Gifts for others...

I am so glad I got most of the teacher gifts made a while back, because time is definitely going by at lightening speed.  Today's hit list included, the only male teacher gift, an obligatory key fob using my lovely new pliers for the first time…

… and 3 mini-needlebooks for the Cub and Brownie leaders…

Anything to bring joy to the prospect of sewing on those badges!

I also made a pincushion for my Brit Bee Secret Santa, and a cracking good start on a commission.  No sofa time nor Christmas cards written, but hey ho, ho ho.

I am now down to 5 family pressies left to make, all of which will be handed over on Christmas Day, so in theory, I have another fortnight, which makes me feel slightly better.

Speaking of which, your comments on my Sew Mama Sew Giveaway have had me both panicked and relieved!  If you haven't already, don't forget to enter xxx

Brain like a sieve...

I showed you the lovely pin cushion I received from Emily on Friday, but completely forgot to show you a picture of the mini needle books I made for her and Nicky...

A little Liberty Lifestyle, yarn dyed linen in denim, (oh how I love thee), JD and Aneela, and some real chunky wool felt.

I added the hooks to either attach to a small pair of scissors or to keep the needle books safe or at hand.

It took me 20 times longer playing with fabric combinations than actually sewing these up.  Isn't that always the way?

They finish up at 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" folded.

I may have to make myself one too!

On a side-note before I forget, Hubby is now off work for a fortnight, so I plan to only blog every other day to make the most of family holiday time.  It's pretty quiet in blogland right now anyway, so I think I am going to take advantage too.  So please excuse my lack of interaction over the next couple of weeks; normal service will resume after the August Bank Holiday xxx

Giving...

Not only were there all-inclusive swaps at Retreat, but also other acts of less formal giving and taking.

Krista and I faltered in arranging a private swap last year, but the fact we were going to meet for real, meant I whipped her up a Liberty-linen frame purse...

... and she reciprocated with one of her awesome thread catchers...

... and an amazing Purple Thang!

Before you go all ga-ga at the brown, it's animal print, it is meant to be brown!  I love it and need to get back behind my sewing machine so I can use it rather than just looking lovingly at it!

I also made a trio of pincushions for my 2 smashing Brit Bee besties Terri and Susan, who sent me some treasured Heather Ross fussy cuts last month, and another for Di, who has been my States-side go-between for a couple of (spookily) Heather Ross t-shirts; so HR fishies were the only way to go; however caught up in the secrecy of making them, I forgot to take any pictures - doh!  This is my one, the ones I made for them were the same... but different!

And unexpectedly, Di made me the most superb Tula Pink/Prince Charming purse...

I think this has holiday boiled-egg-smuggling written all over it!  Perfect.  I love it!

Generously, and for no reason other than being wonderful friends, I came home with a pretty flower brooch from Catherine and some of my favourite Denyse Schmidt FMF print, zipper, thread and lolly, so far hidden from the kids, from my curve-class buddy Emily...

If you need a big quilt basting, or are in the South-West (UK) and want to use her frame or studio space, Emily is your woman; check out her web page for more information.

Thank you all for my wonderful gifts, there is nothing like handmade gifts from friends xxx

The other gifts I need to mention are the top secret wall hanging that Brit Bee made to commemorate Susan's big 5-0.  This was presented to her on Friday night, she wiggled her butt in my face as thanks; she has put it more sweetly than I could here.

Jude, I borrowed this one, as I only have the one of her arse!

And lastly, some feel-good photos, here are Delma and I and the Siblings Together quilt I made in collaboration with Amanda...

Photos c/o Robin 'have you taken it yet?' Robin!

And the Siblings Together Bee's first finish...



So many quilts were handed over, the huge pile was quite overwhelming for them and us!

I am almost at an end of my Retreat round up now; tomorrow, it'll be a week since we all got together, so I shall finally show you what I made.

