Generosity amongst quilters

Today I found out about another lovely free BOM stitchery. This one is GIFTS OF GRACE by Val Laird. It's based on the Bible verses Galations 5:22-23, known as the Fruit of the Spirit.

The generosity of fellow quilters, crafters and artisans is wonderful. Especially when some of us don't have the great drawing and designing skills that others have been gifted with.

Mary Poppins SAL progress

I've enjoyed stitching this x-stitch.

The patterns on the rooves remind me of the Cathedral in Vienna. I saw this when in Vienna in 1989. It stills comes to mind at different times when I see x-stitch patterns.

X-Stitch progress

The following is my progress on my Ten Virgins x-stitch pattern from Gigi. Since this photo I've completed this one. So I'll update my photo soon!!!

I've also started on a Mary Poppins SAL, from here. I found out about it and saw it on Heidi's blog. I'm using DMC variegated 99 for the tumbling umbrella's in the border. the dark thread is 902 and the light thread is 3727. I've already made more progess since this photo.

Handmade "Christmas"

In a previous post last year, I showed some of the handmade Christmas gifts I've done.


Using the same thought again for 2009, we had to make or give to each other something we had.

I chose to do some more "amigurumi" which is a Japanese art form of knitting or crocheting stuffed animals. I made my daughter the Elephant for Christmas, and the Monkey for her birthday, two days after Christmas.









I also made for my daughter and son, a tin of biscuits, re-using some tins they had. Then my husband got some homemade turkish delight.

Lovely Free BOM

Last year Jenny of ELEFANTZ had a gorgeous "Shabby Rose" Free BOM going. She is now doing another one called "Bouquet" and is having a "special offer". Please visit and have a look.

2010 and New Year's Resolution

Here we are, now 2010!! .... I can only join with many others in saying, "where has the past year gone!!"

I wish you a safe and happy New Year for 2010.

A number of different blogs are sharing their resolutions or plans for the year. So I thought I'd share mine.

Being a Christian, the Bible is the most important Book for truth, faith, wisdom and counsel. It's reported that many Christian's have never read the Bible in it's entirity, let alone every year. I was challenged by this and over the past few days of prayer and thought, it kept coming to my mind "the washing of the Word". A thought from this verse "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word" Ephesians 5:25, 26

So that has become my New Years resolution - to read the whole Bible in a year. I'm following six booklets called "Cover to Cover" which came out in 1999, with Selwyn Hughes and Trevor J Partridge. It will take me through the Bible in chronolgocial order.

Today my reading started off with:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." John 1:1, 2

"Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." Psalm 90:2

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Showing you my "busyness"

My last post in November was a quick summary sharing my "busyness". So today I'm bringing you up-to-date with photo's.

Here are the "heart swap blocks" that we swapped in our local patchwork group. On the yahoo DJAlternateGroup, they had a "heart-to-heart" swap at the beginning of the year, which I didn't have time to join in. When our patchwork group talked about what swap project we could do this year, I suggeseted "hearts"!! Which they all liked.

Every two months we swapped them out.

The first month was machine pieced hearts, the second was applique hearts,

the third was embroidered hearts and the fourth was crazypatch hearts.

Each lady gave their preferred colours. It was just amazing to see the same hearts done in different colours. Everyone just loved this swap and want to do something similiar next year.

The next two posts I share about the Centenary Quilt and my daughter's knitted blanket.