UFO Thursday ... Bumps in the Road

There is no shortage of UFO's at my place ... just the time and inspiration to work on them. This top was a stack and wack I pieced 5 years ago and it was about time I got to the quilting. My first quilt loaded on the frame and ready to go but .... here's the first bump in the road.

When I'm quilting there is a little bump somewhere in the track and my quilting goes crooked. Needless to say there has been some un-sewing happening so I need to find that bump. Sandy hosts UFO Thursday over at Cookies and Cream Craft so pop over, say hi and see what else is happening this Thursday.

Here is the second bump in the road. On my way to patchwork yesterday morning this is what I found ... heavy enough but I managed to drag it off the road.

Some more hexie flowers blossomed yesterday but I can't show them just yet. I've added some October Christmas Items to the page above also ... you might like to check out what everyone has been creating. Now back to that quilting.

One Xmas Item and Some Buys

Oh dear, I thought I had another day up my sleeve but today is the 25th in Aus. I quickly put the finishing touch on this little hexie ornament and it's all done.

I finally gave in to Mug Rugs and made this little Tis The Season stitchery into one last week.

How did everyone else go this month with an item ready for Christmas?  It's a great feeling to know that my handmade goodies are ready and waiting to go to their new homes or decorate my home this Christmas. This challenge has been made all the more enjoyable for me knowing crafty elves are sewing along together ... thankyou :o)

On Saturday my alarm went off at 3.45am to travel by bus to Brisbane for the Craft and Quilt Exhibition.  We had a great day made all the more special because I got to meet up with Jeanette. After a lovely chat over a coffee, we went our separate ways to browse, buy, and oooh and aaaah over all the gorgeous quilts.

I was very good and only bought a couple of things although there is always that item you didn't buy but wished you had. Guess I'll just have to go back again next year. This glittery ball of red wool with metalic should make me two scarves ... I'm hooked on scarves.

Mum and I had hoped to attend the workshop for this little Japanese purse but it had filled quick smart so the kit came home with me. I bought another clasp incase I make a second and also bought a couple of fat 1/4's.

On the way down we stopped at a park in Gympie for a quick breakfast where this swan family was also enjoying some breakfast.

Arriving home after 10.30pm we had a quick cuppa, a little show and tell and crawled into bed just after midnight. Phew! But well worth it!

There's much to do in the garden ... can you see the busy buzzy bee?

Happy Sewing

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Today is the third day in a row we've had the most terrible windy weather and I can tell you that I am over it! Good thing I have plenty to keep me indoors :o)

I worked on these guys last night.

My SSCS gift and ornament only require finishing touches before wrapping.

Next on my list is the GST - BAS (Tax)...this type of GST is not much fun but has to be done.  Of course if we were talking Generous Sewing Time I'm sure that is something we would all be more than happy to deal with.

This wind is drying the gardens out terribly but my roses soldier on.  In my garden today ~

Goals for October Half-time Update

So far so good ... I've managed to cross a few things off the list of goals for October.

 

Month 6 of Because I Said So BOM

Month 7 of Because I Said So BOM

Letter 'H' of Home Sweet Home BOM

SSCS gifts made and wrapped

(these will also be for 1 Xmas Item)

Quilting done on UFO Citrus quilt

Quilting done on brother's quilt

Finish half knitted scarf

1" Hexi Flowers for Inchy Swap

GST for the quarter

 

The GST and SSCS are in progress and I've even prepared Month 7 of my BOM ready for stitching. Maybe having a list of goals is working? How do you keep yourself motivated? 

 

In my garden today I found ... Double Delight.

 

First Day Out

Last year and again this year Mr and Mrs Swallow have built their nest on our verandah. Yesterday was the first time out of the nest for these 3 youngsters.

Mum and Dad kept flying around and encouraging them to take flight but they were quite happy to perch close to home. I guess they will soon progress out to the clothsline and return each evening as did the 4 babies last year.

While occasionally checking on the young family, I prepared 3 stitcheries for sewing at night, made some half square triangles and turned them into 7 pinwheels. 2 have been sewn to block 10 of Because I Said So and I'm busy adding some applique before the remaining 5 are sewn on to complete month 6/block 10. I also have month 7/block 11 ready to embroider.

My poor roses were feeling quite neglected and I have pruned them rather late this year. Here's the first Double Delight bud full of promise.

