Welcome to Shiralee Stitches. I live on a cattle farm in Australia with my family.
I am passionate about all things fabric so much so I started my own online and mobile store. Link is on the sidebar to my store. I teach patchwork classes and take my shop to quilting and patchwork groups and also attend various craft markets.
I love English Paper Piecing, applique, machine quilting, working with woven wools. I have started making my own designs which I love.

Saturday 29 December 2012

Santa Came..........and I finished a quilt.........

Well, my friends, we had a lovely Christmas Day and it seems in blogland that many others did too. That Santa man seems to always please, especially when a certain little Chookyblue has a hand in the organising!!!!. Again this year I joined in the Secret Santa Christmas Swap hosted by my dear friend, Chookyblue. This year I posted to Portugal, and my parcel arrived from Belgium..........

Of course I left my main present till Christmas Day, as the rules say you must..............this is what I had tucked away in my parcel......
 ......a gorgeous wallhanging.............
 ....cute little Christmas children, gorgeous satin binding, and all hand quilted.......just stunning.....
Big hugs and thanks to Martine.......I love it..........But wait there's more...........
 ............a lot of other lovelies too.......the cutest reindeer, lovely ribbon, some syrup, sweet to try soon, and missing from the piccie because they were too yummy to wait for the camera to take a photo, were a box of Belgium Guylian chocolates......YUMMY...........I was totally spoilt........
......and huge thanks to Martine, and to Chookyblue, our secret santa elf..........

.......and now for a BIG "Ta-Da" moment.........for ages now I have been plodding away on my Some Kind OF Wonderful quilt, designed by my all time favourite lady, Anni Downs. I say plodding, because I needleturned the appliques and it was very time consuming, but well worth it........

I have finally completed the quilting, trying to create something close to the flowers and vines quilted on Anni's original........no special machines here, just the trusty Pfaff, and some staying power!!!
Well here'tis.........a couple of different photos, weather changed and I couldn't decide which one showed it off best, so you're getting both!!!.......this one looks all quilty with the light on it........
 ......and this one better for the appliques.........
 .....of course you want to check out the quilting more closely.....don't you????

I am so pleased to be able to report this quilt as finished......it was being completed as part of a Stitch-a-long group, headed by Chookyblue, and the deadline has come and gone......but only just!!

Now with the start of a New Year about to begin, I must go and seek out some new project to keep the little fingers busy.......don't worry, that job won't be hard, there's plenty to choose from!!!!.....Haha.....
I do hope you are all enjoying the Christmas/New Year season doing things you love with the people closest to your heart.........................

Saturday 15 December 2012

Happy Mail from across the seas........

How exciting this week to find my SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap)  parcel at the post office.
All the way from Belgium.......from Bizzy Martine, and look what I found in the box.......

Loads of little pressies for me, and THE BIG ONE which must remain under the tree till Christmas Day......Chooky's rules!!..........and I will be good...............
 I was allowed to open this one now........a gorgeous ornament for the tree.......isn't he just the cutest?
 .........and Martine has attached her own label to the back which makes it even more special....
Big hugs to you Martine, I love my little reindeer ornament and I can't wait to open my parcel on Christmas Day.

I am spending time today to put all the Christmas decorations up........a bit late I know, but this past few weeks has been a bit crazy here........and the craziness hasn't stopped yet.......

I hope you are all gearing up for Christmas in the happiest of ways........