Monday 29 February 2016

OPAM




 
 
Alas, only 1 finish this month. Too many hand pieced projects on the go.
 
 
 
Better one than none!
 
Angel Blessings.
 
 

Saturday 27 February 2016

NOT SO SPLENDID



 I have been trying to keep up to date with the Splendid Sampler sew along and have now completed the first 3. I had cut out the 2nd and 3rd blocks but came unstuck with the 2nd one so I put is aside for another day.  That other day came and I knew I just had to do it or abandon it completely in favour of other projects that need my attention. Why struggle with a block when I can be enjoying other stitching ,right? Well, determination took over and the 2nd block is complete but it is a bit wonky  and my colour ways are too light. I should have used a single thread for the stitched butterfly feelers but I am in no head space to redo it.



 
 
Having completed #2 I decided I would head straight into piecing the 3rd block seeing as I already had the sewing machine ready to go and the iron switched on. ( I actually find machine piecing to be fiddlier and more of a hassle than hand piecing). Voila! Number 3 is complete but once again I am not happy. A couple of things do not line up despite pinning and re pinning but it I am just going to leave it as is. 
 
 
 
 
On a happier sewing note, I enjoyed finishing off another mini using Jenny's stitchery design and fabrics from my stash. ( It looks a bit square in the pic but it has longer sides in reality).
 
 
 
 
I am loving Michelle's little bears and have completed my 2nd one. Onto my 3rd today. Such fun.
 
 
 
 
I hope you get to have a relaxing stitching weekend. Many thanks to the wonderful Aussie designers who bring joy to my days.
 
Angel Blessings.
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday 25 February 2016

TEACUP TEDDIES AND LUCY


  I have been a bit tired this week and have spent quite a lot of time sitting in front of the TV watching DVDs and Netflix . I hate it when I am so tired that I cannot put a stitch to fabric but I soon had a smile on my dial  when I thawed out a bit and picked up Michelle's " Tiny Teacup Teddies" to stitch.  Yey! The first block is finished and I have started the 2nd one.


 

 
 
Last week I ordered some more things for my Lucy Boston quilt as I seem to be progressing quite well with it. The lovely Sandy from Shiralee Stitches helped me select the correct quantities of fabrics I needed for the fill in blocks as I am only making 12 blocks instead of the entire quilt. So, I can now start cutting heaps of  grey 1 " squares to EPP and plenty of  antique cream elongated hexies to stitch around each of the blocks I have completed.
 
 
 
 
I have finished another LB block and shall be hopefully starting the 6th one tomorrow. 
 
 
 
Thanks for stopping by.
 
Angel Blessings.
 
 
 
 
 
  

Sunday 21 February 2016

LUCY'S OFF TO A GREAT START



 Woohoo! I have now completed 4 Lucy Boston  " Patchwork of the Crosses" blocks and despite the fussy cutting being a bit of a challenge I am actually enjoying the journey. Here are the last 3 I have completed.



 

While I wait for the mail to bring me the fill in block fabrics and 2 more block kits ,I am briefly on hold. Today I finished hand quilting this little mini which is one of Jenny's  stitchery designs. I just made up the borders etc myself. Now all I need to do is find that purple spotty fabric to make the binding. It seems that it has gone walkabout with my comb as I can't find that either!


 
 
The day they released the first Splendid Sampler, ( see my side bar), block I immediately went in to my sewing room, cut the fabrics and finished it that evening. This one was so quick and easy.
 
 
 
 
The 2nd block was released but after cutting all the pieces and making the half square triangles I began to lose interest when I had to cut the half square triangles back to 1 1/2" .  Is there a quick way of doing this? I did one but it took heaps of measuring and centreing the ruler cutting eighth inches off until I got it right.   Soooooo tedious! Hence that block is sitting in pieces on my cutting mat waiting for my patience to return. Maybe it will come back with my comb and fabric?
 
 
The other day I finally managed to start planting my new garden bed. I love geraniums  so I planted 3 different ones and put a few ground covers in front of them.  This is only about one third of the garden bed but I want to see how these plants survive first.
 
 
 
 
I hope you have all had an enjoyable weekend. Thanks so much for visiting.
 
 
Angel Blessings.
 
 
 
 

Wednesday 10 February 2016

HAPPY



                                                                    Why am I happy?




 
 
 
 
 
Hmmm, not so happy about having to iron them all.
 
Angel Blessings.
 

Sunday 7 February 2016

SUNDAY SUCCESS


 It is rather hot here down South and I am loving it. I have been in the sewing room most of the afternoon and, believe me, it was definitely a "sweat shop". Now showered, hair washed and in my PJs already I find myself posting for the second time this weekend. My mojo is back but it seems I have lost my Farmer's Wife blocks that I did quite a while ago. As I am determined to finish things this year I am in a bit of a tizz as to the whereabouts of these hand pieced blocks. Ah well, I guess some more space clearing in the sewing room may uncover them in time.

So, here is what I achieved today. I finished another hand pieced block for my current little Civil War quilt. I have since started another as well!


 
 
My March stitchery mini has now been bordered ready to hand quilt, trim and bind. Oh dear, a bit blurry. And that was taken before sipping my G&T!!
 
 
 
 
I have finally machine pieced all the blocks together of my Gail Pan wall quilt. Just need to put a border on it now.
 
 
 
 
On Friday I met up with a couple of stitching friends and one of them had been cleaning out her sewing room. Woohooo! I scored a whole meter of this gorgeous Civil War fabric. Thanks soooo much Veronica. 
 
 
 
 
I am off to one of my patchwork groups tomorrow and on the way back I am going to shop for some fabrics so I can start the "Tiny Teacup Teddies Centre" that I bought from Michelle. I figure that as I finish things I can start another project, or 2 or 3 ??????
 
Thanks for stopping by twice this weekend.
 
Angel Blessings.
 
 
 
 

Saturday 6 February 2016

HERE'S LUCY......



Didn't you just love that show? Lucy was one of the first comediennes to succeed in a man's domain and I recently saw an interview with Carol Burnett who was a friend of Lucy's. She related a story about how Lucy told her that after divorcing "the Cuban" and taking over her own company her employees added an "S" to her name LOL.

Anyhoo, I digress. The Lucy I want to show you is the first Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Crosses block I have made. It came together quite quickly apart from the tedious part of fussy cutting the fabrics. As a result , I have ordered 2 more little block kits from Shiralee Stitches that Chookyblue recommended and have made up another block from fabrics in my stash. Why, oh why have I started another long project while I am trying to complete so many others?????


 
 
I was doing the happy dance this week when the book I won from Anni Downs arrived. I also couldn't resist buying Michelle's new pattern.
 
 
 
 
I am loving making some beautiful things from Jenny's designs. This completed one is a gift for someone so it is a secret at the moment.

 
 
I am off to complete some more projects now.
 
Angel Blessings.