Chookshed Challenge #7 - June - Libbie's Embroidery blocks - Progress

My eldest (Libbie) found a stitchery panel in a recycling shop here in Brisbane when she visited...some time back.

She did the stitcheries, but of course needed me to make it into a wall hanging....to fit a particular spot...so the pattern needed to be "adapted"...Yes, patterns are just a guide, I say frequently. . . mmmmm

The original was in landscape orientation - she wanted portrait.  She is a busy homeschooling mum, so getting answers on sizing and placement required patience...or some nagging....

My Chookshed Challenge includes this project as "Progress".   Is taking it out of the bag and looking at the original pattern - progress?   LOL...maybe yes, but not enough.

I am in another Challenge Group and this month's project for that one took a lot of time, so this one missed out a bit.

But for my "Progress" - I have re-drafted the pattern and it's been "approved".   The colour draft is not quite right as ...annoyingly...the heart blocks are slightly rectangular - 6.5" across and 6.0" height when finished.

                                                        

The drawing is a bit hard to see... consider it a mud map....it's just for me after all. 

This is one of the stitched blocks....ignore the lines....

I decided to drench them in water and hang them...gently...to dry to help remove the creases from folding and the hoop marks.  Ironing them just flattened the stitching - even on a towel.

These are the fabrics she chose. 
I have cut the strips for the sashing - I won't cut them into the right size until I have cut the blocks - I just don't trust my maths brain at the moment - especially as they are not square blocks.

So, that is enough progress for this month.  I have it listed again so hopefully I can get further ahead next time.

Just as well I try my best to achieve what I list as my Challenge Goals . . .else this one would still be sitting in a drawer...LOL.
Very happy to have the deadline to get something done - thanks Deana!!!

For those interested.....the quilt design is based on the Bible Verse:

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Sunday Stitchers #4 - Shop Ladies or Street Shops

My husband's sister (SIL) gifted me this pattern as she knew she would never get around to making it.   It arrived in July 2023.  I showed it to the Needle Girls group and "we" decided it would be a good group project...Well, 5 out of 6 of us did!!  I think we had some sort of time line to finish each shop during 2024- but I don't recall that we decided a finish date...we probably enabled ourselves with something new by the time the deadline arrived.....We are easily distracted.

At the November 2023 retreat we all attended, we visited Shelleys Curtains & Craft in Warwick, and I spied this fabric - available in several different colours.

I suggested it as a good fabric for the buildings - everyone agreed or didn't resist - so we bought 6 different ones to share between us.  We also bought a green at Glenrose Patchwork for the trees.

I haven't blogged about it much - but I know I finished the first block in February 2024, had done another 2 by April, another 2 by July and they were all finished by January 2025.
(It's convenient that I sent messages to my SIL to show her as I finished the blocks...LOL)

Since my motto for the year is "Finish It!", I thought it should go onto one of my Challenge lists and as both De and Helen have continued on the project - we all decided it should be on the Sunday Stitchers Challenge/Mojo list and we all made it #4.

That number was drawn in May - so due for completion by 21st June.  How lucky the month between the May & June meetings was 5 weeks and not 4!

My starting point after our May meeting was that the blocks had been made, four needed the awning trims added and they were not joined.   I had been able to get the lamp posts cut using a Scan n Cut machine, but still needed to trace and cut trees & foliage.
Once the blocks were joined, I added the lampposts, tree trunks...(the easy bits), then added the foliage ...not so easy . . .there is no pattern for how the designer laid out the pieces, so there was a bit of placing. moving, swearing, moving, taking pictures etc until I was happy enough with it.
Then all that had to be appliqued...I had used machine blanket stitch for most of it - occasionally using another decorative stitch on the little trees etc.   Machine blanket stitching over the awning trims was a little challenging due to the bulk.
Then there was the border and the quilting (not my strong suit at all.....)

But it was done - ready for Show & Tell on 21st June!!!! Phew.

De had hers finished:

and Helen got her top almost finished.

I thoroughly enjoyed making this - well the top...yes, it was fiddly, it was fun selecting the fabrics and the threads...mostly machine embroidery threads.
Early in the process, we discovered a fusible web that you can put through an ink jet printer, so that made tracing the shapes a whole lot easier - especially the flowers in the window sills and the tree foliage pieces, which had very wriggly outside lines...

Clayton's Retreat Day 4

I did get some sewing time today and was able to put all the string blocks together.