Apologies I have not responded to emails, or commented on blog posts much this week, hopefully I will be able to get myself all caught up soon, the house is now tidy, I will fill the fridge tomorrow morning and then be able to start enjoying the holidays xxx

Almost but not quite...

Christmas is almost over; I gauge that by the quantity of food left to consume; the turkey is no more, I might actually have to cook something tomorrow as we are now running low on cheese, biscuits and other festive fayre, although I do still have a mountain of chocs, so it's not all bad.

I have spent the afternoon Sizzixing pieces for round two of Brit Bee as I will be Miss January 2013 - lots and lots of HSTs all prepared; I was hoping to give you photos of my lovely piles, but I have only just finished, so you will just have to wait.

In the meantime, I have also pledged to join in with the in crowd and Trip Around The World.  I have pulled 36 Denyse Schmidt FQs, but they may have to wait in line, as I need to get that BB fabric all packaged and mailed, along with making some inroads into the first of 2 commission quilts that need to be finished by the end of January.  Hopefully I will go forth into the New Year all teched-up and using the #scrappytripalong mularky.  Here's hoping!

Having had a quick look back, I have also failed to show you a lovely Chrustmas pressie I received from my special blogging friend Annabelle, a leather sewing pattern purse!  (I know!)...

It is superb and will be used lots, especially when I head back to work.

I can also show you the Secret Santa gift I made for fellow Brit Bee Fiona...

I was getting my Panto-groove on when planning this, the Postcard from the Peeps pouch, using Lynne's paper pattern from FQ Retreat and a precious scrap of Lizzy House as a starter.  So although not overly festive, I know that Fiona is planning on using it after the pine needles have settled and mince pies are a distant memory!  I am yet to receive my gift, if you were wondering; my partner is a very amazing and busy lady so I told her not to stress it pre-Christmas, and so, the festivities live on.

The Good, the Bad and the Snuggly...

The Good... in the form of great mail days.  I have had a couple recently, but haven't yet shown you.

Benta went into production-line-mode on her lipbalm holders, and I was a lucky recipient... 

How brilliant that i. it has MY name on it, so the girls know it is not theirs for the taking, and ii. that it will clip onto the key fob in my handbag, so no more rummaging, and even better, no more searching the footwell following those sudden breaking episodes!

More Good from Alyce - Blossom Heart Quilts.  I was so lucky to have won her brilliant SMS Giveaway Day prize of some lovely Japanese Christmas fabrics, and also one month of her splendid Etsy shop's Japanese Bundle Club; so I am able to extend the joy, and have another parcel of lovelies to look forward to next year.

Thank you again ladies, I really appreciate The Good in my world right now.

The Bad... the central heating, or rather, the lack thereof.  We woke up cold, and I managed to finally trick the system into action at about 2pm, the engineer arrived at about 4.30pm, but because it was working, he was none the wiser; but they will return tomorrow, with their electrical testing gear, and hopefully we will be sorted this side of Christmas.  The lurgy is slowly beating a retreat, so hopefully we can put the Calpol/Night Nurse back in the cupboard soon.

The Snuggly... where I am planning on being as early as possible this evening. I will hopefully get the chance to catch up with a few blogs too, have I missed anything huge in the last couple of days? 

First though, I need to cut the pieces for the last 3 Christmas gifts that I have to make, and who knows, I may even get the chance to move onto the optional extras!

Teachers...tick

The teacher Christmas gifts are complete.  It didn't take long to attach the buttons and pins, so I can show my face at school without a guilty conscience.

These are the best pictures I could muster under the dreary circumstances today...

I spent the rest of the morning making a couple of blocks for Bee Blessed, pictures to come, and piecing the backing and binding for my Retro Flowers quilt.  I am on a roll with this one, it is my 'want to' make rather than my 'have to' make right now.  I am hoping to get it basted and quilted before the end of the week so that I have some nice binding to finish off over the weekend.

This weekend is our only 'unfilled' weekend until the New Year, so in my head I am already planning a lazy Sunday afternoon on the sofa, stitching and snoozing, let's see what happens eh!