Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #7 - Placemats for Meals on Wheels

This was a pretty open-ended project...Placemats...I didn't specify how many....so it was easy to reach my goal...LOL

I did need to finish off these 4 that were started in a LQS workshop - giving us 4 ways to add binding.  I picked up a few tips - shared a tip with the instructor (LOL) and finally finished them.
I had done the poped/flanged binding before...but I make the contrast narrower. (Kits were provided with strip cut etc).  The one I had not tried before was the blue one - where you bring the backing over to the front to form a frame.  Good for placemats and wall hangings.  Not sure I would do it for a quilt...but at least I have the technique now.

Then I raided the bag where I had pieces cut, partly made placemats etc.  I dedicated about 2 days to the task and got 10 of the yellow/florally ones done - I still have more of that fabric..cut to size ready to go - but I want to get some backing fabric for those.

In the "Placemats' box, I also found some blocks that came from a lady who had passed away. There was no pattern or additional fabric with these blocks, so I put them aside for placemats.  I lost some of the points, but the colours are good - especially for men.

So Project #7 can be ticked as "DONE".
If we do the Challenge again in 2025, I will make "Placemats for Meals on Wheels" one of my items.  I still have a bit in that box!

Thanks Deana for suggesting this challenge - it has really helped move some things along the line....one project to go...guess we don't need to "wonder" what that will be . . . .LOL😁

Miscellaneous Blocks

I made two more blocks for the Night Group of Queensland Quilters.  These will go into a white purple and green quilt to celebrate International Womens Day in 2025.

and I finished two more flower blocks for De at Sunday Stitchers to include in a DV Quilt

FNSI - July

Winter has hit Queensland.
It is not often that I am thinking it is cold where I live...Winter is generally quite mild - by 10:00 AM it is often warm enough for a light top...and I rarely turn the air conditioning onto "Heating".
But its on this year - it has been cold - single digits overnight and very windy.

Nevermind, I can mostly stay in my Sewing Space and while away some time.

Tonight, as I joined cyber friends, I planned to sew some French Rose blocks.  

BUT any new project is hugely exciting and the first part of the Winter Shops Cross stitch pattern has been released,  I just had to make a start....

I have enough started, 

so that I can sew it without too much counting & checking 

on Sunday when I go to Sunday Stitchers.

Then - as it was footy time - I escaped and worked on the French Roses.

I had already prepped them so it was just a matter of stitching...
They are sewn by free motion stitching - with the wadding & backing attached.  De, from the Sunday Stitchers group asked us to make some - she will make a quilt for our DV Charity.

I had made 2 previously but will have 11 in total to hand over.
Here are a couple:

That is about it - thanks Wendy for gathering us together and a big "hi" to everyone who joined in.

FNWF - May

When you have the luxury of being able to sew all day . . when do you officially start FNWF??

I figure that is up to me  . ..so my day's efforts included:

Counting & some extra cutting of Novelty 5" blocks and the necessary number of half blocks.

Cutting and cutting 5" French General and FG-like blocks and the necessary number of half blocks.

Darn - there are only 170 good ones and 10 "sort of OK" ones.  I need 200 . . . hunting....hunting...


These are in preparation for an upcoming retreat...getting some charity work organsied  . . .hopefully a few will do some charity sewing....


Then it was some "me" time....I am sitting & waiting for this week's FPP block, so in the meantime I thought I'd whip up this Kiwi block.  This is actually my Chookshed Challenge #5 project, so I will do a separate post later....but he turned out kinda cute.

Now, I better get myself organised for  . . .yes...another sewing day tomorrow!

Thanks, Cheryll for hosting us again.
I hope everyone had some "me" time and was able to craft a bit.

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #4

Our Number for the Chookshed 2024 Challenge for March is #4 and many of the stitchers decided it would be a panel.

To be honest, I had originally planned to work on this panel - relatively simple ... mostly straight-line quilting.  

But when I measured it - it was too big to go where I had planned to put it . . mmmm. . . . . .so, I could make it narrower . . .I could rearrange other things and put it in a different place . . . .or I could defer the decision.....which I did!

Instead, I made up a panel into a quilt top which will be donated (when finished) to a Domestic Violence group, that my Sunday Group supports.

