SKoW ... 'Best Friends'

'Best Friends'

I was working on this block, little by little over the course of last week, since finishing off my 'sewing' block.  For some reason I enjoyed the needleturn over the stitchery this time, lol, which felt like it was taking forever *wink* ... especially all that hair!!! *giggle*

I've drawn up some ideas for my last block, but not quite decided yet.  I'm thinking I'll either go with my original choice of wine & cheeses, or my new option: gymnastics (I did it for eleven years from a young age, coached littlies for several years, and now my daugther has been going for over 3 years!!  I LOVE watching it, and often find myself scrutinising the gymnasts as a judge would, lol!).

I'm going to give myself a couple of days to mull over the ideas, and start on the cutting for a pieced quilt for my bed I've been wanting to make for a couple of years while I decide ... I also have WIPs, UFOs and USOs (Un-Started Objects *wink*) to sort through and organise, amongst other things this week.

Have a crafty kinda week xx

22 down ... 2 to go!!

Yup, that's right!! I've just finished off my third ... second to last?!! ... Argghhh!!! ... I have two more blocks to go before they are all finished ('best friends' and 'chair')!! Yay!!!

Presenting .... da da-da DAH!!!! ... My 'sewing' block!!

For the thread on the spools, I actually used thread, lol, satin-stitched over the spool.  Thought it gave it a nice touch!

Well now, it's almost 11pm, so I'm off to prep up my next block 😜 ... I'm aiming to have them all finished by the end of next week so I can spend the weekend putting it all together!!

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.

Some SKoW fun!!

Over the last few weeks I've had fun making some more 'Some Kind of Wonderful' items :)

First up, the SKoW bag and needle-book that I showed here, given to Melody as part of my F.R.I.E.N.D.S. swap ... 

I have also been able to get another block done of my quilt, the rainbow block ...

It wasn't as fiddly as I thought it would be, though I have to say, I appreciated my LED Lightbox/pad immensely when laying all the pattern pieces out!!  Thanks to Vicki of Pickledish Patch for making them available!!! 

I have sewn together all the pieces for this (middle) row, all but including this block in there, so I'll get that put together before I show this row in it's loveliness *grin*.  This leaves me with three blocks left to make, the friendship block, the sewing block, and the 'chair' possibly wine and cheese (or working out/exercise - I really enjoy it while I'm doing it ... it's just getting me there, or making the time where I struggle!) block.  Here's hoping I get some blocks prepped and done in the next few days!

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 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!!!

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!!!

February FNwF

Despite fantastic plans of getting lots done this past Friday, I was only able to get two SKoW blocks prepped for their needle turn appliqué ...

L to R: Tree block & Shoe block

... and a little more done on my Christmas bon bon stitcheries - one finished, one started.

I was really hoping to get onto the quilting for the table runner which has been sandwiched for the last week, but at this stage it looks like this wont be until tomorrow evening, as tomorrow (and through the weekend) needs to be focussed on an assignment.

At least I had some hand-sewing to keep my hands occupied this morning *wink*.

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!

SKoW progress @ 2012 EOY

Although I wish I could be “standing up there” with all the diligent ladies who’ve finished their SKoW quilt to at least their top, I am unfortunately *not* going to be one of them.  This past year has been an insane rollercoaster of heath issues, emotional fragility at times (aka apathy &/or depression), and a host of family and personal issues … leaving me lacking in the having-finished-my-SKoW-quilt department, despite my desire to have it completed.

At last update (beginning of November), I had … 

• 7 blocks completed,
• 7 prepped for needleturn,
• the rest of the blocks’ background fabrics cut out along with their corresponding pieces of pellon,
• and all my pattern templates & guides prepared for use.

Since then, I have been able to complete the needleturn on all prepped blocks, and finish the stitchery for five of these … with two (the ‘presents’ and ‘sun’ blocks) to complete.

** The stitching on the "hot chocolate block" is finished ... just a hiding in the shot! 

I am currently down in Adelaide for a couple of weeks holiday with my mum’s parents, so I am a touch restricted on the amount that I was able to bring down to work on while here … especially since I’ve started back in with my uni over this past month, with an assessment due yesterday (done), and an another (1500wd essay) due Friday coming … so I’ve had to be realistic on what I might be able to can achieve while down here.

As I have the full third & fourth rows to work on (plus one on either end row … sweet things pavlova, and chair wine & cheese), I decided to go with those in the third row (house, “gardening” flower garden, tree to sit under, and rainbow) and the ‘shoes’ block.  As I only had a half hour to collect everything together, I have also only gathered up the background pieces (already cut), and a collection of fabric choices (separated in little baggies) in addition to my small cutting mat, 14in ruler, rounds of threads and pencil case of cutters & pens.

I am determined to, at the very least, have the basic pieces on the blocks, and the needleturn begun … Dawn, can you guess what I’ll be working on @ the sewing group next Tuesday?!!! LOL!

