Avent gifts.... love them

I have shown this lovely Christmas sack before but its so good I had to show it again......

Thank you sooooo much Sandi and the opening of the contents has begun.

I joined in the Sue Daley Mystery Christmas Box and this is fun too.

Day 7

I'll be back with more of my fantastic goodies later.

Sunday Stitchers Christmas party

I'm so far behind with my blog posts that there will be lots of piccies and little chatter......

yes I know...... good idea....

Norreen, Sandi, Teresa and of course me.

Sunday Stitchers group.... great bunch of girls....

They all look very angelic in these photos......

it just goes to show that looks can be deceiving....

Show and tell from the  "Gossip in the Garden" girls.

De with her quilt.

Teresa .... looks great 

Some of the girls had a challenge to make this bag..... I've forgotten what its called....

Secret Santa pressies.

Lots of terrific little gifts from the girls.

My secret Santa partner was Marilyn and wasn't I lucky....

a great zipper bag for stitching, handmade card 

and the cutest little angel you ever did see, I think it looks like me really.

Just for fun Marilyn thought I needed a Christmas Mug Rug.....

everyone was soooo jealous.

Birthday girls.... 

Noela, me and Susan...

/

These are my birthday fat 1/4's..... wow so many lovely fabrics there.

Thanks so much girls.

My secret Santa partner was Norreen but I forgot to take a photo of the gift I gave her  so I will have to leave that for the moment.

Important break from Holiday snaps.

 Last week on our stitching Tuesday we had a very special visitor...... 

yep Santa...... how exciting is that ?

Sandi seems to know Santa very well ...... hmmmm

 Naturally we had to get our pressies from the man in red...... 

ooooo he was so hairy..... but lovely......

We each got a beautiful Santa sack and yes it is filled with gifts .... 

an advent pressie....

There was such giggling as you can imagine..... one is never too old to enjoy a visit from Santa.

Thanks heaps for a fantastic day Sandi.....

and Thank you Santa.....

Sandi gave us very strong instructions that we were not to do anything in return but do we listen and do as we are told...... well I don't think so, do you ?

So the next day we got together and made Sandi an advent gift.....

a funny box...... 

Boy there are a few weird gifts in there let me tell you but we couldn't let Sandi miss out on the fun of opening advent gifts each day till Christmas day.

Boy did we get into trouble...... ooooowa.

I am sooooo lucky to have such special friends...... love you girls.

Oh no holiday snaps..... Larnach Castle

I have been a bit slow doing my New Zealand holiday posts but I've had a nasty sinus infection since I arrived home, the antibiotics are now kicking in so I'm on the mend.

Our visit to Larnach Castle in Dunedin...... what a wonderful place to see.

Here are a few of my favourite photos.... 

Beautiful gardens.

This is the ballroom which is now the cafe and function room.

What a lovely room to enjoy a little stitching with friends.

Now this is a cafe.....

Yes it was yummie....

Beautiful scenery on the way back to Dunedin.

We had dinner in a lovely Reef and Beef restaurant..... 

being such a daring couple we both had chicken......lol

Gavan was looking forward to this beer....

This was my dessert tonight.

Well I think that might be enough for today, more tomorrow I hope.

Day 1 of my NZ craft shop hunt......

My first craft shop stop in New Zealand was "Cottonfields Quilting Quarters".....

I was telling them it was my first stop and they giggled and said " it is the no. 1 shop" so I knew I was in the right place.

Naturally they let me take a photo

Followed by a little purchase

Breakfast was very good this morning

Followed by a bit of sight seeing

Akaroa

Not too much happening today really Gav was very tired.