FNwF & FNSI - May

Well, where did that two weeks go?

The days are just blending into each other and becoming a blur ......

Last Friday I started working on a new project for FNwF -  the SA Quilt Guild introduced a Mystery Quilt Along - I know, I shouldn't start anything new, but I couldn't resist!

I must confess to waiting to see a few photos of the second stage, before I committed - yes, I know what you are thinking, but I was cutting into a Moda layer cake I have had for years, and wanted to be certain LOL

First stage of prep! 

Then we had to pick a box (Letter of alphabet) - I chose C

this is the first set of blocks using the C1 quilt layout 

I have gone scrappy layout, with no two of the same fabrics in each block - with 4 blocks making up a set ...... I think I like it!

So this my belated FNwF report and the current FNSI report. 
Hope you are all well and happy and keeping safe

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 ;-)

FNSI - Friday, 17th April 2020

We are slowly adjusting to this 'stay at home, stay safe' thinking ...😷

So far, I have only been out once this week to do the grocery shopping.  We still hadn't been able to get toilet paper and things would have been quite desperate at the end of this week, but a friend was able to get some and made a quick 'pit stop/drive-by' to drop some on the front door step 😌

I have spent a bit of time in the sewing room, finishing off some 'rainbow stripes' for CHERISH do Good Stitches charity bee - this will have to wait till the next time I am out of the house to be posted.

FNSI (well in the afternoon) was quite enjoyable working on a UFO

... a bit of Port, chocolate and something to keep the hands busy ... what more does a girl need 😉

This cross stitch will count towards my April Woofa Challenge.

I was quite relieved to read that South Australia is doing particularly well with 'flattening the curve' and I do hope that some restrictions can start to be lifted some time during May 💕

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 ;-)

FNSI ....not going according to plan

I was all set for FNSI, with Wendy , especially being on a roll from my previous sewing session for CHERISH do Good Stitches.

Back in January 2017, I was quilter for the month and my chosen block was a Churn Dash in Black & White.  I was inspired by this photo I saw online

I love the secondary pattern formed when the blocks are joined together without sashing :)

So, on Friday afternoon I prepared for my FNSI session and got out all the Churn Dash blocks received from the 'Cherish circle', pressed them and laid them out.  I noticed that a few of the blocks were a bit undersized (only measuring 12" instead of 12.5") and that stopped me in my tracks :( 

The 4 smaller blocks are on the bottom row, but if I include them, it will be very obvious ...... so ...... I left it on the design wall for the weekend pondering what to do.

One of the Cherish Quilters suggested using sashing, but staggering them so the difference is not quite so obvious and I am toying with that idea, but not completely sold.

I could make it more of a lap quilt with 3x4 layout and use the smaller blocks as part of the backing ....

Will keep you all posted ;)

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 ;-)

FNSI - progress report

It was another FNSI - they come around so quickly ;)

I did a mix of designing, calculating (blahhh, I hate numbers!) and cutting and this morning I did some sewing :)







I have been hanging onto these Actil sheets remnants for years, and I managed to come across some more via Facebook Marketplace.  Right place at the right time me thinks!

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 | first real sewing for the year!

YAY - I got to spend some time in the sewing room along with some FNSI friends :)

Friday night, I was able to take some time and sort through a few fabrics, and do some cutting in preparation for some quilt blocks for CHERISH do. Good Stitches charity bee.

Our first block for the year, is a 'skateboard' block for Jackie ............ I had to sort through quite a bit of my fabric stash, as the colour selections were a mix of blues &/or greens for an older boy ...... my stash is decidedly girly, and most certainly very few greens that weren't leaves (I realise my stash is quite heavy on the florals LOL)

Any way, after taking forever to decide what fabrics to use, after the cutting, I decided leave it to the weekend to finish sewing.

I was also happy to spend some 'cyber' time with my quilty friends as part of Cynthia's Ark Project Uninterrupted 

must go now, time for tea!  Hope you all had a great weekend, I know I did!

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 - FNSI show and tell

Here is how I spent my first FNSI - I played with my 9 patches received for the November quilt for Cherish quilting bee - I finished sewing them up this afternoon (Sunday).



I am quite happy with this.  I had intended to do a disappearing 9 patch, but as I was laying out the blocks to photograph them, I had the idea to keep them as 9 patches.  I unpicked a few blocks in order to stagger the white squares.  Now to set it aside and work on quilting last year's 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.

FNSI status update - it's a new iron!

well, I finally got to spend some time in the sewing room on Friday - forgot to take some progress shots, but I can show you my new iron!

Thanks to those who left comments on my previous post about irons :)

This one is great!  a little heavier than my old one, but I am getting used to it.

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 | I met Pam Holland!

Well, my FNSI was a doozy ................... I met Pam Holland ...... and what a lovely inspirational lady she  is too!

My LQS, A Quilter's Odyssey, organised her for a guest speaker role, which was held at the Jubilee Community Centre, Wynn Vale.

I was really taken with this method of embellishing a quilt :)

this was my personal fave - the lines are all stitched :)

this one drew lots of ooohs and aahhhs!

The lady herself!

My photos don't do Pam's work any justice at all ..... her work is amazing, and if you get an opportunity to see it up close and personal; go for it!

If you would like to read more about Pam, and her wonderful varied talents, see her website 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

It was FNSI on Friday, a great opportunity to tidy up a bit before making another mess finishing my blocks for my Christmas Block Swap partners for May - Traci and JanF.

Traci sent me two GORGEOUS blocks, 

so I wanted to return the favour and send two blocks back :)
and so as I don't spoil the surprise, here are some tease photos :)

next up is a block for JanF - a new member of our Christmas swap group - since it was very close to the start of the month when she joined, I offered to swap with her first (one of the benefits of being the Swap Co-Ordinator I guess :) )

these blocks were completed on Saturday, which is still Friday for those on the northern hemisphere :)

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.

FNSI | show and tell

It was FNSI again .............. that came around rather quickly, didn't it?

Once gain for me, it was Mr Fixit Rostered Day Off (RDO), however, the cricket was on, so I had the afternoon and evening to myself.

In the afternoon, I did some catching up on posting photos to my blogs (see my previous post), and then in the early evening I got to spend some time in the sewing room :)

I worked on completing a block for my CraftMad family quilt - this block is for Merry (tease photo only)  I will do the big reveal later, when the block arrives.

Double Aster for Merry

This is the second Double Aster I have made, and whilst this one is a bit better size wise, it is till a tad larger than 12 1/2" - this block is quite addictive in that I want to make another one as the sizing is a challenge and I don't want it to defeat me, but I really do not enjoy working with so many bias edges :(  

I also 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

Back to the drawing board :)

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 came around quickly for me - I am still doing a lot of secretarial stuff for my camera club - I really hope it settles down soon - I miss spending time in my sewing room :)

I spent some time tidying up shelves after turning them upside down looking for 'teal' for the DoGood Stitches Bee block.

Then I got stuck in and made up the block - it is biggie!  should measure 20.5 x 20.5


mine measures 20.5 x 20 and is not very well made - so here's me keeping it real and showing you my first attempt at this block :(   I have left a question for the Quilter - so I will most probably make another one to the correct measurements.

CHRISTMAS BLOCK SWAP
I have completed my christmas swap block last week, and it is packed up ready to post - guess who left it behind when they went out - DOH!  it will wait until Monday now - it has been too hot to step foot outside!

Tease photo for Lynda - February partner

CRAFT MAD FAMILY QUILT
I did the same thing with my CraftMad Family quilt block for Mrs A - it is packed and ready to post on Monday.

tease photo for MrsA - February partner

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.