Thought I'd gotten lost, eh?! *wink*

I apologise for my lack of posting over the last few *ahem* months.  They've been a bit hard, a bit frustrating, and gone VERY quickly!!! It's hard to get my head around the fact that it's already the beginning of April!!  Seriously!! Where has time gone?!!!

I have been joining in with Friday Night with Friends with Cheryll, and Friday Night Sew In with Wendy ... I've just been lazy about blogging about it - saw-ry!!!

This last week I've been working on my first ever doily, and on Friday night I finished the final row.  The design is one from the booklet "Masterpiece Doilies" (1997, Leisure Arts Inc.) by Patricia Kristoffersen, that my mother has had sitting in her draw for all these years *grin*.  I've often flicked through it and thought that I really should give one of these designs a go, but it wasn't until late last week that I decided to finally give it a go.  It seems I crochet quite tight, so of this design I decided to go with a thicker thread, and a bigger needle.  It's come out just over 1in larger than the book indicates, but after giving it a nice steam with my new Oliso Pro iron (LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!), it has turned out really quite lovely!!

"Majestic", over 17in" diameter.
Milford Satin 2Ply, Perle No. 5 thread; 2.0 crochet hook

Before I tackled the doily though, I made the two crocheted crosses below (plus another with tails & tassels on both ends) a go.  This design is by Lyubava Crochet on Craftsy - you can find the pattern HERE.  I've added the smaller to my keys, though the larger one isn't quite big enough to use as a bookmark - my books are too tall for this beauty.

Another recent finish was this gorgeous shopping companion, designed by Marilyn Duncan, the pattern for which we received at the Lets Get Stitched retreat in Melbourne last month.  It's hard to believe that this time last month we were all getting ready to head down for this fabulous long holiday!!

I will try to make an effort to post some more updates on the projects I've been working on over the last 5 or so months, though most everything was shared in my instagram feed.  Also, if I've been quiet with regards to commenting on your blogs these past few months, it's been because I really haven't gotten on as much as I used to - I realised that following my blogs was taking up SOOO much of my time, so now I'm giving myself a small window of time to read - and so I'm often just reading, rather than commenting unless I feel an intense urge.  I am hoping to catch up, but it may take me some time.

And for now, I must leave :) ... I've started another doily from the same book, and I'd like to get a few more rows on it before my need for sleep overtakes my concentration (was up quite late last night, then quite early this morning). 

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.

Friday Sewing (FNSI June'13)

We've had a few rough weeks here, with sickness (Miss L ended up in the hospital with dehydration & gastro on Thursday evening) & Poppa's (my Dad's Dad) entering into those pearly gates of heaven last night (after battling skin cancer that had spread through his whole body within weeks), so unfortunately my latest swap item has been a bit late in getting finished ... thus I spent most of yesterday afternoon, evening, and some of the morning working on getting it done and ready to be sent in its express post bag on Monday.

Although I can't show you specifics (lol, you never know who's watching *wink*) ... I did spend a few hours doing a little piecing ...

... followed by some sandwiching ...

... quilting ...

... and then some binding ...

I much prefer to hand-sew my binding down than doing it by machine
... possibly coz I have never been able to it via the latter method :) 

So, now to go do a little more sewing before I can go and wrap these up to send.  SOOO grateful for express bags!!!  They may not arrive the next day when coming from, or to, the NT, but they should almost always arrive by the next day!!!

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.

April FNSI results

Well, despite my plans to write this post yesterday ... obviously that didn't happen, lol!

... Started this big long post ... lets try to shorten it, lol!

My day consisted of taking DD to the local indoor playground for much of the day ... coming home to vacuum and mop floors ... get DD ready and in bed ... and then begin my FNSI while watching a movie with my sister and Mum ... 'Men in Black' on BlueRay!!  LOL, really, I don't much see the difference!!! ... Oh, later I also put on season 6 of Criminal Minds - a favourite series of mine that I can watch over and over again!!

This FNSI, I was going to work on sewing down the binding on the AHQ quilt, but I decided to do something 'fun' ... some Vignette stitching!!

In actual fact, I reduced the pattern to 65% of the original size, and I have drawn it on a 10in square of Kona white.  I also added parlay on the back ... something I am trying out; it's a little lighter than the parlan I normally use.

I did start working on the butterflies the night before ... after I drew up the stitchery ... so Friday night I got to work on the teal flowers (just the circles, not the dots inside) and the leaves for the 'fuller' flowers.

