FNSI March - EWSI

Wendy delayed our usual FNSI for a week - and that's a bonus - (1) I was away last week so it was hard to post a FNSI post and (2) this is a 4 day weekend...so plenty of sewing time...I have worked on a few things but this has been a pet project.

Like a lot of quilters I did cross stitch before patchwork took over and every now & then I like to go back to it.  When I saw this on the cover of Homespun I knew I had to make it - I have a "thing" for trees .....it's a fairly small project so I won't have time to get bored with it...lol..and in Homespun it is framed with a wooden embroidery hoop - and I happen to have one the right size...so no expensive framing needed.

I've had a long break from work really - I was away from the 17th on my trip to Nundle, went to work Monday feeling so-so and had Tuesday and Wednesday off sick...Thursdays I don't work and of course Friday was a holiday...(and Monday)...but all that work will still be there when I get back....

Thanks Wendy for hosting us for a long weekend - I hope we didn't wear out our welcome!!

March finishes - Zippy Bag and Project folder

For GDITC at Nundle, we have a "blog swap".  I made this little zippy bag....

And on the Sewing Day we have another swap - we had been given a stitchery design from Anni to use on our swap gift.

This is what I made - I changed the words a bit to read "Friends gather in Nundle" (instead of Friends are never far away).  

Good to be able to post these finishes.

Nature's Journey by Anni Downs

I made this quilt as part of the Stitch-A-Long blog - designed by Anni Downs.  I did make a few small changes - a lot of us refer to this practice as "Dawnifications" - although Cheryl has recently suggested "Susanterations"...(think 'alteration')...- thanks Cheryl - I do like that idea....I often say "Patterns are just a guide"..

As I was at GDITC in Nundle recently with Anni teaching for the stitching day I had her sign the label.  It's a bit feint but I can read it.

I am posting this for the record as a March finish.

GDITC - Nundle - 2016

Thursday 17th
A bit of an early start today....but a lot of kilometres to travel.....Approx 660 in total.
Captain Cheryl driving, co-driving by Maureen and busy crafters Inca, Lynda and me in an imax van.
First stop....breakfast at Warwick Gardens Galore......yummy as always.

Then more driving....and finally dinner at the Peel Inn where we were joined by Kerri, De and Marilyn.

Friday
Off to Cottage on the Hill for a little retail therapy

(The threads are for an upcoming Wendy Williams workshop)

and then lunch to meet up with most of the bloggers.

Friday night was nibblies and drinks and our blog swap.  
Here is the collection of the swap items.

I made this ....and it was given to De.

I received this gorgeous pin cushion from Dawnie.  She used a Gossip in the Garden pattern and added "Girls Day in the Country Nundle 2016" arounds the sides.  Clever little chick she is.

Friday night celebrations were dampened a little by a huge thunderstorm - heavy rain, hail...but we coped.

Saturday
Sewing Day - with Anni Downs.

I had put out a call for anyone who had made Anni's Turtle to bring them along - we had a good "turn" up of Turtles.
(A group of turtles is referred to as a Turn, a Bale or a Nest)

(I did not arrange them like that...)

In our projects bags 

we had the traditional mug - and our sewing treasures

 - a 10" square of every fabric in Anni's new range, some felted wool and some Ric Rac.  We had a huge choice of projects - and we could do them in appliqued felt or stitchery.

I started on the Needlebook - but much more as it can hold scissors, threads, pens and heaps more.  This is the inside.

We also have a Show & Tell of Anni projects, so I was finally able to reveal my Natures Journey quilt.

There were so many lovely quilts and smaller projects...makes you want to start another one...

Kerry organises a swap for the day - we had been given a stitchery design from Anni to use on our swap gift.
This is what I made - I changed the words a bit to read "Friends gather in Nundle" (instead of Friends are never far away).  Unfortunately I don't know who received it.

  

And I received this little note book with stitched cover.

I also did a little shopping of the goodies on display

Couldn't resist  the "SEW" pouch.

Each year Kerry has a quilt that is raffled to support a cause close to her heart.  This year she had made little table toppers out of the left overs from cutting the kits and I was lucky enough to win one.  
Since it matches our sewing projects so well - it may become a bag or pouch to hold all the other bits...still working on that one.

Saturday night 
A BBQ - organised by the caravan park owners - Kim & Heath.  The weather was a bit kinder although it got windy - we have a great Show & Tell - but I was too busy admiring to take photos.
Sunday morning
sad faces as we gather for breakfast...Its all over for another year...

No Fuss Swap

I rarely go in swaps - I diddle daddle over what to make,  I am short of time and I am a bit put off by the tradition of  putting in "extras"....how much ???...what???

So, when the No Fuss Swap was born I decided to give it a try.  It is a NO FUSS swap - no extras - any extras and you are kicked out...so they say...

The first No Fuss Swap was an Easter themed mug rug, a fat quarter and a small treat...But I still deliberated a long time before deciding on this one.

I made this for Jan (aka Little Red Hen) and she probably has so many variations of little red hens...but I made it anyway.
All reports indicate that she really does love it - thanks Jan.

I received this lovely egg shaped mug rug from Rell, a lovely purple fat quarter and some Quality Street chocolates - I haven't had one of those for ages!!...I may have eaten one before the picture was taken...only one.

I wasn't supposed to open the present yet - but some others have and I will be down in Nundle on Friday - the official opening day - so I've given in.
So, if you are interested in a NO Fuss Swap - they seem to come along quite quickly...pop over here and see whats going on.  (Sorry - only in Australia...postage is a killer!)
You do need to be a blogger so we can get an idea of what to make or gift.

Thanks to Sandi, Helen, Teresa & Noreen for getting this idea off the ground.

FNWF - March

Always lovely to be sewing with cyber friends - great way to finish the week.

I am still working on secret stuff so here is a small glimpse...

Wonder what it will become??

Thanks to our lovely hostess - Cheryll -  it's always a fun party!!  Pop over here to visit the other party goers.