Nature's Journey - February

Nothing like a deadline to make you drop everything else get on with sewing!!

We had a deadline of the end of the month for Part 1 of Natures Journey over on the Stitch-a-long
So, I had a big sewing marathon - I rarely just sit & sew all day unless I'm on retreat...but a deadline is a deadline so I did what I had to do - I sat on the recliner and sewed and had the TV going...caught up on some old shows that had been recorded - one mentioned Mothers Day so it must be really old...

Part 1 done & dusted...

One of the blocks is for the year - so I have "optimistically" sewn 2015....I can always add the word..."Started"  ....lol
Hopefully the March blocks won't be a last minute scramble again... March does have more days...but in between I have Lets Get Stitched happening in Brisbane, a trip to Nundle and an Easter table runner to finish...no pressure!

Too much for one Post

But I have to just get it all done...

Firstly:
I was lucky to be invited to join Sandi, Teresa, Helen & Noreen (collectively known  as the Tuesday Girls), Jenny,Noela and De in a retreat at Glenrose.

I've only ever been to the shop before but had heard a lot of stories about the retreats...all good of course...and now I know why.
The cabins are beautifully decorated, little teddies, quilts, lovely knick knacks etc.
The sewing room is well lit and well supplied - love the design walls!!
The company was - of course - a LOT of fun!

Lovely Sandi - Chief Organiser - gave us all a little present to welcome us...including some Oreos - in case we got hungry??? - no way was that happening . . . .the heart wind chime was a gift from Noreen, it has a lovely sound and will go outside when the rain stops . . .or next weekend . . .

 I may have done a bit of shopping . . .It's more than easy to shop at Glenrose...just stroll in and everything you pick goes into a bag - no money changes hands at all . .until the last day...- oops.
We also stopped at Canning Town Patchwork before we left...lovely little shop too.

I went prepared - several projects all kitted up and ready to go and I am pleased to say I got through 4 of my 5 "Must Dos" and went onto some "Could Dos' - because that was more fun...

Here are some of the projects I worked on . . .
#1 - quick to do - a little scrap bucket to match my mug bag for Sunday Stitchers

#2 Finished my Lynette Anderson GDITC 2014 project - it was a bag but had a personality change during the year . . 

#3 A pincushion

#4

????
you'll have to wonder

#5

the right hand three blocks
(from Quilty Fun - I know "everyone" did it last year but. .) 

AND

Sunday 22nd February

Today was a workshop with Natalie Bird - we had a choice of two projects - I selected the ipad cover which had a lovely stitchery and applique and I'm happy that I got through most of the stitching.  Lovely company on my table - apart from someone who kept hiding the chocolates in my bags...such a naughty person...
I'll have to do some pictures later on . . . .

Got to go - too much happening . . .

FNSI - February

Friday Night was FNSI - a group of us from all over the world sewing away together.

I worked on this . .

Thanks everyone for joining in - seems I never get enough time these days to visit too many people but I'm with you in spirit!.

Thanks Wendy for hosting us again - pop over here to see the list of the participants and to catch a great recipe.

I hope everyone in Queensland gets through Cyclone Marcia with no major problems - just wet here...very wet...

Friday Night With Friends

Thanks to Cheryll for hosting us again for FNWF - as usual it's very motivating to know that lots of other like minded people are sewing away all around the place.  If you'd like to see everyone else - pop over here and find the list of FNWF'ers.

I finished my name badge for the Let's Get Stitched bus trip - its for ??? but I can't show yet...

I also finished the stitchery for the swap for GDITC - still need to make it into something but I have worked it out so just need a bit of cutting & sewing time  . . . .

Thanks everyone for your company, thanks again Cheryll and see you all soon.

Friday Night Sew In

First FNSI for 2015!!  Yippee!! - A big thanks to Wendy for hosting!!  and  the recipes...

I was able to finish my Mouse pincushion - a Natalie Bird pattern.

I'm off to  Natalie Bird workshop at the end of February and wanted this finished before then.

And I did some tracing and cutting for a secret project (or two) ..more to do yet.
I'm trying to get some things together ready to sew when TV gets back to normal - ie when the tennis / cricket / soccer etc is all done.

I'll be visiting the other FNSI sewers over the weekend - and it's a long one - Happy Australia Day to all the Australian visitors!

Christmas Wishes

My Christmas Wishes wall hanging is done.

This is a free pattern from Anni Downs and Chookyblue selected it as a starter project for the 2015 Stitch-A-Long.

It was quite quick to stitch in one thread (Cottage Garden Thread #507...Rusty Gate) and I had enough of one of Anni's Christmas fabrics to complete it.

The Stitch-A-Long is in full swing now - most people have their pattern, a lot have selected fabrics, but Part 1 doesn't officially start until February..so I will keep my progress to myself for a bit longer.

Christmas Break 2014

I've been on Annual Leave since 19th December - sounds like ages ago !!!
Christmas is always a small family thing for us, since all the relatives are outside the immediate area, so its a good break and allows time for me to organise sewing things and actually get some sewing done.

So I started (late November) with a To Do list - not all sewing - and it wasn't everything I hoped to do.
As is the way with lists - things got changed - some got done - some didn't.

This is the list now:

Its an on-going thing so I'll keep it for a bit.

One thing that is nearly finished is my Christmas Wishes - a free project on Anni Down;'s blog and the starter project for the 2015 Stitch-a-Long. 

I am still deliberating over the dangly bits on the original pattern - maybe some beads or maybe nothing.  It will become a small wall hanging with some pink Anni Christmas fabric around it.  (Soon)

The main project for the SAL is Nature's Journey by Anni.  I think Chookyblue chose this so that no-one who wanted to play along would have ready started - the pattern has only just been released... I hope I have my copy by next weekend (preferably Thursday as I have a free day)....I'm itching to cut!  and sew!!

I also made a lot of progress on my North Pole Quilt - all the house blocks are now assembled, so night times can be some stitching.  Normally during the  week its 8.30 or so before I can get into my sewing and it gets too late to be selecting fabrics and messing around.
And I have almost finished my Mouse Pin Cushion . . more on that later.

Hoping everyone has had a good start to 2015, that your mojo stays where it should, and the year is full of happy things for everyone . . .