Christmas Postcard Swap

I just realised I hadn't posted about the amazing Christmas postcard swap organised by the wonderful Shelia from Shelia's Quilt World. My partner was the beautiful Selina who sent me this gorgeous postcard

I had to copy the image from her blog as I have put the card up in a safe place (because I didn't want anything to happen to it and now I can't remember where that safe place is :0(
(Just so Selina knows I did find the postcard! It's in with all my postcards from around the world that I exchange through post crossing, although none of them are beautifully stitched ones  like this one!)

I was very forgetful when it came to this  swap I also had to ask Selina if she could send me a photo of the card I sent her as I was so excited to put it in the post for her I forgot to take a photo of it before I sent it.

This is the card I sent Selina

The swap has been lots of fun! Thank You for organising the swap Shelia and thanks for being a wonderful partner Selina.

Long Time No Post!!

I will just show you what I have been up to lately since it has been a long time between posts

I am starting to make plans of what I would like to do next year so I will write a post about that later.

Black Tie Boogie Blog Hop

Well the time has finally come! It is my day for the Black Tie Boogie Blog Hop.

Firstly I would like to thank the wonderful

Mdm Samm 

and 

the amazing 

Vickie

for organising and hosting this blog hop. Once again it has been loads of fun and it is amazing to see how many wonderful creations have been made.

I would also like to thank our sponsors

Red Rooster Fabrics

Florine Johnson Designs

and

Bird Brain Designs


Now for my project

This is my Cheeky Chook made from a Funky Friends Factory pattern.

After a short visit at my favourite fabric shop (Marci's Quilting Service)

this Cheeky Chook will become a surprise gift for someone when I make another 

(secret) Toy Society  drop. I sure hope he finds a good home!

Now I am off to check out some of the other bloggers hopping along with me today!

Would you like to join me?

Here is today's list

November 28

Celtic Thistle Stitches

Crafting 365 Days (you are here)

Hill Valley Quilter

Thimblemouse & Spouse

Yay, postcards have finally arrived!!!

JoAnne let me know the other day that my postcard had arrived, which I was glad to hear, especially since it was the first postcard I had made.

Sorry about the quality of the photo, I didn't check it until after I sent it.

I did a search for fall pictures and after narrowing it down to about four pictures I decided to use this design as inspiration for my postcard. I knew I wanted to use batiks but the Swirly lines proved a bit more challenging until I remembered the multicoloured  piece I had and it turned out to be perfect.

I found the picture here

Today the postman finally delivered the one JoAnne had made for me. JoAnne had actually sent hers before I sent mine so it just goes to show it can take different amounts of time to go the same distance in different directions.

Isn't it beautiful?

Finding 15 Minutes a day

Finding time to sew is a bit easier when I am only trying to do 15 minutes at a time. This week I managed to sew 

Tuesday- Summer Fun BOM

Wednesday- Summer Fun BOM

Thursday- Summer Fun BOM

Friday- sewing  for the shop

Saturday- picking fabric for new toy

Sunday-nil

Monday-Sew cheeky chook toy

Don't forget to check out what everyone else has been doing 15 minutes at a time over at Life in Pieces with Kate.

One marked off my October list!

I finished the monster :0) I think he will make a nice (secret)Toy Society toy drop, now I just have to decide where to drop him.

If you like him, check out the other wonderful patterns from The Funky Friends Factory.

October Goals

I am hoping to get the following done during October

Finish Chester

Finish my Mix and Match Monster

Make progress on my cross stitch

Finish this little appliqué

Make progress on this quilt

But most importantly I want to get this to the flimsy stage, which means I am going to be very busy!

Linking up with

Never to hot to stitch!: 2013 Year of the Finished Project

Don't forget to check out what everyone else is up to this month.

Am I lucky or what?

I stumbled across Charles Parsons craft project website and discovered a competition for some Cosmo Cottons. I love Cosmo Cottons and I would not go back to the threads I used to use. The Cosmo Cottons are much smoother and don't tangle. Anyway I entered the competition and I was lucky enough to win some of the cottons they had on offer, nine skeins YAY!!! 

I've been a bit slack posting

so here is a bit of an update of what I have been doing.

I'm still working on my cross stitch, but at least I have made some progress

I have finished the star quilt I was working on

although the photo doesn't show the binding, that has been done too.

I also got the bag finished

I also finished the binding on the lamb  quilt & the green & purple quilts.

The lamb one was sent off to a new member of the family and the green & purple one is on display at Marci's Quilting Service

Very Excited

I have just joined my first fabric postcard swap over at Sheila's Quilt World. Now it's time to figure out what to make!!!

Inspired by the Pin it blog Hop at "Sew We Quilt"

While I was checking out the wonderful creations of the bloggers participating in the Pin It blog hop over at "Sew We Quilt" I came across a very cute owl pincushion/sewing caddy made by the very talented Cindy at "Daisy Days" Luckily for me she shared a link to not only a tutorial but also a pattern for this very cute Owl. Of course after discovering that I just had to make my own!
Here he is now....

Don't forget to pop over to "Shanni Loves" to get your very own pattern and to let her know how wonderful she is for sharing her delightful creation.

15 minute challenge update

This was my first week of the 15 minute challenge and I wanted to make progress on a cross stitch which had been sitting around on the frame for way too long.

 I started the week with this

and ended it with this

it is probably the most progress I have made in a long time. I am actually hoping I might even get it finished this year if I keep going at the rate I am progressing. I didn't work on it every day either but I did find once I got started on it I would usually spend more than 15 minutes on it, it was just the getting started that helped. Don't forget to pop over to  Life In Pieces to see how others are doing with their 15 minute challenges.

2013: The Year of the Finished Project – July edition

I really want to try and get back on track with my crafting. I have started doing the 15 minute challenge to get my cross stitch finished (and I have been making good progress with it too!)

but there are a few other things I would like to finish this month too. So I am joining in with the
 2013: The Year of the Finished Project

I need to bind this quilt

and this one

I need  to finish this bag

and make progress on this

I need to replace the top flap on this bag

and catch up on the Hello Moon Quilt-along

Then there are a couple of things I want to start on too, but I'll show you pictures of them after they are started.

Tuesday Progress

I got some work done on my cross stitch and I can actually see the progress!

Hopefully it won't take as long as I thought to finish!

Getting back on track

I have been a bit busy with getting ready for the local show and volunteering there so I have neglected my crafting. To get back on track I have joined Life in Pieces 15 Minute Challenge. This week I plan to do at least 15 minutes a day on my cross stitch that has been on the frame way too long!

W.I.P. Wednesday

I have several projects on the go (again!) Here are just a couple of them. After just finishing a baby quilt for one cousin another one had a baby so now this one is in progress.

Can you tell I am trying to decide if it needs an extra border or not?

Then I started back on this project 

I think I might be spending some more time on this one tomorrow. 

Don't forget to check out what everyone else is working on over at Freshly Pieced

Friday Night with Friends

My friday night  with friends sew in became a Friday night with friends without sewing, due to some friends coming over for dinner so I am now working on what I had planned to work on last night. I really have to get the binding on this quilt. I would really like to show you all the other side but it is a gift for someone and I am trying to keep it a secret.

I am also hoping to get some work done on this as I need to get it finished by next weekend!!!

Basket a big hit!

Finished this one last week and it has been getting lots of comments in at Marci's fabric shop.

Doll is finished

I finally finished the doll. I didn't realise just how long it would take, there was alot of detail in the doll.