Chookshed Challenge # -3 - Sashiko Project

Ooops - I am late - but it's still 30th September in Deanna-land and she hasn't posted the final Linky, so I figure it's a pass!

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Last year, in November at the Glenrose Retreat, Chookyblue gifted us all some sashiko panels.

We (the group...or was it Madam Organiser...not me...) decided to set the challenge to have that project finished by the next retreat, so I added it to the Chookshed Challenge and this was the month to do it.

I was given the red version of the Devonstone Sashiko panel and decided on the baubles.  De had the same panel in green, so we swapped half our baubles.

De and I had several conversations about putting them together and she ended up making a vertical wall hanging. I decided to go horizontal.

I am disappointed it is so puckered...but . . .
WAIT!!!
It's not puckered - it's textured!
(Thanks to Helen @ Nannas Sewing Room)
or as Ma Betty says - it looks like Christmas trees texture!

I appliqued the baubles - added the braid and then quilted it - using serpentine stitch and a twin needle (size 4).  It took a bit of testing to make sure I didn't set the width too high. 
(If you are interested - 9mm machine, Size 4 and a width of 4 is OK... I think I could have gone a little wider...)

I added a flange binding - I have always known this as Susie's Magic Binding - which I found on a blog in 2012.   Read about it here.  Although making the binding takes longer than normal, it is machine-sewn, so that saves time.  It's great for children's quilts.

On the evening of the 29th, I was adding the bows....BUT....ran out of the braid!!!!!!!
So, a quick trip to the local bargain shop and I was able to finish them.

Good planning, Susan!!! (NOT)

The remaining Challenge Number #1 - it was to be a Christmas Stitchery.   I don't have one crying to be completed, but I do have a few decorations and a Christmas placemat to make, so I will make those my October Challenge.
Plans are just a guide...LOL....and can be changed as needed.

Thanks Deanna - I love the motivation of the Challenge - it certainly makes me get things done.

Chookshed Challenge #10 - Sashiko Table Runner

Another longish term finish.

I started the stitching on this in June 2020...originally purchased May 2018) and finished it in February 2021.
I found the fabric I wanted to use as a border to finish it off....but then it sat...I don't really use table runners, so that kind of explains why it didn't get finished....but it's time to wipe it off the list, so it was included as one of my Chookshed Challenge Projects.

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.
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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.

FNSI - February

I was able to get an early start on my FNSI projects - the advantage of working from home!!!

I started with cutting some pastel balis

Then it was time for dinner and Better Homes & Gardens - followed by the Grand Finale of Great British Bake Off that we had recorded...(seen it before but can't always remember who wins...LOL) so I stitched this:

The stitching is now finished.  I am not sure when I started this - I can find a post from June 2020 - so perhaps then.  I bought it in May 2018.  (Not too bad going).

I will add it to some other fabric - possibly a teal coloured linen type...who knows?

Then I moved onto a cross-stitch project - picked a bit that requires very little concentration!

and finally back at the machine and managed to get all these little bits together that I cut earlier in the night (mostly 1.5" cut squares).

I am loving the dual facebook/blog idea.  Facebook is a lot more interactive and we can comment as people post pictures...but I like my blog for long-time reminders of what I did when, so not giving that up.

BIG thanks to Wendy for organising us...and a bonus from now on - she has a sponsor so there is a "lucky door prize" each month.  Go Wendy!!!!!!!
(Not that we do this for the prizes, we do it because its our passion - sanity saver - keep out of jail project...etc)

Pop over here to see who else signed up - and visit their pages for some inspiring stuff.

Take Care everyone

Stay Safe

FNWF - February

A new month - time to gather with cyber friends - and sew!!!

Tonight was a bit of this & that....

One of the things I hope to finish this year is this sashiko project.....I have about 6" of the 40" left to sew...such an easy relaxing thing to do . . .

And another "plan" for the year is to progress my version of "My Small World"...I made a start quite a while back . . .  here where I started it...grand plans back then!!! LOL  and some more here (that was February 2020...{interesting coincidence}).

So this year I added it to my Sunday Stitchers UFO list - not to finish it but to "make progress on". The bit you see is near the top of Section 2....small steps - I have made Section 1 up to the top of the buildings, but you can't build a world overnight!

Saturday is the first meeting for the year for my Loose Threads Group - we had to cancel January due to some bug that is floating around the world...so I may make more progress on that sashiko project.

