Stitching Retreat!!

Here it is ... Tuesday again ... how did THAT happen??? I'm only in the first month of the year and already losing days ... that doesn't bode well for the rest of the year! :0)

One of the reasons I've lost track a little is due to a busy weekend ... STITCHING!!! Our Friday night Sit 'N' Stitch group decided to start the year with a low-key stitching retreat ... just in case the year got away from us! :0) Everyone would bring whatever projects they were working on, no formal tutorials, pot-luck meals that everyone contributed to ... and our sense of humour! (something not too far from the surface for most of the group anyways, which is why I enjoy Friday night stitching sessions so much! Tee! Hee! Hee!)

Friday afternoon saw us all arriving in dribs and drabs as our week wound up, but very quickly the hum of the cicadas was joined by the hum of sewing machines ... and FANS!!! Did I mention we were in the middle of a heat wave, even here on top of our 'hill'?!?!?! 36-38 degrees Celsius throughout the weekend and very humid with it. Extremely unusual for our hilltop climate. Not that it slowed down the stitching! :0)

Here's Gail, Marion and Donna hard at work. The variety of projects was fun to see.

Here's Jenny and Jenny on their duelling sewing machines. :0) Jenny in the red amazed us all with how much sewing she managed to cram into the weekend ... WOW!!

The lovely Nikki Turvo of Brandygully Designs and Nikki Turvo buttons trekked up the 'hill' to play for the weekend too ... she also got HEAPS of sewing finished ... just don't ever ask her to make a basket lining for you or you might end up wearing the basket as a hat! Tee! Hee! Hee! BTW ... do you see the hard-working fans popping up in the photos?? Friday and Saturday were SUPER hot and there was no air conditioning at the retreat spot, so we were all looking for ways to cool down ...

Chris' novel and damp way to deal with the heat was to pour water all over herself, then sit in front of the fan. She said it was very effective ... though the puddle under her chair looked a bit funny! :0) I spent most of my time out on the verandah taking advantage of the natural light and trying to catch any stray breeze that went past. I got quite a lot stitched on my project for Girls' Stitch In (see previous post!!) so was pretty happy. And at the end of the day, the retreat was all about getting together with like-minded ladies to relax and enjoy each other's company ...

which is why the days ended with most of us on the verandah with our feet up, something to nibble and something COLD to drink. :0)  Marion taking a well-deserved rest (this amazing woman had BOTH hips replaced just seven weeks ago and already she's running rings around some of us!! )

Cheers, Nikki!! Lovely to catch up with you again! :0) A huge thank you to Marion and Lisa who did the bulk of the organising for our lovely stitching retreat and thanks to all the gals for their friendship and company! We've decided the Friday Night Nightowls (we stitch every second Friday between 7am and midnight!!) will have to do this again ... perhaps when it's a little bit cooler! :0)

On another subject ... OPAM gals ... are you counting down to the launch of ...

Only a few days to go before the sign-up is open ... Friday January 25 is "O" Day. And do you see that number on the new button that my Beloved Geek Boy has designed for us?? That's how many projects have been FINISHED since May Britt and I started OPAM four years ago ... this is year five for OPAM and my GORGEOUS Partner-In-Crime for the last three years (and joining me again this year for her fourth year!!) Sweet Peg and I are so EXCITED to be co-hosting this fun, low-stress challenge again! Sweet Peg and I will both post the guidelines etc for OPAM 2013 on Friday ... so stay tuned!! But if you have no idea what OPAM is, pop over HERE and read last year's sign up spiel to prepare you. Will you be a 'Newbie' for OPAM 2013, or will you be a 'Repeat Offender'?? :0) I can't wait to see all the wonderful finishes for this year ... there are so many clever-clogs-crafters in blogland ... and lots of them come to 'play' with us for OPAM! :0)

PHEW!! I think after all that, I've earned a cup of tea, so I'm off to be 'Polly' and put the kettle on. Hope your week is off to a fantastic start so far. Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Secret Squirrel Stitching!!

SHHHH!! SECRET SQUIRREL!!! I used to LOVE that cartoon!! That crazy squirrel would come up with the funkiest disguises!! :0) But I digress ... I know ... not at all unusual!! What led to my childhood cartoon reminiscences?? This ...

OOOOOOHHHHH!! PRETTIES!! This little package of fabricky, stitchy goodness is my starting point for the project that I'm designing for ...

I've got the rough draft of my design ready and just need to tweak it a bit before I get stitching ... but I can't show you THAT part of it all yet cos THAT is the Secret Squirrel business! :0) HOWEVER ... if you want to be among the first to see the finished project you can come and play too. Girls Stitch In is on ...

SATURDAY MARCH 2

&

SUNDAY MARCH 3

There'll be yummy food, prizes, giveaways, goodies bags, projects to stitch and best of all ...

