Hello there!

Long time no blog! 

Scarlett Ribands is finished and at the framers. I am SO excited to see how it will look.

 

I've been quilting Doing The Rounds a little in the mornings when it's cool enough. It's been way too hot for it most days. This is how it's looking from the back.

 

I knitted a pair of Honey Badger socks for my MIL birthday. It was a personal best, I finished them in less than a week!

 

After my shawl disaster last year I'm trying again. This pattern by Curious Handmade comes with a workshop and support group! This photo was taken about 25% in, and now I have six very long rows left. It feels very naughty, but I'm planning to sit under the air conditioning and finish it on my day off today.

 

It's proving quite difficult to balance quilting and knitting lately, if only there were more crafting hours in the day. I hope you stay cool or warm this weekend, depending on where you are in the world. I will be bunkered down in the air con, with fingers crossed for no blackouts. Autumn.......you can come anytime!

Susan x

Happy Friday

I love knitting socks. I don't know why I love it so much. I have dabbled in knitting on and off for years without much success but socks have me in their grip. They are such a neat, fun, portable project, and it makes me feel super relaxed. I really like wearing them too, and will be kind of sad when the weather gets too warm for them!

How good to start the weekend with a finish. A pair of socks for my husband! 

 

I'm still quilting and cross stitching, because I love doing that too, but progress is a little slower. I haven't started anything new. I'm really desperate for a new applique project, but I'm also realistic about how much less time I have to sew these days. I hate it when I have lots of things to work on and not as much time as I'd like, so I'm being SENSIBLE and restrained.

 

The end is in sight for Scarlett Ribands. I have finished page 8 of 12, so just the bottom row to go. I am really keen to get this finished, framed and on my wall. (I may or may not have another Long Dog Sampler waiting in the wings). 

 

I think being able to knit in the car is one of the reasons I'm enjoying sock knitting. This is the next pair on my needles for weekend travelling.

 

Happy stitching (and knitting),

Susan X

Small projects

Life has been busy but I need to sew every day, even if it's just for ten minutes. No backing for my quilt yet so I haven't been able to start hand quilting. In fact, I haven't been working on quilts at all........I'm waiting for inspiration to strike and help me decide what to do next. So sock knitting and small projects have been occupying me.

A little bit of cross stitch, over half way now.

 

 I finished this pair of socks for my big sisters birthday......they were hard to part with.

 

And have started a new pair.....

 

And made a small boxy pouch just to carry my sock knitting. Great tutorial from Pink Stitches.

 

My blog has been a bit quiet of late, but I notice it will be five years old in August. Might need to find a little something for a giveaway.

Happy weekend.

Susan x

A little crazy

I'm back at my 1/4" hexies again. Working on this lovely inspired by one seen at last years Sydney Quilt Show. I need the papers out for another project! Not sure if those little spaces on the right should be red or something else.

It's slow going but I've finally turned the corner with Sacrlett Ribands. I am so excited about finishing this one day and hanging it above my bed.

School is back for two of my boys.....seems odd that one of them didn't go (he leaves for Uni in three weeks). I just have to share Mr 14's holiday creation. It's a folding pocket knife made from an old pallet. To be honest I didn't think it would work when he showed me the design, but to his credit and with a small amount of help from Dad he's done it. Kept him occupied for quite a while. 

Happy Saturday!

Susan x

Goodbye 2015

2015 has been and gone like a whirlwind. It's been a good year on the whole.......lots of creative and personal achievements, many stitches sewn, and happy crafty memories made.

I didn't finish quilting Irish Circles, but it's getting close. I continued my love affair with mini's and tiny pieces of fabric, and rekindled an old flame with cross stitch. Dear Jane and I have reached a compromise, and I have even started on the border triangles. After a huge afternoon yesterday, all the triangles are cut or prepped for applique.

My goal for 2016 is to finish Irish Circles, My Dear Jane and this gorgeous cross stitch, Scarlet Ribands. And I'm hoping there will be one or two new projects too!

