Better Late Than Never, Right?!!

WOW! Where did the last week and a half go?? And can I get that time refunded please!?!! :0) Life sure has been busy and despite starting to come back here for a visit several times ... it just hasn't happened, so let's see how we go this time.

Last post, I teased told you that I was getting ready for the 2014 Stitchers Dream Day Out hosted by the Dynamic Duo from the Quilters Angel, the Magnificent Marion and the Stupendous Steph! :0) This is one of my favourite-est events for the year ... meeting fabulously talented Aussie designers, playing with not-yet-released patterns, being treated to yummy snacks and lunch that I don't have to prepare or (more importantly!) clean up after, meeting lovely new stitching folks, greeting blogging buddies in 'real-life', and hanging out for some quality time with good friends ... Nothin' but SMILES here! :0)

Now ... I have a quick confession before I share some pics of the fantastic stitching weekend with you ... I got so caught up chatting, laughing, eating, chatting, laughing, drinking cuppas, chatting, helping, laughing ... I think you get the picture!! ... that I didn't actually take a LOT of photos ... OOPS! However ... I'll share what I did manage to click ... so grab a cuppa and check out what you missed if you didn't climb the 'hill' to join us. :0)

I joined the Fabulous Fiona on the Friday before this event to help Marion and Steph set up the hall ready for the influx of enthusiastic stitchers. Fiona and I are experts at tying "floofy bows". :0) No pics ... sorry! An empty, echo-y school all-purpose hall was transformed into a pretty, girly space in a matter of hours ready for everyone to come and play.

Oops! Guess who was caught taking a sneaky peeky into her gifty bag to see which project she had received! :0) It might have been ...

... a gorgeous memory board designed by Debbie McGee ... or ...

... Debbie's second project in pretty-in-pink fabrics ... a handy stitching cushion to rest your hands on when you're stitching, while under the flap ...

... pockets and felt pages to store needles and stitching bits ... or the project might have been ...

... this cute cameo bear designed by Libby Richardson of Art Smart Craft Cottage ... or ... another cute bear cushion designed by Libby that I forgot to photograph ... OOPS! Can you tell I was having a bit of an A.D.O.P kind of photography day? You know ... "Attention" "Deficit" ... "Oh!" "Pretty!" :0) 

But I did take a pic of Libby's ultra-cute teddy quilt that I fell in love with and ...

... Debbie's delicious dollies. Aaahh ... so many pretties to make, so little time and play money! :0)

And I took a pic to prove that my Bestest-Buddy-Since-We-Were-Nine Lynette did actually do some stitching (which is a lot more than I stitched, I confess! Tee! Hee! Hee!). Can you see that Lynette was fully in "Nanna Mode" ... glasses on the end of the nose and a blankie over her knees! :0) She is so going to kill me for that! Tee! Hee! Hee! It was a bit coolish that weekend and she IS from Brisbane, I suppose! :0) And what was I doing when everyone else was stitching? Well ...

... there were some cuppas ...

... there was some catching up with fellow designer and bear-lover Libby Richardson ...

... some catching up with fellow designer and chatter Debbie McGee ...

... there was some chatting and catching up with blogging buddy and fellow designer Toni Alexander from the Red Boot Quilt Company. Hmmm ... I guess I know a few other designers! :0)

... there was some meeting of new friends ... and photo-bombing by blogging buddies!

... some laughing with more blogging buddies ... lovely to catch up with you gals! :0) (Sorry! I didn't remember everyone's blogs or I'd come over for a visit!!)

... And MORE blogging buddy catch-ups! Did I mention that there had to be several "Naughty Tables" set up this time?! :0)

As always, Marion and Steph spoilt us all completely, providing us with a relaxed, fun weekend of stitching, laughing, chatting, eating and catching up with friends. Thanks Marion and Steph! And a big thank you to Debbie and Libby for sharing their sweet new designs and their hints and tips with us! Next year marks the 10th birthday of Stitchers Dream Day Out and it is going to be a BLAST!! My Bestest-Buddy-Since-We-Were-Nine Lynette has already added the date to her calendar ... maybe you'd like to come and play too ... I guarantee you'll have the BEST time! :0)

Well ... that's what I got up to two weeks ago ... I am sooo far behind! Life just seems to have continued to be crazy busy and it's actually taken me three goes to get this posted - EEP! I promise to try to come back to visit with you all again soon, but I'm hearing my pillow calling my name at the moment, so will sign off. Hope everyone is having a fabulous week. Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS