A Special May FNSI

 It's birthday month for me...YIPPEEEEEE!  so a special FNSI this month.  

Not only will there be a prize of a $30 voucher for one lucky person to spend at our wonderful sponsor's  Kitty Rose Cottage shop, but I will be giving away a Kitty Rose LBOC kit to someone to say thank you for celebrating my birthday with me!  So, TWO prizes to celebrate!  Isn't that fun???

All you have to do is join with us on Friday night (wherever you are in the world...after all Friday night stitching lasts well into the weekend doesn't it???), link in either below with Mr Linky if you have a blog or on our FNSI Facebook Group.  If you haven't joined yet, it's easy, just go to the page and ask to join!  If you're having trouble, just message me and I'll invite you.  Then post up your activity during the night...what stitching (and fun) you get up to and I'll draw two winners next week.  It's easy!

I'm happy for you to share the love if you like by sharing the birthday image above to any of your social networks, whether Facebook, Instagram, blog or other...just remember to link it back here.  After all, the more the merrier, right?  And inspiration is everywhere out there...we just have to be able to see it and this is the perfect way to inspire our sometimes 'dying' mojo!  I've always found it gets me back on track!

In the meantime, we have a winner to draw for last month's FNSI.

Thirty-two lovely ladies joined with us last month and we saw some beautiful work....got my mojo jigging!!!    Well, the Wheel of Names has done its magic and the lucky winner of the $30 Kitty Rose Cottage voucher for April is........

CONGRATULATIONS SHARMAYNE!

I'm sure you'll find lots to spend that voucher on!!

Now, get your names on the list.....you don't want to miss this month's shenanigans!

Big sugary hugs xox :o)

April FNSI and a March Winner

 Well looky here!!!  I'm on time!  Who would have thunk?   

I must say there is a very good reason for it.....I am now not working at all!  From my doctors visit I found I have 2 bulging discs in my back and lifting anything over 5 kg and twisting was causing further problems.  My doctor recommended (very strongly) that I leave both jobs as both involved heavy lifting and twisting so I've been on the lookout for some admin work but that's difficult when you're in a regional town.  So what's a girl to do???  

Apart from applying for any job I can physically do, yep, I've been catching up on some UFOs and I'm pleased to say I've got one of my big ones finished to flimsy stage.  I think I might even get this professionally quilted (if I get a job!) otherwise I'll be perfecting my fmq-ing!   My problem is not the quilting part, it's the sandwiching, as I don't have the space to lay it down and pin it.  I do quite like the pool noodle method but I'm sure this one's going to be way too big for any table (or pool noodles) I own!  Now my 2018 Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Block of the Month is complete I need to start on my 2019 one.  Only 2020, 2021 and 2022 to go before the 2023 kits start to arrive!!!!

A couple of the latest Little Box of Creativity projects designed by our lovely sponsor Dawn Hay of Kitty Rose Cottage have been ticked off the list too....now only about a cupboardful to work my way through!  *eek*  If you like either of the LBOC projects above, pop on over to the Kitty Rose Cottage website and sign up....you can buy them individually or subscribe and get them monthly...a kit with everything you need included.  

I've got a couple of things in the works for our FNSI so it will be interesting to see what I get done! I'm trying to whittle away at my pile....not much of an indent but at least it's started!  

What have you got planned for FNSI?  Remember you can sign up below or over in the Facebook Group on the FNSI post for this month.  I'm looking forward to stitching with you!  It's always fun, isn't it?

Finally, after my curfuffle with my All About Face FNSI last month, I'm ready to draw the winner for March and that will bring us up to date! (well, me......more to the point!)

Here goes....

our winner for March is - 

CONGRATULATIONS HELEN!!!!!   Woohoo...you'll be receiving a $30 gift voucher to use for whatever your heart desires at Kitty Rose Cottage!!!  

Hope you enjoy your prize!  Now, remember to sign up either here or on the Facebook Group post and we'll see you on Friday night.  Keep in mind...... *wink*

......bring cake! 

