A March Winner

Hi all,

thanks for joining in to our Friday Night Sew In get together last week....I love how social media has made it so easy for us to 'be' together whether we're in the same room, the same state, the same country or in a totally different time zone!      

Ten years ago or so, when I first began blogging and took that tentative step into the big unknown world, being able to 'meet' with others and talk to new people with similar interests was so liberating (and still is!) particularly if you're in a small country town, isolated from groups in the big cities.   Now with the added plus of  social media, it is far more 'instant' and it feels like  you're right there with each other, regardless of where you are!     I've met so many beautiful people who have now become close friends because of both blogging and social media and I feel just so blessed, thanks to you all!!  *mwah*

One of my very closest friends was my very first commenter on my blog and she has now become FNSI's major sponsor.....

Kitty Rose Cottage is a wonderful little online shop......Kitty Rose has a beautiful array of  Kits, Clubs, Stitch-A-Long Packs, Fabrics and Sewing Essentials that she uses and recommends herself. It is the home of the Little Box of Creativity, a monthly surprise ingredient box to make a lovely sewing item and is also a stockist for Tilda.   Check out these gorgeous little bunny purse frames she has.......

aren't they divine!!!!??? But you'll need to be quick.....these bunnies are hopping out the door! 

And don't think that because you live overseas you can't shop with Kitty....not only does she offer $7 Flat Rate Shipping within Australia (Tracked), she welcomes International Buyers and offers competitive International Postage Rates.

Kitty Rose (aka Dawn) is not only a creative and talented designer, she's a truly wonderful person with a heart of gold and will go out of her way to help you, so if you're looking for something special, just pop over to her shop and ask.   She'll be only too happy to help.

Have a look at what she's provided for this month's FNSI prize!

A beautiful English Paper Piecing mini quilt kit complete with pattern, epp shapes, tilda fabrics, background and threads.  I told you she is a generous, kind-hearted soul didn't I?   

Let's jump right in and see who our lucky winner this month is.   We had 33 lovely ladies join with us from all over the world so without further ado.....here we go........well, maybe not!  I've video-ed the draw but for some reason it won't upload and I have been trying for the past two hours!!!!  grrrr. 

It  worked perfectly last month so I don't know what the issue is!  All I know is, I'm not happy with it.

However, them's the breaks and the alternative is a photo of the draw!   So, who is our winner this month?????

CONGRATULATIONS!!!  make sure you drop us a line with your postal address and details and I'll let Kitty know so she can post your parcel off pronto!

Have a wonderful rest of the month.

Big sugary hugs xox :o)

Friday Night Sew In sign-ups

 Good evening.....a little late for me but I thought I'd better get this post up and running....after all, it is Tuesday already!  Where do these days go?

I have been managing a little stitching, but not as much as I'd like as I have an avid little attention seeker who loves to sit on my lap or tap my foot with his paw to let me know it's play time! 

Max is 10 months old and, like any 10 month old, he's ready to play from 6am in the morning till bedtime! 

But I have managed to squeeze in a little stitching.....catching up on this....

and finishing my first block of this.....

and finally getting this together and binding it tonight.....

Don't worry.....I have plenty to do this Friday Night!  What about you?  Have you got your Friday Night Sew In project ready yet?   

Make sure you sign up below and block our Friday night on your calendar as it's set aside for you, me and all our wonderful friends around the world!  And follow along on the Facebook page too.

Check back to see what our lovely sponsor Kitty Rose from Kitty Rose Cottage is offering as a prize for this month......she's been rather caught up with packing kits these last couple of days, but I know it's on her agenda.  She has some lovely Tilda Garden Life on pre-order and the coordinating chambrays are to die for!

So what are we waiting for?   Sign ups below!  Have a fabulous week and see you on Friday! 

xox Sugary hugs :o)

Our February Winner, Compliments of Kitty Rose Cottage

I'm a little late drawing the winner today as I have been looking at and I'm in awe of all the beautiful work everyone has been posting, both here in Blogsville and in the FB world.  Having two areas now has certainly increased our numbers tenfold, but don't despair, bloggers are, and will always be, the foundation of FNSI and I love having you visit Sugarlane, (even though I've been a bit slack over the past couple of years with posting -apart from our monthly get-togethers).  

I've been getting quite a bit of email pleading with me not to change FNSI to a totally FB format, saying it would be tragic for FNSI to move away. You see,  I've been hosting FNSI since 2017 (I think?), and we've built up a loyal group, stitching together over the years via the Blog and I just love what we have so I want to cherish and encourage it.  Blogging will always stay as the main home of FNSI  with the additional holiday venue of FNSI.FB aka Friday Night Sew In FaceBook.  Everyone will be able to pop onto the blog and link up to read what other bloggers have been up to and comment but will not be 'forced' into becoming bloggers.   All the main stuff will go on in this blog and the Facebook page will be for all, showing the highlights of everyone's Friday night.  Here on the blog is where the draws will take place, then they'll be announced over on the FB page, signups will be here, and reminders on the FB page.....do you see what I'm saying?

So please understand, the blog will be the mainstay of FNSI and if you choose to blog, you know where to come and everyone is ALWAYS welcome, but if you're definitely not into blogging, that's ok too...you can get the highlights and still join in on FNSI.FB.   

Now, the prize this month provided by our lovely sponsor Kitty of Kitty Rose Cottage is just wonderful.

you can read all about it in the previous post HERE.

So let's see who our lucky winner is for February.......drumroll please........

Congratulations!!!!!   \o/ \o/ \o/ pop an email to me with your postal address and I'll have your prize sent to you direct from our fabulous sponsor, Kitty Rose from Kitty Rose Cottage.  A big thanks to Kitty! 

