February’s FNSI both virtual and face-to-face!

This month I’ve had two weeks holiday to come and spend time visiting this little monkey….

 And his gorgeous parents of course! 

When my lovely Brisbane-based stitch friend Susan discovered I was going to be down, she wanted to plan some time together.  

I arrived on Saturday afternoon and spent the weekend with my gorgeous grand baby. 

Susan and I got together on Monday and did some serious fabric shopping!   She coordinates a group of ladies who are all making fabric ABC books and I couldn’t resist. After all, lil Ryker is still only 15 months old but it gives me plenty of time to personalise one for him to enjoy. Then we went to her place for a little lunch and some stitching … and she kindly allowed me to search her stash of abc fabrics. Susan is AWESOME! 

Tomorrow we’re off on another shopping frenzy with these two wonderful friends - Michelle and Shez so imagine what mischief we will all get up to! 

And Friday being FNSI, Susan has organised a get together stitchy morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea with all our stitchy Brisbane and surrounds-based friends. I’m so looking forward to it as living in the tropical north, and being isolated geographically and by COVID for a couple of years, I haven’t seen these ladies in what seems like forever! It almost feels like our former annual Lets Get Stitched retreat, only much smaller! I wish Dawn could have been here! Wouldn’t it have been lovely to have our sponsor for FNSI to come up too?   I hadn’t thought that far ahead unfortunately!   

Anyways, I’ll keep you posted on our shenanigans here, and in our Facebook group page!  

In the meantime, sign up to our FNSI here OR in the Facebook group under this month’s FNSI post so you can go into the draw for a gift voucher exclusive to KittyRose Cottage. 

 And don’t forget to post pictures to inspire us all.   

In the meantime, have fun and big sugary sweet hugs to you all 

Xox o:) 

First FNSI for 2023! Yippee!!

 I've so been waiting to sew with you all and yet, it snuck up on me again!  

 Sign ups are below OR on the facebook group page.  (if you haven't joined our Facebook Group page yet, HERE is where the action happens...I'd love for you to join us).  

Thanks to you all for making it much easier for me by signing up on either one....and for the Facebook signup, signing on the one post!  It took me forever to scroll through and write down names of people who had participated, now I just have to look at the one post on FB and one here which makes it less time consuming (and more time for stitching!!)

Our beautiful sponsor and I were speaking before Christmas about how to improve our prize giving this year.  It seems some people weren't receiving their prizes through the mail but never let us know, especially those overseas, so we've come up with a plan.

This year, our prizes will be the same for all and will be quick to receive!   Dawn is generously offering a $30 voucher at Kitty Rose Cottage as a prize each month for you to spend at your leisure.  You can use it to buy ANYTHING you like from her stock......you can use that amount or if you prefer, put it towards something you've always wanted but, if you're like me, thought I'll wait till I have the money....something like a bundle or kit or something on your wish list!  

Dawn has been so supportive of our FNSI and this is just another way we can enjoy what she has to offer!  (Remember she has a layby function too so that is another option to help you).    I, myself have my eye on the new Tilda Cloudpie bundle 

Isn't it delish???  Wht will you 'buy' with your winnings?

Speaking of winnings, we need to do the draws for both November and December FNSI's.    Let's not wait any longer.....

November's winner is.........

December's winner is.......

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!!!!!

I hope you both enjoy your prizes. 💓💓

Now for the sign ups for this month.....remember, either here or our Facebook Group on the sign up post

have a wonderful day and see you Friday!

Big 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)

Sign-ups for November's FNSI and September/October winners Announced

 It never fails to amaze me how these months fly by.  So much so, my 'little newborn' grandson was up from Brisbane on the weekend to celebrate his first birthday!!!   

I know what you're thinking......it seems like only yesterday we were waiting....waiting...waiting for

him to be born!' Yet here he is....one already!

I can't wait for February when I have two weeks off to go and visit them.......that's when time can't come fast enough!

Talking about time not coming fast enough .... I'm sure you've been waiting patiently to see if your name was the winning one in either September or October prize draws!  So I'm not going to draw it out any longer.  

We had quite a few stitching along in September.  It always makes my heart sing when I see how we can all stitch together in different houses, in different states, countries, time zones, doing different things and it just doesn't matter!  We're all doing what we love.....together!  Such a special bond we've created thanks to technology. And thanks to Dawn at Kitty Rose Cottage for sponsoring our FNSI's.  She is just 'the bomb!' 

Make sure you pop by and visit her online shop..... she has the most amazing stuff, and there's new things all the time!

Our winner (or in this case, winners) for September is:     

CONGRATULATIONS team!!!

