July FNSI is open for sign-ups

 Wow, what a month!  The nights are getting cooler but not so much as you need to wear layers up here in North Queensland!  The roads are full of caravanners migrating north for the winter.....such a great place to be!  Our lowest temperature has been 8 degrees and that was only for one day....mostly in the early to mid teens in the morning going to mid to high twenties in the daytime.....it's perfect!   The beauty of living in the tropics in the winter!

Our school holidays have just finished and my back and neck have decided to seize up....go figure!  I have bursitis and tendonitis of my shoulder and have been off work for the last two weeks due to the drugs I'm on for the pain.  I have been ignoring the niggling pain for the past year or so but it had gotten so bad I just couldn't bear it.....massages, chiropractor and acupuncture have done little to fix it so off to the doctor I went. (I have an appointment with the physio next week...it's taken me 7 weeks to get an appointment!!!!)  I'm off for a CT scan tomorrow on my neck and upper back and a guided cortisone injection next week so fingers crossed I can get on top of it.  Lesson learnt......don't ignore niggles as you get older!!!  We need to take care of ourselves!

So whilst I've been at home I've been catching up on some sewing.  I've been putting together the hexies I received as part of a hexi swap in our craft group.  I'm making a quilt top with them and I'm sure to need more but it's well underway.  It's been a trip down memory lane as some of them have the dates on the papers on the back and some are from the early 2010's!  It's lovely to see them come to life.

Ive also been playing around in my sewing room and with hubby's help, have moved things around to be more "user friendly".  As my stash has outgrown its space and having been an empty nester for quite some time, things slowly but surely moved into my son's old bedroom.  It's been a favourite haunt but having been time poor and not very organised, every time I go in there I get very overwhelmed with all the clutter....I don't really even know what I have as some of my stash is in my downstairs space, some by the sewing chair in the lounge, some in my study and a lot in my sewing room so time to do an overhaul....very gently and carefully whilst I have some time (don't judge me!)

  I've loved looking at organising sites and getting loads of ideas but not sure how to execute it in my space so I've gone ahead and started to corral things.  This is one area I've started...with a bit of my fabric.  I've a shelf of some of my Tilda ( I have a HUGE tub to sort through yet) and some of my Devonstone solids.  Just getting my fabric together will be a huge achievement and then, maybe I'll feel a little more in control!  

I've gone through my threads and organised them, sorted my felts and my linens, lace and ribbons as well as my pellon, parlan and interfacings and my ironing station and cutting table are almost there.  So much more to do but little by little I'm getting there.  It's a good feeling!

As it is the third week of the month, it's time for FNSI this Friday night!  Every month I ask the same question.....how is time flying by so fast?  But I'm so glad I get to share it with you!  

I'm planning on stitching up a swap gift this Friday so hopefully it will be done and ready to post next week.  It'll be secret squirrel business so probably no pictures till after it arrives at its destination but there may be, just may be some sneaky ones!  

What will you be stitching?  I look forward to seeing what's on your machine/mat/lap this week.  Make sure you sign up below, or over on the facebook group page   Share it far and wide, the more the merrier.  We have over 150 members now but the more we have, the more inspiration and friendship and who doesn't love that?

We had a great sew in for June with 32 members join in. It's a great get together to catch up, encourage and support one another and to be inspired with all the crafty makings going on.  Our wonderful sponsor, Dawn of  Kitty Rose Cottage sends a prize to one lucky random winner for the month and maybe it will be you?  Have you had a chance to pop over to see what's new at the Cottage?  The new Tilda Merry Little Christmas release is ready for pre-order.......I'm frothing at the mouth as it's just divine!

I can't wait to make something with these when they're available.  Make sure you pop over and pre-order.  I swear Dawn has one of the cheapest prices for Tilda in Australia.  You won't regret it.

In the meantime, our lucky wheel has been spinning and has drawn our winner for June FNSI.

Congratulations Leah for being drawn as our June winner for FNSI!!!  I'll be in touch for details.   Meanwhile, sign up below or on the Facebook group page so you don't miss out in July!  

Looking forward to sewing with you Friday night.

Sugary sweet hugs xox :o)

 

Welcome to our first FNSI for 2025

 Isn't it weird that it is already a quarter of the way through the century?  I can remember, what seems like only a month or two ago, preparing for the end of all technology with the Y2K bug and potentially the end of all mankind through a computer-induced apocolypse!!!  Now here we are, 25 years on and we haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but technology certainly has changed in that short time - hopefully for the better! 

So, speaking of technology....are you all ready to jump on board with our first FNSI for the year?  For those of you who are new, the FNSI tab above will explain all the details, you can join in by linking your blog below or if you don't have an active blog, sign in on our group Facebook page HERE  This is where all the activity happens on the Friday night and even well into the weekend because we all know, it's always Friday night somewhere in the world.

So join in, be inspired and chat with other like-minded crafty people, maybe meet some new friends and find some more projects to add to that never-ending list of projects we all have, all while having the chance to win a prize from our very lovely and generous sponsor Dawn, from Kitty Rose Cottage.  

