FNWF - May

Lovely relaxing Friday night - quick dinner and into the sewing and TV.
I did some more work on my favourite "pick up and go" project...a cross stitch... It's called "Pretty Little Sydney".  You can visit her blog  Satsuma Street..to look at her other patterns which are available via Etsy. (@craftnik on Instagram where I first saw this range of patterns)  There is a huge variety available - and they are pdf downloads so no postage and no waiting - assuming you have fabric and threads....

So this is where I was at Friday night...

Thanks everyone for your company - and thanks to our hostess with the mostess.

Mothers Day today...waiting for brunch...then a relaxing day...I hope...

I'll be off visiting some FNWF blogs

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums.

Stuff-a-Tin Swap from No Fuss Swappers

I joined in the second swap from the No Fuss Swappers - this time we had to stuff a tin - no real rules...but of course sewing oriented.

I found a lovely tin during my trip to Nundle and lined it - the lid can be used as pin/needle  cushion - and the bottom so things don't rattle around...We were allowed to include a small treat - it had to fit in the tin - I chose Fruit Tingles as Sarah - my recipient - is working on the Fruit Tingles Quilt from Sue Daley.



(So now you see what my FNSI - April project was)
I received this lovely collection of bits & pieces from Christine.  It includes a cute little zippered pouch in "my" colours and matching threads and buttons, a key ring & charm, pins, lace to match the fat quarter, a mini charm pack.  That tin was totally stuffed full!!!

Thanks again Christine

There is a new swap happening over on  to No Fuss Swappers ...

This time it's for some Kitchen goodies...

Pop on over here to sign up....it really is a nice simple swap - 

and NO extras are allowed.

April Finish

I have finished my Quilty Fun Sew-a-Long Christmas Quilt.  This was a project from Lori Holt that she ran in 2014 on Instagram - some of the blocks were in her book "Quilty Fun" and some were only on IG.  I didn't do it at the time ...though I bought the book - so thought I'd better make the quilt at least.

Her pattern has a pieced border which I chose not to do and I used a strawberry block from her Farm Girl Vintage book instead of the log cabin block - more appropriate to an Australian Christmas I thought.

FNSI - April

It seems life is full of mystery projects, or secret sewing . . .so there is a lot I don't want to show...but I can show this - and leave out the explanation.

I hope everyone had a productive night - Thanks again to Wendy for organising the party.
Enjoy the weekend...and maybe some more sewing...?

Wendy Williams Workshop

I spent today doing Day One of a Wendy Williams Workshop - when I first saw this quilt called "Round the Garden" ....

 -  it really drew me in...I wouldn't attempt it at the moment - it is so big...but it's great to learn her techniques and play with all the bright colours she uses.

So today we learnt some flowers and how to use some simple embroidery stitches to decorate them..my efforts today - and one that I did for homework.  These flowers will get more decorative work on them when they are attached to the background.

Far from perfect - but nature isn't perfect either!!!

Off to finish my homework...got some tracing to do!

FNWF - April

Wonderful to enjoy another cyber sewing night...After a late start (Arrived home from a Sydney trip at 8.30pm)  I did a bit more on my tree.  It's getting so close to being finished.

 For those who visited last month and wondered what my teaser would become..

The teaser 

The end result.


Til next time - Happy Sewing

FNSI March - EWSI

Wendy delayed our usual FNSI for a week - and that's a bonus - (1) I was away last week so it was hard to post a FNSI post and (2) this is a 4 day weekend...so plenty of sewing time...I have worked on a few things but this has been a pet project.

Like a lot of quilters I did cross stitch before patchwork took over and every now & then I like to go back to it.  When I saw this on the cover of Homespun I knew I had to make it - I have a "thing" for trees .....it's a fairly small project so I won't have time to get bored with it...lol..and in Homespun it is framed with a wooden embroidery hoop - and I happen to have one the right size...so no expensive framing needed.

