[Oct'13] FNwF check-in

Friday began late - I just can't seem to get past this lethargy that keeps hanging around, especially during the day ... and, on the flipside, as soon as the sun goes down I seem to have an inability to get myself to bed, despite being dog-tired!! If I could sleep 12 hours a day or more without feeling guilty, I would ...

Anywhoo ...

Friday afternoon was spent doing more organising of my fabric & craft organising.  I was lucky enough to win some vouchers for Bunnings a few months back, and earlier in the week I went to purchase a large cupboard to help me store and organise my sewing accoutrements.  It's been fun going through my things, but also frustrating - as much as I have, there is so much I feel like I need to get it just right *wink* ... I still have quite a bit to go through and organise, so I'll show pics once I've got it done :)

Late Friday evening I got started on my sewing project for the evening.  The "Buttercup Bag", designed by Made-by-Rae designs.

We had a birthday party to go to on Saturday for one of the little girls in Miss 5's class and so we went to Spotlight and these were the fabrics & buttons she chose.  Such a good combination if I do say so myself *grin*.  We've also picked out some fabrics for a bag for her - another fabulous combination I'll show later in the week once it's been put together.

I totally recommend this pattern for anyone interested in making themselves, or someone else, a nice little bag.  It was easy to follow, the pattern pieces were simple, and I can totally see myself making quite a few more of these - both for myself and as gifts for others.

Once again, it was wonderful knowing there were other like-minded sewers around the country and globe, all sewing 'together'!  And thankyou to Cheryll for once again hosting this fabulous monthly get-together!!  I may not report in every month/fortnight/week, but I do enjoy knowing there are others out there just as enamoured with needle and thread as I am!! 

Enjoy a quilty kinda week!! xx

FNSI, September 2013

Friday night I spent the evening re-watching the first season 'Criminal Minds' while working on prepping the elements in another SKoW block - the 'sewing' block. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of it Friday night, but here it was on Saturday while watching 'Anne of Green Gables' and working on needle-turning those elements ...

I continued working on this yesterday and I am now almost ready to put together the pieces blocks that get sewn on the bottom of this block 😊.  I am hoping to have it finished by tomorrow night, ready to get onto the 'best friends' block next.

A little bit of this, and a little bit of that ...

Since it's been almost a month since I last posted progress on my stitching endeavours, I thought it was high time I updated it here ...

Table Runners ...

A little while ago Sue ran a Charm Square Table Runner Swap, and I can finally show this.  My partner made me a fabulous runner out of 'Farmers Market' fabric ...

... and I made her a runner out of the 'La Belle Fleur' range ...

I thought I would try my hand at a pieced backing which I think turned out pretty well ...

Apparently, when she opened up the parcel her 14 yr old daughter swooped in and tried to claim it as her own, lol!, so I guess I did something right since they both like it *yay*.

I've also finished off another table runner since then, in the 'Eva' fabric line.  Back at the Let's Get Stitched retreat in March, there were quite a few ladies who purchased some of this fabric and, though I wasn't entirely in love with it then, I certainly am now!!  Although it is only a 'top' so far (I haven't found the *right* fabric to back it with, lol!) I am looking forward to this being one of my first items to go in a glory box of sorts for when I get married.  

I have always loved purples and pinks with white, and I am loving the addition of the lime green to this combination!!

Iron cord Covers ...

I've also managed to put together a couple (well, three, but the third is not yet finished ... possibly because it will be for me, haha!) of iron cord covers from a tutorial by Melody. [When I find the direct link, I'll add it ... I know she offered it only just this year!!] ... I used a couple of Jen's letters, from her recently released Shabby Roses Monogram Sampler [available for free HERE in her Craftsy shoppe], to embellish, and make them a touch more personal for the two ladies I gave them too.

Cross-Stitch Flashback

For many years before I got involved with patchwork and quilting, I LOVED to pull out a cross-stitch pattern and just stitch to my heart's content.  In fact, I was chatting to a long-ago-luv the other night and he actually asked me if I'm still doing the cross-stitch I used to do (crazy, since we haven't even seen each other for over 8 years!!!).

Two weeks ago I pulled out a large angel pattern (Finished size : 14 x 12in) I had tucked away.

Working on 28HPI even weave ... this would be her skirt.

Although I enjoyed it, and would love to finish her ... I much prefer stitcheries and sewing to this these days.  Something nice for a change though.

Some Kind of Wonderful (SKoW)

And finally, some progress on my SKoW 'My Favourites' quilt.  I managed to find the image of a slice of Pavlova that I thought would translate well to needle-turn appliqué, and went from there for a block to replace the cupcakes block in the original quilt design.

** THIS was what I was working on during this past Friday Night Sew In.

The Pavlova (white), cream (cream), and mango & kiwifruit slices (orange & green respectively) are appliquéd, while I stitched in the kiwi fruit seeds (lazy daisy stitches) and the passionfruit pulp (satin stitch).   I'm quite impressed with how I've been able to translate the original image (left) with needle and thread.

I have also managed to take these ... 

About 300, 1 1/2in and 2 1/2 in squares

along with the completed blocks, and put together the first two quilt (block) rows ...

I am VERY happy to have these two rows completed.  And with only four blocks to go, I am hoping I will have the next three rows put together in the next few months!!!

* * * * * * * * * 

Lastly, as I'm hoping I've got this up in time for my Mum to show my Grandad this post before she returns home from her holiday, this is what Dad's been having fun making over the last week ... a platform for the mulcher, and a trailer to go on the back of the ride-on lawnmower to transport the palm fronds from around the block TO the platform (which is WAY too heavy to move on a regular basis!!).

I do have a few other items I have made, or am nearing the end on, but those will have to wait for their time to be shown as they are swap items ... Now, back to the studies & then off to clean the house before Mum gets home.  Have a great week!!!

Friday (& Saturday) Night Sewing

Phew!  Well, the unit I was stressing over is finally done and dusted ... and I've passed.  Not with flying colours ... barely scraped by in comparison to some of my other units ... but I successfully passed and that's what matters!!  I'll post some photos of the things I was doing later in the week ... well, if I remember, lol!

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Now it's on to the next one ... LOL!  Week Three begins on Monday :)

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But anyhoo, I am not here to discuss my studies right now, I am here to say ... I have finished making all of my overdue swap blocks from ... *cringe* ... last year ...

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Yes, I know.  Bad swapper ... I am trying to change that.

First step - complete all swap blocks from swaps last year.  And because I am so late, I ended up making two blocks for each partner instead of just the required one.

Last weekend I finished two stars in pastel florals for Chantelle S (top), and two blocks in orange & neutrals for Mary C (bottom).  These blocks all went in the mailbox last Tuesday.

Clockwise from top left: Another Nine Patch Star, Solomon's Star,
Starflower Block, and the inner 12" of Chainlinks. 

Last night, I got the cleaning done early, got chilli cooking in the slowcooker ...

Slow Cooker Chilli with Parmesan Encrusted Potatoes

set Miss L up with some sewing of her own (with which she did extreeeemely well - Mummy was super proud!!) ...

and then got started on the remaining overdue blocks.  Between Friday night and last night (Sat), I have finished the last four - purple stars for Deb A. and red 'Anvil' blocks on cream backgrounds for Encara V.

Clockwise from top left: Double Star Chain, Plaid Star, and two Anvil's. 

It feels SOOOOO good to get these all finished, and either sent or ready to be sent!  I now have only 3 remaining swaps to complete, two of which are current, and the other I am waiting to find out who I am to be swapping with.  I want to keep sewing right now, I almost don't want to go to bed!!

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!!!