FNWF - April

Cyber sewing is certainly the "thing" these days...but these group sessions do help to keep some degree of normalcy about us.

I read an Instagram post from Sarah Fielke - it is worth checking out.  Look for the post "Don't let your standards drop" - basically she is saying - "carry on as normal - get up at  a regular time - get dressed..keep everything as normal as possible"...wise words.

So I am working from home  . .sigh . . getting tedious...but so grateful I still have a job so I won't linger on that ... It means I am at the computer longer but there are multiple opportunities when I am listening to a meeting etc...and just taking notes occasionally, so my pile of crochet blocks is progressing.....

I am also finding more time to work on projects that need machine work . . .and when I'm on the lounge, I am working on this one , , , still....but I am almost finished.  And that was my FNWF project this week.

That bobbin of thread is all I had left on Friday night - but with the wonders of technology, phone calls and a quick trip - I was able to do a "Click and Collect".  Thanks Quilters Store!!

At least I will be able to finish it now . . .3 to go.

I hope you are all OK - it is a stressful time and for some it will be all too much.  
Hang in there..."reach out" [hate that phrase]  but please ask for help - even just a chat if you need to.
We are all in this together and never have most of us experienced anything like it.

Thanks Cheryll for your part in keeping us "normal"

Jingle All the Way

The Sunday Stitchers UFO Challenge was #1 for March.  So out came Jingle All the Way.

This is a machine embroidery design from Kimberbell.
I started this at my local quilt shop in January 2018. I had it almost done in August 2018 (missing a block and the borders)......but once home from retreat, it went back into the “black hole”.

But now the top is done, so sometime I will need to think about quilting it.....or having it quilted.....

When the embellishments are on I will do some close ups.  
There are lights on the houses, bows on the presents..... 

I really like the snow globes...

Like everyone, my world has changed.

On the plus side;
I still have a job, I can/must work from home, so no need to get dressed in work clothes....though I do NOT stay in PJs all day.
I can either work longer hours   OR spend commute time sewing or walking the dog.
Dog is loving me being home all the time.

No friends or family have been affected health wise or job wise

On the negative side;

shopping is so much harder

sewing gigs are cancelled

hairdresser and beautician are closed (on the plus side I save $$$$$)

the economy will go down the tubes and it will be a long time til we recover

This is not the place to get into the "what ifs" etc . . .just my take on it for now.

I do have more sewing time and am busily working on my #2 for Sunday Stitchers and will have it ready by the Due Date...and won't show it before that.  

I am also getting through a lot of crocheting so will have a huge bag full to handover when I can.

Stay Safe

Stay Home

Wash your hands

Elbows to all

FNSI - March

Not a very productive night really . .  .but a bit of crochet

same yarn as before - but one ball was not enough for 3 blocks, so I bought another , but that of course still didn't complete 6 blocks, so I just gave up and bought 5 (for $10, cheaper than $2.50 a single ball), so you will continue to see more of these....I love the colour.
I think Teal is my new favourite colour!!!

and a bit of stitching

and they are both  . . .sort of . . .related to green-though its hard to tell this is a minty green colour. (as promised Wendy!!!!)

Maybe you were more productive???

Pop over here to look up the others.

I think cyber sewing will be a way of life for a while.    😒

FNWF - March

As is often the case, a quick and easy meal for dinner.  Then watching Better Homes & Gardens.  I started off a new crochet block.

Then into SSS....I am trying to get my #1 project for Sunday Stitchers UFO list done, so added in the last 2 blocks to the top, and prepared both borders.....Too late in the night to iron and measure and cut and sew etc.....but it’s ready for Saturday night sewing. (hopefuly)

I hope you were all happy and as productive as possible.

Many thanks to Cheryll for encouraging us. Pop over here to catch up with the others.

I have a bonanza weekend of sewing - time for the first Saturday group 

and the second Sunday group.

It's hard to fit in domestics like grocery shopping. Thankfully, shops are open til late on Saturday nights these days.

Wonder if I will be able to buy toilet paper?

Bushfire Blocks

I saw the call from Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild - asking for tree blocks - to make into quilts for victims of the recent bush fires.
Although Queensland where I live had some fires - quite a while back, and there was a lot of damage, the fires here didn't reach the epic proportions of those further south.  IN Brisbane we had a few smoky days.
It was such a sad story hearing about it all.   

So when WMQG said they needed blocks, I thought that was something I could do to help.
The response has been overwhelming - and a recent post says they have now received over 4000 blocks.   That is 200 quilts.  And the final posting date is 1st March.
The blocks have come from all over the world.
Very humbling.....

Anyway - back to the tale . . .
I grabbed one of the patterns from WMQG and make these a little while back.  

A few weeks ago, I received an email at work - suggesting that we could use our Volunteer Leave days to help organisations that were still working in relation to the bush fires.  We get two days a years and mostly, I have not used both days...for a number of reasons.

But I thought I would give this a try - so asked if making quilt blocks for quilts for fire victims etc . . .was allowable - "Yes, go for it, a great way to use your Volunteer day/s" 
So, today I sewed these blocks:

The foundation pieced trees created a bit of wastage, so I grabbed some of the leftovers and make a crazy patch piece of fabric and then hand drew a tree!!! 
(Well I know its simple...but I do not draw well)
It's a bit wonkier than planned...I had a mishap with the trunk - but it is going to a Modern Quilt Guild and I think I recovered it well enough.  Maybe if you zoom in  you will see some decorative stitches on the trunk!!!

