Tieing Up Loose Ends and Another Visitor

Time to admit that my TTS wasn't quite finished when hung on the wall for Christmas but I've fixed that.  The label had been stitched previously and is now sewn to the back. One loose end tied up!

This next project has lots of loose ends. I'm yet to tie and burying all my quilting threads and still have half the binding to sew.  I would love to know how others end off their quilting threads?

Hubby spotted this fellow visiting at lunch time. 

I guess any shade will do in this heat and Mr Goanna didn't mind sharing our home...thankfully he was happy to stay downstairs under the house.

Stay safe.

TTS On The Wall

Last night I put the last stitch in the binding and first thing this morning I have TTS hanging on the loungeroom wall. Here's the proof!

I then took it outside for a photo...there's a few shadows from the tree branch I hung it on.

So happy to have it finished and thankyou Susan for setting the pace with this project.

Merry Christmas

Productive FNWF

Hmmmm! What's missing?

Something to work on ... tick           Cool drink ... tick         Nibbles .... tick      Almonds are good for you, right?  Does the chocolate coating count?

Me :)  Busy hand quilting around each block.  With 'The Fellowship of the Ring' on TV last night I managed 3 blocks which brings me to 10 out of 12 done. The best part was knowing that all my friends were also busy sewing and enjoying a Friday night with friends. Visit Cheryll for a link to all the fun.

Happy Sewing

PS:  I didn't empty the nibbles bowl.

Sew While the Wind Blows

raindrop.org

 

 

Wind, wind go away,

Or I'll stay indoors

And sew all day.

 

Sooo ... that's what I did!  First I finished off some signature blocks and trimmed others. Then 'Tis The Season' become a finished top.  After an unscheduled stop at a fabric shop where I found some fabric for the border, I got busy this morning and it's now ready for quilting.

 

 

Next, out from hiding came 'Ribbon Stars' quilt, a surprise for hubby.  The borders of 4" squares were already made and just needed pressing and attaching. With a quick lunch break inbetween, the top was finished and is also now ready for quilting.

 

 

I did manage to squeeze in the usual household chores like dishes, washing etc. Of course the washing was dry in no time flat with all that wind so there's even been a little "real" ironing as opposed to pressing seams.

 

Tomorrow will be the 25th here ... do you have a Christmas Item to share this month?  I'll pop back tomorrow to share mine.



Sunday Sewing

Last Tuesday was our Patchwork day and I was extra pleased with my productivity. First job was to cut out enough 4.5" squares to form the final border of the secret '50th Birthday' quilt. Second was to be undecided as to which fabric to use for the inner border ... after putting the pictures on the computer this morning the decision was final. Amazing how seeing it on the screen can make it all the more clear.

Then out came my October block of TTS - 'Christmas Joy' ... by the end of the day the stitching was finished.

This afternoon I've sweated it out at the sewing machine adding the sashings to the block.

Now what?  Still some quiet time ... did I mention the boys are busy outside and I have some 'me time' :)  Why not lay the blocks out and see what they will look like?  Ok ... so now I might just sew them together.  TTS is readying and waiting for a shopping trip to find the border and backing fabrics.

Happy Sewing

Stitching A Little

A few stitches each night and they soon add up to another finished TTS block. This one is 'Santa and the Christmas Goose' ...

Just one block to go so I couldn't wait any longer and had to lay them out for a look at how they will go together.

Moving onto the next unfinished stitchery last night, I finished off the stitching on the project I received at the Stitchers Dream Day Out. Now to make the bag up, perhaps an October finish.

My roses have been responding to a little love and attention too :o)

Happy Stitching

Snippets of Time

Most evenings I manage a little time to sit and stitch or knit in front of the TV before heading for bed ... it helps to unwind. This month's TTS block is finished - 'Partridge in a Pear Tree'.

2 more blocks to go :)  A little knitting is also going on for this months 1 Xmas Item plus I've already traced a stitchery to start on perhaps next months Xmas Item.

I did manage a day at the sewing machine last week while recovering from a nasty tummy bug. All the centre blocks are joined and I have all the pieces for the first border sewn ready to work out placement and attach to the centre.

The bottom left colours are more true. As it's a secret project for DH I can't get it out to sew until the coast is clear so not sure when the next step will happen.

Spring might be just around the corner but Winter is flexing it's muscles today .....  brrrrrr!

Block Finishes

Outside the wind is howling ... inside these 2 are cosy ... not too often they come together like this unless it's cold!

Meanwhile my machine has been motoring to sash these blocks.

Seasons Of - June Block

TTS - Christmas Reindeer

TTS - Santa's Boots

Finally able to post. The wind is playing havoc with my internet. 

Public Holiday Play

Today we enjoyed a public holiday to celebrate the Queen's Birthday and as the weather was horrid I got to stay indoors and sew a little, cut a little, iron a little (clothing too!) etc.

Seasons Of

from 'Sew It's Finished' for May

Tis The Season ~ Christmas Angels



Even ironing the clothes wasn't too bad as it helped keep the cold away.  I also managed to cut my fabric ready for a workshop this weekend and plan to do a little knitting tonight after dinner.

Although the weather has been wet and windy, there are moments of beauty also. This was outside my back door this morning.

Hope you enjoyed some colour in your day.

Weekly Catch-up

Oh boy, do those days fly by!  I finished another TTS block ... 'Chilly Penguin' ... an appropriate block by the look of the weather forcast for the weekend :(

I've also stitched the wreath block to use as the label for the back of the quilt.

