More Christmas items..

Well it is time to share some Christmas items for the month again..the months seem to roll around quickly.  I found another star pattern at Attic24..just 2 rows is all that is needed to make these cute little stars, and I used cotton this time..(that was a different experience to wool)....

Remember these parcels that I shared last week..

well they were sent to Michelle as part of the Xmas In July Swap... and the contents were briefly in the box for July so I suppose I can share them too as they are Christmas items.

Xmas in July Swap

It's the 25 July and time for all of the participants in this swap to open their parcels.

 

My lovely parcel of goodies arrived from Michell in the North Island.  I am absolutely thrilled. This is what was inside....
                             

Michell made me this lovely cross stitch ornament... Candy Shoppe...there must have been a lot of counting of stitches going on there..

....Something to hang to remind me of the joy of Christmas...Peace, Joy and Love

....and then a small cushion with a saying that really sums up what Christmas is all about..Christmas has a special magic of its own...

and it has been very special being able to celebrate in July with the opening of these special gifts. Thank you so very much Michell for these lovely surprises and the thought and stitching that went into them.  I love them!!
And a very special thank you to our Swap Mama, Cheryll for her great organisation.

FNSI

I'm back again, a little later than I thought I would be.  I joined in with lots of others stitchers around the globe last night for FNSI....in fact I was also lucky enough to be able to join my stitching group for the whole afternoon yesterday since I am on holidays.. so lots of chatter and a bit of work done on this project..(it has been a bit of a slow mover and keeps getting put back in the box when there are other things that need my attention)...so I am rather pleased with how far I got with it..

Today was my lace group's workday...so I started to wind some bobbins and get ready to start a new project..much better to do that when you are in good company.
I joined in to Christmas In July and sent off my parcels earlier this week..the big reveal is on the 25th so all I can show of what I sent is this..

I hope that all of you that joined in to FNSI had fun...I'm off to look at what you got up to....

Busy, busy, busy...

I got a bit of a shock to see that it is a month since my last post.  June is usually a bit of a 'write off' for me....mid year reports to write at school and a lot of finishing things off before the end of term. Just three days till the end of the week and the holidays.  They seem so late this year and I am really looking forward to them.  I can't remember feeling this tired in other years..so there has not been a lot of stitching at night..just some bits for a secret project.
Be back again soon with some things to share....

Some progress

..this month I started with Friday Afternoon with Friends (everyone in our little group was busy stitching but not me this time, I just sat and relaxed after work and enjoyed the conversation)....then I carried on to Friday Night With Friends and actually did some stitching..and then it was Saturday Morning with Friends when I went to my Christmas Club Stitching morning for June.
I am a little behind schedule but should have this little project finished and ready to show for this month's 'One Christmas Item'

This week we have had a string of frosty mornings....can't drive anywhere till that windscreen is clear....and yes the car seat was cold as well.

Friday Night With Friends..

..is on tonight.  I have just popped over to Cheryll's blog to sign up.

Today has just come around too soon..

and we have been back to the airport to wave goodbye not only to DD1 this time but also DD2.  They are on their way to spend 2 weeks with their Nana (my Mum) and then DD1 will fly on back to Edinburgh and DD2 will fly back home.  On their list of things to do are the State of Origin game tomorrow and then a Manly game at Brookvale Oval.
There were not as many tears as last year when DD1 left for Edinburgh,( but there were still a few shed), and the house sure feels empty after her visit.  Just DH and I..
On Saturday we went for a drive over the hills but not too far away.  First stop was for an icecream..$2.80 each and here is mine, already partly eaten..mmmm maple syrup on top and caramel fudge on the bottom.  It must have been at least 5 inches high and I had already started before I took the photo..it did take some eating!!! and kept us all quiet in the car..

Then we stopped to take some shots of the harbour from the old road north out of the city

and DD1 was also getting some shots before she left town again..