Check out my late night visitor ...

So pretty!!!

I did get some more stitching done yesterday on this too ... Some circle centres (orange & yellow satin stitch) and beginning the red flowers ...

I am going to use this on an, unfortunately late, swap item.  I want to get this item done and sent by mid-week.

I have been working on sewing down the binding on the AHQ quilt today, and hope to either have this finished tonight, or tomorrow ... depends on whether my urge to go back to Vignette is strong enough, lol!  Better go back to my Criminal Minds ... DD is off with my sister at the neighbours' atm, so I am taking the opportunity as much as I can!!  Have a great week!!

** In case anyone is interested ... I was playing around with 'Picture Collage Maker' (Apple app) to make the collages ... First time I've tried it out, and I'm a pretty impressed!  I am currently using the 'lite'/free version atm, and might look at getting the paid version ... Once I got a feel for it, it was quite quick to put these pages together!

March FNSI Results

** Edit: This is also my entry for this month's FMQing challenge ... I have done another square since, with all of the patterns, but this is my favourite pattern ... I didn't really like them when I was drawing them (too messy), but this was definitely my favourite ... Also, my camera is not working at the moment ... **

It's taken me so long to get this posted as I am just so darn tired, lol!!  Basically, FNSI went WAY late (4.30am) ... probably because it started WAY late (11pm) and it needed to be ready for a 3yo's birthday party the next day!!  Nothin' like starting things at the 11th hour, huh?!

Earlier in the week I'd purchased a couple of colouring books, a drawing pad, and some crayola twistable crayons (less messy fingers!) ... I mean, what 3 year old doesn't love colouring?!!!

As this didn't feel like enough (lol, I ALWAYS feel this way!!!), I decided to make up a cover to 'house' these items ... kinda like the 'Dear Diary' journal cover by Joy.  I love how easy her pattern is to follow!! And, although I didn't actually follow it, I did keep it in mind while I was making it.


The main difference was that I had to use upright pockets in both sides ... and the size was quite a bit bigger.  It took me a good 20 mins to work out all my measurements, but since I did this first ... and did all required cutting prior to actually starting to make it up ... it took quite a bit less time that I thought! ... Though, I did machine bind it, rather than finishing it off by hand as I prefer!!

Inside

The only real problem I had was that I added a seam to the 'bug' pocket (the bottom) on the right, a little too high, which meant that the colouring book sits even to the top of the folder ... I was hoping it would sit nicely inside like the drawing pad on the left (did that make sense? lol!).  

The only frustration I have now over this was ... I only bought enough of this fabric for this ... no extra!!! ... Looks like I'll have to go back to Spotlight later in the week to try to get some more!! This would be perfect in a baby's blanket!!!

This was also the first time I tried out this month's FMQing challenge pattern ... or, at least one of them ... a basic swirly.  As I chose really well with the thread colour, it actually fades away fantastically into barely noticeable unless focussed on it ... so I can only show a 'back' shot ...

This time the quilting felt a lot smoother, and more even ... not so close either!! ... I am loving this pattern, and am thinking I might use it on the Aussie Hero Quilts I am putting together.  

Oh, on that topic, thank you for those who gave their suggestions for how to frame the blocks - I am loving the (general consensus) idea of having a thin blue border between the blocks and a deep brown/mahogany fabric.  

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Must go get dinner ready, then add a 'new' movie to the iPod to watch while doing a walk on the treadmill tonight .... I've done three days of Jillian Michael's 'Ripped in 30' workout video and I am feeling great!!  A shame I'm not loosing much weight yet, lol, but I am sticking with it a lot better!!  She recommends on the dvd, to work out 5-6 days per week, with four weeks of workouts on the dvd ... I have decided to do it on a three days on/one day cardio rotation, with some additional cardio (walking on the treadmill ... my knees and lungs give out on me when I try to jog or run too long!) on the 'on' days when I can add it in.  As I have 16.5 weeks to lose 20kgs before my 30th birthday in July, I have a long way to go!!  Better start counting those calories, lol!!

Have a great week!!!

FNSI photo...

Thanks to the darling Amy, I am able to upload my photo of last night's FNSI progress.

I have since done a little more, and will continue during the service tomorrow (something for my hands to do means my mind stays focussed on the preacher and isn't continually wandering).

