I have just spent hours of the last few days decorating the house for Christmas. I have so many decorations and it takes so long to put everything around the house and to decorate the tree. It is almost done!

Angela, from social stitching, has made a lovely cushion using the design from Anni Downs' book we have been doing in class this term. She has used totally different fabrics and different stitching methods to create a special result.
Barbara has made this great door hanger for a gift for a special boy and it looks so good. It is from Anni's Boy Story book. You can turn the sign over and there is a different one.
Barbara has also finished the bookmark. It will make such a nice gift.
I have a finish to show too. I bought this pattern at Anni's shop earlier in the year and have finally made one of the Xmas Table toppers. Can't wait to make the other one. It has a tree in the centre. I really love working with felt. Hobbysew has lots of lovely felt now which is very handy.

Judy brought along this quilt top she bought in Darwin. They make up people's scraps into quilts and sell them for charity. The scrappy pattern is really good and would be fun the make. The black fabric certainly makes the animal fabrics stand out.
Shirley came to the Christmas day on Sunday and had finished her painted heart decoration. Hasn't she done a great job?

We had the second Christmas class at the shop on Monday and there were 8 lovely ladies busy stitching, painting and enjoying a day out. I had my camera but didn't take a photo of the ladies which is a shame. Early in the day Lorraine showed me the finished items she made from the Floriade day we had last term. She made the little miniature carpet of flowers into an exquisite tape measure cover. It is so beautiful with beads around the edge and lovely stitching.
On the back, Lorraine, stitched her initial as well.
She had also completed her scissor keeper from the previous class. Well done, Lorraine. They are just so lovely.

Carol is making these lovely book marks from the book we are doing in class this term, " The world as it should be" by Anni Downs. They have been beautifully appliqued onto felt ready to finish.
Carol is also working on this nativity applique from a Nancy Halverson book. I just love these fabrics and would love to do this one too. It is so motivating to see what the girls are making.
I searched in my beads "department" and found these little wooden beads! I must have been hoarding them for many years and now I have found a use for a few of them. I will be able to share them with my class next year when we make this in our Term 1 classes.
Lastly, I have been very naughty and started another stitchery BOM. I know I promised not to start another until the other ones are made up but I HAD to have something to stitch and have always wanted to make this quilt in Annie Downs' book, A gardener's Journal. We had fun at class the other night working out which one of these girls represented each of us!

Danielle had been busy getting her Christmas projects completed ready for this year. This is the lovely stitched hanger from one of Nancy Halverson's books.
She has also almost finished her card hanging as well.

Helen from Hugs and Kisses is having a fabulous giveaway of her latest BOM pattern, Life is Beautiful. Here it is.

Sue brought another lovely stitched folder to class today and we were all so envious. This is the front. It even has my initial on it!
This is the inside. Isn't it lovely? Sue was telling us that she bought some of the fabric at a shop in Paris. What a lovely memory of a special shop.
Jenny was also using this special little thread bag that Sue had made for her.
Anne are making the lovely doll, Dimity, designed by Laraine from Up in Annies room. Here is Anne painting her shoes.

It is always so lovely each week to see what the ladies have done at social stitching in the morning. Marilyn has completed her beautiful table runner using a kit prepared at Hobbysew. It looks so good and Marilyn has done a fantastic job.

Marianela opened her gift from my Stitcher's angel as well and this what was in the package. Gladys was so generous to both of us. Marianela also translated my letter from Gladys and it was so nice to hear what she has said. If you are reading this, Gladys, I do love my gifts and you have stitched them so well. Thank you.
At my class in the afternoon, the ladies were all busy getting ready for Christmas and Jill has completed 2 of the little stitched stockings. Don't they look lovely? She is an expert at the stitches now!

I am so pleased with the felt pincushion, needlecase and almost finished scissor keeper from the pattern "Bluebirds in the Hedgerow". I just need to find some beads for the scissor keeper to finish it off.
I have still been working slowly on the piecing of this quilt and have been adding a row when I have time. I only have 2 more to go!

On Friday I had 8 lovely ladies do the first Christmas day at Hobbysew. Here they are getting straight down to work.
All the ladies painted the wooden button and some even painted several! Here are Jo and Marion painting.
One of the ladies brought along her finished biscornu, from the Stitching day, to show me. Doesn't it look wonderful? The button in the centre is just perfect.

It is always lovely to see how many things the Wednesday afternoon class are getting finished. They have been working very hard and seem to have lots to show each week. This is Sue's hand towel.
Sue has also completed her cushion. She used a teatowel for the background fabric and the colour looks great.
This is Maxine's cushion (sorry it is blurry) and it looks great too. I love her choice of buttons as well.
You saw Marianne's table runner last week and here is Vicki's. It is very effective and her choice of colours work so well.

It was so exciting to receive this parcel in the mail yesterday from my very generous Stitcher's angel, Gladys, from Argentina! She was so kind and made me so many lovely gifts. I was and still am overwhelmed.

Here are 3 more of the lovely knitted dolls that Sue has made for her grandies. What lucky kids.