Sunday Snippets 08/11

Minimal effort last week thanks to a head cold / sinus infection that's sapped my energy and won't let go!

Monday I headed in to our Patchwork Day and continued to work on blocks for Jo's Mystery Quilt ... I'm keeping this project just for these days so I can simply grab and go. Had to keep an eye on the radar for building storms incase I needed to make an early dash home. Made it home with about an hour to spare but I was greeted by this colourful display ... green grass and a full rainbow.

So I've been laying low the rest of the week and not feeling like much at all.  Today I finally prepped for my November Postcard and made a small start.

November instructions for the Meadow Mist Mystery have been released ... once I drag myself out to the craftavan I'll be able to share the progress ... stay tuned for next Sunday's snippets.

Have a creative and healthy week xx

Sunday Snippets 01/11

Ooops! I almost forgot this Sunday's snippet. We have 2 grandsons here to help with mustering....but between the rain and break downs we didn't get finished. Add to that I've been feeling under the weather myself but the show must go on.

Thursday I crocheted the last treble in my rug. There wasn't enough caramel or grey to do another set so mum suggested the straight rows of treble top and bottom. 

Now to finish weaving in just a few too many ends.

Happy November 🌷

Sunday Snippets 25/10

What a difference a day makes! The rain had been falling all around and skipping over us ... then a beautiful 42mm Saturday night. With more showers today we've totalled a nice 82mm or about 3.25 inches for the last fortnight. Just as an example of how you can be "under it or not", our neighbour over the hill so to speak, measured 150mm or 6" just on Saturday night ... crazy!

So what have I sewn this week? I've managed a headstart on my swap block for November. Queen Bee requested a flower blocks x 12.5" using any techniques and colour.  I came up with 4x4 blooms with suffic puff centres ...

and in blues for myself.

Hmmmm? Now I'm wondering where my time went this week 🤔  Town day, baking day, the usual chores and oh, that's right ...

Is lunch ready yet, can we come in please?

To finish off, I leave you with the first bloom this Spring for my special mini rose.

Wishing you a creative week 🌹

Sunday Snippets

Back for another snippet of my week. Sadly not much rain to report ... maybe 5ml (20 points) but hope still for this week. I've been letting the laundry water run out at the back door and gave the mulberry tree a good drink in the holidays so the grandies would have fruit to pick. Now the wildlife are making the most of the green grass. 

This mum and daughter don't mind me watching through the screen door and if you zoom in there are 3 hares up under the mulberry tree.

My 'Garden Tools' postcard has been finished and posted off.

Yesterday I finished sewing the last of the 15 x 4.5" blocks for Marigold Mystery.

Recently I added 3 air plants to my water plant collection in little containers found in op shops ... hubby has claimed the rooster 🐓. 

And I achieved a post on Sunday as planned.

Have a creative week 🌿

Sunday Snippets

 Here we go again ... missing out on the rain and starting to feed cattle ... fingers crossed that we get some of the forecasted rain this week.

Chookshed Challenge #4 ~ September:  I have sandwiched the wall hanging and was waiting until after school holidays to take over the dining table for some quilting ... the grandies will be back next weekend to help finish mustering so it might happen after that.

Chookshed Challenge #9 ~ October:  "Holly Jolly Cottage" ... a Christmas quilt that I do hope to get quilted for this Christmas.

Marigold Mystery ~ I have printed off the instructions for October blocks, that's a start.

Quilting Bee Block Swap ~ October Queen Bee asked for the 'Blueberry Pie' block in Black, White and Grey

I'm also making one of each block in Blue and White for myself.

Postcard Swap ~ Cross Stitching is almost finished on my October postcard for the theme 'Garden Tools' ... will have a pic to share next Sunday. I'm going to try and hold myself to sharing quick snippets on a Sunday afternoon at least.

My bush orchids have been flowering ... first time for this one since I rescued it.

Have a creative week xx

Small Goals

 A couple of goals I can tick off for September. They may be small but it feels good to be completing tasks.  The first is my postcard  ~ Topiary ... posting off to the recipient tomorrow.

Second are the blocks for Marigold Mystery

Third and I don't think I've mentioned this one ... it's for a Queen Bee swap over twelve months. We have a group of 12 ladies and each month we take turns to be the Queen Bee ... choosing our block and colours for the other bees to make and send.  This is the block I've made and posted away. 

Chookshed Challenge #4 ~ Embroidery Wall Hanging. Another UFO project from "the draw" ... so this month I will need to sandwich, quilt and bind.