FNSI: November

Just a short note to say I was able, after all to do a little stitching today. Uni has had to take priority over sewing of late (assignments kicking my bum, readings giving me migraines... hopefully should be all over for the year in a couple of weeks). I did't think I'd be able to make time for this months' FNSI, but turns out I needed to get away from all the academia for a night, so here I am.

Couldn't face getting out the sewing machine knowing it would just have to be packed away again for such a long time, so I thought I'd get out something quick and non-thought necessary ... stitching. 'Tia the Season' to be precise. I've had this pattern book for a while, watching everyone on the SAL working on their's and decided to start work on the sticheries myself over my Christmas holidays, among others (more on this next month), and decided to get a couple started to try out some parlan I got a little while ago.

Will upload a photo tomorrow when I get a chance ... unless someone can explain to me how to upload a photo from your iPhone!

Needless to say, I have ordered a couple of metres more of parlan to use with my stitcheries over Christmas... got a half metre of pellon on order too along with a pigma pen to try, lol.

October FNSI ... sneaks

This month's FNSI was a lot more successful than the last few months, mainly due to me feeling a lot better  this time!  Admittedly, though I had all the cleaning done before 5 (friday is cleaning day), I didn't actually get DD into bed until close to 8pm ... meaning that I didn't have all that much time to sew, especially since I have a number of uni assignments due over the next few weeks!

Anyway, though I was mainly working on items for swaps (and can't really show what I was working on too closely) ... I can show some close-up sneaks...

Firstly, my main item for the Spring Swap ... yes, I know this is devastatingly late.  My partner has been wonderful about patiently waiting for this!!  The Summer swap's deadline for signups is on Tuesday, and I told myself that I need to get this Spring item in the mail before I allow myself to signup for this one.  Though I don't know yet, whether I will sign up, I do know that I want to get this finished by Tuesday at the latest ... just one assignment that has higher priority atm!  So, the very sneakiest of peeks ...

Beautiful 'spring' fabrics ... and yes, lots of hand quilting!!

Another item I did a little work on, though it was earlier on in the day, was a touch of stitching for ********* in the ************ swap ...

And, for the love of stitching, another peek ...

I am enjoying this one!!!

Anyway, I am off to keep working on this assignment ... I know it's gonna be late, but at least I know I can get it done ... whether on time or not, it's gonna get submitted!  (Gonna be late as I can't see myself staying up much longer tonight ... I'm wreaked!  Tired after being up late fretting over DD's temperature last night ... then again this afternoon ... then again earlier tonight!!) **YAWN!!!**

There were many others who participated in this month's FNSI ... head over here if you're curious to see what they were all up to this Friday night!  I'll be sure to hop over to check them all out sometime later this week, when I get a free moment (... or I need something less academic to read!)

15 minute challenge update: week 3

Just a quick update today as I really need to get back to that H2H Quilt that really needs to be finished this week - plus I have a 1000wd assignment due on Monday which I need to work on tomorrow - so not much time spare.

This week's progress has been good,  though this has been mainly as things need to get done!  I did plan on getting hours done yesterday, but the tv caught me at dinner time and didn't let me go until way after midnight - not good.  I did get a number of shapes for paper piecing drawn up and cut out though!

So, without further ado...

--------------
Tuesday, 19th July:  2+hrs, 6in block swap for Sue

Wednesday, 20th July: 1+hrs, (can't remember what I worked on)

Thursday, 21st July: 2+hrs, Quilt Blocks and Hands2Help Quilt (one block finished)

Friday, 22nd July (FNSI): 45mins, mending pram hold-all under where you put child

Saturday, 23rd July: 1hr, 1H2HQB finished

Sunday, 24th July: 5hrs, 4H2HQBs finished

Monday, 25th July: 2.5+hrs, 2.5 H2HQBs finished

Tuesday, 26th July: 45mins, tracing and cutting out shapes for English paper piecing.
------------

All in all, pretty good.  Approximately 15hours across the week!  Though now I really do need to get going.  I need to finish my last H2H Block, sew these together and get it ready to layer tonight so I can get some in-the-ditch sewing done tonight.

I hope you had just as productive a week!

**Photos to come later in the week!**

I am In LOVE!! (...and WESI update)

As of 12:01 this morning, I have officially finished 6 out of 9 blocks needed for my H2H Quilt, excepting the horizontal sashings within 5 of them (not yet cut).  This is BIG!!  Before the weekend I had a grand total of ... ONE! Saturday saw me finish another one (long day outing with daughter and cousins) and yesterday I completed the other four.

