Lost and Found

 My mojo tends to be on a permanent lost and found mode but this post is about sewing projects. You know when you have a project in mind ... and you know where you stored it ... but it's not there? Maybe it's those pesky little craft gremlins playing hide and seek!

Well, after my marathon effort of finishing projects for our Exhibition, it was time to get back to my king size bed quilt. I knew exactly where that was ... but I FOUND a few other things tucked away neatly inside the container.

My scrappy version of a Flower Pot wall hanger I had made and forgotten about. The pattern was "LotsaPotsa Flowers" by Betsy DeFazio I browsed in an old magazine.  So a rushed quilting and binding job and just made it in time.

Another FIND was my original piece of Sashiko for the Chookshed Challenge ... maybe I can add this one to a new list for next year?

But wait, there's another FIND.  A carry bag complete with insulbright for taking my iron to patchwork day ... it was all cut out and ready to sew.

Always a great feeling to have a finish, especially when they've been around for a while. I still have 1 or 2 projects that the gremlins have hidden ... yes, I'm blaming them.

I hope to post some exhibition photos this week. The opening on Saturday was a huge success but unfortunately I couldn't attend ... we had a family reunion to attend and much catching up to do. Mum was 1 of 8 children and some of her cousins were also able to attend ... luckily the weather played nicely too.

FNSI + A UFO

Mission accomplished Friday night with the binding hand sewn on my last wall hanging.

This was a free BOM with Paula of Pacific Patchwork.

I just happened to have the perfect hanger as well. Also a UFO completed because I did the stitcheries back in 2011 with a few of the sashings sewn, along with lots of 1.5" squares. In February this year I "discovered" it again and put the top together... another Scrappy project for the Exhibition.

Now I will need to get back to my May goals ... MMQ and Chookshed Challenge, but first a little blog hopping to see what others get up to on a Friday Night.

FNSI and Finishes

 

It's that time of the week again ... Friday and time to grab a needle and thread, or your choice of project. I'm planning to hand stitch the binding on another wall hanging for the Exhibition.

I've never had so many finishes in a short period of time. Admittedly the wall hangers were tops just waiting on quilting.

This one was using the Twisted X template. There was a breeze playing with the pin wheels.

Next is my lap quilt made from my scrap strips stash. 

Here's the Hexagon Bag ... a kit I bought from Michelle's Patchwork and Art.  Another great future scrap busting project.

Onto quilting my (last) wall hanging and machine sew the binding ... ready for hand stitching tonight.

Couple of May Finishes

 Our little group is having an exhibition at the local Art Gallery in June/July. Titled "Scraps of Time", I've been busy getting a few finishes ready.

Scrappy Mystery is a completed wall hanging... this was an online mystery.

Some of us are making Place Mats which will also be for sale... I have 3 so far.

Then I have a Lap Quilt to hand stitch the binding and a bag in progress using hexies. I also have 2 larger Quilts that will probably hang as flimsies as  it was a bit of short notice.

Back to the sewing machine.

May Challenge and Progress

Chookshed Challenge for May is ...

My king bed quilt. I was sailing along with this one last year and then my big machine went to the big sewing room in the sky ... so the quilt went on the back burner. Just need to start joining more blocks.

This week the next steps for a little Mystery project were released. All those little 9 patches and HST have been sewn together with border one added.

Night time is a nice time for some Sashiko and my first piece is finished. I think this was also my March Chookshed Challenge.

Monday night I added April leaves to my Temperature Tree while watching Farmer Wants A Wife. 

It feels good to just chip away and make progress on projects and/or keep relatively up to date.

The May block for the Murder Mystery Quilt is released next Thursday and I need to get cracking on quilting a couple of Scrappy Quilts for an upcoming exhibition for our group. Hubby also informed me we have mustering to do.

Chookshed Challenge April Wrap

 I've been missing out on skipping around blogland to catch up with everyone ... I can only cross my fingers for May as I have a couple of quilting deadlines to try and meet. I should never say 'next week is looking quiet' because that's when something crops up!

