I really want to thank you all for visiting bonbondesigns.com this year.  I especially thank my son, Benjamin, for creating this gorgeous new website for me.  It is just so much fun adding news and photos whenever I like! You may like to visit Ben and Nina at taranakifarm.com to see the fantastic things that they have been doing during the past few years.

I extend my very best wishes for a joyful and merry Christmas as we close out the year and welcome in 2010.  May the New Year bring bagsful of new creative ideas for us all - and especially new ways of using up old stash!

Snowmen (above) in many countries come with the Christmas season! However in Australia, December snowfalls would be virtually unthinkable - although rare exceptions have occurred in higher regions of the southern states. Some of us here in the land of Downunder, will be wishing for some cooler weather rather than the usual sweltering heat and parched landscape over our summer period.  I know it is most unlikely, but let us hope that the next few months bring milder conditions and we can get heaps of sewing done!

I have definitely focussed on how very fortunate I am to have such great family and friends and to live in this wonderful country comprised of such richly diverse cultures and communities.  And in lieu of presents, I am giving to my favourite charities and causes and it feels a zillion times more peaceful and tranquil and reflective!!!

Best to you all.

Robyn

Well - nearly here again!  Christmas is only nine days away and this year I have decided not to send printed cards, envelopes and stamps - so to keep in touch it will be E-cards only.  Every little bit to retain our living trees and forests - and to reduce paper consumption and waste is worth it!!

My sewing group celebrates Christmas every year with a special dinner and a Kris Kringle exchange of hand made gifts.  This year we are all making cushions and I am feeling a little twinge of apprehension posting this photo of my contribution as it is still a few days until we meet, but I think the secret will be safe for the next couple of days…..

I was thinking ‘country’ for this cushion but as usual - too many ideas and it was difficult to know which way to go with about four possibilities lined up!  Eventually, I found some charm squares which started the project and it ‘grew’ from there.  I enjoyed adding the simple embroidery, some buttons from my collections - and a tassel or two of course! I hope my recipient loves it - otherwise I can take it back because it looks simply perfect on our guest bed!

It has been an honour and a privilege to be invited to join a small group of recognised Australian quilters (along with well known American quilter and designer, Robyn Pandolph) to create a quilt for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Annual Charity Ball auction in Sydney 2010.

Clare Mooney, Editor of Quilters Companion magazine, approached me in March this year asking if I would like to participate. Nine quilt artists were asked to design and make a block for the quilt using Robyn Pandolph’s latest range of romantic floral fabrics “Somerset Cottage”.  Her beautiful rose designs were very appropriate for the 65 Roses theme adopted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

I just love a challenge like this and started sketching ideas for the block immediately - and then had an impatient wait for the fabrics to arrive so that I could start cutting and stitching!

The patterns for all blocks will be included progressively in the Mystery Quilt featured in Quilters Companion magazine over the coming months.  Issue #41 is on sale in January 2010 which will include my block - and my accompanying DVD on needleturn applique basics.

My latest profile in Beautiful Country Crafts magazine Vol 21 No 4.  Of course the best bet is to buy this lovely magazine!

More inspirational snippets from New Zealand!  I LOVE the colour in this beautiful orchid…  and below I spotted this cute little fellow in a secluded corner   - both from the community garden in the converted quarry near Tauranga, New Zealand. The garden is a sheer delight botanically and sculpturally.  WHEN I find the brochure with the name I will add it into this post!   However, I am sure if you are visiting the area, the locals will point you in the right direction…

After a busy couple of months, we took the brief opportunity available to visit our Canadian friends in New Zealand where they were on house exchange at Tauranga in the North Island.

Arriving at Christchurch airport in the South, we were met late one rainy evening in October, by Hellie and Wilf and enjoyed the next eight or nine days seeing the sights with them as we made our way back to their abode via Akaroa, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Taupo, Rotorua and finally Tauranga.

The last few days were spent around this beautiful area with a half day in Auckland before heading home. The weather was quite cool, but hearing reports of October heat waves back home in Melbourne, I lavished the chilly, wet and even snowy days during our stay!!

Picture postcard perfect….  how else can you describe the gorgeous scenery in every nook and cranny of this country.  I just wish we had managed more time to take in the fiordlands in the south island. Maybe next time.

Above are some of the ‘locals’ at a fabulous community garden in a quarry near Tauranga.

Below: our guys having fun!

Anyway it was a truly fantastic break from stitching and deadlines.  I vowed that I would not do anything ‘patchworky’ but a couple of small shops ‘found’ me although I was able to resist!  My downfall was in Devonport in Auckland where I found this wonderful secondhand book - the find of the century!!  So happy!!

Below:  Hellie taking in the scenery.