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.

This and That

 Just the mundane ... housework, cattle work, town days and winter blahs ... with some sewing thrown into the mix.  I have 3 more months worth of triangles cut out for my historical temp quilt and plan to get to the machine today.

Chookshed Challenge May #1 was completed in the first week of June. I was determined to finish it before the crochet hook came out. EPP Wall Hanging designed by Fiona Ransley ~ 12" mini

Chookshed Challenge June #7 ~ Out came the crochet hook and wool eventually. Now I have 2 patterns I was planning on crocheting but then last week while scrolling FB a new design presented itself and hey presto ............

I worked on it yesterday at our Patchwork Day ... knowing we would have nearly a full house, machine space is tight so it's nice to be able to just grab a hand project, sit back and relax/chat.

Time for a couple more mundane chores and then you'll find me in the craftavan.

Sunday This and That

In between helping out with cattle work, I've been tucked away in the craftervan ... out of the cold wind. Friday I made up the September blocks for MMQ.

This year's Murder Mystery Quilt (MMQ) is set in Peru. Each month we receive a new block or choice of blocks and the next chapter in a Murder Mystery novel. Clues to "who done it?" can be found in the chapters and blocks as well as bonus clues, but I'm no Miss Marple.

Saturday I finally managed to jump on Zoom with Chooky and friends. I've been missing out on connecting with this lovely group of ladies and it was the best start to my day. While listening and chatting I joined 3 rows on my Strips n Curves.

Later after more cattle work, I finished joining all rows. Now for a peeper and a border  ... I'm auditioning a blue peeper bottom left or pink/red on the right.

Last night I put the last treble crochet in my C2C rug. It's only small at about 35" square but I love how the varigated wool worked out.

This morning another sourdough loaf baked and some sourdough crumpets for smoko.

I may have also started another monthly Mystery Quilt from Meadow Mist Designs ... 1st month is this hourglass blocks so this is my project for tomorrow at our Patchwork Day.

I couldn't help myself and was able to pull fabrics from my stash ... 2 down and 54 to go.

Happy Sunday 😊 

FNwF

 Thank you Cheryll and friends for a lovely Friday night.  I managed to get a head start earlier in the day with a block for my Murder Mystery Quilt.  Back in March I made the FPP Lama block but now that I've been playing with layout, it's the only animal block I've chosen to make so ....

I went back and made the alternative block for March.

In the evening I sewed a couple of blocks for 'Strips n Curves'.  

A few more were made yesterday and I've only got a couple left to sew today, then I can play with layout.

After dinner I spent some time with wool and hook and added a few more rows to my C2C rug. It won't be as big as my other rugs but it will still keep the knees warm.

Enjoy you weekend 🌞

August Wrap ~ September Challenge

 One leaf and one row was all it took to wrap up for August. First is my Temperature Tree up to date ... time to get that September branch finished and ready for some leaves.

Second finish was my "Granny Ripple" Crochet Rug. I mentioned last post that I ran out of white for the last row ... my friends white was stark against mine so I ended up finishing with my off white ... Shhh! No one will notice.  This rug was also #5 for the Chookshed Challenge so I can tick that one off. I was using leftover wool from a previous rug and only purchased the pinky colour.

Now onto September's Challenge #3 ... I have a confession to make on my "Happy Houses" blocks ... I still haven't found them. This might have to be the month I turn my sewing stashes upside down and inside out and if the blocks don't turn up, I'll have to write them off!

For now I'll keep working on #9 "Strips and Curves" and hopefully get it into a completed top ... I made some progress yesterday on piecing the blocks ... using lots of pins and sewing slowly on those curved seams.

One more crochet rug to finish and then that will be that for working with wool ... I just can't manage it once the weather warms up so I'll be back to stitching Sashiko blocks in the evenings.

Pop over to Deana's and you can follow what fellow Chookshed Stitchers have been working on.

October Rolls In ... Next Challenge

 Not much happening in the land of sewing or any crafting I'm afraid ... I've lost my mojo and don't know where to even start looking for it ... think I'll just leave it alone and it will find it's own way home.

September Chookshed Challenge was my Scrappy Wall Hanger but with grandies visiting before and during school holidays ... bathroom reno ... Throw in an absess forming after what I'm thinking was a spider bite on my back while gardening with Grandson F ... much driving to and fro for medical ... and my wall hanging is still as is. He chose the violas to go with our tomato plants and later I snuck in some gladiolas.

I was eager to finish my first every granny square rug early in September and am very happy with how it turned out.  Great for wool scrap busting as I managed 3 rugs from 2 wool kits and only purchased the white wool for last row of each square and joining.

October Challenge is whatever project was left on my list which is "King Bed Quilt".  I'll keep plugging along on this one as I really want it finished and on my bed. Not to mention the machine has been set up on the dining table so I have room to work on the long rows.

Thank you Deana and Chooky for this Chookshed Challenge.  I started the year with flying colours and while I've let slide on a couple of challenges, I for sure would not have achieved what I have without being challenged.

Challenges and Progress

Happy Birthday to all the Horses out there  ... August 1st in Australia is the official birth date for our horses. This young lady is officially 5 today.

Now for the Chookshed Challenge.  My project for July was to quilt and bind a wedding quilt .... welllll ... the quilt was dropped off to the quilters on Monday so I'm claiming that as a win ... (I know... it's a stretch but it's better than still sitting in my cupboard)

August #3 -  to finish off my Happy Houses Wall Hanger.  These were from a swap way back in 2011 and I know if Chooky looks closely she may just recognise a house or 2.  Now I said join and quilt so I'll see how far I can get ... 

My 2024 Temperature Quilt has another row completed, Row 5 which took me to July 20 and a couple of below 0 temps ... brrrrr!

