June Wrap Up

Not a lot of sewing has happened over the last couple of weeks but I have squeezed in a few finishes before the end of the month.

Way back on July 01, 2010 ... Kate gave the first instructions for a Stay-at-home Robin ... "start with a block which is 6" square (finished - so your block should measure 6.5" square before you sew it to anything else)". Thankyou Kate, it was exciting each month to read the next instructions and get thinking and creating.

I think I went to my box of tan scraps first and made the block ... then decided I'd make two so into the blue scraps next. Now 12 months later I am very happy to reveal both wall hangings are complete and hanging in my lounge room.

After playing with photos on the computer, I decided to turn the blue one upside down before binding and hanging.

If you click on this link you can view how some of the other players have completed their works.

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Each winter I get the urge to knit so out came the knitting needles and a refresher of casting on from mum and ...

Another scarf or neck warmer to join the cream scarf. I have a beanie pattern to try next.

Lastly I finished stitching the letter 'S' of Home Sweet Home. Each letter is being shared montly by Paula.

It's nice to be able to sit down at night even if only to do a couple of stitches ... just to wind down from the day.

The Versatile Blogger

A little while ago Jody kindly awarded me with The Versatile Blogger award. I have been a little slow in posting as my versatility has been somewhat tested lately.

Just for fun I looked up 'versatile' in the dictionary ... "capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavors". Could this be why I have so many projects on the go at once?

 Here are the rules for this award.

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post

2. Tell 7 things about yourself that others might not know about you

3. Pass along the award to 5 newly discovered bloggers

4. Contact these bloggers to let them know they’ve received the award

Thankyou Jody for this award. Please pop over to Jody's Crafty Creations to see lovely work.


Hmmmm ... 7 things was hard!

1.  My first cat was a tortiseshell named Mitzi.

2.  My favourite breed of dog is the Welsh Pembroke Corgi and I would love to own one. We grew up with them as pets.

3.  I learned to play the guitar years ago and played the saxaphone in the highschool band.

4.  Tennis and volleyball were my sports of choice as a teenager.

5.  In highschool we were taught to type with a bib so that you couldn't see the keyboard. Now when I type without looking it freaks my son.

6.  In highschool I was one of those students who left assignments and study to the last moment and I'm still practice the last minute rush with my sewing and bookwork.

7.  I have only been on a plane twice and a train once.


If I may fudge no. 3 and 4 a little .... I would like to ask you to click on the "1 Xmas Item - June" page at the top of my blog and visit the clever little elves who have been getting a head start on Christmas.

One Xmas Item for June

Boy oh boy! Here it is the 25th and I've been out from daylight till dusk today ... cooked dinner ... fed the troops and have finally found a quick moment to post.

My One Xmas Item for the month of June is this cream scarf I finished knitting a couple of days ago with Ping Pong wool. It's now put away in a safe place till Christmas time when I can send it off to someone enjoying a 'White Christmas'.

I look forward to visiting your Christmas posts to see what goodies you have made this month but it may have to wait a couple of days till jobs slow down. Will also get around to adding a page for June at the top of my blog to add your photos.

Thankyou for joining me in this quest for a less stressed Christmas.

What's Happening in Blogland

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt ... 50 blocks in 50 weeks.

To read all about this quilt head over to see what Quiltjane is up to at Want It, Need It, Quilt!   Sounds like lots of fun to me!!!

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Stitched Sunday ... I'm always ready to learn something new ... how about you?

Visit Helen at Hugs from Helen to find out all the details.

There is always something new and wonderful happening in blogland :)

Lovely Mail

Playtime ahead with this sweet charm pack from Joy and Alice. Together they host 'Finishing Stitches' and this was my prize for blocks I had completed in the month of April. Thankyou ladies ... I love the fabric range.

My lovely blog buddy Marina and I exchanged hexie flowers and these are the delightful blue flowers she sent for my garden. Thankyou ... your's should arrive any day Marina.

A parcel for me? Cheryll of Gone Stitchin' celebrated her 200th post with a very generous giveaway and I was the lucky one :)  Thankyou Cheryll for a wonderful parcel of goodies.

I am so glad I ventured into blogland, to have met so many wonderful people and made lovely friends along the way. Your inspiration and encouragement is a treasure.

