Happy Christmas

as we wind down for a family Christmas break I have been attempting to catch up on a few long unfinished items. So first finished was Stars for Henry which was for his birth. Now Henry turns 2 on Jan 6th 2008 so Im not too late!!! I also shipped off Clancy's quilt with his Christmas present - it was the blue version of Skinny mini, now he is only 4 months old so I was good there wasnt I?
Stars for Henry was made using my blue stash = my first collection of fabrics was always blues, not sure why but I had heaps including many handdyeds from my dying days. Seem to have more blues than anything. I also used six star blocks which were given to me as my first and only birthday block swap. The colours were great, I'd always liked them but had never had time to make more to have enough for a quilt. I think it looks pretty good dont you. It is single bed size and he is still in a cot so it is perfect timing to give it to Henry anyway... reading about everyones beautifully decorated homes I took a look at ours. We proudly get the boxes down at the beginning of December and all take part in putting up the tree. This year Tilly was the best tree hanger, her patience lasted longer than everyones. Our new 'piece' for the year was our Advent calendar. I made this in 2007 for the Homespun Christmas in July magazine from lovely hand dyed wools from Highland quiltworks. Gee they were nice to work with. It took a lot of filling with three things each day for the children to seach for. This year we went for pens, stickers, scrapbooking items etc instead of sweets and chocolates every day.

as we unpack our boxes of decorations many memories come flooding back of the different places we have lived in Australia, the different schools and kindys they have attended and the many beautiful decorations brought home. All are stored carefully and hung each year which doesnt make for the most attractive tree but the most meaningful to us. We seem to have quite an assortment of angels over the years. I have posted just a few... arent they special?

mmmm angel or ghost?

our tree of memories...

notice that all the crisply wrapped packages are well poked, crumpled, prodded and peeked into... three girls and one dad.... patience is not a virtue in this household...

so to you and yours, with only 4 sleeps to go

have the most wonderful day of memories on Christmas day, spend it with special people, think of the special meaning of Christmas or what it means to you and thank whoever for being lucky enough to experience it this year.

hugs to you and yours

Helen

The Drawing is near!

Yes, you would be pleased to hear that all my orders are packed and sent, promotional products sent and all is good to go. I will drawing the lucky winners today, right after I go to the Post Office, get a new towbar for our new camper trailer, pack the clothes and food for our camping weekend, pack the car, hook up the trailer, da di dah di dahh.. I promise I will do it today, then hopefully on my return Sunday night the recipients would have sent me their addresses.

Just while your waiting, check out this lovely Christmas Idea found on the Misadventures of Mama Blog - isnt it gorgeous, but she says it takes a lot of buttons and time...

and another great idea complete with tutorial here

Stacking Fabric Christmas Trees from the Small Object blog. Now I have to thank the Lazy Girl Blog for finding these goodies....

and these would be great for kids to do - snowflake sewing cards by goldtop

Does anyone else have some great Chrissy ideas or pics to share? Okay I'll go start my list of jobs now....

hugs until later today, Helen

Aussie quilt events

I have just followed a link to a great listing of all Aussie quilt events. It is on the Downunder quilts website but I have so many links in my favourites I can never find anything. So I am going to put it as a link on my blog so I and all of you can always find it and plan your trips and opportunities around them....

Now I need to tell you that although I did 'forget' to put my Last minute Christmas Gift countdown project on my blog, it is on the Cotton Spice website ever so nicely with all the other FREE projects.... and it will stay there until the whole event is over, so get over there quickly and d0wnload the pattern! Here is a pic for you of my little heart bag which some of you may have seen from my gathering - sorry I just didnt have time to make another new one, but if you couldnt make it to the gathering well now you have it for free!!!

hugs

Helen

The Countdown

Only 1 day to go for the first FREE pattern in the Last Minute Gift Countdown, for us Aussies, yes it is the 5th here already but as Cotton Spice is a USA magazine then their 5th is our 6th so you will have to wait one more night! I must remember to check each day to download the patterns as not sure how long they will be left up there? And then I will HAVE to start thinking about Christmas...