I don't usually make resolutions...........in 2016 I just want to stay healthy, keep creating and look after my family and friends. Thankyou for your friendship and creative thoughts through the year, they mean so much more to me than you realise.

Wishing you contentment and happy stitching in 2016.

Susan x

Hexagon Medallion finish

I love this little mini. It's one of my all time favourite creations. It measures just 12" across and is made with 397 1/4" hexagons. I haven't ruled out trying my hand at a larger quilt made this way, just not quite crazy enough yet!

I am also happy to report that I had a light bulb moment that has saved my cross stitch when I was stitching with the Cassilis girls. As the linen is 32 count I can get away with using a single strand of thread, and won't need to buy more. I have just about regained what I had to unpick, and I actually prefer it finer. It was such an obvious solution. 

Hope you find some happy stitching time over the weekend.

Susan x

Weekend sewing

The thing about hand quilting a large project is that I really need small creative diversions along the way. This week it's yet another pin cushion, but in green which is a colour I don't use very much. I have used this particular combination for a couple of zipper pouches and I really like it. Do you think green or white running stitch to accent the applique? Thought I'd have a go at a square pincushion. I used soft fill at first but it just would not stay in shape so reverted back to walnut shells........think I really need to get a bulk supply as it is my preference every time. 

I'm still pondering whether I should continue DJ. These are my blocks so far, and I do like it, but I don't think I will be making the quilt in its entirety. So I'm going to choose the remainder of the blocks that I'm happy to make and then come up with some variation on the border.

I think a lot of my sewing frustration this week has come from the cross stitch pattern I bought myself for my birthday. I wasn't sure I had ordered enough thread so I stitched one skeins worth and did some calculations..........whoa, way underestimated what I'd need of the "limited edition" colour (and not cheap thread either). Anyway, to cut a long agonizing story short I'm going to unpick what I've done and choose a nice dark red DMC. Just annoyed with myself for not thinking it through better......and I hate unpicking!

Exams are over for now, Mr 16 has returned from the snow, and Mr Thimblestitch and I are running away to the city for a couple of days this week. So lots of planning and organizing to do over the weekend, but of course there will be some time for sewing too.

Susan x

Personal best

I have finished the baby quilt I started last week. It would have to be a personal best for me......eight days from purchase to quilted and binding on. It was fun to make, and the perle quilting was quick to do. I had my doubts about the fabric choice, but I quite like it now that it's finished.

Sunday saw me on the road to Cassilis for a long overdue catch up. Spending the day with these lovely, funny, creative women really is fantastic......wish I could do it more often. Here we are having a celebratory drink for Raelee's birthday. Me, Kylie, the birthday girl Raelee and Lea.

I didn't take any photos of what we were working on, but I did have some accessory envy with this cute reel holder Lea made for Raelee.

I have too many slow projects on the go lately. Whilst I find them very satisfying to work on it can get a bit frustrating. So what do I do? Go and buy another slow project.....I must be mad! I finished the second Quaker Samplings cross stitch in blue a while back. I just love the sampler style so now Scarlet Ribands has arrived and is waiting to come to life in Ruby Slipper thread.....great name for the thread don't you think? The stitched area is 20" x 21" so I think this will keep me going for quite some time! I ordered the linens and thread over the phone from The Crewel Gobelin and I have to say their service is excellent, it's not easy to discuss shades of linen for a big project over the phone. I phoned Thursday and it was in my mailbox Friday!

Happy stitching.

Susan x

Finished cowl

Chunky is certainly my style of knitting.......very quick. My cowl turned out ok and will be very useful if we ever have a blizzard in Mudgee. Perhaps too chunky for my taste, so I will try again in 12 ply and with a pattern.

Catching up on some cross stitch this week so I can give the frame back to its owner......who may have forgotten that I borrowed it.

And a little gift for a friend. Now that I've looked at the photo I think the handle isn't quite right. Wonky or quirky? What do you think?

