FNSI, OPAM, 1 Xmas Item

Of course the camera batteries would be flat just after I've been to town and don't have any spares. So I have 'borrowed' the ones from the cordless mouse, taken my pics and replaced the batteries back in the mouse. Batteries are now on my shopping list! Wonder if I could buy Mojo batteries too?

Now ... back to Friday night and sewing ... I decided to go with blanket stitch applique on Miss Moo and have been able to finish the applique over the weekend. Just needing eyes and her name embroidered.

Then on Sunday I made a start on an IPad  beanbag for work. Hubby got the request for a nice flat rock about this big (using hands to show size) for a weight and found the perfect size somewhere up the paddock while pumping water for the cows. One IPad beanbag ready to go to school tomorrow and a tick for OPAM.

I didn't have a gadget to test drive it with so I used the pattern for my 1 Xmas Item long term project.

Which brings me to my progress so far on block 1 and my 1 Xmas Item A Month for February. If slow and steady won the race then I'm already a winner. I'm attempting needle turn again after several years since my first attempt. Lots of leaves to prepare next.

Another busy week ahead so it's nice to sit down after dinner and do some stitchery to unwind before bed.

Happy Stitches     >^..^<

FNSI

Hopefully I can keep my eyes open long enough tonight to join in the Friday night fun. Wendy has a delicious, custardy treat for us too ... yum!

A quick trip into town this morning to buy 3 skeins of embroidery thread to match fabric colours on my latest applique project and some vliesofix for another project. Gosh ... I have 3 projects to choose from ... which will I work on?  Of course the main reason for going to town was groceries but it's a good chance to hit the craft shop while I'm there ... right?

Still waiting for our turn to get some rain but it's lovely to hear that it's been falling in some much needed places ... our turn will come.

Scrap Basket Sunday

A quick post to show that I did join another 100 x 2" squares into a finished block on Sunday.

Chain piecing is definitely the way to go.  While I had these passing under the needle, I also pieced together as much as I could for Block 1 of 'A Merry Christmas Garden'. This one is going to keep me busy ... lots of steps and I'm revisiting needle turn applique.

Spent a lovely day today at our local patchwork group. Only 5 of us were able to make it but there was plenty of show and tell lots to chat about .... food for the soul.

>^..^<

On My Mind

The drought continues it's hold on Aussie lives as well as fires and hard to believe but in places ... yes floods.

Chookyblue and Channelbank Creations are two blogging friends who have first hand experience and have shared the harshness of drought on their blogs. Please take the time to visit if you haven't already.

Meanwhile our blogging friends around the world are experiencing major flooding or record snowfalls and extreme temperatures. When, if ever, will our crazy weather balance out? Please stay safe xx

Friday night was a lovely night out with friends.  I started stitching on this broody little hen ... a nice way to take a break from a busy week.

I promised myself that today would have to be vacuum and bathroom day ... if you can promise yourself you'll do housework.  So did I?  ....  yes!  With a sparkling bathroom and nice clean floors I could then play with some fabric guilt free.

First I laid out the completed postage stamp quilt blocks .... 6 in total. Actually this was before the vacuum came out. Even though I didn't get to sew any scraps today, this is my pic for Scrap Basket Sunday. It's good to see them laid out together.

Also managed to finish preparing the first 2 blocks of "Little Maccas Farm" ready for applique. I'm not 100% sure if I'll machine applique but I'm leaning towards hand blanket stitching them.

Playing with fabrics can be a nice way to unwind. 

>^..^<

Here We Go Again!

Obviously time has slipped past me once more .... I expected that as the work year gets back into full swing. Still feeding cattle, carting water and waiting for that all too important yet elusive rainfall.

Last Sunday I managed to play with some scraps for ScrapBasket Sunday and never got round to sharing my progress. The first pic is the 81 blocks all joined together ... I'm think a simple cream border and binding to showcase the blocks?

