ALL THE WAY FROM NEW ZEALAND

This is the pattern I wanted to buy from KIDS QUILTS at NEC Quilt Festival.

Isn't it fabulous.

By the time I had looked at the Quilts and oohed and ahhed, then searched their stand out - see picture to the right - they had sold out of it. Boo hoo. Christine very kindly sent me one post haste when she returned to New Zealand. She wouldn't let me pay for it either as I had previously sent her some magazines for her to peruse as to advertising here in GB. I felt awful about that as I had had every intention of paying for it. I know for them to come over here to do the show cost them a heck of a lot of money. So I really do appreciate this gift Christine. Thank you so much.

I have started my search for fabrics to make this.

OLD HUNSTANTON

Lovely sandy beach. Look at all that sky.

Ohhh but the water was cold. I did eventually paddle in the sea, a little later in the day. Reb had no fear this year. straight in.

Complete bliss. I most definitely could live here.


Perfect.

BRIXWORTH COUNTRY PARK

These pictures were taken by hubby with his new digital camera. Actually the date was 8th August so I am a little behind [again] in getting them on here. He took loads, but am not going to put them all on.

He took Reb out for a few hours so I could catch up on some sleep. I do remember I was unable to do so, as the dogs next door started howling and barking - at the air as they do - so much for my catch up!

Reb enjoyed herself there, we didn't know of this place at all. Her school had taken them on a day trip there. Just shows you, you don't know your own area where you live. I would like to go here and spend some time looking around it looks very peaceful.

Big ice cream for a little girl! I quite fancy having this in my garden actually. The hut that is, I already have that little girl in my garden. hee hee.

WOW

This week I received two different gifts from two different people.
How lucky am I?

The first one I received came from Allison, she is the 'list mom' of the PIZZAZZ group I am in. It is a very handy carrying pouch and inside there are fabrics and ribbons and stickers. Thank you Allison, this is just great.

The second gift was out of the blue completely. It was an envelope packed with pieces of lilac and mauve fabrics. Just look at them, aren't they gorgeous. Thank you so much Ani. At first I emailed her because I thought I had received them in error, but, she said, as she was sending some to Kath, she thought she may as well send some to me as well. How kind is that. WOW.

I truly count myself as very lucky indeed. Not only do I recieve wonderful cards I get gifts as well. I must start to send out little surprise gifts myself as I know how it feels to receive one.

WEIGHT

IF. What a BIG word that can be. IF I lose one pound next week I shall be in a new stone. Always a good thing. Psychological!

MORE GEMS RECEIVED

THE BEATLES swap from Judy, isn't it great? I just love this. [Pizzazz group]

This is the AUGUST MINGLE from Kathy L, just makes me smile every time I look at it. [Fabricards group]

'A' is for ALBUQUERQUE and Hot AIR Balloon, card from Nelda, its great, particularly because it arrived just as we were having our own Balloon Festival here in Northampton. [Stitchstampandsend group]

THREADS OF FRIENDSHIP card from Sue B, who actually signs herself Sue /ca great fun this card, thanks Sue... [Pizzazz]
Hi Sue, you most definitely are 'in print' even if it is only on my old Blog.

THREADS OF FRIENDSHIP also from Joan L, just look at all that couching, wow Joan! [Pizzazz]

THREADS OF FRIENDSHIP again, this time from KR, we had similar ideas KR! [Pizzazz] we even used the same fabric, how spooky was that!!

GREEN RAINBOW QTC from KR, these are real little gems, I am hoping to get the complete Rainbow. [Pizzazz]

BLUE RAINBOW QTC from Barbara, out of this world!!!! Great stuff. [Pizzazz]

YELLOW QTC from Rebecca W, she combined her love of her garden with the colour. [Fabricards]

GREEN RAINBOW QTC from Joannie H, just love those little fishes.....[Pizzazz]

A very elegant YELLOW QTC from Judi K, just beautiful. [Fabricards]

and last but not least BLUE RAINBOW QTC from KR, embellished with gold threads. [Pizzazz] Wonderful.

Once again I have been lucky to receive such wonderful cards, I hope they will all like the ones I send in return. Thank you all again ladies. I am now up to date with all the pictures of the cards I have received so far from all the groups I am in. Phew!

OH DEARIE ME

This card above, is for Susan, who has been very kind and keeping me cheerie whilst I've not felt 100%.

These are the Blue QTC's for the RAINBOW QTC swap I started but handed over to Allison when I became overwhelmed by it all. I chopped up lots of blue fabrics and covered the QTC then made some inchies to decorate it. I then found some blue fuzzy wool and sewed round the edges. They are BLUE.

