Kerryswainscottage

More Christmas Gifts in the post

 last week my parcels arrived from QLD for our Secret Santa swap from our Friends in Stitiching online group. This years swap was a little different - we had to send 5 small parcels to be opened one each day starting from today - 20th December. Then a larger handmade gift to open on Christmas morning - wow how much do I enjoy Christmas morning.

Thanks so much for these gorgeous gifts - T - I will be back to share the contents of all these parcels later - have a great week leading up to Christmas Day

Kerry

A little taste of New Orleans

While I was visiting New Orleans I purchased a post card with this very yummy recipe on it - Friday I found time to make up of batch of these Pecan Pralines - easy as to make and extremely yummy and very sweet. They are mostly brown sugar with Pecans - Pralines are very popular in New Orleans - what a great memory.

 The sugar mixture has to boil to 238 F -

 

Then you add the Pecans - stir

Spoon out onto baking paper and let set.

I have placed a single Praline into a cello bag with ribbon and card - I will add these to my Christmas giving basket. I love sharing homemade goodies from the kitchen with friends and family at Christmas or any other time of the year.

My Secret Santa Gift through Chookyblue's SSCS  arrived from Ann-Mari in Norway the other day - how exciting - in the decoration gift I received 5 gorgeous little red and white cloth hearts they look great hanging on one of my dressers. The other gifts are under the tree waiting for the 25th.

Thanks for dropping by hope you are all enjoying the lead up to Christmas.

Kerry

 

The Eagle has landed

I was out working in my garden a week or so ago and I heard a strange sound - turned around and saw an eagle only metres away from me. It took off and landed again just down the paddock so I quckly slipped inside grabbed the camera and managed to take a few photos.

Not everyday do you have a visitor like this - believe me all the other birds in the paddock didn't like his visit. They went mad - there was so much screeching going on - it truly was an amazing site.

 

Here he is standing up in the long grass

Here he is in flight with a Magpie in chase.

Nature is so incredible - do any of you have visitors like this??????????

Kerry

 

Look who else I ran into

Yes look who else I ran into at Quilt Market

 Sue Daley from Patchwork with Busy Fingers - my tutor for my  "Girls Day in the Country" in March 2012

  

Here's Sue and I at Quilt market in Houston - the photo is taken in front of some of the gorgeous projects in her new book.

It was a very long way to go to catch up with Sue, but it was great. Her work was so inspiring - I attended her 3 School House workshops where I fell in love with one of the projects in her new book that will be out in December. That night at Sample Spree I purchased a fat 1/8 pack of the new French General range due out in the New Year called Rouenneries Deux, the next day I purchased the papers and templates from Sue and  quickly set about cutting out fabric, using Sharons glue stick I glued lots of papers to the fabric and started hand piecing a Double Wedding ring quilt for a surprise wedding gift - the wedding is coming up very soon. A month down the track I am addicted toSue's method of English paper piecing - I am just loving the journey. I have 2 weeks to get it to my dear friend for quilting - so fingers crossed.

This is a sneak preview

While I was at quilt market I was one of 25 very lucky ladies who received a copy of "New English Paper Piecing" at a book signing by Sue. I would love to make all the projects in this book - they are stunning - (These can be pre ordered by contacting me via email or phone).

For those who have booked into Girls Day in the Country in March - deposits are due to secure your place - I will be opening it up to the general public next week - so if you haven't paid your deposit please do so ASAP.

Sue's latest Block of the Month - "This goes with that" is running along well - I have lots of ladies doing this project and believe me they are all hooked and can't wait to receive the blocks each month - if anyone else is interested in joining give us a call - $36 per month over 8 months - everything included except a glue pen which we have in stock.

Kerry