Another 11th hour finish

I made this for my Mum, it's a Christmas mug rug. That way she can eat my homemade fruit mince slice and have her coffee and think of me as she admires my stitching. :)

Belated Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone!
Well the last few days of the lead-up to Christmas were absolutely and completely insane! Here is an example of one of my freak out moments from my personal blog.... Happy birthday to me.... YIKES I honestly didn't have time to scratch my head, let alone blog. So forgive me. I'll get around to doing a few of the projects I got done later on.

First things first, a big thank you to Car for hosting the annual Advent Blog Along. It was very fun, and I really enjoyed seeing what different things people posted about.

My next thing is that I am taking my vow to make 2012 the year of the cheap very seriously. Does anyone want to join me? 2012 is fast approaching and I plan to have a plan!



You will see a tally on the side bar with how much I spend during the year, and also you will see my completed objects on the 2012 Challenge page.  It would be cool to see how much we can make with what we have, and how creative we can be. So if you want to join in, comment and I'll put your blog on "the list" on my sidebar, and then we can check each other's work out! If no one joins me that's fine. I'm still doing it!

Any craft is acceptable - scrapping, sewing, quilting, knitting, etc... The more varied the better! We can all be inspired by different types of creativity.

Happy New Year! I hope 2012 brings you and your family joy and many good times. 2011 was a crap year for so many, and I hope that crap is now over and we can look forward to a better future.

Advent Blog Along - 22nd December

Merry Christmas Molly!

Advent Blog Along - 21st December

It's my birthday today!! YAY for me!! I'm 33 today. I've been spoiled, but now we have to get down to business. Christmas is approaching and I still have lots of things to do!

But first things first....today I gave my craft room a big tidy up, because it looked like a fabric factory had exploded in here!! I went through a few crates and baskets full of UFO's and was horrified!! Since when did I start all these things, and didn't finish them off? I had spent good money on the materials, yet they lay in a box, incomplete!! I am one of these people that get the good idea, get it started, then get another good idea and work on that instead of finishing what I started. Well I have decided that next year, every single UFO project is going to get done. I want those boxes empty!!!

I do not want to be like this:



I also have a massive basket chock a block FULL of wool, that my Mum has given me (she doesn't need it anymore, or has finished the project) That wool stash is going to disappear as well.

I would also like to get through my scraps and fabric stash, making gifts for people with what I have (apart from my brand new niece of course!!)

Plans plans plans. I love planning... I just need to execute the plan!

Advent Blog Along - 20th December

I know, I know! It's not the 20th today, but I had this baby done yesterday, but it was too dark to take a photo of it, and too late to blog. So I'm doing yesterdays today.

So..... this is my latest finished project! YAY!



Please excuse the dodgy photo, but I was in a rush and couldn't be bothered being artistic IYKWIM?

This is a wall hanging, a combination of applique, embroidery and quilting. I love it. :)

Advent Blog Along - 19th December

Everything is getting very fast and furious now. I'm working all day and all evening on Christmas presents. Things are slowly coming together, but I think it will be December 24 that has all the pressies finished.

So here is where I am at:
Yesterday I forgot that I needed to make something for my niece for Christmas. Her Mum loves handmade stuff, and isn't too keen on toys for her kids. So I have decided to make her a cute little tote with a cute embroidery panel on it. I've cut up the fabric, and the embroidery will be done tonight.

I've decided to make Aunty Lyn a tote bag and a note book. The tote bag will be fairly easy, and the notebook will have some embroidery on it.

Nanna called a few days ago and said she is coming around to drop off the family's presents. I feel bad if I don't give her anything, and she goes away for Christmas, so baked goodies won't be any good to her.

I've finished Mum's main present bar the hand stitching of the binding - which I'll do tonight.

EJ's quilt has been tied. Looks pretty good too I might add. :) Just need to decide what to do with the edges, and then bind it.

Mop's quillow needs a pocket on it, and then that is done.

These are the most important things that need doing. Anything else after that is a bonus. :)


So, onto other things. About a month ago I finished a quilt, which I totally forgot to show!! I was generously given some beautiful squares, which I made into a nine patch quilt. Simple but so lovely. I use this in my photoshoots.

Advent Blog-along - 17th December

Today I've had a fairly productive day.

I made more white chocolate covered Oreos. Remember those Pringle containers I was talking about a while ago? Well I've covered them and the Oreos have gone in there.





We picked up our laybys from the different department stores, and have now started wrapping. I cannot tell you how excited the kids were when they saw this sight this afternoon -



We don't teach the kids about Santa, so they are ok with seeing presents under the tree. EJ has been inspecting them, to work out which ones are his. LOL

I also got my traditional fruit mince slice made up:


Daz just came home from shopping for me, and he has bought in some DMC thread that I've needed, so I am going to continue on with embroidering and hopefully get started on EJ's Seuss quilt.

A really easy and productive day. I like days like this!!

Advent Blog Along - December 15th

Christmas is approaching at such a fast pace, but I'm not panicking yet!! I'm still managing to stay on top of my list, and have been working away steadily. I must say I am such a last minute person - I put it off until I can no longer put it off, and then go great guns!! I'm not like that in real life, I plan and am prepared and ready for most things, but when it comes to creative stuff - meh, Queen Procrastinator here!!

So... what did I accomplish today?
I have finished most of the needlework of the piece I have been working on for the last few days. I have run out of the DMC thread, so now have to wait until Saturday until I can get some more. The joys of having an ASD boy who HATES crowds, shops and unfamiliar places. That's ok. I can wait.

Then this evening I decided to get on with the boxes that will sit on the plates of everyone who attends my Christmas lunch. They will be filled with little goodies suited for the individual.

