FNSI - Third week of February

Since I had my big ball of 'yarn' already made I was able to spend a happy afternoon mat making....

I had used 2 1/2" strips of fabric and wadding folded up using THIS tutorial on line.  My only difference is that I didn't join the strip ends straight but on the bias as one would do binding - thus minimising a big lump of seam.

Friends are doing a workshop and their wadding is 1 1/2" and bought ready cut.  It will be interesting to see if there is a difference in the result.  I can't imagine there is.  Their wadding is polyester, mine was cotton cut from scraps off the sides of quilts.

This was the one I wanted to make.... once it got to this size I stopped...

The beginning is the hardest to get round curves at the ends.... almost had to gather the inside so it would lay flat but once a few rounds are done it was easier....

I wide long zig zag stitch and a denim needle in the machine - no problem and the machine is a relatively small one which I carry to workshops.

I like a bit of colour in the laundry.... this large wall-hanging is in there and this is where these bright mats will live...

It got tested out by the visiting cat quite quickly... he really thinks he should be outdoors (he does get taken for regular supervised outings!)

There was plenty of 'yarn' left so I cut strips and made this mat.  Strips are much easier to sew and then I bound the two rough edges.

I did enjoy doing this with the wadding, I have made a bag using rope but I found that too stiff and my machine kept missing stitches.  I think I will make a 'basket' once I get another nice stock of wadding strips.

In the evenings for hand stitching I have made a start on these sweet "Heartstrings" pre-printed stitcheries I found at The Quilters Angel.  I am not going to make the quilt but use them in a couple of other projects.  Even though they are quite small (cut at 2 1/2") they need a couple of evenings each.

And a bit of needle-turn at quilt group on Tuesday..... the big block for Gossip now has a teapot after sewing all those stems!

Friday was FNSI .... well it was really all day with friends.  Marilyn offered me a lift to go to Brisbane to meet up with a group where the FNSI host, Wendy was in town.  Luckily we had Shez on the ball with photographs...

A lovely day of chatting, a couple of people did a few stitches, and lots of laughing as well as a very nice meal.

I took some more Heartstrings to work on.... was tired in the evening so this is how my work stayed....

The sewing was a fail but the time with friends was a great success...

Continuing with my 15 minutes a day crochet - I did manage extra on Friday morning as a passenger in the car to Brisbane...

It is growing nicely....

Of course the cat had to get to it.... just attacked it!  Perhaps he is not keen on the colours!

Righto, Gotto Go.... me and grandson and the cat here today ....  Have a lovely weekend...

2nd week February

Another fun busy week with a couple of sewing with friends days included .... almost half way through the month.....

15 minutes a day of crochet is happening, sometimes more, having a video chat with 92 year old Mum-in-law - I am always so impressed she has learnt the technology so that we can video chat, and crochet is an easy project to have on my lap.

I have a basket of wool balls and I'm just really picking any and using it - there are quite a few of some colours and less of others

I have cut up and sewn a bunch of strips leftover from a doona which I had used as backing on a quilt as well as strips of wadding cut from the sides after quilting.... amazing how they gather so quickly

Rolled and stitched and I now have a giant ball of rug making strip ......  Quilt group are having a workshop to make a bath mat with short strips sewn together.  I fancied making one but keeping one long strip and making it oval shape so I'm doing my own workshop at home....

My first block for Gossip in the Garden has come together.....  I'm sewing this with Michelle

... and a pink scrappy house for RSC...

I did finish a long piece of vine on CWB - but there is not much of interest to see and then I picked up this sweet bambi stitchery which is part of Field Journal....

and one panel of hexagons is sewn together ...

So all in all lots of sewing done - very satisfactory however my list of wanting to get done does not seem to be getting smaller!

Righto, Gotto Go - awake in the early hours and I think I'll try and get a little more naptime before the sun comes up....