FNSI and 2 Mysteries

I will be joining with Wendy and friends for some Friday Night sewing and decided to get a headstart with a little bit of prep and sewing today.

This year I've signed up for another Murder Mystery Quilt and am off to Machu Picchu... thanks to some morning sewing, block #1 is now complete.

Best place on a hot day is in my craftavan with the aircon so I've also been cutting scraps into 1.5" squares for my 2nd Mystery Quilt.  This one is a Scrappy Mystery using 2 colour ways so I've chosen blue and yellow. Instructions so far call for 9 patches and half square triangles.

Now and then I go through my scraps and cut them into varying sizes ready for that "one day" project. I heard the perfect term for these precuts ... Quilt Candy!

So now it's back to making more candy perhaps ... oh and I almost forgot ... tonight for FNSI I'll be working on my Temperature Tree.

Challenge #6 and More

 Working on my Challenge #6 ... I need to make an appointment with my Optometrist.  #6 swapped with #10 and I've finished two small cross stitches, the rose one being on 18 count Aida which really put my eyes to the test.

I decided that 2 Temperature Quilts were enough but I still liked the idea of a Temperature project ... then I saw a post on Susan's blog and ...

While my tree has grown a smidge more to the 1st branch ... I've had a houseful with our son and 2 grandsons to help with cattle work ... sewing etc is on hold.

A new year always brings new ideas and  temptations and I have 2 more projects kicking off. I'll share more on those later.

I'll leave you with a photo of our smallest ringer busy at work ... bed is calling.

New Year ... New Challenge

 

Have you heard the saying "What you do on New Year's Day ... you do all year"?  Well ... I sewed!

I added the last 3 days of December to Row 9 of 2024 Temperature Quilt. Monday I appliqued "2024" to the top left corner and yesterday joined the last couple of horizontal seams. Now the bottom right piece needs location name which I've decided to hand embroider.

Chookshed Challenge #6

My number 6 project is Card Making, however my number 10 is small embroidery kits which I thought I could incorporate into my cards. I have allowed myself to switch #6 and #10 so I'll be working on the embroideries instead and have chosen this little rose.

My last finish for 2024 was a Diamond Dot Art I began when I was resting up with a sprained ankle. It's been finished for a few weeks and was awaiting a frame. Initially I thought this would be my first and last but now that it's done I reckon I could do another.

Tonight I have begun the Temp Quilt embroidery while watching TV and listening to the rain on the roof.

Chookshed Challenge 2025

 

Thank you ladies for once again leading the Challenge for 2025.  I am always so much more motivated to achieve when in a group or challenge. I've been working on my list today and unlike last year ... I should find the projects before adding them to my list ... rooky error!

#1.  Fishpond Quilt  ~  Quilt and Bind

#2.  Sashiko  ~  I have a printed panel and thread purchased from ??? Quilt Show

#3.  Happy Houses or ???  ~  I still haven't found the HH blocks so I will continue to look. If that fails then I will choose another UFO

#4.  Strips n Curves Quilt  ~  (Couldn't find it last year either)  I did find this one by accident only this month.

#5.  2023 Temperature Quilt  ~  Hasn't changed since January this year. I'll decide if it needs a sashing before the Flying Geese Temperature Key.

#6.  Card Making  ~  I have Stampin Up gadgets and materials and need to use it more! These are my Xmas Cards made at the December lesson.

#7.  Iron Bag  ~  I had all the materials ready and just didn't get "around2it".

#8.  King Bed Quilt  ~  One of those projects that just needs to be prodded along!

#9.  Crochet Rugs  ~  I have the 'Granny Ripple' started but the weather just got too hot. Then I also have the pattern for the 'Cat Rug' I'd like to do this Winter.

#10. Embroidery Kits  ~  I have several small kits that can be done and placed into the cards I make. (So I possibly may have to switch #6 and #10 depending on which is drawn first)

Happy Finishes in 2025

Days Roll On

Just popping in before 2024 makes way for 2025 ... The last couple of months have been a little 'rough' so if things got done ... they got done ... and if they didn't ... that was ok too.

My Temperature Quilt keeps calling so I'm pleased that I've kept at it ... very different to last years ... the last row is complete up to the 21st December and I've added the 'keys' down each side.

