Easter is always a long break from work - as I don't work Thursdays that means I am off from Wednesday night til Tuesday morning....BUT this year - just after Easter - I am off to Baradine (near Coonabarabran...in case...) for - yep - you guessed - a Sewing Gig - for those who don't know - it's the replacement for GDITC @ Nundle....
As GDITC started (unofficially) Friday lunchtime - I would normally go on Thursday, so only one day off work - but Baradine starts Thursday lunchtime - so I (we...with my bestie & driver) are leaving on Wednesday - so if I had to take Wednesday as a Leave Day - I may as well take Tuesday too - so I am off work from Wednesday 28th March until 9th April....Whoopee Doo - pity someone can't do my work while I am away...oh well ...not thinking about that ATM.
So Easter has been a lot of prepping, packing, sorting, finishing...making a secret sewing project for the Make It or Fake It swap....and a few other fiddly bits including finishing a few things for the Show & Tell session....
I won't show anything now apart from this :
(They are drying on the warmish lap top)
I decided I needed a few flowers for something ...and as I needed a largish piece of washaway stabilser, I figured I may as well make the most of it and made a few more...some of them have a specific home (shhh ....secret stuff...) but the others will go to a friend who makes stoles for First Communions.
I do hope you have had a lovely Easter - in which ever way makes you happy.
I've been a bit tardy posting this - Cheryll (aka Chez aka Dory) - who accompanied Shez - has sent me this gorgeous little needle keeper - Very lovely of Chez - again very appreciative - but I was so happy just to get a chance to catch up.
I have seen a few of these and thought I wouldn't really use one...but then I was packing for a sewing day and gathering all the bits and pieces and realised that if I had a Tooly full of most of the bits I need to take with me - it would be quicker to just pick up and go.
I was able to borrow one to refer to as I made it which helped a great deal. Of course I changed a few bits - - the pockets and ramped up the elastic that holds it together when not in use.
I added a covered notebook...just to coordinate it all.
So this can now stay packed with spares and extras and hopefully I will have everything I need when I'm away from home sewing.
The pattern came from Sew Together - they have updated the pattern to a larger size with room for a small cutting mat and added a handle. You can find that one here:
(I'm on the look out now for a small purple rotary cutter and even a purple ruler . . .that could be tricky!)
This is using the same range of fabrics that I used for the mini quilt here.....it's from Leanne Beasley - called "Potting Shed". I'm kinda liking it at the moment....you will probably see more projects using it in the (near) future.
And a hint: I used foam core as recommended in the pattern, the one I borrowed had something about 1/4 " thick and I think over time that is probably better as I can see my cover is bending already.
Yes Chooky I know you will "tell me" - I will bring it!......LOL
We are a little delayed this month "due to technical difficulties" - but we all gathered at Wendy's "Cyber house" to sew and pass the time of day.
I had planned to hand stitch while watching TV , and then do some machining - but Joey (the cat) decided to bed down on top of my legs so I stayed there cross stitching....I guess my plan for tonight will also need to be delayed.
This is what I worked on . . . .I only do this at home - it's just too hard when you are in a group and trying to have conversations.
Thanks Wendy - glad to hear your internet is all OK now.
This is my project #10 for Sunday Stitchers Challenge.
I have had the stitchery finished for quite a while - and I have forgotten its correct name.
A little while back I saw some lovely fabrics - yes in purple - well I prefer to call these mauve . . and resisted....for a while - but then I remembered this stitchery and another one in similar colours (which I expect to finish off for Project 9 next month) and decided they needed to come home with me. I have only used two of them in this one.
I have made this to fit my mini quilt hanger, so it's about 12 x 14". And I decided I would try out the "hand look" quilting stitch ..... I have used it before on my older machine but Monster Machine has an automatic setting for it...so off I went.
Aren't patchwork friends the best??
For a number of reasons I decided not to go to Let's Get Stitched here in Brisbane this weekend. And as Shez and Chez (the terrible twos???) are not going to Baradine next month, I decided I should catch up with them by collecting them from the airport and delivering them to the hotel - which also gave the opportunity for a quick catch-up with a few other people.
Shez arrived with 2 suitcases and I jokingly asked if one of them was full of presents . . . .and she said Yes. One of them (not big enough to justify an extra suitcase...) was for me, to say thanks for the transport!
A gorgeous needle case. Shez I will treasure it - thank you so much.
Friday Night sewing With FriendsBut mostly Saturday....
I really only did a bit on Friday Night - I joined you in spirit - but I needed to sort, clean and organise ready for my turn at hosting Loose Threads on Saturday.
Let's just say a combination of Friday Night and Satur - day saw this Gail Pan block finished.....I wish I could sew as fast as my friend (you know who you are....) but I suppose being hostess today meant I was up and down a fair bit - patterns to find, a few pages of "something" to copy, a pair of scissors to lend, morning & afternoon tea to set out.
But it was a great day - and lovely to catch up with one of our gang who spends months at a time travelling in a caravan - she finally received her Birthday present from last November!
So here is that block:
and tonight I pressed and cut the other blocks, so I am up to date...for a week and a bit - and I have included the fabrics that I will be using.
The actual pattern is to applique these onto blocks, but I will be using them as whole blocks...a bit like the Ruth's Quilt pattern I am also making.
Thanks to Cheryll for hosting the cyber party - I'm off to the World of Craft Expo in Brisbane tomorrow - maybe I will catch up with your progress during the week.
Whilst it's been a busy month for me - it was only a short one!!! LOL
I was going to be visiting my God Daughter (in Sydney) and handing over the baby quilt I had made for her second child - Harvey (here).
Almost at the last minute I saw something and thought it would make a good present for the older one - a girl. Luckily she has a short name.
As they say - never work with children and animals. Miss Zoe didn't want to smile after I got my camera ready - so this is the best I could get of the two of them on the new quilt.
I produced the stars on the "Monster Machine".
I had thought to give it a cutesy name but I think "Monster Machine" is working well for me.
Last Sunday - at Sunday Stitchers - I took along my Project #12.
I wasn't able to get it finished in time..there has been a lot happening...but when this number was drawn out last month - I had a top with no side borders. So I have managed to add the borders, pin it, quilt the vertical lines and most of the horizontal lines (apart from where I want it to be the aqua thread), bound it and have started to fill in the night sky with stars.
I want to add a moon and many more stars, but a few people have commented on it and I thought I'd show you the "in progress" shots.
The quilt is based on a pattern in Tula Pink's 100 Modern Quilt Blocks book. I've adapted it to fit existing hangers and spaces on my walls.
a sample of the night time stars....many more to be added....
Not great photos - I will get better ones when I'm finished.
Who needs an excuse to sew?? Not me - but it's fun to know a whole pile of us are doing the same.
Friday Night was some hand stitching while watching some Better Homes & Gardens.
and then I got stuck into some quilting - this is Project #12 for my UFO List - thought I better get a move on.
I cannot get a photo that shows the colour - its a dark charcoal grey - so just the back for now:
And to top it off Saturday was Loose Threads day and I worked on a few more blocks for Ruth's Quilt..only a few to go now.
Hopefully some more sewing tonight - tomorrow I better get a bit domestic 😡
Thanks again Cheryll
