Shopping at Leura

Sunday saw the kids I and do a quick dash to Sydney for sporty to attend a cricket clinic. Our day came to a screaming holt when a storm hit the cricket nets. Quickly we jumped back into the car and headed for home. As usual the kids spent most of the trip home sleeping, however with time to think I decided that I might call into a few of my favourite shops in Leura.

First stop was Rick Rutherford's Country Concept Store and you wouldn't believe it I ran into someone from home - just goes to show you can't go anywhere!!

(photo borrowed from Rick's website)

Wow what a jam packed little shop - I just couldn't decide what I wanted the most!

I finally decided on this cute little angel

Next stop was the Christmas Cottage -

here a brought a few other goodies for my tree  

and a cute wooden ' Christmas' sign - I love the star Santa at the end.

I hope you are all enjoying the festive season

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox

Progress ' In my Garden' - Block 8

Last night saw me finally putting together block 8 of 'In my Garden'. I completed the applique a few weeks ago , but just hadn't gotten around to putting it together.

My dearest friend Sam (A cup full of Stitches) is coming to visit at Christmas and has set me a challenge to have the quilt top finished - no sleep for me for the next weeks as I try to get it all together.

I do work better under pressure.. LOL!!

Yesterday saw my work Christmas Party - with only 3 of us (all working mum's) our boss decided that after the busy year we have had, we deserved to be pampered!! Gotta love it :) 

Pretty Nails - ready for the festive season!

I thought I'd share our Christmas Tree with you because I love seeing what other people put on their tree's.

Every year I usually by a new decoration for our tree - this year I made them!

Another 'Anni Downs' design - these little pears are from a wall hanging but I thought that I'd just hang them on our tree.  

  

I hope you are having a great week

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox

Christmas is in the air

Thursday night saw our household getting into the Christmas spirit.

 All the boxes came out the cupboard and the excitement grew.

However I found my '12 days of Christmas' wall hanging still unfinished packed neatly in a box. I went looking for my DMC threads and realised why it was still unfinished - no thread left!

Friday saw a quick trip to my local patchwork shop to get some thread and Tah Dah! a finish. 

I hope you are having a great weekend and find some time to do a little stitching!  

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox 

Finally - A needle back in my hand!

The last few weeks have been a bit of a blur in our household......

Firstly we managed to make it through Chicka's annual concert alive - and luckly the dance teacher didn't have her baby on stage (it was looking like it about half way through the the evening show nooooooo)

Chicka performed in 7 dances this year and at presenttions received a beautiful trophy for

2011's Most Promising Dancer  - Congratulations my girl xoxox

The following week saw me taking Sporty to the trials 2012 for the combined boys high school team. The weather was terrible for Cricket, so we headed indoors to the sports centre with 60+ other year 9-11high school boys.

After 6 hours in the nets the team was announced - Yeah my boy was selected!!  Sporty couldn't wait to tell his Dad that they would be heading off to Sydney for a 4 day carnival next year. 

Congratulation's my boy xox

 I finally pulled my 'In my garden BOM' out of my basket on Tuesday night and have almost finished block 9. This weekend bring my dad and favourite aunty out for a visit, so not too much stitching again.

I am really enjoying seeing what everyone is making for Christmas because I think I'm going to run out of time to make anything - thank goodness I finished my Noelle Tabletopper a few months ago.  

Until Next Time - Happy Stitching xox

Where Oh Where ............

Where oh where have the past few weeks gone?  And I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner!

Last night Hubby & I attended a Day on the Green with our best friends and 6,000 others!

A great night was had by all  & Cold Chisel have still got it!!

Last week I finished another Paper Tole that I had been working on for my brother-in-law. 

Sunflowers are his all time favourite thing.

I also received a parcel from H&P. I hope it's my fabric for the SAL (fingers crossed) 

   

Yeah, now to work sort out the colours & I'll be good to go!

 First I think I best be finishing off my ' In my Garden'  BOM only 2 blocks to go & then the boarders.