Here they are:



Tomorrow I am going to give my body a break from being hunched over fabric and quilts - and I'm going to finish all my Christmas baking, bar the Gingerbread House. I'm going to package it all up and have it ready to give as gifts.

I have updated my Christmas list and I'm so pleased with how it's progressing!!

Advent Blog Along - December 14th

Ding dong merrily on high! Today has been a very relaxing day as I've been plugging away at my Mum's Christmas present. I thought I would give the Seuss quilt a break so I can approach it with a freshness of mind and attitude. Today I've been embroidering, and embroidering some more. Housework was ignored - because hey, it will all be there tomorrow. I wanted to just work on this piece I'm doing.



(Please excuse the dodgy photos that you have been getting lately, but it's soooooo much easier to upload photos from my iPhone, than from the SLR)

Tomorrow is the official start to school holidays, so now I want to do Christmas craft with them, like I usually do. I just have to think of something to make!!

Advent Blog Along - 13th December

Today has been better. After a sleep and finally finishing the blasted unpicking, the offending quilt has been rebasted and is ready to go.

I also whipped up some white chocolate dipped Oreos for Mr T - Mop's teacher. I only did the top half because I liked that look! I stole the idea from pinterest!



I'm trying not to panic when I look at my list and see that there are only 11 sleeps until Xmas! I like to live on the edge don't I?? :)

Advent Blog Along - 12th December

Today has NOT been a good day creatively. The Dr Seuss quilt is not cooperating! I started quilting it by machine and it's a disaster! So I've spent the rest of the day unpicking And the wadding is falling apart too :( So Im not feeling very festive at the moment. The plan is to continue unpicking, rebaste and the tye it. I've never tied before so it should be interesting! Hopefully it turns out well.

Advent blog along - December 10

Today I baked 2 of my traditional Christmas goodies... Rocky road and gingerbread!

Advent blog along - December 8th

Today I nipped down to spotlight for some fabric to finish EJ's quilt. I also picked up an empty wreath for $4.50! 50% off all Christmas stuff - bargain! A project for next Xmas!! My current wreath is a bit tired and grungy.

This afternoon I got all the kindy and school teachers gifts packaged up and ready to give on the kids last days. Each gift is a mug with a mug mat and cookies, apart from the gluten intolerant teacher, who was a bauble instead. I always like to give something to the people who contribute to shaping and helping my kids become the amazing people that they are.

Advent Blog Along - 7th December

After a bad night of insomnia, I decided to put aside the sewing machine. In my dreary and sleepy state I would really botch something up, and I didn't feel in the mood for that. So I cast aside my quilting for an apron and whipped up some Christmas presents of a different variety.

Cranberry and white choc chip cookies:



Cinnamon Toffees



I also spent most of the afternoon covered in craft glue.... and I am not going to tell you why just yet, but I can tell you it has something to do with the Pringle containers. :)

Over all, after less than 3 hours sleep, I had a very productive day and didn't burn the house down. And to top off my day, I found out that I am one of the winners for November's OPM! I am thrilled. Yay for me!

Advent Blog Along - 6th December

Today I spent the WHOLE day Christmas shopping. Yes. The WHOLE day. So not much crafting got done today, but I did get most of EJ's quilt top done late last night... so here is a glimpse of it.



I still need to visit Spotlight and get some plain border color before I add the final Cat in a Hat border. This quilt seriously does my head in because there are so many colors and patterns - but Dr Seuss does my head in too with all his crazy words. He makes my head spin!! EJ LOVES the quilt top so far, so I'm happy.

I've also managed to get a few of the jobs marked off my Christmas list (that is on the page up above there!)

18 more sleeps!!

Advent Blog along - December 5

So, weekends don't turn out to be good blogging days. Considering that I wasn't home all weekend, due to 5 birthdays in the family being celebrated - one of them being my little Milly Moo - who is now 4 years old!!

Today I spent most of the afternoon working on these blocks for my son's quilt for Christmas. I'm hoping that tonight I get them all pieced together and the quilt top will be mostly done before I go to sleep. Fingers crossed.



Also today the family Kris Kringle came out for my husband's side of the family. I have Aunty Lyn. She's a pretty great lady, she seems to be a no-nonsense, practical kind of gal. I'm going to make her something.... I just have to figure out what. I was thinking a bag. I have to get my skates on....because according to my cool little app it's.....

Advent Blog Along # 2

Christmas isn't Christmas without music! So today I thought I would share some of my favourite Christmas tunes:

Advent Blog-Along #1

"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me....... 4 rotting teeth, 3 tummy aches, 2 heart attacks, and a type b diabetes."

Welcome to the first post of the next 24 of the annual Advent Blog-Along, hosted by the very wonderful Car from Carrose Creations. This is always a very fun time, so all those who love all things Christmas can be excited, motivated and thrilled with what is put up on other Christmas Crazies blogs.

As the festive season encroaches upon us, sneaking up like the Boogy Monster in the dark alley, I find myself starting to stock up on things I will need for the festive baking. I bake for gifts. I love to do it. I find it such a lovely way to give without having to think too hard about what on earth to buy them this year. But every year, I cringe as I load up what I have put in my trolley onto the conveyor belt for the checkout lady to scan and pack. "What must she think? I'm the unhealthiest person on the planet! I'm a heart attack waiting to happen. I'm a diabetic coma waiting to happen!"

Here is a sample of what was in my trolley this week:



Last week I had 10 tubes of Pringles, ready for emptying so I can use the tubes. You will see why later. Next week is lots of brown sugar, jars of fruit mince and more baking goodies. Ahhhh yeah! Lots of sugary baking goodness!!

If you want to see what I am baking, check out my Christmas page up the top there and as you scroll down my list, you will see what I'm backing. I'll be taking pics of my goodies to torture and make you salivate like wild dogs over a rotting carcass... oh such imagery!! :)