And a bit more cross stitching....only 123 stitches.

The girls will be leaving earlyish in the morning, so I guess "normal routine" can start again.

Thanks for following along on my crazy Clayton's Journey.

Clayton's Retreat Day 3

Nothing much (sewing wise) happened today . . .I had other things that needed attention...

Nothing on the blocks . . .but the roses are coming along . . .

And I can add that it is 82% complete, thanks to the app that I use now.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow!!!

Claytons Retreat Continues

Normally, I can get a lot of sewing done when I am having a Claydon's Retreat....not so much this time....however, I am sewing whenever I can.

By the end of Monday, I had finished off the 16 blocks I needed and laid them out ready to join on Tuesday...fingers crossed....

Monday Night I cross stitched

I have had several chats with the girls at retreat so am keeping up with their progress too.
They had their Chinese last night, so tonight I might do the same.

Stupid/Silly things...keeps us going . . .LOL

And...I still haven't resolved the issue of my blog comments not getting to my emails, so if I don't reply to you....sorry . . . .nothing personal intended....and my replies look a bit weird.

When is a Retreat NOT a Retreat???

When it's a Claytons Retreat!

This is my second Claytons Retreat this year...one for Scrub Stritchin' and now - one for Glenrose Cottages with the SS group.

Life has thrown a curve ball and it has made a big splash and actually, it's not fun.   But this is my happy place, so I will put it all aside.

I had planned the following projects:

* String block top - make 19 more blocks and assemble top

* DV quilt top from some embroidered blocks we have

* Placemats for Meals on Wheels
* Village Green centre

* Scrap blocks for DV 

Sunday - while everyone was packing cars and travelling, I started on the string blocks.  I think I am a bit over halfway through making the blocks that I need.   

I will miss the company of the other ladies a lot.  And there is always a Chinese Take Away night, which I was really looking forward to....There are not a lot of Chinese eating places near me - lots of other Asian food....not much Chinese and Chinese is always best eaten when there is a group, so you can have a little bit of a few different things - like pizza and pastas!

Chookshed Challenge #1 - May - Christmas Shops

It was suggested that Project #1 could be a Christmas Stitchery.   I am trying not to start new things "just because"... that isn't working entirely well - but I decided I would finish a Christmas themed project instead.

The patterns for these shops were released over the period July to December by Spruce Craft Co...The same people who released the Summer & Winter Shops which I stitched last year.

This was a very easy finish as the shops were stitched but it didn't get to the finish line ready for last Christmas.

Sunday Stitchers - Challenge #8 - Cross Stitch Christmas Tree

"Someone" showed a group of us a pattern for a Christmas Tree....some of us decided to make it . . Sorry, no details - I can't dob in the owner...LOL.

I can't see any posts I have done, but I think I started it late in 2024...and I couldn't/didn't finish it in time for Christmas 2025....but all good for Christmas 2026.

I made it the right size to fit on my mini quilt stand, 12" x 14".

Notes:

DMC equivalents to charted threads
Stitched on Aida 14 count Stormy Sea

DV Donation Quilt

Another quilt made using a panel - I purchased a number of these panels and also the stripey fabric that works so well with it.

To make it a bit bigger I added a border of white fabric and stitched a number of decorative stitches on my machine.

And rather than a plain stitch along each image I used another stitch from the machine.

 

World Quilting Day & World Cross Stitch Day - Stitching Done

I can't blame my "enabling friends" this time.  I think I saw one of these on a Facebook post.....so I went looking for the pattern - quite reasonably priced - purchased both - and off I went.

I started them in October 2025.  (I remembered to make a note on the pattern...LOL)

The patterns are from the Fat Quarter Shop and include American spelling "COLOR KEY". No way could I stitch that, so I changed it to Threads and added a shape to fill in the gap.
It's actually surprising that "threads" wasn't included in the design anyway.

The original pattern shows these mounted on a Spool-shaped wall plaque - well, they are no longer available and the shipping from the States would be horrendous....So I plan to visit the local Men's Shed and have some spool shapes cut...stay tuned!.


Threads used:

Cosmo 335 (Green)
Cosmo 240 (Red)
Cosmo 2412 (Light Blue)
Cosmo 669A (Navy)

DMC 893 (Pink)
DMC 676 (Yellow)

Alana's #2 Baby Quilt & Taggie

Another baby quilt using the coin quilt pattern.  This one is for a Cousin-in-Law of my youngest daughter for her second baby - They didn't find out or reveal the gender ...though statistically it is likely to be a boy.

