Anni's project bag

Family life has been getting a bit in the way of sewing lately. So I took myself off to a corner last night and worked on the project bag from The Simple Life - considering the mood I was in I probably should have chosen something a bit simpler, but here is the inside. I have finished the gorgeous bunny stitchery on the front, but I'll show you that when I finish the bag. And my second go at partridge in a pear tree for TTS.

Tonight, I have a funny little bit of mending to do for work........ these fellows have a couple of holes that need stitching up before the stuffing falls out.

I can't believe it's August tomorrow, the year is just flying by. Hope you're having a happy week, and finding a moment or two to yourself.

Susan x

A little break

My poor fingers are sore from quilting so I took a little break yesterday to work on making the stitchery kit for my niece. Since Mr 13 was home with a cold, we snuggled on the couch and generally took it easy. I'm trying to make it look like a bought kit, so I made up the stitchery to photograph for the front. The finished cushion will have a red border and floral back - Nanna might have to help her with the finishing off. It will match the sewing case I made for her.

A few chores to do, and some help with a project on Government to give, and there may even be some sneaky sewing time later. Have a great weekend.

Susan x

Still going.....

I am still going with the hand quilting on my stars quilt. I am so sick of it but the end is in sight. I have quilted 227 squares, which is 89% - only 29 to go, and then the binding.

I am determined to finish it before I start anything new...... well, apart from a couple of stitching projects which are already on the go. I cut out the pieces for Anni's Simple Life project bag a few weeks ago - and this is the stitchery to go on the front. I love the rabbit. I also love stitching Anni's font.

If you need me I'm off to do some quilting (surprise, surprise).

Susan x

Sunday Stitching

I have been working on Garden Gate from In Full Bloom.

And I bought these fat quarters at The Stitching Post. The others are for a secret swap.

Feeling a bit lazy today so more blogging than stitching going on. Enjoy your Sunday afternoon too.
Susan x

Boys and their toys

Hubby usually prefers a low profile when it comes to my blog, but he really wanted to share a photo of his our new tractor. He has waited a long time for this, so I'm expecting some big things to happen around the paddocks now.

I have been down in Sydney overnight taking Mr 15 to State Cross Country at Eastern Creek. We are all very happy with how he went, but gosh there are some incredibly fit, fast and dedicated kids out there. We were finished by lunchtime so had a lovely lunch at Leura and a little visit to The Stitching Post at Katoomba (but Ben wasn't so interested in the patchwork shop!). Karen has a great range of fabrics, especially civil war/reproduction. I would show you what I bought but it was just a little bit of secret shopping. I also bought some background fabric for The Simple Life quilt that I hope to make eventually.
Hope you have a happy and relaxing weekend.
Susan x

Revisiting my youth

It is quite a wonderful time of life when you can start leaving your kids at home without a babysitter - and on a school night too!
Last night hubby and I went to see Wendy Matthews at a local brewery restaurant and she did not disappoint. It was a great concert, she sounded exactly as I remember, and we had a great table, almost right in front of the stage.

Susan x

Yoghurt anyone?

My last attempt to save my stitchery involved natural yoghurt. It did work a little, but it may have been hampered by my earlier attempts. The stitchery is headed for the bin because I can't stand looking at it.

The boys were very nervous about what might have been for tea.

And just to prove that I am not only an Anni addict.................

......... I am a Marg Low addict as well. This one will hold a special piece of jewellery for another niece's 21st in September.
Soaking up the sunshine and the last day of school holidays today.
Susan x

Small Farm Field Days

The boys and I went to the small farm field days for a couple of hours yesterday, hubby was there all day buying his new tractor.
A highlight is always the animal nursery - do you ever get too old to enjoy the baby animals? I almost came away with a new rabbit and guinea pig, but managed to escape. How cute is this Miniature Mediterranean donkey foal?

And these Alpacas.

The only thing I bought was this cute toiletry set for my niece. Made by Love Libby they are plastic covered inside and out, and it was fun to buy them from the lady who makes them. Sam will be turning 12 when she is actually in Paris on holidays (lucky girl).

Take care.
Susan x

Thank you

Thanks for all the ideas of how to salvage my stitchery. I have tried a couple, but the running is still visible. My last attempt will be today using natural yogurt - i'll let you know how i go. Hubby thinks it's just extra artistic effect, but I know I won't enjoy looking at it. It's only a quick stitchery so I'll just re-do it and be more wary of red thread in future. This is how my TTS looks so far. I think it will definitely need a nice red border to lift the colours.

