"Makes Me Happy Monday" Number 52

Hello and a very Happy Monday to you.

First of I must apologise for not doing a Christmas Greeting post. Last Thursday night I had a bad allergic reaction to a piece of pizza I had for tea. I spent the night itching and scratching over my whole body. I had taken some tablets but these weren't strong enough. A quick trip to the chemist on Friday and some stronger knockout tablets were purchased. I slept all day until 8.30pm in the evening. That wasn't the only drama. That evening, Sheri David's girlfriend was admitted to the emergency department with appendicitis and they didn't get back to there flat until 1.30am Christmas morning.  An interesting start to Christmas. Of course I am happy that all is well now.
I am happy that I have finished the Lizzie Kate cross stitch. I used up a packet of DMC Aida cloth that I had bought from WA Salvage years back. This shop has since closed but boy oh boy could you get some bargains from there. I left out the zig-zag bit at the bottom because the cloth wasn't long enough, I had to make sure I had plenty of room for framing. I don't think it makes any difference anyway.

I will drop this of to the framers in mid January. I am sure that they take a break over the holidays. I have another Lizzie Kate design which I want to do but will have to look out for some Aida cloth.

One of the highlights of the festive eating was Tarnyia's Gran dad's Ice cream Recipe that I made up. It went into several different containers because I had made a double recipe. YUMMO plenty of requests for the recipe. This lot was made up into the Tupperware Jelly container, you can't see it now but I used the Christmas Tree shape for the top. This made everyone very happy indeed.

On Boxing Day morning David got cooking pancakes for everyone. He received a pancake maker for Christmas. Pancakes with choc chips and M&M's  strawberries and cream made everyone happy and full. No lunch was needed later on.

 A few days before Christmas a parcel arrived from Robyn. This was duly placed under the tree and Christmas morning I was able to find out what was inside. Thank you so much Robyn. In case you are wondering there is still one chocolate left. I don't think anyone is game to touch them. They have been warned "That they are mine-all mine" I am very happy to have my very own mug mat.

When I started these "Makes Me Happy Monday" postings I thought it was going to be very hard to find something different each week but it certainly wasn't the case. I must thank Paula who was the inspiration behind these postings. These postings have brought out the positive side of life. It is so much easier to be happy about something rather than down in the dumps. After all smiling and laughter is contagious. Thank you to everyone who has left a comment on these postings especially. Maybe Paula, you can design a quilt for us about "Makes Me Happy Monday."

I will be taking a little break from blogging for a while and will be back in the 2011. Thank you to everyone who has visited and played a part in my life through my blog over the past year.  In the meantime "Be Happy"

Happy New Year.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday" number 51.

Hello,

Wow it really is Happy Monday. I got woken up at 12.12am by the sound of rain on our roof. I measured  16mls in the gauge at 9.00am and have had some more gentle rain since then. Spare a thought though for the people of Carnarvon who are under flood at the moment.

I am happy that progress is being made on my cross stitch project. It is a Lizzie Kate design which my sister has already done so she passed the pattern onto me. The "Big" plan is to have it finished by the end of the month. Fingers crossed.

I am also happy to have been doing some reading of late. I enjoy reading and over Summer I seem to do more of it. Last week I read Maeve Binchy's new book called "Finding Frankie." I also found out that  another author Miss Read has written a new book and have ordered this from the library.

One book I did get from the library is Catherine's Gift. This book is not your ordinary book,rather it makes you think how lucky these people are that Dr Catherine Hamlin is there to help them. Some rather awful stories but mostly with good outcomes. Please do yourself a favour and check out this link and if you get the chance please read this book. It will change your view on what is important in your life.

With the rain we have had the roses are just loving it. I snapped this photo of "Heritage" this morning. With a hot Christmas Day expected I will have to enjoy them while I can.
I can also say I am happy that I defrosted my freezer this morning. I know small things make me happy. Though the real reason was because I needed to tidy it up before Christmas. I made Tarnyia's  Granddad's Ice cream Recipe this morning. Tarnyia assures me it is calorie free. I sure hope so because I have just made two lots of it. Licking out 4 cream cartons,2 condensed milk cans plus a few nuts and choc chips and some fresh blueberries. I can assure you it tastes delicious. I didn't have any brandy so I used some of  real vanilla essence for flavouring. Thanks Tarnyia for the recipe.

I would love to hear what is making you "Happy this Monday."

Happy Monday.
Bev C

Tuesday's Treasures.

Hello,

Welcome to Tuesday's Treasures. This week I will share with you a Fireplace Screen that I bought years ago at a garage sale for something like $5.00. I remember I bought some patchwork books at the same time.

