FNWF

Oops, FNWF has been and gone and I missed showing what I worked on. It's the next round of my new quilt........but I didn't finish it until after work today. I waited to post so I could show you my progress.

Not the greatest light for the photo but you get the idea. I'm on to the next round now, really enjoying the whole process.

Happy stitching,
Susan x

FNWF - Extended version

I have joined up for FNWF, and will be sewing with friends all weekend. I'm off on retreat to Middlebrook in the Hunter Valley with the Cassilis Quilters and friends. I can't decide what to sew so I'm taking everything! 

Have a great weekend, I know I will!

Susan x

FNWF

I have been naughty with the FNWF rules. I signed up on Thursday then completely forgot to do a post about it, and didn't even sew on Friday night! I hope Cheryll will let me off on this occasion.

I have been sewing of course, just finding it hard to settle on one thing. I love my hand work, but sometimes when I'm busy, I get frustrated by a seeming lack of progress. It makes me start other small projects instead of getting on with my quilting. This week it's another pin cushion inspired by Anna at Noodlehead who is in the Crazy Mom Quilts pincushion party. I have been channelling my inner modern stitcher. I love the charcoal linen which came from The Home Patch. The blue mark in the centre is not washable pen, it's in the star fabric.......should have thought about that a bit harder. 

Spent some time in the garden with hubby yesterday doing some long overdue pruning so that was good......except for the blister on my thimble finger. I have also been working on little 1/4" hexie flowers for a project that caught my eye at the Sydney craft show.

And feeling it's time to do something with these 1/2" hexies from last year.

Would someone please tell me to just get on with my hand quilting!

Happy Father's Day, I hope everyone has some happy family time today.

Susan x

FNWF

My FNWF started out with a trip to Bathurst and some shopping at Hatched & Patched. It's not every day you get to spend half an hour chatting and choosing fabrics with Anni Downs herself! Some very different choices for me, and one little red fq. The fabric at the bottom came from Spotlight, an organic Cloud 9 that Karen put me on to.

Some fabric for another baby quilt, with help from Anni. I couldn't resist the rabbits.

Then last night I kept on quilting Irish Circles.......this will be going on for quite some time yet. And spent a few moments finishing off these.

After being inspired by Lea the red spot was my first go, then I used up some hexies that had already been sewn together for another project which didn't happen, and then a red hexie one as well. They may be used in a giveaway over the weekend so pop back tomorrow!

Today I am helping Mr 16 pack for his school ski trip tomorrow, keeping Mr 18 happy while he studies for his exams, keeping Mr 14 company and enjoying some of this winter sunshine.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Susan x

FNWF

I'm joining up with FNWF tomorrow night. Whilst I stitch most nights, it's nice to have a virtual stitch-in with friends. I expect it will be an evening of hand quilting. I am so happy with how my corner quarters look when they are quilted into a circle on Irish Circles.

Taking a trip to Bathurst tomorrow so there could be a little bit of shopping at Hatched & Patched........

Susan x

Dressy hanger and FNWF

I forgot to show you this one before Christmas. I've had Marg Low's Dressy Hanger pattern for a long time. I finally got around to using it to make a pretty hanger for my sister from Tilda fabrics. I fear that I may become the coathanger Aunty next Christmas........it was fun to make.

I have signed up for FNWF tonight. I am on a mission to finish my last Irish Circles border. Hoping to do some more cross stitch too.

Happy Friday!

Susan x

FNWF

FNWF seems to roll around very quickly each month. I will be working on my SIL quilt. I have reached a point where I can sew the binding on, but I might still add some more quilting. I'm using my Clover clips that I bought from Red Raspberry quilts, they work really well (and don't poke into me like pins do!).

I love using the perle. It gives a nice hand quilted result very quickly. See you all tonight.......but if I'm lucky I might start a little bit earlier.

Susan x

Hmmmmm

I laid out my Irish Circles blocks at the weekend. I'm not unhappy with how it looks but I'm having second thoughts about the red bordered squares. In the original pattern they blend in more.......I'm thinking about replacing them with circles.....with the added advantage of getting to sew four more circles! I'm hoping that once the blocks are sewn together and quilted, the cream background won't look so stark.

Then I really need to go somewhere to audition fabric for the first border, just can't do that online. This is my blue block finished from the weekend. I love red most, but these blues are a close second.

I resolved my block shortage on my SIL's quilt by buying another LBD fat quarter and will use some of the back as well. Hoping it arrives on Friday so I can finish the top at FNWF. Pop over to Cheryll's to sign up.

Happy stitching.
Susan x

FNWF

FNWF is on again. Pop over to Cheryll to sign up.

I'm going ago make a day of it and spend the day stitching with friends at Cassilis. I think I'll work on my orange peels and some appliqué.

Happy Friday!
Susan x

FNWF and more bags

I was the lucky winner of the draw for Friday Night With Friends....look what came in the post today. Thank you so much Cheryll, they will definitely be put to good use.

