Friday Night Sewing with Friends

The last two Friday nights I have enjoyed the delightful company of a group of sewists .. sewers (?) ... people-who-love-to-sew like myself, who all enjoy the company of others when getting their crafty on, all thanks to the darling Gail.  She decided to start up a FB page where we could all hang out each Friday night as we stitch/knit/sew to our hearts content, and for the last two Fridays (since it began), the fingers were flying - in more ways than one *wink*.

My set up each night: first week (top), last night (bottom).

The first week I began working on a table runner pattern I found on moda's bakeshop.  It's called 'Verna's Cutting Garden Tablerunner' by Julie Geiger.  I was able to get together the centre blocks, though I still haven't decided on the layout yet.  This is what I've come up with thus far; a lovely twist on the classic fencerail block.  I am using a charm pack of 'Eva' by Basic Grey for moda.

During the week, I was able to finish off the first 'Seasons of ...' block by Wendy B (and Dawn).  I did show a progress image last post, but here it is in all it's glory.  I decided on a chain stitch outlining the portions on the umbrella, and then a daisy chain stitch around the bottom to emphasise the 3D effect (and to give it an extra interesting & pretty finish) - the idea for which I got from an old post of Jenny of Elefantz.

A close up of the umbrella edging ...

And last night (Friday ... though as I write this the clock has already clicked over to Sunday...), I finished off my nineteenth SKoW block ... the cat.

Though I had almost completed the needle turn (excepting the name tag & nose) earlier in the week, I finished her off last night.  This leaves me with five blocks left to complete.

What are my next stitchery projects ... you know, since my WIP pencil case (yes, I still keep all my stitchery works in progress in a large A4 size pencil case ... one day I will get around to Fee's project bag!!)?!

I have the next two 'Season's of ...' blocks drawn up ...

And four TTS blocks.  The project for this month's SAL is the TTS 'Bon Noel' Wallhanging.  I haven't completely narrowed down which blocks I will be using, but I think I have it down to ...

... either of the 'right' designs on the left; the top left design in the middle; and the bottom left design on the right.  I have switched the angel & words around on the bottom left design in comparison to that in the book to even out the 'look' of the hanging.  I think this one will be going in either the glory or gift box.

Already I'm looking forward to next Friday ... but before then, I have two textiles projects to complete by Monday, a Art History assignment to finish, and another of each to begin before the week is out ... Boy is this week going to be a doozy!!!

Belated FNwF show & some other finishes

Last Friday was this month's FNwF (Friday Night with Friends) evening, and although I started late, I did manage to get a few items done.

I finished off (hand)sewing down the binding on the table runner I began earlier in the year as a thankyou gift for my daughter's childcare teacher from last year (yes, SUPER late, I know!)

Now all it needs is a wash & to make some 3D flowers to go on opposing corners ... or maybe I'll just skip the flowers and just give it to her like this (??... hmmm ...).  I took inspiration from some table runners that Rhianon (@ The Nifty Stitcher) made for Christmas gifts and shared on FB this past December.  Thankfully she was happy for me to do this as I adore the ones she made!!  The backing fabric is the same as the cream w/ blue flowers in the outer border.  

FMQing deets ... The white centre is divided into 8 squares, each quilted in a feathered design; the brown border has a loopy design with two different heights to the loops (1/2way & full); and the outer border has a continuous one-sided feather (using the brown border as the 'inner stem').

When this was finished, I completed the remaining stitching on my SKoW tree block.  Here is the finished block ...

Earlier in the week, I was also able to manage doing some sewing/stitching most days.  I finished off my SKoW shoe block (stitchery & needle turn) ...

The needleturned hearts on the Red Book Bag stitchery ...

** I am using Sarah Fielke fabrics for this bag in her 'Pond' range, currently available at Spotlight.  I have all the fabrics cut out for this bag now, ready to be put together; I just needed to get some Pellon yesterday, and I hope to have this finished and put together by the end of next week (I'm being realistic here, knowing how much uni I have to work on over the next few weeks!!)

And last night, I even managed to start working on one of the stitchery designs being shared by Wendy B & Dawn in their 'Seasons of" BOM.  This pattern was shared here, and the following two here.  The next one, I am expecting in the next few days *wink*.

