THIS AND THAT

 

Although I have been busy coping with Karah and how she is coping with losing her mum I have managed to squeeze in a little time for myself.

A couple of posts back I showed you the needle book I received in the Little needle Book Swap. Now that my recipient has received her needle book I can show you what I made for her.

 

 

With the needle book I also made a skinny pincushion and a covered notebook. 

 

 

the inside of the needle book with some little extras.

 

Last week our CWA Group, Murrumbidgee - Lachlan held our Cultural, Agricultural & Environment day. One of the competition son the day was an in group one which required us to make a Xmas placemat. these are the entries - I am thinking Karah and her friends would love making these!!

 

 

On Saturday just past I went to the Ganmain Show. In the morning I judged the preserves, pickles and jams. I love checking out all of the entries in the pavilion. So I took photos of a few of my favourite things. Above are some of the fruit and vegie Animals that the children have created.

 

Children's entries are my favourite sections in any show. They are so creative and free in their thinking!! Something I haven't seen before in my 20 years of involvement with shows are these fabulous little Nature Creatures.

 

These arrangements were in the floral art section - I am such a sucker for recycled art work.

 

And these Rusty wire art pieces were in the craft section - I am thinking I might have to go out and check out that unauthorised rubbish tip behind the sheds (my husband and his father are klepto's of anything old to do with farming) - I am sure I can create heaps of Rusty old farm crap artworks for my garden!!!!

 



Swaps Completed

Now that I know they have been received I can show you what swap gifts I have completed and posted off myself!!! And yes I was very late with them but my recipients were very understanding and were happy to wait.

For the beautiful Shez, dedicated creative lady extraordinaire from http://enjoyinglife.blogspot.com I made this Block Keeper.

 

 

Some of the embroidery and the beading on the basket was done while I was sitting beside Naomi while she was in hospital - kept my mind occupied for a few hours each day. 

 

When I started this I wasn't terribly happy with it but by the time I finished it I was very happy with it - so much so that I think I will definitely make another one for myself!!

On to the second swap gifts for the lovely Tania whose blog is http://ollieandt.blogspot.com.au 

 

 

A Star door hanger, an Angel tree ornament and a Santa & Tree table topper.

 

designing and making these was actually therapeutic and got me out of the no sew doldrums.

A big thankyou to the swap mumma's - Maree (Let's Stitch Together) and Cheryll (Christmas in July) for their fabulous organising again.

 



ANOTHER SWAP & WEEKEND FUN

 

Way back in June I received my CHRISTMAS IN JULY SWAP present - because it had 'DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 25TH JULY' a person within my home that particular day hid it because - get this- Kerrie can't help herself, she will open it so I am going to hide it!!! Hmph. Next thing I know I receive a lovely email from CHERYL asking if I had received my parcel - swap maker was becoming worried it had been lost in the mail. that triggered a niggling thought in the back of my mind so of I went on a search of the cupboards. guess what I found tucked in behind a pile in the linen cupboard!!!

Now, when this lovely friend would put her Christmas decorations and hand towels on her blog I often thought 'I wonder if I will be lucky enough to receive one of Shez' sets in a swap one day!!' And my day had come.

 

 

A fresh and bright hand towel, a sweet little snowman decoration and a beautiful wall hanging. Now how lucky am I. And thank you, thank you sweet Shez - I love them and so happy I am now the owner of a Shez Xmas Trio!!!!

 

I have been swamped by little people this weekend. yesterday I had Oliver, Abbey & Lachlan (grandies) plus Tyrelle, Bryson & percy (great nephews) visiting. So I did what ant grandmother/great aunty would do took lots of photos!

 

 

Lachlan busy making his own vegie patch; Abbey mixing up a concoction of who knows what and Karah swinging up and down the pole (old overhead tank stands make great cubbies with a little bit of imagination!)

 

Abbey and Karah climbing and posing.

 

Abbey, Karah & Tyrelle; abbey, Karah, Tyrelle and Bryson; Abbey, Karah, Tyrelle, Bryson, Percy & Ollie. The hay was a favourite as was the tractor. My great nephews have spent a lot of time in shearings sheds as their dad is a shearer so that was of no interest but the tractors, trucks and bales of hay they haven't been around so they were very interesting.

This afternoon Karah had a craft afternoon with 3 friends (plus a little brother). Between running around outside playing with the dogs, patting the horses and cuddling the rabbits, this is what they made - flower brooches.

 

 

Big and bold. They finished the afternoon off with a motorbike ride. Tonight we had dinner with mum - spoilt with silverside, white sauce and vegies - although we cook the silverside meal the same way mine does not taste as good as mums - maybe it is because it has been cooked for me.

 

That wraps up my weekend. Back into the school routine tomorrow for us here. I have completed 3 lots of swap presents but I cannot show you yet as there recipients haven't received them. This week I am hoping to be able to do some sewing for myself - it is on the agenda anyway.

Have a great week everyone!!

 

PS: My spell check isn't working in blogger - there will probably be a mistake or two even though I have read it through twice!

 

 

 

 

 



MORE BEAUTIFUL SWAPS

 

Next swap I received was this beautiful Block Keeper from the lovely Terri who was my 'maker' swap partner in the Let's Stitch Together swapping group organised by the beautiful Maree.

 

 

Terri's beautiful Block keeper came along during some of my dark times in June - it was so lovely to have such a 'pick me up' on that day. I love the effect of the variegated thread that Terri has used on the embroidery - I have lots of variegated threads and never think to get them out and use them - I must remedy that situation very soon!!

 

Two handy pockets on one side and the block protection flaps on the other. I have never had a block keeper before  (only plastic bags!!!) so I am very happy to have this. I love the colours Terri has used and I was also lucky enough to receive two beautiful threads in the pocket!!!

THANKYOU so much Terri - I have been very spoilt yet again!!!



A little Bit More Sunshine Each Day

We are slowly rebuilding our lives - the time frame of Naomi's illness feels so surreal - we had a healthy girl one day, the next she was seriously ill, and the next she was gone - that is how it seems. Karah is so strong and brave - I cannot imagine or relate to losing my mother when I was 10years old. She is the one constant in our lives that keeps me getting up each day and making myself get going on the road to emotional recovery.

And I have been so very spoilt by several swap partners over the last few weeks. I won't show you all that I have received in this post - I will string that out over the next couple of weeks, along with what I have made for swap gifts also.

How has your weather been this past week? We have gone from beautiful warm sunny days to below zero nights, heavy frosts and biting winds ( although no snow like there has been in so many places - even places that haven't had snow before!!)

 

My visit to the post office on Wednesday before Naomi passed away lifted me like nothing else had for months........ because I received this - an exquisite Little Needle Book from my swap partner in the 'Need A Little Needle Book Swap run by the lovely Amy who has a beautiful blog HERE !!

 

 

I nearly cried from happiness when I seen it and I did cry when I read the beautiful words in the card from Kim. So beautifully made and I smile each time I look at it. 

 

Karah found it on my sewing table last week and spent half an hour oohing and aahing over it - she was completely taken in with all the little details. Thank you so much Kym.

 

I did manage to spend a little time in the yard (not a garden currently as it hasn't had any attention for 4 months and is an overgrown untidy weed patch currently) - I pruned 9 rose bushes while Greg planted another 5 for me. Not a lot but I felt refreshed when I finished - hours later I just feel stiff and sore!!!lol.

 

That is about it for me this time. Time for me to rest these weary muscles in my bed and get some shut eye!

PS: My apologies to Amy - I have corrected the link now and tested it.