Friday Night With Friends and Finish It Up Friday

Today I can finally show you the gift I recently finished for my friend Julie who celebrated her birthday today. So I am linking up with Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts. 

This is similar to the table runner I showed you in my last post.

 But...

...this one is much longer. Julie has a beautiful recycled timber table that is big enough for the whole family, the extended family and friends to gather around at the same time. So this table runner measures 77" long.

I really like this backing fabric.

Last night I also joined in with FNWF. I completed a little bit more hand quilting around the centre medallion.

I am over the halfway mark but feel like I have stagnated a bit with this project because I spent a bit of time at my sewing machine instead which has been nice for a change.

I hope you enjoy some time with your families tomorrow during Father's Day.

OPAM Finishes

I it's been SO long since my last post. Life has been fun but busy. Lots of time on the road, fortunately I have had some time to stitch. I have only had one finish to report for OPAM each month since February this year. So, I set myself the goal of doubling that in August. BUT, I actually finished three projects! 

So I'm pretty happy with that.

I made another one of these Christmas table runners as a birthday gift for a friend at work. I've decided that straight line quilting can be very therapeutic.

I made this playmat for my son's friend who has recently become a dad. It draws up into a bag for easy transport.

Toys can be stored inside and it then opens up to make a cosy spot to sit and play.

I used a soft minky fabric on the inside. The blue minky looks a bit pale in these two photos. Much closer to the colour in the top photo.

The third project I finished cannot be shown until next week as it is another birthday gift for someone who might be peeking at this blog. 

So, I will show you next time.

A Mini Tree Finish and Get Together

I finished this little Christmas mini on Friday. Just in time to give to my friend Fairy Floss Stitches who is celebrating a birthday this week.

It measures 11" x 14". The pattern is one of Amanda Jean's at Crazy Mom Quilts and is called Mini Trees. This pattern is only my second PDF pattern purchase. I have only just discovered how instantly gratifying it is to pay now and have the pattern on your inbox as fast as you can open it ready to print and start sewing.

I was able to give it to her yesterday when the Cassilis Quilters got together. Susan, Kylie, Lea and Julie were there. Stitching by the fire and eating a delicious lunch on the lawn when the day warmed up a bit.

Lots of fun!

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday and also OPAM.

Remember me?

So, it was early October the last time I posted. I will try and catch you up with photos rather than lots and lots of words. 

So here goes...

Back in October I went on a retreat and made this backpack...

 First time I've used grommets to make those holes for the straps. Very nerve racking cutting the holes, but it they went together just fine.

...and also started a couple of Christmas table runners.

I have completed five in total. These will be gifts for family and work mates. So I did have a couple of finishes for November and will add them to my tally. Three finished in December too, so I can tick a some finishes off for December now; including this cross-stitch.

My hand quilting frame finally arrived and last weekend it went from raw timber...

 to a coat of stain and sealer. Just a light sand and one more coat of sealer and I will be ready to build it. I just can't see that happening before Christmas.

Last Friday the Cassilis Quilters got together and I was so lucky to receive these beautiful gifts. A lovely cross stitch pin cushion from Susan...

 and a measuring tape in this super cute felt cover from Lea. 

they're just gorgeous!!

Thanks so much.

There will be a few changes for me in 2015. Starting a new job when school resumes next year. Sadly saying goodbye to colleagues in my present job this week. I've also started a course, so my sewing time is being eaten into a little bit with study and assignments. Looking forward to the holidays when I can do more of both in the New Year.

I'm also looking forward to spending Christmas Day with my brother and his family for the first time in thirteen years! So it's a pretty special one for us.

Wishing you all a safe and relaxing holiday and a very merry Christmas with your family and friends.

Friday Night With Friends

Last night was Friday Night With Friends and I decided to work on turning some stitcheries I completed about three or four years ago into the little wall hangings they were meant to eventually become.

I had stitched four of these, they were supposed to be gifts for work colleagues. 

But you know how it goes in the lead up to Christmas. I just got too busy, bought gifts and stowed the embroideries away to be completed another day. Well that day arrived yesterday, they are almost compete, just quilting a little row of stitches to hold the layers together. Will be finished tonight.

I can also reveal some of my secret sewing. I finished this table runner for my friend Caron's birthday.

She loves French General fabric.

So my OPAM tally for October is at a very healthy five finishes. A record for me for 2014. 

Enjoy what is left of the long weekend.

FNSI

What is it with me and Christmas cross stitches? I have so many to hang on my walls each year already.

I purchased three more projects at the Darling Harbour Quilt show in 2013. I have completed one, its even framed. See....

 

 

So when it was time to start something new, I didn't go with a pattern in stock, rather one on loan from a friend. I worked on this during Friday Night Sew In last night.

 

Progress has been a bit slow due to the fact that I have stitched two rows of words in green instead of blue.....twice. I love sewing, but reverse sewing is the pits. I felt like such an idiot the second time.

 

Hope you are enjoying the weather, wherever you are.

It's Spring here, and the days are just beautiful!

 

 

 

First project for 2014

I stitched this little project on the way to the beach. I always enjoy making Christmassy projects in January. More time to relax and enjoy.

I have also been working on the third side of the hexagon border of my EPP Violet quilt. Nice to work on this project again. Up to row fourteen of twenty four. 

Can I just add, this is my first post created on my new iPad. A Christmas gift from Mr Stitch. I've had a few technical problems getting used to uploading photos etc. Thought the teenagers would be able to help. However, they were no use to me and I'm proud to say I displayed uncharacteristic patience with technology and worked to out myself!!

