To All...

Wishing everyone a very

Happy New Year!

I hope that 2010 brings to you

health,
wealth...
(in lots of ways including wonderful online friends...)
and
happiness!

So however you spend this New Years Eve...
stay safe,
enjoy the time with family and friends,
and hope to "see" all of you in 2010.....

cheers Julz

Boxing Day...

Ok.....
time to relax after the thrill yesterday of Christmas!

we had 12 for lunch....way too much food as usual.....

loads of pressies for everyone
(I think I even managed to get what they all wanted this year)

albeit with a couple of hiccups!!!

DVDs with no discs in the cover......
what do these store people do when they go out the back to get them??????

Tops that are about 3 sizes too big....
exchange time
(not today though....don't do the Boxing Day Sale thingy)
I think the shops are open enough (too much), leading up to Christmas and should not be open today!!!


And the reason for this post.....

this is my beautiful present from Carin in the SSCS hosted by Chookyblue.

I have been itching to open this parcel, but was very good and waited...
so glad I did!

THANK YOU CARIN.
I absolutely LOVE these placemats and runner...just my colours too.
The pattern will come in handy too...so cute.

and this is the cute ornie too.

THANK YOU
to Elf Donna aka Chookyblue for organising this awesome swap that so many people have participated in....I'm sure that there are happy people all over the world opening (or have opened) some very special presents....

This week I have received so many lovely gifties.....I thank each and everyone of you who have sent something to me, I feel very blessed to have such lovely online friends and wish I could meet all of you in person......

that's it for now....
I'm off to finish watching the Boxing Day Test (cricket)
A Boxing Day tradition in this house....

take care
and have a wonderful rest of the festive season.

2010 will be here ever so soon!!!!!!

Are you ready?

Julz

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

have a wonderful day of present opening, good food, family and friends.

Keep safe and make sure that you give all your loved ones an extra hug and tell me that you love them!

Julz

Presents!!!!!

Today when I arrived home after braving the local supermarket for those last minute things I needed...tomorrow I'm at work all day so won't have time
I was greeted by my 3 lovely kids,
"Mum there's a parcel for you."
"Can I open it?" from no 2 and 3,
"No, I will, when I work out who its from."

Hmmmm....customs declaration says Sweden....I wonder?????

inside the box are 6 beautifully wrapped gifts and a letter....

it's from my Secret Stitchers Angel!
After reading her letter I now understand what took so long...
she has major probs with elbow, wrist and hands....
Upon opening each parcel starting with the smallest one,
I was totally speechless....

Inside the parcel was a beautifully crocheted table topper (in colours that I LOVE!), a pincushion,a hand knitted wool beret
(which MD has claimed, and is wearing, mind you it's only 35degreesC here today),
chocolate, a jelly roll of co ordinated fabrics (yum), a journal and a cookbook featuring Swedish cakes and cookies!

So THANK YOU HELENE,

if you are reading this please email me so that I can thank you properly or leave a comment with your blog addy.
I feel very spoilt.

And in November I joined the HoneyPot Ornie Swap,
Rebecca was my swap partner,
here is what she sent me...

a crocheted stocking (very cute), a crazy patch heart (also very cute) and a lovely handmade card.

THANK YOU REBECCA!

take a look at Rebecca's blog as I can't find the pic of the ornie I sent!

So once again I have received wonderful gifts from people across the other side of the world,
I love the blogging world, it's a wonderful place to make and keep new friends.
Thank you to the organisers of these swaps, without you guys they wouldn't happen....

cheers Julz

graduation night....

So that's it....after 12 years I no longer need to go to the primary school!
Yaaaayyyy....
No more struggling for a car park that isn't a mile or more from the gate....
(and up hill walk (hike))

no more having to worry about stupid drivers not watching what they are doing
(yes in a school zone....I'm sure there are loads of stories out there about dumb driving around schools....not to mention some of the way people park!)

no more...hurry up.....
no more....going through the drive thru
(or drop and roll as we call it)

Here is YD looking lovely in her dress at home before the big night....

I think a great time was had by all of the graduating classes.

take care
Julz

my weekend....

boy, has this week and weekend been busy!
The week wizzed by with work, work and more work....
and going out nearly every night for one thing or another....

Tuesday night saw us at the High School Presentation Night, where our ED was presented with an award for her contribution to the calender that the students do each year.