Very happy with Challenge #4 which was my 2023 Temperature Quilt.  The flying geese were made but not joined ... then I machine appliqued the lettering on the top and bottom borders ... ta da! Top done and added to the "quilting" pile. Link to Chookshed Challenge HERE:

So loved the colours in this one, the fabrics are from the Grunge range.  I was hoping to also get #2 Sashiko panel finished for April but ... now my left hand is giving me some issues and I'm limited with what I can do. Hubby had to peg the washing out this morning ... It was a hard not to give corrective advise ... you know how it is when it's not done how you would do it? It was much appreciated.

FNSI with This 'n That

Friday found me in the craftavan working on my April Chookshed Challenge but I'll save that reveal.

In the evening the Sashiko panel came out for some progress stitches. As this was my March Challenge piece, I'd love to tick it off also.

School holidays were busy with grandies. While at the cattle yards we spotted this little fellow trying to hide in the grass ... can you spot it?

Getting into a routine with my sourdough bread, I'm finally happy with the baked result (fingers crossed I can keep it up).

The Temperature Tree branched out for April and today I managed the first week of leaves (not photographed).

More time in the craftavan and I completed the Murder Mystery Quilt April block.

Last but certainly not least ... this little lady joined the household today. Seems there's a new craze of Scrappy Dolls happening so I had to have a little play ... she needs a name.

And here I was thinking I hadn't achieved much in April. It's amazing what a stitch here and there can achieve ... it all adds up.

FNWF Wrap

 Threaded the needle and stitch by stich, I'm getting some coverage on the Sashiko panel.

It's one of those panels that has this 1 larger section and 7 smaller sections so I'll be on the look out for how to piece them all when stitched. If you visit Cheryll HERE, you can follow what everyone has been up to.

School holidays have started here and I'm expecting grandies today for a weeks visit ... they love to be busy outdoors but I should still get some stitching done at night ... IF I'm not too tired :)

Um ... Slow March, FNWF and April Challenge

 After riding the mojo wave in January/February, March went flat! ...

 I couldn't find the Sashiko panel that I had only just photographed for Chookshed Challenge ... got a sinus infection that hung on for over 2 weeks ... 

Bought a Sashiko Panel at the Childers Quilt Show so I eventually put needle and thread to work ...

I'll continue on this at night and will be my FNWF project this Friday.

Couple of items I did manage to finish were the Feb and Mar blocks for the Murder Mystery Quilt. Soooo many pieces of FPP in the Lama but I'm happy with how it turned out and the sun block also used FPP.

Did a catchup of some leaves on the March branch of Temperature Tree.

End of March saw a lot of visitors and trips into town for one thing and another including special "0" birthday lunches. I can't complain about all this wet weather even though it creates headaches for us here on our property ... nothing compared to the devastation unfolding out in Central and Western Queensland.

Ooops ... before heading off I just remembers it's a new month and a new Chookshed Challenge Number ... #4 is completing the top for 2023 Temperature Quilt

So I need to go make a cuppa and then hit the bookwork first, so I can spend some time today playing with my new sewing machine that I picked up last Friday for my birthday.

March Chookshed Challenge and a Finish

Frustrating!  I wrote this post yesterday and while I was adding in photos from my phone I ended up losing it all ... fresh start this morning.

So Saturday and Sunday I hid in the craftavan out of this horrid wind (thanks Cyclone Alfred) and completed all 6 Flower Pot cards.  A little bit of special 'fertilizer' and beautiful blossoms appeared ... the sentiments aren't glued down as I want to be able to mix and match those as the need arises. Mum is 80 this month and I also have 2 sister-in-laws turning 70 in April and June so now I have some lovely handmade cards to gift.

Deana's number selector chose #2 for our Chookshed Challenge in March ... checked my list and clapped my hands for some Sashiko. I'm looking forward to some stitching at night in front of the TV.

Tomorrow our group of patchwork girls are meeting up in Childers for their Annual Quilt Display. After lunch Mum and I will have a visit through the Chad Morgan Memorial Room ... Chad was mum's favourite country singer.