I am determined that this will be my first “big” finish this coming year - and preferably in January … though, realistically probably in mid-February.

I am looking forward to seeing what Chooky has decided to select for the coming SAL.  I’m sure it will be perfect - and that I’ll probably join in ‘sidecar-style’ *wink* once this one is finished.  Thankyou Chooky for *ALL* you've done to encourage us along this project ... and thank you for deciding to continue the SAL - it really is inspiring to see everyones progress!!

1st Friday Night With Friends

Last night I participated in the inaugural Friday Night With Friends ... Another night of crafting to run in conjunction with Heidi & Bobbi's FNSI, launched this month, and to continue (I hope) each month following on the 1st Friday of the month - giving us *two* Friday's of sewing "with friends" - what a FANTABULOUS idea!!!

What's even more fabulous?

...

I'm here *actually* posting about my evening's achievements, lol!!!

I decided to use last night to get a modicum of prep done for my SKoW quilt, if only to get the ball rolling.  Lol!  I got a lot more done than I expected, though it still looks like not very much, lol!

I started by laying out my current finished blocks on the mat, and cut out the remaining bases for my blocks.  I am pretty happy with the layout I have here, though my perfectionist streak tells me that the value percentages are all haywire, lol!!

And no, Furbie (our youngest) would *not* get off the umbrella block so that I could take the photo - she had to be in the shot!  Lol!  She's the cuddliest of our three kitties, though it does get a bit frustrating when she leaves us with all her black hairs all over things :) ... Oh, and we did have some LOVELY rain last night, from about 2am when I finally got to bed ... so maybe she was trying to tell me something?!!! *giggle*

I have pinned a label onto each block so I know exactly what they are for ... and then pinned each row together from top to bottom as I did the pellon earlier in the week.

I was also able to push through and get six blocks prepped for their needle turn, adding in the stitchery details with my micron pen so I don't have to go back and draw that up once the appliqué is done ... it's all ready to go.

Clockwise from top left : "A good book to read", "Birdsong in the morning", "Family",
"Butterflies fluttering", "Sunshine on my face", "Presents to share"

So, six blocks ready to get stuck into ... the rest of the blocks cut, ready to be prepped once these are done.  I am hoping to get as much of these six done as soon as I can since I was asked by a close friend if I would redo the (pathetic!!!) hand quilting on the quilts she purchased online for her girls - that's three single bed quilts, requested in two weeks!! LOL!  At least she's said she's prepared to pay me well for it!!  It'll be a big job, just from looking at the photos she sent me!! (I'll get more of a close up tomorrow when we catch up at church).

So, that's where I'm up to ... and a touch of where I am going headed over the next month.

Now, to go get some lunch, before getting stuck into some needle turn appliqué ... Oh, and I have floors to clean today too!!!  Better get a move on!!!

SKoW Update

Unfortunately I have not been able to complete the top, let alone my version of this amazing quilt, as our planned timeline has laid out.  I am so sorry for letting the ladies all down, and I am truly sorry that this will be a contributing factor if Chooky decides not to begin another Sew-A-Long - I have enjoyed seeing the progress of each participant in this SAL, and will miss watching them grow if this is the case.  I DO however pledge that I will continue with this quilt - and my goal, however extreme, is to have it done by the end of November.  I am determined to commit to working on this for at least a couple of hours each evening, in order to achieve this goal.

So, I believe that an update on where I'm at is in order.

I spent an evening printing out copies of all of the remaining pages in triplicate, saving one as a frame-of-reference for the stitchery elements (as I have no lightbox as yet, I am relying on sunlight, windows & masking tape to line up everything 'just so') ...

the other copies were used to cut up the different appliqué elements, and then laminated.

I have left them uncut at the moment, ready to separate as needed.  I then keep all the pieces for each block separated in their own ziplock baggies.

I have only been able to complete three new blocks since I last updated.  

I am using the needle-turn appliqué method ... which has contributed to making this process long.

My daisy [Jan] ...

My chocolates - yum [Jan]!  

I chose to use a silver sparkly metallic thread for the stitching on four of these chocs, just to make them look even more extra yummy!!!

My ice-cream [Feb].

My hot chocolate block is prepped and ready for it's needle turn and stitchery - tonight's task!!

And all my finished blocks together ... I still have one block left of December (since I decided to change the cupcakes to pavlova ... I have finally found a pic for this, and will also be prepping this tonight, along with all the July & Aug blocks).

I even have my pellon all cut and ready to size for all my remaining 17 blocks.  And some squares for the strips - though only creams have been cut as yet.  Although I did start with one range of fabrics, I have started adding others ... and with my perfectionist streak on overdrive, I want need to make sure I include some of each fabric in the coloured blocks.  As a result, I am leaving this until after I have finished the blocks - or at least until I have finished the first two rows.

So, that's where I'm at.  I am so upset with myself to have fallen so far behind - but yes, I will get there!!  My next uni course begins in December, and I have decided that I want this quilt finished before I start my studies!!