They organise the whole thing, together with local business owners and the Rotary Club, having a budget to stick to, they canvas local businesses for advertising space on the calender, go out and get photos of interesting local features, hold a photo competition to get more photos, select winners, select photos for calender, do all the artwork, send off to printer for printing and finally get local businesses to help sell the calenders as well as holding stalls to sell some themselves.

Calenders this year sold out in 2 weeks!


These year 11 students do a fabulous job and there is usually a profit that they divide up, this giving back to the school for some much needed books in the library, some to the local Rotary Club (that also has a lot to do with the input to the calender) and their selected charity for the year, and finally several small cash scholarships to help students with their final year at school.

(OK blogger is being a pain in the butt!!!!and will not let me put the pics where I want them....)

Thursday night saw YD at her grade 6 Graduation Night...
she looked so gorgeous in her dress (yes very proud mum here!)

Saturday afternoon saw me off to the Healesville Racecourse Market (twilight one),
very busy with loads of sales....thanks to everyone that did.
sorry no pics, as the stall set up was pretty much that same as previous ones...here.

Today I'm having a bit of a veg day!!! Woke up with a slight headache that just won't go away, so I'm just taking it very easy...

Tomorrow off to work again, same Tuesday, plus dinner out with the girls, Wednesday will be busy preparing for Friday, Thursday work again, and we all know what's happening on Friday!!!!

(I will try and get the photos where they are supposed to be later, and will add some more of the graduation too)

take care Julz

Very interesting situation....

Just having had a visit to Chookyblues blog and came across this....so went here to read what was written....


Certainly makes you think before you hit that publish button! I also came across something similiar here....

Gets me to thinking that no one takes anything at face value anymore and that our public and private lives are very connected together even if we wish to keep them separate.

And that you never know who is friend or foe!

Julz

Sale!!!!

15% off storewide at

Simple Stitches

until December 20th.

cheers Julz

It's Here!

This was waiting for me last night when I got home from work....
It's my SSCS parcel all the way from the USA.

Thank you to my Secret Santa Swap Sister.
The ornie is just beautiful.

My YD was all ready to rip into the big parcel as soon as I had it out of the bag.
No!!!!! It has to go under the Christmas Tree (which isn't even up yet!!!)
and probably won't be until the weekend.
Diva (MD) is going to camp this morning for 3 days,
and we always get the kids to put the tree up together and decorate it,
so we will wait until Friday when she comes back.

A big BIG Thank You to Chookyblue for organising this wonderful swap again this year,
Chooky you do an amazing job!!!!

Isn't that Christmas counter going down FAST?
I'm more organised on the present front than I thought....only a couple more to go.

have a great day wherever you are.
Julz

Another finish...

and this is the weather here today in outer Melbourne...
true Spring like weather!

yes, don't die of shock! I have another finish for the month.

actually I have another one also, but need to sew the binding down tonight,
so I will take a pic tomorrow when it's really finished.

Tomorrow, I'm finished my holidays and am back to work....groaaaaaannnn!!!!!

But needless to say, the bills need to be paid, Christmas shopping needs to be done...
are you watching that countdown counter?
It seems to be counting down at lightning speed!

Ok Now, I'm going back to cutting out some bags for the upcoming market stall

take care
Julz

Finally Arrived....

Yes,
finally my Secret Stitchers Angel has received her parcel.
(it was in customs for 10 days apparently!)

So now I can show you what I made for Heike.




I'm so glad that she likes it...
and hopefully will get loads of use out of it.
I got something similiar last year from the lovely Loralyn,
and I love it! The little bag and scissor case go with me everywhere.


A big big THANK YOU must go to Helen for organising this swap again.
I'm sure that I speak for everyone that participated....
it is always wonderful to receive something special from someone across the world, country, state or raod (wherever you may be!)
The care and thought that goes into each parcel is quite inspiring....

If you haven't received yours yet, I hope that you do shortly!

take care
Julz

More dolls...

Just added a few more dolls to
Prim and Pretty Too!

Get in quick for lovely handmade gifts or something special for your decor.

have a wonderful day.
Julz

Posted!!!!!

Love holidays....
I get so much done....it's wonderful!

Today I posted off my SSCS items to ???????
(it's got the logo on the front, so the person receiving it knows where it's from)



One more swap to go.....the HoneyPot Ornie Swap.....
what to make?????
I have a few ideas and Deb has shared some lovely freebies with me,
I think I might use some of them....

Now off to finish some dolls I started the other day and haven't had time to finish!

My little angel wall hanging was very well received......
that's it for now...
Julz

Finished!!!!!