We had some squatters set up residence on our verandah and now we're waiting for the babies to take flight.  The local mud swallows got busy and built not 1 but 2 nests side by side. We were about to remove them and wash the verandah down but they had already laid eggs so ... today all 4 left home but I'm sure they'll be back for a few nights yet. They needed the 2 nests as these little chubby bubs grew ... looks like they even started a 3rd pad. Neither do they keep a clean house! 

From all the medical appointments, Hubby is now on a CPAP machine, a few medications and a Stent implanted in an artery in his heart ... just a couple more check ups now and knee surgery will be next year. It's been a bit of a whirlwind and trips to town ... not helping that the fuel keeps going up! Grandsons will be coming to holiday at the end of the week so it's off to town again tomorrow to stock the pantry among other jobs ... hoping I can squeeze in some sewing while they're here.

Take care xx

August Wrap & Challenge #6

Somehow August flew by and I haven't blogged or visited many blogs either. Just shrugging my shoulders and moving on ... medical appointments kept us busy and crappy cold windy weather delivered the Winter Blues.

A number of years ago I took part in a handmade postcard swap. Then mum took over and is still going strong, often asking if I'd join up again so .... I have. I decided to cross stitch mine and the theme for the 6 months is 'Gardening' with September being 'Topiary' ... I've made a start.

August was also the start of the 'Marigold Mystery' by Meadow Mist Designs ... August blocks ✅️

Chookshed Challenge #6 August - Heather's Bag

This was a kit I purchased last year from Kadina Craft and Quilting and is now another project no longer hiding away in a draw. Internal pockets were optional.

Another finish was this Scrappy Quilt ... a quilt as you go with sashings. Please excuse the brown crunchy grass, we're in need of rain.

To finish off on August happenings, my crochet rug is slowly progressing and yesterday I sandwiched 'A Holly Cottage Christmas' ready for quilting ... a challenge from earlier this year.

My Temperature Quilt rows are complete and now need to be joined to complete the top ... I'll be back shortly with an update.

Happy Spring First

Early Challenge Finish

While last month's crochet slowly grows, I'm ahead for July ... woohoo!

Chookshed Challenge #5 - Project Bag

This was a kit purchased from "Michelle's Patchwork and Art" and sat waiting in a draw. It's so good to bring projects out from hiding and call them 'finished'.

These were another couple of kits from Michelle. 2 key fobs and a tablet pouch only purchased within the last 2 months so luckily they didn't make it to the draw.

Looking forward to watching our Aussie Athletes strive for their best performances and maybe I'll crochet a treble or two.

This n That

 Grandies and cattle work have kept me busy ... then last week we had 3 trips to town for various appointments ... how did I ever fit in working.

Chookshed Challenge #5 - Project Bag

I've made a start on this kit and have the front and back panels quilted.

Today I was able to spend some time sewing and finished Row 4 of my Temp Quilt.

Slow going on my crochet rug but I managed 3 rows last night. I'm thinking I should have used a larger hook but it will be warm.

I may have had a sneak peak at the next mystery quilt with Meadow Mist Designs. Fabrics have been pulled from my stash ready to begin in August.

Looking forward to some more time in the craftervan tomorrow... fingers crossed.

June Wrap

 More of the mundane than sewing but it's slowly happening.  I finished of the sewing of Row 3 for my Temp Quilt and have since cut what I could of all the triangles for the year. Now I'm just waiting on a few more fabrics to arrive for the missing temps and I can get on with Row 4.

Chookshed Challenge June ~ Crochet rug is coming along nicely and this is my June progress pic ... did I mention I'm not speedy and I need to pick it up more often.

Monday I sandwiched the 12 scrappy blocks and began quilting ... quilt as you go and I'll join with a cream sashing I think. I went with a fancy zig zag type stitch in the ditch and a spiral for the snowballs.

About a week and a half ago, our son had a fall from his horse while mustering ... luckily he only has a broken collarbone which is worry enough. We have our 12yr old grandson J here for school holidays and trying to get our mustering and weaning done. (calves old enough to be weaned from mum)  Of course some days the weather has been horrible ... throw in a couple of unscheduled town trips and plans can change pretty quick. The sun is currently trying hard to come out so that will be nice if it does.

Even baking a loaf of sourdough is tricky to fit in as I need an afternoon to prepare the loaf which then rests in the fridge overnight for baking next morning. I'm really happy with how they're turning out though and fingers crossed I've got a method that works for me and gives a good result.

I'm just waiting on a call to head up to the cattle yards shortly so I'll wrap this up, maybe squeeze in a blog visit or two and await the release of the July Chookshed Challenge number.