I still have some wool left over from the Round Knitted Rug and Zig Zag Rugs so now I'm working on Granny Squares to use up the remainder ... I did purchase the white.

There is another Scrappy Quilt in progress that I work on at our Patchwork Days so that's about it for me. Keeping busy on the farm, visiting grandies and crafting whenever xx

A Finish or 2 of Sorts

 The Chookshed Challenge was just what I needed ... thank you ladies. I've kept working on a couple and have finishes to share. 

Challenge 2 - 'Crochet Rug' - Finished

Challenge 4 - "Strip Insertion Quilt" - Finished Top

I have to admit to stalling on this month's challenge but I did work out the new crochet pattern I mentioned. 

And then there's Row 2 of my 2024 Temperature Quilt 

Of course the recent school holidays meant Sleepovers with Masters 10 and 4 who love helping with the cattle work. This particular morning tea menu was pikelets and mug cakes. 

So that's a little catch up on April and I still have time to work on the current Challenge #9.

Number #2 for Challenge

 Wow!  No thanks to the 'flu bug' that took it's toll on both hubby and I. He started a couple days before me but we've both been down and out for a fortnight. Then it's taken another week to feel like I'm back to normal ...

So what's been happening at my place? Nothing!  I did check at the start of the month which item was my #2 for the Chookshed Challenge and finally dug it out this morning.

I'm taking it with me to Patchwork Day tomorrow to work on ... I'll pop back with a progress pic.

It's a little hard to see but 2 of the colours I'm using are a cream and a very pale pink.

I have also had to change my #7 from Calendar Quilt to Scrappy Quilt after I finished the calendar quilt to a top ... but I have no shortage of projects to choose from.

Now for some Blog hopping ... Enjoy your Sunday

Zoom, Zoom February

While February rolls over and March is knocking on the door .... Mother Nature is being a b***h!

Where to start? I've been making some more masks as even Grandson J needs some for school.

My 2021 Blog Book arrived in the mail ... I've been having these printed since 2007/2008 but this one was the thinnest.

Murder in the Caribbean is getting close ... here is the layout and I've managed to join a couple of rows. I'm liking this one.

The crochet hook has been in action as I've run out of dish cloths.  This pattern is Waffle and a involves a new stitch for me ... 'Front Post Treble Stitch' ... simple to do after a you tube lesson.

Belvedere the Rustic Reindeer went to live with his new owner just in time for Christmas 2021 and his brother has finally come together and will live here. Grandson M was checking him over and may have had sticky fingers by the spot on it's cheek.

Chookyblue held a Zoom day yesterday to celebrate her 15th year of blogging. I had great plans of joining in for the day ... Thursday/Thursday night in town at Mum's ... come home Friday ... plans for Sunday ... so Saturday WAS going to be MY day ... until Mother Nature threw a tantrum! Hubby phoned Friday morning to say he'd had 10 inches of rain (250mm) overnight and had never seen the creeks run so high. Of course nothing compared to what is still unfolding further south but it stopped me getting home due to the bridge going under water.  I did manage to get home Saturday afternoon ... it took some very careful driving around back roads and finally through our paddocks to get to the house as the road into our place has washed away.

Finally after unpacking I closed my eyes to the rest of the house, set myself up with a headless reindeer, wool and crochet hook, and enjoyed a few hours with lovely ladies from all over.  The quilt I showed was from a local workshop in June 2012 and the pattern was the instructors called 'Ribbon Stars'. Bit of a record for me as the quilt was finished by the end of 2012! Thank you Chooky for hosting and I'm so glad I made it eventually.

Hubby is out checking fences this morning and later I'll head out and help with repairs. Time to grab a snack and a cuppa and hang out the next load of washing.

FNSI With A Saturday Zoom

What started off on Friday night in lovely company, grew and grew yesterday while zooming with more lovely company.

Thank you Wendy for hosting ... only a couple of rows Friday night as I was feeling exhausted after another hectic week at work. We seem to be running from one task to the next these days with little time to catch our breath.

I really needed a rest day Saturday ... no better way than just sitting, chatting and enjoying great company. So as soon as I could I joined in with Chooky and blogging friends in a Zoom. It really is just like being at my local patchwork group of gals ... sharing, inspiring, light banter and good friendship. Big Big Thank You xx

And I made some good progress on my crochet rug.  Using up wool kits from BHG one hook at a time.

May WOOFA

This month I've been crocheting along, a couple of rows most nights and my rug is slowly growing. I found a plastic tub makes a great storage for the balls of wool and the rugs sits on top.

Then almost a fortnight a go, I finally made a start on my Daughter's wedding quilt. Currently sewing all the pieces into rows. I will have to take an update photo tomorrow.

Thank you Cheryll for keeping us on track xx

Friday Night with Friends and Wool

 

Finally a little mojo has returned .... from where I do not know.  So along with Cheryll and friends, I will be joining in tonight with an old UFO and my crochet hook.

See you all soon x

Mama Mia ... FNWF

Friday night went something like this ...

Settled down in the lounge, Millie on my lap of course, crochet on the go. Yes, earlier in the week I put my thinking cap on and got back into the hook and pull through.

Enjoying virtual company of friends and tapping my toes to the awesome songs of Mama Mia the movie, when the house was plunged into silence and darkness. Enough of a storm to create a blackout but only a few drops of rain. Nothing to do but feel my way around and into bed. Yesterday I found a moment to finish the row I was on.

Thank you Cheryll for bringing us together on a Friday night.

Here are a couple other finishes I haven't yet shared.  My next wash cloth ...

This quilt top was completed on the 30th Sept, right on time. "Ruth's Quilt"

Back to  the off farm work tomorrow, squeezed in between feeding the cattle and checking waters. An upside of driving round the paddocks so often is seeing all the new babies ... will share a photo or two next time.