Yaaaayyyyy....
I'm finished my SSCS pressies and they will be jetting their way to ????????
you'll have to wait and see....

I'm really happy with the way things turned out, and hope that my partner thinks so too.

Still haven't heard from my Secret Stitchers Angel...just hoping now that her parcel didn't get lost in the post......

OK all you girls in Germany start checking your post box, it must be there soon!


And I can actually put something in my sidebar as a finish for November! Hows that?
(the pic is at the top of the post...blogger won't let me put it down here)
stupid blogger!


Now the stitchery has been in my UFO basket for about 4 years. I did it with the intention of making some cushion covers with angels on them, well did the stitchery part and never did the rest. This wall hanging is now going to my niece as part of her 1st birthday present....(what do you buy a one year old besides toys....and they always seem to have so many these days!), so I thought something that would be a bit more lasting was appropiate....and she can think about her 3 cousins looking out for her, as in the wall hanging!

Back into the sewing I have heaps of stuff still to do, and only one week of my holidays left!

Tomorrow, I'm off to nieces birthday party AND to my works Christmas do


( yeah I know it's early but was the only time they could get in where they wanted it....
How do you get into festive spirit in the middle of November!)

ohhhh well, I'm give it a go anyway!

take care and cheers
Julz

New....

Check out Prim and Pretty Too, new item available.

Cute snowman!

Julz

Better Late Than Never...

OK.....
Big, big round of applause for Chris!

She has worked her little butt off
and got TCCT changed over mighty fast for someone that did not have internet access for over a week....

Well done Chris.

So go check out The Chocolate Crow Trader,
as there are some absolutely gorgeous items available from the girls.

take care
Julz

TCCT update...

Well Chris is finally back online...

so TCCT will be changed over by the end of the week,
with all going well for Chris....

I'll leave a post when it is...
Good luck Chris

cheers Julz

TCCT

The Chocolate Crow Trader online magazine has not yet been changed over for November....
Poor Chris has been having loads of internet woes (none for almost a week)
hopefully it will be back on later this week for her.

so once it is the new addition is up and running,
I post it here..

It's the Christmas addition, so there will be loads of great Christmas items from the girls!

Have you had a look at my new selling blog...only a few thing s on there at the moment,
but more coming.....

click here to view it.


And......

drum roll please.....

The winner of the button guessing competition is

Deb
with a final guess of 1363.

So do you want to know how many buttons were is that jar???




There were 1422 buttons!
Told you it was a really big jar!

I'm on holidays for the next couple of weeks (well from one job anyway!)
it gives me 3 days off in each week!

so look out sewing room...
here I come


Over the weekend I managed to get quite a few things almost finished, will pop them onto the new blog when finished...maybe tomorrow???

Now I'm off to work (the other job) and tomorrow I hit the sewing room....yaaaayyyyy!

Have a great day

Julz

New Selling Blog....

OK....I've started a new selling blog where you will find some great buys....ready made dolls, table throw and runners, cushion covers, journal covers.....loads of stuff!

It's called Prim and Pretty Too....

check it out here....

as it is so new, there are only a few things on there,
but I will try to list new stuff every few days.

Please let me know what you think

Julz

Competition for October

OK ...
I'm having a competition.....
are you ready?

This will be run in conjuction with TCCT from October 15th to November 14th
(I'll keep it dated so it stays on top)

All you need to do is...

guess how many buttons are in the jar....

That's the one in my banner.
(It's a really BIG jar, with lots of small buttons and a tape measure so you know
how big it is)

click here...and click on the pic....it will enlarge the photo so you can start counting!


The winner will be the person who either guesses the correct amount
OR
the person with the guess nearest to the correct amount....

Easy Peasy

leave a comment with your guess on this post,
(make sure that you leave either an email addy or some way to contact you,
please don't leave anonymous ones....very hard to find you,
non bloggers welcome)
or email me
(from my profile page, or one of my websites)

good luck!

Julz

PS....Yes there is a prize....check it out here

New Stuff.....

well I have been busy adding my patterns to the website....

most of my patterns are now available as paper patterns (sent to you in the post)
it seems lots of folk don't like epatterns...personally I love 'em!
you get to pick, pay, download, print and stitch straight away....

I still love paper patterns.....
nothing better than fondling your newest addition to get the feel for it.

So go check them out here

and I have been making some of these

hopefully I will have some more time to add these to this website soon....

and I have loads more stuff planned
thankfully I'm on holidays as of Friday! so sewing room here I come!

