One Christmas Item A Month ~ 2011

Has it really been a whole year?

At the beginning of 2011 I set out to make one Christmas Item each month so that when December rolled around I wasn't thinking of all the things I wished I'd got round to making. I wasn't alone in my thoughts and have been blessed with the company of blogging friends along the way. We've sewn together and shared each month an amazing asortment of decorations and gifts and now it's almost time.

Here are my two items for November...mug rugs for stocking fillers. I used embroideries from 'Tis The Season' and you may just see more of these embroideries next year.

Thankyou to the lovely Elves who have joined in 'One Xmas Item A Month'. Without our little group I know I would not have achieved as much as I have and it's been a great pleasure to visit and see what everyone has made each month.

Please click on the 'One Xmas' page at the top of my blog to admire the wonderful projects and visit the elves' workshops. Enjoy!

Friday Night Sew-In

Arriving just in time for FNSI was this needle threader which I ordered from Sandy at Cookies and Cream Craft. I've been having so much trouble threading needles ... no more try, try, try again!

Now on with the stitching. Paula at Quilt Happy, Quilt Often has been sharing a BOM titled 'Home Sweet Home'. Here is block 10 'O' finished ... just 2 more letters to go and it will be ready to make up into a lovely wall hanger for my home. Fatique from a busy week was setting in so it was time for bed next.

I have had the fortune to be a lucky winner for FNSI and the mailman delivered this lovely prize to my mailbox this week too :o) Yipee! I'm going to have fun with these.

A big thankyou to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting this monthly cyber get-together and making Friday night's more special.

Monday Show & Tell

Just one little finish for the last week. I purchased the kit for this little Japanese Kimino purse at the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Exhibition.

I'm very happy to report that this kit did not end up as others have gone before ... into a safe keeping place still waiting to be made up.  My little purse has already been put to good use over the weekend as my jewelery keeper when we attended my brother's wedding.

Progress has also been made on block 12 of my BOM and today I'm being a good girl and working on some bookwork with the intention of 'keeping up' this quarter instead of playing catch up :)

Happy Monday

UFO Thursday ... It's Off the Frame!

Promise you won't look too close because I still haven't ironed out the 'bump' in the tracks ... and then there were tension issues ... but 'Citrus Splash' is quilted and off the frame.

The wind was playing with my photo session so this is the best shot I could get. I've quilted a large daisy in each of the 16 blocks and a scroll type design in the borders. While far from perfect I'm happy with the process and now all I need is lots and lots and lots of practice.

Top made end of 2006

Quilted November 2011

Now to tie off the threads and get a binding on.  I would love your opinions on when to add the binding. Do you sew the binding on to the front now and then trim the batting/backing or do you trim before sewing the binding? I've done it both ways but prefer to trim first.

Sandy @ Cookies and Cream Craft hosts UFO Thursday and has also been working on her UFO ... pop over and say hello.

Show and Tell Monday

Just a couple of things to share with you on this Monday for show and Tell hosted by Sandy @ Cookies and Cream Craft

A trip to spotlight and some more skeins of thread meant I could finish  Month 7 - Block 11 for Because I Said So BOM.

 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'

Last week at patchwork I was able to trace the sayings and prep the fabric for Month 8, blocks 12, 13 and 14 ... lots of stitching and applique about to take place.

There's also been a little more Christmas sewing happening and 2 more mug rugs are finished ready to wrap. Sorry...only a sneak peak here.

A stroll around my garden this morning and this is what I found in full bloom.

Sunbake anyone?  These two found a rare patch of green grass and decided to soak up some sunshine.

Happy Monday

November Goals ~ October Wrap-up

Well here we are, the 1st of November ... and Melbourne Cup Day. The one horse race of the year that I get a little excited about. I'll be watching it at home on the TV and of course I can't just sit and do nothing so there will be some sort of sewing going on. What do you have planned?

 

So on with my goals for October ... I'm happy enough with what I achieved and if it didn't get finished it simply rolls over to November ... no pressure!

 

October Goals 

 

Month 6 of Because I Said So BOM

Month 7 of Because I Said So BOM

(almost finished - ran out of embroidery thread)

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 (started)

Quilting done on brother's quilt

Finish half knitted scarf
1" Hexi Flowers for Inchy Swap

GST/BAS (tax) for the quarter

 

November Goals

 

Because I Said So BOM ~ Month 7

Because I Said So BOM ~ Month 8

1" Hexi Flowers for Inchy Swap

Quilting of UFO Citrus quilt

Quilting of brother's birthday quilt

Home Sweet Home BOM ~ letter 'O'

Red/Silver Ruffle Scarf

One Christmas Item a Month

 

From my garden this week ...

 

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.