Christmas Stitching and swaps catchup.

Now that school is finished I have had more time on my hands, so I have had time to finish off some stitching.  I have made my hubby's mum a reversible bag.

My son has a lady friend who is coming to lunch Christmas day.  So that she didn't feel left out I made her a stocking.  I think she will like it, I did ask for some input about what colour etc.

This is the full view.

 Close  up of the candle, and the heal.

 The toe, her name is Rachel, so it makes it personalised for her.

The button trail at the top.

I was in the Lion's stocking swap again this year, here is the one I sent: (without the holly brooch).

This is what I received in return, I received one of Lyn's, the rich red and blue roses are amazing. A lovely notepad and a length of tatted lace.

For the Southern Cross Crazies Swap I also received my cracker which was made by Viv, absolutely stunning.

Lastly for the Fat Quarter swap Xmas gift, for Maureen I sent a needle case purse with needles and a pair of fairy scissors.

These lovely gifts I received in return.

A lovely pink purse and wonderful Christmas bag with pouch.

Lastly I was presently surprised by this gift. Eva and Alison pinched some of my completed CQ Blocks. Four of these blocks from a Round Robin I completed some time ago were made into a stunning cushion.  Summer DYOB - 2009, the blocks were embellished by Karrin H,  Rita C, Rebbeca B and Lyn G. There are still two more blocks, but they are being made into something else I believe. 

I have such wonderful friends. Have a very stitchery Christmas my friends.....

Here's to a prosperous 2014.

Thanks for following

Arlene

Classes on Joggles

Hi All,

Just a reminder that two of my classes are coming up on Joggles.

On November 7th: Two styles of Christmas Boot in the one class, plus a miniature version in a Christmas Ornament and a lovely Christmas Holly brooch.

Jump on across to Joggles and book in, there is still time.

While your there you might want to also book into my Beetle class. He's scheduled to run on December 3rd, just in time for Christmas. Would make a lovely gift on a trinket box or bowl.

Whilst your on Joggles site, you can browse though my other classes and put them on your wish list, or make a selection of wonderful stuff that Barbara sells on her site.

Don't forget there is only a couple of days left to enter in my giveaway for the Release of 'Arlene's Crafts Embroidery App'.

Arlene

Autunm classes announced on Joggles

Classes for the Autumn Season.

Victorian Christmas Boot - November 7th

 This class has the added bonus of two different sorts of boot, one Crazy Patch and the other traditional colours and one fabric and one piece. The second book has stumpwork candles and silk ribbon wreath with bow.

 The other two bonus's with this class is the template for a Christmas ornament for your tree and the stumpwork Holly is a removable brooch.

The other class for the fall is my Beetle, yes again, he has now run non stop for 2 years, that's just amazing. Thank you to everyone who has already taken the class.

Arlene

Catching up

Well over the past month a few items have made it down under.
First the Orny swap with Lisa

This is the one I sent, and below is the one I received from Lydia

Then the Lion's Christmas stocking swap, here is the lovely stocking I received from Suz














And the one I sent

Then for the Southern Cross Crazies Christmas Cracker swap, here is the one I sent to Natasha

 and below is the Cracker that Natasha sent to me.  The santa is cross stitched and the whole piece is quilted, so lovely.

 And inside the cracker:   There is a small teddy bear missing from the photo, only because he's already on my jacket.

I've even had a couple of finishes, I finished the Redwork course on StitchMap, it was a challenge, which I am thankful for my students I mentored, otherwise I don't think I would have finished it.  During the course we made motifs, and at the end we were to make them into weights, but I would never use them, so I made mine into a book cover for one of my favorite stitch dictionary.

 Back and Front cover

 Inside back - pockets for needles cards and small scissors

 Needle and pin booklets at the front.

Now I can take my needles etc with my stitch dictionary.
I've started on my CQJP 2013, but will post that sometime soon, it's looking quiet good already.

I'm not sure what my posting will be like for the next 4 weeks as I'll be away on the 2013 Australian Scout Jamboree which is being held in Queensland this year. I leave Boxing day and return home on the 22nd January, hubby will be at home looking after our two puppies and everything else (thank heavens for hubbies like this).

Thank you everyone for following me this year, and leaving comments, and especially the help on my tree skirt.

Have a wonderful holiday season, if you believe in Santa then I hope he brings you loads of pressies, and those who have other beliefs, God bless.

Arlene

Christmas stitching

I've been busy stitching the last few days, since I'm not allowed to walk due to me 'over stressing' my Plantar Fascia
He's (the Podiatrist) is not sure exactly how I've done it, but falling off my push bike a couple of months ago didn't help.  So verdit, lest amount of walking as possible, and wearing my sandshoes as much as I can (he's added special padding to assist the foot).

so I've been stitching, what great therapy.

I've been making items for Christmas swaps, a cracker, a stocking, and an ornament and also working on my Christmas Tree skit (CQJP 2012 project).  I've completed the stocking and the cracker, just the ornament to go.  For the Stocking swap with Lyn 'Quilting Lion' I was lucky to be asked for a theme, I choose 'Silver', so here is the stocking:

 And some closeups

And for Southern Cross Crazies, we are making Christmas Crackers and filling them with loads of goodies. Here is my cracker rolled up:

And it unrolled
Someone said my beetle looks like he's moving.

One thing I had to remember when i was stitching, was to make sure I didn't sew any embellishments near the ends, where the ribbon ties up, otherwise they'd be crushed under the ribbon.

Here are close ups.

Santa's sleigh

 A Beetle

 Beading seam, and charm

Silk ribbon gather and charms and bells.
So now it's ready for me to add my load of goodies inside:

I hope you have enjoyed this little bit of eye candy.  The ornament is still to come.

Arlene

My most excellant weekend

I have just spent the last three amazing days stitching and shopping and having a great time with like minded people.  BE WARNED - PHOTO HEAVY POST

First of all, Saturday I went to the Proserpine Quilt Show and Tell, were we got to see some amazing quilts and got to shop, and chat with so many quilting friends. Here is some eye candy, I actually took so many photo's but these were ones that really caught the eye.

 Interesting use of colour

 Bargello work

 Yes it's crazy quilted, but machine done.

 Adapted 1800 quilt

 More Bargello....

 She had to extend this to make it fit her bed, oh what a shame... not

Love the colours of this one.
The group that hosted the event do some amazing charity work:
Yes that's me....

And my winnings... I got a lucky door prize:

And my shopping......

And then back to Eva's house overlooking Shute harbour...... this is our stitching table

The view

And some stitching:

 Our stockings for the Lion's swap, mine is the blue and silver and Eva's is the black, red and white one.

And then some show and tell of our own:  Eva (purple one) and Alison's (White one) TAST pieces:

 They have every stitch since Sharon started at the beginning of this year.

And Alison's amazing hexagon hand quilted quilt.

Thank you Eva and Alison for an amazing weekend, I look forward to coming down again in November for some more stitching.....Arlene