I found the Australian Animal fabric on sale, and then found a very cute fabric that I used on the back (also a good price) ....interestingly, the pattern runs down the length.

All the cousins that have partners now have two children each and I don't think there is talk of anyone having a third....there is still a Brother-in-Law who is a bachelor...so maybe in the future there will be some more baby coin quilts.

In the meantime, I may make a scrappy one for DV as I have a few pieces already cut...I'll add it to the list...LOL

And of course, I needed to include a taggie for the Cousin-in-Law.  And a daughter of some friends had another baby, so I made one for him. And I made an extra one to give to Lynda, who gave me some flannel she picked up at Scrub Stitchin'

Maybe no more taggies for a while either.

Chookshed Challenge #10 - April - Chapel Street Top

The wonderful Chooky "enabled" me down this rabbit hole . . .

It started in 2023 and I haven't blogged about it very much - apart from here (May 2025) when Chookshed Challenge #8 was to make progress on Chapel Street.

At the time it looked like this:

My design wall is just too small!!!!.  

The bottom picture is the bottom of the quilt, and the plan was to finish the colour wash with heading to blacks in the right-hand corner.

So, here is the top...Chookshed Challenge #10 completed.
I am thinking I will add a black border of 2 or 3", depending on the quantity of black I have left, then a wider border of fabrics used in the quilt.  A project for another day.

It's not a great picture - the holder upperer was not up to much.

Thanks Deana, for pushing us along.....I got to a point where - without the Challenge deadline I would have put it aside....I think most of you know that problem.

What will May challenge me with????  (7 or 9 would be OK...LOL)


PS:   I am trying to reply to each comment, but if I missed yours - many apologies!

DV Donation quilts (2)

#1 - Pink & Brown
At one of the groups I go to - a Machine Embroidery Social Group - the leading lady brought in some things that had belonged to a previous member who has since passed.  I don't know if I ever met the lady, but amongst the "stash" was a bag of 8" cut squares of a nursery print and some coordinating smoky pink fabric.   No one else seemed interested, so I took them home to make into a baby quilt for donation to the DV group that a few people at Sunday Stitchers support.

I had to add another fabric and found a reasonable match - a smoky brown.  I devised a layout - never the correct number of squares is there?   and cut the brown squares to enable me to complete the top.  I took it to the retreat at Warwick in March and finished the top.

The Machine Embroidery group meet on the second Thursday of the month, so I decided it needed to be quilted and bound before then, so I could have it for Show & Tell.

The KISS principle for the quilting!  Serpentine (Width 6.0, Length 2.7) across the diagonals.

Joining Binding

I will share this with you.....I know you all have your preferred method of joining binding...I have been using a method called "Liz's Lumpless Binding for so long . . . . .BUT . . . .I saw this method on Instagram a while back....have a look - you might like it too.

#2 - Blue & Green panel

I have also finished this quilt for DV.

It's a very pretty panel and I found the perfect apple green fabric to go with it.   
I may have bought the rest of the bolt at the time as that meant I saved money (by spending more???  female logic)

Both these quilts had been folded for a few days, so they are a little crumpled...
I have a few more DV quilts to pin and/or quilt...hopefully soon.

Sunday Stitchers - Challenge #10 - My Kinda Town

I started this quilt in November 2022 and made some blocks at various retreats over 2022 and 2023.
I really enjoyed the FPP & selecting the fabrics.....I did not enjoy removing the paper - even though I used newsprint it was still fiddly in those tiny bits.

I had the top finished (without borders) for my Sunday Stitchers Challenge Project in August 2024.

Then it sat for a bit...I could see I had to do something other than basic quilting ...and I am not a fan . . . .but I really wanted it finished.   I figure if I put it on a Challenge List (now a Mojo list...LOL) it will get done.

So borders added, pinned and quilted in various stages over the month - so many ends to thread in . . .so much starting and stopping . . .Overall I am happy with it - it's no show winner but I am happy to have it hanging on the wall in the family room for now.

Clayton's Scrub Stitchin' - Day 5 - Saturday

Another day in Sewing Paradise!!!

Well, really I need to be a little domestic today - washing, the floor is desperately in need of a vacuum...some shopping.....you know....the boring stuff.