I need to get going with In Full Bloom. Month 5 arrived yesterday and I haven't finished last month. This one is called Watering Girl.

I am still slowly working on hand quilting my stars quilt. I have 54 squares left, so have set myself the challenge of doing at least 2 a day so I should be finished in a month or so. I have so many little bits and pieces on the go that I am really looking forward to a big finish.

Hubby has gone to the Mudgee Small Farm Field Days today to look at tractors. The equivalent of quite a lot of fat quarters if you ask me!

Have a great weekend.

Susan x

Aargh!!

Can you see where I started the new skein of thread? I rinsed this stitchery last night, to find it like this today. Not happy. Weeks Dye Works 1331 Brick, in the BIN. I think I will just stay with DMC thread in future.

On a brighter note, we had this delicious Tiramisu for dessert last night courtesy of Mr 11. It's from the Junior Masterchef cookbook, and is probably his all time favourite recipe. It has no coffee or liquer, and uses orange to make it a rather tasty alternative that everyone can enjoy.

I feel like eating some more now, to make up for my thread malfunction.

Rain, glorious rain again today. Not so good for the Mudgee Small Farm Field Days, but excellent for lazy Mums enjoying the last of the school holidays. Have a great day.

Susan x

Home again

Well so much for shopping in Sydney. We didn't make it past Charlestown Square, Newcastle on Monday. With the whole family in tow it was easier to go to a shopping centre we were familiar with. I am thrilled to have bought not one, but TWO dresses - and no denim in sight. One is for a special dinner next month, and the other for my nieces 21st. And a beautiful pair of black velvet heels. And no patchwork fabric or supplies of any kind - very unusual behaviour for me.

I had a small procedure on my eye yesterday so it was quite an ordinary day. Thankfully a lot of the day was spent in the car on the way home. Eye patches make it very difficult to sew or read or watch tv. Feeling much better today though, so the needles will be out later!

I did finish another Bluebird of Happiness purse before I went away. This one is heading off to Melbourne with a scarf for my beautiful big sister.

And some little squares sewn together for Anni's project bag.

It's a beautiful rainy morning outside, 34mm last night and more to come. Not so good for washing, but excellent for a lazy day of sewing. Happy stitching.
Susan x

Enjoying the sunshine

Not a lot of sewing going on at the moment. We are visiting family in Newcastle for the weekend. Frontline Hobbies has become an essential destination in Newcastle for the modellers in the family. The range of models and supplies is amazing. And the best supply of Lego.

Followed up by THE best fish and chips for lunch, and a long walk along the foreshore and breakwater. It was a beautiful day to be out together in the sunshine.

Off to Sydney tomorrow, and hopefully a little shopping along the way.

Susan x

What I've been working on.....

The problem with working on a big quilt, or hand quilting, is that there isn't really much to show. My giant quilt is getting close to finished, if you call having 69 more stars to go being close. I'm slowly working my way around the hexagon border......

....... it's a long way around. 130 inches.

I'm feeling really pleased with myself because I didn't buy a fabric pack for Anni's project bag. Last weekend I went through my stash and found everything I needed - all chosen by me. I don't have many bright fabrics in my stash, but I think what I have chosen will turn out ok.

So, apart from a little bit of stitching here and there that's about it. Mostly loving being at home with the kids for the holidays, although I'm sure they eat more when they're home all day.

Susan x

Gemma's sewing case continued

I was so very good at Hatched & Patched yesterday. I bought some fat quarters for a swap, and two pieces of red felt. Even with Anni waving a Simple Life fabric pack at me, I remained strong. I would never be so silly to suggest that I won't buy anything new this month, but I am going to try to focus on finishing rather than shopping.

I showed you the sewing case I made for my niece Gemma. Well, I thought she needed a pincushion and needle case too.

The pincushion is from Anni's Some Kind of Wonderful, and I made the needle case using some very thick interfacing I got at Nundle.

I love that the pincushion can be used either end. I have really enjoyed using fabrics which are so different to what I usually choose. Now I just have to enlarge a simple stitchery and make up a little kit for her first project.

Happy school holidays, and have a good week.

Susan x