Ok, here are some last finishes for this month.

Shelley finished this sweet fairy:

She is blue, so of course I love her :)

I finished the chookies and tea wallets, (picture in previous post), so that makes 5 more for me - yay!

Alice has finished her turkey wall hanging:

Yay! Love the autumn colors!

Di joined us this month and finished this gorgeous quilt for her library:

Fiona finished this Aussie Christmas table runner:

Isn't it pretty?

You know, I think we all did really well this month. I love the block challenge because without it I probably wouldn't have gotten those 6 blocks done. It was just the nudge I needed.

Now I won't be posting the winner of this month until sometime next week, because, tomorrow is the Fall into Fall Giveaway!! I keep forgetting to tell you about it... even though I have had this little guy in my sidebar for a while:

Come back tomorrow and see what I will be giving away! There are LOTS of blogs particpating in this giveaway, over a hundred I think, so we shall be doing lots of blog hopping over the next few days!

No more posts for today... I think I have overblogged, but even if I bored you all to death, I did have fun blogging my day :)

See you all tomorrow!!!!

After a lovely dinner with my man... I finished the next project - a raw edge gardening apron! I think I am going to have to make a few more of these... it was quick and easy.

And here are the chookies and tea bag wallets with their buttons on:


I think that is all my sewing for today... but in a bit I shall be posting some more finishes from our little Finishing Stitches group.

It's coming together slowly... I think it is going to be good....

Cameron has come home and is taking me OUT to dinner :) Have I ever told you that I love having a husband who takes me out to dinner?!

I'll be back later ........ :)

I've got this:

With a touch of this:



And even I don't know what it is going to be exactly... I have an end product in mind, but am making it up as I go along....

I'll be back.....

Had a lovely, lovely nap - could have slept for much longer but someone decided to mow the lawn next door my window... and I woke up. Just as well, because I have to sew, right?!

After every nap one must have a cuppa, so I am sitting here with my feet up and having my cup of tea.... and putting some buttons onto a few ufo's that have been waiting for me....


Just a few more sips of tea and some more buttons sewn on and then back to the sewing room :)

Ok, mystery project done! But first I had sewing room delivery pizza:


After eating all those yummy anchovies hiding under the melted cheese, I kept working on my project and finished it:


A view inside:


Way back at the beginning of the year, Alice bought me the pattern for Busy Bee Teacup Holder for my birthday. I have now finally made one, but just did a plain pocket instead of the stitchery. I will do one with the stitchery one day, but for now, this is still cute I think.

Off for a nanny nap... I'll be back later to work on my next project... One down, ... how many more to go I wonder....?!

I have the mystery pieces quilted and ready to sew together:


I quilted the pieces using my all time favorite little flowery loopy pattern. I do like it :)

So, does anyone know yet what it is going to be?!

While I'm playing in the sewing room, Elizabeth is playing with this in the kitchen:


Have I ever told you that I love having a teenage daughter who cooks?! Can't wait for lunch.... :)

I've decided that I am going to blog my day today. I've had a late start as usual... my tummy was hurting, I think I might have overdone it... again... so today I shall spend my time in the sewing room and try to sit down for most of the day. I thought it might be fun to blog what I'm doing...

I am happy with my ufo and block finishes this month, but have not managed to finish anything for the Early Bird Challenge yet. So, today I plan to work on that ALL day. I think Cameron can cook dinner tonight :)

This is what I am working on first:


Hmmmm... now what could Joy be up to....

Come back later and find out :)

I am very behind in posting everyone's finishes for the last few weeks, and I am now worried that I have forgotten some! I will do my best, and if I haven't posted yours yet, please let me know!!!! We still have tomorrow :)

Iris has finished three ufos! There is this playmat:


Pull the drawstring and it turns into a bag so that you can keep toys in it as well:

Then she finished two covered books:


Aren't they sweet?! I don't know who they are for, but there will be some happy children out there!

I finished these little baskets that I didn't get done in time for Christmas last year:


Now for BLOCKS!!! Oh my! Everyone has been having a ball with this challenge! Especially Yvonne who has done a total of... um... 13 I think!!! Here are some of them... another Christmas block:


And lots of these bright blocks for a special quilt she needs to have done by Christmas:


Aren't they nice and bright and cheerful?! Go to her blog to see the rest of them! I don't think she'll have any problems getting this quilt done by Chrissie....