It was a quick make - I split the panel in two - added the black and red down the centre, a narrow red border and the black & white striped outside border.

Hopefully, it will be quick to quilt too!

I wonder what number Deanna will draw for us for April???

. 

FNSI - May

Another day/night of sewing fun... thanks to Wendy for encouraging us to sew and share our progress with friends.

My main job of the night was to join these 42 blocks into rows...I didn't get to making the top...but it will happen soon.
I started these blocks from a case of strips purchased from Jude - which she delivered to Baradine...(that was in April - so a pretty quick turn around!)

There are 6 blocks in each row...but they are off the sides.

I told my husband I needed a bigger cutting table . . .he grunted. Oh well.

Wendy's linkup is here if you want to see some of the others who sewed along . . .

FNWF - March

Today I had a FDWF and a FNWF.  Yes, a Day of sewing, crafting, eating, laughing and celebrating De's Birthday followed by Night time sewing with cyber friends.

During the day, I added cording to these drawstring bags which I had made earlier.
.

Helen has them now - ready for filling & dispensing.   a Quick charity project - 18 in all.

Then I did some sashiko on my tree panel 

and after a while - put it aside and did some crochet.

Tonight, the usual Better Homes & Gardens TV show and some more on the tree panel.

A few of us had been wondering what the RSC colour was for March - so I brazenly emailed Angela and received the reply in time for some cutting tonight.

My friend Inca is bringing her I Spy fabrics to our sewing meeting on Saturday (Yes, another one) and hopefully she has some greens I can add to fill in the gaps.

Yes, the colour is Green (For St Patricks's Day???)

During the show/crochet time, there were a lot of messages back and forth about a project that one of the group had decided on and we were all gradually being drawn in (or is that sucked in???)... Wait & see.  . . .I will just review my long list of UFOs & Planned Projects and hopefully talk myself out of it.
In case you are curious the discussions centered around this pattern:
https://penandpaperpatterns.com/en-au/products/pdf-sparrows-quilt-pattern

Thanks Cheryll for hosting - and happy sewing to all who were able to join in.

Retreat @ Esk

A group of like-minded sewing/craft people gathered at previously untested Twilight 2 Twilight Retreat @ Esk 25th - 28th March.
There were 6 of us - one was bestie Maureen, two were friends of hers who I have met a few times before, and two "new to me" girls.

Our organiser got us to volunteer for meal duties and of course, we all took extra  . .just in case . . . we took home a LOT of food...nevermind - it will work better next time . . .

I worked on a couple of things - but didn't take a lot of pictures.

Firstly I did a bit of cross stitch - to "ease" into it all!

Then I put this top together for grandbaby #3 - due in August - (a brother/sister to Grandchild #1).
They are not finding out what gender.

Fabrics are chosen by DD1.   We had a lot of "fun" conversing via Messenger while I was at Spotlight.  They are all Jocelyn Proust prints - except the grey of course.
The backing is also a Jocelyn Proust print.

Then I added a border to this - I bought the top minus borders from a friend - for the princely sum of $5.00.

Our Sunday Stitchers group is making a number of quilts to give to a Domestic Violence Shelter. I will ponder if I add one more border, then will think about the quilting . . . 

Then I moved on to My Small World - when was the last time I touched this one???????
Oh - back here - February 2021...

I enjoyed getting back into it - but it's not really a good "retreat" project.
Even though the sewing room is well set up - and very well lit!- it still isn't really big enough to spread it all out, and my small machine isn't as good when it comes to stitching a pinwheel block together.  Never mind some progress is good and I can re-stitch the odd seam - selecting the fabrics & cutting is the big bit!

We had some heavy rain while we were there and a blackout - short-lived, fortunately - and we had to carefully time loading the car when it was time to leave.  It wasn't too wet when I dropped Maureen home - but was bucketing by the time I got to my place - so all the gear stayed in the car overnight.

Overall a fun weekend - now we know how the place works, I'm sure things will go even better next time.

Pencil Roll Up Cases

Back here, I mentioned that I was making some pencil roll-up cases for Knitting 4 Brisbane's Needy.- the Charity project for  September - run by Echidna Sewing.

Here they are finished 

Thanks to some of my buddies - Maureen, Helen & Sandi - 

I was able to deliver 21 cases to Echidna Sewing on 30th September.