My DJ flimsy

I have finished my DJ flimsy, here it is ready to join the quilting queue. As you would know, I ran out of enthusiasm to complete the whole DJ. For a while there I didn't think it would be finished at all. 

Not the greatest light for a photo today, and no, the feet aren't part of the quilt! But I am so happy to get to this stage. I took some creative licence with the border triangles, some are appliqued and some are prints, it became a case of better finished than perfect. I even used my sewing machine to join the triangles and attach the borders, which is quite unusual for me. 

Perhaps by the time I start quilting I will love it again.

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

My Dear Jane progress

Some inspiration from Carla and an afternoon in the air conditioning has seen some great and unexpected progress on My Dear Jane over the weekEnd. I have quit at 81 blocks, I just knew I wouldn't finish all the piecing and I am at peace with my decision. 

So a lap size DJ it will be. Here is Myf assisting with block layout.

These are the blocks all joined together.......I even used the sewing machine which is very unusual for me. I must admit that my joins aren't quite as tidy as they would be if I had hand sewn them, but I just wanted this done.

I'm feeling quite invigorated to look at the border triangles now. As with the blocks, I'm just going to select the ones I want to make.

The cool change is blowing in this afternoon, and there is a hint of rain in the air........very happy.

Susan x

Odds and Ends

Like everyone, I have been busy starting some secret Christmas sewing..........so not a lot to blog about. I have added red to some of my 1/4" hexie flowers.

Today I stuffed and finished off this Blackbird Designs pin cushion whilst watching the Moto GP. Not sure if I like the buttons, but they were called for in the pattern, and they're on now!

Some more DJ blocks from a while back, only six more blocks needed to finish my Jane at a reasonable size.

I seem to have more projects than usual underway and they are all slow stitching.........but they are keeping me out of mischief. Hope you find some stitching time in the week ahead.

Susan x

DJ and mini hexie medallion

My fingers needed a little break from hand quilting so I returned to my little 1/4" hexie medallion mini. I was going to leave it with the hexagon edge but decided a straight edge would be easier to work with. So I'm appliqueing the hexagon to the striped strip, then will mitre the corners and add a little binding. I absolutely love this mini, I love the feeling of the tiny hexagons and the fussy cutting. I'm still undecided if I could make a whole quilt this way.........it might take the rest of my life!

Some more DJ blocks finished.  I have a few more prepped but have definitely decided I won't be going the whole way with Jane. Appliqué and epp are the techniques I'm really enjoying at the moment. 

I finally finished unpicking that bit of cross stitch, it took ages. Now to decide on a shade of DMC red so I can get started again. School holidays started today. I think there was lots of time spent on the Xbox, but I did come home to a washed floor, so that's a bonus!

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

Weekend sewing

Well I did get a short visit to Pot Pourri Cottage on the weekend......for about ten minutes! Long enough to choose some fabric for a baby quilt......not the kind of baby quilt I would make for myself, but more modern tones for a friend at work. Light blue Tilda stars and a plain spot for chevrons, with something brighter on the back. It's very difficult to get the colour in a photograph, it's not brown and the stars are light blue. Sue at the patchwork shop assured me my choice was ok and very suitable for a modern young mum. I hope it will turn out ok.....to be honest I'm not 100% committed, as not everyone likes handmade. I have actually made the top and basted it together this week but I want to add some quilting before I show you.

We checked out the new ANZAC walk in Newcastle, it was raining and blustery, but still fun. A great addition to the foreshore.

I just had to take a pic of this little sign I saw when I was buying coffee and cake.......it explains everything!

Time to stop blogging and rush through the housework so I can do some sewing on my day off. Fast forward nine hours, and now that I have internet again I'll do my post!

Happy stitching,

Susan x

Not quite snowing

It's a bit chilly here this morning. Not snowing at our place but it is nearby, so no better excuse for stitching the day away. I have started off with working out the border quilting design for my hexie mini. I was planning on straight lines but the sides are not the same so I got a bit more creative.

I've also ironed a couple of DJ blocks finished from a while ago. Will I keep going with DJ or work with what I've done? I just don't know. Do you like my fancy new ironing board cover behind them?

I must admit to feeling a little overwhelmed by just how much quilting there is yet to do on Irish Circles. I always feel like this at the start of a big quilting project.....wondering what I was thinking. The back is also very pretty, although the stitches are a little hard to see here. 

Some of you have asked what needles I use for hand quilting. I've always used Piecemakers Betweens size 10, and Gutermann quilting thread. I have four shades of cream which pretty much cover all situations. I'm sure there are plenty of other options out there but these have worked for me for twenty years now. For wadding I use Matilda's own poly/wool, wool or cotton..........depends on what I can get at the time. My first ever quilt was made with 100% polyester, enough said. In my mini's I use iron on parlan, or Vliseline 630, depending on what size pieces I have lying around. And I just use my beloved 14" round wooden hoop, which was such a huge investment at the beginning of my patchwork journey. 

Happy Sunday stitching. 

Susan x

DJ

I hope you're not getting tired of red and white DJ blocks. I am happy with my momentum on this project but I felt like I was further along than only 38%. Still another 104 blocks to go......and the border triangles. These are my latest blocks.

