Final swap from 2011...ho, ho ho

My swapee has arrived home and opened her swap so I can now show it on my blog and it won't matter if she sees it!

This swap was another Our Craft Forum one and it was the Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas one where you could make your partner anything but it had to be a Christmas theme. As my partner Anorina is a brilliant quilter I was a bit embarrassed to make anything quilted, though I know she wouldn't be judgemental - I'm just not a great quilter (yet) - so I decided that an apron was in order as I make good aprons.

Of course, being me, I wasn't happy with the straightforward pattern so I changed it by decorating the bottom and the pockets. The bottom was easy but the pockets had to be cut differently to allow the decoration and I french seamed the join so there were no unravelly bits on the inside. The little pleats behind allow more room in the pockets. It's a generous size and the ties are also long.

Lol, it looks boxy as I had to tie it around a wooden chair to take the photo!

I finally opened the parcel I was sent from Elly, as this was a down the line swap, and she made me a lovely Christmas table runner and sent a quilt label too. This is the first quilted table runner I own :). It will definitely be on the table next Christmas.

Cheers,

Robyn

Last Swaps from 2011

Here's the photos of what I received from my swap partners in end of year swaps at Our Craft Forum.

This stripey bag was from Guiliana in the Down on the Farm Swap. See the little embroidered tractor and the windmill? I sent her these egg cosies.

Jeanette sent me all these items for the Mystery Swap. I felt so spoilt! It was a down the line swap so Jeanette sent to me and I sent these to Shirley.

If you're looking for the giveaway it's the previous post.

Cheers,
Robyn

'Bye 365 days...Welcome 366!

Wrong New Year's Eve, right?

Every NYE I have a drink from this glass to remind me that we all make mistakes and we can all move on after them. It is half of a pair that my sister gifted us (my first husband and I) at our engagement party on that date 26 years ago. The only reason I keep them is the historical significance.

Oh No!.... not historical personal  significance but historical astronomical significance. That was the year Halley's Comet passed over the world and Australia in particular. You can see the interpretation of the comet on the other side of the glass and that's why there are stars and a partial moon also.

I should have realised that comets can burn out quickly and that's what happened to the marriage. It sizzled along for 3 years and went out with a bang and a lot of small after explosions. I'm left with a couple of satellites from the explosion in the form of 2 wonderful kids that I love to pieces and they love me the same.

Just goes to show that one can find positives in most negatives.

'Nuff  negative reminiscing....

Here's to a positive 2012...

New Year - New Experiences....lots of love, support and creativity and wishing all my followers the same and whatever else makes their universe turn :D! 

Cheers!

Robyn

Footnote: please excuse the not so great photography – clear curved glass has its own reflective and mirroring properties that this amateur hasn’t worked out how to make work in a positive way and I haven't started on the wine yet :P. Another experience to add to the bucket list!

Baby Card Swap

I haven't been in one of these for ages so when Soul Scrappers ran a Baby Card Swap I thought I'd participate as there seems to be a few babies on the way in 2012 between family and family friends. There wasn't a gender specific but the 10 cards had to be all the same so I tried to make a design and find colours that would allow recipients to add a ribbon, stamped border, flowers etc later to make it gender appropriate if they wished. My card is the striped one with the little feet on it.

I'd love to credit all the other ladies cards but some of them don't have the makers names on them and I'd rather credit all than some as they all make lovely cards :D!

Cheers,

Robyn

Misty summer morning..photo intense

This is what I see if I'm out before the sun has broken though the mist. It's not fog to me as I think of fog as cold and clammy but this is light, soft, airy and makes everything look magical and surreal.

This is who comes along to help me enjoy my rambles.

The farm ducks

Senior farm cat

 How to keep your butt dry - sit on an old cow pat

 What's that...snuffle snuffle...

 Chasey 1

 Chasey 2

Find me now

Thanks for coming on a walk around the farm with me :D.

Cheers,

Robyn