FNSI Results + Because I Said So

Wednesday was our groups patchwork day and I managed to get most of this block done with a little finishing off the next day at home.This is block 4 of the 'Because I Said So' BOM and along with block 3 which is almost completed they make up Month 2 of the BOM. Of course I'm behind already as Month 3 came last month and Month 4 arrived last week too. Confused? I think I am :) Oh well ... I'm enjoying it!

I was staying at my parents home Friday night so it was a good opportunity to brush up on my knitting and crochet skills.

First I started knitting a new scarf using 'Ping Pong' wool ... not sure if I'm happy with the effect but that could be to do with my skill level.

Then I moved onto some crochet. I think I'll always be a 'beginner' but once I get going it starts to grow ever so slowly. I must confess that mum did the first 4 rows to see how the colours went together and I've continued on from there ... a future knee rug.

Hope your Friday Night was crafty.

Colourful Friday ~ Blue and Orange

Ok so this combination has finally beaten me ... I have lots and lots of blue around me and even quite a bit of orange but nothing of them together except ...

As you can see by the date on the pic, I've gone back through my photos for a 'Bird of Paradise'.  Gorgeous orange with a touch of pale blue. I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone else was able to find and I'm sure there will be lots of 'ahhhhh' moments. Head over to Robyn at Daisy Quilts for more links.

Friday Night Sew-In

Time once again this Friday night to join the sew-in. You can sign in with Bobbi over at Crafty Vegas Mom and get ready to sew sew sew.

UFO Thursday

(I'm getting a head start as I won't have computer time tomorrow and  when I set this post to publish at a later date and time it didn't want to work.)

 

Another UFO Thursday rolls around and I have made more progress on the log cabin quilt. I finished joining the groups of 6 blocks and now have to get the hand stitching done on the backs.

My next step will be to join top, middle and bottom so that I'll have two halves. This way I'll only have one long seem down the centre to 'struggle' with. So that it fits a king bed I'll need to add borders on two sides and across the bottom but I'm still looking for the 'right' border fabric. Maybe one day I'll have all the fabric required before I start a quilt :)

Happy UFO Thursday

How Long is a Piece of Thread?

I have a question for those who love doing stitcheries. How long is the piece of thread you work with? I've tried a long thread so that I can go further before ending off but it can get a bit frayed looking. I've tried short but am forever having to thread a new needle which reminds me I must go look for my needle threader.

So I would be very interested to hear what length thread you prefer to work with.

I had a little accident with my pin container the other day. One minute is was sitting on the end of my ironing board where I was pinning the log cabin blocks together and the next thing I knew .....



Thankfully they didn't scatter on carpet like they could have and I have one of those magnetic pin pickeruperers which was a great help.

Happy Monday and have a lovely week :)

Colourful Friday ~ Flowers

Good Friday morning and welcome to another Colourful Friday with Robyn and the gang.

F L O W E R S ~~~ I thought I would go with some more unusual flowers around my home. Hope you enjoy them.

I love the name of this one ... 'Bird of Paradise' or 'Strelitzia'. I have a large clump in my garden and it never stops flowering.

My daughter loves growing succulents and is very pleased when one comes into flower.

How could I not share one of my roses ... Double Delight ... my mum's favourite.


I look forward to visiting all the colourful flowers blooming today.

UFO Thursday

It's such a good feeling to have worked on a UFO. Since last Thursday I have continued to join pairs into 6's and have 4 groups now done and the backs pinned ready for hand stitching. Edited Thursday evening 7.30pm ... I now have 5 groups done ... 1 to go :)
My procrastination skills are excellent so I need all the motivation I can get ... thankyou to Sandy for UFO Thursdays.

While visiting around in blogland I've noticed that I am not always able to leave a comment so if you haven't heard from me lately it's for this reason. Pop up comment boxes don't seem to be a problem.

Moving Forward

Well I'm here and have imported all my posts from my Nells Notions blog. The two posts above I have re-posted here as they didn't import.
Next step is to add all my favourite elements on the sidebars and perhaps a few more pages across the top ... slow and stready ... thankyou for your patience :)

Welcome to Winter

Today is June 1st and the start of our winter.

I had planned to have all my posts from Nells Notions imported over to here as a start to the new season but it would seem that 'something' had other ideas. It appears I'm not alone in my troubles with blogging so I shall continue on best I can and things will happen all in good time.

Until then I'd love you to pop back to Nells Notions to see what's new.