Now I bought this off a lady who was retiring to the city. None of her children wanted this and I guess you can't take everything when you downsize. I actually went to school with her daughter so had known them for a long time. Her husband gave her the kit on her 1st Wedding Anniversary many years ago. There is certainly a great amount of work that went into this tapestry.

I love this fireplace screen and the story behind it. To see lots more treasure's check out Melody's blog. Thanks for visiting.
Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday" Number fifty.

Hello,

Happy Monday to you.


Getting a parcel delivered to me last Monday made me very happy.

I love participating in swaps. You get to have lots of fun. I recently participated in the Crafty Goodness Box Swap. We had a choice of two boxes to choose from. Either Scrap booking  or Patchwork/Sewing. We were given a partner with a few hints of what they liked.

My partner was Julie who lives over the side of Australia from me. Guess what she works at a patchwork shop. So she is surrounded by goodies every working day.

Last Monday morning the courier knocked at the front door with this parcel of goodies.

Julie's gifts to me.

Look at what was inside. Lots of supplies to last me for a very long time. I said I loved ladybirds and I got some chocolate ones and some material. I don't know how Julie knew that I needed a new dustpan and brush set but just look at the most cutest dustpan and brush set. Thank you so much Julie you really made my day. All of the articles are right at home in my sewing room.




Julie's gifts from me.

Julie requested 1930's style material. This was very hard to find  in town here. So one day when I had a car a trip to Spotlight in Midland  was on the cards and  I found the fat quarters. Back home again I found the charm pack at the local craft shop so this was quickly purchased.

Front of Bag

Back of Bag.

I also made Julie a Tote Bag with her name machine embroidered on the front. Thank you Julie for being my swap partner. To Darlene the organiser of all of this a big hug and best wishes are coming your way. You can click on the photo's  for a better view to see the items we both received.


Today marks one week since Lucy left. Hello Lucy.  We are all so happy that she is enjoying life in New Zealand. Lucy has been shopping already and was "In Heaven" at the Number One Shoe Warehouse. Where she bought two pairs of new shoes. Shoes make Lucy very happy!!!

Happy Monday to you,hope your week is full of surprises.
Bev C

Another project finished on Friday-Night-Sew-In.

Hello,

Happy Weekend to you. Last night was Friday-Night-Sew-In. I started a little earlier in the day as I tend to make a few mistakes sewing at night. Yes, I did make a few mistakes and got ahead of myself. That happens when you aren't sewing to a pattern and a daughter asks to be dropped of at a friend's house. Then you come home and Ian has some Lion's Christmas cake heated up with a dollop of cream and a cuppa.

Tote Bag.

When making this bag I used up quite a few things. I joined some cotton wadding together to use for the wadding for the main part of the bag. The handles had a different sort of wadding. When I did the quilting, in the bobbin I used up all those partly filled bobbins. No one sees this so this was a great way to clear some bobbins. The material I had in the cupboard for years. At our previous home our next door neighbour used to run the local patchwork shop. When she was leaving town I got all her stash. Lucky me. The lining material was also from this supply. It is a lovely check which matches in quite well. I put quite a big pocket on the inside. I will drop this of to Mum's tomorrow. I wonder if she will remember doing the hexagons? I am sure she will find a use for this bag. It is quite big so will be useful for shopping or going to the library.

There is another sew-in next week if you wish to join in.

Happy days.
Bev C

Colourful Friday-Christmas Colours.

Hello,

Welcome to Colourful Friday, This week Robyn has chosen the appropriate colour" Christmas". It is getting closer by the day isn't it. Are you ready????

Every year at Christmas we listen to Bing Crosby's "A white Christmas" songs and of course Ian has to watch Chevy Chase's movie "A Christmas Vacation". A year doesn't go by without these two things happening here at Kainga.

Now if you look very carefully in the sky you maybe able to find Prancer, Dancer, Donner, Blitzen,Dasher,Vixen, Commet, Cupid and of course Rudolph. Let me know if you saw them.

No matter where you live I am sure Christmas will be a great time with family and friends.

I hope your Goodie Bag is ready for Father Christmas to fill up.

Christmas time just means lots of decorative trees of all sorts and varieties.

Even little wooden ones with bon-bons ready for some lollies.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without some tinsel.

It is the one time of the year we can wear funny hats and antlers.

We count our blessings at Christmas time and look forward to the New Year.

We hang wreaths on the door.

We remember the real reason for Christmas.

We get the decorations out of storage and remember when they were made and by whom and how many years ago.

Even the sheep get into the theme.

We bring out the Christmas games for lots of fun.

We bring out the patchwork made for this time of the year.