Now I'm off to work....hopefully the AC will be on as it has been very hot here for the last few days...above 34 every day since last weekend...with this weekend still expected to be the same!
No rain in sight again.....

take care and happy sewing/crafting if you have the chance!
Julz

PS Don't forget to add your guess to the competition above....it ends on Saturday 14th!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday

to my eldest DD....
17 today....


seems like yesterday you entered this world...
so glad you did....
and here in Victoria, it's Melbourne Cup Day...
a holiday for some in the state....
and they say it's the horse race that stops a nation.....

did you back a winner?
if you didn't, there is always next year....
I think the horse I picked out is still running!

Hope you all had a wonderful day....
I did the housework this morning,
and sat and stitched ALL afternoon,
dinner is in the oven.....lasagne, DDs favourite!
chocolate ice cream cake for dessert, YUM.

And tomorrow, no more dashing here and there all day long,
guess what I'm gonna do??????

yay.....more stitching....
got loads to do before the next market,
along with a couple of orders that need to be finished off.

And I need to get some new stuff onto the websites
or else everyone will be bored and won't come to visit!

happy stitching!
Julz

Great idea...

I've just had an email from Robyn, who was telling me about a really cool way to trace your stitcheries onto fabric without it moving!!!!! Always happens.....pop on over to Kathy Schmitzs blog and have a look here......if you're like me and do loads of stitcheries....this is perfect!

And yes Robyn, I had a lovely day and thanks for visiting....thank goodness it didn't get too warm (the day before was a very warm day....a bit unexpected after some of the yuk weather we have had....even had to put the AC on, on Saturday!)


and keep those guesses coming in....you still have until November 14th! someone is getting closer

cheers Julz

Swaps....

Here is what I received in the recent TCCT swap....

aren't I lucky!
A big thank you to Kim of Appleberry Farm.


and my Secret Stitchers Angel must start to watch her
post box....
cos....your parcel is on its way to ???????
(did you really think I was going to tell you and spoil the surprise?)

cheers Julz

New Items on Website....

Just added a couple of new things to the website....

Christmas Trees: check them out here!

Some finishes...

Here are a couple of finishes I managed over the weekend....I'm pretty chuffed with myself for actually getting a few things done......and one with 2 weeks to spare....woo hoo!
my new placemat....so now we all have nice new colourful placemats on the table.....
YD journal cover....she picked the colours!

and also finished my Secret Angels projects....that's all the sneaky peek you're getting!!!! You'll just have to wait....posting day very soon...

Now to get really motivated with ChookyBlues Secret Santa Swap........have list....now to get serious with the sewing.....

And another finish, my doll swap for The Chocolate Crow Trader , can't show you just yet....soooon....and I think she is really cute, hope the receiver does too!

cheers Julz

TCCT

OK the latest edition of TCCT is out now!

Loads of gorgeous Christmas stuff

you know it's not far away....
(so don't tell me not to say it....I heard you all sigh)

sigh, sigh.....sigh

don't forget those button guesses.....
cheers Julz

Thanks....

Thank you to everyone that has emailed
or left button competition guesses.....
keep guessing!!!!

Stitchin a bit...

well I've finally found some time to do a post...what a wonder!

First off last week, DH and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.....he gave me the most gorgeous garnet pendant to go on my collier....will take a pic soon.

Didn't get anywhere near to making that double wedding ring quilt I wanted to....don't think I even managed to get very much fabric for it either....so it's still on the making list.....

But I HAVE started on my secret stitchers angel projects! Yay....waited until all the projects were launched and have picked out what I will make and started them....so my secret partner had better start watching her post box!



now, I'm off to have homecooked KFC style chicken....Yum!

cheers Julz

Market news

today was market day...
thank you to all those that braved the rain...(was supposed to be nice and sunny!!!)

used my lovely new gazebo....what a breeze to put up and down....no headaches

and

blogger won't put the pic where I want....
but you get the idea....
this is what the stall looked like at the beginning of the day....

cheers Julz

Market tomorrow....

Tomorrow I will be at the Healesville Racecourse Market.....

come along and say Hi if you're in the area,
would love to meet some bloggy friends!
Have a great rest of the weekend...
cheers Julz

PIF has arrived...

well Rosemary has received her PIF...very speedy delivery this time! So here is what I sent her....