Until Next Time - Happy Stitching xx

In my hoop

Cricket season is upon us, so with that in mind I found a stitchery that I purchased at the Sydney Quilt show - from ' The Birdhouse'. Popped all the bits & pieces I needed into my new bag & off we went.

 I love red work - no need to worry about doing the wrong colour on the wrong thing!

Sporty has played 3 games this weekend (2 wins and a loss), so I managed to get quite a bit done.

I must admit - I don't watch the game too closely, when I have some stitching to do.

That is, until Sporty comes on to bat or bowl of course.

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend.

Until Next Time - Happy Stitching xox

Block Keeper - WIP

It was all go, go ,go last night. I had finally finished the stitchery for my block keeper, so it was time to pull the cover off machine and get to work. 

After a fight with my walking foot & it winning, I started stitching-in-the-ditch around the stitchery and then the back cover, so far so good!

Tonight I've worked on the lining & inside pockets 

Now I'm off to cut some quilt batting for the pockets. 

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox  

GDITC 2012

On Friday I received an email (I won't mention any names here) asking 'why' i wasn't attending the DGITC 2012 at the cottage on the hill at Nundle.

After checking the diary and making sure it didn't clash with anything else, I rang Kerry and she had a few spots left.

So I'm in!!!!

I'm a little worried about EPP - I haven't attempted this before, but Kerry reminded me that's why we go to classes - "to learn something new"

I am also really looking forward to meeting some fellow bloggers as well.

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox

A Sad Day...........

Yesterday I arrived home to find a parcel from H&P sitting on my door step. I was both excited and scared to open it, because it was either going to a kit that I have been waiting on, or block 9 of 'In my garden'.

 Nooooooo, it was the last block for my BOM!  

I have really enjoyed participating in this BOM - especially since Susan at Thimblestitch and I have been doing it together, sharing our thoughts, working out the tricky bits etc.

Thankyou Anni Downs for another fantastic project I have loved every minute of it, now to get it finished so that I can make a start on SKoW. 

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox 

Noelle Tabletopper Finished!

Yesterday I came home from work to discover that my small parcel from Jukejema had arrived, so that I could finish my Noelle Tabletopper (a Nowra retreat project).

I put the kettle on and got straight to work.

I just love how this has turned out - Wow another finished project for me this week,

that would have to be a record............. lol

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox



Busy as a bee

I came home yesterday to find my Lavender's covered in Bee's so I stood for a moment and watched them going about their work. I just love a beautiful spring day :)  

Last night, I was as ' busy as a bee'. I decided that my next project would be ' my block keeper' (A Natalie Ross Design) from the Jukejema Retreat. 

Once I started I didn't want to stop (sorry not to many photo's so far).

Thankyou to kate for sharing her idea of using the Anni Downs fabric range I LOVE IT!!!   

Now to concentrate on the finishing the stitchery

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox  



A finished Bag

Last night I finally finished my ' No Place Like Home' bag. I'm really happy with how it turned out.  

It was my first attempt at quilting on my new machine.  

 The base was a little tricky for a beginner like myself, however with the help of hubby and lots of pins, we  managed to get it to fit ok.

Another beautiful pattern from the lovely Anni Downs finished - mmmmmmm what to work on next?????? 

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox

Bonding Day

Today our family had a bonding day. Boys watching the V8 car races on the T.V and us girls were sewing. My friend Susan told me about a cushion pattern she had seen and thought it would be a good one for Chicka to attempt. Chicka loved it when I showed it to her and immediately went to her small stash, she sorted through her fabrics and decided on how she would put them together. After a few tips on how to use the roller cutter and ruler, she was well on her way.

She eagerly sewed all day and is about half way round (it ends up as a round cushion).

I managed to fit in some stitching and I was able to finish all the applique for block 7 of my BOM.

I made myself a promise to  keep up with ' In my Garden' if I want to start on the SAL.

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox

Hello from another Newbie!!

 My first post on the Stitch-a-long blog YEAH!!!!!