Lucy's card she made at Embroidery Guild is on permanent display all year round.

Cards sewn by friends are treasured.

Now it is beginning to look like Christmas at Kainga.

After all that hard work I think it is time for a cuppa and some Lion's Christmas Cake. I hope you enjoyed looking at my Christmas Colours. Please check out what everyone else found this week at Robyn's blog.

Happy Colourful Friday.
Bev C

Father Christmas Table Runner, Cross Stitch and Friday-Night-Sew-In Plans.

Hello,

I have got back into sewing. I finished quilting and putting the binding on this table runner on Monday night.

Doesn't Father Christmas just want to make you smile!!!

I used some of the material I won from Jen .The pattern called for holly and berries on each edge block but I decided against this as it would hide the lovely material. This one will probably go on the coffee table for the Christmas season. The runner measures  40 inches long by 20.5 inches wide.

Last week we picked up my cross stitch from the framers. I was so happy when I saw it because I wasn't able to drop it of at the framers. Bonnie and David chose the frame. Great job guys. I want to get back into doing some cross stitch but have to finish a few things of first.

I have been going through things in the sewing room. I found this UFO. It belongs to my Mum. She doesn't like hand sewing very much. Whereas I just love it. I will be finishing this of and most probably putting it on the side of a tote bag. I will be doing this on Friday-Night-Sew-In. Did you know there are two nights this month. To help you finish of projects for Christmas or just for the year. Check out Heidi's blog for the details and for registering your name.

Happy days.
Bev C

Tuesday's Treasures.

Hello,

Welcome to "Tuesday's Treasures". This week I want to share with you a quilt. Now this isn't my quilt. My sister Chris left it with me to finish. Her friend Lisa found it at a Hospital op-shop for only $5.00.

It is a nearly finished Double Wedding Ring Quilt. Most of the quilting is done. I will finish that and add a binding to the edge.

Going by the colours in the material I think it is likely that it was started in the last 15 years.. I wonder why this treasure was given away. It will be turned into Lisa's treasure soon.

Make sure you check out Melody's blog to see what other Treasure's are being featured this week.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday" Number 49 A BIG ONE THIS WEEK!!!!!

Hello,

Happy Monday to you. I hope you have had a great day. A bit later posting today.  Lots to be Happy about here at Kainga. The past week I have been busy having lunch and tea with relatives. Travelling around the countryside with Ian Lucy Mum and my sister Chris. Having family come for BBQ's and generally having a great time. 

Lucy's Camera Bag.

Last night I made Lucy a Camera Bag for her new camera. She was quite surprised to get a camera yesterday.

Lucy cutting the Pavlova Sunday 5th December 2010.

We had a lovely BBQ yesterday for Lunch. Thanks Ian for cooking all that food.

Chris and Lucy at Kainga, Monday 6th December 2010.

Now for the BIG NEWS Lucy flew to New Zealand today for a  holiday. The plane left about an hour ago.  Lucy will be staying with Chris and will see her Uncle and Aunt  and meet her cousin Jill who also live in New Zealand. Lucy will be away until sometime next year. We are so proud of Lucy saving up for her holiday herself and taking the initiative to travel.  Enjoy New Zealand Lucy, I know the scenery will be a lot greener than here.

Happy Monday.
Bev C

Colourful Friday-Teal

Hello and Welcome to Colourful Friday.

This weeks chosen colour is  Teal.

Robyn really had me scratching my head on this one.

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teal


Teal comes from a mixture of the primary colour blue, and the secondary colour green
which is mixed with some gray.

There is also Teal Blue and Teal Green.

Having these clues to use really didn't help me much at all. It seems we have very few Teal items here at Kainga. I have been out and about doing the tourist thing the last week and that didn't help at all either. So you will have to use your imagination a bit when it comes to my display of Teal. Close enough is near enough in my books!!!!

Lucy made the cushion last year in Textile and Design. The teal blue mobile phone holder and the cherub that is pale teal blue in real life.

I purchased these two fat quarters and thread over at Toodyay during the week. Did you see the Teal wishing stone next to the cotton .

This towel is pretty well near the Teal colour.



Our teapot lid could be Teal Green.

I am sure you will find some Teal in amongst these scraps.

These cross stitch patterns are probably the closest thing to the other Teal that I have.

Lucy did this tie dying last year at school. I am sure if you look at it you will find some  light shade of Teal. If not don't worry. I think it is pretty enough to be included in this post of "prettiness alone".

Now next week Robyn has us looking for Christmas Colours. Thank you for that Robyn,an easy one to end the year.

Thank you for visiting today and using your imagination with my little collection of Teal.

Happy Colourful Friday.
Bev C