School holiday fun.,...

just got back from taking my girls to the movies.....we saw

Fame.

loads of memories there, I can tell you....I saw this as a teenager and also remember watching the TV series.....dancing around the lounge room, doing piroettes(?) and landing on the floor in laughter with my girlfriends. A little bit different from the original but lovely all the same.....

what are you doing for the school holidays?

cheers Julz
now it's back to the sewing for next weekend that's nearly here again!!!!

more progress...

This is what else I have been up to today....
Cute....isn't he?
not quite finished yet....still have to sew his nose on properly,
and spray him with some tea dye and parisenne essence....

cheers Julz

Progress....

Here is what I have been up to this weekend....
these will be for my market stall next weekend here.....plus there are a couple of things to send to mailing list winners.....

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend....
It's been cold, wet and windy here, grateful for the rain, but it can stop now for a couple of days please!
cheers Julz

PIF

Guess what????

I have finally finished my second PIF gift. It will be on its way to Rosemary very soon.....
can't show you, it's a surprise!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend....it's always over way too soon....

cheers Julz

New Blog....

excellent new blog...check it out here.....

and all of the wonderful designers too.....sounds like we are all in for some exciting stitching times!

cheers Julz

coming soon......

I'm very excited.....there's a new craft site being set up as we speak...err...blog!

The big launch will be next week sometime (I'll let you know exactly when), but in the meantime check it out....there are some lovely things and they will all be available with instant download....so choose, pay, download, stitch!

cheers Julz

check this out...

Pop on over to Lynettes to check out this great little tutorial about blanket stitching.....never have those annoying stitches creep over your applique shapes again.....excellent close up photos so you can see exactly how to

thanks Lynette!

cheers Julz

Market over!

well, I'm bushed!

YD and myself were up at 6.30am this morning to go to the Healesville Racecourse Market.....

set up was a breeze this time....

although the bent frame on the pop up gazebo was a bit of a worry with a few unexpected gusts of wind! new one coming.....

No pics this time as it was pretty much the same as here


Sold quite a bit again....thanks to all those lovely ladies. So I think the next few weeks will be rather sewing orientated!

On another front, TCCT is out next week, so busy busy for that.....

Halloween

is the theme for September....

these cute little guys will be a feature on my pages....check them out on the 15th!

well that's it.....I'm pooped, off for a coffee and then it'll be "What's for tea, Mum?" (ever get the feeling you're wanted for something?)

take care
Julz

Getting ready!

This weekend I'm off to the market again,

so if you're in the Yarra Valley come to the

Healesville Racecourse Market on Sunday

.....bring your brolly as they say it is going to rain......

but we won't let that dampen our spirits!


(sorry no pics tonite...too tired and there's more stitching to do!)

hope to see you there....
Julz

August finish...

sorry didn't get these finished until last night (Aussie time) so am posting this pic this morning!

2 little pincushions...these little embroideries have been in the basket for about 10 years!!!
cheers Julz

Busy again

this weekend has flown past again.....but I have been busy.....stitching and stuffing, more stitching, more stuffing....get the picture?

Next weekend is Market Day again, so I have been making things for that....here is a peek at some of them....


heaps more ideas....but time is starting to run short! Plus there is TCCT stuff to organise also....don't know when I'll get to do that!

Has anyone got some more hours that I could borrow????

Back to it....
Julz

From our garden

look what came out of our vegie garden last night!
we had some for dinner and boy did it taste YUM! not like the supermarket ones....very tasty....and there is more to come shortly.

Now only if the cauliflowers would grow....think there is something wrong with them....they just won't grow

Julz

Website

OK, I've been busy and added all those lovely buttons to here!

Go check them out....they are just beautiful.

cheers Julz

Wow!

I'm so excited! Look what was in the mailbox when I got home last night......
my button order from Theodora Cleave! I'll be popping some of them up on the website today (with any luck)....
now I'm going to droooool over them a little longer.....(promise I'll wipe all the drool marks off...you won't know I've been anywhere near them)

see ya!
Julz

New Addition of TCCT

Hi everyone,

the latest addition of The Chocolate Crow Trader is out now! Go check it out for some lovely Spring themed items.....
(this isn't one of mine for this month...but it is available as a PDF pattern from here.)

Julz

Wild Weather...

well today was wild weather day....this is what happened this afternoon......

hail....that came down in about 5 minutes....looked like heavy snow falling, it was coming down so fast....just enough time to snap some pics...the sun was shining about 1/2 hour later and it was gone!

Looks like Melbourne might be in for some more wild weather over the weekend...good excuse to stay inside and stitch!

Have a great weekend whatever you may be doing and wherever you may be....
Julz