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)

 

My quiet November FNSI and a winner.

This was the second last Friday Night Sew In for the year.....can you believe it?

And mine was pretty darn quiet.....all because the Queensland state election was being held on Saturday and I had to work in one of the voting booths for the day.  Starting at 6am, another lady and I drove the 3/4 hour to get to our polling booth, in a little sleepy seaside town called Cungulla.  We then set up and run the booth from 8am - 6pm, before closing the doors ready for counting.  We were finished by 7.30pm as our booth was a smaller one and we only took about 250 members of the public however it was constant all day long and with the humidity the way it has been, it was quite steamy too.  Knowing this, I thought I'd better get a reasonably early night the night before!

I did manage to get some sewing done though, even if it was of the 'conventional' variety.....

 Mr B started a new job today and on Friday night,  I finally got to hemming the two new pairs of work jeans he'd asked me to shorten and hem 'month's ago!  Why I'd never thought before now to use my walking foot for hemming jeans I'll never know.....made it soooo much easier.  How do you hem jeans? (or don't you?)  If you struggle like I have in the past, I encourage you to 'think outside the box' and  multi-task your walking foot....honestly, you'll wonder why you hadn't thought of it sooner.

Now, before I announce our November winner, here is our prize - An owl pincushion kit by 'Quiltologie'.  Wouldn't you love to win it?  Let's see who Mr RNG draws out, shall we?

Firstly I'd like to say a BIG thank you to all 19 lovely ladies who joined with me for our FNSI this month....I'm sure you'd love to pop over and see what gorgeous things they made on Friday night?  You can do that by clicking on each of the links back HERE and remember to leave them a comment - it really touches our hearts.

Finally after jiggling the names in Mr RNG's random number generator, the computer pulled out this person as the winner for November: 

congratulations to JEANETTE

I really hope you like your prize.

I will post it in the next couple of days.

Off to bed for me. Tomorrow's another big day!

What are your plans for the week?

xox Sugary hugs :o) 

Computer meltdown for FNSI....

Yep, that's right!  My darn computer decided to throw a hissy fit and I couldn't get it to go after a recent Windows update.  Don't know what happened but that little wheel just kept a-spinning and took me nowhere.
So instead of getting frustrated after I turned it off and restarted it again and again, I turned it off one more time, walked away and left it for a day or two.  It seems it must have been as frazzled as I had been in the anticipation of it starting because after rebooting and going through the whole 'updating your computer....do not turn off' saga, it's finally back to normal! Phew!
Don't you just LOOOOOOVE technology? hmmmmmmmm.

So, last Friday was our monthly FNSI and mine started at my best friend Dianne's house.  This year, when we get together, we've been working on our Natalie Bird's Homespun BOM  - Foxley Village, practising new techniques and learning off one another....it's been fab.  Here's our progress on block 4...or is it 5???

 It's always loads of fun when you can 'actually' FNSI with someone else 'in the real' so we make the most of it as it doesn't happen often enough.

I did make some progress that evening on the Christmas Caroling Row a Long block too with some of the stitchery completed and I think it really finishes it off nicely.

I'll show you the rest by the end of the week and I'll hopefully have it finished over the weekend, although we are going for dinner at the Cowboys Leagues Club to watch our favourite football team hopefully make their way to the finals!

PLEASE NOTE  though, that the FREE download of the row will close 8pm  Friday Night (AEST time - which is around the early hours of the morning of Friday in the US...compare your time zone HERE).
After that I'll take it down temporarily and add the finishing instructions to make it into a Christmas wall hanging. I'll add it back to both Craftsy and Payhip but after Friday it will no longer be free, so if you haven't downloaded your copy, head back to THIS POST to get your link to the 'Once in Royal David's City' FREE Christmas Caroling Row-a-long download.

Now I haven't mentioned what this month's prize is for one lucky, random FNSI'er...so here it is......

....a mini charm pack of Lecien 'Radiant Girl' and a Craft Keeper for your threads, ribbon or even a key ring or necklace charm!  I hope you like them?

I can't leave you waiting any longer.....I've consulted Mr RNG and he's come up with ....


....the lovely lady who was working on this gorgeous Michelle Ridgeway design (and it just so happens it's a 'W'...how freaky is it that Mr RNG picked this one out????)

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

\0/ \0/   J*E*A*N*E*T*T*E   \0/ \0/

I'll get your prize off in the mail very soon.  Thank you to everyone who FNSI'ed along with us and if you're contemplating joining in next month but still sitting on the sidelines, pop back to THIS POST  and see what the ladies did, or go over to THIS PAGE to read about how FNSI works.  Don't be shy, we have loads of fun, and you could be our next FNSI winner!

Until next time,
xox Sugary hugs :o)

An August FNSI Winner

FNSI has come and gone again for another month and we had a lovely, cosy turnout.

Make sure you visit this post and click the links for each of our FNSI-ers to see how their Friday nights progressed.
The winner this month will receive a cute little charm pack of vintage French General fabrics.....42 two and a half inch squares of loveliness.

The winner this month (like every month)  has been hand picked by our ever-helpful, Mr RNG

Congratulations Number 10!!!!! 

Now you WILL have to pop back to this post to find out who our August winner is! *cheeky grin*.

Hope you enjoyed our FNSI and I look forward to next month's and stitching with you once again.

xox Sugary hugs :o)

  

Dry July FNSI winner

We had a great roll up with 23 of us stitching together for FNSI and I'm so pleased you could come along and join us.  We always have so much fun and the inspiration shared over the weekend and (hhh hhmmmm)even today is,as always, inspirational.

What did I get up to?  you might ask.....well, I was incredibly tired on Friday night.  I'm one week into a strict detox to try fix some issues caused by allergies which seem to have originated in the gut. It's interesting, looking at gut health and how important it is to your overall health, including skin, and general wellness.  Only one and a half weeks to go without caffeine (aaargh it's killing me without tea or COFFEEEEEEEE), sugar (including honey, rice malt etc), dairy, wheat products, anything packaged or processed, cheese, butter, red meat, salmon or tuna.  Pretty much only leaves me with fruit, veggies, some chicken, eggs, brown rice and white fish.  I tell you, I'm starting to get creative, but I'm open to suggestions if any of you have any yummy recipes?

But I digress, I was tired as I was getting used to the detox.  Monday to Wednesday was easing into it with the powdery concoctions and tablets but I was straight into the food restrictions and Thursday started the full dose of detoxing medicines.  So by Friday I was exhausted.   I did manage to get my second block of the 2017 FQS Mystery Designer BOM made up and I love it.

This month's block was designed by Me and My Sister Designs. It's so bright and cheery and looks complex but it 's easy.  Did I say that I love it already?  I can see a whole quilt made with this block.  Can't wait to see the rest.

I did aim to get more done but I was late for the Blanket Show and the zzzzz's were chasing me down, so off to bed I went.

More interesting and inspirational crafting went on with all the other FNSIers whose links you can check out HERE.  Meanwhile, Mr RNG has been rattling the bucket in search of our winner for this month.  They will be in receipt of this great prize.....

....a mini charm pack of Bees 'n Blooms by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda.  I can't wait to see what the winner makes with this one.....whatever it is, it will be beautiful, I'm sure!

Without further ado.........

CONGRATULATIONS 

🌟🌟🌟JEANETTE🌟🌟🌟

Jeanette, like me, didn't get much done, but for far more serious reasons than me.....thank God all went smoothly and she can breathe easier now. (Pop over and see what was happening in Jeanette's patch)  That's one of the reasons I love blogging so much, we get to share the load with likeminded friends.

Late draw tonight...I was off at a chalk painting workshop learning lots of new techniques.  I'll have to give it a go soon!

xox Sugary hugs :o)

A Friday in May Winner for FNSI

A little late to be drawing the prize for this month's FNSI - I apologise.
I had my son and his girlfriend come for dinner so, after crumbed skinny chicken kiev, baked potato wedges and mixed vegetables, followed by the most delectable chocolate brownies with ice cream, I can now sit down and draw the winner!

This month's prize was one I purchased in Adelaide at our Let's Get Stitched retreat in March in a little shop in a little town on our way to Maggie Beer's farm and the Seppeltsfield winery.  As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be perfect......

If you've never done sashiko (刺し子, literally "little stabs") before, it's a wonderfully relaxing form of stitchery which was originally a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (or functional embroidery) from Japan. The white cotton thread on the traditional indigo blue cloth gives sashiko its distinctive appearance and you can find loads of information and hints on YouTube, Pinterest and other internet websites on the correct way to stitch sashiko.  This is an example of the diagonal pattern in the kit the winner will receive....

It would look beautiful set in a bag as a large pocket, as a feature on a tote, as a book or Ipad cover or even just a placemat or feature on a table runner. If you've never tried it before and particularly if you're not a 'stitcher', I recommend giving it a go.  You can find lots of other styles of stitching and equipment you will need HERE too, another site I'd highly recommend.

Now let's get to it....the draw.......thanks to Mr RNG again this month........

CONGRATULATIONS

Petrushka

 Drop me a line and I'll get your prize in the mail.  I'm SURE you're going to like it!

xox sugary hugs :o)

FNSI Winner

My apologies for a late drawing...I spent the day with friends, family and servicemen and women, beginning this morning at our Anzac Day Parade, then at the local RSL sharing many a story of mateship, war and love of country.

Our cousin's son is in the RAAF and gave a moving speech...he looked so regal in his uniform with his badges blazoned on his chest.  He has been overseas on a few occasions and has many stories to tell.   It was inspirational and made us all very proud.  I was so enthralled, I forgot to take photos but his picture will be in our local paper so I will share soon.

Onto  Friday Night Sew In... We had 23 people joining in on Friday night...and we got loads done.  You just have to pop back to the links and see what everyone got up to...just masses of inspiration!

Our lucky winner this month is going to win a copy of my design, 'En Pointe' along with a fat quarter to get them started.  This is one of my favourite designs and would be a great gift to adorn the dresser of  a promising little ballerina.  Some stitchery, some applique with borders of prairie points, this pattern is a fun one to complete.

So without further ado and with the help of trusty Mr RNG.....

.....our lucky winner is .....

SHEZ

CONGRATULATIONS 

...and I'll make sure I get that off in the post to you pronto!

Now I must remember tomorrow is Wednesday and go to work, because it really feels like Sunday afternoon right now!  Hope you've had a lovely Anzac Day reflecting on our wonderful country, and if you're not in Australia or New Zealand, then I hope your day has been super special just the same! I'm off to sit and finish my last 'Plates' block whilst I watch the Masterchef semi-finals.

xox Sugary hugs :o)