I slightly adapted the seat ... hope that's okay Wendy? xx

So there you have it ... a roundup of my latest stitching sessions.  Now to go get some cleaning/sorting/organising & uni assignments/work done.  Enjoy your (Aussie) school holiday week!!

H2H Charity Quilt Challenge 2013

It's time to sign up for the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge.  This challenge has been running for the last couple of years and, although I didn't quite get one finished by the end of the challenge in 2011 (it was my first year of quilting and things just all got on top of me), I did finish one off last year which was sent through to one of our military personnel over seas as a part of the Aussie Hero Quilts group.  

This year they'll be quilting for two charities based in America (which is normal, though as International quilters, we also have the option of either sending over the top & backing to be finished off or donating to our own homegrown charity to alleviate costs of postage), Happy Chemo and Quilts Beyond Borders - two great charities.  You could make one (or more) for each (or other groups here) and spread the love if you want.

You can read more about the Challenge here and sign up at the same time.  There will be a giveaway for folks who sign up by this Saturday night (30 March 2013, America time) and lots of giveaways at the end of the Challenge for those who participate!

They don't need to be fancy quilts - a simple design is really all that is necessary! This was the quilt I made last year ...

You can read more about it here.

Last year I was the only Aussie participating - how about add a few more to the mix?!!

Been a while ...

... since I last posted :)

Last time I did, I was having a BLAST of a time at the Let's Get Stitched retreat in Adelaide.  It was officially the BEST weekend I have had in YEARS!!!!  I laughed so hard, I cried so very many times that I needn't have worried about working out if I'd even thought about it - the whole weekend was an ab workout & a half!!! Lol!

Most of us waiting for the bus for our quilt shops (3) and
 Handorf visits, Friday morning.

Finding FQs @ Cotton Stitches, Friday; working on our projects @ Sunday sew-in;
Designs from Sunday ... plus some yummy lollies to snack on!; Joy teaching her appliqué method.

@ Friday games night; Finding our seats @ Sunday sew-in;
Sunday sew-in setup; On the bus on Friday

If you want to know more, Gail, Sue B and Teresa (here, *here* & here) all posted about the weekend so I won't bore you with the details *wink*.  Needless to say, I have every intention to get myself to the retreat next year being run in Melbourne in March (there is also a second one being run in New Zealand in October which I would love to go to, but I don't know that I will be able to make that one ... one day Michelle *wink*).

So, apart from this ... and the super massive load of uni I've been working on ... I have been able to manage getting a fair bit of hand-sewing and stitching done...

Finished putting together the "child's treasure box", designed by Judy.
This was the project I started at the LGS weekend.
I used Woodland fabrics, and gave it to my daughter ... can't half tell I missed her BAD!!

I finished the stitchery for the SKoW pincushion using a variegated pink thread

Stitchery finished for Red Book bag ... now just to needle-turn the hearts in the
top left-hand corner & make it into a bag.

And now I am working on finishing the needle turn on my SKoW shoes block.  I have gotten sucked back into Hart of Dixie, and so have downloaded most of the season 2 episodes available on iTunes (I have season 1 on dvd) and am working my way through those in the evenings while I stitch - that is, when I'm not trying to work on an assignment.  I am trying to get at least one episode worth (40mins) of stitching time in each night.

Before I go, here are some pictures I took while spending a little time with my (maternal) Granddad during my last evening in Adelaide (I had a late flight on Monday, so I spent the afternoon & early evening catching up with him with was lovely).  These are sugar flowers he found, while going through some cupboards, that my Granny (his wife) made many many years ago!  She was a very gifted cake decorator, making wedding and celebration cakes (for all occasions), and she must have made a whole bunch of extras that she tucked away to use .. and never did.  She has unfortunately not been able to do any of her crafts (she also did lots of sewing, quilting, knitting etc) for quite some time now, and it is nice to see her handiwork last all these years later ... even *if* they are sugar flowers that are so old that they are no good to be consumed *wink*!!  Some of these petals are just so delicate I would expect them to fall apart just by being touched - but they still don't!!!