Alice has been working hard at her pinwheel quilt which is not for me, but for her sister-in-law... boohooo, oh well... :) Here are some of them:





Go to her blog to see the other ones....

I also managed to get some blocks done yesterday while Yvonne was here with me for the day. Mind you, I only made two compared to her... I think it was SIX! She was whizzing along! I finally finished off the last two blocks for the Jelly Roll Quilt Along:


I'm very happy to get them all done - now to put it together! It is going to be very pretty :)

Ok, who have I forgotten? Please let me know quickly... so I can get up to date!! I know there are some "almost finishes" out there, so I shall be back soon to post them... :)

My life is very exciting at the moment :) I've had some lovely things arrive in the mail, won something and have a friend who has started blogging - all very exciting I think!

First of all, my old friend (as in long time, not old in age, lol) Yvonne started a blog! She and I have known each other for about 18 years and before that our parents were friends way back in the mid 60s. When we first met we did a lot of sewing together for our little boys - we sewed tracksuits and pant and sweaters and shorts and.. and.. and.. We also did bulk cooking together and generally had lots of fun! Boy, we had a lot of energy in those days.... hee hee! Anyway, she tried to get me to quilt many years ago but I told her I didn't have the patience. Imagine her surprise when I got back from Saudi and told her I had learned how to quilt :) So now we get together in school holidays, when we can, and quilt.... Ok, enough rambling, go check out her blog Bonnie and the Sisters Lair and welcome her to blogland!!

The mail last week was lots of fun. First my free motion foot that I ordered back in August and took forever to get here from Brisbane arrived:

It is an open toe one that I had been wanting to get for a while. I had a bit of a play with it and it does help me see where I am going better.

The next thing in the mail was a total surprise - a letter from Di with this cute card and panel in it:


I had no idea this was winging its way to me! It was for finishing the fall table runner for her Fall Challenge. Thank you Di!! It is so cute :)

The next piece of excitement was also a surprise!!! I left a comment on Tozz's Hot Potato post to "win" this pattern for a month:


With 66 comments left on her post I didn't think my chances were that good, and when I saw her post that said there was a winner I thought... oh well, it won't be me, but let's see who it is... and imgine that... it was ME!!! I really couldn't believe it! So I get it for a month, and the best part of this giveaway is that after a month I get to give it away to someone else!!! Yay! All of you who left a comment on Tozz's post and missed out... well, you get another chance in a month :) I don't know about you, but I think that is pretty cool!

I think that is enough excitement for a bit, don't you? Well, maybe just a bit more since tomorrow Yvonne is coming to sew all day long :) Yay! We will let you know what we get done!

I've been tagged by my friend Iris at Not Perfect But Nice and after I answer her questions you'll get to know me just that little bit better:)

1 What would be your dream job?

This one is easy :) Have my own quilt shop of course!!!! Wouldn't that be lovely.... lots of colorful bolts of fabric, beautiful patterns, gorgous quilts.... and in the corner of my shop would be a nice comfy chair where I can sip a cup of tea and feast my eyes :) Can't you just picture it?!

2. Where would you like to live?

In Alaska. Because it is cold. And has lots of snow. Really. I could sit by the fire and quilt.

3. In what century would you like to live?

Um... this century.. with the Amish.... so I could quilt... (there seems to be a theme going here...!)

4. What would be your last meal?

Can't eat quilts. So, smoked salmon with avacado salad and a lovely big piece of Lemon Meringue Pie for dessert :)

5. What made you start a blog?

To keep track of all my ufos.... it's true... and I have managed to create more since I started.. sigh... oh well.... :)

6. What is your favorite piece of clothing?

A shawl. Very handy. You can put it over your head if the wind is making your ears cold. It is not as warm as a sweater... and you can throw it on and off easily as you get hot and cold during the day..... (no, I am not in menopause.. but...).

7. What's your favorite film?

I have too many favorites. I like most of the ones with Meg Ryan, and Goldie Hawn and all those soppy girly movies.... I hope you will still be my friend....

8. What would you like to do before you turn 100?

Finish all my UFOS..... and I think I will need till at least then since they seem to keep multiplying while I am not looking... :)

Now it is your turn! I hereby tag the following 8 blogs:

Alice in Quilterland

Quilting is Blissful

Creative Stuff

Wickedly Divine Creations

And Sew On

Long Days, Short Years

Cassie's Cuddles

Jill's Real Life

I will be dropping by your blogs tomorrow to let you know... but if you don't want to join in, don't feel you have to :) I thought it was a fun one though.

