FNSI check-in, Jan

Wow has this week gone quickly!! I can hardly believe it's already Sunday!!!!  Unfortunately I didn't even get through half of the things I wanted to do this week, and that included a *long* FNSI evening ... at least I got in an hour or two!!

As I was babysitting my cousin's 5 (almost 6) yr old during the day, I didn't get anything done sewing wise, except for unpicking some wrong-coloured stitching on a Christmas BonBon while we watched Madagascar 3 in the bedroom (it was a STINKING hot day, and we only have aircon in the bedrooms ... so out the laptop came, and on went the aircon and dvd!).  At the moment this is the only hand stitching project I have prepped and ready for stitching, so that was the selected project.

Wrong thread unpicked, new colour started.

Later, after the dinner/shower/bed routine was done, I began sandwiching the table runner I began earlier in the week for one of my daughter's carers at childcare.  As she will begin Preschool on Tuesday, and no longer attend childcare, I thought it might be nice to make her a nice, simple table runner to say thank you for the fantastic job she's done over the past 12 months.

All sandwiched and pinned :)

This job was interrupted midway through for a workout, about 8:30pm.  I have started Jillian Michael's Body Revolution extreme weight loss system, and am doing the workouts with the friend I was working out with late last year ... she's been coming over in the evenings so we can do the additional cardio workout together.  Full on, but it feels pretty good so far :)

Anyways, the table runner was sandwiched, and then I got on to practicing the FMQing design for the eight white squares in the centre.  First quilting I've done in months, so I think I did a pretty good job.  Some sections aren't so good, but by the end I think I got a pretty good rhythm ... this square has also been washed, dried and basically ironed so it's nice a floppy and soft.

Sorry, this is upside down, but you get the idea :)

I have basically copied the design of the layout and quilting from some table runners that Rhianon @ Nifty Stitcher Designs had made for Christmas gifts and showed on FB.  Thankfully she was very happy for me to replicate her runners, as I'd I've totally fallen in love with them.  It's not going to look as fantastic as hers, but I'll certainly do my best to try!!

... Now, off to do read through a few more blogs before I need to get stuck into some more uni study.

SKoW Update, Jan 2013

I am loving seeing everyone's thread catchers and shoe bags for January's project in this years' Stitch-a-Long.  This was my version of the pattern ... the thread catcher from Red Home by Natalie Bird.

My fabric one (R) will replace the green plastic container (L) I've been using for the last year!

As it is though, I am still plodding along with my SKoW quilt and have gotten another four blocks finished in between going on holidays with my family and working on assignments for uni.

My sun and presents block just needed stitching on them last time I posted ... this leaves me with one block left to finish on the end row ... my chair wine.

My house block came together really quickly!!  I'm not 100% happy with the fabric on the house - kinda too plain - and I'm tempted to put some vines going up it to brighten it up ... but that will be figured out at a later date, if at all :) 

And my flowers are looking super pretty.  these were actually not as bad as I thought they'd be - which is good, as I have the tree block to work on next *wink*.  I just used the alfoil method to make sure the circles were pretty close to precise, and that made things go heaps quicker!!  I also changed up the wording (though, admittedly it's not placed wonderfully!) as I'm not a huge fan of getting down and dirty in the garden.  I much prefer wandering through (or sitting in ... on a chair or bench, lol!) a garden bursting in glorious blooming flower beds ... than actually getting down on my hands and knees in the dirt to create said beds!!

I've got the next two blocks in this (middle) row prepped (sorry, no photos yet) and ready to start the needle turn on them, but first I need to finish off a table runner for my daughter's teacher/carer at childcare - her last day is this coming Thursday ... Preschool begins the following week!!! - and get some hours logged in on my next assignment.  

** I did have a couple of posts scheduled to "go live" (or thought I did) over the last two weeks ... but it seems that either I didn't set ti up properly, or I hit the wrong button, as they've not only not gone up ... but they've also disappeared!!  I will try to put them up again over the next week when I get a chance.  I have one to 'declare' *lol!* my goals for this year ... and a review with giveaway for a book I had the privilege to read prior to its release date ... which unfortunately was last week.  *sad face*

Wishing you an enjoyable week ahead!!  This will be my last week as a Pre-Preschool mum - I'm gonna *try* to enjoy it, lol!