End of January ......

I started this quilt top last year and took it out to sew up this week

The Fabric is a range called Odds and Ends and was a layer cake I somehow acquired.  I bought some grunge and chambray.

Quilt top size is 83 x 72 and the binding is made 

I do love it when there is no waste (or leftover scraps) from the layer cake....

I made this quilt top way back (2018ish I think)  This week it was quilted with these large floral sort of things and I added the binding.... Ready for hand sewing down.  I think there are 6 of them in the Binding Queue now but they have to wait for it to be cooler or an aircon hand sewing day.

I was given an almost finished panel.  This has been appliqued very neatly with some cotton and some wool and some embroidery.  I only had to do the dark green veins in the leaves above the bunnies.

Now I need to look for some borders to finish it off and I'll have a pretty wallhanging .... and I think I will add eyes to the birds and bunnies

This weeks evening sewing has resulted in these Sashiko blocks - I have been doing more crochet stripes and started another Caswell block

Stitching at Embroidery Guild has resulted in a bit of progress for my 'Blackwork".  

Week 5 flower is up to date and when that is done I keep going with the vines.....

After making the card holders for my daughters partners children, some others made a request (my daughters ex's children from after they split up).  

I greatly admire my daughter who has navigated split ups and extended families so well - they help each other out with lifts, child minding etc.  Really proud of them all...  Our Widget is very lucky to have a cohesive extended family.

A young girl who likes blue and younger brother who likes green....

Righto, Gotto Go - Another quilt is on the frame, blocks cut out for February Sew-a-longs with Susan, another ball of yarn for the crochet etc

Been a good week for me.... hope yours has too.... have a great weekend xx

Second week of May

It's been a busy week and one of sewing a variety of things... often just finishing off

Last time I mentioned a workshop at Embroidery Guild.... one of the members kindly introduced those of us who wanted to learn to some Ukranian Whitework....

This is what I managed in the 3 hours I was there!!!!

I have done a little bit more since being home but it is slow going - the tutor did say I would 'get my eye in' and it would go a bit quicker.....

I'm planning to sit quietly with a light and magnifier and try and do a bit more today - it is definitely not the sort of thing I can do with any other distractions....

At sewing with the girls on Tuesday I made up a few 'tarts'.....

I am finding these fiddly diddly and not getting nice round curves.... 

I made up a beanie as requested.....  this is quite a nice looking pattern with a bit of a slouch...

I made up a smaller one that fits closer to the skull as well....

These are made in the Zimbabwe flag colours (that centre is a strong green though here it looks teal) .... you can see the difference in size here....

These little stitcheries for the inside of Dresden plates (Gossip in the Garden) were completed....

They really don't take too long....

I did quilt up a couple of my own quilts.... I have two of these same ones (as there was enough fabric in my fat quarter pack to make up 2)

I did a simple ribbon all over... nice and soft and doesn't take away from the lovely shadowed stars....

gorgeous cornflower blue spot backing....

\

Joy has a sweet free BOM going and I have caught up on the stitcheries but still need to make up the blocks....

I can generally get one done in an evening....

Craft Alive was here in Toowoomba this week and some pretty French General fabrics fell in my basket.....

I was helping a friend at her stall but did manage to catch up for coffee with some friends from Brisbane (forgot the photo!)

My favourite there was an exhibition by a couple of textile artists.... amazing - again no photo's (bad bad blogger me).

I had a chat to a stall holder selling beautiful threads and mentioned I mostly do backstitch.... well did she go off at me for cheating and I should be doing her lessons of 5 stitches and not do backstitch... blah blah blah.... I found it very very hard not to be rude to her.  I like backstitch!

Last night was FNSI hosted by Wendy....  I worked on some Sashiko (L plates on)

I want to do a quilt with Sashiko blocks and practicing the motion with some smaller ready marked pieces I have had for a while.  I am using these DMC 5 threads.

Any tips are welcome .....

Righto, Gotto Go -  have a lovely weekend everyone.... the sun is out, the temperature is cool, my stitching awaits....

xxx

the next things.....

Just going to rock with the no focus thing...... 

