FNSI finishes and a draw

I had quite a few finishes..... not all 'complete' finishes, but finishes of sorts.  Some on Friday night, some over the weekend......
I finished a set of 12 needleturned blocks for a friend....

 

Can't show you the complete blocks, they're for a sample for a new design....but don't you love the Tilda fabrics?

I went to a bag making/rug making class a couple of weeks ago put on by my dear friend Dianne who is super-talented.  I chose to finish the bag I'd begun a couple of months ago.  She showed me how to finish off the top, make the handles and a flap closure, which I finished by the end of that class.

 However the poor old bag sat there 'naked' for a while so, as the weather's been cooling, on Friday I decided she needed a new 'dress'.  I pulled out my lace doilies and bling and started playing with an outfit.  I've basically chosen how she will look 'dressed' however I still need to find a few silk roses and some pearls and beads to finish off her attire.  I think she's looking rather 'swish' don't you?

As I was on the crochet train, I decided to finish the mat I'd begun earlier this week.  Using 1 inch strips of fabric crocheting them in an oval design with a size 12 hook, took no time at all.  It's so soft under our feet, and all that 'ugly' fabric I swore I'd never use, came in handy.....

....and being cotton, it will wash well and last for ages!  I can see a few more of these on the horizon.

Then I decided a bit of stitching was well overdue. So out came the Snow Hearts and the last few stitches on the last block were done.

Now I can look at maybe some more borders and final sandwiching, quilting and binding for winter.  Don't know why this one's taken me so long....I only had one heart and one line of hearts to stitch!

That spurred me on to some other stitching that's been sitting around....my vintage tea shoppe design.... (a new one to come out later in the year).

This one's well on it's way to completion too...can't wait!

So all in all, FNSI was extremely productive, even though it was lengthened, for me!  Seemed to get lots done,  although in reality, there were only little bits of each to work on to get them to their final stages.  Feels so good, and even better to spend it with like minded FNSI-ers, don't you think?

Have you had a chance to go and visit all of our April FNSI-ers to see how their creative juices flowed?  Pop back here to click on the links.....you're sure to be inspired.
This month's winner will be receiving a surprise...... I will reveal it once it's received!  *sneaky sneaky*
Mr RNG again did the honours.......

And decided this month our lucky winner would be.......

SUSAN

of Susan's Sewing Space/Oh 2 Sew

lots of secret squirrel sewing business happening at Susan's house! *wink wink*  but she did manage to show us one little completion!

Congratulations Susan!!!!  You're prize will be on it's way this week!

If you didn't get a chance to join with us this month, Next month is my birthday month so there's sure to be something special happening for May!  Pop the date into your diaries.....May FNSI will be 20th May with sign-ups from 16th on the blog.  Can't wait!  How about you?

xox Sugary hugs :o)

Hearts a-flutter.....

Wow....time flies so they say, and boy, they weren't kidding!

I have been working studiously on my APQ UFO challenge this past week, trying to get it finished in time for the end of February, but even with an extra day thrown in, I didn't quite make it!

Once I'd put it all together, I noticed I needed 3 more blocks, so I appliqued a heart on the bottom corner block, and drew two other blocks up to match....one a snow hearts label and one other snowheart.

But once I've finished those two stitcheries, I might add a couple of borders on, then it's time to quilt.....so much further along than I was at the beginning of the month, so even though I'm not finished completely, I'm entirely happy with where I'm at with it. (you'll notice, the date on the label???.....2011......so this has been resting for a looooong time!)

I've also made a start on my 2016 Homespun BOM, a design by one of my favourite designers, Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse....another great Aussie designer. (Queenslander!)  This one's called "Foxley Village and with it, I'm rediscovering my love for needleturn (and Tilda *swoon*)

It's funny, I don't know about you, but needleturn was one of those techniques that never really 'grabbed' me....that was a style that 'other' quilters used, not me!  But over the course of the past year or two, the slow stitching and 'preciseness' of it all has really drawn me to it...need I say it makes my heart flutter?   Have you found there's one style you swore off for life, only to find it's one of your favourites now?  I can't say it's my absolute favourite, I love all kinds, needleturn, raw edge, hand applique, machine applique, not to mention piecing and stitchery....I just love it ALL!

And I've made a start on the Splendid Sampler....are you doing it too?  It's hosted by Pat Sloan and our very own Jane Shallala-Davidson and incorporates 100 blocks from over 80 designers from around the world...I'm sure you'd have heard of it?  There's over 16000 people signed up to participate and well, I'm just a little slow off the mark.....there's two blocks per week and I've started with number 3 block and that's all I've done so far....we're up to number 5!  Ho hum....nothing like starting behind the 8-ball!   So here's my progress....

with all the tools I really,  reeeeeeally needed to make this block!  

Needless to say, I didn't have any complete finishes for OPAM for February, however I'm sure March is going to be a whopper!

xox Sugary hugs :o)

We have a connection, so FNSI draw it is!

