Final FNWF - December

You know the year is drawing to a close when everyone is busy with "Secret Sewing".

I am one of them - so here is just a bit.

It has been another wonderful year of sewing with cyber friends on Friday Nights - it wouldn't happen without our hostess who can rally the troops from all over the world, no matter where in the world she is!

Thanks Cheryll.

In case you are not back here before December 25:

Merry Christmas

Birthday Post Cards

Today was our SIMS meeting - so time for me to celebrate my Birthday (early) and collect my Postcards.
Sadly we were only SMS today as Inca was unwell...

Nevertheless - some delectable delights for morning tea - (sorry no picture!!!), a lunch out with a glass of bubbly, and two Birthday postcards:

Maureen's shows a Sewing Machine, Emerald Wool, Wooden Knitting Needles (The back has Starfish and Shells...(but IT issues prevent  me posting that photo.)

Sue's has Sapphires, Spider, Emeralds, Wooden Window and a Spider's Web

Pretty clever girls - thanks a bunch - I love them!!!

Glenrose Retreat

I am very fortunate to be able to get off work for a week and go and "hide" at Glenrose Retreat.

Of all the retreats I go to - it is by far the prettiest venue and the best suited to sewing.

I was able to put together the blocks I completed in the Gail Pan "Send My Love" BOM for 2018.
In all there were 36 blocks, but I chose to do only 32 and I liked the layout of Ruth's Quilt so much I copied it for this one.   As there are a number of design walls at Glenrose - it was an idea opportunity to lay out where all the fabric and stitcheries were going and to try to balance it.  (with some input from the others...)

I had prepped a lot of blocks for My Small World.  The hot air balloon is not part of the pattern, however I'd seen one on the Instagram group I am following and had to buy the pattern  . .  .

The "Plan" for the IG group is a set number of blcoks per month - so this finishes almost all of the blocks for Month 2 (mid October - mid November) and is a good start on Month 3 (mid November - mid December).
My next step is to start laying them out so I can see how the colours are going...and I may start working in sections from this point on - which is what a lot of the others are now doing...

And I made one baby quilt top.  (I did have a second one but didn't make a lot of progress on that one.)

There was some shopping time . . .some eating out time . . . .and of course some eating in time.

I made a Brie Twist - well with a few changes...LOL...I used a Camembert and instead of tomato chutney I used Baxters Date Fig & balsamic chutney - gorgeous stuff even by itself.

Thanks to the Tuesday Girls for inviting me along.

October Finishes

I am not doing so well in my UFO Finishes this year....not that I am sitting around twiddling my thumbs...but I do have progress....

I managed 5 crochet blocks this month - not a lot but it all helps.

I made a taggie for a friend of my eldest daughter for her second baby due early 2020.

And for the same friend - 

I finished one of the Alphabet books that I have on the list for this year:

I really enjoy making these - finding the right fabric for the right letter, 

making little mini quilts for "Q".  

and I use a picture of the recipient's cat or dog for "C" and "D".

And I finished Welcome Home in Spring.  This was an extravagant purchase - it came as a precut kit - the fusible webbing attached and all I had to do (all???) was place the bits on...sew it ..and make the quilt.   I had the blocks all together by retreat time in 2018...so for me - it's not too long ago!

Most people know I do not do things by the pattern and I have rarely bought a kit.  But, true to form I did change a couple of things - I replaced the horizontal sashing and I used the border fabric for the binding instead of the supplied check fabric....but really there wasn't a lot of scope for variation.
It has been beautifully quilted by Fiona.  I like that it is not overly quilted...but it is not a soft & cuddly quilt due to all the fusible webbing...now to hang it for a while...where ????

Still a lot of "To Dos", but a few ticked off the list.

Birthday Postcard #3

In my SIMS group - we have 3 birthday months in a row.  So this time it was time for Sue's.  She has only 2 initials...S & W
I mentioned a few posts back that I had decided what I was going to do....but then I got a few comments suggesting other things...so my mind went off track and as Maria had suggested Sea & Waves....I ended up with this:

It became a Guessing Competition...it became apparent there was far more than one S and one W.
again, I will give you a moment to think....and think about the front, back & wrapping.

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Here it all is - some of it is a bit of a stretch...but if you are going to have a game - it may as well be silly:

Sky
Seagulls
Surf
Sand
Sunhat
Sun-Shade (umbrella)
Stitches
Soft drink
Serving bowl / Saucer
Star
Square


Water
Waves
Woven towel
Wooden tables & chairs
Webbed feet

Wild time in the Sand

Star Wrapping paper from Starlight Foundation with Silver ribbon and Sticky Tape

On the day, we added a few more!

Here is the group of 3 - second one is Sailing boat, sun & window, waves
Bottom one is Sequins, Waratah & Wattle.

 

That's it for me for the year - I get 3 next month...

FNSI - October

Sigh . . .the months roll around so quickly.

I have a very busy weekend so made the most of my Friday Night sewing with my cyber friends.
I finished off the binding of my Welcome Home in Spring and I added the "Welcome" sign

Sorry - no picture for now . . .

I also did some more cutting for My Small World as I plan to take it on retreat very soon.  It's all packed up now ready to go...so again you will have to trust me!

My post is a bit late...Saturday I went off to the Brisbane Craft& Quilt show.....although we are getting some new retailers - some are dropping off - probably the most notable was Punch with Judy - their stand is always busy, so maybe its a one off for this year...maybe not - and although there wasn't anything from there that I needed....it's worrying that it is a sign of the times.

I had a list and was able to get most of it - plus some extras...my bag was full, my purse emptier! 

Thanks Wendy and thanks everyone for the cyber company!   See you next month  , . . . getting closer to that "secret sewing season"!

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 . . . .
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 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)