The stars have been added to the Christmas wallhanging..... minus a number of points....

These QAYG blocks have had sashing added.....  and Marilyn has helped with how to add the borders QAYG ....

Each block is like a little quilt on it's own... rather fun...

I have made 9 Churn Dash blocks.... and now I have enough to put them together....  Chookyblue is hosting the Churn Dash SAL.....

This is how the scraps are being put together.....

I saw Julie's one (see HERE) and she kindly shared the sizes of her pieces with me....  She made smaller blocks after seeing Donna's one (seen on THIS post with the grey sashing) 

It is my "leaders and enders" project and is being useful as I do these blocks

A set of 9 fat quarters of spots which I have had for a while and thought this simple design would be good....

too many dots made my eyes go funny

so I have decided to add dark grey as sashing...

Not totally sold on the look but it is better than no sashing - and it will be a slightly bigger quilt - I will add borders in the grey.

This week I tried out something different for quilting and did a ribbon with butterflies... I love it... not too heavy and quite pretty for a young girl

Righto, Gotto Go - borders to add to the sampler, quilting to be done to the wall-hanging, churn-dashes to lay out,  grey sashing to be added to the dots and include leaders and enders ....

Hope you have a good rest of the week....xx

Hello

Only a few more days and we are half way through February....

It's been a fairly social week for me... small sewing groups which is perfect - out on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday friends over here... as a result some of my own sewing has happened...

This is another block for From The Heart.... I now have one main block to make and then there is a fair bit for the border.... but I think it's close enough to the end to start the next needleturn project.  There will only be 3 different ones on the go...... hmmmm

I finished all the embroidery on this little piece... it started the week next to the sweet little Tilda and some Pellon.....

Another little birdhouse has been sewn...

... and another..... these are given out daily and although it is very possible to sew one a day I just don't get to it!

These are Crab Apple Hill designs given freely for February International Embroidery month.

I have done a bit of quilting for someone..... 

and yesterday I sewed up my little snap purse made from the fabric I embroidered....

It is a pretty little thing but too small for what I wanted to use it for (I can't even fit my phone in) so I have ordered some bigger snaps and will try again when they arrive (will be a while as they are coming direct from that cheap place overseas)

Tuesday was spent sewing up a Field Journal block.... I had to spend part of an evening finishing it off but now another one is done.  I picked up another lot this week so I am even further behind now!

I have joined in again for the 3rd year of these - so loving them

I made good progress on my February stars yesterday .... will fit in time to do a few more seams over the weekend.

Popstar is a free pattern from Fat Quarter shop

and I need to plan a couple more fish ...... so that's this week sorted....

I do hope you all keep well and find some time for fun this week

October....

This month spent by again.... but we did have some lovely rain

Jacaranda's are blooming.... I love this view off a corner in our yard..... the blue Jacaranda's not so visible in the photo but we can see them well.... they are behind our white jacaranda....

This was my main finish this month.... an old UFO from hand printed blocks I got many years ago.... linking up to WOOFA and OPAM today... Thanks Cheryll and Kris

I backed it in white sheeting and gave it a black binding.... it will be a nice soft quilted throw...

I also made this little quilt this week!  Pretty cute I think ..... not much will snuggle under than though... maybe a small elf.....

All these blocks are stitched together and the borders added....

I just love these soft Spring William Morris fabrics.... I added the gold as the designs have just that little spot of gold in them....

Layer cake which I cut in four and then set gold in the corners....  it has made a good single bed size or topper for queen size.

Of course I have lots of little HST's from the corners... so perhaps another mini quilt in the future

Intense quilting on this panel was done..... it took me ages and at the time I was frustrated with my wobbly lines.....

but they don't show up too badly now it is all done....

A lot of time was spent stencilling on the design.... then of course slow going on the quilting....

but I love it.....  

... and I adore the backing too.... I have chosen a rich brick for binding....

... should be a finish by the end of the week.....

My other finish this month was my new peg apron..... made from a vintage tablecloth

Here is a close up of the white Jacaranda... typical little bell shaped flowers ....

Righto, Gotto Go...... coffee is ready

Have a lovely Sunday ....xx