Let's start the post with our December 2024 draw.   We had such a varied lot of craft, all very beautiful and all very inspirational.  That's what I love about our little group - the inspiration is always off the charts!  With 26 ladies joining in, some cross stitching, some stitching, some organising. some EPP, a little backing, a little binding and some Christmas decorations completed, we certainly had a busy night.  I took the names to  the Wheel of Names to see who our lucky December winner is and here's who it spun.....

Congratulations De!  Your Christmas isn't over yet!  I'll be in touch! 

I'm looking forward to stitching with you all on Friday night.  Make sure you sign up so you don't miss out on the draw!

Big sugary hugs

Ta-Da! Back online for our April FNSI and some winners

 I missed last month's post as it crept up on me yet again.  Could it be old age?   Becoming forgetful?  Being too busy?  or all of the above!?  Anyways, we're back in business!

I've been busy trying to do a bit of a tidy up of my craft room which becomes more disheartening as I get myself into such a muddle once I start as I don't know where I'm headed with it all!  I've joined a few Quilting organisation Facebook groups which have given me some inspiration (and a few jealous moments, drooling over some of their rooms!), so I'm going to attempt to tackle things slowly but surely this year.  It doesn't help my room is just a small bedroom and I have so much crammed in there.  I need to have a good think and plan something out that's going to work for me.

  Seriously though, I can see a bit of a destash coming up soon!

I have been busy catching up on my Farmer's Wife blocks.   I'm up to number 87 now so on the downhill run.  I've started with some French General fabrics and added a few more complementary reds, blues, and beiges to fill it out a bit.  I must say, looking back on the blocks I've done, I've surprised myself as I'd never done hand pieced blocks when I'd started and just fluffed along, trying different ways to make them.  I thought I'd have to redo some but they seem better than I recalled so I think I only have about 25 blocks to go before I start with the sashing and putting it all together.  I'm thinking I may use the machine for that.  It's getting to the exciting part, where I'll see it all come together...I can't wait!

Now let's catch up on our past few months of winners, shall we?    Firstly I'll begin by saying how much I enjoy your company every month and how you not only inspire me but the motivation is just so valuable to each and every one of us.  It never ceases to amaze me how online friendships are so wonderfully special because they start with a common interest that often turns into some of the best relationships you can wish for.

Okie dokie....let's revisit January's FNSI.  We had 25 lovely ladies join in with some beautiful work on show.  I popped all names into the Wheel and gave it a little spin...

February, we had 27 stitching sisters come together both virtually and face to face as we had the Tilda 25th Anniversary Tour in Brisbane that weekend.  It was so good to catch up and then many of our group were lucky enough to travel to the Melbourne leg of the tour and get together the following weekend.  I love our quilty get-togethers!  After giving the February Wheel a bit of a spin, out popped......

Our March FNSI was a bit of a rush job (my fault)_so we only had 22 friends to stitch along, which isn't a bad thing because it gives you a better chance to win our draw!!!  *wink*   So here's who's name spun up when the Wheel did its thing....

Congratulations to all our lovely ladies....I just know you'll choose something beautiful! 

So now we're all up to date with our draws, I promise to try to keep on track for the rest of the year!!  

Remember that our winners have all won a $30 voucher from our wonderful, amazing, extraordinarily generous friend and sponsor, Dawn Hay of Kitty Rose Cottage.  If you haven't had the chance to pop over and have a look in the shop lately, 

I recommend it...the latest Tilda range, "Creating Memories" is up for pre-order and IT IS DIVINE!  
 

Each month, Dawn sponsors our group and generously donates a $30 voucher to spend in -store .  She has the most beautiful heart and if you purchase anything from Kitty Rose Cottage, you're bound to find something special tucked in there to make your day.  She regularly pops an extra Tilda fat eighth in her Little Box of Creativity or some other special treat.  You will not be disappointed with the service you receive, I can 100% guarantee it.

So you have a chance to be in the draw for the $30 gift voucher this month, make sure you link in below OR head over to the Facebook group page and join in on this month's post.

If you're not a member of our Facebook group, ask to join when you're there or send me a message and I'll send you an invitation.  That's where you can follow what everyone's up to on the night....it's so much fun!

I'm looking forward to getting another couple of Farmer's Wife blocks completed....what have you got planned for Friday night?  Looking forward to stitching along with you again!  

Happy hump day with big sugary hugs xox :o)

It's Friday Night Sew In aka FNSI again!

 Doesn't it come around quickly??

It's just a quick post this time to let you know it's time for FNSI and sign ups are below.  We have a few newbies joining us this month and I'd love to welcome them to our wonderful group and wish them the best of luck. You never know who might win the prize each month, sponsored by the lovely Dawn at Kitty Rose Cottage.

Kitty Rose Cottage sells all things Tilda and is very competitive on mailing costs with $7 flat rate shipping within Australia (tracked) for all orders under $150 and International buyers are catered for with very competitive International postage rates.     Pop on over and see what's in the shop!

So our newbies know how our FNSI works, jump on the FNSI page HERE .

And now for the sign ups......link below with your blog name or just pop along in our Facebook group.

Sweet dreams and sugary sweet hugs.....see you Friday night xox :o)