Christmas in July at Queensland Quilters

I go to the nighttime meetings of Queensland Quilters.  This July, the organisers decided to have a Christmas postcard swap.

I made this one:

A machine embroidery design.

and received this one - "Three Wise Cats"

In December, we have decided to do another postcard swap - this time with the theme "Winter in Queensland".
mmm....still thinking about that  . . .we don't get snow - we have had a cooler than normal winter, but still not really cold...a cup of soup?, a scarf?, a thermometer showing the lowest and highest temperatures?  Ideas gratefully accepted.

Sunday Stitchers - Autumn Project, Easter Postcard, Crochet Blocks

Seasonal Project

Our Sunday Stitchers group decided to have an optional project for 2024.  We are making seasonal "things" - originally, it was to be a mini quilt - but we changed it a bit so you can make whatever you want.

I decided to make different versions of my house.  The seasons don't really vary much in sub-tropical Brisbane and I am not into pumpkins which seems to be the usual choice, so I included a bit of orange as flowers in the garden.

I suspect an architect or technical drawer would be horrified, but this is a fair representation of our house.

Easter Postcard

Following the success (??) of our Christmas Postcard swap, we decided to do it again for Easter...Sadly, only 4 participated.  😞

I made this one - an In The Hoop project from Sweet Pea - adapted for a postcard.

It went to Alison and I received hers....I guess with only 4 it was statistically likely!

One was made by Cheryl who couldn't come today - so here are the 3.

                              

Crochet Blocks

It's been ages since I have handed over some crochet blocks to Maria - but finally, today was the day...only 9...but it is something.

We had s fun day, despite a number of us missing

SIMS Birthdays 2023

I am the lucky last to have a birthday in our SIMS group.

We met at my place for some nibbles and sewing, then off to one of the local clubs for lunch.

At home - with coffee and cake - I received my nature-themed postcards:

Sue included a ladybird, a cat, flowers, a bird, clouds and the sun.

Maureen included fuchsias (that have stitched stamens with beads added).  They are one of my favourite flowers and some lovely decorative stitching.
and tucked in there is special selvedge - it says:

"If nothing changed, there'd be no butterflies."

Since then I have received one from Inca - this one is very special.

SIMS Birthdays 2023

October is another birthday celebration - this time it is Sue.

We sewed for a little while at her place, then went out to lunch.

And we had cake - a sponge with cream has become our tradition.

But I forgot photos of the food!

And of course - another postcard.   Sue has a fondness for wombats, so that is what I did.

Maureen also chose a wombat - this one is foundation pieced.  (A Margaret Rolfe pattern.)
I had thought of this one too - fortunately, I changed my mind!

One more Birthday celebration this year....me!!!! - that means I don't need to make any more Birthday postcards....this year anyway....

Happy 0 Birthday Sue!!!!

SIMS Birthdays 2023

Our little SIMS group (Susan Inca Maureen & Sue) meets monthly and do Birthdays by going out for lunch and giving a small gift.

This year we decided we would each make a postcard using "Nature" as the theme.

Inca received hers in April

This month it is time to give Maureen her Birthday Postcard and treat her to lunch.   We decided to eat in this time, so Sue & I brought food along....and a little bottle or two!


This is the postcard I made for Maureen.

This is the group of 3

SIMS Birthdays 2023

Our little SIMS group (Susan Inca Maureen & Sue) meets monthly and do Birthdays by going out for lunch and giving a small gift.

This year we decided we would each make a postcard using "Nature" as the theme.

Inca originally comes from Holland - so I decided to stick with the Dutch theme and use Tulips on my postcard to her.

The tulips are a machine embroidery applique design and I found a postcard machine embroidery design.  I was hoping for a lovely edge to finish off my postcard, so was a bit disappointed that it's a blanket stitch...but I wanted to try it anyway.  I was not overly impressed with the design file, nor with the instructions...but I learnt stuff and overall I'm happy with it.

 Giving Inca her gift was delayed somewhat - but it has now been safely delivered.

November finishes

Not really a lot of finishes for the month - a LOT of WIP - or if it's finished I can't show it yet . . .

Firstly my SS UFO #8 - My Postcards quilt - based on Leanne Beasley's pattern Road Trip.
It's not a good picture and I will update it later on.

I customised a lot of it - I did postcards for places we have visited as a family and added images that reflected something significant from the trip.

For example Noosa - our youngest called the pelicans "ducks"  so I did a pelican.

For the Mornington Penisula - again my youngest - was allergic to all dairy products - so when we found a cafe with a non dairy milk shake we were delighted! - hence a milkshake container for that postcard.

And - whilst on retreat recently - I was able to use my second volunteer leave day from work - to make 10 drawstring bags

and 11 stockings

These will all go to Knitting for Brisbane's Needy - K4BN - the same place that gets the crochet blocks that I make.

My November collection - only 5 blocks.

Since I am not in the car every day for 2 trips in and home from work - my crocheting productivity has dropped significantly...but a few blocks help.

There is a lot of other stuff "in the pipeline" but as normal for this time of the year it's all hush-hush.

Hopefully, December's roundup will have "heaps".

An old UFO - SS UFO #10

In about 2006/2007, my Loose Threads group talked about making a postcard using colours that started with the same letters as our intials (SEW for me).

