The washing’s been done…
The gifts are wrapped…
The tree’s been (expertly) decorated…
…and I’m off to enjoy Christmas Eve breakfast with my girlfriends.
Happy Christmas, friends - from all the Snippets ‘n’ Scraps!
Are you (like me) running around like a headless chook, burning the candle at both ends, and wondering when the magic of Christmas will kick in?
Maybe you’ll enjoy these…
Andrew has a good one today too!
Do we look pleased with everyone's magnificent handiwork?
In the end we had 51 brilliant, fun children's quilts to hang, with more on the way next year.
Thank you very much, Stitchin Mission quilters and all our supporters who also made quilts or donated fabric!
...I hear you asking.
Well yes, I did have a binding to stitch down on our 50th Stitchin’ Mission quilt by today, so in theory I ought to have been home watching TV and sewing, not hobnobbing with the likes of the Wiggles, Kate Ceberano, Christine Anu and Georgie Parker - but where there’s a will there’s a way.
20 pre-threaded needles and a booklight later, here I am being oh so industrious at Carols in the Domain.
It’s amazing how much clarity a booklight tucked into one’s waistband can shed on the situation. I managed to finish just as the fireworks marked the finale!
Every year, on the Saturday immediately before Christmas, 100,000 people converge on an expanse of green grass in central Sydney for a spectacular celebration of the festive season. They begin to arrive early in the day, laden with picnic baskets and rugs, and trailing little ones eager to get a glimpse of their favourite “soap” star or singer. Undeterred by hot sun or showers of rain they stake out their patch and happily pass the hours until the spectacular televised concert begins once the sun’s set.
I was there last night, but we enjoyed the Carols under much more comfortable conditions, thanks to my friend Robyn Hobbs, the inspiration behind this event.
For 27 Christmases Robyn (seen here with some familiar faces) has run Carols in the Domain, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Salvation Army, and receiving an official ‘pat on the back’ this year with the award of an Order of Australia.
Even if watching Carols in the Domain on TV is an annual ritual for you, here’s something you probably don’t know because it never goes to air.
Every year, five minutes before the telecast begins, Robyn walks out onto this stage, 
surveys this awesome sea of people as far as the eye can see, 
and reminds us all that Jesus is indeed the reason for the season.
With simple words from the heart she puts Christ into Christmas for 100,000 Sydneysiders.
Robyn, you’ve earned far more than your Order of Australia!
Remember that challenging Stitchin’ Mission flannel quilt I told you about? Well here it is, all finished and looking appropriately sunny with cute little ladybugs grinning from their daisy seats.
These tied corners ought to be good enough for the quilt police, don’t you think? 
Oh, I wish you could feel its soft snuggliness! I do hope the autistic tot who chooses this one will feel so loved!
Off to finish that binding on #23 before tomorrow. I may be the only person stitching a quilt at Carols in the Domain tonight!