I have turned my fabric from Finders Keepers into a bag........but I think my foray into "brights" is coming to an end, it just doesn't look right to me. Think I'll stick with what I know......bring on the rusty reds!

And just to prove that miracles do happen, I managed to coerce my boys into having this photo taken last weekend.

Last day of school tomorrow......let the holidays begin.

Susan x

FNWF

I had a great FNWF. It started with a family walk by the river at beautiful Lawson Park. It was so lush and green.........wish it was like that in my garden.

Followed by fish and chips for tea. Then lots and lots of productive sewing.....just a sneak peek....... I'm much happier about my SSCS gift now.

Almost forgot to open my needlecase swap. Kerry has done lovely work with the wool, beautiful detail. Thanks Kerry.

Have a great weekend.
Susan x

FNWF

FNWF, a perfect way to end the week. Fish and chips for tea, followed by lots of secret sewing, and maybe a little quilting. Pop over to Cheryl to sign up.

I needed a small rusty hanger for one of my Christmas projects. I don't know what has happened in the rusty hanger market but it took a while to find the small size I wanted. Great service and prices from Sarah Jane Country Craft, so I stocked up. Black hangers seem to be what's popular at the moment.

And finally, I can open my Friends in Stitching swap gift tonight.

Have a great weekend.

Susan x

FNWF update

Last night I finished one little Simple Life block. This project isn't really holding my attention, but I'm getting there slowly. Thanks for hosting us Cheryl, it's always nice to think how many of us are stitching away at the same time.

I have absolutely no idea what the day will bring. I love school holidays!

Hope you have a happy, stitchy weekend.

Susan x

FNWF

Tonight is Friday Night With Friends, so pop over to Cheryl to sign up. I'm planning to work on my Simple Life blocks.

See you there.
Susan x

FNWF

Friday Night With Friends will see me back quilting.....I got my thread today.

Hope to see you there.

Susan x

FNWF

I had a great night of sewing. Finished my April blocks for the nine patch swap. I was trying not to choose red and cream again........but i'm not so sure of the colour combination this month.

I also had my first chat room with my online group......now there's an experience!

And prepped another batch of Floral Beauty blocks.

I swore I wouldn't watch Maid in Manhattan AGAIN, but I did, and I enjoyed it.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Susan x

Friday Night With Friends

I have signed up for FNWF tomorrow. I'm planning to make my nine patches for April, and a little more Floral Beauty.

There will also be some excitement when I open this package from Teresa as part of a Natalie Bird swap.

So pop over to Cheryll to sign up for a night of stitching with friends.

Susan x

FNWF

For FNWF I was quilting my In Full Bloom. It's almost done, just need to decide what to do in the borders.

Today I was in Bathurst visiting my dear Dad in respite care. I needed a new chair for my sewing room so went by the secondhand shop while I was there. Funnily enough, this chair matches our old dining suite.

And after some fun with the staple gun.

I know you won't believe me but I went to Hatched and Patched too, but only for ONE fat quarter to finish a swap project. Anni was on the phone whilst I waited to be served, and who do you think it was? There is only one Dawnie! Of course I had to say hello........and she tried to do some hard selling on Anni's behalf.......but I was strong and have not signed up for the Tillies Lane BOM.

I am hoping to finish off painting my sewing room tomorrow and move everything back into place.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Susan x

FNWF

Well here we are in February already, and time for FNWF. I am indulging in a whole day of Friday with friends, working on some different projects. You can link up at Cheryll's blog.

 

 

I started with my first set of blocks for the Traditional Nine Patch Swap. Twelve of these little babies, but they were so quick to make using strip piecing.......under wraps until the end of Feb.

 

I have finally made a start on the quilt for my nephew's 18th in August. The piecing won't take long, but the quilting might. The grey sashing is actually spotty, not plain.

 

And a little more Floral Beauty.

 

So lots to do here. Enjoy your night and the weekend.



Susan x

FNWF

I started out last night feeling a bit flat, but I soon got going. Everyone's plans for FNWF were so inspiring. So what did I do? Well I know I said no more zipper bags, but this one was a special commission for Pop, who needs a new toiletry bag. I had actually sewn most of it during the week and just finished off last night. It has waterproof lining, which is actually a cheap blue raincoat cut up. I hope I never have to sew with PVC again. It's the same tutorial but the large size.

Earlier in the year I won a giveaway on Gail Pan's blog. I had done the two stitcheries for this small table runner, but that's as far as I got. The red background was a gift from Elyte when we met in Melbourne. It's ready for a little bit of quilting and some striped binding.

And some more stitches on my Christmas wreath whilst watching the Santa Clause with Mr 11. It's one of my favourite Christmas movies.

I'm going out for dinner tonight to celebrate a friends half century. Hope you have a happy weekend too.

Susan x