While I have been sewing, I have been playing e-books from the library.  During one of Chooky's Zoom meetings, someone mentioned books by Dilly Court - so I went in search . . .My Library had all 3 books from one of her series, to which I have now listened.  They were light "reading", good company while I sewed.  (Thanks to whoever suggested them).  Unfortunately, my library only has those 3 - even though Dilly Court has written a lot of books...Oh well, on the hunt again.

I decided to pull out another DV quilt that I pinned a little while ago...got started on the quilting...

I got the central panel done.

Then dinner time and hand sewing the binding on the baby quilt...

Well, that is it for Clayton's Scrub Stitchin' I think - tomorrow the girls are leaving and travelling home.  I will be at Sunday Stitchers, so I won't count that...though of course, I will be sewing.

If you have read my posts - thanks - it is really just a bit of silly fun and I can't keep up these daily posts....

Clayton's Scrub Stitchin' - Day 4 - Friday and FNSI

A bit of a "Bits and Bobs" day - not like being on retreat - but trying to use my time wisely & productively.

I finished the quilting and the binding on the baby quilt - ready for hand sewing the binding now.  I hope to finish that by Sunday, ready for Show & Tell.

Then I figured I may as well get onto the "framing" of my March Birthday Flowers....That is the step I always put off...but again, if I take it for Show & Tell on Sunday - it will look better finished properly.

I am using stretchy hoops from that place in China that I prefer not to deal with . . .but  . . .they are cheap and surprisingly easy to use.
Just a glimpse for now - I will do a post on them another time.

What to work on now???????????????
I consulted my very long "Project" list . . . . . . . .

Ah ha - I need to prepare two more blocks for Trains Trucks Tractors" quilt.  So I converted an outline drawing of a recycling truck to an applique pattern in the right size and traced the shapes....I want this one to look like a Townsville truck - so need to sort out what colours I need to use....put that one away for now!!!

Then it was time to settle on the lounge to watch the news and then Better Homes & Gardens - until the AFL started....(erk!).  So, I retreated back to my sewing room and finished the binding on My Kinda Town.

It's still early . . . what now???
Consult the Project list again....There isn't much to do on this Cross Stitch and it is on my SS Mojo list . . . .

So, I will work on that for a bit . . .

I am looking forward to seeing the storybook characters from the Scrub Stitchin' night....not to mention the Show & Tell!

Clayton's Scrub Stitchin' - Day 3 - Thursday

Today was more quilting on My Kinda Town....I could keep adding bits here and there . . .but . . .then the borders - that was quick and no ends to thread in....YAY!!!

I trimmed and added the binding - and sewed two sides on Thursday night in front of the TV.
I only did two sides as my hand starts to hurt a bit when gripping the needle so tightly...LOL

So, back to the machine to start the quilting on a baby quilt.

You might see a red laser line.....A few years back, at a retreat, one of the girls had a Brother machine with a laser light ....very clever I thought ...machine envy . . .

I investigated adding one to my Janome - nothing was easily available.  Sometime later, I saw a Sew Q Laser light offered by an Australian retailer - at a reduced price for pre-orders, and my arm was twisted.  It sat on my desk for quite some time.   When I make these baby quilts, I stitch diagonally across a 2" x 6" rectangle.  If I eye-ball it, it isnt always good.  If I draw a line it is good.   BUT - what to draw the lines in ???    I am not a fan of Frixion pens on fabrics.   I like my Air Erasing pen....BUT...they disappear so I can only do a smallish amount at a time . . . .
It was time to install the laser light.   I am very happy with it for the quilting.
I think it will really come into its own when I do HST...another time.

I am sure all the Scrub Stitchin' girls are hard at it now - I've seen a few facebook posts, but no one is blogging!

Clayton's Scrub Stitchin' - Day 2 - Wednesday

I had one of those "faffing around" mornings...then did a bit of shopping.

I have almost finished the quilting on My Kinda Town...a couple of stars and the border to go.

Night time - more on the Birthday Flower for April - Daisies.  I have reached a roadblock, as I am missing one DMC (a light blue to fill in the petals) and I do not want to unhoop it at this stage....

I imagine everyone is now settled in at Baradine - hopefully there is a bit of sewing happening in the midst of the catch-ups!

Clayton's Scrub Stitchin' - Day 1 - Tuesday

Well, here is another year that I haven't gone to Scrub Stitchin'.
And I know it doesn't start til Wednesday - but if I had gone, I would be travelling today - so I will just call this Day 1.

I am not as well organised for my Stay at Home Claytons Scrub Stitchin' - but I have plenty of sewing to do...

