Wrapping Up 2015

As 2015 comes to a close, I have a couple of finishes to share. The first is a design by Michelle Ridgway which I had been working on for a while. The stitchery had been done and waiting for a sewing spree which finally happened... just in time to wrap for my Christmas Swap Gift at our Patchwork Group Break-up on December 14. Loved making this tote and needle case.

I also finished the second red Santa Face knitted dishcloth but there was no way I could get my camera to take a reasonable picture. There was a little reverse knitting required at Patchwork Day. Then to use up the remaining blue and green cotton, I knitted up this cloth for a spare for myself.

With all the gifts wrapped and feeling organised for once ... I decided to check out where I'm up to with 'A Merry Christmas Garden' ... hoping to focus on this quilt for 2016.  Block 2 is almost finished and just needed the rectangle and square pieces cut out and a star made before sewing together. So then I spread out blocks 3 to 6 and cut all the fabric for these to make sure all my fabrics were distributed as evenly as possible.

Block 2

We have also had some very noisy visitors. Twice a year a large flock of Black Cockatoos fly over our house in the late afternoon and again at early morning. The sky can be almost black with them and a few stop off to chow down on trees around our house.

Christmas Day was a relaxed day with family ... some we hadn't caught up with in quite a while. Gorgeous Master J was busy trying out his new trike from Aunty L.

Looking forward to a new year with wonderful new memories to make and lots of crafty finishes too.

FNWF Results Are In

Here is my score card for Friday Night with Cheryll and friends. Thank you for a lovely year of fun and friendship.

My last hand made stocking filler ... this was ahead of a busy weekend and an even busier week to come. Hope to finish it tomorrow at our Patchwork Group if I "talk less; concentrate; knit more" don't have to reverse knit.

See you on the other side of the week and hope it's a good one for you.     >^..^<

Yay ... Photos!

I install one thing to stop all those unwanted adds from loading and slowing things down ... and looks like it may have wanted to block me loading pics ... so temporarily 'disable' and we're up and loading.

Another storm just passed over and we still have power ... win win!

Off to make a cuppa and continue with the next dish cloth ...

How Did That Happen?

Wow for OPAM November ... I have several finishes this month ... I'm thanking the craft fairies for sprinkling something magic around ... it's the only reason I can think of.

Earlier this month I finished 3 small projects I began in September, the tea cosy and 2 teddies. Then I knitted up the blue 'Christmas Story' dishcloth.

On Monday I made it to our patchwork group day and made 6 small Christmas ornaments, stitching the buttons on at home that night.

Also thanks to Friday night's storm and the power going out for over 40 hours ... I have the green 'Christmas Story dishcloth finished.

Of course now just when I have something to share ... my pictures don't want to load into my blog!

Off to boil the kettle and have a coffee ... maybe they'll load later?  Hope your weekend has been gremlin free     >^..^<

FNSI, CTTY and 1 Xmas Item

Seems a lot for one small dish cloth to live up to but I finished it off on Friday night and it's going in the gift draw ready for Christmas ... which scarily is getting very close.

Thank you Wendy and Anthea for keeping the fun and friendship in crafting.  Pop over to 1 Xmas Item A Month after the 25th to see more lovely projects.

My next dishcloth is going to be in green ... just like our lawn at the moment after some lovely rain and also this little friend who was busy having dinner on the outside of my kitchen window.

It's Almost Friday!

Time to join with Wendy and friends for some Friday Fun, Fabric and Friends.

Anyone For Tea?

This was last Friday

Today was a beautiful afternoon for a pot of tea

Happy weekend     >^..^<

No Power, No Sew

Friday night sewing just didn't happen for me :(  Once I was ready to sit and stitch, a storm was almost upon us and by the time I'd gone around the house checking windows ... packing towels under the back door ... the power went out! Nothing left to do but go to bed and listen to the rain on the roof and watch the light show outside.

Photo taken Summer 2014

I think we received about an inch of rain Friday night ... missed out last night and it's already steaming up for today ... more storms forecast. Head the warnings, be prepared and stay safe.

I haven't been able to access my bloglovin for a few weeks now so I finally gave up yesterday and have started again from scratch ... giving Feedly a go.

FNWF

I'm heading off-line to do a little stitching ... happy Friday night with Cheryll and Friends

November Finishes?

Just maybe there is a chance that these little projects will make it over the finish line ... I don't have a good track record for finishes this year.