I've had a long break from work really - I was away from the 17th on my trip to Nundle, went to work Monday feeling so-so and had Tuesday and Wednesday off sick...Thursdays I don't work and of course Friday was a holiday...(and Monday)...but all that work will still be there when I get back....

Thanks Wendy for hosting us for a long weekend - I hope we didn't wear out our welcome!!

March finishes - Zippy Bag and Project folder

For GDITC at Nundle, we have a "blog swap".  I made this little zippy bag....

And on the Sewing Day we have another swap - we had been given a stitchery design from Anni to use on our swap gift.

This is what I made - I changed the words a bit to read "Friends gather in Nundle" (instead of Friends are never far away).  

Good to be able to post these finishes.

Nature's Journey by Anni Downs

I made this quilt as part of the Stitch-A-Long blog - designed by Anni Downs.  I did make a few small changes - a lot of us refer to this practice as "Dawnifications" - although Cheryl has recently suggested "Susanterations"...(think 'alteration')...- thanks Cheryl - I do like that idea....I often say "Patterns are just a guide"..

As I was at GDITC in Nundle recently with Anni teaching for the stitching day I had her sign the label.  It's a bit feint but I can read it.

I am posting this for the record as a March finish.

GDITC - Nundle - 2016

Thursday 17th
A bit of an early start today....but a lot of kilometres to travel.....Approx 660 in total.
Captain Cheryl driving, co-driving by Maureen and busy crafters Inca, Lynda and me in an imax van.
First stop....breakfast at Warwick Gardens Galore......yummy as always.

Then more driving....and finally dinner at the Peel Inn where we were joined by Kerri, De and Marilyn.

Friday
Off to Cottage on the Hill for a little retail therapy

(The threads are for an upcoming Wendy Williams workshop)

and then lunch to meet up with most of the bloggers.

Friday night was nibblies and drinks and our blog swap.  
Here is the collection of the swap items.

I made this ....and it was given to De.

I received this gorgeous pin cushion from Dawnie.  She used a Gossip in the Garden pattern and added "Girls Day in the Country Nundle 2016" arounds the sides.  Clever little chick she is.

Friday night celebrations were dampened a little by a huge thunderstorm - heavy rain, hail...but we coped.

Saturday
Sewing Day - with Anni Downs.

I had put out a call for anyone who had made Anni's Turtle to bring them along - we had a good "turn" up of Turtles.
(A group of turtles is referred to as a Turn, a Bale or a Nest)

(I did not arrange them like that...)

In our projects bags 

we had the traditional mug - and our sewing treasures

 - a 10" square of every fabric in Anni's new range, some felted wool and some Ric Rac.  We had a huge choice of projects - and we could do them in appliqued felt or stitchery.

I started on the Needlebook - but much more as it can hold scissors, threads, pens and heaps more.  This is the inside.

We also have a Show & Tell of Anni projects, so I was finally able to reveal my Natures Journey quilt.

There were so many lovely quilts and smaller projects...makes you want to start another one...

Kerry organises a swap for the day - we had been given a stitchery design from Anni to use on our swap gift.
This is what I made - I changed the words a bit to read "Friends gather in Nundle" (instead of Friends are never far away).  Unfortunately I don't know who received it.

  

And I received this little note book with stitched cover.

I also did a little shopping of the goodies on display

Couldn't resist  the "SEW" pouch.

Each year Kerry has a quilt that is raffled to support a cause close to her heart.  This year she had made little table toppers out of the left overs from cutting the kits and I was lucky enough to win one.  
Since it matches our sewing projects so well - it may become a bag or pouch to hold all the other bits...still working on that one.

Saturday night 
A BBQ - organised by the caravan park owners - Kim & Heath.  The weather was a bit kinder although it got windy - we have a great Show & Tell - but I was too busy admiring to take photos.
Sunday morning
sad faces as we gather for breakfast...Its all over for another year...