Packing, Sorting ect....

missing my roses

I will be taking a short blogging break to help pack and sort my sweet daughter out for school. She will be going back to uni on this coming Monday, so I want to spend all the time I can with her without worrying about trying to blog and take pics for the blog. I will be back sometime next week after things settle down here. In the meantime have a wonderful week/weekend.

A Year Ago...

 closeup:

I was in a mini swap over a year ago and the theme was "Flowers"...my little mini was kidnapped by whales in the crossing...so my partner Michell said she would make me another as time permitted as she was in the process of a move...I had totally forgotten about it, now fast forward to last week and this little jewel arrived in the mail...I am in love! I don't know what the original one looked like, but this is so beautiful...the tiny stitches she made is wonderful and I love the rose fabric that she chose to use...I am one happy camper...Thank you so much Michell for my little quilt...

Christmas Post 2...

This is my SSCS post for this year...I have participated in this swap every year but one I think and it is always so much fun. This year was no different...my partner to me was Melanie and she sent out this wonderful little pouch for me along with a cute pair of earrings...I love it and it will come in handy when I travel about. Thank you so much Melanie...and this is what I sent out to my partner...it was dark and rainy on the day I had to make the pic, so not a very good one...hope my partner makes a better one...this is a pocket to hold lace, notes or whatever she would like for her sewing room...

Thank you again Chooky for another wonderful year of swapping! I always enjoy this swap immensely...

Christmas Post....

 Cookbook from Mobile, Al....(did you know I love cookbooks)

 A new coffee maker and enough coffee for 6 months

 A new leather coat and a fur coat from my parents, but it has been hard to take a good pic of it because of all the rain

 Season 4 of Downton Abbey

 A tablet that I am learning to use, which will be great when I travel for conferences and such...much easier to take on a trip

I am finally able to make my Christmas post after a very longgggggg weekend...we had three different family celebrations to attend, actually (four if counting just ours)...this is the first time I have gotten on my computer in nearly a week! Time surely flies when you are so very busy...we had a wonderful Christmas here and I hope that all my readers did as well...this has been a good year in the south, even though there were a few road bumps...our family had a wonderful time gathering together and having fun as a family...of course there was plenty of food and sweets thrown in as well as our favorite dirty santa game...loads of goodies were given and received by all...I was so very blessed and spoiled once again...my new favorite kitchen item is my new coffee maker, love it! Now off to make a quick cuppa.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing each and everyone of my readers/followers a very Merry Christmas! May your day be filled with much love, happiness, joy and peace. May your time with family and friends be all that you want it to be. And as we each start our day of celebrations may we take a moment and reflect on the true reason that we celebrate Christmas. May the joy of Christ's birth bring each of you a warm and wonderful feeling of love. And please take time to remember those who are serving our country in the military and are not able to be home with their families. Say a prayer for safety over their lives while they sacrifice being home with family for our continued safety. To each person who is now serving in our military and is away from home, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family while you put your life on the line for us. May God bless and keep each of you in HIS embrace this holiday season.

Happy Mail...

My birthday gift from dear hubs has finally arrived...when I first ordered they were out...then they were at market and no orders were being filled...finally I was able to place my order and have now received my book a starter pack of papers and the templates to cut the fabric with...this will be my hand project this coming year...I am so excited about this...I also ordered the fussy cutting template for the Lucy Boston POTC which will make fussy cutting for them easier...I had been using a card stock template window, but this will be much better...

Santa Sack 2014

Yesterday was opening day for the Santa Sack swap that I participate in each year...this is what I received from my partner...thank you Sherry I love what you sent out to me...a wonderful tote, needle case, doily, bookmark x2, two small fabric baskets, pin cushion, candles, tea and hot chocolate...

Bling Cloth

I have worked some more on the bling cloth adding more bumpy bits, beads, knots, buttonhole stitch, silver bullion, bullion loops as well as bullion knots, gimp and square beads...this is coming along nicely and I am almost finished with the titivations. More to come soon I promise. I cannot seem to fix the gap between the first two pics today. Blogger is not playing nice today. sigh...

SSS Swap

My swap parcel from my partner in the Secret Santa Sack Swap hosted by Cheryl has arrived...now to wait until opening day!

 This is my sack and goodies that I sent out to my partner...we can choose either a stocking, sack or tote and my partner has plenty of totes, so she opted for a sack this year...this one is made of non Christmas fabric so that she can use it throughout the year per her request...I have enjoyed making gifts for her and hope she enjoys her new sack...

 Also my parcel from my secret santa in the SSCS which is hosted each year by Chooky has arrived as well...my santa is being very sneaky as there was no name on the envelope or on the inside to give me a clue as to who they are...so santa, if you read this my package has arrived safely...

This has been a busy time for me and my blogging has suffered for it...with the holidays as well as planning and getting things ready for B to go back to college the first week of Jan. it has been busy around here...Now we are sorting, buying supplies and packing up things for her to take back with her...I also have a bit of sewing to do yet for her in the form of pillow cases...busy times around here...

Bling Cloth

I am so in love with the making of my bling cloth. I am taking my time and adding so many wonderful things. The bumpy bit is made from silver lame and is so pretty in person. I like how it comes up through the stitch on the buttonhole lace. I am currently working on the stitch aspect of the cloth. So far there is french knots and buttonhole lace, bullions with more to come. I have also pulled out my silk ribbon to do a bit of sre on this cloth as well. There will be more bumpy bits, beads, fancy thread and maybe a sequin or two along the way. This is such a relaxing way to spend an evening. Hope you enjoy the sneak peek at my "bling" cloth.
Wendy 

On The Hooks

 I have been working on several knit and crochet projects lately and have finished several. So I started two, yes two new ones. I have started two separate poncho patterns. One is the traditional granny type poncho in blue. I am working it up in Lion Brand yarn that is so soft and cuddly.

The second poncho is a pattern of my own making and I am really liking it. I am using all the leftover yarn from all the shawls I have been making recently. You can see them here and here. Very simple but really nice in the way it is coming together. I am working on them both a bit everyday so they will finish about the same time. I am also working on a bit of cloth that is just wonderful to work with, more on that in a post of its own soon.
Wendy

POTC Blocks

Here are the newest blocks for my "Lucy Boston" quilt. I am now up to seven blocks total...I will be putting the connecting round on now as I don't want to leave all those to the end...it would be so boring to do so...I am using a small dot in black on white...will show those next time...

A Finish and a Start

I have finished my second "Sunday Shawl" in the autumn colors. I am very pleased with how it has turned out. I have also started my first ever knitted socks. I am enjoying the making of them, but it is slow going. I hope I will become faster the more I knit. Right now I knit at a snails pace. Not like crochet at all. 

Inspiration....

I was very fortunate to have won an inspiration package from the lovely Sandy who blogs here...she has the most wonderful blog full of creativity...you should get you a cuppa and plan to browse through her lovely blog...thank you Sandy, I already have plans for the doily and the hanky...
Wendy

Simply Stitch 5

Working on my ledger and hanky cloth for SS5 class...I am enjoying working with the hankies and they are working up so nicely...stay tuned.
Wendy

12" Mini Swap

My final 12" mini has arrived...my partner was Terry and she made me the sweetest little quilty...this has been a wonderful swap and a big thank you goes out to Cheryl our great swap hostess...this is the last of the three mini's for this swap...now on to some secret Christmas sewing.
Wendy

Sunday Shawl

I finally finished my "Sunday Shawl" and I am so in love with it...it has such a nice feel to it and is snuggly warm...I am already planning the colors for the next two of these...one will be a gift for my mom in her favorite colors...it only took three days of crocheting in the evenings to finish this one...