Ready for 2012

I know I've just missed the 12th night cutoff for Christmassy things - but.... I bought two packs of cards you "make yourself" and while watching all those DVDs got stuck in - stuck is right.  Lots of fiddly twiddly bits, and what possessed me to pay over the odds for something I had to assemble myself?  Don't know the answer to that...but I do know I'm ready for next year - and it kept my hands busy..

Christmas Day 2011

Wild weather on the Gold Coast

didn't deter me from a drive there to watch the sun rise.  And the weather did not put off the swimmers and the surfers...

I couldn't get a shot of the actual sunrise, because it was overcast - oh yes, and because the beach was not oriented to the east - oops!  But we did have a nice BBQ breakfast

and saw some intrepid runners decked out in festive headgear

Keeping Up My Fluids

I made sure to keep up my fluid intake in the heat yesterday - some of this

and some of that

Trees

Mark One - not quite right - gorgeous background fabric but too dark

Mark Two - yep, I think I'm happy with it

Surprise - 2

Nothing beats a creative gift -

 Each stack of stars has been quilted individually...

Surprise - 1

This was a lovely, thoughtful surprise the other day -

 I like the back, too...

Christmas Stitching

I got some of my stitching out of the cupboard and stretched them around artist boards.  I'm pretty happy with the results - a few more to do...

Tablerunner

I found a pattern for a Christmas tablerunner towards the end of 2009 here (of course I adapted it!) and just HAD to have the fabric - Figgy Pudding by Moda.  I bought a honeybun roll and set to - but the project languished until last week when I finished it - ta da!!!

Truth in Advertising

When I opened a card I received in the mail today - this was inside

Yep.  Absolutely nothing - no writing, no nothing.  Nothing but the card.  Well, why should I have been surprised?  That's EXACTLY what it said on the front -

Lunch

The Thursday Threaders' lunch was at Toscani's in Victoria Point.  I got there early so had a cosmopolitan overlooking the lake

There were crackers with lame/funny jokes and "gift" inside

We did the Secret Santa thing, but some of us also bring a few little extras - all in the Christmas spirit.  Merle embroidered towels

Robyn made sweets and gave us each a bracelet

 

Paula made cards and included a little towel

I found I had some little bags lying around and included a Welcome swag to make up numbers.  I wrapped them to look exactly the same in brown paper bags, numbered each bag and printed off an identical set of numbers.  The ladies first chose a number with no clue as to why.  Then I got the paper bags out of my back pack and handed them around...

Lunch finished with a tiramisu that had fruit sauce (or in this post-Masterchef world, should I say coulis?) on top

Santa Arrived!

Maree put the word out some months ago about joining a Secret Santa Swap.  Yes!!  And Santa arrived here the other day, via good elf Carole.  Carole not only included a lovely card

but wrapped everything in Christmassy paper.

I didn't want to open it straight away - but this morning I peeked....and found WONDERFUL fuchsia tinsel and lots of little goodies to open on the big day.  All in colour co-ordinated fuchsia and lime.  PLUS lollies and a candy cane PLUS a little something extra...

Thanks so much Carole!!!

Last Day of Christmas

Today is the day the tree comes down and all the decorations are stored away for another year.  Usually this job is done on 12th night (January 6) but as I decorated later than usual I have kept things around a little longer than usual.

As I take everything off the tree I am reminded of all sorts of things - the children's pasta projects from primary school, gifts, travel - lots of memories.

I had totally forgotten about this project of my own - it speaks for itself...I made a whole heap for the family that year....

Christmas Ornament 2010?

Isn't this just so cute??
Saw it here first and HAD to try it for myself.

Christmas 2009

Here is a little tour around my house at Christmas.

The wreath greets you at the front door.
When you enter, you will see this bakers stand on the left,
and further along on the left another wreath - one of my first Christmas sewing projects when I started to quilt. It is an uneven log cabin design, the pattern is from a Burda Magazine.
On the right is this little cutie I've had for more than 20 years.
Further to the right is the lounge room. The TV has all the cards,
and underneath the TV some more little decorations
and to the right are the stockings.
The tree is a beautiful fake one we bought in the US in 1997 - it does shed, but still looks good after all these years.
Decorations hang on the walls and on the mantel
and I have my Christmas books and other decorations dotted around...
A few years ago I made this long hanging - a pattern by Fran McMullen of Abundia fame.
Last year I did a craft project - collected lots of bottle tops, put magnets on one side, and then cut out little designs and stuck them inside the top. Fun for the fridge - and you can make different designs...
The dining table set for lunch. The table cloth was sewn about 14 years ago in a mad panic just before guests arrived - all done by the seat of my pants, the final stitch put in as the door bell was being rung (well, that's what it felt like....)