The draw for October was a double one.....remember I missed a Friday and you all stitched and posted on Facebook anyway???  Well I counted those ones as well as the following weeks so most people had two chances to win (even though it only takes one!)   Our winner for October is....

CONGRATULATIONS Chris!!!

If both of you could email or private message me your postal address, I'll make sure Dawn gets something wonderful off to you in the mail.  Woohoooooo!!!

Now, this month's FNSI sign ups are below OR on the facebook group page if you don't have a blog.  Remember, if you have a blog it's great to link here so we can all come visit you as is the original, and continued intention of FNSI.  Good luck, fingers crossed, and happy stitching!

Big sugary hugs xox :o)

FNSI, Take Two for September....

 I'm so sorry I totally missed last week.  I look forward to FNSI every month, but this month certainly snuck up and bit me on the you-know-what!  Thank goodness we love sewing so much as I'm sure you won't mind repeating last week's FNSI with me this week?

I noticed lots of friends stitched along anyway and I saw lots of lovely things being posted in the Facebook group.  If you're not a member, sign up with us and if you are but missed out, pop by the group and have a look.   If you joined in our 'pseudo-FNSI' last week, I'll add your names to our prize draw this week.

I have finally finished my "Heartstrings" quilt, designed by Natalie Bird of  Birdhouse Patchwork Designs.  It took me quite a while as there was stitchery, EPP, piecing, and needleturn applique and the pieced blocks around the final border are 3" squares!!  Smallest border I think I've ever done but, gee it was worth it .... I LOVE it!

I used Tilda 'Windy Days' fabric range.  I love how it's turned out. Now just to quilt it and bind it...not sure what colour binding .... any ideas??

  

I'm working on a new project now....my good friend Pami Green's (of My Rosebud Studio) quilt design "Angelica".  I loved it from the first moment I saw it and just had to get onboard.   I'm doing it as a BOM through the quilt store where Pami works - The Patchwork Angel.  

 I'm using Tilda again but the last ranges....'Çhic Escape' and 'Daisyfield' which I bought from our fabulous FNSI sponsor, Dawn of Kitty Rose Cottage. These are my most favourite Tilda fabrics so far (but I say that every time!!).  I know Dawn has a little bit still in her store so pop over to add some to your stash.  

Just a bit of needleturn on the chain block (which I think I'll do at FNSI *wink*!) and then I'll be waiting in anticipation for block two.

Now I think it's time to draw a winner from last month's FNSI.  Thanks again to Dawn for sponsoring the prize each month.  I can honestly say her prizes are most generous and everyone who's won one has commented as such.  Good luck to you all....and with fingers, toes, arms, legs and eyes crossed, here goes........

and the winner is.......

Karen of Karen's Corner   

I'm sure Dawn has a very special prize to send off to you Karen, so if you could just message me with your postal details, I'll pass that on ASAP!  wheeeeeeee!

Don't forget to join up below or just post a photo of your Friday night foray in our Facebook Group.  Those of you who were crafting last Friday night will be in the draw too, so if you join this week as well, you'll have TWO entries!!!  

Have a fabulous day tomorrow...it's Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Holiday here in Australia, so sewing will be done with such a wonderful selfless woman in mind.

Big sugary hugs :0)

Friday night Sew In and some winners....finally!

Can you believe it's time already for our virtual get-together??  It comes around so quickly, and for that I am grateful!  I always love knowing I'm not stitching alone, even though I'm bunkered down in my lounge room with all I need to keep me going with a good movie playing and a cuppa and chocolate!   I can appreciate that we're all doing our thing, together...It's great, isn't it?

But firstly,  I need to catch up on some overdue prize draws.  You ladies have been super patient with me and I know that Kitty Rose has some wonderful prizes just waiting to be sent out to the lucky winners for May, June and July. (oops, how did I let that many slip??)

Here goes.... firstly May.  We had 23 lovely ladies joining together in May and we had some beautiful projects happening to inspire us.  Our winner for May is:

KNITTY QUILTER USA!

(don't know what happened to my photo and how it became blurry but you can still see the winner!)

In June we had a whopping 28 joining in.  Our lucky winner for June is:

CHRIS FORSTER!

and Finally July where 22 wonderful friends got together to stitch the night away.  Our winner for July is:

LEANNE HARRISON!

Congratulations to all three of our lovely winners.   Pop me a message with your postal address and I'll have Miss Kitty Rose aka Dawn, send out your prizes.

Now, without further ado.....here are the sign ups for this month's stitch in (tomorrow night! *eek* it comes around so quickly!)

have a wonderful day and see you tomorrow!

big sugary hugs xox :o)