Christmas Wishes for FNSI and a few gifts to give away

 Well, welcome back to the blog!   It's been a heck of a year with work, work, work, a husband unable to work, a washing machine that chose not to work (but flooded the house) and a brain overwhelmed so often that I didn't get the blog to work!  I'm hoping that 2025 is a smoother year for all of us and I'd like to end the year on a high!

So with that said, I've managed to catch up on our winners for August, September, October and November....what's that saying....better late than never???  I apologise profusely and please don't expect the prizes before New Year as I've dumped it on our beautiful sponsor, Dawn as a lump sum so please be patient if you're a winner.  Our prizes are generously donated and come straight from Dawn's pocket so I feel awful leaving them all to happen at once....I really think I need to go visit her in 2025 and take her out to dinner and drinks (and stitching of course!).

Here are our winners and I am ever so thankful for each and every one of you who join in to stitch with us each month.  Our Fridays together really are the highlight of my year and I hope they have the same effect on you all too.

August 2024 saw 29 stitchers joining in and our lucky winner randomly drawn by the Wheel of Names is:

    25 stitchers participated in our September 2024 FNSI and the winner is:

October 2024 was a fun Halloween theme with 23 stitchers joining in.  Our Winner for October is:

November 2024 was a bit quieter with 20 stitchers coming together but that only gives each person a better chance of being drawn as a winner!   That lucky stitcher is:

A   H U G E  congratulations to all our winners and here's to a win for all of us in 2025!   

Speaking of wins, I feel like I've had a win with my Farmer's Wife blocks being put together as a flimsy...all I have left to do is add the borders and then sandwich, quilt and bind it.....so close!

That's a 2025 finish......well, maybe it might get a look in before the new year but I'm working with only the public holidays off so I can't see it.  

I'll be working on my Patchwork of the Crosses blocks this Friday night, adding more spacer blocks and sashing blocks.  I'm loving how this is coming together.  

What will you be working on? 

Before I forget, a sincere thank you to our sponsor who always provides such wonderful prizes and encouragement - Dawn from Kitty Rose Cottage. 

Pop over to her online store to grab yourself a bargain...I can honestly say she regularly sells the best priced Tilda fabric, sending it all over the world and if you have any queries, she will bend over backwards to help.  She truly is one in a million and I'm proud to call her one of my very best friends.

Don't forget to sign up either below OR on our Facebook group page.  

If you're not a member of the FNSI Facebook group yet, please join so you can follow along and see what everyone else is up to in real time.  Then post in your blog (if you have one) and we can join you on your page via your link below and join in the fun in more depth!  

Still a week to go, but Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you're blessed with everything you could hope for with lots of stitchy time and more!

I'm really look forward to stitching with you on Friday night....and remember, it's ALWAYS Friday night somewhere in the world!

Sweet 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)

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) 

At last....FNSI for December Sign ups are live!

Thank you for all your beautiful heartfelt comments from my last post...they mean the world to me.

 I've remembered and here it is, at last.....   and THE very last for 2017.....

Today we had a meeting with doctors, physiotherapists, nursing staff and aged care people and we got the news that Dad would not be coming back home but would be in hospital until a bed in a nursing home becomes available.  Mum is heartbroken that her partner of 60+ years will not be 'with' her any longer, but we all know that this is the best thing for him.
Some days are good, some ....well, not so....today was a reasonably good day. 

Yesterday we got to take dad home for half a day to spend one last family Christmas together as one of my sisters-in-law had managed to fly up from Brisbane. 
Dad had a wonderful day, even though we exhausted him.

We wished it didn't have to end, but it did.  Dad was ready and was eager to get the taxi back to hospital to his 'home'.   Dementia really is cruel to all the family.

So that's my life to end 2017.  We're sad and unhappy without our family together but we know we're  luckier than many.  I know we are truly blessed. 

Let's end with some fun.....spending quality time together with our stitching family on our Friday night get togethers.  Sign up below, no sadness allowed!   So pleased to be able to spend it with you all, just before Christmas....such a precious time of year.
Looking forward to this one, so very much.
xox sugary hugs ;o)

It's my turn for Christmas Caroling...

Welcome to day three of the 3rd Annual Row A-Long, hosted by Marian at Seams to Be Sew.

 This 6-week event  features 42 bloggers bringing their interpretation of their favourite Christmas Carols in a  row and offers you the chance to download a copy of each pattern, so you can make your own for FREE. 

The row along started on September 5th, finishes up on the tenth of October 2017 and a number of bloggers from all around the world will feature each Tuesday and Thursday. There's lots of giveaways each day so make sure you check into each one to see what giveaway is on offer, and to download the patterns! (The schedule is towards the end of this post).

Northcott Fabrics is the main sponsor of this row a-long and generously provided some fabrics to each blogger to use to sew their row.  I however, was a little late in coordinating my fabrics, and didn't order in time but funnily enough, the fabric I had purchased and decided would be 'perfect' for the night sky in my row is in fact, a Northcott fabric!   Just goes to show.

Northcott are sponsoring a weekly giveaway all throughout the Row A-Long, as is Calibre Art.  Click HERE for more information on these giveaways and the all-important links to enter. (however, I'm featuring the links at the bottom of this post as well, just so you don't forget!)