I am not done with mini quilts yet either. I have been playing with some 3/8" hexies........

Happy Saturday,
Susan x

21 Again

Well not quite........but it is was our 21st wedding anniversary today. I've had a lovely day with my gorgeous hubby, and we went out for dinner tonight. Not quite as fresh faced as in 1994, but still very happy.

And some DJ love.....

Happy stitching,
Susan x

Midweek DJ

A new favourite DJ block. Prepping multiple blocks at a time is definitely keeping the momentum going on this project.

A special commission sewing a badge on for hubby, who is off on a boys version of retreat this weekend.......motor bike riding of course.

The excitement is building......only two weeks until I head off to Girls Day in the Country at Nundle.

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

FNWF

I was hoping to start a new project for FNWF, but alas, the postie did not deliver........hopefully my parcel will come on Monday. Instead I worked on some DJ blocks that I had prepared a while ago, and the start of a new mini. I really think I need to add some more medium tones.

I received some beautiful French General Rue Indienne charms from lovely Elyte. I could have just added them to my stash but decided it would be nicer to make a special project. So after some thought, out came my 1" clamshells. You may remember my clamshell purse here. They are small but very pretty when finished.

Today I have been busy on a woodwork project.........sewing related of course. Hope to have something to show by the end of the weekend.

Happy stitching,
Susan x

And the winner is.....

My husband has randomly generated number 18, so congratulations to Annette of Jindiscottage. You have won the little bundle of green fabrics which I unearthed in my weekend cleanup. Send me your address and I will pop it in the mail.

I haven't sewn any DJ blocks for a while, but here is where I'm up to. Still a long way to go.

I hope your week has started well.

Susan x

A Stitching Sunday

Three of my menfolk headed off to the Bathurst 1000 car races today, and one went to work. So after a few chores and restocking the cupboards I got to stitch all day! I totally understand the atmosphere of actually being at the races, but it's pretty comfy watching it from the couch.

Some more DJ, border prep for Irish Circles, and a little secret sewing.

Yesterday we went to Sculptures in the Garden at a local winery. There was some amazing talent on show, we loved the chickens and wire animals.

Chocolate and cake for lunch makes for a pretty good day. Hope you had a good weekend too.
Susan x

Happiness is.........

...........the beginning of six months long service leave! DH is taking six months leave for some long overdue R&R. I'm hoping that his days will include a little bit of cooking and cleaning, because I will still be at work. Maybe he will take up patchwork???

I have had a lovely day stitching in the garden at Cassilis with Raelee and Kylie. A small group today, but still so relaxing. Kylie worked on her B&C hexies, Raelee was finishing off some cross stitching and I finished a DJ block.

Happy Friday.

Susan x

DJ blocks

I'm back to work today but I did manage to get a few DJ blocks sewn this week.

And the beginnings of a secret sewing project..........must remember to pay attention when sewing clamshells!

Happy stitching.
Susan x

Some random sewing and Christmas is coming

I had a random burst of creativity yesterday afternoon and made myself a small block keeper for my DJ blocks in progress. I had been carrying the pieces around in a little tin, but some of them are becoming like little jigsaw puzzles. I have a beautiful large block keeper made by Teresa, and now I have a small one too!

It was a simple project, I pretty much picked out two favourite fabrics and sewed them together with some off cuts of light weight batting in between. Raelee inspired me to look through my pile of "finished but not finished off" stitcheries, and this one suited perfectly. It measures about 7 1/2" square.

I can honestly say I haven't given Christmas a thought beyond booking a place to stay with my in-laws at the beach. Not a Christmas stitch has been sewn, but that may be about to change......because the wonderful Chookyblue is running her Secret Santa Christmas swap again this year. It just wouldn't be Christmas without this swap to take part in, so a big thankyou to Chooky for organising us all.

I'm heading off to the Mudgee Farmers Market with Mr 13 this morning, and hoping for an afternoon of sewing (or napping) in the sunshine. Enjoy your weekend too.

Susan x

FNWF.....but not on Friday

I linked up for FNWF and remembered five minutes later that I was going out. I do sew most nights so I'll show you what I've been working on this week. It's Dear Jane. These are the blocks I've done so far.....

What do you think? I'm enjoying sewing them, but I don't like thinking about adding the small sashing strips......or quilting it at the end. Do all the shades of red look ok, or does it look like I can't make up my mind?

While I think about it I'll keep sewing them as my portable project, and start sewing these Irish Circles blocks together at home.

Some happy stitching news. Our local sewing shop closed in June but reopened yesterday with new owners. It has a lot of the old stock though, so it remains to be seen what fabrics and products they get in. At least I can get the basics, like the dmc and template plastic I needed today.

After a late night last night and work this morning, it's come down to a choice between sewing and a nap this afternoon.....or maybe both.

Susan x

Friday night

Maybe I will make some of the intricate DJ blocks. I love this little one I made last night. The little squares are 1/2".

I'll show you the back too. Pressing the seams is what scares me about blocks with tiny pieces, but this one was ok.

We're taking our entire flock of sheep over the road for shearing this morning.......all two of them!

Have a great weekend.
Susan x