TWO winners for FNSI

Thanks to all who offered their condolences, sympathies, love and hugs on the passing of my father (in-law).  I truly feel blessed to have a virtual family I can turn to when times get tough and I always know you'll all be there for me......the quilting family really is a unique one, don't you agree?  Love and hugs to you all.....only wish I could reach through the screen and give you big sugary hugs for real.  It really has meant the world to me.

Now, I was planning to post what I did on my FNSI,  BUT.....just my luck, I came down with a head cold - again!  The last time, not so long ago, it was one of the Influenza strains and it hit pretty hard....but this time, it was just a stubborn head cold.

Nothing pleasant about it though, blocked sinuses, ear canals and drippy, sneezy nasal passages don't make it any easier.  So I've mostly stayed home and slept and drank plenty of fluids, trying really hard not to rub my nose red raw (but we all know that doesn't work when you've got a cold!) and spread the lurgy.  So both Saturday afternoon, Sunday and yesterday, when I was going to post, I sat down at the computer and my head said ,"Nope!  Sleep!" so I went and rested a bit.  I'm feeling a fair bit better today, still congested but not as sleepy so I'd say I'm over the uphill battle and on the downhill stretch.

I did manage to get some stitching done on Friday night though.....

A bit more of this UFO  was stitched down.  Now just the windows and doors and stitching the details.....oooh, and the flower bouquet along the bottom to go.
….and then there was a bit more stitching on THIS project.....

Block 6 is nearly complete and only 3 left till I can put this baby together.  With Christmas only 3 months away (today!) *eek*, I'd better get a wriggle on.

I hope you had time to pop over to my last post and visit all my Friday Night stitching friends via their links?  If not, head back and have a look.....some beautiful eye candy there.

Time for a winner to be drawn...in fact, TWO winners.  One from last month and one from this month. Each will receive one of these beauties.....

…..a pack containing 8 gorgeous colours of Cosmo stranded cottons and a piece of beautiful white linen onto which you can stitch whatever your heart desires.  I've stitched on it, it stitches like a knife through butter...the needle just glides through.  I'm sure our winners will love these!

Here goes.....
Our August winner was

Helen

and our September winner is

Illene

\o/ \o/ Congratulations to both of you!! \o/ \o/

I'll get those prizes off into the mail so you can start your stitchy projects for next month.

Speaking of which - FNSI for October will be on the 19th.  Pop that date in your diaries so you don't miss out.  It will be upcoming Halloween for our Northern friends.  I'm sure there'll be some spooky stitching happening next month - can't wait to see!

Until then, happy stitching and big sugary hugs  :o) 

xox

Sad Goodbyes and FNSI

I'm sorry this post is late.....I have good reason.   We buried my father in law last Tuesday and my mind just hasn't been with it.  He deteriorated quite quickly and (let's just say) was forced to move into the Aged Care Home which he didn't handle very well.

He moved on the Thursday 30th August, went into a coma on the Monday lunchtime, was transferred to the hospital Monday night and never recovered.  He passed away with family surrounding him on Wednesday 5th September at 5.15pm.  He was 45kg when he died....a mere shadow of the man we knew and loved.  Dementia is seriously the new 'cancer'....it eats away at a person until they are no longer there.  So much research needs to be done to understand this horrible disease that takes our loved ones, young and old.

I pray that he knows how much he was adored by his family.  When I married my husband, they 'adopted' me as their own, and the running joke was that he was the son-in-law and I was the daughter...…..I miss him terribly!

So this Friday night Sew In is in memory of Dad and all those who have suffered/are suffering from Alzheimers/Dementia, or any of the other forms of Dementia.  I feel for every single one of you dealing with it.   Just remember, the person is still there and still needs you, don't leave them alone.

Join with me in spreading the word.....

I'm Dementia Aware, are you?

 Add the above button to your blog or social media account to let others know how you feel. Make sure you add the link too so that we may all learn just that little bit more about Dementia.

Links for this week's FNSI are now live...….just sign up below and spread the word.  I hope you can join with me on Friday night and spread the love.  

xox big sugary hugs  :o)

Can you believe? August FNSI sign-ups are here!

Yes, it's blown me away too!  It seems like only a couple of weeks ago we were tidying up Christmas and now Christmas in July is over and we're headed into the second part of the year, well and truly!
But this week it's time for Friday Night Sew In.....my favourite time of the month, even though it IS August already!

I have been working on my Fig 'n Berry stitcheries and I am up to block 5.  I used to hate satin stitch but it's become one of my favourites now.  It's certainly true what is said about practise, practise, practise making you better, better, better.

I'm really happy with my plump little reindeer in his racy red Cottage Garden Threads.

