One swap after another

Last night was the opening night of my online craft group's latest swap, a journal/diary cover. Lots of variety, lots of oohs and aahs over the internet during our chat (we are spread out from Tasmania to Queensland and many of us have never met).
This is what I made for Teresa:

















and this is what Tereasa no, not a mis-spelling - different person) made for me:
It was so gorgeously wrapped up I couldn't resist taking a piccie:

And this is the parcel I sent to Simona in Italy for the Stitchers' Angel swap - sent late because I was sick for a while, and now received with thanks. As you can see, orange is her favourite colour - but she also told me she likes yellow and green and didn't mind surprises. Thought I'd play it safe, just in case. I'd made the diary for her before I got sick, and already had a spare stitcher's pouch I'd made a while back (phew!). I've made lots of these; they're handy little homes for some pins and needles, a few skeins of threads, little scissors and maybe a thimble. Jenny of Elefantz (love her designs) designed the bookmark - a freebie pattern - which was a last-minute whip-up, as was the magnet (fittings from Spotlight, fabric from my messy stash).
One more swap to go this year for our online craft group - a Secret Santa pressies swap - and after being non-stitchy for a while, I got the itch to stitch and just have a few finishing touches to go. Yay! Now if only I was smart enough to get posts with multiple pics looking tidy, as everyone else's does...

Swaps - and sew on

After being stricken (yep, I think the word is appropriate and not overly dramatic, given I really was laid low for a while) with pneumonia, I'm back in the real world and nearly as good as new. Back enjoying life, reading, sunny days, my garden, good company. Back to work (and glad to be there - I'm sure that will wear off!) and back to simple sewing - which is great, given I have a few projects to complete. Nothing to show and tell right now (my Stitcher's Angel partner has probably not received her parcel yet and my partner and I in the Christmas fat quarter swap organised by Jenny from Elefantz and Vicki from Tozz's Corner have also swapped blog addresses, so better not show what I'm sending her. Hi, Sandy!
But because a picture is worth a thousand words (and pretties up a post very nicely), I do have a few to share.


This is my Stitchers' Angel gift from Dolores in Canada - an apron, thread basket, shopping list pad, magnets, threads and a lovely handmade card. There was also a gorgeous hand-made bookmark cross-stitched with a rosebud and my initials. Unfortunately, after spending ages this morning transferring photos I accidentally deleted that pic - twit!












And this is the first Oriental poppy bloom of the season in my garden. The plant looked quite dejected last year and no wonder - the dogs kept lying on it. Now it's all lush green leaves and big red flowers.










And this iris makes me feel so cool on our hot days. I have blue and yellow irises too, along with masses of roses, dianthus and all sorts of other goodies; it's a lovely (and fragrant) time in the garden.

The quiet life

Life's been a bit too eventful in the past few weeks. The holiday was good, spending time with our daughter in China was so special, but it was all a bit tiring for poor old me - thought it was just the heat. Turned out to be pneumonia; never had it before and it has all been a bit alarming. I'm back home after a week in hospital here in Ballarat - we are so lucky here with our health care. Still very tired and a bit feeble and spending most of my time in bed but am so much better than I was. I have another week or so off work yet; will have to practice standing up and talking to people! Not ready to get back to sewing yet, but I am enjoying catching up on what everyone else in blogland is doing. Hope everyone's well and happy.

Up up and away

Barring disasters (car breaking down on the way to the airport, forgetting the tickets and passports and other unmentionable things happening), DH and I are up hideously early and flying into the blue on Saturday morning.
The aforementioned early rising will be worth it - we're leaving behind coldish weather, work and our gorgeous pooches for the warmth of Singapore, Hong Kong and China. Just for a few weeks, mind. House sitter is organised, shopping completed, packing not even thought of. Oh yes, and I've been making stuff. We'll be spending 5 days in Shenzhen, China, with our daughter, who teaches English at a kindergarten. And a mum can't go empty-handed. My Rosy isn't at all crafty - I tried but failed - but loves it when I make stuff for her. So here 'tis:

The drawstring bag and the platypus stitchery are from Natalie Bird's little book that I bought at the quilt show in Melbourne recently. The diary cover is May Britt's gorgeous design for the Stitchers Angel swap and in the background are two scarves and a cosmetic bag made from a bloggy free pattern. Nice, eh?Here's a better view of the diary cover - oops, forgot to rotate. I'm sure you'll cope.
Can't wait to see my girl, and catch up with Malaysian friends, and enjoy the sunshine, the different sights, smells and sounds and indulge in some crafty shopping. If you're on holidays too - or if you're not - have fun.

Another great giveaway

Jan at Sewjourn is having a great giveaway to a place I'd love to go to. Visit her blog for the details - and visit again just 'cos it's a good read.

Fabulous giveaway

Head over to Mama Spark's World for a fabulous giveaway of Robyn Pandolph fabrics in honour of her four hundredth post. Now that's what I call a celebration!

Sheep, swap, shopping and sipping

Okay, okay, so I just couldn't resist the alliteration!
I've had some fun these past two weekends.
Sunday last week we went over to Bendigo (a hundred and some ks away from home here in Ballarat; for those who don't know, Bendigo is another lovely old town in the Victorian goldfields) to the big sheep show there.
Not our usual thing , and for us the attraction wasn't the sheep but the chance to catch up with our old friend Merrilyn from Tassie.
The divine Ms M was there with her partner, who breeds sheep, so it was nice to meet him and to wander round the show with Merrilyn pointing out the different breeds (she's a farmer's daughter, so she just couldn't help herself). Many years ago I did a stint as a rouseabout in shearing sheds on the south island of NZ but I'd forgotten how HUGE some of these beasties can be.
It was all very impressive, and a lovely catch-up with an old friend (who incidentally does beautiful ribbon embroidery and tapestry.)
Friday was chat night for my online friendship group and the opening of our latest swap, a Christmas ornament. Here's what Leanne made for me - isn't it lovely! Thank you so much, Leanne.

And this is what I bought at the quilt fair in Melbourne yesterday.
A great day out as always - met my non-bloggy friend Margot there and we wandered around happily, doing more looking than shopping (at first - that changed!) Iwas so pleased to get the pack of Moda strips, which contains enough fabric to make two toiletry/makeup bags - the pattern was included. I love my Marg Low pattern; she designs such pretty things and have lots of plans for the animal stitcheries in Natalie Bird's little book.
As for the sipping - today was the Glenlyon Food and Wine Fayre, an unmissable event. Glenlynon is a small settlement about 50? k from Ballarat. It has a great community spirit and every year packs local winemakers and food producers into big marquees that quickly become filled with people from many parts of Victoria who appreciate when they're on a good thing.
The entry fee includes a wine glass inscribed with the name of the event. It's such a nice souvenir to have when only the memory of the delicious things you've eaten and drunk that day (mulled wine, yabby puffs and a trout roll for me) remains. We came home with 2 bottles of red wine, blue cheese and jars of lemon curd, spiced quince jelly and pear chutney - yum!