So nice to sit in the comfort of a lounge chair while blogging rather than an office chair in front of the computer. How lazy do I sound?

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and project filled 2014.

All I Needed Was A Deadline

It's been so long since I put up a post. Unfortunately I have not been whisked away to some romantic tropical island by Mr Stitch to lead a life of leisure. The sad truth is I just got out of the habit of sewing. 

 

I have hardly sewn a stitch due to a  series of events in my life the last few months. So much happening, so little time....just too tired, but mostly too many hours spent on the road. It seems sewing is a bit like exercise. You are either in the habit of doing it regularly or you're just not. Once out of the habit, it takes a special event to get me started again.

 

 I needed a deadline to get me back into the swing of things. So two weeks out from Christmas I decided I REALLY needed to get started on a stocking for my nephew's first visit from Santa. As they live far away, there was the chance it could get held up in all of the Christmas mail.

Here it is.

 

 

Fortunately it arrived in time.

 

Just a panel I quilted by machine, but a start.

 

Then three days out from Christmas I was still stuck for gift ideas for my boy's partners so I thought I would 'just whip something up'.  A jewellery roll seemed appropriate and I had made them before, so no time waisted trying to work out the pattern.

But you know what those days leading up to Christmas are like.

Amongst the business of cooking, cleaning, visiting relatives popping in, wrapping gifts, watering the garden in the 40 degree heat (that's 104 degrees Fahrenheit for those of you who measure on the other scale), I managed to complete one of the two jewellery rolls. The pressure was off slightly in that we won't see our eldest son's partner until the New Year. Have a few days grace on that one. It's stared, but not finished.

 

Evening of December 22rd, choose fabric and cut out pattern. It's hard to see in the photo, but the lining faric is a micro dot.

 

Afternoon, December 23rd, commence sewing.

 

At 11.39pm December 24th....item completed. So lovely to sit and sew again with Carols by Candlelight on the TV to set the mood. Our family usually turn all the lights out and light several candles to make us feel like we are there too. This year it was Carols by Candle/Craft Light.

 

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day with their family and friends. Have a safe and happy holiday. I am off to enjoy the cooler weather in the garden, top temperature today only 31 degrees!!

Then a bit more sewing on that second roll.



FNSI and Finish it up Friday

 

 Last night I joined in with Friday Night Sew In and this morning I am linking up with Finish it up Friday.

 

I know...it's been a while since my last post.

 

Last night I finished a project that has been in the pile of WIPs for about...oh... four years now. I finally finished my 'Oh Christmas Tree' quilt last night. The background looks very 'limey' in the photo, but you will get the idea.

The tree is raw edge appliqued. I completed the applique last week at a retreat and finished the beading last night.

 

You can just see the little silver seed beads on the background.

 

It's hard to see in the big picture, but there is a little white peeper around the edge.

 

 

 

Here's shot of the back so you see that I did actually stitch it and not just iron it on.

 

Will fill you in on the retreat in my next post.

Don't forget to pop over and look at other FNSI and FIUF participants have been stitching.



One weekend ago...

So to update you on progress with my A Legacy From Violet quilt...I have now completed the two short sides of border four.

 

One weekend ago (which is really two weekends ago now) I packed up this portable project and took it to Sydney with me. No. 3 son had been selected to take part in the Festival of Instrumental Music. A series of four concerts organised by the Department of Education each year.  Ensembles and solo musicians from various public schools across New South Wales perform at the Sydney Opera House. He had been practicing his part all term and finally met the other 60 high school students from across the state to rehearse together for the first time on Saturday and Sunday. Then rehearse in the afternoon and perform on Monday and Tuesday evening in the Great Concert Hall. The concert also included primary school students who make up an 800 strong recorder ensemble, add to this a 200 strong string ensemble (made up of infants school children) for the finale. An amazing performance to watch. 

 

(Sorry, not a good photo, bad light)

 

That obviously meant that I would have a lot of time to fill in while he rehearsed...you know...time to shop...time to sew...I was excited! Unfortunately the plan all fell apart when the cold I had been nursing for three weeks and seemed almost better became worse. Instead of hitting the patchwork shops Saturday morning once he was safely escorted to rehearsal, I took myself to the nearest medical centre. I had self diagnosed an ear infection with the right side of my head feeling twice the size of the left and pain radiating into my eye socket and down my neck. Next stop, the pharmacy and then back to the motel room. My plans dashed and nothing to do but rest. Eventually I did a little bit of sewing now and then once the drugs stared to work.

You can imagine my disappointment!!

 I started on this, a birthday gift from Kylie , but I didn't get far. I stuck to covering the half diamonds I had cut out at the retreat I attended the weekend before. On the third day, feeling a little better, I laid out the pieces for one of the long borders and meticulously labelled the back of each piece (over 200 of them) assigning it a number and letter so I could store it in a bag and know exactly where it piece would go as I stitch it together.

 

 

Then I could be assured a good mix of colours throughout the border. Sounds a little too organised doesn't it? Some would even say... a little obsessive. Why not just put your hand into a bag of hexagons or diamonds and make it a lucky dip?

Nah...whenever I try that method, I end up with the last of the hexagons or diamonds all the same colour. Then I have to undo it and spread those remaining hexagons throughout the quilt. Far safer to be over organised than reverse sew I say.

 The system works well if you stay focused and label them correctly. You have probably noticed the hexagons on the RH side are both labelled '2c'. Whoops. I did a better job labelling the triangles.