Farmers Wife | Installment #4

Sunday saw me spend some time on my Farmers Wife Quilt - another 4 blocks completed.



Progress - 19 blocks down .................

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

I love it when it rains ................

that usually means a cozy weekend at home.

This weekend, Mr Fixit brought some work home with him, so I was left to my own devices - so what did I do ............... catch up on some household chores???  no way, I spent the weekend catching up on my sewing :)

On Saturday, whilst tidying up my sewing room, I came across my Globetrotting BOM that I started last year, and was prompted to make up another two blocks.





As a reminder, here is what I have done previously

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

ANZAC DAY 2015

I quote a few excepts from Wikipedia 

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand, a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name. When war broke out in 1914, Australia and New Zealand had been dominions of the British Empire for thirteen and seven years respectively.

Gallipoli campaign

In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula to open the way to the Black Sea for the Allied navies. The objective was to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was an ally of Germany during the war. The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Army commanded by Mustafa Kemal (later known as Atatürk). What had been planned as a bold strike to knock the Ottomans out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. The Allied casualties included 21,255 from the United Kingdom, an estimated 10,000 dead soldiers from France, 8,709 from Australia, 2,721 from New Zealand, and 1,358 fromBritish India. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.

Though the Gallipoli campaign failed to achieve its military objectives of capturing Constantinople and knocking the Ottoman Empire out of the war, the actions of the Australian and New Zealand troops during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an "Anzac legend" became an important part of the national identity in both countries. This has shaped the way their citizens have viewed both their past and their understanding of the present.

read more about it  HERE

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

FNSI | show and tell

FNSI again - I confess to getting an early start on my FNSI (I actually started on Thursday, as I knew I would be out shopping on Friday)

Ofcourse, the obligatory preparation has been done :)

Been feeling a bit sad lately - so I had a glass of port, in Dad's favourite glasses and some Menz Fruchocs

I finished off my Do Good Stitches Bee Blocks - they are now ready to post





I received this lovely block from Beth, for my CraftMad Family quilt

I sent off the following Fat Quarters to my April Fat Quarter Swap partner, Maree

Maree asked for Black & White floral :)

I finished off my Christmas Block, for my swap partner CarolynM

I took inspiration from Block #2 from a BOM  on Our Craft Group on Facebook - this block is now ready to post

That's it for me for now - next task is to set aside some  time for my Farmers Wife quilt :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

250 days ..........

since we buried you, Dad

It takes me by surprise the intensity of my grief .... some days, it is as if it was yesterday.

1974 - my 14th Birthday Party

RIP Dad - June 1933 - July 2014

RIP Mum - July 1934 - July 1998
Memorial Service celebrated on 5th August 1998 & 5th August 2014

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

CHERISH Do Good Stitches | March Block

I got to spend some time in the sewing room over Easter Weekend, and completed the very late Starburst Cross for March Do Good Stitches bee block.

I must say, I love the way this block came together and I love the colourings chosen for it :)





Now onto the April Block!  Off to pick out warm & cool squares!

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

FNwF - Show and Tell - 3rd Time is a Charm

It was FNwF (Friday Night with Friends) and I got some quality time in the sewing room.

you may recall my previous post about the Birds in the Air block for my Farmers Wife quilt .... I was not having a very good time of it :(

Well, I finally had success (well sort of)

FW #7 - Birds in the Air

and it only took an hour and a half!

I really took my time with this block - trimming at every stage

it is still not perfect, but it is better than my first attempt.

That's it for me with this block - three times making the same block is the limit for me LOL

I will be happy with this slightly imperfect block :)

Progress Shot - 15 blocks

I can reveal the colour version of the Double Aster block I made for Merry, in the CraftMad Family Quilt

Double Aster Block

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

A new block for the first time | Double Aster Block | and a new toy

I received the most wonderful block from Wendy for the Christmas Block Swap

a Double Aster Block

and was requested to make one in return

it was a bit daunting - my first attempt was a bit bigger than 12.5 inches

I didn't want this block to beat me, so I made another one for my CraftMad swap partner, Merry

this one was a bit better size wise, but still just a bit big :(

I am not going to be defeated by this block and will try it again!
Stay tuned for another Double Aster block real soon!

You may remember, I recently worked on a block for my Farmer's Wife ................ only one block, but I had several attempts at it

1st attempt - birds are too big

2nd attempt - better sizes, but not going together well, and block is still a bit big

3rd attempt - this one I used the templates - better sizes - but still a bit big :(

I must admit, with all the un-sewing I have been doing lately,
I am really happy with my most recent purchase

A double ended seam ripper & awl - I certainly have been giving this new tool a real workout - I don't know where my mind has been - I seem to be doing more un-sewing than sewing lately LOL  

  

This seam ripper is a lovely tool, nice and solid feeling in the hands, the finish is absolutely beautiful, and the photos just does not do the colour justice!  

These seam rippers, in combinations or small & large rippers, or rippers & awls are available from Alan's Pen Making on Facebook (as well as some gorgeous looking pens). 

Anyway, just thought I would help spread the word - and give a shout out for their business.

Lana is a crafty friend I have 'known' for a while :)  we 'met' on CraftMad many  years ago.

Must be off now, it is Good Friday, and I am intending to get some serious sewing done this weekend, as well as some serious Easter Egg Eating!

Wishing you all a great Easter Weekend - I hope you get to do all the things you love, with the people you love!

Avagoodweekend!

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day - any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.