French Collection

This has taken quite some time . . .
I started the stitcheries in 2008 - a few of us from Loose Threads decided to do it - tempted by all the lovely buttons I think - or maybe it was just "peer pressure"  . . . .

I found a post from June 2014 - I know that was one of the later ones.

Finally it was a flimsy at retreat in August 2016

Then it took 3 years to get it quilted...and in the meantime I had done several re-orgs of my sewing stuff. .  .where or where are those buttons???
I finally found them over Easter, so was pleased about that.  Being so old it was unlikely that I'd be able to replace them

So it went onto my Sunday Stitchers' UFO Challenge List as #9 - and it needed to be finished by May 17.

Finally!

FNSI

Joining Friday Night Cyber parties certainly guarantees I do a blog post.

Friday nights are the same as ...same as...each week.

We had a takeaway meal of smoky chicken from a local cafe that we like and are trying to support in these crazy times...whilst watching Better Homes & Gardens, followed by a new reno show - (on 7 two) one room each week - budget renos - much more realistic than House Rules (in which I am very disappointed this year . .another story).  So more crocheting . . .I should be stitching but by Friday Night I'm usually a bit pooped.

Then I needed to get on with some button sewing - I want to finish all the buttons on a quilt ready for my Sunday Stitchers meeting on Sunday...at a pinch I have until 10:00 AM on Sunday to finish.....(There are over 100 buttons on this quilt). 
The next time I am tempted by something that needs more than three buttons - please remind me of this quilt.  Sewing buttons onto a bit of fabric is fine - but onto a quilt - so much harder - my hands are sore from rolling up the quilt - holding it - and trying to keep the button in the right place and then sewing it into place...and keeping it as neat as possible on the back...sigh

Here is one block:

It was a late finish...more to go on Saturday.
😟

Retreat Day 4

Still heads down and sewing madly...only 4 left by the end of the day

Today's work:

Maureen's Red Home mini quilt

 Inca's Quilt As You Go quilt for her grandson

 My French Collection - finally a flimsy...started this in 2008

and our Star Performer...(Wendy)
I gave her a pile of pre cut squares to join together....

then we cut a Thread Catcher for her and she made that up....

The Tally Board....

 Sadly only half a day to go....

Retreat - 2014 - Day 4

Not so many of us left now - started the day with 6 - but 2 have left...
Here is the Progress Board:

I managed to move 2 stickers today..One more I Spy/Novelty Disappearing 9 Patch....

and the main part of French Collection.

I had hoped to finish the top, but decided I needed another fabric for a first border, so it will have to wait a bit. But I am really happy with how it's looking so far....

The main finish of the day was this quilt top - it's queen size - but it's "awesome"...well done Nolene.

The actual colours are so much richer...and the yellow is an orange, but it's gorgeous.

Well half a day or so to go - luckily I still have til next Monday before I go back to work, so hopefully I can finish a few more things...

Weekend Sewing

Well, firstly there was Friday night (with Friends) for Sewing...
Then there was the first Saturday of the month for my #1 Patchwork Group where 6 of us sewed chatted & laughed our way through the day.
I worked on the stitchery I got ready the night before:

Then there was the second Sunday of the month - #2 Patchwork Group.  Because it is a long weekend we decided to have an extended day, so we  sewed, chatted & laughed our way through the day from 9.30am to 9.00 pm.. One of the hubbys cooked dinner for us and brought it down to where we were sewing - beautiful lamb and beef dishes with rice, followed by a chocolate & strawberry cake from the Cheesecake shop...yummo...I don't think I need to eat for a week...

Every year we make something to decorate one of the local libraries (Carina)  - last year we did decorated bras..this year we have made bunting - a few were hanging up today so I decided to snap a picture or two.

This one shows the crochet triangles - we all think they look like a 1960's bikini!
Margaret sewing away, HIlda and Anne trying to un-tangle a ball of wool

Two strips here - top one will probably go in the Childrens Corner at the library
And the bottom one will be used at Christmas time ...duh!...and will probably get some gold stars added

During the day I helped with another strip of bunting- which will show the name of our group. 
I also put together 4 blocks for the June BOM for Aussie Hero Quilts and did some more work on my North Pole blocks.

These blocks are sent to the coordinator
who then re sorts them all into collections
and volunteers make them into quilts for the service men and women.

Sunday night - time for a machine clean and new needle - but a great weekend all round - and bonus - no work Monday!   Might be able to squeeze in a bit more sewing...?????

FNWF - June

Friday night -Thanks to Cheryll  who hosts Friday Night with Friends - another cyber sewing opportunity...lost a bit of time eating out...and maybe a nanna nap as well...so not a lot to show...I did get this last block traced - so I can cross it off my list for last weekend....

I also finished a knitted square ready to hand over (at the next blog meet) to Maria who spends a lot of her time making up blankets for Brisbane's needy.   Pretty simple - a 10" square in 8 ply garter stitch.

Pop over here to see what everyone else got up to - probably a lot more than me!
Thanks Cheryll for hosting us - and providing the much needed encouragement.

But Saturday was another sewing day so I made a lot of progress stitching that block, 
and on Saturday night I prepared all the snow for my North Pole blocks - I will leave attaching it til I am ready to join all the blocks so I can make sure all the snow lines up...I don't want any snow drifts!!  But I think I can cross off the two remaining jobs from last weekends list...must be time for another list....LOL

Happy long weekend to most!