All the blocks are over sized as requested by the Guild.

So, that was my Volunteer Leave day.... Maybe I can use the second one the same way....

I'm also working on some QAYG blocks to send away. 19 1/2 done - aiming for 35 - enough for one quilt.

The Australasian Embroidery Convention 2020

Well, it was certainly smallish - most stalls were quite small - there was quite a crowd at most of them until about lunchtime when it started to dwindle.

I thought there was a good array of retailers -  although it could have been an opportunity for other options - maybe more hand embroidery, cross stitch???  

I did mange to find a few things to buy - here is some of it . .

The back piece is a gorgeous piece of hand dyed needle prefelted Australian merino - I could blame this purchase on two "helpers"....But I have a plan for it - so not just an idle purchase.  This retailer is from Perth and not interested in any of the other shows here...sad....she had a gorgeous array of products.

Then there is Anni Down's new book...and Natalie Bird's new book and a pattern for a doovalackie - with houses...couldn't resist.
And a piece of sashiko dot grid and a sheet with some proposed patterns ...I haven't decided on colours yet . . .

I also bought 2 small pieces of pre-printed sashiko and 4 coasters....I expect you will see that soon enough here on the blog.

The show is definitely on again next year - in March.  I heard Fifi (Fifi's Fabricology) explaining that the area will be bigger . . . but it's still not a great location...a long hike form the car park compared to the other shows...still I guess it has to start somewhere and grow!

.

FNSI - February

Hi Fellow FNSI-ers

Thanks to Wendy we can all gather for a happy night of sewing - or thinking about sewing . . .
What did I work on???

I had hoped to finish one of the parts for My Small World....I made some progress....not as much as I would have liked though.

I find the pattern quite confusing....the cutting measurements are laid out continuously, rather than a line for each, there are metric equivalents and the drawings are finished sizes....so when you work on it in dribs and drabs, it’s like re training your brain all over each time....but I really live the project and will persevere....and recut some of the bits.

My motto:
You can learn something from every quilt you make.  This time I’m learning not to push on when you are too tired to think.
On top of a long busy week, we had an evacuation because the fire alarm went off....11 flights of stairs is hard work!  It was the tradies working up stairs.....grrrr

Tomorrow I’m off to the inaugural Embroiders Convention, so it will be a bit of walking....might be a bit slow.

Hope you all got stuff done...and had a fun night!!!

February Happenings

I have not been able to make a lot of crochet blocks lately...
but I had a small pile to hand over this month:

I have also finished a playmat for Mr Adorable Grandson.  
We are off to Townsville at the end of the month for his first birthday.  I have a few cars to add to this too.

That is all for now - I have also been making small house blocks, tree blocks and QAYG blocks.  I'll post more on these later - hopefully soon for the tree blocks - since they need to be sent by the end of the month.

January Finishes - Baby Quilts & a Pincushion

It seems babies come in groups - well that is what seems to happen for me...My youngest's partner has two female cousins who are expecting babies this month - one has arrived and one will be here on the 28th.

So, of course, I had to make quilts for each.  We have always know the second one was a boy - I saw the ultrasound pic - there is absolutely no doubt about that one - LOL - the other was was an "unknown" - and now we know it is also a boy.  It will be lovely for them to grow up together as the whole family is very close.

I have tried to use some of what I already have - but I did buy the orange in both of these and the borders.

Baby 1:
This largely made from left overs from a quilt that Maureen made for my eldest daughter when she had little Luka.  I was able to buy a few more to add to the collection.

For the backing I chose this fun print.

Baby 2:
The dad is fond of Tonka trucks and I was able to source some fabric with the trucks on it.. And I couldn't resist the other truck fabric

The couple also have 2 dogs, so I thought this backing was great.

I also made Mrs Pinny. (strictly speaking Ms. Pinny Cush by Amy Bradley Designs)

I originally made 3 of these as gifts in 2015 (here) for various people and didn't quite get around to making one for me.

There is a bit more happening here . . . .but I don't think there will be any more January finishes.

Sunday Stitchers' Morning Tea - Australia Day theme

At our Sunday Stitchers meetings we have two people bringing food - it is referred to as Morning Tea - but it has become Morning Tea/Lunch/Afternoon tea - I don't think anyone bothers to bring their own lunch anymore.

This month Marilyn and I took on the "challenge" - and it has become that.....we needed a theme and preferably one that hasn't been done before - but it was a bit of short notice for us - so we decided Australia Day - but using yellow & green instead of red white & blue.  Disappointingly I couldn't find any green & yellow decorations...at least the table cloth is yellow.
I googled and found a few things to do......some koala biscuits

and a cheese platter in the shape of Australia...the Shapes were the new ones - Meat Pie and Sausage flavour ...and of course cocktail frankfurts - or "Cheerios" as the Qld people call them...(weird)

I added the flag - and you can also see Marilyn's fruit platter - again in the shape of Australia and using different fruit for each state. Some lamingtons and sandwiches.

(what would we do without google????)

That was fun....now to think about the theme for the next time we do it...