Big sugary hugs xox :o)

All About Face FNSI and winners

 Well this is a bit of a topsy turvy post.   I hurt my back last week and have been off work....don't know what I did....sat down and then couldn't get up without extreme pain!   Hence the thought of FNSI couldn't have been further from my mind (wash my mouth out!)

Thank goodness for a number of treasured friends who reminded me and brought me out of my slump!  I'm so sorry for those who regularly watch the blog for link ins but by time I realised it was late Friday afternoon and I didn't have time to post, so all went via the Facebook group.  For this reason I'm not drawing this month's winner but leaving this post open for anyone to join in post-FNSI with links to their blogs if they wish.  I'll draw this month's winner next month!   What a shamozzle! *slaps forehead*.

I still don't have an outcome for my back.....still sore but not excrutiating like it was. I've had a CT scan and blood tests done and my doctor's appointment is on Wednesday so hopefully I'll have some news then.  Meanwhile it's rest at home and nothing strenuous.

I did manage some catchups on my Lucy Boston POTC  blocks.  

I'm up to date now with 58 blocks done.  Think I'm halfway there???  They're looking really pretty in the Tilda fabrics, some vintage, some new and all chosen by our lovely sponsor Dawn at Kitty Rose Cottage.  These are great to hand stitch in front of the television of an evening or when you feel like some quiet slow stitching....I love them.   Dawn has them prepared monthly in a kit if you'd like to join in HERE.  You'll get two blocks a month, which I find is quite manageable.....you're making a quilt without realising it!  I did get this one done before FNSI, at the beginning of the month too....

It's slightly out on the fussy cutting but that's what you get when you just eyeball it instead of doing the job properly!!    Still, I'm happy with it.

At the beginning of the year I promised myself I'd finish off a few of my longstanding UFOs so here I am.....last weekend (pre-back injury) sewing up a storm with my 2018 Mystery designer BOM from Fat Quarter Shop.   I love these each year...the fabrics are beautiful and often something I wouldn't ordinarily choose but love all the same and they always stretch my capabilities.  I find I learn something new with every block.  I'm up to putting this one all together now......when I feel I can sit and sew or stand and cut! 

Well I guess it's time for our catch-up draws!  Something everyone's been waiting for.  Fingers crossed!   Here goes....

January's winner of a $30 voucher at Kitty Rose Cottage is.......

...and February's winner who also wins a $30 voucher at Kitty Rose Cottage is.....

congratulations to both of you....I'm sure you'll find something you'll be able to use at Kitty Rose Cottage, that's for sure!

And thank you to everyone who joins in each month.   Our merry band of stitchers is growing each month and we're around 35 each month now.   More the merrier so if you know anyone who'd like to join in, please invite them to our Facebook group...we'd love to have them join.

I'll post March's winners with next month's so there's time, if you didn't get to join due to my topsy turvy-ness, to link in here or on the facebook group page.   I won't add the Mr Linky Link here however if you leave a comment with your blog name (remember to eliminate the . and the @ by using the words instead -eg  abcde(at)bigpond(dot)net so you don't get spammed!!), I'll be sure to add you in!

Big sugary hugs to you all and thank you for all the love xox

February’s FNSI both virtual and face-to-face!

This month I’ve had two weeks holiday to come and spend time visiting this little monkey….

 And his gorgeous parents of course! 

When my lovely Brisbane-based stitch friend Susan discovered I was going to be down, she wanted to plan some time together.  

I arrived on Saturday afternoon and spent the weekend with my gorgeous grand baby. 

Susan and I got together on Monday and did some serious fabric shopping!   She coordinates a group of ladies who are all making fabric ABC books and I couldn’t resist. After all, lil Ryker is still only 15 months old but it gives me plenty of time to personalise one for him to enjoy. Then we went to her place for a little lunch and some stitching … and she kindly allowed me to search her stash of abc fabrics. Susan is AWESOME! 

Tomorrow we’re off on another shopping frenzy with these two wonderful friends - Michelle and Shez so imagine what mischief we will all get up to! 