LEANNE BEASLEY 

... will be joining in the fun! YAY!! Leanne and I will each present a not-yet-released project and everyone who comes will get BOTH patterns in their goodies bag, as well as a kit to make one of them with the stitchery pre-printed so you can just sit, chat and get stitchin'!! :0) Marion tells me there are still a few places left for both days, so if you want to join in the fun, call and book your seat ... I guarantee you'll have a BLAST!!! :0)

So ... I'd better go and get stitching, hadn't I. Hope you're having a great start to your week. Don't forget that OPAM 2013 sign up is in 11 days on Friday January 25. My wonderful Partner-In-Crime Sweet Peg and I will both post the guidelines and details on that Friday. In the meantime, I'm off to play Polly and put the kettle on, so, til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

PS. I got around my photo-upload issue by changing over to Google Chrome. Still learning my way around it, working out why they've moved the tools around  and grumpy that I've been forced to make an update that I didn't really want to make, but am able to upload pics from my computer again. SIGH!! When with they learn that, "If it aint broke, don't fix it!!!" 

OPAM 2013 Update!!

Just a quick update for you keen OPAMers. A few people have been asking Sweet Peg and I when sign up for OPAM begins this year, so here are the details to put on your calendar

OPAM 2013 

LAUNCHES

FRIDAY JANUARY 25

Sweet Peg and I will post the guidelines and details on both out blogs that day and you will have until February 1 to join the fun. As long as you have an active blog, you're welcome to join us, whether you're a 'NEWBIE' or a 'REPEAT OFFENDER'. :0)

OPAM ... One Project A Month for those not in the know! :0) ... is all about encouraging busy ladies to take a bit of time out from busy schedules - time to breathe, time to relax, time to recharge their batteries, time to be CREATIVE. It's also about encouraging each other in our creative endeavours ... even though we will never all sit at a table together to stitch, we have a world-wide sewing circle! :0)

Soooo ... if you think you want to join me and my Partner-In-Crime the clever and creative Sweet Peg, mark Friday January 25 on your calender and come back to visit us ... I guarantee you'll have a blast ... just ask some 'Repeat Offenders'! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Right now, I'm off to make a bit of a list of what I will be tackling for January ... oh the choices! :0) Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Friends & Finishes!!

Well ... it was back to reality today ... back to work after two weeks' break ... SIGH!!! What is it about holidays that they always seem to be one week too short?! :0) We had a lovely five days at Blacks Beach and even though it was raining when we arrived and raining the morning we left, the days in between were perfect Aussie summer days ... sunny and hot. Yes, I realise that I am one of the few people who go looking for hot weather. :0)

While we were away, I lined up my buddy Lynda and her son Jayk to house and dog sit. (the house is way less bother than the dogs! Tee! Hee! Hee!) Imagine how I felt to return home to find this sitting on my kitchen bench

A lovely bunch of native flowers and a note welcoming us back from holidays. Aaaaaawwww!!! Thanks Lynda!! :0) How spoilt am I to have such wonderful friends who spoil me in so many ways!!

 

And since I've been spoilt, I guess it's that time where I get to spoil a couple of people. Yes, it's time to let you know the OPAM random draw winners for December's tally. Can I firstly say ... WOWSERS!!! We had a HUGE ...

 

877 FINISHES!!!!

That is our BIGGEST monthly tally for the year!! You gals must have been super busy sewing bees in the lead up to Christmas! :0) And that monthly tally takes our yearly tally to ...

 

7,710 FINISHES!!!!

Can you believe that!! There sure was some activity in sewing rooms around the world last year!! :0) As we wrap up OPAM 2012, I'd just like to take a moment to say a few thank you's. The first thank you is a SUPER DUPER one to my Partner-In-Crime, the Co-hostess with the Mostest, Sweet Peg. Not only does Sweet Peg share the workload behind the scenes of OPAM, she is a wonderful friend who encourages me to be creative, inspires me to set myself stitching goals (she finishes SOOOOO many projects!!!), surprises me with 'just because' gifties  and makes me smile! :0) Thank you, Sweet Peg and here's to another year of exciting OPAM adventures!! :0)

 

Thank you, too, to all of you who have been part of OPAM 2012. Some of you have even been playing along with OPAM since May Britt and I launched it four years ago. Without your willingness to share your creative adventures and how it fits into your life's journey, OPAM wouldn't be the encouraging, inspiring, creative forum that it is ... THANK YOU!!

 

Right ... on to what you're all waiting to read ... the draw winners are ...

