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.........................

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

such gorgeous gifts Shirley Martine is very clever and congrats on your SKOW finish,well done.xx

Susan said...

Lovely gifts, the SSCS is such a great swap. Congratulations on your big finish........and all made by you. Well done.

Sharon - Lilabelle Lane said...

Beautiful gifts and huge congratulations on the SKOW finish. hugs

Grethe said...

Congratulations on you finish of SKoW, your quilt looks super, really worth all the big work it must have been:-)
Lovely SSCS gifts:))

Bizzy Martine said...

I'm so happy that you liked everything!!!! Congratulations on your finish!!!! I still have to quilt my SKOW. I'm going to try it for the first time by machine.
Love, Martine

Chookyblue...... said...

what a beautiful wall hanging from Martine something very special from your Santa......thanks for being part of the SSCS 2012.........

Wow you have finished your SKofW SAL quilt..........super effort.......especially getting all the quilting done too.......thanks for being part of the SAL for 2012........

Cubby House Crafts said...

A lovely wall hanging from your SSCS partner and congratulations on finishing your SKoW...just gorgeous!!!
Lisa

NoƩmia said...

My dear Cheryl, things are a bit complicate with atention and cares that my mother need more than ever.
Forgive me to thank you so late, your lovely, beautiful, perfect and gorgeous wallhanging.
I just love it!
Realy!
Loooooooove it :)
Tomorrow I'll post the foto in my blog.
Happy New Year to you and your family.

Anthea said...

I am glad to have visited, mainly to see your SSCS gifts received - which happen to be so gorgeous, what an unusual shaped wall hanging and so sweet. My extra delight is to see another beautifully finished SKOW quilt, congrats!! amazing work... i could only dream of making such a piece!
bye for now x

Jenny said...

The quilt is just lovely. You have been very clever with the quilting. I love the wall hanging from Martine ..how creative. The world is a small place when we share our craft. So many talented women sharing its a nice feeling.

Anita said...

oh your quilt is gorgeous! Well done on getting it all finished! Your SSCS gifts are really nice too.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful swap Pressies and I love your quilt too. Well done

Unknown said...

Hi, congrats!!!!
Emanuela