I no longer recall why we didn't do it, but every so often as I tidied/reorganised I discovered the started project.  Last year (2019) another group I belong to decided to make postcards as birthday gifts and I thought that I should finally finish off the UFO, which I did early this year.

I decided to add it to my Sunday Stitchers UFO list and finally this month it got its "reveal".

I went with Scarlett, Emerald and Wisteria.  I had the words machine embroidered way back (2006/07), as I didn't have an embroidery machine then.

I was lucky to have an Emerald green heart button, I painted the cotton reel buttons to match the colours and added the other doo-dads, including a very appropriate pin - "Last MInute Maker".

This is my #10 for my UFO list.

Three more UFOS to go for 2020.

Birthday Post Cards

Today was our SIMS meeting - so time for me to celebrate my Birthday (early) and collect my Postcards.
Sadly we were only SMS today as Inca was unwell...

Nevertheless - some delectable delights for morning tea - (sorry no picture!!!), a lunch out with a glass of bubbly, and two Birthday postcards:

Maureen's shows a Sewing Machine, Emerald Wool, Wooden Knitting Needles (The back has Starfish and Shells...(but IT issues prevent  me posting that photo.)

Sue's has Sapphires, Spider, Emeralds, Wooden Window and a Spider's Web

Pretty clever girls - thanks a bunch - I love them!!!

Updated:

I have now received my Postcard from Inca:

It is so pretty.  It features Emerlad & Wisteria in the coloured thread.  The stitchery is in waves, and the words that are embroidered are;  Embroidery, Sky, Wishart, Sampler, Embellishment, Wine, Sea, Water, Stripe, Earrings, Waves and Sydney.
All words that relate to me in one way or the other.....I think this is very clever. 

Birthday Postcard #3

In my SIMS group - we have 3 birthday months in a row.  So this time it was time for Sue's.  She has only 2 initials...S & W
I mentioned a few posts back that I had decided what I was going to do....but then I got a few comments suggesting other things...so my mind went off track and as Maria had suggested Sea & Waves....I ended up with this:

It became a Guessing Competition...it became apparent there was far more than one S and one W.
again, I will give you a moment to think....and think about the front, back & wrapping.

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Here it all is - some of it is a bit of a stretch...but if you are going to have a game - it may as well be silly:

Sky
Seagulls
Surf
Sand
Sunhat
Sun-Shade (umbrella)
Stitches
Soft drink
Serving bowl / Saucer
Star
Square


Water
Waves
Woven towel
Wooden tables & chairs
Webbed feet

Wild time in the Sand

Star Wrapping paper from Starlight Foundation with Silver ribbon and Sticky Tape

On the day, we added a few more!

Here is the group of 3 - second one is Sailing boat, sun & window, waves
Bottom one is Sequins, Waratah & Wattle.

 

That's it for me for the year - I get 3 next month...

FNWF - October

I had another late night in the city - nails and pedicure were due...but I joined you in spirit and worked on my crochet while my feet were being beautified.  

When I got home I worked on a secret project - sorry this is all I am showing . . it is that post card I mentioned before.....so I can't even show a bit of it.....

Thanks Cheryl for continuing to organsie us all even though you are constantly dragged away to go on holidays!..Pop over here to have a look at look at the others who joined in...

Birthday Postcard

It was time for another Birthday Postcard.  In SIMS - this year - we are making each other a postcard - using the initials of the person's name.

This time it's for Maureen - her initials are M C L

so have a guess:

I'let you have a moment to think . . . .
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 Got it????

Mountains   Clouds     Lake

I had thought of this combination on the way home from the meeting when we decided to do it . . .I had a thought of how I'd applique some mountains and lake and embroider clouds . . . and being an expert procrastinator - hadn't even started it at the beginning of September when I was going on a retreat . . and visiting patchwork shops . . . where I found a perfect fabric - but - alas - none left in stock...
So some very clever detective work by Cheryl (Thanks Heaps Cheryl) - she found some at Peppermint Stitches and luckily I could sneak over there one work day at lunchtime.

I had to do some "cut and paste" to move the lake - and copied the fabric twice so I could practice - and the extra page became the wrapping paper...my creativity astounds me at times!!!! LOL

Here are all 3 postcards

#2 is Marigolds, Cat & Lavender
#3 is the same theme but quite different 

and the back of mine for reference!

The next one is due in October - only 2 initials   S & W   (almost the same as mine . . . )

What will it be???   What would you do???

(I have a plan...just need time . . . .lol)

March Finishes - OPAM (13)

I'm running late for an end of March post - but better late then never??

I'm back on track crocheting squares for K4BN - 11 this month

In my SIMS group - we decided - last year that for birthdays we would make each other a postcard - using the initials of the person.  Sounded like a great idea at the time . . .

First off the rank was Inca - IMT (not such an easy set of  initials really - we have told her to change her name...lol)

Here is mine - see if you can guess the I M & T . . . .

 No??? Icecream Meringue (chocolate) and Topping

The baby quilt is all done (though - it still needs a label)
My DD chose a classic Winnie the Pooh fabric and we teamed it with greens (gender neutral)

and a close up

I have a few more done or almost done but they need to wait til after Scub Stitchin' at Baradine - by now - in one week - I will be there chatting, hugging, setting up and getting ready to power on to a new project ...why finish an old one when there are so many new projects on the horizon??

Thanks Kris for continuing on with OPAM - it's the motivation we need to post our finishes.