EASTER PROJECTS AND OTHERS

No need to remind you that Easter is fast approaching . Have you been making anything special for Easter? I found a pin cushion that I was making for Easter last year but never completed, so that is definately on my finish list before Friday. I can't belive I didn't finish it as it was only a small project . Red Brolly has a lovely free project for Easter but I have put that aside to make 3 tea towels from Bunny Hill. I have finished the first one which is for my eldest daughter.

Meanwhile, I have continued doing the stitcheries for Red Brolly's  Cotton Country. The current one is a bunny, how appropriate!

For a personal challenge I am participating in a Celtic Knot BOM at one of my patchwork groups. I have never made any Celtic Knots before , so I am rather pleased with this one.

It reminds me of a cat.

When I was browsing in a bric a brac shop at Bendigo I came across this interesting mat. There were a few of them but I particularly liked this one. I picked it up and examined it to work out how to make one. I sketched a couple of things in my notebook then remembered I had my camera with me. Dah! I think I have worked out how to piece it but it may get a bit bulky. Have you ever seen these before? Any ideas?

   

Seeing as I had my camera I couldn't resist taking a pic of the entry floor at the Bendigo Bakery. I think this is my new strange passtime. I do get funny looks.  

Well, it is fare thee well from this ol' chook.  Thanks so much for stopping by. Angel Blessings to you all

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ADMIRALTY PATCHWORK

This past week has been very busy and productive . I have been an intrepid traveller . A quick overnight visit to Sydney followed by one day at home before heading off to Western Victoria to catch up with some ancestry. Without further ado I shall just say that my hubby and I were invited to a function at Admiralty House to meet the Governor- General, Quentin Bryce who is a most delightful lady. What was the most memorable bit of our visit for me? The floors!!!!! Take a look at these.

 Am I an obsessed patchworker??? People were looking at me rather strangely when I was taking the photos.

After that I had the chance to head off to Ballarat, Bendigo and Great Western where I managed to talk my brother into stopping at some patchwork stores for me. Ofcourse, I had a million and one projects in mind to buy fabric for. These are some bluey grey fat 1/4s I bought for a new project I have in mind.

         Some Jo Morton fabrics.

Some chookies , bees and red and white fabrics. I am now collecting bee fabrics to put in all my projects as my dad is a hobby bee keeper .

OOPS!!! I took a video. Sorry!!!! I am using my hubby's camera.  It seems my cat, Clay, has a short debut in this too.

Finally, some Cottage Garden Threads. I love these variegated threads and have used them in a few projects. So, I just had to buy some more to add to my stash.

  

Thanks for taking the time to visit. It is rather hot here again today so I probably won't be stitching much. A perfect day for washing all those fabrics though.  Angel blessings. 

STITCHING THE DAYS AWAY

I don't know about you but I find stitching to be very therapeutic and find I get quite restless if I cannot just sit and sew. We have had quite a few hot summer days here which meant that I couldn't stitch as it was far too sticky  despite a fan blowing on me.  I did, however get quite a bit done between these very hot days and at my quilting groups.  I have now completed 3 stitchery blocks for Bronwyn Haye's "Cotton Country" and the above photo is the block I am currently doing. Instead of redwork I have chosen to work with Cottage Garden threads, a different colour for each sticthery.

I have also made an effort to get ahead with upcomming birthday pressies. Here is a sneak peek of 2 that I have made.

Sorry, can't show you any more, The birthday girls might see!!!

My "In Full Bloom" quilt is still in progress and I am now piecing the strips of blocks together. So, it should come together soon. That's the plan.

Meanwhile, the weather has become much cooler and I hope to keep stitching the days away. To all those who live in the flooded areas, I send you many angel blessings.

In Full Bloom

I couldn't resist taking a photo of my beautiful petunias on my back verandah.   As for my In Full Bloom stitcheries  they are all needle turned to their background fabrics ready to be pieced into a quilt.  Meanwhile, I have been busy stitching a couple of Anni Downs' gorgeous patterns . I love the muted colours. All I need to do is work out whether I am going to frame them or make them into something. 

