31 December, 2016

December OPAM - Final Report For 2016

 Tree of Christmas Cheer
Four felt ornaments
Three aprons
 Plus another six felt ornaments

A total of 31 finishes for 2016. A much lower total to other years. Not joining in many swaps this year has meant I've been able to just quietly stitch for myself. It has been enjoyable having a slow year of stitching without the pressure of swap deadlines.
Thank you to Peg and Kris for once again organising OPAM this year. You keep me inspired to at least finish 
One Project A Month! 

25 December, 2016

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.
Lots of Love
Christine, Noel, Mitchell, Austin, Nelson and Molly
xxxx🐾

17 December, 2016

Friday Night Sew-In

Can you believe this is the last FNSI for 2016! 
I made six more ornaments ready to be handed out tomorrow. Those aren't dirty marks but shadows 
on the blue and green ones.
Thank you to Wendy for being such a lovely
hostess throughout the year. It has been 
wonderful stitching along with everyone. 
I'm looking forward to stitching along again next year.

16 December, 2016

Three Aprons In A Row!

 These tea towels as gifts. I decided they were too pretty 
to be used as tea towels so I made them into aprons.
I received this one from Sandi in our  
No Fuss Swappers Kitchen Kapers swap.
 The two floral ones were for my birthday.
The straps are a pink that matches the roses. I don't know why they look so reddish! They look better in person.

14 December, 2016

Presentation Night at PVCC

After 13 years at Plenty Valley Christian College, 
last night was Austin's final commitment.
Graduation Night!
 Austin with his gorgeous girlfriend, Paris.
Congratulations Austin and Paris. 
We are very proud of you.
🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓
After two years as a school based apprentice, Austin started full-time in his diesel mechanic apprenticeship Monday week ago. Here he is off on his first day!
At Presentation last night Nelson 
received an unexpected award.
This award is given to students deemed by their co-ordinator to have shown significant personal, 
spiritual or academic growth, commitment to their 
own learning and a significant contribution to the College and its community throughout the year.

Nelson has had a fantastic year. 
He commenced VCAL and hasn't looked back. 
His report was his best ever and he is well on his way to achieving his goal of becoming a roof plumber with an apprenticeship already lined up for 2018.
Well done Nelson. 

03 December, 2016

Last Friday Night With Friends For 2016

 Got a bit of a late start to my stitching last night. 
There was a market on down the street from us. 
Noel and I went down for a look. Didn't buy anything 
but caught up with lots of people! 
I managed to get four of seven decorations made.
Thank you for Chez for being such a wonderful 
hostess during 2016. I'm looking forward to 
stitching along with everyone again next year.

02 December, 2016

Tree Of Christmas Cheer!

 You may remember me stitching this a little while ago.
 
 It is now finished. The pattern is 
'Tree of Christmas Cheer" by Anni Downs.
I had a bit of a hiccup putting this together. 
The pattern called for heavy weight interfacing. Either I bought too heavy or the wrong thing all together but it was so stiff that I couldn't turn the tree through. 
 
Before I threw it in the bin, I tried pulling all the stabiliser 
off and hoped it wouldn't wreck the fabric. It worked with just a little fraying on the edges! I just re-sewed the seams as some of them pulled a little. I'd forgotten to do the French knots. That's why there is still a bit of stabiliser. I couldn't be bother re-doing the knots!
 I'm very pleased with my tree. They are definitely 
not my normal Christmas colours.

30 November, 2016

November OPAM

 
Can you believe it's the end of November already! 
I've just got my Dresden cushion for this month's report. 

I do have another finish but haven't had a chance to take any photos, so I'll add it to December's OPAM report.
Thanks to Peg and Kris for organising OPAM.

24 November, 2016

A Finish!

You may remember a little while ago I was working on this.
 
I have turned it into this! 
I was so out of my comfort zone working with these
colours and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. 
It is for a special gift for a special person.

19 November, 2016

Friday Night Sew-In

 I started stitching the second pattern we received 
from Gail at last week's stitching day.
 A small start on the Christmas tree.
 Thanks to Wendy for hosting us last night.
Well, I'm off to the sewing room to start 
piecing these panels together for a 
Christmas project I've been working on.

18 November, 2016

Austin's Valedictory

Last night was Austin's Valedictory Dinner.
Austin and the lovely Paris out front.
Caytlin, Joy, Ellie, April, Tom, Jarad and Austin have been at Plenty Valley Christian College since Prep. There were another two but they had left before we managed to get a photo of them. I think it's very special to go through
thirteen years of schooling at one school.

Year 12 is nearly over.
Only Presentation Night and Graduation to go!
🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓

17 November, 2016

Special Mail!

Earlier in the year, Kim from Wisdom with Needle and Thread, had a special birthday. To celebrate, Kim sent out 60 RAK's and I was one of the lucky recipients.
Besides being a wonderful cross-stitcher, Kim also 
does the most beautiful porcelain painting and this is 
the set of napkin rings made for me.
 I am lucky enough to have previously received one of 
Kim's pieces. This is my Lemoges box.
 
Back to my lovely parcel from Kim. 
 
Beside the napkin rings, Kim also added some extra goodies.
 
 
 Thank you so much, Kim. 
I hope you have enjoyed celebrating your special birthday.
I also had some mail from Sharon of Vrooman's Quilts. I won her Let's Book It for October. Thank you, Sharon. 
I've just realised that it was seven years ago yesterday 
that I started blogging and did my first post. 
That time has gone so quickly.