Happy stitching,
Susan x

A little finish

I finished sewing down the binding on this little baby at Nundle. I love how it turned out, especially the texture of the quilting. Thank you Elyte for the charm squares that were my inspiration. 11"" x 9".

As if GDITC wasn't enough fun, I arrived home to my 2014 blog book. I always think twice before ordering it, and I'm always so glad that I did. I know I can always see my blog online........but it's so nice to sit down with a book.

No progress at all on the GDITC project, but a little cross stitch on the side.

Its a beautiful autumn day here today, I think it's my favourite season.

Happy stitching,
Susan x

Birthdays

This week has been a busy week for birthdays, and not so much sewing. Mr 17 turned 18 and Mr 15 turned 16. I am wondering where on earth all those years have gone. I am so proud of the wonderful young men they are becoming. That's Mr almost 14 on the left, and my dear Mr Thimblestitch on the right.

It's the first day of autumn, but the weather is still summery. Too hot for quilting, so working on my baby clamshells and some cross stitch.

Susan x

Weekend stitching

I finished my cross stitch last week and I'm so happy with how it turned out. Love working with the variegated thread. I liked it so much that I have started the other version of the pattern in a variegated blue thread.

And always some more DJ blocks.

After some recent dramas at work I'm excited to tell you that I got a promotion......some very challenging times ahead I think. To those who knew, thank you for your encouragement and support. X

Have a great week.
Susan x

Road trip

Up bright and early yesterday morning for a two hour drive to Scone for a sewing day at Raelee's. I couldn't wait to see her new Grace quilting frame in action. The photograph shows it expanded to full size, lucky she has the perfect spot for it.

It was pretty much a meeting of the Cassilis Quilters as Kylie, Lea and Julie were there too. We had a lot of chatting to catch up on.......I managed to blanket stitch around four little wings and put a few stitches in this mini which has been in the cupboard for a while. Fiona's table runner inspired me to get it quilted.

Raelee has loaned me a cross stitch frame to try. I've never used a frame or hoop but it does seem to make it easier.

Hope you found some time to be creative over the weekend.
Susan x

Oh dear

So much achieved on retreat last weekend, and so little done this week. Hoping to put the final stitches in my SSCS and get the binding on my nieces quilt this weekend (just have to get a pesky assignment finished out of the way first).

A little retail therapy at Hatched & Patched to cheer me up. No idea when I will sew this......hopefully before Christmas!

And a progress pic of my cross stitch which I am loving.

We are having really hot, dry weather at the moment. It's almost too hot to sew! We're having an air conditioner installed in our bedroom today so I may retreat to sew in bed later today.

Hope you have a happy weekend with lots of time for stitching.
Susan x

Progress

Absolutely loving working on my new cross stitch. Not so great for my eyes, but very addictive. Alternating with applique.

Hubby returns tomorrow, and Mr 17 is on the loose in Sydney tonight, so I expect to get lots of sewing done tonight.

Happy Friday.
Susan x

New projects

Whilst my hubby is away on his annual pilgrimage to the Moto GP at Phillip Island, I have been sewing up a storm. Lots of sashing added to DJ blocks, and more applique for IC border, only one and a half borders to go. And quilting my nieces quilt.

You may recall that I put myself on a fabric/project diet earlier in the year. Well I have been very good, but fell off the wagon this week. A new project has arrived from the Crewel Gobelin......a cross stitch sampler of all things!

And then in a moment of weakness I downloaded the Fancy Fox quilt pattern. Check out Sharon's. I am in love with this little fox. Instant download is so instantly gratifying, if only I could do the same thing with fabric! It didn't take very long to whip this block up this morning. I wish, wish, wish I had enough linen in my cupboard to keep sewing these blocks TODAY. I think I might make one from my stash only using blues and teals, with one red fox!

And if there was ever any question about my sanity...........there is a baby fox too! Please don't judge him by his odd ear.

If only there were more sewing hours in the day! Hope you're having a lovely sunny, stitchy weekend.

Susan x