Back tomorrow I hope with some sewing news...

I've finally got block 9 up on JJ's... sorry it took so long this month, I have to admit, with all the goings on with my health I simply forgot... :( I think I am getting old....

Can you believe this is the last block already?! I don't know where the year has gone....

We're getting lots done again this month! It is so motivating to see everyone's finishes....

Fiona is on a roll this month with two UFO's done. This cool quilt:

... and this gorgeous one:


Terry finished her Christmas wishes! It's so pretty:


Stacy finished this very special quilt:


I'm so excited to see whole quilts being finished! After all, that is our goal with the block challenge too... talking of which, Alice has finished these:


I love the colors - Alice, are you making this one for me????!!!!!

Now amazingly enough I also got a UFO done!!! Yes!!! Really!!! It has taken me a while, but I finally finished my sewing bag:


I am really pleased with it. There is a pic of the inside here, if you remember. I'm glad I turned it into a bag instead of a wallhanging :)

Any more finishes? Please let me know. Also let me know if I missed any... !! Hope everyone is having a great weekend :)

Dad drove me home yesterday and on the way he was sweet enough to let me stop at Foothill Fabrics and Threads, a most gorgeous little quilt shop in the Dandenongs. It is not far from where Mum and Dad live, so you can be sure I will be back to visit them one day (um.. yes, the parents and the quilt shop!)

The shop ladies kindly let me take lots of photos.... here are a few:

So many yummy fabrics! I loved the Christmas displays:

Doesn't that corner just make you want to get out your Christmas music and sew sew sew for Chrissie?! Some projects like this:

.....and this cute reindeer:

....some Chrissie bags....


OH! And how I wish this fireplace was at MY house:


Yes, must get my Christmas music out.... :)

I met a lovely lady called Nantje who made us feel very welcome at the back of the shop. She was working on some lovely applique, and when I commented on this quilt on the wall....

... she said that it was her quilt made for her grand-daughter :) I just love it! Here is a closeup of the Dresden Heart:


I think it is just too sweet :) Nantje teaches a class on this... it would be so fun to go to it! So, if any of you are ever in Melbourne, just drive to the bottom of the Dandenongs and go visit this wonderful shop.

Now I know you are all wondering what I bought :) I was very good... I only bought two things..... :) They came in paper bags:


And what were in those little paper bags? These oh so scrumptious bits and pieces:

Can you see what it's for? Gail Pan's Somerset House which I fell in love with as soon as I saw it on her blog. The colors were perfect for Mum's lounge room, and I want to make her a special quilt, so.... I bought the kit.... and I bought another one just for me.... because they are my colors too :)

Didn't I have a great day?! Oh, and would you believe it.... I found out that Gail cut the kits HERSELF! With her own hands!!! I mean, really, that makes it worth double of what I paid for it, don't you think? It turns out that she works there sometimes... but she wasn't there yesterday so I didn't get to meet her :( So now I really have to go back... because I am under strict instructions to get her autograph for Alice :)

So there is another reason to go visit Foothills, and if you do, tell them Joy sent you, and they will have no idea who you're talking about :)

Three weeks post-op and I am spending a few days lazing at my mum and dad's place in my second pair of mippers. These are a different blue.. and a bit smaller than the first ones I made. They are so comfy, and it is good to have two pairs so that I can wash one and not be without warm feet :) I was wondering whether anyone wanted the pattern.... I think I will do a tutorial on them one of these days. They are so quick and easy to make.

My parents just came back from spending 4 months in Europe with family. They are Dutch and spent most of the time in Holland, but also travelled around a little bit during that time. They brought back some cute Dutch stuff:

The tray, spoon cup, and coffee filter holder are from a special place in Holland called Hindeloopen. This little box and clogs also match:

So cute, aren't they?

Talking about cute, I knew these hexies were going to be small, but this tiny??

They are teeeeny!!! Yes, in the middle of all the "finishing" I have started a new project - Dawn's Frosty Flakes :) I can tell that this is going to be a sweet quilt when it is done.

Thanks for all the encouraging comments about our big move.... I am looking forward to the day we are all settled in over there... and trying not to think about the effort it is going to take to get there! In the meantime, I still have 3 weeks of no lifting, so I have a good excuse not to start packing :)

I'd better go sew some more teeny tiny hexies..... :)