Yes I think this big smile

is a tick of approval for his Library bag I made him, what do you think :-)

hugs,
Diana

Would you like to be in the running for

a lovely gift? Pop over to Naomi's Blog  wish her a Happy 45th Birthday and choose from one of the 3 lovely gifts she is giving away to Celebrate her birthday. Good Luck.

hugs
Diana

Found

the perfect fabric to make DGS a library bag, he gave me the thumbs up so now onto finding some letters to applique his name on the top....

hugs 
Diana

To my Family and Friends.....

may all your wishes and dreams come true in 2013. Has anybody made any New Year resolutions? I haven't as at this age I already know that I won't stick to them, of course the normal ones like losing some weight and using up all my stash come to mind, I guess I'll have to wait and see how that pans out :-).
 Now that it is too hot to spend much time outside I hope to start the year off with a couple of quilts. First up I have my DGD's Quillow to finish, I have finally decided on a layout...I think....I hope...so I had best get the sewing machine revved up before I change my mind again.

Tomorrow while in town I hope to find a nice piece of fabric to use for the sashings, I was going to use white but perhaps a white background with tiny spots might look good?
I already have the  aqua border fabric that matches one of the charm squares in the quilt. Those blocks will need moving around a bit once I have them sewn together.
I also hope to get a bag sewn up for myself and with plans for a quilt well overdue for another family member I have plenty to keep me busy to start off the New Year. Hoping everyone is having a safe and fun time over the holidays.
Hugs,

Christmas Swap Sent, Christmas Swap received

Just look at all these lovely goodies I received in the C.R.A.F.T Christmas swap from Amanda......

Notepad, Owl Brooch, Sticky Note Holder, Zippered Bag, Stitch Holders, Chrissy Deco, Mini Album

and the gifts I sent to Amanda.....

Sweets, Diary, Bone China Mum, Tote Bag

I am so pleased she liked the gifts I choose for her. It's so much fun choosing them but then the anxious wait to hear if your swap partners likes what you have chosen, then the lovely thanks you receive when they arrive and you know you did okay after all.
Merry Christmas Everyone
hugs, Diana

And while I am on a roll

and catching up with my blog updating....
I wanted to pop up a couple of pics of what my niece Dahna made on a visit to me during the school holidays. Dahna is very artistic so it wasn't hard to keep her occupied in my craft room with stamps and paper, she enjoyed making a gift for her Mum's birthday and I had a great time showing her how use some of the new toys I have accumulated, it was fun having somebody to play with for a couple of days, lol. Thanks so much for your company Dahna, it was lovely having you visit.

Dahna did a great job of the dvd notepad holder and card don't you think.
hugs 
Diana

A little update

on my Stamping Up workshops. 

I have fallen behind with posting pics of my cards etc that have been made in the classes.

 So I decided it would be a good idea to put them all together in an album for those who are interested in this craft and I can update it when I have new items to share.

 I love going along once a month to the workshops where we get to sample the paper and stamps etc from the Stampin Up range.

Bron our Demonstrator is brilliant at showing us 

a new techniques each month, so much so that each month I have to put in an order for some goodies, did I say how addicting it is. 

To have a peek at my photos, please click HERE.

hugs 
Diana

I'm a lucky girl...

my wonderful friends from the online C.R.A.F.T group made a road trip up from Khristina's house in Ipswich to come visit with me for a bit before they returned to Mt Alford for the yearly retreat, where they are now enjoying themselves immensely.

 

The only hill in Bundaberg

 I wasn't able to attend this year so it was fantastic to have the girls make the drive up to Bargara, especially because we had some USA ladies coming over for the retreat. We took a drive into town to the LQS  and enjoyed some yummy seafood for lunch at Grunskies by The River.
 It was just fantastic to meet Marilyn and Jolene from the States and Amanda from Adelaide and to catch up with the other girls from New Zealand and Sydney, even though we have formed great friendships over the years of online chatting it is so much more fun meeting in person. I have put a few pics in an album here if you would like a peep at our time spent together here in Bargara.
hugs
Diana

Woo Hoo 'Remember Whoo Loves You' Baby Quilt

is finally in the post and on it's way to baby Max. Loved the whole process of this little quilt, the pattern is very well written and was easy to follow.

Max's Quilt

back of quilt

  

 So tomorrow I need clean up my messy sewing room and get myself organised as we are off on the tilt train to Cairns on Friday night. Look out Harrison, .. Nan n Pop are coming for lots of cuddles, soo can't wait to see our little man who is now a big 3 yr old and to spend some time with his Mum and Dad especially looking forward to DS cooking for me.  lol

hugs

Love that moment...

when you take a break from your quilting to lay it out and you realise it is no longer just a top but nearly a quilt that is starting to look like it might just turn out okay, maybe even a little more than okay :-)

Ready Set Go.....

time to get this baby gift quilted, bound and in the post. Fingers crossed it will all happen by Monday, well that's the plan. :-)

Baby Max's 'Remember Whoo Loves You Quilt'

Baby Max's Quilt

Yep the Blue n Yellow Quilt

 did finally get finished and was handed over to my sister who really loves it, I enjoyed sewing up this pattern and have some pink fabrics earmarked to make another at a later date. Being a special gift I decided to have it quilted by a local LAQ, it was the first time I have had a quilt professionally quilted and I was so excited to see how lovely the all over pattern turned out when I got it back from Kym at PQS. Thanks Kym.

next on my list was a Quillow for my eldest Granddaughter, the poor darling has been waiting for awhile for me to get this done, I finally got motivated and sewed up some blocks ready to try the disappearing nine patch technique and played with some fabrics on my design wall to plan the whole quilt, I think it will be okay now that I have more or less got the layout worked out in my head. Here's a peek at the fabrics I am using.

But in the mean time we have had a new addition to the family. My hubby's niece has had her first bub, a beautiful little boy who arrived a few weeks early so I have put the quillow aside for a little bit while I make his gift, sooo I have been busy sewing up more nine patches, a glutton for punishment I think.

So many quilts to make hope I live to 100. 

 

 

Happy Easter Everyone, have a safe and happy holiday.

Sneaking in a pic of a Dolly Carry Bag I made for No 2 Granddaughter for Easter, at the age of 3 and a bit I doubt she will be checking out Nan's blog so I feel pretty safe that I wont spoil the surprise for her when the mail man has a parcel for her tomorrow.   I purchased the e pattern from here, great pattern, great service.

Made good progress today with my sister's belated 50th birthday quilt, (just a tad late as the event was back in 2011) now with all the blocks finally on my design wall I just have to play some more with the layout of them and then when happy with it all will be able to wizz them up ready to sew the border on. Woo Hoo getting there.

Now the fun begins
This part could take awhile, lots of playing to do.