Well Cuties, today was my annual Ladies Christmas luncheon and it went off beautifully.

by pennifold 16 Dec 2017

Sorry Kay, I've only just seen this from your PM. I usually don't go back to check on my posts till a few days later and completely forgot what with all our last minute travel things to do.
The little knife on the right was a butter knife for the crusty bread and it was delicious. The first large fork on the left and the large knife on the right was for the main course. (We don't have salad as an individual course here) The small fork on the left and the spoon on the right was for the dessert which was the Plum pudding, and we also had fruit. Each lady goes up to the food table which was in the far corner and helps herself. Thanks for asking love Chris

by katydid 16 Dec 2017

Thank you for replying. I love it all. I hope you are lucky if you have inherited pieces . They are to cherish.

by pennifold 16 Dec 2017

Hi Sandi, yes, I did!!! Are you impressed he he he? They are very special ladies and of course my Mum is there too! Love Chris

by pennifold 16 Dec 2017

Thanks so much Linda, have a merry Christmas. Love Chris

by pennifold 08 Dec 2017

Thanks Lidia, I try hard! Love Chris

by pennifold 08 Dec 2017

Hi Jan, thanks for your lovely comments. You are most welcome. The only problem coming down here is that it's always warm in December in the southern hemisphere!!! Love Chris

by pennifold 06 Dec 2017

Thanks dear Miss Lillian. Hoping you are on the mend and you had a fantastic birthday 🎁 🎂 🍰. Love Chris

by pennifold 06 Dec 2017

Thanks so much and merry Christmas to you too. Love Chris

by pennifold 06 Dec 2017

Thanks Jerrilyn I was very pleased with the gifts this year. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Hi Lynne, you must live down past Wollongong because I know that's a 3 hour drive from our place! Thanks for your comments too, except there is only 1 sewing friend and that's Meg. Love Chris

by tuross 06 Dec 2017

Yes I do live down Sth in a beautiful little village called Tuross Head which you probably haven't heard of but might know Batemans Bay which is about 40 minutes north of us.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
PS Now you have two sewing friends albeit I'll have to be a long distance one. Maybe we can catch up at the Sydney Quilt show one day.

by meganne 08 Dec 2017

Lynne, I've been trying to get Chris to go to another Quilt show but she was rather busy tripping around the world this last year. LOL!!!!
Maybe we'll get to the next one, 2018

by pennifold 08 Dec 2017

Definitely Meg, we will have to go down to Sydney for the biggest one next year. Love Chris

by tuross 08 Dec 2017

Sounds like a great plan ladies. Let me know if and when you decide to go and maybe I can be there the same day. Hugs

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks so much Shirley, can't wait for a White Christmas! Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Martine, your Biscornus went down a treat! It takes me that long to get everything done!!! Love Chris

by meganne 06 Dec 2017

Mine is already sitting on my vintage Singer Treadle where it will be put to very good use. I love it!

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks so much Debbie. I appreciate you commenting, love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Hi Michelle, thanks so much and that's high praise from you. I so admire all your beautiful work with your themed designs. Hope you found most of the ones you lost.
Sofia is gorgeous and I just love the recent post. Love Chris.
P.S. I'm just about to hop in the shower as I have to take Mum to the hairdressers for a 9.30am appt. I've got a lady dropping by at 10.30 who I've offered to help finish a lap quilt for our Priest who is leaving this Sunday. I've still got the Powerpoint presentation to do too for this week's Hymns yet. Maybe tomorrow! Time goes by so fast.

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Gerry, yes, they take hours and hours to do. That's why I start early in the year. I'll try to only do three things next year, maybe not so time consuming. Kim's coasters took most of the time as there is so much cutting out of the applique pieces. Meg appreciated everything as she knows how much time goes into sewing things out. You have a merry Christmas too. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

I tell you what Sarah, I was thrilled, but Kaye asked for the fan to be turned off!!! I had the back windows and the sliding door opened a bit so at least I had some airflow. I can't stand the heat!
Trevor came home and handed me a piece of paper with -14/+3 written on it. I asked what it was and he told me that was the weather forecast for Innsbruck on Wednesday this week! We are going to be there for Christmas, now that's a bit different to what I've ever experienced.
Our snowfields down at Perisher are the largest ski fields in the southern hemisphere consisting of Perisher, Smiggins, Blue Cow and Guthega. We've been to Perisher but I've never experienced the depth of cold like Europe. When we lived in Victoria the snow fields weren't that cold either. So I'm looking forward to rugging up like an Eskimo! Love Chris

by mops 04 Dec 2017

14/+3 sounds like no snow in the lower parts. That's about the temperature we are having now and there's still one single lovely pink rose.

by airyfairy 10 Dec 2017

Have a wonderful Christmas

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Aww! and thanks Maria. It's such a joy for me to do this and I know everyone appreciates it. It's kind of a tradition now and I hope our girls do something when they can slow down a bit from working!!! I can't wait to get on with next year's goodies. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks so much Lilian, it was a great day and plenty of chit chat. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Vicki, I try! Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Hi Penny, yes, that Santa is a real treasure. He stands about 3feet tall.

The ladies do all so love it and it's fun each year trying to come up with something useful. I normally do a tea towel, because I don't think you can ever have enough!

Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Laura, well I've found most of these designs from being on here and it's fun. I have a love of Sweet Pea ITH projects and it's a great Australian company. They have quite a few people on their list now. Meg will pop in again sometime when she is awake and will see all the answers posted here I'm sure. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Tonya, it was a great day and some of these gals I don't get to see from year to year! The decorations are fun and this year because I had Poinsettias as the theme, the table centrepiece was low! Makes it easier to see one another anyway! Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Angie, it's great fun and of course sharing with you all on here. I haven't even had a chance to put it up on Facebook, my friend Kaye put up a post with all her friends and everyone loved it. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Good morning Betsey, thanks for commenting. Yes, I always have 4 meat selections, then lots of salads of course us being in Summer downunder! Trev and I have leftovers for the rest of the week!!
I'm so lucky to have this new room it's 7metres (22.9 feet x 13.2 feet) x 4metres and has windows on three sides plus going out to the back deck is a sliding door. The window near my computer is where the Kookaburra broke the pane of glass! We've had to put back up some matting to stop him and will have to leave it there till he leaves the back reserve. He was down in the back a few times yesterday checking us all out! Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Lynn, yes, it was a great day. It's now 2.00am and I'm just about to go to bed! Love Chris

P.S. I think it was the coffee I had today, it was plunger coffee and it's kept me awake!

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Sandy, I appreciate your comments. I agree homemade gifts always relate to the person who receives it. Food is always a focal point too! Thanks again, love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks so much Kim for all your help on everything I asked for. It was an awesome day and all the ladies loved your coasters - but I told them, sorry, these stay with me. Meg said she'd love to do them too, but she's got a few other things to do at the moment. I told her they were very fiddly, so we shall see! Love Chris

by meganne 05 Dec 2017

Aaah, you know me too well Miss Chris, I'm not good with fiddly, but I do REALLY like them, they are the nicest ones I have seen and I do LOVE Poinsettias. :-)

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Ha ha ha! funny you said that Deb, because Trevor asked me when he came home tonight how the day went and had I got any ideas for next year and I said yes, I already know what I want to make. At least next year we only have one major overseas trip to Alaska and Canada in June. So I'll have much more time to get things done. Plus I still have to finish my navy and white quilt. I've still got at least another 25 blocks to do. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Karryn, I was very pleased with the settings and Trevor bought me a beautiful Poinsettia table setting for the food table. Plus he got me a gorgeous box of Singapore orchids with baby's breath, in hot pink and white. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

You are most welcome. It was so nice of you to make that lovely Waldorf Salad and thanks for the beautiful earrings too.
I'm glad you liked the Poinsettia FSL, table runner and hand towel and I agree with you about not letting Ray wipe his hands on it. Chat soon. Love Chris

by dailylaundry 04 Dec 2017

Meg, you look lovely as ever!! Hugs and love to you, Laura

by meganne 05 Dec 2017

Thanks Laura, I always try to dress for the theme each year but being very inactive I had a hard time finding something red or green that still fits me. LOL!!!

by meganne 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Toogie. It is great catching up with Chris.
Despite being only half an hour''s drive away, we haven't spent a lot of time together this year, maybe 2018 we'll get back to visiting some craft shows together again.

There are so many wonderful things, Chris has made, all around the room and in the lounge-room, the house feels so festive and inviting.
The ladies do help Chris with the cleanup and after they all leave Chris and I finish off anything still left to put away while we spend some time talking embroidery etc. I enjoy this time immensely and even more so this year as she will be away over Christmas so we won't see each other again now until 2018. Huge hugs, M

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks so much Toogie. I loved making the gifts this year, especially the FSL Poinsettias from Urban Threads - which took over 2 and a half hours each. And yes, you are right, I gave them each a Biscornu pin cushion which is Martine's (mops) design and the Table Runners were from Sweetpea (an Australian company from Queensland). These are made in the hoop and you can make them as long as you like. Chris Munroe's (the lady who couldn't make it) runner I actually used under the Poinsettia flowers in the middle of the table. When she comes back from America I'll wrap her gifts up and give them to her.
I made the 5x7 size but there are bigger designs 6x10 and 7x12.
With regard to Mum she is going strong and will be 84 on January 29th and can you believe Val will be 90! They are both mad Aquarians and have a wicked sense of humour.
I decided not to have dinner as I was full from lunch and just had the fruit from inside the punch container with some ice-cream. Luckily for me the girls put everything in the dishwasher for me, except I hand wash the silver cutlery and glasses.

It's now mid-night and I've been relaxing watching Lethal Weapon 2 from 1989 with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover - classic! Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks so much, it certainly was a fun day and everything was really appreciated. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Marian, yes, the runners were great and each lady had the colours they asked for and no, it's not from Embroidery.com. The design is from Urban Threads and I also made it on WSS for the Poinsettia shaped Christmas tree decoration.
The Pincushion (Biscornu) design is from Martine (mops) years ago when we had DBC (Designs by Cuties). Biscornus are amazing and so much fun to sew up. We had an awesome day, thanks. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Caroline, I appreciate your comments. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Gerry, yes, it was fabulous and they are all a great bunch. I've known Sue for over 35 years and of course Mum all my life he he he! Stasia and Kaye I met doing Folk Art over 20 years ago and of course met Meg through this great Cute forum. Val, Mum's friend I've known for about 5 years and she's had a rough couple of years with Cancer, losing her hair and coming through it. Love Chris

by pennifold 04 Dec 2017

Thanks Barbara, you never know all are welcome to pop in - the door is always open. Yes, they love looking forward to coming and seeing what goodies lay in store for them. Love Chris