I was invited earlier this year to participate in this Row A-Long and I just couldn't say no.  Choosing a Christmas Carol to feature wasn't too hard either, as a picture popped into my head as soon as I read through the list......"Once in Royal David's City" was the one that 'spoke' to me.  I pictured the 3 wise men riding their camels over the hills on their way to visit Mary and Joseph with their newly born son, Jesus in a barn complete with animals, under the light of the brightest star, guiding them to their destination.

I love the way the Northcott fabric makes the night sky look so much brighter.  This beautiful blue starry fabric is from Northcott's  Magic of Christmas range SKU 21701-44 (if you were looking at ordering some for your own row). 

Not a big applique designer, I did find the smaller pieces a bit challenging, however I did try to invent an easier way for myself by taking three plastic loose leaf sleeves and trimming off the reinforced edges and the bottom edge.  That way I could open them out at the fold, tape them together to form a plastic cover for my row. 

 Once taped, I placed the plastic sheet over my design, traced the design onto the plastic with a black sharpie pen, making sure to mark the registration points (corners) on the 'map'.  I then used this 'map' to ensure I had the correct placement for each of my applique pieces on the background before I fused them.  Worked a treat! 

Another tip I have is making sure you place each of the applique pieces in individually marked bags for each section of the row.  This made it much easier to keep them together and find them again.

With such fiddly pieces, I did find it stitched better on the machine using smaller blanket stitch.  

Now I still have a bit of stitchery embellishment to go, but I'll show that on my blog as the week goes on.  I've decided I'll make mine as a wall hanging ready for Christmas, so I've got the borders done already, using scraps of the fabric within the row.

You can download my pattern at either Payhip or Craftsy at the following links: 

                                   PAYHIP:  Once In Royal David's City Row

                                CRAFTSY:   Once In Royal David's City Row

I decided to offer it at both of them as there have been issues of sites crashing with overloaded downloads, so I'm hoping this will make it less frustrating for you.  Please note, my pattern is free to download, but if you feel inclined, as a thank you why not donate a couple of dollars to the charity of your choice, whether it be a hurricane support fund, earthquake fund, cancer fund or some other fund, we're all needing a little help, and if we can help one another, that's awesome!

My row is being sponsored by June Taylor and I have been provided some June Taylor  cotton pressing cloths for three lucky winners.  If you're not really familiar with this product, visit HERE for more information.   You could also visit their website to view their many other products. 

To enter, log in to the rafflecopter link below.  Entries will close midnight 19th September, EST   * please note, shipping is anywhere however, shipping must be paid for by the winners.  
Be sure to read through all the giveaway guidelines and rules over HERE.  These are valid for all of the giveaways during the Row-a-Long.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY #2

Visit each of the four bloggers featured in the row-a-long today, enter the rafflecopter link below and you will go into the draw to win a Northcott Fabrics fat quarter bundle totalling 2 yards to the value of $20 USD.  

This giveaway will end at midnight on September 19th, EST when a winner will be drawn and notified.   This giveaway is open worldwide and Northcott will ship the prize to you anywhere in the world.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

                                                                     GIVEAWAY #3

Our final giveaway is from Calibre Arts and they are offering  a 50% discount on an 8 x 8 Rotating Cutting Mat to the value of $29.95 USD.  There are 5 coupon codes you have a chance of winning.   You will have 6 days to use your coupon code.
This is a daily giveaway, it starts on Tuesday, and ends Wednesday Morning.   

 *Please note, if you win, you will be responsible to pay 50 % of the cost of the mat and the shipping for this prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That's if from me.....be sure to check out the wonderful bloggers/designers who are participating in the Row-a-Long and leave a comment....believe me, your comments mean the world!   Here is the schedule I promised you at the beginning of this very long post -

The Christmas Caroling Row Along Schedule

Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Quilting Affection
Any Pattern
Just Let Me Quilt
Quilt In Piece
Kissed Quilts

Thursday, September 7, 2017
Daydreams of Quilts 
Seams To Be Sew
Be A Quilter
Creatin’ in the Sticks
Fun Threads

Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Sew Incredibly Crazy
Masterpiece Quilting
Sugarlane Designs  ***me***
Happy Sewing Room

Thursday, September 14, 2017
Barbara Dieges
Cynthia’s Creating Ark
The Quilted Snail
Ms. P. Designs USA
                                                        (sponsored by Just Let Me Quilt)

Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Jaded Spade Creations
Adventurous Applique and Quilting 
UlaSewing / SzycieUli
From Blank Pages

Thursday, September 21, 2017
Martina Latimer
Quilt Fabrication
Patchwork Breeze
Patti’s Patchwork
Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse

Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Cheryl LaPlante
                                            (sponsored by Quilt In Piece)
Morning Glory
Pampered Pettit
Fun Threads

Thursday, September 28, 2017
Mountain Meadow Designs
Quilt Art
Made By Marney
Renee’s Quilting Addiction

Tuesday, October 3, 2017
MaryMack’s Blog
Kathys Kwilts and More
Pamela Quilts
Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Heleen Pinkster

Thursday, October 5, 2017
Seams To Be Sew
A Dream and A Stitch
Upstairs Hobby Room
Words & Stitches

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Show and Tell Day
Bloggers will be announced at a later date

Make sure you pop along and say Hi!  Thank you for joining in on the Row-a-Long with me.  I hope you enjoyed my row and when you do make it, I'd love for you to send me pictures or share a link so that I can feature it on my blog.

xox big sugary hugs :o)