Where have I been and what have I been up to?????

Today is officially the first day of winter here in the southern hemisphere…….not so wintery here in the tropical north of Australia though, we’ve had temps still in the high 20’s and early 30’s up till last week, but it is the official passing of my birthday, which is on the last day of autumn……..yesterday.  And wasn’t I blessed??
Here are some of the gorgeous gifts I received from the girls in my Birthday Club Swap group

some gorgeous fabrics, gifts of chocolates, patterns, coffee and plenty of other goodies, including this gorgeous fest from my birthday swap partner, Melody…..

I certainly do feel like I’ve been showered with blessings this weekend.  Thank you,  just doesn’t do it justice! I AM blessed!



I know I’ve been missing the past couple of weeks….but deadlines have been hitting me headlong and believe me, even the housework’s been suffering!!!!   But I can show you what’s been keeping my head low  (probably should only show you sneakies, but I’m soooo happy with this one) ….

It’s my newest design which I’m calling “I’ll Be Gnome For Christmas”  hee hee……I’m soooo pleased with it, and  it’s going to be released in a little while in an upcoming Australian Patchwork & Stitching magazine….and after I’ve written the pattern (which I AM doing today! (touch of procrastination happening...)) I’ll add it to my Craftsy shop for overseas purchasers and those who just can’t wait!   (If you zoom in on the photo, you’ll see my little mushroom Christmas trees... sooo cute! (but I’m a touch biased on this one! Hope you like it too.

So “Gnome” can go into my OPAM list of finishes for May….along with this one I finished last month but wasn’t added to the count…..another finish for an upcoming  Patchwork & Stitching edition…..

This design was heavily influence by my father-in-law’s recent stay in hospital and was made whilst I sat by his bedside.  The stitchery on the front of butterflies and flowers and some lovely dots, hexies and chevrons…….all feelgood things for me… reminds me to continue to always Love the Life we’ve been gifted.  I’ll add it to the Craftsy shop for you too…

I’ve also been stitching some hexi flowers for a hexi swap……here are the ones I’ve made so far…..

I have a resurgent love for hexies…..how about you??? 
Have you signed up for Chookyblue’s  2nd Birthday Party celebrations???

I have, and I must admit, I’ve been celebrating along with her…really truly!!!!!!!   I even popped the cork on the Riccadonna Ruby last night and got a bit of secret sewing in!!!!  (after my own birthday celebrations!!!)  Not as much as I’d hoped, but I did, I promise……look………….

Why don’t you pop on over and see what everyone got up to over the weekend.
And before I head back to my pattern-writing *eeergh* ……have you signed up for QuiltJane’s Nested Churn Dash QuiltALong???





I know it starts today but I really need to get this pattern done…..I’ll start mine tomorrow??  hee hee……Check it out and then you’ll be able to prompt me along!!!!
Okley Dokely….I MUST go.  There’s a brief catch up…..thank you so much for your concerns, but all is good in Sugarlane World…..my head was just buried under a pile of catchups, I promise.  
Sugary hugs :o) xox

