My SSCS elf!

Was Nicky of Farm Girl Stitching! I have been a fan of her lovely cross stitch so it was a wonderful surprise when a parcel arrived from her home in New Zealand. I was SO excited!

Lovely presents...

and a Customs surprise! Apparently something in the gift flagged the attention of Customs & Quarantine aka "Border Security"...and the parcel was opened & inspected. I wonder if they liked it? There was a note explaining & assuring both Nicky & myself that nothing was removed or damaged. Maybe this parcel may become a star on TV's Border Security! Who knows? But is is safely here & unharmed.

Inside I opened my ornament to find a lovely cross stitch mini pillow. The stitching is fine and gorgeous... thanks Nicky- I will treasure it. 

There was also some beautifully fragrant rose soap, a notepad ( I am always looking for one!) and a fun New Zealand tea towel...a lovely gift. But I was good Chookyblue and my Christmas present is safely under the tree!

Thanks Nicky!

Thanks Chookyblue for your AWESOME organisational skills!

You girls have made my day!!!!

Cardygirl xx

Sweet surprises!

Like all of us, it has been a week full of "stuff"....work, family, paying bills, doing chores...just the same week we all share really. But into that "normality", sweet surprises come which just make you smile!

Sandy sent me a lovely gift for being her blog friend...really kind & generous...vibrant fabric that is itching to go into something special & some treasured Liberty pieces...yummy! And a most beautiful card! Chookyblue recently talked about the sweetness & camaraderie of our blogging ( or "imaginary") friends & Sandy's generous gift demonstrated those bonds we develop...thankyou!

Last night I had the pleasure of the company of my dear friend, Penny. As happens, work required them to move away, but luckily I was able to have her sorely missed company for a night. We laughed, talked & stitched till very late & then today headed with Lea for lunch & a spot of shopping...lots more laughter! She left me with this great looking bag kit...I will see if it actually takes two hours as it proclaims.

So a happy week here...I hope you have had happiness at your place too!

Cardygirl xx

Christmas stash!

I was one very spoilt Cardygirl this year...

books, fabrics, little treats...a very loved girl!

Fabric as delicious as turkish delight...

books to inspire & savour...

 a huge pincushion that will be hard to lose (thanks Lea!).

Some bloggers were asking about a Christmas quilt pattern...

from the blog Festive Fun 20 on December 21st...

it is Past Times by Threads of Time/ Lyn Wilson.

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

Cardygirl xx

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

Finally some finishes!

Finally some finishes...a trip to the Post Office during lunch tomorrow...

nine patch swap blocks off to Christine & some fat 1/4s on their way to a birthday girl!

A "Dressy Hanger" complete too...really cute...

itching to make more!

Back to the dreaded dentist ( he is actually very nice) this week for the implant....

I hope to be looking good!

Cardygirl xx

Stitching inspiration...sigh!

What a great day! Off to the movies with a friend to see "Julie & Julia"...a great movie, lots of fun & lots of laughs about the world of blogging too!

We really enjoyed it & I would recommend it...not so much for our hubbies, more of one to enjoy with the girls...Stanley Tucci is delicious as Julia's husband...lovely to see those supportive husbands on screen...but, hey, we live with them every day...smile!

It is a 40min trip down the highway to the movies, so we needed to take advantage of being near a very good patchwork shop too...here are some snippets....

to make some beautiful coathangers which I saw on Linen & Raspberry's blog...designed by the delightful Marg Low! I also have seen them on Bloom...all very inspiring!

so I am going to do a big cut out this afternoon then I can stitch quietly tonight.

Oops...better get a move on as the lawn needs mowing too!

Liz from Broderie recently sent me some checked Jobelan...beautiful....I already have plans for it!

 I purchased it from Liz through her other blog.

Hope to post some pics of some completed "Dressy hangers" tomorrow...

hope you have some stitching time!

Cardygirl xx

Mess & bliss!

Another hectic week has whizzed by for us all!

School holidays here, DS getting prepared for his final exams...work for me as usual.

Hopes that next week will be a little quieter & then hopefully some quiet stitching time in the evenings!

But firstly it was time to attempt to control the fabric bomb that had decimated the sewing room!

A sigh of relief when some order is restored & a promise to myself to never let that happen again.

Oh...be quiet...I can hear you chortling away from here...and your room is never a mess??????

So here are some snaps of something delicious which is under construction....

pretty inspiration from modern retro textiles!

And some truly gorgeous cross stitch & threads from the delightful Liz of broderie....

very generous & very much appreciated! Thankyou Liz!

I have heard some mentions of an online Quilt Festival....need to find some more info....any hints....or I can just go prowling!

Cardygirl xx