On Friday I took myself off to the Craft Alive event in Townsville for the day.  We haven't had one for a couple of years up here, mainly due to distance and cost to hold stalls and such, so I was delighted to hear there was one this year.  There was NO way I was missing out.  

It was much smaller than in the past but, it was great to be able to get around to all the stalls without rushing and I was able to attend all the classes I wanted to, including an impromptu one on the Fusamat - a fuseable applique mat designed by Sharon Bradley from New Zealand.  

It's awesome as it holds your applique pieces in place even when you move your mat from the ironing board to the sewing machine, it's easily transparent so you can see your design and it holds onto the surface you're on without slipping...it totally impressed me so I just had to buy one.  Take a look at Sharon explaining the Fusamat on this video: 

So I think on Friday night I might be doing a little bit more stitchery and a little bit of applique, just to try out my new Fusamat (and no, I'm not getting paid to advertise...this product really blew me away as it fixed all the problems I've found with my current applique mat...I'm just so impressed!)

Have you planned what you will be working on this Friday?   Whatever it is, it's always more fun joining in with friends so make sure you sign up below and join with us this Friday.  Everyone is welcome, invite some friends to join in with us and we'll have a ball stitching along together in our jammies with a good movie/music, some nibblies and a sneaky tipple or cosy cuppa.  How could you resist?  

Have a sweet week,

sugary hugs xox :o) 

A FQS Remix - My DIY Infinity Scarf Tutorial

Recently I took up the opportunity to quilt along with the Fat Quarter Shop using one of their blog tutorial remixes.  The remixes take old tutorials on the FQS blog and shake things up a bit by adding different fabrics and reviving them.....a bit of 'everything old is new again'!

I chose to make the DIY Infinity Scarf....something different to my normal quilty gift, but I thought I'd step out a little.  I haven't made anything to wear for years - I began sewing clothing when I was a teenager and then discovered quilting in my thirties and never looked back, so this journey was a bit of a 'remix' for me too!

I began with two yards of fabric, which will make two scarves or one with a strip of fabric left over.  You could piece two 22 in x WOF strips together instead of using 2 yards LOF if you wanted, depends on the look you want.

I decided to choose a small red trellis print which would go with lots of my clothing as I tend to do black, blue, white and denim quite a lot (I realised!).   My fabric choice was from an old range I had in my stash called 'Country Garden'.

Folding the fabric right sides together, I stitched along the long sides, making a long tube.  After pressing the seam, I turned the tube so that I had one side inside the other (still right sides together), I stitched around the end, leaving a 3 inch opening to turn the fabric through.

To finish, I slip stitched the opening closed.
Voila, 30 minutes or less and here is the finished Infinity Scarf.....

...and yes, I did model it...…

looks ok with denim, huh?

Now, these would be great to make for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts (yes it is sneaking up on us) or as teachers' gifts for end of year.  They'd be nice made up in linen, and in plain colours they'd be great accessories.  Keep in mind what your friends wear and choose fabrics to coordinate. You can really go wild!  
These are so quick and easy to make, I think I'm going to have to make a swaddle of them.....I just made that up.  I really don't know what the collective noun of scarves is!!

Now if you want to make some of your own, be sure to check out  THIS POST over on the Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber where you can get more details on the tutorial and loads more inspiration.

I hope you enjoyed my mini tutorial and it inspired you to give it a go.

xox Sugary hugs :o)

a Christmas in July winner for FNSI

FNSI is always so much fun.....

I love the fact that we can be in all four corners of the globe and still get to stitch together and feel no pressure to 'perform' whatsoever and yet know we can progress on projects with the gentle encouragement of our cyber friends, don't you? 

I got a little bit done but was distracted with a movie I was watching called "The Mountain Between Us"

The movie is one with Kate Winslet and Idris Alba and is a 'plane-crash-in-the-mountains-survival-type' movie but I really enjoy those kinds. A bit of a chick-flick, feel-good, everything's right in the end movie.   If you like those sorts of movies too and you can get a hold of it, it's well worth the watch.

My progress for the night consisted of a bit more stitching on block 4 of my Fig n Berry Creations 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' stitchery.

I'm really enjoying stitching these blocks up in my two colours of Cottage Garden Threads.  I'm going to make sure I use a colour catcher when I eventually wash these as I know they are prone to running and seeing as I didn't pre-wash the cottons, I'm prepared for it *fingers crossed*. 

I also made an infinity scarf.  I'm part of a Fat Quarter Shop Quilt-a-long and I'll be sharing more on it later on in the week.  You can check out some photos on the FQS links on my Instagram page  HERE but here is the scarf I made....and it only took 30 minutes (truly!).

 and of course I'd have to model it...…. *insert icky face here* 

but seriously, I was really happy with how it turned out. Keep watching this space.... I'll tell you more about it on Thursday.   In the meantime, I'm sure you'd like to know who our winners are for this month's and last's FNSI? 