Why the change of pace?

Well, for starters I am no longer taking the time to draw in my seam markers.

Secondly ... I got myself a 1/4in w/ Guide Presser Foot!!  YAY!!! *happy dance*

Source

And I am officially in LOVE with it!

It is seriously making this SO much quicker!  And, in conjunction with my 1/4in ruler and (also new) finger presser, I am getting these blocks measured out (some are slightly - <1/8in - too small) and sewn so much quicker!!

Source

I never realised just how much quicker these tools would make my sewing/piecing time!!  And with the finger presser, I don't need to have the iron on nearby while I am doing the squares - which makes it so much safer when I am doing it with my daughter nearby!!

So, 6 out of 9 blocks pretty well done.  3 all laid out to sew.  And then to cut the horizontal, then separating sashings ... I am hoping to have a full flimsy ready to show for tomorrow's 15min challenge update!!  And you can bet I have been up to way more than 15mins a day!!!

Oh, my FNSI didn't really pan out how I wanted it to - of course, lol!  We had a public holiday here on Friday as our local 'show' was on this past weekend, which meant that my parents were home - letting me sleep in!  Ah, I had a GOOD sleep-in ... certainly longer than I'd thought once I woke up (11am!).  I couldn't believe it!  Though, since DD woke up a few times overnight (and was quite grumpy about having to go back to sleep at 5am!) I relished the opportunity.  While I slept, DD had breakfast and was out in the garden with her grandparents!

((  She even worked out the frisbee on Friday - something we'd been working on on occasions over the week.  Yay!!  ))

So, after filling my day with lots of stuff Friday, that evening only saw me fix the bottom 'basket' from our pram.  It's a job that has been on the 'to do' list for a while now, it just didn't get done till now.  Basically, a few months ago I pulled the pram apart and washed everything in the machine, not realising that the boards in the bottom 'basket' (can't think of the correct term, but it's that place underneath the main part of the pram [where you put the child], where you can put store the stuff you'd otherwise have to carry) was cardboard.  Not good.  It was pulp by the time it came out.

I had to:
- unpick;
- remove afore mentioned pulp (and vaccum out!);
- cut out appropriate sized pieces of architects presentation board to provide required level-ness and structure to the bottom of the 'basket';
- insert boards into the correct slips of fabric; and
- sew up seams again.

If you can follow that - CONGRATULATIONS!!  Lol!

It took me about an hour, but by the time I finished this it was too late to get onto anything else.  I did however do a lot of sewing over the weekend, as previously mentioned, so hopefully this makes up for my pitiful FNSI (also why I named it WESI - WeekEnd Sew In!)

Anyway must go - gotta finish those blocks for tomorrow!  What did you get up to this weekend just gone?

Friday Night Sew In - this week!

Friday Night Sew-in fun continues this month, this coming Friday 17th June - and it is 'free' to join in the fun. Just sign in for this month's evening with Bobbi over at Crafty Vegas Mom and get ready to spend an enjoyable night sewing to your heart's content!


While it is my daughter's birthday on Thursday - and her birthday party with the extended family on Saturday - I am hoping I will get in at least a couple hours of sewing fun!  I am even going to make sure I am super organised for it this month - ensuring everything possible is ready early on, and putting my daughter down super early with an early nap or just a light rest!  I will also try to get all the cleaning done in the morning rather than late afternoon, with a couple of hours sewing doing in the afternoon if I can manage it!  Wish me luck!!

Friday Night (not so much) sew in ...

**Warning: No pictures ... and I babble!**

Sunday night here ... and I am posting this knowing I have put this post off for too long.  Despite my enthusiasm to spend an entire evening doing nothing but sewing ... my plans were unfortunately ultimately derailed.  I have a feeling I was trying to pack too much in my day and didn't plan well enough through the course of the week to get myself ready for it.  Oh well, there is always next month!

So, what happened?  Well, to begin, over the last few months I have been going through my mountains of stuff - and that of my daughter - and trying to purge.  For a (would like to say "reformed" ... but not so much) hoarder, I have far too much stuff that I really don't need to keep when I am truely honest with myself.  Well, about a month ago I heard about a Kids' Bazaar which was being held at a local church on Saturday, to help them raise some funds for their chosen charities and missionary work.  Great idea.  Good cause to 'donate' towards.  Just one thing ... this would mean I would need to go through 3+ years of kids clothes & toys and my maternity clothes.  Something I've been putting off for, well, that many years, lol.  I really hadn't gotten rid of much at all!

