Hello,

My parcel that I sent off for the Bee Sew Whimsical Secret Santa Honeypot Swap has arrived at its destination. My partner was Clare at http://www.clarescraftroom.blogspot.com/

I made Clare a Journal and a Wall Hanging/Tablerunner. I am so glad that she likes them and will have them on display at Christmas time. My swap partner Lyn has posted mine off and will be here shortly. I can't wait to see it.

Happy stitching.

Bev C

Buttons, tea towels and Billy Joel

Hello,

We were lucky enough to go to the Billy Joel concert on Sunday evening. What a great show he put on. Songs from the past few decades were sung and enjoyed by everybody attending. Thank you to Ainsley Julian Bonnie and Ryan for the lovely weekend we certainly appreciated it.

I made some tea towels recently. I used some buttons that Cheryl from Willowberry Designs had sent me. These raggedy towels are very cute to hang around the home. I am not sure that much wiping up would be done with them.

Thank you to the three lovely ladies who have joined in the Pay It Forward. I have cut out one of the things already and will get onto some sewing. I have finished Lucy's Cat Quilt and will post a picture of it when I have cut off all the threads and put a label onto it.

Happy stitching.

Bev C

Pay it forward reccipients required.

Hello,

I have something special for everyone to join in. My very first Pay It Forward. I was lucky enough to be the second commenter over at Cathy's lovely blog www.paintsewstitch all the way in Canada.

The rules are I will make something for the first three people who leave a comment, you must have a blog and be willing to pass it onto three more people. I will post anywhere in this wide world of ours. I have 365 days to make it and so do you but I am sure we can get it out there in super quick time to keep spreading the love.

Come on, join in the fun and lets spread some good vibes around.

Happy days.

Bev C

Some lovely mail in and out.

Hello,

This lovely little screen print arrived in my mailbox the other day, thanks Lesley. I think I will add some french knots etc to the print and make it into a cushion. It measures 3 3/4 inches long by 3 inches high.

My Secret Santa present is all finished and I posted it yesterday. I hope my swap partner likes it. I had a great time looking through magazines looking for something to make. Thank you to Darlene at Bee Sew Whimsical for organising this Christmas Swap.

This morning I have prepared Lucy's Cat Quilt ready to start quilting it by machine. I would have loved to hand quilt it but it is already a tad late for her Birthday so the machine quilting wins out.

Happy stitching.

Bev C

Kainga blooms and new books.

Hello,

We have been having cooler weather this year than last year. I needed a jacket on out in the garden yesterday. The good thing about this is the rose blooms are staying on longer not being knocked about by heat. The above photo is a rose growing over the back of the gazebo in the back garden.

A Rosemary hedge. This was grown from 3inch cuttings taken a couple of years ago. I have several Rosemary hedges, very tough and drought resistant. I originally bought two plants and have propagated from them.

Everything is in bloom at the moment. Everything seems to self seed very well for me. Hollyhocks are coming up everywhere.

On Friday I was lucky to receive this beautiful book for a present. It is called Naming the Rose discovering who roses are named for by Roger Mann.

When I went to the book store to pick up my book next to it was this book that I had read about and decided it must come home with me. It is called Tea Roses Old Roses for Warm Gardens. by Lynne Chapman, Noelene Drage, Di Durston, Jenny Jones, Hillary Merrifield and Billy West.

Both of these books I will treasure and read on a regular basis. They are full of information and stunning pictures.

Happy gardening.

Bev C