Hot temps call for the air con on in the Craftervan so I decided it was time for a tidy up. What did I find? ... Pattern and Template for this Twister design so I had a little play when the mood struck ... a little wall hanging ready for quilting. I also found the elusive 'Strips and Curves' which was supposed to be No. 4 Challenge project.

This 'Geese' bag had been waiting for handles ... ta da?

This piece of fabric had been waiting to be hemmed ... now I have a new tablecloth.

Some Christmas fabric I purchased this time last year ... so while the mood was still with me ... I had a new Christmas top to wear.

End of November our Patchwork Group had their Christmas Breakup and we had a little Gift Swap ... the theme was "A Receptacle". I found this pattern for a handy little Carry Bag with pockets both inside and out. Was a bit of a challenge but turned out ok and I made myself one at the same time.

Mum needed her timber fence painted so hubby to the rescue for this job with help from myself, mum and aunty ... of course it had to be a hot day!

Our poinciana trees are always beautiful coming up to Christmas ...

And there's always a critter or two to be found around the place ... the Plovers are busy raising their young ... as are our resident Willy Wagtail parents ...

This little family were quite brave coming up close to the house ... 2 have young in their pouches.

Nature has it's happy and sad.

Sadly we had to say goodbye to our beautiful little girl Millie in October ... our home and hearts are not the same.

14.02.14 ~ 10.10.24

Today I've been playing with some fabric in readiness for a 2025 project or 2 as I keep looking forward ... and planning for a fabric acquisition expedition ... sounds more exciting than just 'going shopping' ...

Merry Christmas 2024

 

October Rolls In ... Next Challenge

 Not much happening in the land of sewing or any crafting I'm afraid ... I've lost my mojo and don't know where to even start looking for it ... think I'll just leave it alone and it will find it's own way home.

September Chookshed Challenge was my Scrappy Wall Hanger but with grandies visiting before and during school holidays ... bathroom reno ... Throw in an absess forming after what I'm thinking was a spider bite on my back while gardening with Grandson F ... much driving to and fro for medical ... and my wall hanging is still as is. He chose the violas to go with our tomato plants and later I snuck in some gladiolas.

I was eager to finish my first every granny square rug early in September and am very happy with how it turned out.  Great for wool scrap busting as I managed 3 rugs from 2 wool kits and only purchased the white wool for last row of each square and joining.

October Challenge is whatever project was left on my list which is "King Bed Quilt".  I'll keep plugging along on this one as I really want it finished and on my bed. Not to mention the machine has been set up on the dining table so I have room to work on the long rows.

Thank you Deana and Chooky for this Chookshed Challenge.  I started the year with flying colours and while I've let slide on a couple of challenges, I for sure would not have achieved what I have without being challenged.

Not Sew Happy Houses

 I may have been MIA in August but I did manage to keep plodding along on a few different projects.

The first is my DD's Wedding Quilt which was Challenge #1 - Made it to the quilters. I've since picked it up and just tonight put the final stitch in the binding and label ready to gift to her tomorrow.

Grandson F has been having a little holiday and came to patchwork with me on Monday. I spent more time threading his needle than mine but for 4 yes old he was a little trooper.

Challenge #3 Happy Houses - Sadly I couldn't for the life of me find the blocks, the photo was from way back when. So instead I got sewing on the 2 piles of blocks that have been sitting around for a while in the craftavan. 

After what seems like miles of seams, I have the blocks joined on the backs into rows. It's a QAYG for my King Bed and will be 110" square.

Front design ...

All fabrics have been pulled from my stash so the back is scrappy ... I'm think I nearly like the back better ...

OK, so Challenge #7 - Scrappy Quilt

Since making my list I have completed the scrappy Quilt to a finished top ... however I've been making some scrappy flower pots and would like to Quilt and bind into a finished wall hanging.

Still crocheting while the weather is cool and found this cool pattern called Granny Ripple. I had wool left over from another BHG kit and only needed to purchase the pinky colour ... yay for more stash busting.

I've put the Ripple aside for now so I can finish the Granny Square Rug. Need to get a wriggle on before the weather turns ... we've already had a peak into summer.

Time to catch a few ZZZzzzz before another busy day with Grandson F. We've been busy gardening, baking and lots and lots of play.