This was all while I am (still!) trying to get my drawings finished for uni ... due end of this coming week.

Disorganised me basically left the bulk of the sorting of clothes until Friday, didn't I?!!  Most of it was washed over the days previous, but actually working out what I wanted to keep and what I was willing to part with ... Friday!  And it needing to be delivered to the church between 4 and 7pm that night!  I did pretty well - considering I also got most of one drawing done ... and my daughter recognised who the model was just from the drawing so I'm happy so say it is finished *grin* - though I was hoping to deliver the goodies closer to 4pm, I didn't end up getting there until 6.30pm.

A whole trunk load of goodies (though, admittedly I have a 'small' hatchback so not so much really), plus both sides of the car seat on the back-seat.  Who would'a guessed?  Not me!!!

Anyway, after dropping that off I then needed to drop by my cousin's place to deliver a copy of Disney's hardback 'Cinderella' book.  I realised I doubled-up on this story (and on Alice in Wonderland and The Lion King but she had these and another friend will be happily taking them off my hands next week!) when I pulled down the box of Disney books from the cupboard (purchased pre-daughter in anticipation).

This would have been a quick trip ... but then her son was given his dinner and my daughter was offered some.  Okay, I think, that way we can just have a bath and go to bed when we get home.  Good intentions - yes.  Also gave me more time to catch up - since she's gone back to work (son started Preschool this year) our weekly catch ups have gone from about 2-4 per week down to maybe once or twice - once being at the kids' gymnastics class.

All was going good.  Dinner was eaten and we were headed home to bed - and it was almost 9pm.  Okay, definitely time to go home. Then ... all hell broke loose!!

Well, that's what it felt like!

I couldn't find my keys!!  They weren't in my pocket - where I still would swear I'd put them!!  They weren't inside the house.  Weren't in my bag (checked twice!)  Weren't outside anywhere!  In the end we (myself, my cousin, the kids and my auntie) were looking for a good 45 mins by the time I consented and rang my father asking for him to find the spare to come get us.  This was while my cousin was going through my bag for the third time - just in case I missed them.

Well, what do you know.... the moment I hung up from my dad I realised I hadn't checked the outside pocket of my bag.  Why would I?!  I never put them in there! LOL!  Thankfully my cousin and her mum just laughed it off as one of those things that just happen.

So, we didn't get home until 10pm.  Then the little rascal had to join Granny for a shower - well, at least I didn't have to run around after her in there to get her washed! lol.  Then, she had to have Grandad read Beauty and the Beast to her -- and not just a portion of it ... the entire story!!  In the end, we didn't get into bed until 10.30pm and she wasn't asleep until 11pm!

No brain power at that time to get any justifiable amount of sewing done .... especially since we needed to be up early in the morning for gymnastics,  and the floors needed to be cleaned (normally Friday job) before I went into the city to do some scrap-booking at the (pre-paid for) mass-scrapping event.  At least I got 3 pages almost scrapped, and got to spend time with my sister.

I did, however get two granny squares (for my daughter's dolly blanket) made last night, and another larger one & 1/2 made today (this for a scarf for another cousin), so I have gotten a little craft-work in this weekend.

Next month - I promise myself I will be more organised!! (I may even try to forgo my daughter's nap as this generally means she is ready for bed around sunset - instead of 8 or 9 at night ... sometimes 10 or 11 if I haven't stayed with her!)

Here's hoping for a more craftier week a-coming!  I have 5.2 drawings to complete and send off, then that unit will be finished.  I need to make at least one 12 inch block for a swap tomorrow (basic, as it will be my first ever pieced block, lol).  And I will try to commit to a good 4-5 hours of sewing/hexi-prep over the weekend.

**This post is linked with Heidi's May FNSI post if you are interested in checking out what the others have gotten up to - many of them so much more than I, lol**

A Quick Check-In...

Hi y'all.

