Chillin'

What does one do when the temp is rising to heatwave levels?

Chill on the verandah with your sister of course. These two are rarely this close to each other except at meal times ... so this was a rare photo opportunity to get them both in the one picture.

And watching one of the dogs run past. No dog dares venture up here!

Rusty and his girls also get extra free range time when the weather is hot. We've been trying to keep a strip of green grass around the house with dam water. They love to pick and chase insects through the garden.

Rusty's a silkie and NOT showing his best angle.

As today is the last day of September I've taken a progress shot of my Red Delicious block. With some catching up here and there I have managed to equal one thread per day plus a couple extra.

Should be done and dusted by the end of October. This little tortoise keeps plodding on.

Happy Stitching     >^..^<

OPAM and a UFO

Just remembered it's the last day of the month today.  Not only that but it's also the last day of Winter, if you could call it that...it's been more like spring for weeks now.

I finished this scarf last Sunday night but am only getting around to taking the regulation finished item photo. One more ball of wool that didn't make it to the 'lost' box.

Tick for OPAM August, yippee!  Thankyou to the lovely hosts Kris and Peg.

Last night while deciding on what to stitch next, this particular UFO popped into my head and was even easy to find so ....

Red Delicious - Part 7 has come out to play. This particular quilt was commenced in February 2009 as a free block of the month by Esther Aliu and I still really like it, just never seem to work on it much. You can find a progress pic on my UFO page. 

My Challenge:  There are 12 'scrolls' and last night I blanket stitched the first 1. So I'm setting myself the task of stitching at least one length of thread each day until this part is finished. Check back in at the end of September to see how far this tortoise has advanced. (1 thread doesn't go far)

Happy Spring Days   >^..^<

November Wrap

Time for a look see at how November went.  I started out on a roll but soon came to a halt ... and finished with a trickle of stitching.

 

1 Xmas Item ~ Secret Sewing - still sewing

Tis The Seasn ~ started handquilting

Ribbon Stars ~ :(  backing too small, need to buy

Finish 3 Pot Holders ~ Yay!  Done!

Work on a UFO  ~  Yipee!  Finished Block

 

When I pulled out the backing fabric for Ribbon Stars it was only half the size I needed so I've had to add that to the shopping list.

 

My UFO was the 6th block of Red Delicious and I'm very pleased to say it's finished.

 

 

Completed blocks to date.

I've been busy tallying all the months and all the elves and have come up with a few little surprises that shall be revealed tomorrow. Someone managed an item every month and it wasn't me :(
Don't forget you're welcome to a final post on the 15th December with a last minute make or  a photo of something made earlier and is now on display.

Happy Sewing

 

October's A Wrap

Finish 1 Xmas Item

TTS ~ Christmas Joy

Work on Quilt Gift for 50th

Make bag with 'Stitch A Little Love'

Work on a UFO

 

Wow, I actually managed to cross off my entire list for October.  My secret is in keeping a short list and it seems to be working for me at the moment.  'Tis The Season' and 'Ribbon Stars' (50th Gift Quilt) are now tops awaiting quilting and would you believe I forgot to take my little bag to patchwork today for 'show and tell'.  Too many things to remember at the moment.

 

The UFO I worked on was a block for Red Delicious. I enjoyed taking this one out of it's dark box and hope I can squeeze in a little more applique next month. Just the leaves to do and some embelishment on the roses.

 

 

I enjoyed a lovely and productive day with our patchwork group. My machine came back from having a service and repair today so I tried it out sewing pot holders...sew far...sew good.

 

Did you revisit a UFO this month?

Made It to Patchwork Day

Finally after way back in early December last year, I've made it into our little groups' Patchwork Day.
We meet once a month and when January's date rolled around the sky opened up, creeks flooded and I had to stay home.

Monday afternoon our unstable weather produced yet another storm and once more Patchwork Day was looking grim and Tuesday wasn't looking much better. Being positive I packed my sewing things together and my lovely neighbour and I arranged to meet bright and early Wednesday morning all going well (dry) and give it a go.

Hooray!  We made it there and back and enjoyed a beautiful day of sewing, chatting and beautiful show and tell which you can see over at Mt Perry Quilters. 

First I cut 100 x 2" squares ready for a Postage Stamp Quilt and finished sewing them into pairs last night. The other 2 piles of pairs are from swap friends for the 2012 Charm Swap and Challenge.