And Friday being FNSI, Susan has organised a get together stitchy morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea with all our stitchy Brisbane and surrounds-based friends. I’m so looking forward to it as living in the tropical north, and being isolated geographically and by COVID for a couple of years, I haven’t seen these ladies in what seems like forever! It almost feels like our former annual Lets Get Stitched retreat, only much smaller! I wish Dawn could have been here! Wouldn’t it have been lovely to have our sponsor for FNSI to come up too?   I hadn’t thought that far ahead unfortunately!   

Anyways, I’ll keep you posted on our shenanigans here, and in our Facebook group page!  

In the meantime, sign up to our FNSI here OR in the Facebook group under this month’s FNSI post so you can go into the draw for a gift voucher exclusive to KittyRose Cottage. 

 And don’t forget to post pictures to inspire us all.   

In the meantime, have fun and big sugary sweet hugs to you all 

Xox o:) 

First FNSI for 2023! Yippee!!

 I've so been waiting to sew with you all and yet, it snuck up on me again!  

 Sign ups are below OR on the facebook group page.  (if you haven't joined our Facebook Group page yet, HERE is where the action happens...I'd love for you to join us).  

Thanks to you all for making it much easier for me by signing up on either one....and for the Facebook signup, signing on the one post!  It took me forever to scroll through and write down names of people who had participated, now I just have to look at the one post on FB and one here which makes it less time consuming (and more time for stitching!!)

Our beautiful sponsor and I were speaking before Christmas about how to improve our prize giving this year.  It seems some people weren't receiving their prizes through the mail but never let us know, especially those overseas, so we've come up with a plan.

This year, our prizes will be the same for all and will be quick to receive!   Dawn is generously offering a $30 voucher at Kitty Rose Cottage as a prize each month for you to spend at your leisure.  You can use it to buy ANYTHING you like from her stock......you can use that amount or if you prefer, put it towards something you've always wanted but, if you're like me, thought I'll wait till I have the money....something like a bundle or kit or something on your wish list!  

Dawn has been so supportive of our FNSI and this is just another way we can enjoy what she has to offer!  (Remember she has a layby function too so that is another option to help you).    I, myself have my eye on the new Tilda Cloudpie bundle 

Isn't it delish???  Wht will you 'buy' with your winnings?

Speaking of winnings, we need to do the draws for both November and December FNSI's.    Let's not wait any longer.....

November's winner is.........

December's winner is.......

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!!!!!

I hope you both enjoy your prizes. 💓💓

Now for the sign ups for this month.....remember, either here or our Facebook Group on the sign up post

have a wonderful day and see you Friday!

Big sugary hugs xox :o)

Our last FNSI for 2022

 Yes it's true....it's our last FNSI for 2022 and if you're like me, you're still stitching up last minute gifts (or thinking of what gifts you can quickly but beautifully make that will impress even the fussiest recipient!).

 I've popped a few links below to help with ideas if you're swamped and feeling overwhelmed...I hope they help you get things organised for our Friday night get together and get you ticking things off your 'to do' list!?

Firstly, the Fat Quarter Shop has some lovely last minute gifts to make on their Jolly Jabber page

These cute little hooped ornaments are one of the gifts on the Jolly Jabber and are designed by Andy Knowlton of A Bright Corner.

Or you could pop by Treasurie where there is a list of 27 gift giving ideas you could make for anyone in your gifting list including this sleep mask....

One of my favourite places is the All People Quilt site....I love these Jolly Holiday Pillows, don't you?

I love this idea for our little ones to encourage reading.......

and these are great for the men in our lives (or the teens)......

and this is something I'd LOOOOOVE......what a fabulous idea!!!  

And I found them all here along with 17 other Easy-Sew Christmas Gifts at Happiest Camper.com

I hope that gives you a few ideas.  My list has probably become longer now!!!  I'll be preparing for next Christmas I think!!  So join with us on our last FNSI for 2022.  Sign ups are below and if you post on your blog or over on our Facebook page, you have the chance to win a great prize from our wonderful sponsor (and one of the best friends anyone could wish for) Dawn, from Kitty Rose Cottage.  Head over to her shop and see what she has.... always something happening there and stock (and specials) are changing up regularly!

Hope to see you Friday!  

happy stitching and big sugary hugs xox :o)