The house fairy

For years I have been wondering why my reading glasses are never in the place where I leave them, keys are missing, electrical appliances are unplugged and many other items have either gone missing or been moved now  this mystery has been solved.    When I was reaching down to pick up a book that I am sure that I did not drop something caught my eye hiding  around the bottom of the table.   I have heard that every house has a fairy and I think that I got a naughty one.      

Backing away very quietly in order not to upset her I walked out into my garden and there she was kneeling down  still sipping her tea.     Now this explains a lot - the reason why my garden tools get moved around the garden when I turn my back and some pots have been upended on the odd occasion.

Fortunately for me she has never found her way into my sewing room....or has she????????

I am off to see if she has done any sewing overnight or caused havoc.

Back soon and in the meantime happy sewing.

FNSI

I was well and truly ready to take part in FNSI again this month as I have not been near my sewing room for just on 3 weeks and I was having severe withdrawal symptoms.   I have been busy organising Christmas shopping - both presents and food, socialising with friends, helping family members move as well as gardening and domestic duties which never seem to end.  

So I made sure that I was seated at my sewing machine straight away after breakfast yesterday to finish off some table toppers which I made a start on a few weeks ago.   I decided that I wanted to use up some novelty fabric which was lurking in my stash for far too long and yesterday I was able to finish off two as well as make a Christmas bib  for bub.

The first topper is chickens and I surrounded them with chicken wire to stop them from straying

The second one is a true scrap patchwork topper using up all those bits and pieces leftover  from other projects.  I joined up the last of the scraps and sewed them altogether to make the binding.

These are good sized projects to practice my FMQ skill on which certainly needs a lot of work.

After lunch I cut out and sewed this bib up.

 I have another 5 themed table toppers all pieced, sandwiched and ready to quilt.  

Part of the reason for the early start  to FNSI yesterday was due to the fact that it was 12 months to the day that I retired from the workforce last year so hubs and I went out to dinner to celebrate that anniversary.    Where has that 12 months gone??????

Thank you  again Wendy over at Sugarlane Quilts  for hosting FNSI again.    I am going to head over there  now to see what others have achieved.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas.    Back soon with some more themed table toppers and in the meantime happy sewing.

Under the Christmas tree

Clare over at Clare's craftroom is wondering what we are leaving under the Christmas tree again this week.   I have  finished off the Christmas dress for bub and while it will not be under the tree on Christmas Day for someone to open I look forward to seeing bub sitting under the Christmas tree with the dress on.   So here is the photo below of the dress

My next project to finish off is a couple of seasonal table mats which I have been working on in between other items.     Back soon with some photos and in the meantime happy sewing.     

Sydney is.....

The Opera House

The Harbour Bridge

Yachts sailing on the Harbour.  The one below is one of the many that takes part in the annual Sydney to Hobart race each year.

A walk through the Botancial Gardens.    This way or that  way.

It does not matter as there is something to see by following each sign.   Like perfectly formed trees

Tranquil herb gardens

Cool ferneries

Gorgeous jacarandas which are flowering all around Sydney at present

When walking through the Gardens you are never aware of  being in a city. The only reminder is the buildings which can be seen as you walk around and look up at the skyline.

Old sandstone stairways leading all around the city.

A short ferry ride across the harbour will bring you to Luna Park.

I hope that you enjoyed Sydney as much as hubs and I did on our recent day trip out.

Back soon with a photo of the Christmas dress for bubs and in the meantime happy sewing.

FNSI

I just love  being retired as it allows me to do all the things that I want to do and this includes joining in again with FNSI.        As I mentioned in my last post I have been working on a Christmas wall hanging and my aim was to finish it off which I achieved last night.      When I saw this panel it just jumped out at me and said "take me, take me" - how could I resist.    All that I need to do is put some ribbon on the dowel and it is ready to hang on my wall near the Christmas tree when I put it up next month.

After finishing off the wallhanging  I then made a Santa sack for bub.   Santa will have fun filling this.

And while I was working with all this Christmas fabric I cut out a Christmas dress for bub.   I hope to get it sewed up this weekend so that she can have her photo taken with Santa wearing it.  

So that is what I did last night now I am heading off to Sugarlane Quilts to see what everyone else achieved.  

Back soon with a photo of the Christmas dress and in the meantime happy sewing.

Under the Christmas Tree

Is what Clare at http://clarescraftroom.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/under-christmas-tree_16.html is asking.     I am currently working on a few Christmas items and the one in the photo below while not actually going under the Christmas Tree will be very near it.    It is a wall hanging that I hope to finish off tomorrow while taking part in FNSI.  

I found this panel at the Craft Fair and just had to have it.    I have a space which it will fit in perfectly and add  a festive feel to the wall.

I have sandwiched it like a quilt and outlining some of the picture to give it a bit of body.  Once that is done I will bind it and then get hubs to bring in his trusty hammer and a picture hook on which to hang it.  

Back within the next day or two with what I have achieved with my Christmas fabrics.    In the meantime happy sewing.

Every girl needs a.........

Handbag and bubs at 13 months is no different.    She has been delving into mummy's bag and pulling out its contents so action was called for to remedy the problem.      A rummage around the scrap drawer revealed some cute bright ladybird fabric and an hour later bubs had her own bag which was filled with her "mobile phone" and a set of keys.

Hopefully this will stop the raiding of mummy's bag.  

The sewing machine has also been busy sewing up some "in-between" season pants.

The owls pants are being given a workout in the photo below.

And a cardigan to pop on top of a summer dress on those cooler days.

It is only just over 5 weeks to Christmas and I have quite a bit of Christmas fabric to play with.   I have a couple of things in mind to sew but not enough time to make a start.      I hope to find sometime later in the week.       I plan on being back soon with a few Christmas items to show and in the meantime happy sewing.