Have a fabulous week and big sugary hugs :o) xox

February's Friday Night Sew In Sign-Up with a New Sponsor!

 Last month I cheekily suggested someone might like to sponsor our FNSI to support our group with prizes and in turn, receive massive, massive thanks and some advertising.

Although I was hopeful, I really didn't expect any response as everyone is in the same boat with this dreaded Covid, locking people in and making purse strings tight everywhere.   BUT, I received a phone call from a very much loved and dear friend who suggested she might just be able to help.

Introducing our new sponsor, KITTY ROSE from KITTY ROSE COTTAGE.

Many of you who are Tilda lovers and are part of the Tilda Lover's Club on FB have visited Kitty online for your Tilda Fabrics, to top up your stash of gorgeous seam binding, or purchase other necessary stitching supplies.   

Kitty also co-designs for and manages the monthly Little Box of Creativity, Lucy Boston Kits,  EPP 12" Mini Quilt Club, the Scrappy Sisters Stitching Club and  Fee's Around my Garden BOM.  

  So you can understand how I'm quite proud and honoured to have Kitty want to sponsor our FNSI with a prize each month when she's such a busy person herself.  Just goes to show how big her heart is!

 Our FNSI Facebook page is growing daily too and you can post there if you like but don't worry, our major focus will be on our blogs so FNSI will always remain here in the Blogosphere.

If you're not sure what FNSI is all about, pop up to the FNSI tab and have a read.  It's as much fun as you can have in your jammies on a Friday night with friends from all over the globe!.

I can't wait for Friday and I look forward to stitching with you! (and remember....it's always Friday somewhere in the world!) *wink* 

Sugary Sweet hugs xox :o)

We have a winner!

 Wow.....we had 38 people join us from all around the globe for FNSI this month....what a great start to 2021....thanks everyone!   It makes my heart warm and fuzzy, knowing there are so many of us who love to get together and create!

I did say this first month of the year our prize for one lucky crafter would be this beauty....

                                                         ....a gorgeous pink grateful heart journal

So without making you hold your breath any longer, I spun my wheel earlier and guess who came up?

Congratulations Pami!!!!!   

Send me a message with your postal address and I'll get your prize to you pronto!

Have a fantastic January......I'm on cyclone watch for the next few days so I'll be battening down the hatches!

sugary sweet hugs :o)

My FNSI stitching, How about Yours?

 My Friday Night Stitching consisted of catching up on a 'previously prepared' Tilda project that just never got past go!

By mid evening I had only just finished stitching the words and doing long stitch to hold the flowers down.....I will add buttons for centres when I'm finished.

I got a little further but, having worked all day, I was a bit tired so shut up shop and went to bed.   Yesterday I managed to get a bit more done and I hope to finish today.

I've nearly completed the border, which I've done in chain stitch (as Fee suggested) and I think it's come up a treat in Cottage Garden 105 Fuschia.

What did you think of the new Facebook page for our group? 

 I thought it added another level and gave people without blogs the chance to join in too.   I've had some comments saying they don't want this to migrate to Facebook....and I promise it won't.  It will remain primarily a blogging format just with the outreach of FB as another avenue.   I love visiting you all on blogs too much and find it adds more to getting to know one another than just the quick picture and comment so don't worry......I won't be moving it away.

For those of you who missed the memo......we now have a Facebook group page for FNSI.  Pop on by and join up if you'd like a quick snippet of what our Friday Night shenanigans are like!

Just a reminder now, to make sure your blog posts are up and running as tomorrow I will be drawing our Friday Night winner who will be receiving this.....

....the beautiful journal (not the rest...they were special gifts from VERY dear friends!!!!)  We all need to be reminded to start each day with a grateful heart and I'm sure the winner of this gorgeous journal will pen lots of things she's grateful for.

I'm off to finish my stitchery.  Hope you've managed some progress at our FNSI (and maybe even some finishes???).  Drop by everyone's blogs HERE to  click on their links and see.

Sugary hugs :o)

A New Year...let's F.N.S.I.

 Welcome to 2021, and to our (hopefully) new and improved F.N.S.I.

I've made a couple of changes, just so that we can share more readily, get to know each other better, and generally have more fun!  It's been on the backburner for quite a while, bubbling about in the brain cells, but I just wasn't sure how I wanted our little group to progress (or indeed if I wanted it to).

Well, I've bitten the bullet and we now have a new Facebook page where we can share, as well as our blogs.  I still love sitting with a cuppa,  reading through blogs leisurely without the annoying and ever-constant refreshing of Facebook posts however I still think I need to bring us up-with-the-times.   With our group consisting of stitchers from all across the globe, I think it's only fair that we can share instantly if we wish and then go and read more about it later on using the links you add when you sign up each month in this blog.

I have sent a few 'regulars' an invitation to join the Facebook group.  It's a private group so it can't be seen by anyone other than those in the group but it can be found by anyone (although they wont be able to see content) and will have to 'apply' to join.  If you don't get an invitation, the link to join is HERE and I encourage you all to as it will be immediate gratification for all of us, not to mention loads of fun!

The sign ups will still link to your blogs for the same reasons I mentioned above.  They're our 'homes' where we can relax and enjoy visiting others in our own good time.

I'm also reinstating the random prize of the month to one lucky participant.  It won't be anything flashy as it is coming out of my pocket....I don't have sponsors but hey, if anyone out there is interested..........?????........just putting it out there!    

 This month I have a beautiful notebook to jot special notes that inspire you, plan your FNSI's or perhaps even design some upcoming projects.  I love it's inspirational cover and I'm sure our winner this month will love it too.

So, without further ado, welcome to F.N.S.I. version 2021, link your blog up below, sign up to the FB page and let's plan to get this party started this Friday night!

xox big sugary new year hugs :o)