Also I am watching with interest the ebay auction for the Universal Magazines Busting to Quilt goodies... I hope they get some good bids so the charity receives a worthy donation.

But for today, Kerrie, here is a sneak peek at your goodie parcel on its way to you today. Hope you have fun with them, can you read the verse in the background, I thought it suited nicely, it is one of hte 52 on the back of the Nice People Nice Things quilt...?

off to finish my 'skinny overnighter' quilt samples and finsih the instructions....

hugs

Helen

ooooohhhh. and my PJ party embroidery CD's have just arrived, how exciting....

Lynette's visit

Had a lovely chat with Lynette Anderson and her charming hubby Vince today at The Quilted Crow. Now Lynette said she ran out of time to tell you all on her blog where she was off to, so if you are worried about her as her dear mum was, then I can tell you she is well and well travelled having spent the last week almost travelling our lovely state. The official photographer (Vince) took some pics of us all today and she will post them plus many more I am sure on her blog on her return...

They have all their projects for the Christmas Gathering in the store now and will soon have them on their blog also. Its going to be a wonderful feelgood day and I am so looking forward to it.

Of course whilst at the Quilted Crow I had to buy something - dont we all? So some lovely Day in the Country fabric for a quick quilt idea I have been dreaming up and some ribbons to finish off Kim's Christmas Club project for 2008. Can't show it all, its a surprise, but here's a peek!


I'm not sure if you can sign up for the Honeysuckle Christmas Club yet but keep an eye out for it for Kim somehow manages to get all the wonderful Aussie designers to make great projects just for club members. You even get a kit to make it posted to your letterbox every month.. What fun and what excitement!!

Well, I'm still suffering from my Tassie Flu which I suspect may have developed into a sinus infection down here but at least the weather has been nicer. Enjoying my few days of Peace with just Matilda and I whilst the big girls are on their guide camp and Rohan is on his Band camp....at least he gets to go to the footy on Friday night - for overseas people - its Australian Rules Football finals season at present and his home team of Geelong is actually in with a winning chance for the first time in his lifetime! Sorry Leonie, Collingwood dont have a chance!

So off to do some more stitching in peace, have about 40 more to go for the 'Nice People Nice Things project' so really shouldnt be down here on this computer at all!

hugs for today
Helen

Christmas Gathering

What have I been up to you ask??? well apart from a hundred other things today I delivered my projects for the Christmas Gathering mentioned in an earlier post to the girls at the Quilted Crow. I think they were happy with them. This is going to be a wonderful day at the Campania Hall in October with myself, Belinda Merrit from Pheobe Rose, Leonie and Deirdre and Michelle all giving new projects for a special day. We have all done a Christmas Project and a Gift type project. I threw in my new bags you have been seeing me play with also using the lovely Fresh Cut range from Heather Bailey..

Do you like my Christmas Tree Skirt, I used the Spirit of the Season II range which had just come into the Quilted Crow shelves...

Do you like my Christmas in July rose tree? sort of Christmassy??? well use your imagination..
I got fat eights from the girls so the leftovers were used to make a double sided cushion with an interesting back...

I have been tagged yet again by Sarah today. I know I know, I still havent come through on Lynettes tag yet but I will get to it when I can find 8 people (it was only 7 for Lynette so now I have to find yet another!)... will try soon, it will be great when I get my laptop back from my developer and can blog upstairs in front of the heater at night instead of down here in my studio where by now at 5.45pm it feels like about 5degrees! By the way I really like what she got in her Christmas Swap,,,, mmmmm maybe I could find the time to join her Pay it Forward challenge...so, heres my tree skirt and fresh cut cushion..... I had to include some Colourque at the request of many....but using some new brighter colours...

hugs

Helen