A FNSI Winner

  ….But before I get into that….here’s what I’ve been up to…… I bought myself a new printer….well….technically it’s called a ‘multi-function centre’ (sounds impressive doesn’t it???) I decided I really need a nice big A3 one so I can print out and scan my patterns from now on in one decent go, rather than making you print two dodgy pages and match them up!   You see, my old faithful died, the printhead was damaged and you know what it’s like, everything these days is ‘disposable’ so its much cheaper to go and buy new rather than try and get it fixed so, what a great opportunity to buy one that will be much more user-friendly!!!!!! That was last Thursday….took me till late Thursday night to set up space for it (which also gave me an ‘excuse’ to tidy up the office to accommodate her!!) and print out the necessary documents for a little ‘procedure’ I had done on Friday.  I have cysts on my thyroid and the doc has decided they’re not really a problem but something is causing me discomfort so off for a camera down the throat to check……..seems I have a ‘tiny’ hiatus hernia….don’t know exactly what that means but I guess I’ll find out on my re-visit to the doctor, but all in all, it IS good news!?! So it was about 7pm before we got home and I got to join in on FNSI…..this is what it looked like when we left Townsville….. a gorgeous big full moon shining on the ocean……was so lovely to have it guide us home! Then I got stuck into some stitching in front of the telly….nothing like a good relaxing stitch……. I finished off this adorable Rosalie Quinlan design made for the girls at Let’s Get Stitched in Melbourne this year.  Couldn’t resist using a Cottage Garden thread…..Peacock…isn’t it just lovely?? …and then I thought I’d revisit an old friend, in Fee’s Framed Hexagons…… Didn’t get too much done on Friday night…..just partway through one block…..but I felt really under the weather on Saturday and then Sunday came down with a rotten case of gastro……so my stitching and I became close again…….along with the toilet!!!!!  uuurgh!!!  I managed to get 6 hexies done and ready to frame….now I only have the last month’s hexies to do to be caught up, then the last lot of the alphabet hexies of Fee’s and I can put it all together!!!! So, I see you’ve all been busy on Friday night too and got lots done……I love these nights where we can all stitch together and get things done….it’s a bit like a catch-up in more ways than one!!!! This month’s winner has been drawn, and it is…….. Sue….of Just Sew Sue she finished her gorgeous Fat Quarter Shop Bom from 2012 on Friday night ….well worth a pop over to take a look! Congratulations Sue…..just swing me an email with your postal address and I’ll send you out this gorgeous charm pack…… If you haven’t had a chance to visit the girls…….you can go back to this post and link up to each of them for a visit….. can’t wait until next month! Sugary hugs xo :o)

A FNSI Winner

 

….But before I get into that….here’s what I’ve been up to……

I bought myself a new printer….well….technically it’s called a ‘multi-function centre’ (sounds impressive doesn’t it???)

I decided I really need a nice big A3 one so I can print out and scan my patterns from now on in one decent go, rather than making you print two dodgy pages and match them up!   You see, my old faithful died, the printhead was damaged and you know what it’s like, everything these days is ‘disposable’ so its much cheaper to go and buy new rather than try and get it fixed so, what a great opportunity to buy one that will be much more user-friendly!!!!!!

That was last Thursday….took me till late Thursday night to set up space for it (which also gave me an ‘excuse’ to tidy up the office to accommodate her!!) and print out the necessary documents for a little ‘procedure’ I had done on Friday.  I have cysts on my thyroid and the doc has decided they’re not really a problem but something is causing me discomfort so off for a camera down the throat to check……..seems I have a ‘tiny’ hiatus hernia….don’t know exactly what that means but I guess I’ll find out on my re-visit to the doctor, but all in all, it IS good news!?!

So it was about 7pm before we got home and I got to join in on FNSI…..this is what it looked like when we left Townsville…..

a gorgeous big full moon shining on the ocean……was so lovely to have it guide us home!

Then I got stuck into some stitching in front of the telly….nothing like a good relaxing stitch…….

I finished off this adorable Rosalie Quinlan design made for the girls at Let’s Get Stitched in Melbourne this year.  Couldn’t resist using a Cottage Garden thread…..Peacock…isn’t it just lovely??

…and then I thought I’d revisit an old friend, in Fee’s Framed Hexagons……

Didn’t get too much done on Friday night…..just partway through one block…..but I felt really under the weather on Saturday and then Sunday came down with a rotten case of gastro……so my stitching and I became close again…….along with the toilet!!!!!  uuurgh!!! 

I managed to get 6 hexies done and ready to frame….now I only have the last month’s hexies to do to be caught up, then the last lot of the alphabet hexies of Fee’s and I can put it all together!!!!

So, I see you’ve all been busy on Friday night too and got lots done……I love these nights where we can all stitch together and get things done….it’s a bit like a catch-up in more ways than one!!!!

This month’s winner has been drawn, and it is……..

