Sew Wot Tuesday

 Heather was the hostess this time, with just five of us in attendance.  It was a chilly, showery Spring morning, our Spring weather is always rather temperamental.  Two birthdays were celebrated, there was a belated gift for Heather, and a couple of gifts for Jude, the next birthday girl.  We all enjoy watching the gifts being opened, and I spotted some pretty soap, hand cream, hand towel and a crochet flannel.  Jude got an extra gift to take home for the family dog, a bag of dog treats.  He will be very happy with those, she commented.  Ooops, looks like I forgot to take photos of the birthday girls and gifts.

Only a little show and tell this time.  Heather brought out a couple of oldies to show us.  We all loved this special little play mat, with tiny dolls and animals tucked away.  Imagine what fun a little girl would have taking these dollies out of the pockets, talking to them while playing, then carefully placing them back again.

Peeping out 

Beautifully embroidered and folds up with a tie

The other item Heather showed us was a cot quilt with an appliqued doll and cat on the front and back.  The doll and cat were meant to be  stuffed toys, but Heather decided to use them as  appliques instead.  The pretty quilt was finished with a ruffle, so pretty, I would never have thought to do that.

So pretty

The only other show and tell was my recently finished yellow string cot quilt, and pair of pink socks.

My show and tell

I had taken along some old quilting mags,  a Quilt Diva panel, and two Father Christmas patterns looking for new homes.  The mags and the panels went, so that's good.

We sat there chatting, and knitting, we were a happy bunch indeed.  Always plenty to talk about, and put the world to rights.  And then it  was morning tea time, including an iced  lemon cake with a candle to celebrate Jude's birthday.  The Eat-a-Lots did very well again.  We always appreciate the morning teas provided  by the hostess of the day.

Morning tea is served

It was another lovely Sew Wot morning, it is always so nice to meet up, and many thanks to Heather for being the hostess with the mostest.

Sew Wot Tuesday

 This week Mary was the Sew Wot hostess, and we were all there with the exception of Helen who is enjoying a holiday in UK, how exciting!  Mary started off the show and tell with her recently completed knitting, a pair of socks and fingerless gloves.

Mary's knitting

Sandra had knitting to show as well, three little baby jumpers for donation.  The stripey one used up some part balls, it's always good to get them used up and gone.

Three little baby jumpers by Sandra

Then Mary presented Heather with a belated birthday gift.  What's in the parcel?  A pair of fingerless gloves and a tiny little fabric basket with a selection of interesting bits and pieces.

A birthday gift for Heather

We all admired this lovely purple hued quilt hanging on the wall.  It was made with "stack and whack" blocks and Mary used some of her mother's embroidery.  Such a great way of showcasing these beautiful family treasures.

Mary's beautiful quilt is so special

Morning tea is always a highlight of our get-togethers, so tasty.  We all loved the toasted asparagus rolls topped with cheese, they were a real hit, I had to quickly take a photo before they were all eaten.

Morning tea is served

We all had another very pleasant morning, knitting away, and chatting, like we always do.  Many thanks indeed to Mary for hosting us.  And I came home with two bags of goodies.  A selection of Perle 5 thread, which I use for stitcheries and big stitch quilting, from Heather.  I don't use stranded cotton at all, it is just not my thing.

Thank you Heather

And a big bag of Aussie fabrics from Mary, for donation quilts and draw string bags, plus a few other bits and pieces too.  I certainly had fun looking through this bag when I got home.  Gemma thought it looked rather interesting too.

Approved by Gemma

Sew Wot Tuesday

 There was another Sew Wot birthday to celebrate on Tuesday, this time Heather was the birthday girl.  We gathered at Carol's home, two of our ladies  couldn't make it, so it was a group of five this time.  Mmmm, I wonder what is in all these interesting parcels - we watched on as Heather duly opened each one.

Happy Birthday Heather

She received some bulbs and a plant for the garden, fabric, ironing spray, chocolate, a wind chime, and a pretty little plastic bin for the kitchen.  It's always so much fun to see what comes out of these wrapped gifts.

Only one show and tell item this time, it was my yellow dinosaur quilt made from an Op Shop duvet cover, with a cozy grey fleece backing.

My show and tell

There was a pile of quilt magazines brought along for us to browse through.  These were English mags, which I hadn't seen before, so I took a few home to peruse.  In the meantime we chatted away, most of us were knitting, I was working on my pink socks, and enjoyed each other's company.  

Morning tea was set out on the table, and look, a cream sponge with candles!  We all sung Happy Birthday to Heather.  The table was set with a very pretty soft blue quilt which Carol had recently finished.

Morning tea is served

Another lovely Sew Wot morning, many thanks to Carol for being the hostess this time.  Carol's husband arrived back home just before we departed, and he was reassured that we hadn't eaten all the food, there was plenty left for him to enjoy for lunch!

Sew Wot Tuesday

 I welcomed the Sew Wot ladies at my home on Tuesday, with one apology.  The heat pump was going, to keep us nice and cozy.  Gemma was on the welcoming committee too, checking out all the interesting bags placed on the floor and beside the seats, and enjoying all the pats she received.  Quite often, she can be stand-offish with visitors, but this time she was really lapping up all the attention she was getting.  

Gemma with Sandra and Carol

There was quite a bit of knitting for show and tell.  Mary had been knitting up a storm and had made a pair of socks, and two sets of fingerless gloves.  Her hands were really feeling the cold this winter, she commented, so those gloves will certainly do the trick, keeping her warm.

Mary's socks and gloves

Carol had completed another baby set to be donated to the Neo Natal Ward, comprising of a vest, hat and booties knitted in teal coloured wool, with lemon details.  

Baby set by Carol

And there was more donation knitting by Sandra, a pretty blue jumper, and a cozy red cardigan.  Both very nice indeed, and will keep some youngsters nice and warm.

Sandra's knitting

And I had my recently completed donation quilt to show, string pieced blocks with burgundy batik sashing.  This will be passed on very soon.

My donation quilt

Heather had brought along a pile of quilting magazines, so we spent a little time checking them out, and taking a few which appealed to us.  I offered to take the left over mags down to the Op Shop the next time I go, to save Heather taking them back home again.  Mary was doing some blanket stitch, so I had a look at how she did it, for when I get started on the donated Christmas Stockings.  Will I remember though?  I will probably need to sit down with her again, thread and needle in hand, to make sure I know exactly how to go about it.  Maybe at the next Sew Wots morning.

Morning tea was served, tea and coffees made, thanks Sandra for your help.  As usual, we had plenty to chat about, as the morning progressed.

Morning tea time

It was so nice to welcome everyone, and be the hostess for the morning.  Then in two weeks time, we will meet up again.

Sew Wot Tuesday

We were out in the country this time for our Sew Wot Tuesday, meeting at Helen's home. Up the internal staircase we climbed, into the cozy sitting room, to find the log fire glowing nicely.  It was a fine, but chilly winter day.

That's a nice comforting sight

There was Sandra's birthday to celebrate, and the wrapped parcels were placed on the coffee table.  Don't they all look interesting?  Come on Sandra, time to get these gifts open so we can all  see what is inside!

Lots of goodies here

One by one, the cards were read, and the parcels opened.  Such an exciting array of gifts.  I know that the rest of us always get so much fun seeing the birthday girl open her gift packages!

And here they all are, plenty to admire

There was a lot of show and tell as well, those knitting needles had been getting a real work out.  Helen had knitted some baby garments in green and white for donation, and we oohed and aahed over the size of those tiny booties!

Made by Helen

Sandra had recently finished a pretty little apricot coloured baby jumper.  I like the double opening, making it easy to get over the baby's head.

Baby jumper made by Sandra

And Carol never disappoints, there is always her nicely presented baby knitting sets to show us, before they are sent away to the Neo Natal Ward.  Carol does most of her knitting in the evenings, she commented.  I can't manage that, as Gemma insists on jumping up and settling down on my lap in the evenings.  It's difficult to knit over the top of her, and keep those moving needles and wool away from her.  And of course, I wouldn't push her away, would I?

Carol's baby donation knitting

As well as finishing up those baby sets, Carol also had two donation quilts to show us.

This one in pretty 1930s fabrics

Simple blocks make great quilt designs

And I took along my recently completed teal draw string bags for foster kids.

My show and tell

Morning tea was extra special and Sandra was presented with a carrot cake cupcake with a candle.  She wasn't expecting that!

Happy Birthday, Sandra

Morning Tea is served

It was a lovely morning indeed, and we all enjoyed sharing Sandra's birthday celebrations.  We all went home with a little gift too.  Mary is very green fingered, and brought us all several baby lettuce plants all wrapped up nicely,  to take home and grow.  Thanks for that, Mary.  And many thanks to Helen, our hostess of the day.

Sew Wot Tuesday

We all met at Jude's home today, and the dog, a beautiful merle blue border collie, was extra pleased to see us.  Perhaps these ladies will play with me, he thought.  Sadly, no, he was left to make his own fun outside, while we went and chatted in the house.  And as always, there was plenty to chat about.  I had taken along a bundle of old Christmas Craft magazines, these were flicked through and taken home.  Once read, they will end up in the op shop to be recycled once more.

There was a little show and tell, all wool this time, and strangely not a quilt in sight.  Mary had made this pretty crochet blanket using those tiny little balls of wool available in the shops these days.  So pretty, looks nice and warm too.

Mary's crochet blanket

Then she added a pair of socks.  These really looked like tiger colours to me.

Mary's new socks

Helen had socks to show as well, a child's pair with pretty turquoise accents.

Made by Helen

Carol had been busy knitting again for Neo Natal babies, with three sets ready  to be delivered.

Baby knitting from Carol

And I took along my recently finished little boy's cardigan.  This was knitted using hand spun wool given to me by my late friend  Merilyn.  I had been using the cream wool for my socks, with added 4ply sock wool, and wasn't to sure what to make with the brown wool.  Then I had a bright idea, looked through my patterns, and made this cozy little cardigan.

Made by me

Everyone was busy chatting away, and knitting.  My knitting was soon put away as I couldn't concentrate on the shaping rows and talk as well.  Then the morning tea trolly was wheeled into the room, mmm, how tasty it all looked.  There is no fear of anyone going hungry at our morning teas.

Plenty for everyone

Many thanks indeed to Jude for being the hostess for the morning, we do all enjoy our get togethers.  And the weather was glorious too, fine and sunny with coolish temperatures, so much brighter than those cloudy cold still days we have been experiencing lately.

Sew Wot Tuesday

Sew  Wot Tuesday had rolled around again, and we met at Heather's home this time.   Everyone could make it, so we had a full crew.  It was another chilly morning but the gas fire was going to keep us all warm and cozy.  

Heather had been having a clean out and there were goodies looking for a new home on her dining table.  I took home a couple of teddy bear cushion panels, I'll make some cushions for the foster kids with these.  Plus a length of very bright fabric which would do nicely for a small quilt backing.  The others all had a poke through to see what took their fancy, with anything remaining destined for the Op Shop.  Thanks, Heather.

How about show and tell?  Heather had a very special quilt to show us, it is the 19th anniversary of this beautiful quilt, made by two of our Sew Wot ladies, Helen and Mary,  to wish Heather well when she was undergoing her triple bypass.    A beautiful soft palette , festooned with glorious roses, and made with much love.

Hearts and Roses for Heather

Carol had been knitting away and brought in two tiny little sets to go to the Neo Natal ward.  Aren't they just so sweet.  

Carol's baby knitting

There was another treat in store from Carol - we hadn't seen any of her lovely embroidery for a while.  Just look at these beautifully embroidered Holly Hobby blocks in this special quilt.  

Of course Carol is keeping this one after all those hours of embroidery

I had brought along my latest batch of drawstring bags for foster kids, all with a touch of orange.

My latest draw string bags

Our hostess Heather excelled herself.  She had made a bag and knitted three baby beanies.  And then showed us a big pile of fleecy backed lap quilts, which will be donated to cancer patients undergoing treatment.  Heather told us she is is a mission to deal with all those scraps, we can all relate to that.

 

All made by Heather

After all that excitement, it was time for morning tea.  Yummy, the Eat-a-Lots never go hungry, do we!

Morning Tea time

I left with an extra bag of goodies to take home.  Sandra had a bag of fabric from a friend who was downsizing for me, to add to my donation stitching.  Included are several pieces of boys fabric which is great, soccer balls, All Blacks and Batman and Robin.  Plus some rather pretty Highland Cows.

Passed on from Sandra's friend

It was a wonderful morning, thanks so much Heather.  And we get to do it all again in two weeks time.