Why Pins and Whiskers?

Dawn has asked the question ... "What's your name????"  and  "What's the reason behind the name???..."

As an extra delight for sharing the reason behind your blog name, Dawn is generously giving away a Moda charm pack to a lucky blogger.

So ... why Pins and Whiskers?  I'll let these two pictures of my girls explain the Whiskers part.

Oh to be a cat!

As for the pins ... they're something I tend to leave in the pincushion and sew without. However I'm learning that if I take the time to pin first it can save a lot of trouble down the track so my pins and I are becoming better acquainted.

I'm also gathering a number of lovely pincushions so I can sort my pins ... you know ... the white top pins in the red/white pincushion and the yellow top pins in the green pincushion ... how do you store you pins?

Glorious Mail and Finishes

Our mail is delivered 3 days a week so some mail days are especially exciting when I know there could be a parcel waiting at the mailbox ... and there was!

Beautifully wrapped by Meg I decided to be methodical about this and start with 'F' and end with 'S' ... roll on the ooooo's and aaarrrrr's.

Wow!!! I'm thrilled to pieces with all the lovely goodies Meg has so thoughtfully and cleverly put together. Talk about being spoilt!

F ~ a pretty fat 1/4 and a fridge magnet
R ~ a red fat 1/4, red Donna Hay tea towel and some lovely scented tealights and holder for relaxation
I ~ a Down Under Quilts magazine full of inspiration
E ~ the cutest egg cup, gorgeous embroided picture and pin cushion
N ~ embroidery Needles
D ~ delightful Dilly Bag and a designer homeware mug with adorabe kitties
S ~ soft toy pattern - Black Sheep White Sheep, scissors, sewing accessories and even spotty tissues

Thankyou so much for being my new FRIENDS swapper Meg. I look forward to our continued friendship and hope you enjoy my gifts to you. Thankyou to Khris also for organising this great swap...it's a fun swap and I've made lovely friends.

I think I should start writing down (and keep it somewhere safe) a list of all the clever ideas for each letter of FRIENDS that have been arriving all over the world. I'm always saying to myself ... "why couldn't I think of that?" :o)

Some other lovely mail to arrive a couple weeks ago were these 2 necklaces I purchased from Joanne's etsy store.  I've worn the blue one a couple of times.

Also curled up in the mailbox were these handsome kitties. Kate was giving away some patterns and I was the lucky recipient for this pattern.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Here's my first item to cross off my list of goals for October. The blue ruffle scarf that I started and almost finished for FNSI.

My october flowers for the Inchy Swap are also sealed in an envelope ready to post to Natalie.

Looks like the bottom is about to fall out of the sky here and I can hear large raindrops on the roof so might be a good time to make a coffee and start stitching.

Enjoy your weekend :)

October Goals

I was reading on Kate's blog where she had listed her goals for the month of September and then gave an update report at the end of the month. OK so I'm game to give it a go and see just how much I can cross off my list by the end of the month.

effective-time-management-strategies.com

My Goals for October

Month 6 of Because I Said So BOM

Month 7 of Because I Said So BOM

Letter 'H' of Home Sweet Home BOM

SSCS gifts made and wrapped

(these will also be for 1 Xmas Item)

Quilting done on UFO Citrus quilt

Quilting done on brother's quilt

Finish half knitted scarf
1" Hexi Flowers for Inchy Swap

GST for the quarter

Happy Sewing

A Week In A Blurrr!

How can one week go so fast?  Bright and early Tuesday morning hubby drove me a half hour up to the main road to meet my friend Margaret and we proceeded another half hour to meet up with another friend Di. Then after another hours drive we arrived at our destination for a Dye Painting Workshop.

While we waited for the kettle to boil I ducked up to the Post Office and sent these golden pretties on their way to Meg in WA for our FRIENDS Swap.

Under the instructions of  our tutor Ruth we drew our design, chose our colours and started painting. Leaf by leaf my design grew until .........

it was ready to fill in the background. We had to keep placing pieces of plastic over the painted areas to keep the dye moist.

Waiting ... waiting ... until Thursday when I could wash it out and hey presto!

Next step is lots and lots of quilting with different coloured threads to enhance and embelish .... hmmm .... where do I start?

Thankyou Ruth. It was a very enjoyable workshop!