Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas all! Our day started super early (courtesy of two over-excited kids). We opened our presents after breakfast, which was the most joyful occasion as always, and the Christmas lunch I cooked was declared the 'best ever' - there was literally nothing left over! I then took a little nap to recharge my batteries (a tradition in our house on Xmas day - miracles do happen) whilst hubby took the kids outside for a swim - it's been a super hot day here in McLaren Vale. So we are all a little tired and bloated, but feeling happy, loved, and so very very grateful for all our blessings.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas, happy Hannukah, or whichever festive occasion you celebrate around this time of year. May 2017 bring you and your loved ones good health and happiness! Lots of love from our family to yours.

'Twas the night before Christmas...

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there."

It's the night before Christmas, and the kids are sound asleep already - before they went to bed they put out a mince pie and glass of brandy, and sprinkled magic reindeer food on the lawn. Soon our Santa will pay us a visit and put out the presents under the tree (and enjoy his well deserved mince pie and brandy after a sweltering hot day planting our new veggie garden). It's been a frenzied few weeks with so much happening, Alexander has finished his first year of school, and Alice has just performed her first ballet recital (so proud of both!). And all the usual Christmas frenzy, whilst I try to wrap up unfinished projects and meet a few final deadlines at work. It never ends here, and I am one tired mumma, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

~ daddy's little sugar plum fairy ~

I completed this Christmas celebration cross-stitch sampler last year, but I didn't get a chance to frame and photograph it till now.  I can finally tick this one off my UFO list! The pattern is by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.

This year was the first year we bought the kids chocolate advent calendars, and oh my goodness, it was such a highlight of their day. Seeing how much they enjoyed it I decided to make a family advent calendar, with our family name, which is Zuraw. I used this 'Festive Friends' panel fabric by Dashwood Studios though I tweaked it slightly. I used the panel fabric to make the pockets but instead of stitching them onto the panel background I used a grey dot print instead and spaced them out a little. Finished off by appliqueing our name to the top. We all love it! Is it too late to fill it with little treats?

I also finished my Cozy Christmas quilt, which I will photograph in a few days once the dust settles - it's looking so cute! Until tomorrow, dear friends, when I will be back with pics from our Xmas day. And for those you who celebrate it, I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Quilt Petite Blog Hop - Recap (part 2)

The Quilt Petite blog hop has come to a close - have you been following us on social media? We had such an amazing list of talented friends and designers take part, each one of them producing stunning makes from the book, all with their own personal twists. Hope they inspired you to do some 'petite' quilting!

November 7: Wynn at Zakka Art

November 8: Sarah at A Little Happy Place

November 9: Bridgette at The Family Hearth

November 10: Heidi at Fabric Mutt

November 11: Minki at Minki's Work Table

November 12: Ange at A Little Patchwork

November 13: Lauren at Molly and Mama

November 14: Michelle at Cole & Taffy

November 15: Nadra at Ellis & Higgs

November 16: Amy at Nana Company

November 17: Faith at Sarana Ave

November 18: Debbie at Happy Little Cottage

November 19: Erin at Why Not Sew

November 20: Amanda at Jedi Craft Girl

November 21: Melissa at Oh How Sweet

November 22: Stacy at Stacy Olson Design

November 23: Ayda at Cafe Nohut

November 24: Peta at She Quilts A Lot

November 25: Amanda at A Crafty Fox

November 26: Keera at Live Love Sew

November 27: Sharon at Lilabelle Lane

November 28: Kate at The Homemakery

November 29: Jemima at Tied With A Ribbon

November 30: Jodie at Ric Rac

December 1: Anorina at Samelia's Mum

December 2: Alisha at Ministry of Fabric

December 3: Xanthe at Wife-made

December 4: Cheri at Tinker With This

December 5: Kristyne at Pretty By Hand

December 6: Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop

December 7: Veronica at Vivid Felicity

December 8: Shari at Doohikey Designs

December 9: Jina at Jina Barney Designz

December 10: Emma at Emma Jean Jansen

Here are the rest of the projects from the blog hop (you can find a recap of the previous projects in this earlier post). I am so in love with them all!

Peta at She Quilts A Lot:

Amanda at A Crafty Fox:

Keera at Live Love Sew:

Sharon at Lilabelle Lane:

Kate at The Homemakery:

Jemima at Tied With A Ribbon:

Jodie at Ric Rac:

Anorina at Samelia's Mum:

Alisha at Ministry of Fabric:

Xanthe at Wife-made:

Cheri at Tinker With This:

Kristyne at Pretty By Hand:

Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop:

Veronica at Vivid Felicity:

Shari at Doohikey Designs:

Jina at Jina Barney Designz:

Emma at Emma Jean Jansen:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the designers who participated in the blog hop and my amazing publishers Tuva Publishing for all their hard work and on-going support of me as a budding quilting author. This book was a real dream come true and I am so blessed to have the support of so many talented people in the industry to help spread the word - so thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. <3

I know that a lot of you have Quilt Petite on your Christmas wishlists - I hope Santa has heard your wishes and you find this little book wrapped and waiting for you under your tree! We will be running a 'Quilt-Petite-Along' in January where you will be able to share your makes with the rest of the world, and have a chance to win some pretty awesome prizes too! More info coming very soon, so stay tuned!

Last but not least, it's time to announce the winner of my giveaway! The winner of a copy of Quilt Petite and a parcel of zakka goodies is .... drum roll .....

Congratulations Linden! Please email me at sedef@downgrapevinelane.com with your address details and your parcel will be on its way to you!