And We are OFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!

The day has finally arrived and we are off to Brisbane *big grin*

as I told my gorgeous Gum nut sistas I just have to wait a couple of hours

and then it will be time to get on the plane and fly to Brissie.

We have been wanting to do this get together since we first started the Among the Gum Trees group and now its finally here!!! Sooooo excited and can hardly believe its happening.

We are finally going to be meeting up and finally going to be able to give each

other a big hug...well lots of hugs I think.

I am so looking forward to Saturday too....can't wait to meet up with lots of gorgeous friends from Blogland and also Forumland too. Sooooo excited to be meeting you all as some of you its been a few years since we started chatting.

I have been told to look out for a princess when I get off the plane...

Oh I wonder who that will be hehehehehe

Time has come and I must sort a few things out and then my darling hubby will take me to the airport to catch the plane so I can spend a weekend with my gorgeous Nutty sistas *super big grin*

I can't wait to see all you lovely ladies coming along to the Saturday morning tea and I will take as many photos as I can and will show you all after I get back on Sunday.

sooooooo excited!!!!!

Hugs to all.........

Another Giveaway!!!

How many more? I hear you asking….okay okay…this will be it for a while. I mean I don’t want to drive you all nuts with too many giveaways do I?

So this giveaway is for my individual block pattern for the ‘Springtime’ quilt pattern. Block 8.

As you all know this is a very special quilt us Gum Nutter girls all designed it and put it together for Fresh Hope Foundation to raise some much needed dollars for the very good cause that they do.

If you pop on over to the Among the Gum Tree’s blog you can read all about it and enter in the huge giveaway we are having over there.

To be the winner of my

Springtime Block 8 ‘In A Twirl” pattern,

I am going to ask you all to leave a comment on this post telling me what you would like me to design in the near future.

It can be anything that you would like to see ‘out there’.

I will draw the winner on 26th January 2011.

Good luck in the draw. Only one comment please *grin*

Hugs to all……Vicki

Out Of The Box–BOM ….Blocks One

It’s Time at last…..it’s finally the 5th January 2011.

Dawn and I are so excited to finally give you the first of the blocks for our Out Of The Box – BOM.

These are my blocks for you all and you can decorate your blocks how ever you want to. You don't have to do exactly like Dawn and I have done with our blocks.

The main aim for this BOM is for you all to get creative and decorate your blocks how ever you want and you don't even have to have them in order like we have them.

With this one I machine stitched ribbon on for the inside borders using one of the fancy stitches on my sewing machine and I loved that bit of lace so thought..well it can be made to look a little bit like a window with a curtain.

All the blocks are different and I have used buttons, lace, ribbons, embellishments, beads and of course stitched the different little stitcheries to make them all unique. You too can do this and if you want to copy mine then that's quite ok.

How you stitch yours up is entirely up to you.. you can put a couple of the blocks from my ones and put some of Dawn’s together and mix them all up and create your own design. Be creative and explore your designing talents…

Go here to see a recommendation of goodies to use...

We want to see what you do with the blocks so upload them into the Flickr account HERE.

Go HERE to download the pattern for Blocks One of my Out Of The Box – BOM.

Go to Dawn’s blog to read all about her Out Of The Box – BOM and where to download her first ones.

On my journey around blog land I have noticed that a few of you have this little button on your sidebars and I thank you for doing that. Makes it so much easier to click on to come and read all about the Out Of The Box – BOM and if you haven't got it on your blog then just grab this button and put it on your blog and link it back to mine and you wont get lost.

Don't forget to come back on the 1st February 2011 for Blocks 2.

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Have you been over to Among The Gum Trees blog and seen what is happening over there?

I know its Summer here in Australia but it’s Springtime over at Among The Gum Trees….you really need to check it out… *grin*

Have fun all and I cant wait to see what you all do with your Out Of The Box – BOMs *smile*

Hugs to all……..Vicki

Number 2 Giveaway….for over 300 posts.

That’s right everyone…I am having another giveaway to celebrate how much I talk.. many posts I have done and that is over 300 now. Wow..!!

I didn't think I would be going with my blog as long as I have been when I first started it.

If you look at my first few posts they were very shy ones lol.

I am still shy but with the support of all fellow bloggers it makes blogging so much fun and why be shy having fun eh?

I have made some truly wonderful friends thru blogging and who ever created blogs should get a medal I reckon. I would not have made as many world wide friends as I have had I not got my blog going.

So thank you all …I think the world of you all and love love love blog hopping to all your blogs and reading what you all have created and are doing in your life.