Hi, my name is Ann and I are really excited to be joining in with you all on this wonderful journey. I have been watching this blog for a couple of months and have loved every one of your quilts! I couldn't wait to see what your next project was going to be and was really hoping I could be a part of all the fun!!!   

Thank you Chookyblue for the invite and I promise to keep up :)

I have spent the day getting the patterns ready and sorting through my stash.

Now I just need to plan a trip to Hatched & Patched.

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox

Why Lavender Blue Stitches?

Tonight I have been looking around blogland to see what everybody has been up to and I noticed that Dawnie at Sweet as Cinnamon had asked the million dollar question - ' How did you come up with your blog name'

A friend and I had been looking at a few around blogland for a few weeks, when we decided that we should have a go at it at as well. Also I have a friend who lives 10hrs away and I thought it would be a great way to show/ share what we had been making.

I decided to call my blog after my 3 favourite things (apart from my family & friends):  

Lavender - my favourite flower 

Blue - my favourite colour 

Stitches - I just love to sit (anywhere) and stitch  

I have enjoyed seeing how eveyone has come up with their names - Thanks Dawnie

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox

In my Garden - Progress

I just love a long weekend - especially when it's wet outside. After re-painting our son's bedroom, I decided that it was time to return to my ' In my garden'  -BOM.
On Saturday afternoon I was 2 months behind - where has that time gone.

When I pulled it all from my bag, I had finished block 5 but just not put it altogether.

So I decided to continue on with doing all the applique in block 6.

I did managed to fit in a spot of gardening -

I really love this time of year, when all the flowers give us a beautiful show

Until next time - Happy stitching xox

BOM Block 2 & 3

I really enjoyed Block 2 except those for those pesky little snails - arggg they were small! 

I love how to get 2 different colours in the pairs - Anni just flipped over the fabric - very clever!  

I have been keeping the pace going at this early stage of the BOM, finishing the first 2 blocks a few days before the other arrived, however life happens and I slowly got a little behind. I did managed to get block 3 finished a day or two after block 4 arrived.

It's funny how when it each new block turns up that one becomes my new favourite.

 I'm just so happy with how it it coming together.

Last night I managed to quilt my bag and put the pocket on - Yeah!! 

Until next time - Happy Stitching xox

BOM In my Garden 1

I have sewn together the first 3 blocks of In My Garden - by Anni Downs. This is my first ever BOM and I just love getting my parcel in the mail each month. I am a month behind at the moment but with a 3 day weekend coming up , I hope to be all caught up by Tuesday.  This is block 1

I also managed to get the strips for my 'No place like home bag' all sewn together I couldn't go any further as I was out of pelon so I'm off to the local patchwork shop - I hope they have some (fingers crossed)

Until next time - Happy stitching xox

Home Sweet Home

I returned home Tuesday night a little weary from my 2 days at the conference. My days were spent attending workshops and networking with other ladies in the industry. I did squeeze in some stitching after dinner both evenings and I managed to get they stitchery part of it finished.

 Last night after all the chores had been done, I got out the fabric for the bag and cut out all the strips.

I'm just loving the all the colours.  

Hopefully tonight I will get to start to sew them all together
Until next time - Happy Stitching xox   

Nearly There

I have spent the past 2 days playing with my new machine. I have finished the middle of my table topper from the retreat - now just to get some interfacing (thanks for the tip Kate xx) - can't wait to see it all together.

I also have also made progress with my peaceful garden wall hanging - all the stitcheries are finished and matched with their boarders

All the borders now added and I'm happy with the layout - time to put it all together :)

With 1 hour to spare before I head off the the city for a 2 day conference I managed to get it all together, only the outer boarder to go when I get back. I'm very happy with how it is coming along :)

What's to do next!

I managed to start a bag stitchery late last night (another Anni design) - I can't go away without something to work on :)

Ok, only moments to spare before my ride turns up - my basket is packed, well before my clothes 

Until next time - Happy stitching xo