The second project is from a Postage Stamp Charm Swap I took part in through 2012. Don't think I even touched them in 2013 but I'm keen to at least get all the blocks sewn. Each square of fabric is 2" ... 100 pieces in each block.

I do have a rough design in my head with 9 completed blocks, some cream or white sashings and more little postage stamp charms.

This week has whipped around and already it's Friday night. Time for a fun night out with friends so if you haven't had a chance yet, skip over to Cherryl's lickity split to sign up.

ScrapBasket Sunday

Wow! This is a record for me .... posting 4 days in a row. That will all change after tomorrow once school resumes.

Last year I had high hopes of working my way through some scrap bundles to link in with Kim and her ScrapBasket Sunday.  Oh my!  I just checked back to see and that was back in April. Sadly I failed at the first hurdle and only participated once, cutting out some tumbler pieces for a tumbler quilt somewhere in my future.  So yesterday I dove in again and turned these 81 x 5" blocks

into 56 joined blocks with 27 to go.

The signature blocks are from an online Siggy Swap I participated in through the 2nd half of 2012 and have been sitting in a tin since. I had the plan for FNSI to start joining them but in my mind they were hexies and I would hand sew them together. So a change of plan and to cut a long story short .... yesterday being Sunday, I spread them out on the bed, played a little with colour and started joining. I'm very happy with the look and think I'll add a simple cream border and binding to finish it off. I have another couple of scrappy type quilts lying around somewhere and looking forward to adding to them too.

Happy Sewing

Australia Day 2014

Happy Australia Day

My version of Koala Cupcakes baked this morning after finding them over here

12 little koala's sitting in a tree

Then 1 joined me for morning tea

FNSI and 1 Xmas Item for January

My Friday night took a change of direction after I finally found the project I thought I'd work on, to find it wasn't what I thought it was.  So I grabbed a pile of old magazines and continued sorting them into these 3 piles.

1.  Christmas themed.
2.  To be re-homed.
3.  Projects I would like to make.

There are just so many gorgeous projects and never enough time to make them all so I have to be strong.

Earlier in the week I delved into a draw of 'bits and pieces' and found a couple of ornaments that have been cut out since 2009, oooops!  These are from Marg Low Designs and were a kit in an online stitching day I had signed up for. The bigger of the 2 will have to wait for a nice button or something to adorn the centre.

These are my 1 Xmas Items A Month for January. Now to find a safe, clean storage place where I won't forget where I put them! The new blog has been super busy this morning ... you might like to pop over for a visit to view all the lovely Christmas goodies the Elves have been busy creating.

Happy Long Weekend for Australia Day     >^,,^<

In The Mail

It's been a happy week for mail this week.  We have a mail delivery 3 days a week and Monday I received the first block of Gail Pan's "A Merry Christmas Garden". This will be my main project for 1 Xmas Item A Month but I do hope to be able to have smaller finishes sometimes too.

Every year I have my blog printed into a book at Blog2Print and Wednesday my copy of 2013 arrived. The kids love looking through them almost as much as I do. Sometimes it can be a bit scary to see just how far back an item was made or started.

Wednesday's mail also delivered a little belated Christmas gift to myself. I enjoy reading all about the Elm Creek Quilters and so often have wished I could visit a retreat like this. 

Now I wonder what today's mail delivery will have in store for me?

For something not in the mail ... this gorgeous tin was a Christmas gift filled with yummy shortbread biscuits. I'm sure I will find a little project that will love to be kept safe inside.

And for some sewing content ... this was my first sewing for 2014 finally at the beginning of this week. Taking in the legs and hemming jeans. Quilting supplies can be adapted to almost any job.

We have a long weekend here for Australia Day and then it's back to school Tuesday. Hope you find some time to relax with a little thread. Don't forget tomorrow is the 25th here too, time to start sharing those 1 Xmas Items A Month.

>^..^<

FNSI and OPAM

Sign up at Wendy's.  I'm sure I'll find something to work on if I haven't melted into a grease spot by then.

I've also signed up for another year of finishes with Kris and Peg.  Are you counting on some finishes?