Let's Book It 2014!

 I thought I'd join Sharon over at Vrooman's Quilts 

for her Let's Book It Linky Party.

 I've had this book "Simply Christmas" by Gail Pan for a little while now and have chosen a project from here.

This is the project I chose. "Let It Snow" hanger.

 I tea dyed some linen and 

have made a good start on the stitching.

Head over to Sharon's to see what 

other books people are crafting from.

Thank you to Kelly from Quilty Pleasures blog.
I recently won a copy of the new Quiltmaker magazine,
Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

Friday Night Sew-In and My Giveaway Winner!

I managed to get a little stitching in last night between running around dropping off and picking up the boys! 

The third elf on my stitchery is just about finished. 

Hopefully, I'll finish it off today. Head over to Wendy's 

to see what everyone else got up to last night.

I still can't work out how to do a copy of the Random Number Generator to go onto my blog so I took a photo of the screen. The RNG selected number 9. 

And the winner is . . . . . . . . .

my lovely friend, Melody 

from The House on the Side of the Hill. 

Congratulations Mel.

Thanks to everyone who took part in my giveaway.

I'm sorry I can't give you all a prize.

Another Finish and FNSI!

Yesterday I had a play in my sewing room and made this Christmas table runner. I used the fabrics I won from 

Sandi of A Legacy of Stitches last year.

The border fabric is so pretty.

I'm linking this up with Anthea for 

Christmas Through the Year.

And Elizabeth for A Stitch In Time. 

Tonight is Friday Night Sew-In. Head over to Wendy's (Sugarlane Quilts) to sign up.

Today is the last day for my 500th Post Giveaway.

You have until midnight tonight (Friday) to enter.

A Finish!

 My first Christmas finish for 2014. 

The pattern is Christmas in the Woods by Gail Pan 

which was published in Quiltmaker Magazine.

I think this has come out rather nice.

I'm linking up with:

Anthea at Hibiscus Stitches.

Elizabeth at Such A Sew and Sew.

You can find my giveaway here.

Giveaway closes tomorrow night.

Barn Raising!

 I've built a barn of cross stitches! 

Corey over at Little Miss Shabby posted Block 5 of her Quilty Stitches Sampler Along on Tuesday 

and I've already finished it!

 Sorry for all the crinkles!

Don't forget my 500th Post Giveaway. 

You can find it here. There's still time to enter.

Football is Back!

 

Yes, cricket finished Friday night and now the 2014 footy season is about to start! No rest for the wicked! LOL!

Austin and Nelson have practice matches today. Unfortunately, they are both playing at the same time.
I'm off to Nelson's game and Noel is going 

to Austin's as he is Medic.

Let the fun begin!

Don't forget my 500th Post Giveaway. 

You can find it here.

Runners Up and a Giveaway!

Last night was the second day of play in Mitchell's cricket Grand Final. Unfortunately the boys weren't able to make the runs. They did their best while playing against a very unsportsmen like team. At times it got quite nasty but our boys can hold their heads up high. They did not retaliate at anytime and played the game in the way it should be played. One of the opposition was reported for a nasty incident. I've never seen someone be reported in a cricket match before!

As Mitchell's coach said, he would rather have these boys as runners up than the other team who won 

in the way they did.

Congratulations on a great effort boys.  

You should all be very proud of yourselves.

Now I mentioned a giveaway. This post is my 500th one! 

I can't believe I have managed to write that many posts
and you still keep coming back!

The lucky winner of my giveaway will receive A Stitcher's Priority pattern by The Birdhouse, buttons and DMC threads to get you started on the wall hanging.

Just leave me a comment to go into the draw. If you are a follower, leave me another comment for a second chance. The giveaway is open to everyone. My giveaway ends at midnight next Friday (AEST) and I'll announce
the winner on Saturday.

Good luck in the draw!

By the way, do you live in Western Australia? Anthea at Hibiscus Stitches is hoping to arrange a blogger get together for all the WA girls in Perth. Anthea is hoping to arrange a meet up at the Craft and Quilt Fair in May.
Here is the link to find out the details.

Some Lovely Mail!

My lovely friend, Donna from Donna's Lavender Nest recently had a Blogger's Choice Bundle Giveaway 

and I was the lucky winner. The bundle was chosen 

by Pam Kitty of Pam Kitty Morning.

 

Three of the fabrics are from Pam's Picnic range. I haven't seen any Pam Kitty fabrics anywhere in my travels, 

so it's nice to now have some. Aren't they just lovely!

 

Donna also added some Sweehearts "Be Mine" lollies, gorgeous red buttons (you know I love red) 

and a very pretty floral peg.

Thank you Donna.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

Today is Athletics Day at school. Meers House have the theme of Australia. Here are the boys already to go. 

