Oh noooo ...

....

There I was the other night, Mr Fixit was out, there was nothing on TV, just the perfect evening to wrap Christmas presents I thought. So I put some suitable music on, got things organised, wrapped the first couple of things, and then realised something.  I had forgotten to buy any gift labels.  Without them I could still wrap everything, but I wouldn't have a clue later which package was for whom.  That could have made for an interesting Christmas Day couldn't it?

Last night ...

... I went late night shopping with Mrs Nomad.

We try to have this girly-Christmassy expedition to a fairly big shopping mall near us every year.  We always start with a visit to the chocolate fountain, where we have strawberries dipped in the warm chocolate.  We get very messy and sticky at this point.  Then we do our shopping.  We make sure that we only need one or two things, so it becomes more about the social side,  then we finish off with some sort of coffee or hot chocolate drink with loads of cream.  Yummy.  This year - disaster.  The chocolate fountain wasn't there!

Oh well, we'll just have to do the shopping then.  I didn't need very much, just one or two stocking-filler types of presents.  I'm not sure if I had a successful outing or not, cos the only thing(s) I bought were these.  Happy Christmas to Me!

On another topic, I have just seen that my bloggy pal Lynn has entered a quilt, called "Untitled" into the Quilting Gallery's contest this week.  It is a beautiful quilt, and you can see more about it if you go here and scroll down the post a little.  I know she'd be thrilled if you went and voted for her, here.

So how does this work then ...

... this weekend I decided it was time to write the Christmas cards.

I got the cards out, I printed off all the addresses, I put them all on the table and went off to make coffee.  Along comes Mr Fixit, who sees the cards and says "Oh great.  I'll just write mine first, then you can do yours."

Mr Fixit writes cards to 3 particular friends of his. So can you explain to me how come the ones I write to everyone else, friends or family, are "mine"?

Bilbo told me today that I have to put a photo of my Christmas tree on my blog, so here it is.  It actually looks far better in real life.  The lights are all small, so they are not showing up properly in the picture.

Here is a picture of my new "Christmas tree" too.  I went out to buy a small tree to put in the bay window in the lounge.  This is what I came home with!

Christmas QAL Party - Post 4

OK It's now 8.30 here, so I'm about to settle in front of the TV with my stitching, but before I go, I would like to do two things.

First I want to thank Cathi for volunteering to co-host the QALs this year.  When she did this, she did not realise just how successful her business was going to be.  Despite being so busy, she did a great job as a host.  Thanks Cathi.

Secondly, I must thank everyone who joined us this year.  It has been great fun and I have met some lovely new people who I now call friends.

Thirdly (OK, I can't count, can I?) I want to tell you about the Christmas QAL plans for 2012.  As you know, we asked for people to act as guest hosts, and have been delighted with the responses.  We will have a different host each month, which will be great fun I think.  The QAL's will still be held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, and will run from February to December.  Here is the list of our hosts:

• February: Hazel at Hazel's Quilts
• March: Joanna at Needle, Thread, Happiness
• April: Lesley at The Cuddle Quilter
• May: Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks
• June: Paulette at Sweet P Quilting & Creations
• July: Sharon at Vroomans Quilts
• August: Cathi at Shakerwood Quilts
• September: Maureen at A Quilt Complex
• October: Elizabeth at Sand and Sunshine
• November: Janet at Caribou Crossing Chronicles
• December: Me, here

I'm sure our new hosts will have lots of fun planned for us, and I'm looking forward to travelling to different places for our QALs.

So, I'll see you in February if not before.

Don't forget to sign up for the party here by the way.

Christmas QAL Party - Post 3

It's time I showed you all what I achieved during the Christmas QAL days.  This will be a photo-heavy post I think.

 This flimsy is a Christmas present for myself.  I have always wanted to make a Drunkards Path quilt, but was put off by the cutting of all those curves.  Then I got my Go! cutter and borrowed the DP die from my friend QuiltHaze and the cutting was done so quickly it was great.  This is still a flimsy, but I have made the backing and the binding, so it's all ready for quilting now..

 This is my version of Scatty Christmas stars, which I know quite a few of you have been making.  I'm ashamed to say that mine is still unquilted, although the backing and binding are ready and I've even cut the wadding for it!

This is my Christmas Wreaths quilt.  I saw the pattern Over and Under in Kim's book (Scrap Basket Sensations) and knew I had just the right fabrics for it.  Guess what though?  It's not yet quilted, even though the backing, wadding and binding are ready.

All of my snowmen have been put together in a quilt top,

which I'm ashamed to say is still not finished.

 This little quilt has been finished and sent off to a friend.  I hope she likes it.

 Another one finished and on its way.

 This is also a present which is in the post.

 I decided to treat myself to a wreath topper too.  I will hopefully finish this one today.

 These cute little stitcheries are probably going to become a couple of wall hangings.  The patterns were from Lesley Boost She issued a pattern each week as a sewalong.  Thanks so much Lessley.

Finally, this is what I intend to work on this evening. This is a pattern from Michelle and the rabbits.







Crikey, just writing this, I am exhausted! I must confess, I am seeing a bit of a pattern here though.  Perhaps I should make next year the Year of the Finishes?

Don't forget to join the party by signing up here.

Christmas QAL Party - post 2

I saw this and thought you might all enjoy it too.  

 Don't forget to sign up for the Christmas party here.

Christmas Quiltalong party

Just write your post showing all the wonderful things you've been creating during the 2011 Christmas Quiltalong days, sign in with your blog address on the Linky-thingy here, get your party frock on, and follow me as we dance along to visit everyone else who's signed up. La, la, la, la, la, la, LA ....

Tomorrow ...

...  is party day.

Just write a post with photos of what you've been working on during the Christmas Quiltalong days this year, and sign into the Linky which I will put on my blog tomorrow.

Then off we go in our best party frocks, to have fun....

Where have I been ...

... and what was I doing while I was there?  I have been so quiet that I just know you're all wondering.  I've even had a couple of emails from people and a phone call from my friend Bilbo, to check that I was OK. Thanks for caring enough to be worried.

Well, to be honest, I've been around, but very busy.  Every day almost for the past 3 weeks, I've had appointments ranging from hairdresser to Financial Advisors, shopping (food, not Christmas) to waiting for various repairmen to turn up and do their thing. I've also had a few days down south to go to Little Person's school Christmas concert.

Speaking of the repairmen reminds me, we had to pay a call out charge of £91 for someone to come and fix a broken burner on my cooker.  When he turned up, he was not in the house for more than 5 minutes - that works out at £1092 per hour!  I think I was in the wrong business when I worked, I could have earned a fortune as a cooker fixer-upper!

Now I'm back, and hopefully, normal service will be resumed.