So without further ado…I seem to like saying that lately lol….anyway here is a little gift to who ever Mr Random.org decides to pick.

There is my Table Runner I made for the Among the Gum Trees Christmas Freebies and a set of four coasters I made also, a little wallet type thingy that I made too…you can put your credit cards or other cards in it and a 2011 diary and pen and a little bar of choccie. I ate the other ones that came in the packet…lol.

Just leave a comment telling me if you would like it all and on Monday next week (3rd January 2011) I will get Mr Random.org into operation and pick a winner.

Please only one comment and if you don't have a blog then please leave an email address for me to be able to contact you.

Tomorrow I am having another giveaway for my new blog name ‘The Pickledish Patch’ so come back and see what I am giving away….better go and organise something lol

Hugs to all…….Vicki

Edit..This giveaway is now closed and a winner has been announced. Thanks all for entering and leaving lovely comments.

Freebie, Lavender and a new publication.

I love lavender and I was really thrilled when I knocked on the door of a neighbour….(well around the corner and up the street a bit neighbour) anyway …..I knocked on her door to ask her if I could cut some of her lavender as the bushes in her front garden had masses of flowers on them. She said..Of course!

I picked quite a few and brought them all home and bundled them and hung them to dry. I hope to make several sachets with the dried lavender in them.

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Today I have put up on the Among the Gumtrees blog my freebie. Its my turn today to give to you all a Christmas themed pattern.

So pop on over to the Among the Gumtrees blog and grab the pattern. Would love to see yours all sewn up, so don't forget to show us.

And don’t forget to visit the Among the Gumtrees blog next Monday for another Freebie.

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This issue of Patchwork & Stitching Issue Vol 11 No 6 on the front cover is my design. *grin* There it is behind the word ‘Learn’….

It’s a cute little hold-all and it was such fun to make as there are several little Christmas themed stitcheries going all the way around the bag.

I will have the pattern available for purchase very soon as not everyone can get the magazine in your country.

Hugs to all…………Vicki

Bower Bird? Nah..just love bird’s nests.

I do love them and when the over grown creeper got cut back this gorgeous bird’s nest was in the branches, so I cut it out to keep it. I couldn’t resist dressing it up with some pearls.

I was lucky enough to get some fabulous bits and pieces from my Aunt a while ago and I intend to sew them onto a bag or something special…just haven't don't it yet.

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I love roses…..my Aunt told me to pick myself a bunch of roses the last time I was there visiting her…..

this one is magnificent!

This one is a beauty too……Love it!

This one has the most amazing scent….like the real old time roses used to smell, you are lucky to get them smelling wonderfully these days.

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When we went to WA for my son’s wedding, we stayed with my daughter for a few days. I took over this gorgeous ginger bread house for her two boys….(My Grandsons) They loved it of course and we nibbled away at it too..Yummmm! Is it all gone yet Zoei?

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I had to have a bit of a spend up the other day….I didn't buy any fabric in WA so was feeling deprived…so I got these lovely floral ones.

Of course there had to be these gorgeous embroidery scissors sitting there on the counter yelling out to me…”Buy Me! Buy Me!”. So I did hehehe Talk about cute!

So that’s a few things for you to look at with what I have gotten up to lately. I have been sketching a few things and soon I will get them onto fabric.

Next Monday over on the Among the Gum Trees Blog I will have a Christmas Freebie for you all so don't forget to pop on over there on Monday.

Hugs to all …….. Vicki

Re-draw for Among the Gum Trees blog Birthday Giveaway.

A week has gone by and there has been no contact from the one who won my giveaway on the Among the Gum Trees blog Birthday Giveaway a week ago,

so, a new one has been drawn today and now it’s

 Graciela

who’s name has come out….Congratulations!!

 Graciela please email me your mailing address and I will send you the book….if this one isn’t available then I will send one very similar. If I don't hear from Graciela within a week I will draw another one. Although I think I will hear from her :)

Thanks everyone who commented and sorry I can’t send a book to you all and believe me I wish I could.

Hugs to all…..Vicki

Just can’t help myself………

Are you like this too….You get a new thing to sew and you can’t stop sewing it until you have done it?

I am like that….but lately its Hexagons! I sit and sew them all up into the hexie shapes at night while watching the telly and when I go out to the doctors or where ever I have to sit and wait for a while I take them with me and do some while waiting. I have done lots but mind you I have lots more to sew as I have cut out all lots of my scraps fabric.