Catch up for me with prize draws, and seeing as it's July and despite not having drawn June on time, I thought we could do both with the Christmas in June/July theme.  

June's draw...…… wait for it...……

And the winner is... Narelle - Qld, Aus!!

Congratulations Narelle, your prize is...…..

A gorgeous Christmas pattern by Marg Low called "Christmas - A time for Giving".  I hope you enjoy it! 

Our July winner is...…

And the winner is... Sue H in USA!!

Thanks for joining in Sue and congratulations!  Your prize is.....

another Marg Low design called "Holiday Cheer".  A great one for gift giving, that's for sure!

Thank you all for joining in for another month....next month's FNSI will be held on the 17th August with sign ups starting on  the 13th, so don't forget to pop the date up on the calendar. I'm already looking forward to it!

xox sugary hugs :o) 

FNSI sign ups for July

You know what I'm thinking don't you?   WHERE DID THAT TIME GO?????

Yes I have been caught up with my son, who is still doing well, so well in fact he has increased his work hours, has a promotion to kitchen manager and is up for a pay rise.  He's moving back to Townsville next week, has organised a unit of his own and now  has a fridge, washing machine, microwave and lounge which will be delivered when he moves in.

He is still seeing his psychologist weekly,  psychiatrist monthly and mental health nurse whenever he feels he needs to talk,  but they, along with us, are all so happy with his improvements.   He still has his moments, but it is all looking upwards so all I can say is, for the grace of God and the many prayers I've said and you may have said on our behalf.....

This past week I've been down with the flu or a virus or something.  I went to work last Saturday and by that night, the tickly throat and itchy ears began to emerge.  By the next morning I was so lethargic and feeling lousy that I didn't leave the lounge much for 4 days.  Although I'm much better I still have some tiredness and muck in my chest.....and then these weird things appeared on my hand the other day and a few smaller ones on my tongue today.  I don't know what they are.... almost like shingles?!

These have progressively gotten worse over the past few days and are not itchy but super sore to touch.  My boss seems to think it's a 'hot spot' for the virus coming out of my system....I really don't know.  We'll see in time I guess, but it is a pain, literally!

So with all that happening, I've been a little late in posting our FNSI sign ups...thank goodness for Rike reminding me on Insta today!

Here it is, with the promise there will be two draws this week....one for June and one for July.   Hopefully life will settle a little now and I'll get back in the rhythm of it all *fingers crossed*.

As I've left it a little later than normal, it would be great if you could share the FNSI button and link on your social pages to help me get some involvement as we all know how much fun and inspiration it is, looking at everyone's Friday Night favourites!  That would be amazing!

Off to make another warm cup of lemon and honey tea before bed.....

xox sugary hugs  and sweet dreams :o)

FNSI sign ups for June and a Confession

I promised myself I would post more frequently, but you know what?   Life took over and gave me a sharp smack about the head and said, "Not yet you won't!"

If you're a facebook friend of mine, you'll notice I've posted up lots of affirmations and positive quotes about mental health,and there's a very good reason......my one and only child is battling with the demon inside, having tried to take his life twice in the past month and there was nothing I could do but look from the outside in and be his advocate with an underfunded mental health system that is groaning from the pressure at its seams.

I won't fill you with the details but know my boy is doing ok now, he's moved back home and we take it day by day.  He has two great mental health nurses he can contact at any time and a psychologist he's seeing for the first time today to work with him on rewiring his thoughts, to turn them from negatives to positives.  The worst thing about it is the stigma.  Because it's 'all in your head' and it's not a visual illness (like vomiting and diarrhoea or a broken leg), it's hard to distinguish whether it's 'just you' or if there really is something wrong.   Being told to 'get over it' or 'toughen up' and 'just think happy thoughts' just doesn't do the trick to helping someone through this dreaded illness, and it IS an illness.  It's taken years of listening, perseverance, trying to understand and advocating for my boy's health when I'm not sure I understand myself  but finally we're getting there.

So with all that happening, I've remembered (on time too!) that it's time for FNSI sign ups! YAAAAY....my sanity time.  Hope you'll join with me on Friday night for some self indulgence, a little wine, some chocolate or something to tickle your fancy, a comfy pair of jammies and some virtual togetherness to do what we love best...….stitch!

Sign ups are open and everyone is welcome.  Don't forget to share with others on your blog and social media as taking time out to stitch with our friends is so good for our own mental health and who knows, you might win our monthly prize.

xox Sugary sweet hugs  :o)