Finishes to share, Advent Swap & Holiday Stitching Plans

This afternoon I begin my holidays as my work closes for it's annual four week summer break. I can't quite believe it, how quickly the past few weeks have gone. Glenn will start his holiday break on Friday too.  

Our Christmas plans this year include having our family for a barbeque and fingers crossed, fun in our swimming pool. This week we've had much needed rain and I think its going to be here for a few more days. After the heat of the past two weeks, its been quite nice to have some cooler temps, especially overnight. 

Here are some of the ornaments I finished during 2024 for family and friends:

I did quite a bit of stitching in October and November for gifts so can finally share some of these projects. For my friend Val, this cute Primrose Cottage Stitches design, which I made into a thread portfolio.

For my friend Tracey, this is an October House Fibre Arts design, a small thread cross stitch folder.

My friend Clare and I have been swapping Advent gifts for over five years now. This swap is always lots of fun.  These are the lovely gifts I received from Clare this year:

As always, I forgot to take a photo before I wrapped up my gifts to Clare so I had to ask Clare to send me one. We both laughed as we gave each other a new Christmas mug.

I stitched two October House Fibre Art designs for Clare, Sew Blessed and the Itch to Stitch.

This week I've set up my new stitching portfolio with two new designs to work on over Christmas and New Year, Christmas Magic by Primrose Cottage Stitches 

Santa and Cardinal Birdhouse by Mill Hill.

This will be my last post for 2024 until probably mid January so I wanted to take the time to thank each and everyone of you, thank you so much for visiting my blog, sending me messages and emails, and always leaving positive comments here and on Instagram. It always makes my day to hear from you.

I wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas, filled with lots of happy times, laughter and yummy food too. Take care and all the best for the Festive Season.

Merry Christmas and see you in 2025!

Katrina xx

A Festive Catch Up & new Goodies

Earlier in the month I met up with my dear stitching friends for our annual day of festive fun and to celebrate the December ladies' birthdays. We had such a lovely day together - so many laughs, show and tell, planning projects and ideas for 2025, birthday treats, a delicious lunch and dessert, and a secret Santa exchange.

Clare brought along three of her buntings and hangings.

This one is by Heartstring Samplery:

Annie Beez Folk Arts 12 Days of Christmas stockings - this in my 2025 stitching plans.

Merry Christmas Bunting by Rosalie Quinlan Designs.

The ladies, very seriously stitching away at times!

Chocolate brownie made by Kath, so yum!

I received some very sweet gifts :

From Val, 

From my secret Santa (Sonia) 

I just love this portfolio she made - gorgeous fabrics!

From Wendy:

From Kath :

From Lisa:

I'm so grateful to have these cherished friends in my life. We missed seeing our dear friends Lisa and Nicki this time but will catch up with them both in the new year. Looking forward to our catch ups in 2025 already xx

A small parcel arrived recently from 123 Stitch, its been some time since my last stash delivery lol.

Peace on Earth will be started once I source all the threads and suitable fabric.

Red linen for some Hands on Designs charts.

Note of Love, Hannah Rome, will be a holiday start.

Fabric to get 12 Days of Christmas stockings underway in January

Couldn't resist one of the mini plaid bags,  and the girls and I are planning to stitch on these next year.

I'll be back tomorrow with my final post of the year.  

See you soon xx

 Thank you for all the lovely comments left on my last post - I truly appreciate every one! 

It's been a crazy busy time lately but I wanted to share a few pics of what's been happening around here and a few other goodies.

First up, my current stitching projects: this past weekend I started Peace & Goodwill by Brenda Gervais. I'm using the recommended threads and 36 count Picture this Plus Legacy linen.

I'm now up to Part 3 on the Tiny Modernist Christmas Cuckoo House, I'm really enjoying stitching this quirky design. There's a lot of stitching in Part 3 so it might take me awhile!

From Jingle Ball 2024, the Gingerbread House Sewing Book. 

This year's Jingle Ball was held over the recent weekend, and although I didn't participate in any of the designer meet and greets, stitching tables, or virtual meet ups, I still had a lot of fun making a few purchases from the designers including the Jingle Ball Bauble Book, which has ornaments from all the designers participating. I have two other class patterns that I'm still working on: Tiny Modernist's Gingerbread House and Hands on Design's Hashtag Joy, which I hope to get all finished during my holiday break.

Hannah's last performance of the year was held recently. It was such a lovely morning watching all the children. This year Hannah was a student teacher, which she loved, helping out with the younger students' ballet classes.  Hannah and her friends, such a beautiful group of girls, before their performance.

December 1st rolled around quickly this year, and carrying on the tradition since she was a baby, Hannah received some Christmas Pyjamas on the 1st December. 

This year's Christmas decorating was all done by Hannah, so good to have a helpful teenager in the house!

I think I've shared this angel before, it's one of my very treasured Christmas decorations - made nearly 30 years ago by a dear friend no longer with us.

A new ornament made by a friend

Hannah's 2024 Christmas ornament, I couldn't resist buying this sweet glass ice cream ornament for her.

Look how young we are here - I think Hannah is only 18 months old 

Another dearly treasured ornament, given to Hannah by Glenn's mum, the last Christmas before she passed away.  

Our gorgeous girl, before her senior school prizegiving last week where she received a first in class award for Trades. So proud of her xx

Have a wonderful week. See you soon xx