Closing Apron Swap Sign Ups….don’t miss out!

Well it really is time to get your eyes seen to when you can’t read dates properly isn’t it?

via Google

I was SURE Jenny had written the 28th as the closing date, so that’s what I posted too!  DUH moment……it’s the 26th….which is TODAY! 

We will be closing down our sign ups TODAY at 3pm AEST which will give our International friends a chance to get in before the closing date too!

For more info, look back to THIS POST and email me with your details…you won’t regret it!

xox Sugary hugs :o)

FNSI winner and have you joined the 2015 Apron Swap?

This weekend just went soooo fast.  Watching cyclones north and south of us left me sleepless on Thursday night, so by Friday night, I was knackered!   I had big plans but my eyes kept telling me it was time for the Blanket Show!

However, I did get a ‘little’ done……

… part of one block in my new FREE B.O.M. starting soon.  You can see a sneaky peek of the fabric I’m using to complement the blocks in the bottom corner?  It’s quite a happy, cheery BOM that I hope you’ll join in on, have fun with and enjoy.  But more of that soon.

One lucky FNSI  person this month will win this beautiful Barbara Brackman for Moda Charm Square pack called “Ladies’ Album”

And that lucky person is…..

someone who was working on this gorgeous Lynette Anderson design…

borrowed via THIS BLOG

It is…..

PEG from Happy In Quilting

CONGRATULATIONS PEG! 

\O/ \O/ \O/

I’ll get it posted off to you soon!

In the meantime, I hope you’ve had another great FNSI and got to visit everyone.  If you haven’t had a chance yet, you can pop back here to see what everyone got up to.

We’ve got a number of swappers ready to start our 2015 Apron Swap…but there’s still room for more.   It’s not too complex, just an apron and a recipe…..nice and simple…so if you’re interested, you can find more about it HERE and then email me with your details.  Closing date is coming up soon…..28th……so make sure you get your details in.  It’s going to be so much fun!

xox Sugary hugs :o)

Squishy mail in and squishy mail out …. and don’t forget FNSI

I had almost forgotten I was to receive a swap gift in Jenny’s Stitchery Club Swap last month until hubby came back from the post office with some squishy mail yesterday!

I  tore the wrapping off hastily unwrapped it to reveal this gorgeous surprise…..

My two gifts had come from Sherry, all the way from the west coast of Washington State, USA., and I must say, she must have been stalking me because she knows me well!

‘Keep Calm’ is a definite reminder for me……I’ve always got my tassel in a knot and I”m always behind in everything I do (or so it seems).  I L-O-V-E what Sherry created from some of Jenny’s stitchery club designs – a ‘Keep Calm’ linen tea-towel and a stitchery needle-keep made with gorgeous TILDA fabric *swoon*.

Inside is a tiny, wee finger light which slips on your finger (obviously!),  with a bright LED light which lights up what you’re doing…..I’ve never ever seen one of those here, Downunder so this was a new toy for me!  

There was also a bright pair of tweezers, some Cosmo Seasons threads, some flower head pins and a beautiful pair of golden stork embroidery scissors…oh my gosh, I’m in Heaven!  Thank you just isn’t enough Sherry. All I can say is I will treasure these and I can guarantee they’ll get a good daily workout, that’s for sure! *Mwah* 

And as some is coming in…..I’ve been preparing some to go out!  This beauty is on its way to a very dear friend.  Remember, I told you about the free pattern back in this post last week?

who might it be going to?  I can’t tell, but this might be a clue…..

…..NOT!   Well I don’t want to give the surprise away do I?

If you haven’t had the chance, don’t forget to sign up for the Friday Night Sew In HERE and join us tonight for our monthly virtual get-together.  Can’t wait to stitch along with you ….… I’ll be stitching my new free B.O.M. blocks so they’re ready for you to start next month!  What will you be stitching?

xox Sugary hugs :O)

FNSI Sign Ups, and brain food to share.

Oh my goodness!  With all the excitement of the 2015 Apron Swap, (You can find more about this swap in my last post) I nearly forgot to post the FNSI sign ups!!!  *eek* 

 How COULD I ever forget!?  Please forgive me!

So because my All-timers kicked in (friends and I were joking last week that, now we're getting older,  somedays we have all-timers and somedays we have some-timers.....instead of alzheimers!), I've found a yummy healthy recipe to share with you that you might like to make to give you the brain power and energy to keep you stitchin' with us,  aaaaall Friday night! Heaven knows, I need it!

It's called the Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie....doesn't that sound delish?   C'mon, who doesn't love to dunk a bikkie/cookie in their coffee/tea/hot chocolate whilst they're stitching......???  really??

via Sally's Baking Addiction

Well you will after this.......I found an absolutely enticing picture on my 'Healthy Me' Pinterest board and went visiting the author/creator, Sally from Sally's Baking Addiction  to find out more about it.   I knew these'd be just right, as Sally says, 'Taste testers didn’t miss the flour in these simple, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies! Only 5 ingredients needed to make them.'   

