Some progress and something new

I had a good day stitching on Sunday afternoon and again on Monday night so this afternoon after work I was able to quickly sew together block 6 of the Boys Story quilt ...

I really like this little robot, I think he's pretty cute!  And this block was quite a quick one to do.  Now I am stitching an alien ...

And my something new ... well, I really love the look of table runners (I made two last year for furniture) and I wanted one for our dining room table ... so here is my start ...

It is a pattern from the Homespun magazine, Vol 12.3, by Heather Mulder Peterson.  Quite tricky sewing for me and then there is a little bit of applique to add.
Well, an alien is calling my name!
Happy sewing, Wendy.

Sightseeing and sewing

On Saturday the youth group travelled to Te Aroha, about a 1.5 hour drive, for a tramp up Mount Te Aroha which is 952m to the summit.  The group didn't go all the way to the summit, instead walking to a lower look-out about 45 minutes each way. 



Mt Te Aroha.  Image from http://www.kiwiphotographer.com/

I was lucky enough to enjoy a hot drink with a beautiful view with good conversation and get some sewing done while the kids tramped!! 


View from the cafe

After a swim in the hot pool and dinner of barbequed sausages with hot chips, we headed home.  It was a really nice outing, the kids had a ball!

On the sewing front, I have completed block 5 of the Boys Story quilt.

I am still unable to leave comments on most blogs but I am enjoying reading them!  I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend., Wendy

Homespun stitch-a-long

If you get the Homespun Magazine you may have seen the new free Stitch-a-Long quilt designed by Lenna Green from Stitching Cow.  The first block was in Homespun magazine and the other designs so far are available here on the website.  For further details on the quilt then take a look at the Stitching Cow website.  To celebrate, Lenna is having a fabulous giveaway of a kit for this beautiful quilt.  To find out more about this giveaway visit Lenna's blog and then help to spread the word.

Good luck!

By the way, I have been unable to leave comments on blogger-friends blogs the last two days, hopefully things will return to normal soon?!

Hexagons and cross stitch!

I managed to get some more hexagons made over the weekend so I have 13 flowers now for my second row.

It feels like all my projects at the moment are big ones, so on Monday night I had a look through patterns and found a little cross stitch pattern that I knew I could complete quickly ...


Me and Thee, source unknown
Stitched on 32ct linen with Cottage Garden thread No 504, Lilli-pilli

 I really enjoyed doing something different and quick and, as always, loved the look of the variegated thread.  Instead of sewing the current year I put 1993, the year Paul and I married, I thought it fit with the sentiment of the stitchery, and I think I will put it in our bedroom.  (It is so small you probably have to click on the photo to see the date!)  I now have to decide how to finish it, I think I will start by looking for a cute frame.  So ...  almost a finish!!

Take care and happy stitching, Wendy

FNSI

Last night I got settled with a hot drink, this ...

... and my sewing for a perfect Friday Night Sew In!  Have I said how much I love having a fire?  It really makes me feel cheerful and cosy no matter the weather.
I decided to continue working on the Boys Story quilt so sewed away on block 5 ...

I had hoped to finish the block in the evening and get some hexagons done but the railway tracks seemed to take a lot of sewing!  I have one more track to sew, you can see my needle in place, and there is also a rocket ship to be appliqued on the right of the block.
Thanks Heidi for hosting FNSI!
Happy sewing, Wendy

FNSI

I forgot to mention on Wednesday that I have signed up for Friday Night Sew In ... which is tonight!  I'm not sure what I will be sewing yet, I'll see what I feel like at the time!  It is such a nice feeling, sewing away and knowing there are others around the world doing the same thing!  If you feel like joining us look for the Friday Night Sew In button on my side bar, click on it and you can register to join in!

It was a grey foggy start to the day today ... I will leave you with a couple of photos from my walk this morning ...

See you tomorrow with my FNSI sewing!  Wendy

Tuesday's treasure on Wednesday!

It's actually Wednesday already in NZ but I couldn't resist showing one of my treasures after seeing Rosie blog about her treasure! 

This beautiful shawl was made by my mother when I was pregnant with Charlotte, 15 years ago.   Mum's knitting is so fine and the wool is very soft.  I loved wrapping Charlotte in this and then Joshua when he was born.  The shawl is such a treasure and even more special now Mum is going blind with macular degeneration.  For more treasure's you can go to Melody here.
I have finished block 4 of the Boys Story quilt ...

I really love the comic strips in this quilt and so does Josh!!
I got more Sewline glue in the post yesterday so I am back into gluing and making more hexagon flowers.
Happy sewing, Wendy

It's Monday again!

Back to the weekly routine!  Kids off to school and I visit my parents each Monday morning, getting home about lunch time to get into some work.  Today is cold and blustery so I think I will light a fire once home in the afternoon - fire's are my favourite part of winter and make our home so cosy!!

Last week I finished stitching my first row of hexagon flowers together and started on my next twenty flowers - only completed two so far!

I also completed the applique for the fourth block of the Boys Story quilt, this week I will hopefully finishing sewing this block together.  I found the applique quite hard after not doing it for a couple of months - all those little pieces! 

Last week a new book arrived that I had ordered - Tis the Season by Natalie Bird - I don't know when I will find the time for this pattern but I think it is really nice so maybe I will get one of the smaller patterns made for Christmas!  I bought it from http://www.fionamarie.com/ and she also gave me this gorgeous waterlily pattern - thanks Fiona, I love it!

I hope you all have a marvellous Monday, perhaps with better weather than I'm having!
Happy stitching, Wendy

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday I found time to make a mug rug for my dear mum for Mother's day ...

Be Still mug rug - Michele Hester designs

My points are not very good at all but I like the overall look of it and I love that I found a mug that matches so perfectly!!  I found the pattern here and thought it would be just right for Mum who is becoming quite frail.

I was spoilt today and one of the gifts I was given was some fat quarters!!!  A bunch of beautiful reds, I will be able to turn some of them into hexagons.

Happy Mother's day everyone!  Wendy

Progress ...

I am very excited to say that I have finished the Vignette quilt blocks 2 and 3 ... lots of stitching but I got there!  A niece asked me the other day if I get sick of all the stitching but I really don't ... I said to me it is as relaxing as reading, yet I feel even better about it because I am accomplishing something ... I guess only another stitcher would understand the relaxation and satisfaction that stitching gives!!



A close up showing the beautiful Cottage Garden variegated thread - I love this look!

 I have also been stitching away on my hexagons and also love doing these, although my fingers are getting a bit sore!  I have decided to make 20 hexagon flowers and then sew them into a row as I love seeing progress!!  I have made my first 20 so I have started sewing them together ... this is how far I have got ...

It is a beautiful autumn day here - I love autumn - and our little cat, Holly, kept me company outside as I took the above photos ...

Sweet little Holly

And one last photo, this really funny one that Charlotte took of the chickens...

Well, I hope you are all enjoying your Saturday, Wendy

Hexagons

I have finally started sewing hexagons for the Vignette Hexagon quilt.  Here is my start ...

Barney decided to sit on the hexie's just as I tried to take a photo ... typical!

Just like all the comments I have read, these hexie's become quite addictive and it is very satisfying seeing the pile grow!  I am starting to work more production-line style, cutting lots out, then move onto gluing, and then sewing them into flowers ... I think I am getting slightly quicker!!

I'm off to the quilt shop tomorrow for more red thread so hopefully I will be able to show some progress with the Vignette mystery quilt this week.

Well, Barney is on my knee so that is excuse enough to stay sitting here and to get some more hexie's made!

Happy sewing, Wendy