Happy New Year.....

So much good wishes to you for 2016 - it's been so lovely reading blogs and receiving messages from people through the year as well as all the inspiration, encouragement and friendliness from other sewers and bloggers around the world... - don't we live in an exciting generation?

Well, we didn't party all night since we were child minding.... and I am still carless so am at home lots.... Widget doesn't need 24 hour attention any more and neither does Hubz so I have got lots of sewing done...

I showed you HERE the machine embroidery pieces Bev sent me ....

Firstly I made a notebook cover for this year.... I used THIS tutorial which is nice and easy and straight forward except if you are like me and adding a different piece of fabric and can't work things out... I ended up with extra seams and still didn't get the picture central!!  However, it is functional and I love it and there  is no mistaking who it belongs to!  I will be doing more of these.

I added an elastic which holds it closed at the back... I always have odd bits of paper stuck in so this is really useful

Then I made up the other little piece which was looking for a bit of a frame around it....

(Haha... that is so like me just avoiding housework!! and Bev got the 'pewter' hair just right too!!)

It's now a sweet bit of humour on my mini quilt frame....  

Thanks Bev, a bit of fun and challenge to make these fun pieces up into something .... hope you approve!!

The nine patch quilt top has come together even nicer than I thought it was going to be....

I love the blocks and then the diagonal patterns it is making too

I am not adding another border but will get a dark binding to finish it off

There are quite a few blocks left over from the swap  

.. and I found these at the bottom of the box ~ some of the strips I had used when making my blocks for the swap so I have sliced them and made up the rest so I have 49 blocks left

~ enough for a lap quilt at some stage ~ 

Meanwhile.... Widget really took on board this sewing with Nana activity and desperately wanted to make a quilt...

I just happened to have a bunch of large blocks which were passed onto me so I let him have a play on the 'design wall'

.... he did get bored quite quickly so there was a lot of "I'll give you 5 minutes on the ipad if you get this row sewn' happening.  I am a strong believer in bribery to get a job done!!

Good job mate (I have to admit doing a little bit of slicing the edges to straighten up before joining the rows but otherwise it is his work alone....

~ now he wants to quilt it ~ (lovely to be young and just get on and do things isn't it?) and it's going to be for his Mom....

Whilst he had to do the pressing of blocks he discovered he 'loves' ironing.....  now I like to think I am a very indulgent Nana so I gave him the hankies and pillowcases to do!!  (now you must admit that is really kind of me!!) woohooooo

The Tuesday girls haven't been able to meet for a couple of weeks with these holidays and visitors etc messing up our routine but chief whip has given us home work...

Oklahoma Dogwood involved foundation piecing.... a personal challenge I have.  It's a striking block and would look wonderful in repeat ... but I won't be repeating it

Oklahoma Dogwood - 38 pieces

 Dresden plate - why put 20 blades on such a tiny plate I ask???? oh my.... I found the little applique curves particularly hard and they are quite uncurvy!

Dresden Plate - 21 pieces

And we have a new record holder in Odd Fellows Chain with 81 pieces in this 6" block.  it was also challenging and mine has ended up a healthy 1/4" bigger than it should be????  

Odd Fellows Chain - 81 pieces

I won't be repeating that one either!!

Righto, Gotto Go.... we've actually managed to make a big mess in the sewing room which needs sorting!