I have my Sunday Stitchers Mojo Project deadline on Sunday, so I am quilting My Kinda Town.  I had the top finished in July 2024...not sure what happened to it in 2025, but this is the month to finish it.

I spent most of the day working on this...

followed by some cross stitching.

For those travelling on Tuesday - I hope the day went well and you are not having any fuel problems.

Project Bag with a difference

A recent trip to Craft Alive at Toowoomba resulted in 3 of us purchasing a "Mad for Plaid Project Bag".  It is made of nylon mesh.   Tempting as the bag is already made.
I chose the Lilac version - there were a couple of other colours available at the time....but when I searched online - there are 6 colours different colours - I found them at Rural Stitch Co - look here.
Of course, there was a lovely cross-stitch pattern that perfectly suited the bag.  'Stitch' cross-stitch pattern by Shepherds Bush.  I recently made 'Sew Mini Bag by Shepherd's Bush".  Here.  Though at the time I didn't realise I could buy the plaid bag.

It was awkward to sew on as it is quite firm, and of course, the back is exposed....I tried to keep it neat, but Perle thread (size 5) can be obstropulous!   (Defined as 'Unruly, defiant, noisy, or difficult to manage'...definitely that - apart from noisy!)

A quick project - I bought it Friday 6th March - Finished about the 23rd March!!!!!

Chookshed Challenge #2 - March - Denim Bag

Last November, whilst on retreat at Glenrose, we were able to do a class at Sew Pretty Patchwork to make a bag.  We had seen a bag on Facebook, and after making a few enquiries, Gemma organised a class for us with Libby.  We had such a fun day with Libby - she brought in huge bags of denim and bits and pieces, and we were able to raid her stash.  She was so generous with her artistic advice and tips.

I didn't finish mine in class....and it sat for a bit - too many other projects to do....

Then somehow some of the Chookshed people thought #2 could be a bag...AND . . .we are going back to Glenrose this month and I had hoped to take my bag back to show Gemma & Libby..  An excellent number choice for this month Deana - thank you!!!

Here is the bag.  I tried to use bits of jeans and other denim pieces from Libby.   The tree is from the lining material that I spied in the shop months before we did the class.  It is quite a heavy cotton...combined with several layers of denim in parts, I was grateful for my walking foot.

The front

The back

The lining fabric

It's great to have my Chookshed Challenge finished so early (It was finished on17/3/2026).

Cute Little Purple Cup

When we were in Warwick on retreat (19-23 March), we had a bit of time to fill in before we could settle in at Glenrose.   I wandered into Bed Bath & Table.  All their Easter stuff was 40% off.   I don't really decorate for Easter....though having seen the goodies on display, I was tempted.

I spied a very pretty little cup... A silly purchase really...I have multiple pretty cups...too small for a decent cup of tea...And I have multiple pretty mugs . . .but I "had to have it". (and it WAS on special.)
I used it a couple of times at Glenrose for tea . . .but thought it needed a special coaster.

I found this machine embroidery design online - from Kreative Kiwi - and it was free - so whipped one up.....

and if I am going to take this cup anywhere - it needs a drawstring bag...doesnt it??

A very quick result...unlike some of my projects that linger for years....which I will now get back to.

Needle Girls March Retreat - Glenrose House

My first retreat for the year!!!

I keep a "Retreat Book" - I head each page with the venue and dates and list what I plan to work on (tick it off when done), and include other notes, such as who went and for one retreat - who was in which cabin.
The book was nearly full - not enough pages for the planned retreats for 2027 - so I selected this Journal that Deb had made and gifted to us at Sunday Stitchers last Christmas.

It is very pretty and will keep me going for a few years....

My plan included:

• DV Baby Quilt
• Baby Quilt for Alana
• 28 Square in a Square blocks for Flower Pop
• Squares for the centre panel for Village Green
• Placemats - if I got to them

I am happy to say I got it all done except the placemats, so I spent some of my free time making large scrappy blocks for a DV quilt - it takes me a while to get my head around the "randomness" and the "just hack it" as De suggests.
Anyway - I got 4 done and brought home a fair stash of fabric pieces to make some more...

My projects:

28 Square in a Square blocks

Baby Quilt for Alana

DV Baby Quilt

Village Green centre

These all need to be trimmed and joined.   There are two I might replace before that happens.

As always, a fun time was had, much chatting, some snacking and a glass or two!!!

Not too long til the next retreat!