2nd Week of December

A few more blocks have been quilted, a few more rows crocheted, some more looped picots on the Hardanger and a few more stitches added to a piece...

I did complete another Caswell block.... all those grapes!!!!

This is the pattern, the flowers were supposed to be lots of petals... an executive decision was made!

I've been baking for my daughters family lately - just some sweet treats ...  It was worth it so see the size of the slice Widget cut!

Hubz was getting grumpy he didn't get cake so I made him his own little mini one!

Righto, Gotto Go ....  the day is waiting. 

This is my bit of festive ... hopefully it will survive long enough to go in the garden.

Have a lovely week....xx

June FNSI

Thanks Wendy for having us for FNSI ..... always fun....

I did some chain piecing on Friday afternoon..... I had 'scrap' HST's that I had made into pinwheels a week or so ago....

Purchased some shocking pink .....

In the evening I did some needle-turn applique on this next block for Civil War Bride... there will be a bird in those branches....

Over the weekend I put all the blocks together......

It's very pink..... not sure I really like it... but someone will....

There was one block left.... so it will become a mug rug one day.....

I have made the binding in the same pink and made some light blue to become a peeper under the binding... will add that once the quilting is done....

Meanwhile ... it has gone into that ever growing quilting queue..... but I am please one more bundle of coordinating scraps has been used up....

My lemon tree has given me 2 lemons this year but a friend gave me a bunch the other day....

I baked a lemon drizzle cake this weekend.... yummo (if you like citrus flavour).  A very easy chuck it all in recipe and then sugar and lemon poured over the top while it's hot

There are loads of recipes on the internet.... of course I can't find the one I used but they all look similar!

Righto, Gotto Go...... it's a new week and there are things to be done!!  First I'm off HERE to see what others got up to...

Have a lovely week whatever you are doing.... stay safe, stay smiling and stay sewing (or whatever)....

June FNWF

Very excited to have finished this mini quilt top this week....

There are 920 pieces in the 20 x 20" piece...

Foundation paper piecing and I followed a pattern by Betsy Vinegard.  I used her colour choices as I liked them and could never work out others of my own.....

I love it.....

I finally did some baking... these are white chocolate, macademia nut and cranberry biscuits..... 

and a favourite of mine is date and pecan nut loaf.....

It's hard to believe it is already June..... and first Friday means cyber sewing with friends.... 

Thanks to Cheryll for hosting us....

I have been working patiently on this blackwork (and a little bit of blue sparkle) ..... there are 36 of these little 'sweets' all different.... I have to say I am finding this challenging especially following the intricate patterns .... so it takes me a very long time but I am enjoying losing my mind this way!!!

Today I am using a fine chalk pencil to draw up some quilting designs on my little piece..... can you tell I am a bit obsessed with it at the moment????

Righto, Gotto Go.... pinning needs to take place then I'll thread up my machine and start playing..... loads of in the ditch to do....

Hope you have a lovely weekend....

Lucky lucky me....

Many of you know Michelle and her wonderful art she posts about HERE....

A friend of hers gave her a resource photo and Michelle has done this gorgeous Lilac Breasted Roller and gifted it to me...

It is an African bird and really full of these beautiful shiny colours.... Michelle has captured them so well and you can see the feather detail... amazing work...

I will need to get a frame for it... will have to think about how best to show it off

Thanks Michelle, it is very treasured

 Meantime I stitched up an Australian bird.... our lovely Kookaburra ...  this is part of Field Journal and this colour used is Kookaburra!  

... and this colour is Pansy....

Yesterday I felt like baking (doesn't happen often!) .... I adore date and nut loaf and I have these lovely old fashioned round nut tins... they cut into lovely circle pieces which I think is fun.... 

Luckily the recipe makes more than one loaf.... they disappear rather quickly round here.

Righto, Gotto go.... coffee and a slice of date loaf for me.... 

A change of pace.......

Widget has stayed for a few days this week which means less time on the sewing machine for me and more time playing snap.... and battleships.... and doing together baking...

Firstly was biscotti or almond bread.  Some years ago Christine shared her recipe and since then I have made this every Christmas.   It's a favourite here.....

Then I made up a recipe I haven't made for many years... this is Condensed Milk biscuits and it makes up over 10 dozen so it's great when you want a big batch.  Was great to have Widget to help with all that rolling and pressing with a fork.... 

Today saw date and pecan nut loaves.... this is my all time favourite.  Best after a couple of days with a good layer of proper butter.... 

…. and fruit cake... I did a double batch so I could keep one cake for us and use one for Christmas festivities where you 'bring a plate' …. 

There hasn't been much baking this year... I rather enjoyed it

This week there were visits from Mr Postie with ornaments

Michelle sent this gorgeous card drawn and coloured by herself and a special ornament -

… and an angel from Susan who is amazing in her creations of different angels... I have a few of hers

 I haven't put up a tree this year but this little pot plant is doing a great job holding up my lovely ornie gifts....

Not much sewing has been done but the evenings have meant some hand stitching.  I have appliqued down the Dresden plate and now my house stitchery is pinned ready for stitching....

… and the last of the rows of elongated hexagons have been appliqued down 

The next step there is butterflies for each corner

Righto, Gotto Go.... feet up, a cuppa, and some hand stitching …….