I am recycling too….so don't look at the box I keep them in. lol After I get bored from doing the shapes I then sew them up into the Hexie flowers.

I am getting quite a few done and I am also in a Hexie Flower Swap in the Craft Forum. Don’t look at all the loose threads….I didn’t trim them off.

I have yet to work out what the contrast colour fabric that I will use to go around them all and so they all tie in with each other….I think I might go for an off white…decisions decisions…..

Have you been checking out Among the Gum Trees blog? We are having a giveaway each day for 7 days all up for the Among the Gum Trees 1st Birthday….its a year since Dawn, Joy, Vikki, Jenny, Fiona, Judith and I all got together and began this wonderful journey together. It’s been the most best fun :)Another swap I am in on the Craft Forum is a Monthly Block Experience….but with this swap we don't swap but in the beginning we all gave a block pattern and a FQ and at the end of the swap we will do a draw and there will be First, Second and Third prize winners and the FQ’s will be divided up accordingly. We have to show our block we have done for the month by putting up a picture of the completed block. Some gorgeous blocks are happening :) This month Cheryl gave us this pattern to use….

I hope all the Dad’s out there are having a fabulous day as it’s Father’s Day here in Australia.

Hugs to all………….Vicki

Birthday week at Among the Gum Trees

Isn't it exciting? A whole week of celebrations and the best part is its all calorie free yumminess! Now that you gotta love the most!

Yesterday Fiona had a fabulous giveaway to celebrate the Among the Gum Trees birthday with lots of yumminess there

and today I have a lovely book that I am giving away over on the Among the Gum Trees blog.

So go on over to the Among the Gum Trees blog and have a read all about whats going on and leave a comment or two and dont forget to come back again and again and again and again....phew....I am worn out now lol...but honestly dont forget to keep coming back as the birthday goes all week.

Hugs to all...............

Just so you don't think I have disappeared……

You might want to get a cuppa as I have posted a few photos of things. Just so you don't think I have been totally lazy doing not much at all hehehe.

These gorgeous Framed Hexagons that I received for the Craft Forum Swap I am in are from Patchworkdownunder (Nat), Joma (Diane), Fayzs (Sandra) and miss~nance (Gail).

   These ones I sent to Annelda (Ann), Nat, Lucky1 (Leanne), Fayzs (Sandra), Joma (Diane), Geniene and Kimba (Kim). 

     

I am loving this swap and I have a fabulous collection of Hexies and soon I am going to join them all together to make a wall hanging or small quilt.  

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These blocks I am making from the Monthly BOM swap on the Craft Forum 

 We have about 6 more to go and that swap will be finished and then I will put these blocks together.

This is a table runner I made for my friend Pauline for her birthday at the beginning of the month.

 

So I have been a bit busy and am half way thru making a few more table runners for putting in the Christmas Box. Plus I have finished a project for having on Among the Gum Trees blog for this years Christmas Freebies. The excitement is starting to build among us girls with the projects we have planned for you all.

So you can see I have been somewhat busy and not just sitting on the computer flipping from blog to blog reading all about what you all get up to.

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I have finally sorted out the patterns that are to be sewn onto the Wedding Quilt with Nat, and soon I will be able to pick it up from her and then it will be time to be putting the edging on it and label.

I have got to work out what I am going to put on the label for my son and his fiancé. Talk about a mind blank at the moment. I hope some inspiration comes to me soon.

Hugs to all….Vicki

Finally ….. A Journal Cover made.

I have joined in on Judith’s 'EARLY BIRD CHRISTMAS CRAFTING'

and she suggested we organise ourselves and get a journal and put in names of who we plan to make Christmas gifts for. Well….I was rather busy sewing a Wedding quilt for my son and his fiance for their wedding and just didnt get around to making a nice journal cover.

Ummm…..I was going to use this lovely one that Barb sent to me…

I love it but felt it had to be made by me.

So I finally got myself organised and made this one for my Christmas gifts list.

I was given some Caring Heart squares from the Craft Forum and decided to use this one for the cover. I love it :)

So now I got to do some writing and put some names in there.

Judith suggested getting a big box or basket to store all the things that we make in and I have got a cardboard box from something ages ago and have actually got it for this purpose. You see I started doing things earlier and then come to a standstill due to other things having to be made etc.

So now I am doing some lovely stitchery's and these will be the centres for these lovely doily's

that Dawn made and had for free from the Among the Gum Trees blog with the Mother’s Day specials.

Sooooo I am getting there and its not even half way thru June :) It’s looking good for me to have some finishes for June :)

Hugs to all………Vicki