So, not-only-are-they-scrumptious, you ONLY NEED 5 INGREDIENTS..... an egg, almond butter (she even shows you how to make it if you can't access it ready-made),  brown sugar, baking soda and milk or dark choc chips (I prefer dark..and they're better for you).  Bonus!  I'm even sure you could substitute the sugar with healthier alternatives if you wanted....  

She has LOADS of other healthy yummy delights there too so, well worth a visit to her blog.   Make sure you go and visit Sally for the recipe!  You won't regret it.

Now, we all know Friday Night is Sew In night ( I sound like Sheldon, don't I?....Saturday night is Laundry night! hee hee).   Invite your friends, virtual or real, to join up with us and let's make it a warm and fuzzy kinda night.  We'll share cookies (aka bikkies/biscuits here in the southern hemisphere) and clink mugs/cups.  Sounds like fun, huh?
Ok....sign up below, and don't forget to leave me a comment! (and yes, there will be a prize for one lucky stitcher \o/ ).  See ya there with your brain food!?!

xox Sugary hugs :o)

The Great 2015 Apron Swap!

My good friend and blogging mate Jenny asked me if I would be interested in co-hostess-ing an apron swap on our blogs after the great response to her Apron-Love earlier on this year.

After receiving my very own handmade Apron from her as a gift way back in 2011, (she shows you how to make it HERE),  I knew just how wonderful it was having one made especially for me, so I can’t let the opportunity pass in sharing the fun with you, can I?   So, here it is…..

Jenny’s got lots of tutorials for Aprons on her blog

here’s one, but you can pop on over HERE to find more.  And there are some more ideas, patterns and free designs on my Pinterest Board…

 

or you can find even MORE on Jen’s Pinterest Board….

So……are you interested?   Of course you are!  Would you like to be a part of our 2015 Apron Swap?    Of course you do!

Here’s the rules:

This will be a straight swap.  That means you and the partner you are assigned will swap directly with each other, and you will keep in contact with each other via email throughout the course of the swap.

By staying in contact you will get to make a new friend, you’ll find out what style, colours and fabrics your partner likes and whether she prefers a full apron or a half apron.

Here is the complete 2015 Apron Swap PDF file which lists all the rules and requirements you must follow before you sign up to participate.  Download it, read it through thoroughly and if you’re happy to play by our rules, just email your details (name, email address, postal address, blog name and address) to either Jenny or myself by February 26th.

This is a simple swap so all we want you to send to your partner is:

• one apron that you have made for her
• one written recipe for your favourite baked item.

That’s it, nothing else…..’k?

Your swap parcel is to be sent on March 30th

I’ve designed a cute recipe card you can use if you like.  It comes in two sizes – A4 and A5.  You can download it free, HERE from my Craftsy store.

To sign up, you can email me HERE or pop on over and contact Jenny HERE…no need to send to both of us, just one will do and we’ll take it from there.  And remember to take the 2015 Apron Swap button and post it on your sidebar…..you can link it to either one of our posts, the more the merrier, right?

This is going to be so much fun!  I wonder if you’ll be my partner??? hmmmmm?????

xox Sugary hugs :o)

Grow Your Blog Party Winner.

It’s time to announce the winner of my Giveaway in Vicki’s 2015 Grow Your Blog Party

I’d like to say thank you to all who visited….all the new readers and those who subscribed to my blog….I’ll endeavour to keep you coming back for more.

Unfortunately I can only draw one winner in the giveaway today, but if you’d like any of my patterns, they are available HERE in my Craftsy store (and there’s lots more on the drawing board!).

Ok….here goes……  Mr RNG please……….

 

35. Jeanneke said...

Hi Wendy, thanks for offering a chance to win in the give away.
Your designs are beautiful and so is your blog.
Sending greetings from Dokkum in The Netherlands,
Jeanneke.

CONGRATULATIONS JEANNEKE

You have won both of my patterns shown above.  I’ll send them off to you shortly….I hope you enjoy making them.   I’d love to see them once they’re done so please send me a photo and I’ll share them on my blog.

Thanks to Vicki and everyone who entered.  There’s lots more happening so keep an eye on Sugarlane!

xox Sugary hugs :o) 

happy Valentines’ Day

I’m at work for most of the day, so I thought I’d take the opportunity , EARLY, to wish you all a very happy Valentines’ Day

Whether your married or single (or anywhere in-between),  know that somebody loves you …..

 

People come and people go,
In and out of your life and so,
When one shines bright among the rest,
And is there when needed, you’re truly blessed.
That is how I see you, friend of mine,
And why I’m sending this Valentine.
By Karl Fuchs

 

have a truly wonderful day knowing that you make a difference!

xox Sugary Sweet Hugs :o)

NB:  pictures in this post credited to Google Images 

where she stops, nobody knows….

….well, there are a couple of people who know! 

