FNWF, Challenge #1 and Other Things

More this and that as the school holidays were coming to an end. A day of putting things back as they were after our first visitors and then Summer pushed it's way into Spring on Thursday to deliver a "stinking HOT day", finishing off with a storm.

Friday was town day to stock up the pantry and to check out Mum's mystery flowering plant. A few years ago, her Grandson-in-law gave her a piece of old root he dug up in the hope it might shoot ... it's taken a while to get to this stage but has finally flowered! I believe it's known as 'Queens Wreath' or more commonly 'Sandpaper Vine'.

Friday Night with Friends ... time to wind down with some more Sashiko and another block finished.

Saturday our daughter and boys arrived for the long weekend ... we mustered ... we baked ... and they accompanied me on my walks.

Last month I registered for "Oceans to Outback" to fundraise for Royal Flying Doctor Service ... my target is to walk 45km for the month of October. So far so good with a walk each day, keeping them to early morning or late evening ... Harley's enjoying leading the way.

RADF OceanstoOutback/Narelle

Chookshed Challenge has come to the final month and #1 is to quilt my Fishpond wall hanger. I know exactly where it is and hopefully can make a start on it this week.  

Thankyou Deanna ... this challenge has kept me on my toes and finishing projects that would otherwise be still in the waiting line.

Lastly, my Temperature Tree was updated at the end of September and I've also completed the next branch ... when the power went out in last Thursday's storm.

Off to enjoy a cuppa ...

This and That

This and that during school holiday time with visitors one and all. Mum came to visit and catch up with her great grandies ... while she was here she joined the halves of my very large round knitted rug from last year.  It was a BHG kit and I'd chose to follow the pattern for the round knit rug on circular size 10mm needles with 3 yarns. I'd finished the two halves but was procrastinating on the joining so now it's a finish! Thans Mum 💖
Before the grandies arrived I had a baking morning, Anzacs, Apple Crumble Muffins and Choc Brownie for morning teas ... 

Once dinner is over,  the kitchen tidy and little people are tucked up in bed, I've been working on my Sashiko panels .... each are about 6" square.

Master M (5) had requested sock savers a while back and I had been slack so he got to choose his fabric and I ran this pair up one morning followed by 1 more pair for him and 2 pair for Master J (11)Last night I finished off my 4th little block while watching My Kitchen Rules ... 3 to go.

The house is quiet this morning ... boys headed off yesterday after lunch and Mum has just phoned to let me know she arrived home safe and sound. Funny how things turn around ... it used to be me having to phone to let my parents know I arrived safely. Now I need a town day to grocery shop and get ready for the other grandies over the long weekend.

Happy stitching xx

Chookshed Challenge Wrap

September - #3 - Happy Houses

I have searched high and low, inside out and all about ... no house blocks! Maybe they will surprise me one day but for now I'm declaring them LOST!

Meanwhile I have continued on with #9 "Strips n Curves" and am very pleased with this finished flimsy.

Another top for the quilting pile. One day I'll have to get busy on those but for now I have one waiting for next month's challenge.

The Race Was On and FNSI

 Happy National Jelly Roll Day!  

On Thursday while carrying out a thorough search in my craft areas, I found a jellyroll from a workshop years back. We started 2 jelly roll quilts, the first I finished (photo below) and the second I joined 3 strips, cross cut into triangles and that's as far as it got.

When Chooky announced a possible zoom session for today ... I realized my finding that jelly roll was meant to be. And so the race was on. Initially I was getting Ocean vibes but now it's together, I'm wondering Sky and Mountains?

I was surprised how fast the top came together after the initial loooonngg seam. Not only a jelly roll race, but a race against my phone going flat .... I had to shift and plug in to charge. Also a race against mother nature ... as the clouds came in heavier, my internet became less reliable and my connection kept dropping out, freezing everyone on my end.

In the nick of time the race was won and I bid goodbye to everyone. Thankyou ladies for another lovely morning of catching up and sewing.

Since the weather has warmed up and my last crochet rug is stored away, it was time for some Sashiko.

Thankyou Wendy for getting us all together again ... so last night I continued on with my next small panel after finishing the first. 

Time for a cuppa and some more "tidying up" in the craft areas.

Sunday This and That

In between helping out with cattle work, I've been tucked away in the craftervan ... out of the cold wind. Friday I made up the September blocks for MMQ.

This year's Murder Mystery Quilt (MMQ) is set in Peru. Each month we receive a new block or choice of blocks and the next chapter in a Murder Mystery novel. Clues to "who done it?" can be found in the chapters and blocks as well as bonus clues, but I'm no Miss Marple.

Saturday I finally managed to jump on Zoom with Chooky and friends. I've been missing out on connecting with this lovely group of ladies and it was the best start to my day. While listening and chatting I joined 3 rows on my Strips n Curves.

Later after more cattle work, I finished joining all rows. Now for a peeper and a border  ... I'm auditioning a blue peeper bottom left or pink/red on the right.

Last night I put the last treble crochet in my C2C rug. It's only small at about 35" square but I love how the varigated wool worked out.

This morning another sourdough loaf baked and some sourdough crumpets for smoko.

I may have also started another monthly Mystery Quilt from Meadow Mist Designs ... 1st month is this hourglass blocks so this is my project for tomorrow at our Patchwork Day.

I couldn't help myself and was able to pull fabrics from my stash ... 2 down and 54 to go.

Happy Sunday 😊 

FNwF

 Thank you Cheryll and friends for a lovely Friday night.  I managed to get a head start earlier in the day with a block for my Murder Mystery Quilt.  Back in March I made the FPP Lama block but now that I've been playing with layout, it's the only animal block I've chosen to make so ....

