FNWF - October

I had another late night in the city - nails and pedicure were due...but I joined you in spirit and worked on my crochet while my feet were being beautified.  

When I got home I worked on a secret project - sorry this is all I am showing . . it is that post card I mentioned before.....so I can't even show a bit of it.....

Thanks Cheryl for continuing to organsie us all even though you are constantly dragged away to go on holidays!..Pop over here to have a look at look at the others who joined in...

Stringalong - September

It's past time for the monthly post on String-along blocks.

I made 17 blocks in September - I had a sewing day - 2 boxes of strips and just went for it....I had a goal to finish them off - and I did.  That makes 88 blocks completed.  That will make a table cloth of 8 x 11 blocks.   

Letting out a little cheer!!!

I think this has been the easier part of the project.
Next step is to arrange them.  As I am making this reversible and there are 11 different fabrics on the backs and anywhere from 2 - 12 blocks of each fabric...  (using what I had)....I need to come up with some sort of pattern for the back, whilst keeping the front nice....could be difficult.

Then I need to sash the sides of the blocks...make rows...then join the rows.
That is not going to happen this year.

Then add the binding.

It's been a lot of fun sewing along with sewers from all over the world and I am happy I joined in with Lori.
You can have a look at some of the other participants here.   Some amazing projects.
And even if you don't want to look at the other stringalong projects - Lori has been camping - the wintery landscape shots are stunning - especially as we do not see anything like that in most of Australia - well probably not anywhere in Australia!!!

September Finishes

Not a lot . . .but I do have a bit to show:

14 crochet blocks for the cold & needy.   A bit monotonous - but this yarn is quite popular as it is red & yellow - and a dark blue which sort of looks black  (the Indigenous colours of course)

and my Little Patchwork Village Quilt - designed by Gail Pan...made some time ago - but beautifully quilted by Fiona....so it was a quick finish to add the binding.

Not great photos - I will try for some better ones on the weekend.....

There has been a fair bit of busyness happening here . . . .

all my blue blocks are done - a bit ahead of schedule - 

and I have Stringalong blocks - next post!

Birthday Postcard

It was time for another Birthday Postcard.  In SIMS - this year - we are making each other a postcard - using the initials of the person's name.

This time it's for Maureen - her initials are M C L

so have a guess:

I'let you have a moment to think . . . .
>
>
>
>
>
>
 Got it????

Mountains   Clouds     Lake

I had thought of this combination on the way home from the meeting when we decided to do it . . .I had a thought of how I'd applique some mountains and lake and embroider clouds . . . and being an expert procrastinator - hadn't even started it at the beginning of September when I was going on a retreat . . and visiting patchwork shops . . . where I found a perfect fabric - but - alas - none left in stock...
So some very clever detective work by Cheryl (Thanks Heaps Cheryl) - she found some at Peppermint Stitches and luckily I could sneak over there one work day at lunchtime.

I had to do some "cut and paste" to move the lake - and copied the fabric twice so I could practice - and the extra page became the wrapping paper...my creativity astounds me at times!!!! LOL

Here are all 3 postcards

#2 is Marigolds, Cat & Lavender
#3 is the same theme but quite different 

and the back of mine for reference!

The next one is due in October - only 2 initials   S & W   (almost the same as mine . . . )

What will it be???   What would you do???

(I have a plan...just need time . . . .lol)

FNSI - September

DH is a Cats (Geelong) fan so it was a quick dinner and the AFL for him.
So I escaped to my sewing space . . . .
Sadly Geelong lost....

I spent my time prepping 10 blocks of my Kinship Fusion Sampler.

I got 2 sewn:

I still have (only have)  7 (out of a hundred) to cut... I haven't repeated a fabric (apart from white) and have quite a few blues still to use . . . but its getting harder to make a "pleasing combination".  I think I will be into my Balis for some of the rest of them.

I was also able to get a bit of stitching in during the day (lunch time):

This is (yet another) new project - Its a pre-printed panel (gotta LOVE pre-printed things) from Natalie Bird.  I've forgotten its correct name - Willowbrook is part of it.  The pattern she created for the panel is hexies with the stitchery in the middle.  There is a gorgeous range of fabrics that match, but I have gone for another range with some extras and probably some others from my stash.

Pretty happy with my efforts - and I am out sewing on Sunday so it should be a good  weekend for sewing progress.

I hope you all had a fun productive night  (or day)

Pop over here to chase the other sewing addicts.

August Finishes

YAY - I finally have some FOs instead of UFOs.

Two zippy pouches:

Shorts & bib for my oh so cute grandson...LOL

Cloth Christmas Story book for the oh so cute grandson....LOL

5 crochet blocks

Not a lot this month sadly.

Stringalong August (2019)

I'm late for my August Stringalong blocks.

Only 6 this month...slow progress...too many other projects happening and work is full on.
That brings the total to 71.  That means I am at 80% done for the blocks.

Linking up to Lori here - pop over and check out the wonderful projects others are doing.  

Retreat 2019 Days 3, 4 and 5

How things have changed - I used to do a post every night....this time it's just 2 in all....and this one is late!!!      😞

This is photo heavy - but I like to do this as  record of what we got through.

Maureen's Basket runner - she almost became a basket case over this one...

Alison made up some face washers that had been hiding in the cupboard for a while

 Nolene did the applique and put together this Sunbonnet Sue quilt

 - just needs a bottom border

Jan made up this lovely evening bag 

Alison finished off some more UFOs - hand towels 

 I made a pair of shorts and a bandanna bib for Luka

 Jan's gorgeous Disappearing 9 patch 

with some lovely Aussie prints...

such an effective arrangement of blocks

 My two zippy pouches - 

these have been on the UFO list for quite some time 

and have been to a couple of retreats

 A Jelly Roll race quilt from Alison

Alison had a dress to alter 

One of Jan's quilts in Aussie fabrics and blues - 

not her preferred choice of fabrics but it looks great

and the other one - similar but different

I worked on some blue blocks for my Fusion Sampler 2019

(11 blocks finished)

Each year we have a small mystery project - 

this year it was a very small scrap/thread holder

9 of them were finished in time for the photo

Over the previous years we have made these:

What will next year's be?????????

 The Tally Board at the end - more DONE than NOT DONE

This sign has been up for a number of years - 

it always gives me a chuckle 

so I thought it deserved to be made public

 That's for another year.

I think we were all happy with what we got done 

and hopefully have gone home and kept the mojo going!!!

Thanks to everyone who came.

We all seem to get along happily 

despite the mix of talents and backgrounds. 

Retreat 2019 Days 1 and 2

Here we again - our 13th year up at My Alford.
We haven't had a cold windy time here for quite a while - but this year is making up for it...very gusty and quite cool at night time.
I forgot to take a picture of the "To Do" board at the start...but I do have one at the close of business at the end of Day 2.

Here are some projects that have been finished off:

A  dress for a future granddaughter from Louise:

and another one....

 Two microwave cozy bowls from Erica

a baby quilt from Inca

 a lovely pink quilt from Sue

Bev's baby quilt

 A tinkerbell outfit from Erica

Two dresses for grand daughters from Erica 

Louise's cushion for her window seat

Inca's Funky Flowers top 

Bev's bag

Alison's not so easy quilt.....great pattern but very bad instructions

Maureen's Reindeer runner

Another dress for a grand daughter from Erica 

Louise's stoles 

Bev's table runner

 and the Tally Board

I have made progress...but photos will have to wait...