Thanks Cheryll who continues to give us the opportunity to congregate in cyberspace - and "encourages" us to blog at the same time.

I also worked on another project - but I'm sticking to the "no social media until reveal day" - May is the next time.  so you will have to stay curious.

Cheers - Happy Sewing - Stay Safe

Bumper Weekend

FMWF

Friday Night was FNWF.
You know the drill - a quick & easy dinner (fish & chips this time)  - easy stuff whilst watching BH&G . . . crochet this time
Then into SSS and I put these pieces together for the start of a baby quilt.

Chookshed Party

Every year Chooky has a Chookshed party.  Originally to celebrate the first year of having her own "sewing space"  - she invites girls to come for a sleepover and a big sewing gig.

Sadly this year there cannot be a real physical party - BUT good news for everyone else - it was a Cyber Party via Zoom.

I had a few things to sort in the morning - and then mid-afternoon I joined in...we chatted...we sewed - I saw faces I haven't seen for quite a while, .  . .I saw faces of people whose blogs I read and then I email with - (Hi again Bethan)
At one stage we had 11 or 12 . . . over a period of time, some left and some returned.
By 10.30 Chooky had given up . . I stayed until 11.30 by which time there were just three of us.
Not to be daunted Chooky started again about 7:00 am on Sunday.

I joined in for a while and again saw people I haven't seen for a while - (Hi Holly, Raewyn).

I worked on a variety of hand sewing things...here are a few bits:

 Love & Hugs Australia - Anni Downs block

Some backstitching on the current cross stitch

 Some sashiko

and some more crochet....always interesting how the variations make a pattern and then stops.

As a lot of people are saying - although this Covod-190 pandemic is a disastrous event for the world - so many good things have come out of it.
In this case, the opportunity for sewers all over the world to connect visually and sew together.  Whilst Chooky missed out on her very special weekend (as well as the Baradine gig), so many of us were able to come together which would not have been possible without the push.

A huge thanks to Chooky for instigating & organising and especially making sure that the OS people had an opportunity to be involved.
It was a lot of fun - we learnt a lot - not all sewing related - and we certainly got an insight into life in other parts of the world. 

Glenrose Retreat 2018

I have just had a week away with a mad bunch of ladies.  This retreat at Glenrose Patchwork is quite different to the one I do in August...but I still try to be prepped well and I try to make the most of the time away - that means late nights and not too much sleeping in.

I had a list of "To Dos" and was able to achieve almost all of it.

I've had to block out one - it's a secret project  - quite a time consuming one - I didn't finish it - I didn't expect to - but I made a lot of progress on it.

Here are a couple of finishes:

A small wall hanging with a stitchery from Natalie Bird.
(The stitchery was completed ages ago.)

I runner/topper for a set of drawers in our family room:

This one was an unplanned project.  This retreat is held at a Patchwork shop - very dangerous to the wallet!!!!    Quite a few of us made these reading pillows - the front of the pillow has a large pocket and you can add a few books and give it as a gift.
I fell in love with this greeny tree fabric and have a purpose for it early next year, so figured I would join in the fun.  It was very quick to make, just need a pillow now.

Another project I "finished" was to add the borders to my Holly Cottage Christmas Quilt.   I started this quilt as part of a Stitch-a-Long hosted by Fiona over here.
The quilt is designed by Michelle Ridgway and I have made many changes to her pattern.  I am sure she may want to thump me - but this is for my eldest daughter and she had a few requests - so the blocks got changed around a bit and we minimised the detail.  As much as the original design is gorgeous - I wanted this quilt to be for DD1. 

To take the photo I pinned it to a quilt on the wall - so ignore the blue and pink on the outer.  It stops at the bauble border.   I will be getting this quilted by someone so much better at quilting than me - so stay tuned for the finished quilt - before Christmas.

Just for the record, I also made an angel ornament, added ribbon to a towel and made a bag for the a charity project that Sunday Stitchers are doing.

I had a ball, I got so much done.  Thanks to the Tuesday girls who invite me along each year.  And a big thanks to De who did the driving - allowing me to crochet along the way and keep ridiculously late nights!

Sashiko BOM - Block 1

I went to the Brisbane craft show in March and saw a quilt from Indigo Niche in sashiko.  This was a bit different to the usual  navy/white and it caught my eye. 
I have finished Block 1 - it was easy enough as the design is already printed on and its a simple running stitch - once you master the huge needle and thick thread (and long length compared to my normal stitcheries).

One block done - 8 to go!