Echidna in the garden

Another obliging little fellow who allowed 3 kids and 2 adults to hover over him with a camera and inquisitive eyes. He is about 12" long and 8" wide with long claws and wicked looking long spines. The brown colouring is the true colour. He was hiding in the hollow of a tree when our grandson discovered him.

Wallaby and G'ks

Usually our native animals hide when school holidays are on, but this obliging fellow came for the bread our g'kids held out.

DH was under orders not to cut the grass until the freezias had finished flowering, but I didn't really mean the very last one.

Hearts and Pincushions

The first pincushion is from Alison in Queensland and isn't it fantastic, with such rich colours, Mokuba flowers, a dear little MOP heart button and so fine stitches.

Then comes Julia's gorgeous Victorian Rose heart. Julia is so generous - I would never have parted with it. The colours are so rich and the fine detailed stitches in metallic threads are wonderful.

Next up is Florence's beautiful pincushion. It is such a feminine treasure and I wouldn't dare put a pin into it. I'll pin anyone to the wall, who dares to try.

This is followed by Anabele's so lovely heart and postcard from Portugal. Such lovely work. Anabele also sent lace that she made and crocheted flowers too.

Then comes Joy's pincushion from New Zealand. There are twelve tiny patches on this one and lovely stitch patterns. Pity you can't see her tatted butterfly as I can.

Finally there is a wonderful heart from Margreet in The Nederlands. I have only seen this folded pattern in a quilt (and not close up) It is fabulous, as is her cutwork bookmark and card. The lace was hand made by Margreet. It is so delicate to see and feel.

For a week now, I have tried to add text to my blog of the girls who made my lovely swaps. I hope this time it works.

Not only 3 wonderful hearts, but 3 pincushions from another swap. You will agree with me that I have been spoilt.

The first pic is an overall one and then I've added single pics with whom they came from.


The first pincushion is from Alison in Queensland and isn't it fantastic, with such rich colours, Mokuba flowers, a dear little MOP heart button and so fine stitches.

Then comes Julia's gorgeous Victorian Rose heart. Julia is so generous - I would never have parted with it. The colours are so rich and the fine detailed stitches in metallic threads are wonderful.

Next up is Florence's beautiful pincushion. It is such a feminine treasure and I wouldn't dare put a pin into it. I'll pin anyone to the wall, who dares to try.

This is followed by Anabele's so lovely heart and postcard from Portugal. Such lovely work. Anabele also sent lace that she made and crocheted flowers too.

Then comes Joy's pincushion from New Zealand. There are twelve tiny patches on this one and lovely stitch patterns. Pity you can't see her tatted butterfly as I can.

Finally there is a wonderful heart from Margreet in The Nederlands. I have only seen this folded pattern in a quilt (and not close up) It is fabulous, as is her cutwork bookmark and card. The lace was hand made by Margreet. It is so delicate to see and feel.

All I can say is I must have been a VERY good girl lately.

Thank you all, you marvellous friends, for sending me these treasures.

Pincushions and Hearts

Tatted flowers

Some girls would like to master tatting, but are worried that it isn't easy.












Annie Whitsed has put her first efforts on her site at .
http://loopylace.com/anniescrazyworld/?p=186
for all to see.
The picture here is of tatted flowers, which Linda taught to me. They are just picots that are about 1/2" long. There are a couple of single flowers and a group of three. The threads are sewn through and tied off at the back. The second pic is how they can look with a bead centre.

Victorian Garden RR

This beautiful block was worked on by Sandie, Julia, Rosemary, Maxine and Margaret.
Julia dyed the lace basket and filled it with ribbon flowers. She worked the two nearby seams in the same colours. The topiary tree is also Julia's work.
Sandie added the corner SRE, corner piece with the honeysucker, winding rose trail and beautiful beaded cameo.
Margaret worked the lower left garden, a spider's web, glass butterfly, short seam with fine cord and french knots. Also the multi coloured rose and buds near by.
Maxine was next with her great rose spray, feather stitched vine, blue beading on the lace, tea-dyed lace motif and a tatted butterfly.
Rosemary was last to add her beautiful work and started with a shisha, the seam next to this, a fan, long beaded fairy trail and a little heart at the top of the silk picture and finally the pink/blue butterfly.
Thanks so much girls for all the wonderful and inspirational work you did for me. It is intended to be the centre of a quilt. A future project.