobbies, girls, hair long short coloured or whether this week they might even be vegetarian or vegan. Maybe high protein or low carb diets or if working out at the gym it may be low protein high carb.

I mean really each week or month a different challenge is thrown at us as parents.

So this week in my house hold my 14 year old son has decided that he wants dreadlocks.

I'm all for them expressing themselves showing their individuality etc but I'm not willing to fork out $400 or so for someone to matt up his hair.

So I took my sons gorgeous strawberry blonde locks,

after much research on the net

 

Sectioned his hair

 

Matted his hair with much back combing

 

and matted some more

 

until we had a head full of dreads..mind you he is as pleased as punch.

Me on the other hand.....lets just say it's phase..right...please... just humour me and say it's a phase!

They will eventually drop and sit like normal dreads but for now he will look a little like an Echidna

 

Just a quick glimpse of some burp bibs that I made 16 to be exact.

 

I even got to use my hand made labels.

A look at our beautiful sky tonight.

50/50

Just watched this movie tonight after sewing all day

oh my gosh what a way to clear the tear ducts...

I certainly needed plenty of these....

X stitch

This little cross stitch is coming along ever so slowly.

It is something that I pick up when I have a few minutes here and there.

I did manage to get other sewing done today, for I was busy making burp cloths for mums stall. I managed to get 16 cut out and about half sewn up along with some little bibs.

Sorry no pics, I actually forgot to take them and the lighting here tonight is poor.

Maybe tomorrow.