I thought I might pop in and say 'hello', lol.  I have been rather busy over the last few weeks trying to complete my portfolio for the remainder of my drawing unit @ uni.  Actually, to be fair, I've been procrastinating and putting this off to the side, but not doing much else.  Why?  Well, these last few weeks I've been supposed to draw -- the human image.  Now, don't get me wrong - there are some very good artists who can draw exceptionally good images of people ... I'm just not one of them.  I never have and never will be able to draw a picture of a person which looks closer to reality than the average primary school child.  A little better than a stick figure ... but nothing close to accurate.   And getting those proportions right??  - Forget about it!!!  Lol.

Unfortunately this means that I have another six drawings (I did one very rough, gestural drawing last night), three more of which need to be of people - one of a head - and then another three of varying things, needing to arrive next Friday down south.  I am seriously considering sending my lecturer a request for an extension - or at the very least an email letting her know that while I may be able to get it in the post by next Friday, I don't believe they will be arriving by that date.  At least I only have this assessment task left - then on to so writing subjects!  Yay!  Much better in those!

Anyway, craft wise I don't have a lot going on.  I bought three template patterns today at the local patchwork & quilting shop: the drunkard's path, flower templates and a Hanabi (fireworks) templates set.  I am thinking the drunkard's path might work for the H2H quilt, but not quite sure yet.

I've also been working on some granny squares for a little blanket my daughter can use for her dolly's - she will be 3 in 5 weeks (Yikes!).  I only just learnt how to make this block the other weekend, so it has been interesting, though I seem to be able to pick up fairly easy patterns and just run with them without having to check the pattern every so often.  I am using a mix of three variegated yarns by Carnival.  Just something bright and cheery.  Nothing fancy, lol.  I have 10 made - 6 to go.

For FNSI tomorrow night I am thinking I will work on my 12 inch block swap for this month (yes, a little behind, but if I can get this made tomorrow it will be in the post on Monday), and cut out some hexi's for the Vignette Hexagon Quilt.  Either that or I will get started on a couple of flannelette long pyjamas  for my daughter and my cousin's son.  The weather is getting chilly here and I think the kids will be needing them soon!

Toodiloo for now - will update on the weekend how my FNSI went!  How's your week been?

5 Books a Day: week 3

Last week was incredibly successful in teaching my daughter her nursery rhymes - while she loved all the other books, she seemed to respond best to Play-school's version of all those traditional nursery rhymes from 'back in our day'. She's even decided that Humpty Dumpty is her favourite subject to draw - and is repeatedly singing BOTH versions of Jack and Jill!!

Lately we've talked her through drawing the basic features of people - eyes, nose, mouth, arms, legs, hair etc. She took this 'knowledge' and drew the above picture of Humpty Dumpty ALL BY HERSELF - WITHOUT guidance or 'help' - and then brought it over to me with a simple "Look Mum!" SOOO clever! Note: Those circles at the top of his head are ears - and the single line up coming out of the top of his head ... hair!!

So for this week's selection of books, I have decided that we will repeat three books from last week (Play Schools' Nursery Rhymes, Clifford grows up, and There was an Old Woman who Swallowed a Fly), and just add two 'new' books:

Clifford's Manners by Norman Bridwell.
A second 'Clifford' book - this time discussing good manners in an easy-to-understand format for little ones.
I remember loving this series when I was little - and actually, these Clifford books are from my childhood!  I loved the stories of the little puppy that grew to be a very BIG dog, and my daughter is loving them just as much.  I thought it might be fun to include this one to encourage some of the other manners she's still to learn.  She is already saying "please", "thankyou", "excuse me" (!!) and "bless you" (!) We'll see how effective a tool this one is *grin*.

The last is a Where Do Kisses Come From? by Maria Fleming for Little Golden Books.
A fun and imaginative story about all the many reasons to kiss one's child. The images all depict the parent and child/ren relationship in animal pictures which makes it fun for children.  And I love the last page:

"But no matter what kind of kiss it is, ALL kisses come from love!"

*heart*


Hopefully we have a good week with this and successfully read each book each day, but if not I'm not totally worried.  We read a lot of books every day, so I'm just happy about that.

I am linking this post back to Ann's host post again on The Imagination Tree.  If you have little children around you at all I recommend you visit this site - SO many good ideas of creative things to do with your little one!  I love it!!





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Also, if you are a sew-er of any kind and looking for an 'excuse' to have a sewing night in, I encourage you to join in with the fun of the next Friday Night Sew In hosted by the lovely Heidi @ Handmade by Heidi on Friday 20th May.  This will be my first 'Sew-in', followed by a day of scrap-booking fun!  I'm looking forward to my creative 'weekend'!!