May Monthlies....

This month I have 3 finishes to report.....

thanks to Kris for keeping the OPAM tallies going

The quilt for Mom's 90th birthday (which was finished a while ago but I didn't want to show it until Mom had it with her)

My big fat pincushion which was the Sunday Stitchers UFO challenge ..... thanks for the encouragement ladies....

... and my big Poppins Bag, which was a whole new project that I fell in love with...

My WOOFA project (thanks to Cheryll for hosting WOOFA) is my One Block quilt which is slowly coming together..... I have sewn most of the blocks into groups of 4 blocks....

... the plan is this week to get them into rows....

Continuing with my needleturn applique in the evenings this block has gone from this.....

... to this......

still a fair bit to do.... I spend more time procrastinating about the preparation part, choosing the fabrics, tracing etc... once that is done I love the sewing part...

... the plan is to get the centres of the flowers together this week...

I did find time to quilt my scrappy pineapple quilt

Cindy Needham has done a series on facebook since she had to cancel all her classes and she offered ideas for different quilts... I used her idea for this quilt... mostly in the ditch but some squares going into the white areas and then a bit of extra in the middle.  The binding is ready....

.. the plan is to sew it on this week!

This sweet Field Journal stitchery took me last evening to do... with a few stitches this morning....

... the plan is to get another one done this week!

On Tuesday a friend came over, it's so great we can have little gatherings again.... she made me this beautiful poncho with some 100% wool....

.. it is so lovely and snug ...

a close look at the pattern... beautifully made....  

... we both had our machines here and I started sewing strips together onto some sheeting using up my batik scraps (plus a few purchases to get a range of colours)

As I just chain sewed so that I would mix up the colours I didn't actually get any blocks done but there are 25 on the go..... 

... the plan is to keep working on these once my one block quilt top is all together.....

Righto, Gotto Go... I promised I would finish up a quilt job before treating myself to some of my own sewing!!!

Hope you have a lovely weekend.....

Pincushion

The Brisbane Sunday Stitches have a F/B group for a UFO challenge.... at the beginning of the year we number 12 different UFO's and each month a number is chosen....

Cheryll hosts WOOFA and though I had hoped to work on another project they will have to combine this month....

I did lay out my WOOFA challenge on the design board... so that kinda counts???

For May it was the big round pincushion that I was to finish....

 There is so much to each part so heaps of pictures...

It's about 6" in diameter....

I loved doing all the different aspects of applique, embroidery, even EPP,

... so much detail...

Anni Downs design from an old Homespun Magazine...

happy sayings on some panels...

I love the detail for the top and little dangles...

I had a guineafowl candle holder in the house (from Zimbabwe)

perfect size for this big round pincushion...

I'm afraid I don't want to stick pins into it.... it has become one of my favourite dust collectors instead....

Righto, Gotta Go.... the next UFO to work on is a boro snap purse....

Poppins Bag

At the beginning of the month I said I was planning to make the Poppins bag after seeing Cheryll's over HERE.

I gathered the pattern, fabrics (Tim Holtz from The Quilters Angel) and ordered the zip online....

I did need to go to Cheryll for some help, I am not a skilled bag maker and even worse at understanding instructions.... 

I have to admit I nearly gave up.... (thanks Cheryll for your help and guidance)

but I didn't....

It's a big bag.... an overnight bag kindof size..... not sure if it might be too big for carry on luggage on a plane....

it could fit a lot of fabric in it for shopping trips... even a sewing machine come to think of it! (my little Elna would very easily slip in there)

there are stays in the top so it holds itself open nice and wide.

Nice big pockets inside and out.....

.. this gives you more of an idea of the size....

I loved the little tags for the zip ends....

I have added bag feet to it and given it a few sprays with Scotch Guard to protect it.... now it's waiting in the cupboard for an occasion to use it....

Love the fabric and I have some pieces left over so I think I will do a zippy purse or something to put in one of the pockets...

Hand stitching has continued and these are the embroidery blocks for Aprils section of Wish You Well

and I have started sewing the circles to go around the edge of these blocks....

these circles are 1 1/2" diameter.... and I have to admit I am loving doing them...  I want to get a whole lot done then I can put the 4 months together

Righto, Gotto Go....  widget is coming over for a 'back to school' haircut.  I think he will be pleased to get back to seeing his mates.  Well done to all the children in isolation.

Of course roast lunch was offered and it wouldn't be right without Yorkshire puddings for him!

the birthday party

Lovely messages for my MIL via the blog and facebook....

I think she had a lovely day....

In the UK morning (our Aus night) family got together on the new Facebook groups feature... (mom had to learn it the day before!)

From the Top down... left and right....

Me and Hubz,  I have enjoyed having him working from home a few days a week... 

Debs, my youngest daughter who lives nearby (mother of Widget and back working full time - she was very ill with a virus but we don't know which one!)

My neice Theresa who just lights up any room she is in.... and is off work on furlough so staying with her parents and keeping busy doing outside painting for the neighbours.. what a star!  Her parents Alan (brother of Hubz) and Sally were there too (you can just see partial Sally) Sally is still working full time but mostly from home and Alan has been put on furlough. 

Katherine, my eldest daughter who had to stop driving to join us... (she lives in UK and on furlough and was in the middle of volunteer shopping for people who can't leave home - and taking a break from home schooling 3 older children)

Mom... the birthday girl... showed us her lovely flowers and told us lots of stories and memories keeping us laughing

Anthony, my nephew and his wife was there too.... live in UK and off work at the moment too though his wife Beth starts a new job with the NHS very soon... a new key worker in the family

James my eldest son and his wife.. farmers and working as hard as before if not harder ... home schooling, farming, caring for family etc etc.... farmers are key workers too

Michael my youngest son... lives in Victoria and his work has not stopped... plumbers are essential workers!

I don't think it's unusual how Covid19 has affected our family ... lots of people have similar stories but I thought I would give a run down of our lovely lot.... 

In the afternoon, Alan, Sally and Theresa took down tea in a flask and yummy eats and they had an isolation style social distancing tea together....

Of course there was a quilt.... I was very nervous while it was in the post and it took much longer than usual but the postie there hand delivered it right to her door which was lovely (usually things are left at the front office of the units)

the centre panel was quite heavily quilted....

The design is by Anni Downs "Nature's Journey"

Needleturn applique and embroidery...

detail of quilting in the piecing...

I love the design with all the different elements .... as you can see I had a bit of fun with doing the quilting too

I included the year of her 90th birthday 

French general fabrics in the red, taupe and creams....

found the perfect backing....

... her initial L for Lilian is included too.... (blurry picture)

I just loved making this quilt....

 .. and thrilled it is living with Mom now...

I used a vintage doily and made a special label but I forgot to take a picture but it says who it is for, that it is for her 90th and made by me....

I know Mom values and appreciates that it is hand made and she will love it... may it keep her warm always....

Righto, Gotto Go..... time for a cuppa....