And these are the PINK ones for the same RAINBOW swap. I pulled apart some silk flowers that were white, painted them with a felt tip, placed them on some pink voile's and stitched the centres down, then decided to give them a ribbon and some heart beads that were pink. Just because......

Now these cards are for the BEATLES swap. I dithered over the choice of song for these but finally settled on SHE LOVES YOU. I again pulled apart a white daisy - see the pink cards above!! - but left one petal on the flower, so as you pull off you go, she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, etc, etc, and it works out to SHE LOVES YOU...YEAH YEAH YEAH. I then did the edges in red and white thread to depict LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB, that was fun doing that, I didn't use a two colour thread, I used two different spools and interchanged R -W -R -W -R -W round the edges, after first marking the edge with a pencil every inch very roughly. After finishing the card I remembered I had the little guitar charms so pierced a hole and fixed them on. Great fun.

This one is the mystery card made with MY choice of stuff sent to Kath. I pulled apart the silver fabric I sent and used all the silver threads underneath the netting, I posted some of the buttons there too. Then I quilted a half feather, stitched on the silver braid and butterfly. Done. Hope Kath likes it and can work out what I did.

As promised QTC's for Judy as she missed out on some of the early ones. These are different to everyone else's I hope she wont mind.

Happy FIRST Birthday to Postcard Pizzazz group. These cards are to celebrate the first year of post carding for this group. I cut rows and rows of fuzzy wool and placed under some net, I then free machined the writing on top, made a mini postcard and stitched it on. Just because...

A is for...well ANGEL of course. I really only needed one card for the swap I was in, but got carried away with these Angels. I enjoyed doing them.

More RAINBOW QTC's, this time Mauve or Lilac, whichever you wish to call it. One of my favourite colours anyway. This is a skeleton leaf which is trapping some sequins, then I close zigzagged round the edge of the leaf. Basically a quick and easy card.

A Dragonfly card. OK I know I've made lots of them, but hey, I like making them. This one is for Micki in Ireland I do hope she likes it.

OMG a very late AUGUST Mingle card for Leah. I decided to use the skeleton leaves again in Autumnal colours. I used mono filament thread to catch them down then free machine quilted the background. I like this card very much, I hope Leah feels the same when she gets it.

A card for the RED HAT ladies. Made just for fun, not a swap. We were asked if we would like to take part in making a card using the red hats, so of course I had to have a go didn't I!





These cards took me for ever to make but I am pleased with the way they turned out...I think.
They are for THREADS OF FRIENDSHIP swap, the brief was to make a card using gold threads as links to friends. I thought of the WWW as you can see if you click on the first picture.

This is the card folded for the post..I have wondered since I made them if they are going to be classed as postcards because of the way they open!! I sent KR hers first, as she was the Hostess, and she was pleased with it, so I guess it must be OK.

And here it is opened up. The ladies I actually swapped with have an inchie with their name on, dangling by golden ribbon from the map of the world. All the other ladies who were in the swap, have their names sewn round the world amongst the free machining, so linking us altogether. I hope!!

Well, well, oh deary me indeed! Having not felt 100% just lately, AND being away house sitting, I had completely forgotten all about these cards. I found them in my sewing room on my return. They were all sitting there in their envelopes too. Oh well, better late than never as the saying goes. Posted my apologies to the ladies on all the groups.

TRYING A NEW LOOK

What do you think? I got fed up with the pink. Sorry Reb! Just felt like a change, they do say a change is as good as a rest. I have been resting so here is the change.

INFORMATION FOR YOU

I have just put some pictures of KIDS QUILTS at the NEC QUILT SHOW over on the right hand picture column. If you click on the first picture it should take you straight to their site so you can see what I mean about them having brilliant patterns. Go on, go see.

SHOPPING at the QUILT SHOW

This is my shopping from the NEC QUILT SHOW 2008. Lots of goodies.






l

These following fabrics were bought for me by Suzanne. The trip
to the NEW QUILT SHOW this year was my Mother's Day
present from Suzanne. Thanks Suzanne.

YUM YUM

SUSAN AND ME

This is a picture of the very beautiful Gift Susan gave me at the NEC where we met for the first time. As you can see it is a journal..this is it opened...

Here is a picture of the BACK....
This is the FRONT..isn't it beautiful.

and here we are, Susan is the young one of course. A really lovely girl, a pleasure to meet you Susan and thank you again for my most treasured gift. To think I only gave you a grotty postcard!! Sorry my dear.

The inside again, I am afraid to use it I don't wish to spoil it with my grotty writing.