First is my day 2 stitchery from SDDO ... completed and all cut out ready for the sewing machine.

While I was cutting, these 2 stitcheries from Day 1 had all their bits and pieces cut out ready for the machine too.

Someone thinks she's a bit of a clever clogs...standing on mum's lunch.

Now for some Sunday sewing.

OPAM October

I have 2 small finishes to add to my OPAM page ... YaY!

Spring Flowers Dishcloth

Santa Dish Cloth - just couldn't get the red to photograph :(

Last night I cast on ready to start another dishcloth.  Seems all I can manage at the moment are small "not much thinking needed" projects. Mind you the not much thinking part can lead to original designs sometimes :)

>^..^<

FNSI ... I Made IT

Yes, not only did I sign up at the beginning of the week ... I managed to Sew In on Friday Night! Thank you Wendy for hosting ... always a pleasure to join in :)

It all began with a Lap War, as it does most evenings when I finally get to sit down on the lounge.

Not really a war as Fleur (feline) always curls up beside me and Millie (canine) ... well you can see for yourself.

Oh and of course my first hour of FNSI was knitting. Happy to say that this time round with smaller needles and a different pattern, the red wool is so much more cooperative.

Time for a little stitching then before wrapping up for the evening. My second project from October weekend away at SDDO.

Finished off the second outline on the 'E' and 'A' last night and a few more rows of knitting.

Happy Weekend    >^..^<

FNSI Sign Ups

To say I am amazed is an understatement. Here it is only Monday and I have already signed up for FNSI with Wendy ... considering I think I've missed the last couple and more often than not, I'm scraping in by the last inch of thread.

Pop over and sign up ... oh gosh ... can I be this organised with a project for Friday night?

Time to Touch Base

Another week flown by...hard to believe it's already been 5 weeks since the wedding and 4 weeks since attending the Stitchers Dream Day Out.

Last weekend was spent with this adorable little man ... perfect weather to break out the sand pit.

Friday morning the Equine Stork delivered this little girl ... like mother, like daughter.

Last night I stitched the last flower in my sweet bunnies from Day 1 at SDDO ... now to make them up before Spring is over.

I realized I never got back to sharing my Day 2 where I shared a double table (the naughty table) with a group of lovely friends old and new. Another amazing day spent stitching, chatting, yummy food and coffee ... all too soon it was time to make the 4 hour drive home :(

This was the example of my lovely project the second day, so now I can pick it up where I left off. Love working with the purples.

Wishing you a stitchy week     >^..^<

Nature's Journey Finish

Yay!  As of last night the last seam was sewn and pressed. Had to wait for outside to dry out after last nights storm ... a nice drop of 16mm.

I thought I would have a new dishcloth to share ...

but I wasn't happy with my casting on and then when I made a 2nd mistake in the pattern ... I pulled it out and started again ... still with red. A new cast on method (happy this time) but lack of concentration and another mistake so ...

Pulled it out again, put the red ball away and made a fresh start ... different colour ... different pattern.

Looking forward to a visit with this little munchkin again soon xx

>^..^<

September Rolls On

After our beautiful wedding weekend it was back to reality for a few days with work, washing, work, washing ... you get the picture. Friday rolled around and I needed to pack for ...

Stitchers Dream Day Out ~ Quilters Angel ~ Highfields

Lucky for me I got to experience not one but two dream days out. If I'm going to drive 4 hours there and 4 hours home I'm going to make the most of it! Thank you to my lovely friend and host Fiona who had a spare bed for me, it was a fantastic weekend of stitching in great company with friends old and new. Meeting our designers Julie Lovell (Calico Farm Designs) and Bronwyn Hayes (Red Brolly) was a special treat.

Day 1 ~ Table 2     What gorgeous project will I find?

Sweet teddies by Julie Lovell

So let's get stitching!

Always lovely to meet new friends and fellow bloggers.

End of day 1 ... delicious lunch, morning and afternoon teas, demonstrations by the designers and of course lots of chatter.

Stay tuned for day 2  :o)

Perfect Wedding Weather

DD and SIL  "Tied the Knot" on Saturday 5th September, 2015 ... what a beautiful day!

 Bridal Party under our fig tree

 Time for the reception

Daughter-in-law ... Son and Grandson J

Horseshoe Cake - Traditional Fruit Cake made and iced by my mother

Round Cake - Choc Mud Cake made by me and iced by mum.