It's Summer Time :)

well, sort of ................. it's time for my Summer swap for the Mini Quilt Swap run by Cheryll

Here is what I have made (it will be in the post this week)

After the last two months, it was really nice to spend time in my sewing room and work with some cheery fabric :)

So who is getting this one?

Another wonderful swap, organised by the Queen of Swaps, Cheryll, from Gone Stitchin

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

12" mini swap is ....................

in the mail ................ I wonder who is going to receive this    :)

My mitred corner I am particularly pleased with :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

FAwF/FNwF - show and tell

Once again, it was time to share some stitichin' time with my bloggy friends :)

Unfortunately, after a lovely day out on Thursday and lunch to celebrate my Dad's birthday with my sister ........ Friday morning I awoke with a very sore throat, runny nose and runny eyes ........ somehow, I had picked up a virus ............ bugger!   This morning, I have a very scratchy voice and a head cold :(  not happy Jan!

However, this did give me the opportunity to sit quietly, watch a bit of TV whilst doing some stitching for my Christmas in July Swap.

I even hand stitched the label on the back of my completed 12 mini

I have been looking at my finished mini on the design wall and think I am happy enough to send it :)  The stitching is a bit wobbly, and I hope the receiver will appreciate the challenge it was for me to do this one LOL - I am not a very good embroiderer ..... I actually said 'woo hoo' out loud when I completed my first french knott :)  the second one, I must have been over-confident, as it didn't work :(, but eventually, I got the hang of it.  So the french knotts on the Christmas in July embroidery are just that little bit neater than the ones on my 12" mini.

Now to go visit other fellow FAwF/FNwF participants and see what they have been up to :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Chookshed virtual quilty retreat - Part 2

well here is what I got up on Saturday/Sunday of Chookyblue's virtual quilty retreat

morning preparation

sorted more scraps for Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Log Cabin for JenD for Christmas Block Swap (tease photo)

and it worked out perfect - I did two things differently this time ..... I squared up at 6 1/2 inches and at 9 1/2 inches, this left only a smidgen (official measurement there LOL) to trim at 12 1/2 inches :)

I am very pleased with this block - I hope Jen likes it too!

it will be on it's way soon!!!

afternoon preparation :)

12" mini assembled and quilted and up to the binding stage 

12" mini almost finished :)

All will be revealed when it has arrived :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Chookshed virtual quilty retreat - Part 1

Time for a bit of a catch up on what I achieved for the first part of my first 'virtual' quilty retreat :)

I have been joining in with Chookyblue and her other guests to celebrate her 2nd birthday

this is what I have been up to:

the day starts with good prep  - Coffee and the last of my Hershey Kisses :(

my first batch of hand embroidery - secret stitching :)

secret stitching completed - now to make up my mini :)

Stay tuned for Part 2

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Easter time :)

I realised I had not posted a photo of the GORGEOUS Easter Mini I received from Anthea

The choccies didn't last long :)  I shared them with Mr Fixit the other night while we were watching TV - thank you Anthea, your mini is wonderful and is now hanging up in my sewing room :)

here is what I sent to my Easter Mini Swap partner - I can reveal who it was now that it has arrived safely - it was sent to Shez :)

I originally posted about it HERE, and had a little chuckle when Shez left an encouraging comment on my post :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

A moment of panic ......................

I have been working on my 12" mini quilt, and was ready to add the binding, hanging sleeve and tag ............ the tag, ....................... where is the tag? .................. I am sure I put it somewhere safe :)

I checked the 3 drawers in the sewing cabinet, the 4 boxes of blocks, scraps and ribbons/embroidery threads .................. where did I put it?

Ahh, I found it .................. underneath my RSC14 project :)  such a relief :)

here is my finished mini quilt ...........  I was inspired by a cushion cover I saw on the net somewhere :)

 mmmmmmmm, another moment of panic ........... not really happy with that binding - it is a bit crooked and there is some puckering along the top.  Time for some unsewing :(

this a bit better :)

Whilst I am still not completely happy with what I have done :(  it has made me more determined to master the skill of appliqué!
The deadline for posting fast approaches!

I also need to pull my finger out and get my old Singer sewing machine off for a service - the Singer can do blanket stitch :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

what does Easter mean to you?

As posted yesterday, I have joined in with Cheryll's 12inch Mini Swap and have received my 3 partners for the year.

The first swap is the theme of 'Easter' .............. hmmmmmm ........ I am struggling with this :(

I am not a religious person, and Easter to me means time spent with Mr Fixit's family (mostly for the Easter eggs for the two nephews :), however we do observe Good Friday, with no meat, Hot Cross Buns and a Four Day Weekend!

For us downunder, it is Autumn/Fall so the lovely 'springy' type images do not seem to fit.

I can't seem to get a sense of what my partner would appreciate for this swap - I know I wanted to play with my new Dresden ruler, but I can't seem to find a suitable 'Easter' theme to tie it in.  I do realise that my partner will appreciate anything I do, but I would really like to produce something that she would be happy to put on display :)

EDITED: (I should add ......... I am not at all proficient with embroidery :( )

Any suggestions anyone?

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

in the club ................

... the 12 inch mini swap club

this is what I received in the mail during the week - thanks Cheryll :) 

I have received my three partners and can plan my attack!  LOL  there are tags to embroider or just write on and attach to our mini swaps - Now I just have to figure out how to use them and the best way to attach them LOL - the coasters on the left are turned over so that the eventual recipients don't see them  - very sneaky indeed  :)

Thanks heaps to Cheryll, for being such a great Swap Co-Ordinator and for the lovely little extras (my own personal coaster and a lovely bookmark)

cheers for now ................ off to do some housework first, then I can spend some time in the sewing room :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Mini Quilt has arrived :)

The postie was kind on Friday and delivered a lovely package  :)

my Mini Quilt from Lyn - her blog is Stitches from the Mainland

I will endeavour to take some more photos when the light is better ;-)

the embroidery is GORGEOUS and the colourings are just perfect!

Many thanks to Cheryll, for once again organising a great swap - can't wait to see what is happening for 2014

I also managed to finish my Do.Good Stitches Bee blocks during the week

some very simple Wonky Crosses in Manly Colours

(I presumed it was not meant as Manly football colours :) )

the teal is a bit brighter in real life, I hope not too bright :)

Only one more November swap to complete - CraftMad Family Quilt blocks

stay tuned for more piccies later

and my Secret Angel sewing is nearly finished, I just have to figure out how to get my zip in neatly :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

My Secret Mini

I took part in Cheryll's Mini Quilt Swap.

The task was to make up a Mini Quilt (complete with hanging pocket) and the theme was Flowers.

I posted a tease photo earlier. 

Some of you may remember my post about the 9" Tulip Block I made for a block swap partner - well it bothered me that I couldn't work out the maths, so Mr Fixit very patiently sat down with me and helped me :)

My calculations :)

my quilted detail

the front

the back (complete with hanging pocket - my first :) )

It has been posted, I do hope the recipient likes it ;-)

I enjoyed being part of this swap and look forward to next year ;-)


Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

UPDATED - Our Craft Forum - mini swap - mug rug

Here is the lovely mug rug I received from Nomes

mini swap - mug rug, a photo by CrafteeCC on Flickr.

tease photo for my swap partner, Shirley


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