Challenges.....

At the beginning of each year I notice quite a few challenges, swaps and sign ups in blog land.  I do love these sort of things.  I get very motivated to work on things if I have a 'group challenge' and also it's a great way of meeting new bloggers, which in turn gives new ideas, and new projects ....

I am thinking carefully about what I join up with so that I am realistic as well as doing things I want to do....

GET THOSE PROJECTS FINISHED

Peg and Kris host OPAM, which is basically keeping a running list of the projects you make with a goal of doing at least one per month.  It's not stressful and you don't get eliminated if you don't get a project done.  The big count is all the project all of us who take part have done and we join with bloggers world wide....

You can read all about OPAM on Kris's blog HERE, or on Peg's blog HERE

In January these are the projects I got completed....

WORKING ON THOSE UFO's

Joy is hosting Finishing Stitches, another stress free way of working on projects, but these ones are specifically from your stash of UFOs.

Joy will do a linky each month that we can link a blog post to, and there are two parts to this challenge.  One part is for a complete project finish and the other part is the completion of a block for a project.  Again, stressfree, you don't get eliminated and you can take part in one or both sections....

You can read more about the UFO challenge at Joy's blog HERE

Of the projects I finished these one's were UFO's (projects I had started before 2017)

Part A is completed projects

Part B is blocks towards a project

These are the latest Dutch Treat blocks I have done...

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

Somehow I seem to have collected up a bundle of scraps - of all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes.  I really hate throwing any pieces away so am happy to participate in a challenge that will use some of these pieces

So Scrappy's blog is HERE and there is heaps of ideas from people of what to do with those scraps...

I am doing two parts for my scrap challenge

Firstly I will make a basket in the colours to hold the relevant colour scraps

... and then I am making lots of mini houses ....

February's colour is Sea Green - those ones that are not blue, nor are they green....

Another stressfree challenge, link in when something is done 

Righto..... I'm off to see which UFO's to work on this month..... are you joining in with any of these?  Or which ones do you like doing? (if any) 

Still UFO'ing.....

That's a bit of a silly title for me as I could keep myself busy all year just working on my UFO's and nothing else!!!

Taking a short break from the Dutch Treat Blocks I carried on with some of my embroidery.  This is a kit and the design is Nancy Nicholson.    Her designs really appeal to me and I mustn't look at her page or I will be tempted!!!

This one is called Long Tail Bird and is the most complicated embroidery I have done... and I learnt some new stitches....

It is for a cushion and of course I needed a visit to my favourite LQS (The Quilters Angel) and found this lime green linen for a frame and the back of the cushion.  That purple maroon will be for some piping around the edge ..... I'm getting so brave to tackle piping!!!

So I took out another UFO which I had quilted some time ago.  The white is a old table napkin I think and I used a pale blue embroidery thread for the quilting...

.... something delicate.  I'm thinking of turning this into a table topper with a bit of lace around the edge......

Lastly my teeny weeny off cuts from a quilt made into 1 1/4" HST's (before sewing) have been sewn together.....  

It is a new design of mine called fractured!!!!  

I now have even more admiration for people who make mini quilts.

I can't say I'm proud of it.... and I don't like it very much... I might be getting a new pot holder....

Righto, Gotto Go... I want to go dig into my little box of laces and see what I can find....

New things ... and old things....

When I was listing up my UFO's at the beginning of the year, I was also reading up on others who were doing the same.... one of them is Carole from Wheels on the Warrandyte Bus, a blogger I have only recently started reading.

Anyway Carole and I both had 'boro' projects which we had started at Craft Fairs last year.  Carole very kindly offerred to top up my scraps of Japanese fabrics so that I could finish some coasters..... How lovely when all these arrived and I think I will have enough for another little project.  I do love these Japanese fabrics so it's fun to play with some pieces as I get to know them.

Thank you so much Carole..... looking forward to seeing your finished coasters!

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Another UFO I had from last year is this runner.  It only needed the binding to finish off.  It is a pattern by Libby Richardson called Ronald Reindeer.

I quilted it fairly heavily  going around the applique and in the background.  It's not that clear but I couched quilted in gold yarn around the applique patch....

.. the end triangles has a big loose bow and ribbon in the sashing....

I really enjoyed this new to me filler with double rings.... I thought it added a nice bit of texture...

the centre circle is done the same way as the other applique.. more gold yarn couching...

It's good to have another UFO done..... and something new ready for next Christmas...

Splendid Sampler blocks continue, mostly I am only a couple behind which is good as we are coming to the last few weeks of it.....  soon time to start some sashing....

These are some of the latest - all very different ....

These are some other blocks I have been playing around with.  Many of them are disappearing type blocks which I wanted to try out.  I am piecing them with left overs from my Sylvia's Bridal sampler and they will ultimately be joined up to make a backing for that quilt....  It may take me a while!!!

Righto, Gotto Go...... fun to be had!!

Prettiness.....

The other week when I went searching for a new dog bed suitcase in the op shop I couldn't help but wander around the unwanted tablecloths and linens.....

This table cloth has a price tag of $10 so it came home with me.  I don't really need it but I thought it was so pretty and such beautiful handwork....

  

cross stitch and cut work filled with crochet....

so much work in those corners..... I can't even work out how that is done!

along the edges and the hemming is beauitully done too....

It's about 3 metres long and 2 wide....

very pretty.....  I keep promising myself not to collect 'stuff' ... but then I do!  

Splendid Sampler took a break over Christmas ... which was great.  This is one of the latest blocks that I had fun stitching up....

don't you love it when a 'just because' arrives in the post?  Thanks Shez for my gorgeous little angel..... she is with me in my sewing room reminding me of the freedom I am allowed in so many things.... 

I made up a couple of tote bags/shopping bags with Ausi themed fabric.  I didn't include any wadding but the curtain type fabric is nice and sturdy.  I like using these for grocery shopping but these ones are going into my gift box....

I haven't added any pockets but there is a little loop just incase one wants to loop on car keys or something.....

and finally a few more Dutch Treat blocks....... 

these are taking a little break for a bit as I want to do something else for a little while ...  like catch up on Splendid sampler and finish binding etc....

So happy this morning to have a cool breeze come in after some very welcome rain last night ....

Righto, Gotto Go..... coffee to make, coolness to enjoy....

It's a Dog's life....

My little dog's bed was looking rather worse for wear....

so off to the Op Shop I went and got this brand new fake leather suitcase for the princely sum of $5.00

I chopped the top off and glued up the sides that were loose after said top was chopped off....

.... as soon as it was made up in she hopped...

Such a cool retro dogs bed.... she and I both love it!

... and yes, she has her own quilt ...

(made by 7 year old widget who adores her)

I am still doing my Dutch Treat blocks... some weeks I get none done, and some I get 2 done...

... this is where I am up to so far..... I like the look.  This is about 1/4 of the blocks.... a bit of a way to go still!

For Christmas Hubz and I put a $15 budget on our gifts for each other - we don't really need much but it's still nice to get a gift.

I spent a few nights stitching up this motive - he was there but he is so used to me stitching he doesn't ask all the time what I am up to....

Hubz brews his own beer - and a jolly good drop it is too....

I didn't finish my stitchery in time for Christmas (I did wrap a silly mug for him)

but this T shirt has now been made up..... he wears it with great pride!!! haha

... my gift was this little box.... which of course I have managed to find treasures to fill it up with....

Righto, Gotto Go - Monday morning chores to be done.  I hope you have a lovely week