I’ve been working on some swap projects lately for Jenny’s Sewing Club Swap and I, as usual, have worked past the sending date, but in my defence, only just a little….my gifts were sent yesterday!

We had to choose a stitchery from one of Jen’s monthly patterns (which you can join to get HERE) and make it into something beautiful. 

I chose to make two things, from two stitcheries……(trust me, huh?)

A pretty lavender pocket to hang in a wardrobe…

…and a sweet ring-a-rosy framed monogram……I wonder who this could be for?

Helen?….Heather?…….Horatio?……Henry?…..well, you just don’t know, do you?  And you won’t, until they gets to their destination. (I’m such a tease!)

Who-ever receives it, I hope they love what I’ve made for them……and yaaaay me…..that’s two more OPAM finishes to add to my list!

Thanks so much Jenny for a wonderful swap….I’ve loved making them and only hope whoever gets them loves them too!

xox Sugary hugs :o)

A free Valentine’s pattern PLUS a giveaway!

I just had to give a shout-out when I saw this gorgeous Valentine’s design….

It’s in one of my favourite fabric designers’ prints……Lulu Roses byTanya Whelan for Free Spirit *swoooon*

Seeing as it’s only a small table topper, you should be able to finish this off for your special someone by V-Day?  I’m going to give it a try, that’s for sure!

Melissa over at 100 Billion Stars is the fabulous designer of this beauty so if you would like to download a copy, you can visit her HERE. 

And whilst you’re drooling over her site, make sure you leave a comment on her blog….you might even be the lucky duck who wins this delectable prize..

..that’s 4 and a quarter yards of Tanya’s Lulu Roses yardage….9 fabrics…..yuuuuuuuuuum!

better’n chocolate for Valentine’s dont’cha think?

and yes, it is open to international readers, so I definitely have my entry in!   Good luck …. (NOT! *hee hee)

xox Sugary hugs  :o)

*PS….all photos have been used courtesy of Melissa’s post….thanks Melissa! *mwah*

My February UFO Challenge

Remember I told you about the American Patchwork & Quilting UFO Challenge in this post?

I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try and challenge myself to finish, or at least progress further on 12 projects, rather than give myself the near impossible task of attacking ALL my UFOs in 2015.

Thanks to A.P. & Q., my list was written and I worked diligently on number 4 project, which was randomly drawn out for January, and we all know how that ended up don’t we?  (if you don’t, check back here to find out).

February’s challenge has been drawn and it’s…..

via Fee

my Delightful Stars Quilt-a-Long BOM that I started with Michele last year but went wayside somewhere along the way.

It’s funny because I’ve been looking at some of those blocks I’ve had on my design wall as I was putting together Christmas Blessings and thinking, “I really should get back onto these!”  Isn’t it weird how it works out sometimes?  I have the first six blocks done so another ten to go plus borders and other bits and pieces….maybe not a finish this month but……

….you can expect to see some progress on this gorgeous quilt.

What will you be working on?

xox Sugary hugs :o)

**PS….dont forget to enter my Grow Your Blog 2015 competition by commenting on THIS post for a chance to win two of my patterns.  This will be drawn on Feb 15th, my time….good luck!

February FNWF Finish and a reminder

Last night was our Friday Night get-together with our ‘virtual’ friends over at Cheryll’s place and I must admit, I started pretty early.  My plan this week was to finish the Christmas Blessings quilt so I could post it away and I was doing well, until I had to practice some ‘reverse stitching’ due to some hasty and somewhat cocky progress. (happens to all of us, doesn’t it?)

So Friday morning was sandwiching, pinning and quilting and I got to sewing the binding on just after lunch.

It’s always so satisfying sewing that last bit of binding down, don’t you think?  Always gives me a real sense of achievement (now why then, can’t I apply this ‘knowledge’ to my huge long list of UFOs I wonder?)

This was also my January challenge on my list for the APQ 2015 UFO Challenge I mentioned in this post  so I can tick this one off  …. even if it was a week overdue, AND add it to my OPAM list for Jan/Feb!  Double whammy!

It is now in the safe hands of Australia Post, winging its way to  Natalie at The Birdhouse to live its life out as a shop sample.  I’ve had a few people interested in purchasing the pattern.  I suggest you Google ‘Christmas Blessings by Natalie Bird’, and you will get a few stores who stock them, then you can choose where you’d like to purchase it from. The ones I have seen are all really reputable and wonderful to purchase from (and yes, I have had experience with them all – shhhhh,  don’t tell hubby!)

I then went on to stitching up some more of this gorgeous design of Jenny’s for her Stitchery Club Swap. 

A little more to go and then I can make it into something I hope someone will love!

So that’s what I got up to…..come with me and visit all my friends and see what they got up to last night.  Thanks Cheryll….it’s always terrific fun spending Friday nights with you. *mwah*

And before I forget, drop back here and leave me a comment and you’ll be entered into the draw to win two of my patterns in the Grow Your Blog 2015 Blog Hop.

Have a wonderful weekend.  Big sugary hugs xox   :o)