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.

Chookshed Challenge Feb Wrap

In by the skin of my teeth ... I got so into playing with scraps that I almost ran out of days for Challenge #10 - Card Making

Off to the craftavan with all my bits and pieces and the 2 little stitcheries from Challenge #6 ... before lunch I had 2 cards completed.

Then this afternoon I had a little production line going ... measure ... cut ... etc. I thought I had kept my original card but can't put my hand on it so I've added a photo of an earlier card to show the flowers.

This is my favourite design having made a few previously ... 6 Flower Pots awaiting plantings.  I think I'll leave the sentiments off for now and add those when the occasion arrises ... that way they can be multi purpose as required or hope to be able to make and sell a few as well. I promise to finish them in March.

Thank you Deana and Chooky for this challenge ... I'm certainly achieving more than I would under my own steam ... wonder which number will be drawn tomorrow?

Mending, Making, Baking and More Scrap Play

 Mending (Ugh)  -  well, not mending as such but along those lines. Hubby needed new shorts but can never find short legged shorts to buy so ... measure ... cut ... hem!

Making - with those out of the way, or maybe in between shorts (there were 5 pairs), I cut out fabric for 2 more Bondi tops.  I had purchased the blue specifically to make into a top and found the cat fabric in my stash ... fairly quick to make up and very comfy.

Baking - I've gone back to baking my own sourdough bread ... trial and error for the first 2 loaves (I'm a bit rusty) but they've been edible. My starter was in the fridge for a few days, out now and 'fed' so I'll see tomorrow how it goes for the next loaf.

Scrap Play -  it's so satisfying watching my containers of small strips diminish as my stack of 6.5" blocks grows.  First some green log cabins ...

Then out came the blue candy ... just playing around with scrap sizes and layouts and making them up to 6.5" blocks ... might try some half square triangles next, maybe some 9 patch ... I'll see. 

It's just nice to fiddle about with no expectation.

Now I've run out of days for February Chookshed Challenge ... today's the day my cards come out to play.

Hearts and Scrap Play

 Little 'Cuddle Hearts' have been posted. My dear friend has also been through her stash and has several sets ready to post.

I've had scrap play vibes so my time in the van has been spent colour sorting pre-cut candy strips Along with the 4 purples, I now have 3 each of yellow, cream and browns with 6 blues...green next. No plan yet for the blocks but I've managed to make a good dent in the containers.

Scrolling good old Facebook, I spied a colour wash quilt made from 3.5" blocks sooooo....

 It's called "Colour Wash Quilt Challenge" by Terry Rowland on Youtube. They make great leader/enders while sewing other projects. No time frame on these, I'll just keep making and storing until one day.

2025 Temperature Tree has progressed with some February leaves now.

Last Thursday I had a lovely invite to Grandson J's school for Student Investiture. J is a very proud House Captain and his best mate is School Captain ... last year of Primary School, oh my!

We've been fortunate to enjoy some beautiful rains so far this year and it's so lovely to see all the green ggrassin the paddocks and in the cattle yards ... although mowing around the house is never ending but we won't complain too much about that.

Time to squeeze in some bookwork to keep up to date ... doesn't mean I can't have a second screen open and multi-task with a little blog hopping.

FNWF Wrap, Hearts and Red Play

Fellow Bloggers and Facebook are giving me so many ideas to use my Quilt Candy but not how to fit more hours into the day.

My Friday night began with Hearts...some of you may have seen on FB, Mater Mothers put a call out for volunteers to sew 'Cuddle Hearts' for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I found a sweet piece of flannelette, printed the template and just need to tie off some top stitch threads (photo when they're finished).

A little bit of cross stitching to finish off the evening and I have a branch ready for some February leaves.

One of the ideas floating around in my head was 6.5" log cabin blocks using my candy strips ... some sewing yesterday and today ... I have 9 completed red blocks and strips for 4 purple picked out ready to sew.

Sticking to one colour was the tricky party. I have so many strips in various sizes but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be to find enough of one colour. I foresee some very 'scrappy' blocks in my future.

FNWF and Another UFO

 Tonight's the Night ... joining in with Cheryll and Friends for .... I think I see some cross stitch happening ...

Another UFO becomes a completed top and another container leaves the stash (I've actually repurposed it for one of the Mystery projects)

This one goes back to Feb 2012 ... "Seasons Of BOM" designed by Wendy of 'Sugarlane Quilts' and Dawn of 'Sweet as Cinnamon'. I had completed 6 of the 12 stitcheries and sashed with 2.5" squares so after a dive in the stash I found the blue and hey presto!

The blue is looking darker than it really is.

Another wall hanger top to quilt.