I went back and made the alternative block for March.

In the evening I sewed a couple of blocks for 'Strips n Curves'.  

A few more were made yesterday and I've only got a couple left to sew today, then I can play with layout.

After dinner I spent some time with wool and hook and added a few more rows to my C2C rug. It won't be as big as my other rugs but it will still keep the knees warm.

Enjoy you weekend 🌞

August Wrap ~ September Challenge

 One leaf and one row was all it took to wrap up for August. First is my Temperature Tree up to date ... time to get that September branch finished and ready for some leaves.

Second finish was my "Granny Ripple" Crochet Rug. I mentioned last post that I ran out of white for the last row ... my friends white was stark against mine so I ended up finishing with my off white ... Shhh! No one will notice.  This rug was also #5 for the Chookshed Challenge so I can tick that one off. I was using leftover wool from a previous rug and only purchased the pinky colour.

Now onto September's Challenge #3 ... I have a confession to make on my "Happy Houses" blocks ... I still haven't found them. This might have to be the month I turn my sewing stashes upside down and inside out and if the blocks don't turn up, I'll have to write them off!

For now I'll keep working on #9 "Strips and Curves" and hopefully get it into a completed top ... I made some progress yesterday on piecing the blocks ... using lots of pins and sewing slowly on those curved seams.

One more crochet rug to finish and then that will be that for working with wool ... I just can't manage it once the weather warms up so I'll be back to stitching Sashiko blocks in the evenings.

Pop over to Deana's and you can follow what fellow Chookshed Stitchers have been working on.

August Almost Wrapped Up

Chookshed Challenge this month was #7 - Iron Bag/Mat. However I had forgotten it was on my list when I finished making it back in June ... so I've kept working on July's Callenge #9 - Strips n Curves.

Starting with 7 blocks ... I've been cutting sections to have 18 more blocks cut out ready to sew. Also had to sew one more strata (set of strips) to cut more sections.

Thank you Deana and Chooky ... I pretty sure I wouldn't have been working on this one without the challenge.

My crochet Granny Ripple Rug is so so close to a finish ... I ran out of wool with one row to go. Lucky my best friend has some white 8ply so I can finish it at Patchwork Day on Monday. The C2C rug is halfway ... I needed to purchase two more balls for it.

August block for the MMQ was simple and quick.

I've also been playing with a possible layout but I could be way off ... that's part of the mystery.

I hope everyone else has had some success with their challenge this month ... time for me to play with some wool.

3 Finishes and 1 Start

 All 3 finished Quilts have been in the "Waiting for Quilting" pile for a while ... just needed that last PUSH!

#1 2x4" rectangles of scraps from my stash and a friend ... no coloured fabric repeated. I purchased the white and binding.

#2 Several years ago I joined a Calendar Quilt Challenge. 1 fabric strip for each day of the year with each month's name embroidered. I completed the 4 strips and then it hit the UFO pile. I eventually decided on the 4 patch on point strips for sashings and last year it was ready to quilt. I also asked if Quilting friends would like to contribute scraps ... so 4 of the month's are ,"Friend-ly" reminders.

#3 This quilt was made in a weekend workshop and set aside for a special birthday. My SIL turned 50 so ago quilt and binding and it's wrapped ready.

As for my Start? ... I've been itching to crochet another corner to corner rug, this time in a varigate. I needed a project to take with me on an overnight stay so ...

It's perfect weather for crochet.

The Month That Was (or Wasn't)

How fast a month can rush by ... especially when the Winter Blues hit. Living on the land, I will never wish the rain to go away ... but I am so hanging out for a lovely sunny day with no howling winds.

#9 Chookshed Challenge - was my Strips n Curves. I did lay it all out to check where it was up to, but that was all ... FAIL

#7 - Iron Bag/Mat ... Ooops ... I forgot this project was on my list when I made it up a month or so ago.

So for August I'll keep working on a couple of previous Challenge projects.

Below is my July block for the Murder Mystery Quilt.

My Temperature Tree has sprouted leaves for July and this morning I stitched the August branch.

Over the last couple of weeks I have finished bindings on 3 Quilts ... 2 are now hanging in our quilt exhibition and 1 is wrapped ready for a 50th Birthday Girl.

I'll share pics of those in another post. Time to get the Crochet hook into action while watching "The Voice".

Still Here

 Always extra busy at school holiday time. Usually mustering cattle and grandsons are great helping hands, especially our eldest at 11 yrs old going on 31 😊 

My daughter called it 'Cousin Camp' ... keeps me on the hop and loving it ❤️ 

Chookshed Challenge Updates:

#9 - July

Strips n Curves ... another UFO waiting for some love and attention.

#5 - June

Crochet Rug ... I managed some reasonable progress on my Granny Ripple rug before packing away.

#8 - May

Work on my King Bed Quilt was a big fat FAIL ... however I did get it out and make small progress early in June.

I also squeezed in some cross stitch and added most of June leaves to my Temperature Tree 

Lastly, only yesterday, I whipped up the June blocks for Murder Mystery Quilt. PHEW!

Now I'm off to town tomorrow to replenish the pantry after 4 growing boys 💞

"Scraps of Time" Exhibition

 If you would like to take a stroll through our little quilt exhibition ... scroll on down. The theme was to make use of our scrap baskets ... see if you find the repurposed men's ties.

MPQuilters are a small group of ladies (currently 10), most of us travelling at least 50km to 100km once a fortnight to sew and chat. Some members have moved too far away and new ladies have joined ... we think we're coming up on 30 years of friendship and fabric ... our 1st workshop was May 1995 and the rest they say, is history.

So without further ado ... labels and final touches were made after I'd taken these pics.