Sue….of Just Sew Sue

she finished her gorgeous Fat Quarter Shop Bom from 2012 on Friday night ….well worth a pop over to take a look!

Congratulations Sue…..just swing me an email with your postal address and I’ll send you out this gorgeous charm pack……

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the girls…….you can go back to this post and link up to each of them for a visit….. can’t wait until next month!

Sugary hugs xo :o)

I'm back with FNSI

Finally getting my head around being home and back to 'normality'!!!
Yes, after 4 1/2 weeks we are finally home from hospital and 'Dad's' doing amazingly well...thanks to all your prayers and well wishes! I must apologise for not replying to your comments but it has been extremely difficult with no 'real' access to the computer so I hope you'll understand, and know that I appreciate each and every one of your comments!

 

 

Now we just have to get him fit and strong and get the all clear from the specialist to go for his next operation in the next few months......the removal of  one of his kidneys due to a 4.2cm cancer growing in it. 

 

 

What have I been up to???  Well, a few pictures might tell the story.....

a sneaky of a new design going into Patchwork and Stitching in the near future....one with hexies and dots!!!!!!

 

......revisiting an old love......

 

a little stitchery just so I don't lose the habit.....

 

 

and playing with these lovely fabrics for another new quilt design.......

 



here's a peek at how it's working out ......still a bit to go yet though........this is NOT the finished product.......there's a bit of applique going on those blank squares.....and that's going to be a surprise!!!!

So I haven't been entirely lax in my 'non-existence' on blogger but I need to do a complete catchup with it as I know I'm behind with the Birthday-Love Stash as well........but I know you'll understand......life just gets in the way sometimes and some things are just MORE important!

 

 

Now......lets get organised for FNSI.......sign ups are below and I'm looking forward to getting back into the groove with you all on Friday Night......
Sugary hugs

 
 



 

I'm back with FNSI

Finally getting my head around being home and back to 'normality'!!!
Yes, after 4 1/2 weeks we are finally home from hospital and 'Dad's' doing amazingly well...thanks to all your prayers and well wishes! I must apologise for not replying to your comments but it has been extremely difficult with no 'real' access to the computer so I hope you'll understand, and know that I appreciate each and every one of your comments!

 

 

Now we just have to get him fit and strong and get the all clear from the specialist to go for his next operation in the next few months......the removal of  one of his kidneys due to a 4.2cm cancer growing in it. 

 

 

What have I been up to???  Well, a few pictures might tell the story.....

a sneaky of a new design going into Patchwork and Stitching in the near future....one with hexies and dots!!!!!!

 

......revisiting an old love......

 

a little stitchery just so I don't lose the habit.....

 

 

and playing with these lovely fabrics for another new quilt design.......

 



here's a peek at how it's working out ......still a bit to go yet though........this is NOT the finished product.......there's a bit of applique going on those blank squares.....and that's going to be a surprise!!!!

So I haven't been entirely lax in my 'non-existence' on blogger but I need to do a complete catchup with it as I know I'm behind with the Birthday-Love Stash as well........but I know you'll understand......life just gets in the way sometimes and some things are just MORE important!

 

 

Now......lets get organised for FNSI.......sign ups are below and I'm looking forward to getting back into the groove with you all on Friday Night......
Sugary hugs

 
 



 

Lest We Forget…a Day to Remember and pattern launch

Today marks the 99th anniversary of our ANZAC’s battling for our freedom on the shores of Gallipoli…….. ….commemorating the young men and women who battled for us, those who lost their lives for us, those who live with horrific war injuries, and who continue to wage the war against terrorism so that we might live freely….. LEST WE FORGET! and to mark such a prominent and distinguished event in our calendar, I have designed a pattern which, I hope, will give these men and women the recognition they deserve…. A simple yet bold pieced, stitched and framed picture which I hope will do our diggers proud  showing the essence of our ANZACs . It is available now in my Craftsy store HERE Sugary hugs xox :o)