Nelson is ready to cook the snags on the barbie!

Good luck Mitchell, Austin and Nelson.

LGS Stitching Day!

What can I say about the Let's Get Stitched Stitching Day. We had a fabulous time and yes,
even managed to get a little stitching done!

Dawn, Joy, Vicki, Fee, Marilyn, Jenny, Vikki and Rosalie.

Vicki Tucek (The Pickledish Patch), Dawn Hay (As Sweet As Cinnamon), Fee Ransley (Mum's Cupboard), Jenny Reynolds (Jenny of Elefantz) and Joy Coey (Joy Patch) welcomed everyone. They then introduced the two mystery designers for the day, Vikki Collumbine (Sew Useful Designs) and Marilyn Duncan (Mardi Meanderings). Those two had kept their secret so well over the previous couple of days. Not even their closest friends knew! Then as an extra surprise, out from behind the curtain came Rosalie Quinlan!

These are the lovely patterns in our bags, 

including some lovely extra bits. Just realised I've left
my pretty little tins out of the photo!

Me, Sue (Quilted Hugs), Shez (Enjoying Life), 

Vicki, Jenny and Mel (The House On The Side Of The Hill).

With Shez, Sue, Mel and Fee.

 Of course, delicious lunch!

 Chatting with Rosalie.

With Dawn.

Vicki explaining part of her project.

Proof that Mel did some stitching. 

Although she may just be pretending!

This is what I managed to get stitched. More than I thought I would! I decided to start on the project Rosalie gave us.

I was lucky enough to win one of the raffle prizes. 

I received a 6 month subscription to 

Creative Patchwork and Stitching.

I'll share the lovely projects from the girls in another post. 

I think this one is long enough!

WOW! What a Day!

 We had a fantastic time today at the Let's Get Stitched Stitching Day. But I'll tell you all about that in another post.

A less dramatic day at the river.

While I was having fun with the girls, Noel took the boys back to their favourite swimming place at Warrandyte. There Mitchell, together with his mate Dale, helped save a man who was struggling in the river and in quite a bit of trouble. 

Mitchell got to him first and the man, in his panic, pulled Mitchell down but Mitchell was able to get up and then he and Dale got the man to shallow water. Apparently they got quite an applause when they got back to the edge.

Well done Mitchell and Dale. 

 We are very proud of your bravery.

Mucking Up and Fun and Games!

 

 Last night was "Muck Up Night" for the Under 15's at Little Athletics. It is a traditional night where the Under 15's dress up and have fun. For some of them, this is their last year at Little Athletics as they decide to head to senior athletics. Austin and his mates are planning to go back next summer for Under 16's. He might also do seniors as well.

 

As we now have lovely Hawaiian costumes, Austin made use of his one. Nobody raced properly last night. There was skipping, twirling, cutting over the tracks, go slow starts and ended with a massive water fight with the girls! When it was time for Triple Jump, Austin did a backflip into the sand pit! I think they all had a great time.

 As for Let's Get Stitched, it was Pizza and Games night. After munching away on pizzas, the fun and games began. Here is everyone concentrating hard on working out the scrambled quilting related words.

This had to be the quietest point of the night. In fact, there was so much laughter that at one point Security came to ask us to be quiet! Naughty, Naughty! LOL!

 This game we each had a paper plate and had to balance it on our heads. Dawn then told us what we had to draw!

 Well, I'm sure you can imagine the laughter happening here.

 Can you see my sewing machine, complete with thread, fabric under the needle, pin cushion, scissors, power cord in the wall, all sitting on a table? What, you can't!

We also had to bring a charm pack in a paper bag. After passing them 3 to the left, 5 to the right, 2 to the right, 8 to the left, etc, this was the charm pack I came home with.

Tonight we're off to dinner, so it should be another fun packed night with lots of laughter. Tomorrow is the big one. Stitching Day! I don't know how much stitching we'll manage to get done but who cares!

Update on Mitchell's cricket. They got the opposition out for 100. Banyule are 1 for 5 and Mitchell is in batting. 

Stay tuned for next Friday's update!

Grand Final!

This Summer, Mitchell was asked to join the Banyule Cricket Club Under 18's team. Diamond Creek doesn't have an Under 18's, so he said yes. Tonight they are playing in the Grand Final and will continue it next Friday.

But I'm going to be a bad mother as I won't be going along to watch him. I'll be with Mel, Shez and all the other girls at the Let's Get Stitched Pizza and Games Night! When I booked in months ago, Mitchell wasn't going to be playing Friday nights. But I'll definitely be there next week and Noel will keep me updated by text.

Good luck to you and your team Mitchell. Play your best.

 

Doing this post, I realised I don't have a photo of 

Mitchell in his Banyule Bears uniform. 

Will have to do something about that!