     

I have also been knitting more facewashers for charity and now that Qld and NSW are being devastated by floods while Vic  has raging bushfires I think I really need to stitch up those 2 knitted blankets  that  are in my sewing room waiting to be completed.

Now that I have completed the Anni Downs' stitcheries I have started one of Gail Pan's that has a small bit of needleturned applique on it.  As I usually applique with blanket stitch this is a nice change. I rather enjoyed needle turning the IFB stitcheries onto their backgrounds so I thought I 'd try it again. I traced this pattern from Vignette #8.

I have a large box full of stitcheries that need to be made into quilts . With  so many new free  BOMs already available this year I think I shall need to hire some elves.

Angel blessings to you all especially all my craft friends living in Qld and NSW. Also my fellow Victorians.

My thoughts are with you.

STITCHING AND KNITTING'

Woohooo! I am well on the way with my In Full Bloom stitcheries. I only have one stitchery to complete and have cut and basted the rest of them into circles ready to be needle turned onto their background fabrics. One is totally completed.  Then I can  cut the rest of the fabrics ready to piece the whole quilt together. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Such a great feeling.

I have also started another stitchery because I simply couldn't resist. It is one of 2 Anni Downs' ones I have.  

Meanwhile, in between stitching and piecing I have been knitting some facewashers for charity. They are knitted with a lovely pure cotton yarn  and shall be wrapped in cellophane with soap. I have a few put away ready to bundle up.

Waiting to be stitched together are 3  more knitted blankets for charity. I think I'd better go now and get started.

Angel Blessings.

HAPPY NEW STITCHING YEAR

With this New Year comes my determination to complete the projects I started in 2012 and earlier. I have a box full of completed stitcheries for different quilts to be put together so I hope to stick to my plan . Ofcourse, that doesn't mean that I won't start new projects.

First up are the 2 Anni Downes'' pincushion kits that I have had on my "to do" list. I finished them last night.

Then there is the LAST Wish Quilt block. I just need to make a heap of checkerboards and some appliqued hearts  to piece all the blocks together.

I have completed a few more stitcheries for the "In Full Bloom" quilt.

Sorry! Not ironed.

My gorgeous stepson had Army leave over Christmas and New Year and travelled around Victoria while down here. He remembered that I collect thimbles and bought me one from the Great Ocean Road, 

You probably know that I am an avid reader . I particularly love reading and learning lots about  WW1 and WW11. I have a fascination about the contribution that women made medically, volunteering and at home, most of which I have never known as it was never taught when I was at school and still isn't.   It is rather shameful that so many women remained unrecognised for their bravery and loyalty . My lovely hubby gave me 4 books for Christmas entirely on this subject.

Looks like I am not short of reading material this month. Hope I have time for stitching!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings an abundance of all great things.

Angel Blessings.

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SEW, THIS IS CHRISTMAS!

Ho ho ho, stitch stitch stitch. Christmas has arrived and I still haven't completed everything I had planned to do.  How about you? I did finish the little pillows that were free designs from Red Brolly ( see my side bar), They are pictured above but I also have a closer look for you.

So, what about my progress with the Wish Quilt? I have completed another block but still need to hand applique the stars . I had trouble with the patchwork piecing of the 2 small stitcheries. The first attempt ended up too big so I tried again and it was too small!! However, being "patchwork" this posed no problem because I just added a strip . ( See the red and white stripe fabric?, That's it. Hehehehe.)

AND, I have completed the Christmas Wreath stitchery. I decided to put a border on it and bind it. It is just waiting for a sleeve now. Hmmm, maybe next Christmas? 

SEW, for those of you who celebrate Christmas I wish you a very happy and healthy one with an abundance of all good things to you and your families.

Many angel blessings to you all and thanyou for visiting my blog.