Welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy reading about my adventures - in stitch and otherwise! And I hope that you will leave a comment so that I know you have visited.

Saturday 18 August 2018

FNSI for August


Many thanks Wendy for inviting us to join you again for a stitchy evening - see what everyone was working on here

Friday was a cooler day for us and so much of my time was spent in the garden. But I found an hour in the afternoon to start basting some shapes for my new applique project.


Fiddly small pieces! This project deserves a post of it's own so watch this space.

After an early fish and chip supper sitting outside a local bar we came home to watch another exciting T20 Blast match. Of course I had some sewing on the go too. I have started work on a new crazy block and this is how it looked at the beginning of the evening.


And here it is after I had added some silk and organza ribbon embellishments.


Lots more to do as I plan to pack this with embroidery, but I am enjoying this very much.

Enjoy your weekend.

Tuesday 14 August 2018

EPP Tuesday

It's time to 'Piece Yourself Together' again with Anthea at Hibiscus Stitches. Do take the time to link up if you have some EPP to share as we love to see what you are working on.


I have been working on my swap hexie flower cloth and have added the final round of blue flowers.


I just need to finish adding the yellow hexies around the last couple of sections and then I will need to work out what to fill in the gaps with and how I will finish the edge off.

Here are the swap hexies I have sent off this month.


These are for someone who has no colour preference, just asks for cream centres. So it was fun to go through my stash to see what took my fancy.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has been working on.

Friday 10 August 2018

After the storm!

After yet more hot weather we finally had a storm in the early hours of Thursday morning followed by a damp drizzly morning. Bliss. It's a sunny but cooler day today which is very welcome and this morning was distinctly chilly, just 10 degrees!
Well now, since my last post I have managed a few finishes so here are some photos. First up my applique which is now a nice new cushion cover.



I have turned my two little stitched squares into tissue sachets.



I have a 'red with a hint of maroon' RSC block for July


and an orange one for August


As I am home alone for a few days I am making good use of my time. First up, and now out of the way, was decorating the kitchen. That done I was able to get down to a project that has been waiting in the wings for just such an opportunity!

In 2010 Popular Patchwork had an article about a Super Scrappy Crazy quilt which gave me an idea for using up various samples and unwanted projects. So since then I have been collecting 4.5" squares to put together to make a super scrappy lap quilt and yesterday I got them out and started to play.


There are 289 squares here (although I am still making them and collecting ready for another quilt!) which will give me 17 x 17.


Here are some of them laid out and ready to sew.


Lots of lovely memories in amongst them - an early hexie project I was never happy with


some City and Guilds samples




a Hundertwasser experiment


playing with clamshells


and lots of scraps left over from projects


I decided that I would put it together in three section and one 17 x 6 section is already complete - heading off now to get on with the next one!

Have a great weekend.

Saturday 4 August 2018

August FNwF

August already! Many thanks Cheryll for organising us once again for a great evening sewing.

Pop over to Cheryll's blog here to see what everyone was working on.

Well, it is HOT here! Yesterday it was 37 degrees outside so by mid day we were inside with hatches battened against the heat. Fortunately there was an exciting test match on TV to watch so straight after lunch I got on with hand stitching the little square I had stencilled at last months FNwF - you can read about it here I have added some simple quilting and a few beads to highlight the centre of the flowers.


My task this afternoon is to make this into a little tissue case.

Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon it was the lunch interval, so I was able to cut some border panels for a piece of applique, machine them in place and then frame up the piece ready to start quilting.



I was then able to watch the afternoons play happily quilting. I carried on into the evening and again after lunch today as I watched England win - what a great test! So here is how far I have got with my quilting.

 
The applique panel is 12" square. It is the second time I have used this design - you can see my first block here I am enjoying this applique and am looking forward to working on something more ambitious next time.
 
It is nice to be back home - thank you for your good wishes for my Father, he is home and doing well.
 
Hope you are having a great weekend.