The Christmas spirit continues!

Last Christmas I participated in Chookyblue's Secret Santa swap. I had to make a gift for Carole who lives in Upstate New York. I agonised over what to make & eventually decided on making something from an Australian designer. It was a handy sewing bag designed by Rosalie Quinlan with embroidery inspired by Leanne Beasley. Fresh & pretty, I was thrilled that she loved it!

Yesterday in the mail Carole had sent me a lovely thankyou gift with the most gorgeous quilty card.

Very special! Thankyou Carole...I was very touched by your gift!

Aren't blog friends lovely?

Cardygirl xx

Thankyou Cheryl!

Christmas morning meant I was at last able to open my SSCS pressie!

It came all the way from Cheryl in the US...

she is so clever and made me this beautiful Christmas table topper...

it is very special to know that she had been "stalking" my blog

& spent the time to make something just for me!

Go & visit her at polkadotsandrickrack.blogspot.com....

she is lots of fun!

Thankyou Cheryl...it is now a special Christmas treasure for me!

Cardygirl xx

HOHOHO..it's SSCS swap time!

A long day at work was made wonderful when I arrived home to find my SSCS present had arrived!

Oh, thankyou Cheryl of Polka Dots & Rick Rack....it is so exciting!

Sorry about the outfit...I did say straight after work!

This is my gorgeous snowman ornament....sort of like sparkly marshmallow!

I have to wait to open the rest!

Thankyou Cheryl for your generosity & thankyou Chookyblue for organising the swap!

I hope my gift finds it's home soon!

Cardygirl xx

Shared madness!

I felt a bit like "that crazy lady who makes all those coathangers"!

Living on the fringes of polite society...whispered about...the butt of blogging jokes...

living alone in a garrett with her cat & her Bernina...sneaking out to Big W to buy more of the wretched hangers to cover!

BUT....

today my dear friend Lea came over...with her coathangers!

I am not alone..this madness is shared...she is having fun too!

And don't they look pretty?

Just so you know that I will return to normal soon, here is a sneaky peek at my gift for the SSCS...

very soon it will be winging it's way to.....NOT TELLING!

And I have been playing with some other fun fabric ideas.

Hope all is well withyou!

Pretty presents

With paid work seeming to absorb more & more of my time, stitching seems to have taken a back seat...sadly!

But I have been endeavouring this week to finish some Christmas gifts...

only a few more things to do & it is pretty organised.

I have been having fun making the Dressy Hangers from Marg's pattern...

looking a bit formal

lots of fun fabrics to coordinate with the recipients personality!

SSCS present ready to go...not long now till posting!

DD is heading into final exams...a bit nervous but looking forward to a future outside of uni...

here is her completed "stress reliever"!

DS is finished exams...off with friends this week.

Like Marls, I weakened at the sight of the quilt along with Kellie & will try to participate...

I am happy to do a cushion cover though!

Cardygirl xx

Read the pattern...then check!

By the title of this post you can all guess where I am headed!

I have been busy working away on my SSCS present....determined to finish it and then relieve a bit of pressure in the rush towards Christmas. Last night I was heading off to bed, then realised that with a bit of focus I would be able to finish the handwork on the gift & it would be ready to whip up this morning...what could be easier!!!!!!!

Patchwork...done!

Embroidery...done!

Handquilting...done!

Lining assembled & ready to go...I feel good!

OMG...why is the outside 2 whole inches bigger than the lining?????????

Out comes the tape measure & I realise my error....

SO always check & recheck.

Thank goodness for these tools....

add a dash of inventiveness & it was saved...whew!

It is now complete...I love it & I hope it is loved by it's new owner too!

Cardygirl xx

You better watch out....

I don't know how or why it happened, but suddenly I had the urge to make Christmas presents!

So many people are so organised...I must have absorbed it over the blogways!

I think that starting my SSCS pressie probably pushed me over into HOHO mode....

hope I can hang onto it & get some stuff done.

Here is a snippet...

Cardygirl xx

Thelma bag finished....quite pleased with it...

don't know it's destination yet!

Fussing around with my SSCS pressies today....

I hope my partner likes them!

It is both fun & scary to make a gift for a stranger...

will she like it????

I want so much for her to like it...

it puts the excitement back into Christmas!

Cardygirl xx