At the moment I'm enjoying a spell of knitting ... must be the cooler weather.  After finishing the collar scarf I've been working on another UFO scarf as well as knitting a dish cloth for my 1 Xmas Item this month (I'll be back tomorrow, fingers crossed, with the finished item).  I love those ruffle scarves and just have to buy more wool in different colours. Also next on my knitting agenda is an attempt at socks. I thought I better shout myself to a nice knitting bag to hold all these projects :)

Another spur of the moment purchase was an adorable sewing box. I wasn't looking for one but Spotlight had a whole stack of them on sale and as I walked past one particular one jumped up and said that I just must take it home with me.  Of course how could I not! It was the only one of this design and I also got to use my birthday discount to reduce the price even further :)

When I'm lucky to have a day at home I always have a constant companion ... almost to the point of being a pain in the proverbial and I just have to walk away and come back later when the computer is free.

She's here again right now but as yet I have full use of the mouse pad. The balls of wool sitting on the printer are waiting for the socks to begin.

Now it's back to some more knitting and perhaps the sewing machine will get a run today too. Hope you find some time today for a little crafting.

Small Finishes

This month I seem to be working on the therory of finish the little things first and then move onto the big ones.

This afternoon I put the finishing stitches in block 2 of  'Seasons Of' designed by Dawn for 'Sew It's Finished'.

Last week I finished the first block which was designed by Wendy.

Also this week I finished stitching 2 blocks for Tis The Season and added the sashings. I had started stitching one of them in February and traced the second one last week. I'm stitching along with Susan, Ann-Marie and Sam and 'Here Comes Santa' was our block for March.

'Tis The Season' could be done whenever.

So far I've used 3 of the 4 fabrics and I can't wait till I get to use the 4th which is my favourite.  I've also cut out templates and fabric for some paper piecing to make a start on my 1 Xmas Item ... I love having some handwork to sit with at night.

Happy Stitching



Routine Out The Window

So much for keeping a routine with storms in the last few days turning my week upside down. Flooded creeks meant I couldn't get to work and had to change work days around ... hubby also had to change plans.

Still managing a little stitching and sewing and I've finished my second block for Tis The Season. Check out my TTS page for block photos.

After watching all the completed quilts being shared on the Stitch-A-Long blog I decided to make this quilt for myself through 2012. Luckily I came across Susan at Thimble Stitch who along with Anne-Marie and Sam are also stitching TTS during 2012 so I asked if I could tag along. It's always so much nicer to stitch along with friends.

The binding is almost finished on the 'ocean' quilt ... I've made a start on my Xmas item for February ... hoping to have a third TTS block completed or atleast started ... one can only try :)

Don't forget this Friday Night is Sew-In time! Sign up with Heidi and settle in for a sewing good time.

Sewing In The Rain

I can't remember the last time the sun was out ... meanwhile the whistler ducks are having an absolute ball.

I've been making good use of time spent indoors and watching the tennis by ... sewing of course. Wednesday and Thursday I worked on these completing my first block for 'Tis The Season'.

Friday was a trip to town so yesterday I finally bit the bullet, pulled out the stapler and finished of my 'Stitching Round the Block'. I've gently stretched it over an artist's canvas after adding the pink border.

When Helen of Hugs 'n Kisses introduced this project, 4 gals in our patchwork group decided we'd join in and swap once a month at our patchwork day.  December 2010 was our first swap and we all received our original piece back about the middle of 2011 after some time restraints cropped up.

Back in early January I was a lucky Daisy Button Winner thanks to lovely Fiona of BubzRugz. As soon as my kit arrived in the mail I got to tracing and stitching and made this sweet daisy which now adorns my hat that I wear on playground duty at school.

The purple ribbon was wrapped around my prize gift from December OPAM. There'sjust time to sign up for OPAM 2012 if you're still considering it. Pop over to Kris at Tag Along Teddies or Peg at Happy In Quilting for sign-ups but be quick.

Now I need to stop putting it off and start the quilting on my next quilt before it becomes a UFO.

Friendship and Fabric

What a lovely way to spend my Thursday...heading into town to meet a blogging friend at my LQS. Marg @ Country Quilts and Dolls and I have been chatting back and forth online for a while now and as her family are on holiday in the area, we arranged to meet at The Quilters Shack and then chat over a coffee. Our plans were quickly reversed as the shop was opening later but that gave us more time to catch up and spend a lovely morning. Thankyou Marg, it was great to finally meet in person.

Of course some fabric came home with me too :)  After seeing 'Tis The Season' quilts popping up all over, I decided this would be a project for 2012 so some reds, cream polka dot and red thread hitched a ride home.

A challenge for some of the girls in our little patchwork group is to finish our 'Stitching Round the Block' and bring them along to our first day for 2012. This pink fabric was the first I tried as a border and after looking around at some others, the pink won. Do you find that often the first choice is the best choice?

The cream will become the sashings for my Calendar Quilt which was pieced in 2009 and I've listed as a UFO must finish!

Another UFO I have selected to work on in January is my Queen Bed Quilt which is a pre 2006 project. These 4 x 1/2" hexie flowers will be joined by 4 more to become embelishments on the borders.

We're in for a HOT!!! weekend so I'll be finding a cool spot for some quiet sewing. May you find your cool or warm spot as needed.

Quilty Wishes