Then I started blanket stitching on my next Red Delicious block. I had been trying to buy more backing fabric and couldn't match the material so ..... I bought 2 fat 1/4's of ivory and died them. 1 with tea and the other with coffee and the coffee one came out the closest to the original fabric so I'm using that one.

How are your Christmas Items going for this month? Are you like me and hoping you will have a finish for the 25th? If my post is a little late that day you'll know I am still busy stitching and if you finish your item a few days after the 25th that's ok too. Remember there is no pressure here ... just pleasure at the end of the year.

UFO Thursday

I think this one definately counts as a UFO by now.  I finished block 4 of Red Delicious way back in June 2010.

Yesterday while the rain poured down I finished block 5: Fanfare. Next year I'm going to see if I can get back on track with these and have a Red finish more often.

Pop over and visit Sandy who hosts UFO Thursday for more UFO progress...thankyou Sandy.



Deliciously Red Friday Night

Last night was Friday Night Sew-In. After a long day in town and a late dinner, I finally managed to sit down with needle and thread in hand.


I was able to complete Block 4 of Red Delicious while watching Nicholas Cage in 'National Treasure'.

How did you spend your Friday Night?

Stitchery Proof!

A very quick post ... just to prove that I haven't totally given up on fabric and threads.

Wednesday I made it to our patchwork group and finally made a start on cat-a-licious.


I had an appointment in town first, then finished off some blanket stitching on the vase for Red Delicious Block 4 before threading up for the above.


Of course there was also some chatting and coffee and browsing books and coffee and checking out what everyone else had been up to and chatting. You know how it goes.

Small Finishes

They may not be big projects but they are finished projects.

This little pin cushion didn't take long at all ... made from 5" squares.

I made an ebay purchase of these red/white squares and thought I could make a machine cover to go with my red machine mat. A simple, quick method but I'm very happy with it. The cover has ties either end to keep it in place.

After seeing the wonderful matching set of machine accessories over here, I then decided on the pincushion and yet to come will be a little scraps basket. You really must take a look at this lovely blue set.

Back in July I started this pin cushion for Mrs Martin's Cyber Stitching Day. Now that I've signed up for another day in November, I told myself that I must finish this project first. It's a very clever pin cushion on top and a needle folder on the other side. I already have some needles in residence.

Slowly but surely I am still working on Esther's Red Delicious BOM. Here is my block 3 ... I will keep working on this in between all the other projects.

Hopefully another finish for today, my third Stitchers Angel gift, but that one will stay a secret until they all go to their new home in ....?

Have you noticed a new link on my side bar? I'm taking part in Finn's New Years Eve Challange again this year. I aim to complete one large UFO by then and any more will be bonuses.

Happy Sewing

Friday Finishes (on Saturday)

I had to borrow a camera and swap my SD card over in order to be able to upload photos to my computer. There's a breakdown in communication between my camera and computer.
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So that's why I'm posting Friday finishes on Saturday.
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Ooops! Round the wrong way, oh well. Here's block 3 of Esther's 'Red Delicious' BOM awaiting hand stitching.


And this is block 2 all finished, trimmed and tucked away for safe keeping.

I'm enjoying the hand stitching at night in front of the tv. It helps to leave the day behind and relax before heading to bed.
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With April now behind us, I have another Fabric Postcard to share. This time I made two and sent the first one to my DD.


The second I posted off to my swap partner for April. A reminder of the nice warm days as we head into Winter next month.

Today I'm hoping to prepare some pieces for some hand embroidery as well as continue working on the T-block quilt.There's also another little (long term) project in the wind, but I'll share that next time perhaps.

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Hope you're having a sewing weekend.

Friday Finishes

Yipee! The end of the week and I have some finishes to share.
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These little constructions are my Happy Houses, now on their way to Lurline's. Once I was able to knuckled down they were quite simple to sew and most enjoyable.

Now I just wait and see who's cute houses I get in return. Then have fun playing with them and deciding on one bigger quilt or two wall hangings. Oh excitement!

Another finish after a long way from the start is my block one of Esther's 'Red Delicious'.

And here's block 2 all ironed on ready for blanket stitching. Maybe by the time the last block is released, I'll have caught up?

I'm pleased to report that I've probably done about 3/4's of the stitching on this now and hope to get block 3 ready over the weekend, fingers crossed.

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Yes, another finish. These three strips are January, February and March of my Calendar Quilt Challenge. Click on the link on my side bar to read more and see how creative everyone else is.

While you're travelling around blogland, head on over and visit Blushing Rose. She has a super basket full of goodies for Mothers Day.

Happy Sewing