 

JEANNETTE

 

ANNE-LISE

 

Congratulations gals!! Please contact me with your snail mail addresses and I will pop something special into the mail for you soon. A big congrats to all of you who added to that huge monthly tally, too. I hope you are all very proud of your achievements for 2012. And even if you didn't finish quite as many projects last year as you planned (and lets face it ... who DID?!?!), but you took time out of your busy schedule to sit, relax and be creative, then you're a winner too, cos that's what OPAM is all about. :0)

 

So ... those of you starting to ask about OPAM 2013 ... it is DEFINITELY happening and Sweet Peg and I are looking forward to lots of creative clever clogs' joining us for more fun this year! :0) Sign up will be at the end of January to give us a little rest and we will both post details and guidelines on our blogs, so stay tuned. Sign up will be open for just a week, so make sure you don't miss out ... you might like to add Sweet Peg and Me to your list of blogs you follow so you're ready to jump in.

 

PHEW!! After all that, I think I'm ready to head off and keep a long-overdue date with my pillow!! :0) I hope you're all having a great start to 2013 so far and that your week is off to a brilliant start, too. Til next time ...

 

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

PS. What is with blogger making crazy changes that only seem to make things more complicated for us poor non-technical bloggers?!?!?! GRRRRRR!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year Holiday Hello!!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!

I hope you're all enjoying the first days of 2013!? What have you been up to? They say that whatever you do on New Years Day is what you'll spend the next 12 months doing. Frankly, I'd be pretty happy with that cos ... We're on HOLIDAY! Tee! Hee! Hee! Which of course is why I've been a bit absent from blogland this last week or two. I've done a little blog reading, but mostly I've been in holiday mode. :0)

Before I regale you with our ongoing adventures ... I need to say a big THANK YOU to my SSCS swap partner, Sharon for my lovely Christmas gifties. I was a good girl and didn't open them til Christmas Day. :0)

A bright and cheerful tote bag ... with that mesh insert, it is PERFECT as a beach/swimming bag as it will allow air to circulate through so damp towels don't start to smell icky. The craft organiser tote is going to live on my cutting table so I can organise myself a little and the hot drink sachets will be enjoyed when the weather begins to cool down (not too soon, I hope!!). The cocoa is a chocolate cinnamon flavour and I just LOOOOOOVE cinnamon flavoured anything!! Thanks so much Sharon ... I feel VERY spoilt!!! And thanks again to the inimitable Chookyblue for running one of the best organised swaps I've had the pleasure of joining in.

Christmas Day (after the unwrapping of my SSCS giftie!!) was spent with my Beloved Geek Boy's family ... 21 family members who were able to gather ... and that wasn't even the entire family ... EEK! :0) It was noisy ... it was chaotic ... it was ... FAMILY! :0) We then lined up the house sitter, left notes for the dog sitter and packed up the car to head north. First stop was a few days with my folks in Mundubbera, before heading FURTHER north to enjoy a few days in tropical north Queensland ... we're currently enjoying the serenity of Blacks Beach near Mackay ... which has slightly spotty internet access ... hence me being a bit absent! :0)

But what is lacking in internet is made up for in other ways ...

This is the FANTASTIC view that we can enjoy by walking about 100m from our front door. This was taken during one of our evening walks ... I love the colours in the sky and the darker purple outline of the island  (not sure which one it is, as there are a LOT of little islands off the coast here) And I've been doing a bit of this ...

 

... paddling in the ocean and letting the gentle waves sneak up over my feet. So soothing ... even if my skirt DID end up a little damp around the hem! Tee! Hee! Hee!

 

We're having a lovely time recharging our batteries before we dive into the busy-ness of the new year. We've caught up with some friends and rellies, gone for long rambling drives around this ever-growing city/area that we hope to call home in the next few years, went to the cinema to enjoy the first movie instalment of "The Hobbit" and I've even been doing some ...

 

... Stitching!! At first I was struggling cos the light wasn't bright enough or in the right place for me to be able to stitch whilst watching tele at night ... but after a visit to the local quilting store (Needleworx) I am now the proud owner of a clever little battery powered and VERY portable Ottlight that is making ALL the difference. You can see I'm working on a series of  small stitcheries for a new design at the moment ... they're from the set I designed for Lynda that I told you about a few posts back. Oh ... and we all know you need to keep up the energy snacks when you're stitching, right?!?! :0)

 

Well, that's about it from me. We head southwards home again on the weekend and while I'm looking forward to catching up with my friends after the Christmas/New Year break, I will be very sorry to say farewell to Mackay's wonderful summery weather ... I know ... I am such a summer gal! Tee! Hee! Hee! Before I sign off ... I thought I'd share a link to a fave song with you. It's by Graeme Connors ... who incidentally comes from Mackay!! ... and it is called

 

"A Little Further North"

 

When the chills of our home on the 'hill' become too much, this is GB's and my theme song ... hope you enjoy a little listen. (the slide show presentation with it is a bit dodgy, but it was the only link I could find to it) But right now, I think I'm off to keep a date with my pillow and dream of beach walks to be enjoyed tomorrow. However you're spending the first week of 2013, I hope you are taking time out to smell the roses and feel the sand between your toes ... it's a good habit to get into early in the year to keep our stress levels down all year round! :0) Til next time!

TROPICAL BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS