Happy Christmas to me!

 
This has been a slightly mixed week for me but has had some true highs.

First up, my lovely Christmas table runner arrived in the post at the end of last week, all the way from Canada. I really love what Anne-Marie did with the circles - and I love how this is not overtly Christmassy and can be used all winter.
 

 

It will go perfectly on my living room coffee table, and blend completely with the colours in my room. She also send some lovely felt Matryoshka decorations which my little lady has already appropriated and I doubt I will see them again!

Thanks so much Anne-Marie, this is just lovely!!

Next, I found out that I had won 2nd place in the Fabric (Home Decor) category of November's Celebrate Color!! Woohooo!!!! I am so thrilled about this. A massive thank you to everone who voted for me, I really appreciate it - you can't imagine how chuffed I am! The prize is a full FQ bundle of the gorgeous Echo fabrics. Now, I think this is a little serendipitous as I purchased some cool-tone FQs in the Black Friday sales, but couldn't get anything close to all of the fabrics. Here is my beautiful little bundle so far:

And this is the full bundle:

(image from Stitched in Color)

Aren't they beautiful? Really love the colour tones and prints, I can't wait to have them in my hand. Now, what shall I do with it all?? You will have to wait and see!

I spent a little time this last few days making an angel costume for my little angel (not), for a special Christmas ceremony that her playschool were taking part in. Thank you Hadley for the pillow case inspiration....

 

I made this using an old pillowcase, and some sparkly fabric and ribbon. The wings came from the pound shop, but she insisted on pink trim on them (not being concerned about the gold/pink clash, clearly). I made a halo out of some ribbon, an old hairband and some gold chenille sticks which are a bit like pipe cleaner-y kinda things that I got in the craft store. Nice, right? Not one of my most tasteful makes I think you'll agree, but fulfilling the brief! When I added up the cost of the wings, the ribbon, the half metre of sparkly fabric and the other bits and pieces I really think I should have just gone to Tesco or somewhere and bought her an angel costume. But she was happy, so that's all that counts, in the end. Even if the sparkly fabric did not like the stitching I used and came away before the end of the church ceremony, ooops! Possibly I should have used a ballpoint needle? Oh well, I'll think about it next year.

Then, I woke up this morning to a surprising and fantastic email from AnneMarie over at Gen X Quilters....saying that I had won her giveaway.....for Electric Quilt 7!!!!!! OMG! I have been visiting the EQ website periodically for about 6 months now, trying (and failing) to justify how I could afford to buy this and I still can't believe I won it! I'm so thrilled - thanks AnneMarie, for a great giveaway. I am really, really looking forward to trying out this software and will definitely let you know how I find it :-)

Enough good news? Well, as you probably know, I have a great giveaway running at the moment for some Circa 1934....pop over now and enter if you haven't already. And, next Monday, there's the Sew, Mama, Sew! giveaway day. I'm still thinking about this one :-) But I suggest you pop back next Monday.  Happy Christmas to me? Happy Christmas to you!!