Well, the ghosties were playing with my blog last night....don't know what happened, but I couldn't post anything except via my mobile phone, and THAT was just a little too fiddly.
So a little delayed but  its time for our FNSI draw.

I know you're all waiting with baited breath to see who our winner is, and what it is they've won?
How about this....

two  Free Spirit fat quarters ....nice huh?
And just before I announce the winner.....here's what I got up to....

Friday night I pulled out my APQ UFO challenge for Feb, which I talked about here and started cutting up my fabric for the blocks.  Didn't get much past that on Friday night as I had to work Saturday morning.  Saturday and Sunday were planned for finishing, but hubby, who works away on a property, told me about a barbeque with his bosses that was planned for Saturday night where he works, so Saturday afternoon was buying barbeque goodies and driving the hour to visit him.

We had planned to come home later that night but I ended up staying and the next morning, he showed me the sights.  I love the Queensland bush!

So Sunday evening, I caught up on some piecing and after the debarcle with the computer on Monday, I've just about got all the sub units done, ready to piece the top.....hopefully a flimsy tonight!  So more to show you later........stay tuned!

In the meantime, after consulting with Mr RNG, we have a winner..........

Congratulations Alexandra !

Seems I wasn't the only one who managed to have an 'extended' FNSI!  Pop me an email with your postal address Alexandra, and I'll send you your prize!

If you haven't had a chance to see what others got up to, you can check back in for the links here.

Hope you managed to get lots done.....have a wonderfully productive Tuesday!

xo Sugary hugs :o)

FNSI sign ups for February

Can you believe it?  It only feels like the other day that we had January's FNSI......but I'm not complaining.

I L-O-V-E getting together with you girls on a Friday night for our virtual stitching evening!  

 So, will you join us?  Sign up below and invite everyone along.  It's always a fun night.  I'll be working on my Snow Hearts stitcheries and making them into a quilt......they're on my APQ UFO Challenge list for February

I began these way back in 2011....they were offered as a free BOM

from HERE, but are now not available - although you can go and have a look at the other pretties on their blog (I needed to use the translate button....I'm not familiar with much of the German language!)

Are you in?  Sign ups for Friday night are below.  Can't wait, can you?

xox Sugary Hugs :o)

  

There was an old lady who…

……lost her glasses????? Yep that’s me at times…..well, maybe not the ‘old’ bit so much but…..I do feel it sometimes!!!! But my finish this weekend was a gift for a friend’s birthday….this friend ALWAYS loses her glasses, and sometimes finds them perched atop her head!!!  Ever done that before????   Me too! So this is what I made her….. Maybe it’ll protect them, just a little bit! You can make your own too…..I got my pattern here…. It’s Handmade Vol 29 No 5, which features some of my most favourite designers!!!  The original design, by Yvonne Skodt, called for a flexi frame, which I couldn’t get (well I could, online, but I couldn’t wait!), so I modified it with a magnetic closure…..still works perfectly! We’ll see how she likes it, as I give it to her today…..a little belated but you know what they say……..!!!!!! I also finished another of my ‘Snowhearts’ blocks… …still has the hoop marks *oops*!!!!  I have one more of these to do to catch up then one block left (I think) before I can put it all together! This week, work MUST continue on the year 7 quilt I’m working on with our students….after all, there IS only 4 weeks of school left!!!!…..*aaaarghhhhh*…..and with my baby at the doctors getting her feed dogs attended to, along with her FM stitch looked at……..I only hope my little baby is up to the test!!!!! Have a wonderful week. Sugary hugs  xoxo :O)

There was an old lady who…

……lost her glasses?????

Yep that’s me at times…..well, maybe not the ‘old’ bit so much but…..I do feel it sometimes!!!!

But my finish this weekend was a gift for a friend’s birthday….this friend ALWAYS loses her glasses, and sometimes finds them perched atop her head!!!  Ever done that before????   Me too!

So this is what I made her…..

Maybe it’ll protect them, just a little bit!

You can make your own too…..I got my pattern here….

It’s Handmade Vol 29 No 5, which features some of my most favourite designers!!! 

The original design, by Yvonne Skodt, called for a flexi frame, which I couldn’t get (well I could, online, but I couldn’t wait!), so I modified it with a magnetic closure…..still works perfectly!

We’ll see how she likes it, as I give it to her today…..a little belated but you know what they say……..!!!!!!

I also finished another of my ‘Snowhearts’ blocks…

…still has the hoop marks *oops*!!!!  I have one more of these to do to catch up then one block left (I think) before I can put it all together!

This week, work MUST continue on the year 7 quilt I’m working on with our students….after all, there IS only 4 weeks of school left!!!!…..*aaaarghhhhh*…..and with my baby at the doctors getting her feed dogs attended to, along with her FM stitch looked at……..I only hope my little baby is up to the test!!!!!

Have a wonderful week.

Sugary hugs 

xoxo :O)