December Stitching, Gifts and One Monthly Goal

Now that the month is nearly over it is time to share what has been happening on the stitching front during December.

Firstly, this year Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap went into respite as life got in the way.  However, it was suggested by one of the previous participants that we could send a decoration to Chooky to brighten her Christmas.  You can see them all here.

This is the little decoration I made.  It did have a red ribbon hanger, but I took the photo before I added it.  

Mum has been crocheting lots of kitchen towels for the church fete since she has moved into full time aged care, so she made this rather appropriate one for Chooky and I then found the little chook on our recent travels.

My friend Lou (Manxgirl) and I swap Christmas gifts each year.

I was delighted when there was a package of bunting in soft floral fabrics.  I was rather taken with the set that Lou made for her sewing room, so was very surprised and happy to find some had winged its way over here.  Happily, it matches my sewing machine cover and will fit above my sewing room windows nicely.

The rest of the gift consisted of a very practical sized project bag in kiwiana fabrics and some yummy nibblies and pins.  All very handy to have.  

This is what I sent to Lou.  A sewing machine mat with a decoration the same as Chooky's and a few extra bits and bobs.

Although it is designed as a sewing machine mat, Lou has found that it is the perfect size to use as an armchair caddy on her favourite chair.

My One Monthly Goal for December was to complete four Splendid Sampler 2 blocks.  Well, today it is New Year's Eve and I have just added the final stitches.  Once again, goal met by the skin of my teeth.

Nancy's Spool.

Antique Memories

For Madge

Cheers.  This is a bonus block for the New Year, so rather appropriate.

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts.  I'm really happy that I joined this challenge, as I have met my goal for each month except one.  I'm pretty pleased with that.  I think the secret has been to make realistic goals.  The goal does not have to be to complete a project, but can just be to complete a certain stage.  I'm looking forward to participating again next year.

I'm also adding my few little finishes to One Project a Month hosted by Peg and Kris.  I didn't succeed as well with that this year, but there are still quite a few finishes in the side bar.  I'm particularly pleased to see some UFOs on that list. 

Now I'll have to start thinking about what I want to achieve in 2019.  The world is full of opportunities.

One Monthly Goal for December

Another month has snuck up on us and it is time to set my goals for this month.  

Given that it is that very silly time of the year I'm going to aim rather low.

My goal for this month is to complete four Splendid Sampler 2 Blocks.  Surely I can get that done in the break between Christmas and New Year.  

I've really enjoyed being a part of One Monthly Goal this year.  It had kept me on track.  There has only been one month that I haven't achieved my goal, so I'm pretty pleased with that.  Admittedly, I haven't set lofty goals, but that I think is why it has worked.  Thanks to Patty for administering it.

I'm linking up over at Elm Street Quilts.

November One Monthly Goal - Rainbow Scrap Challenge Squared Away Sampler

Once again I have scraped in by the skin of my teeth to achieve my One Monthly Goal for the month.

I'm so pleased to have completed the Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt "Squared Away Sampler".  I've been sitting in the sun in the back yard today, enjoying listening to some mellow music and hand stitching down the binding.  Rather a pleasant way to spend some time.

I've really enjoyed this project.  It's been fun and really achievable, which is what I like. I'll now wait and see what is on offer in 2019 before deciding what I will do.

In the background, I only achieved a couple of Splendid Sampler blocks this month, but that is OK.  I'll get to them soon.  Christmas stitching is ongoing, but hey, there is still 25 days.  Loads of time, but I had better not finish that by the skin of my teeth.  I think I will be playing this weekend.

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the OMG, So Scrappy for the RSC and will be able to report in to Peg and Kris with a OPAM finish.  Winning all round.

One Monthly Goal for November

It's time to set my goal for November and this month it is rather a simple task.

I have just received word that my quilting fairy has completed her magic on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt and I should receive it next week.

Therefore, my goal is to have the quilt completed by the end of the month, which should be very achievable.

In the background I will have my Splendid Sampler 2 blocks to work on and there may be some Christmas stitching worked on as well.  We'll see how we go.

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts.  Pop over there to see what other goals have been set.

One Monthly Goal for October

My goal for October was to catch up on the Splendid Sampler 2 blocks - that meant 8 blocks to be completed.

The Bathurst Blog Meet was held last weekend and that was the perfect opportunity to get stitching.  I had them all prepped and ready to go.  I did get quite a bit done too.

Happily, I can say that I met my goal with one whole day to spare.  Here's what they look like.

"Fashionable Pineapple".  This was supposed to have lots of reverse applique squares throughout the yellow, but I didn't have a suitable yellow fabric in my 30s stash, but this one worked perfectly.  Machine applique is much easier (and quicker) for me. The background is actually white, not pink as it shows here.

"Cathedral Window" was a good block to showcase the cute fabrics.  The centre is quite bulky as there are several layers of fabric under there.

"Tulip in Bloom" was a relatively quick block, but it was still a bit of a challenge to get all the points.

Flower child was another nice and easy applique block.  I hesitated to add the little elephant, but the yellow was just right.  However, I've had lots of positive feedback, so am glad I left him in.

"Fruit Bowl" tested me with small drunkard's path blocks.  By taking it nice and slow they turned out OK.  Once again, machine applique made the circles easier.

"Radio Waves" was a quick and easy block and I finally got to add my red fabrics. I need to add more red as I go along.

"Around Four Corners" used an interesting technique for creating the circles.  I did use needle turn this time.  I need to try it more often.  It was another good block to feature the cute fabrics.

"Betty's Bloom" was one that was a little hesitant about making.  I simplified the pattern by reducing the number of different fabrics, as I thought it looked a little busy.  Once again, a little red was added.  I took it nice and slow and I'm pleased with how it turned out.

"Free as a Bird" is such a pretty block.  Another lady used ric rac for the branch and I borrowed her idea as it suited my fabrics so well.  Not to mention that it was nice and easy to apply.  I think this is one of my favourite blocks so far.

I knew I would need that typical 30s green and luckily in among Mum's collection of bits and bobs that now live at our house there was this little scrap.  Perfect for what I needed.

The last block I completed was "Cat Nap".  Our Joey is a ginger cat, so the colour was based on him.  He is also rather partial to snoozing on a quilt, as I'm sure most cats are.

I decided it was time to see how they all look together.  Happy dance!

The 20th and final free block will be revealed tomorrow.  

I received my Splendid Sampler 2 Book yesterday, so now I'm ready to continue on this journey.  

My other in the background goals were to get the final blocks made for Squared Away Sampler as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  

I got a bit carried away and finished the top.  It is now with my quilting fairy.

My plans to make a shopping bag got shelved. Blame the above photo for that.

So, all in all, I had a relatively productive month for me.  Now I have to plan for November.  

I'll be linking up with Elm Street Quilts who has provided great motivation to get things done.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for October

October saw the final colour revealed, being dark green.

Then, I had to wait patiently for the release of then last Squared Away Sampler block pattern to be released.  The block name is the "Dewey Dream Block" dating back to 1899.

I then knew what I would do on the wintry day while the Bathurst 1000 car race was on.

Ta da!  No originality with colours this time.  They did take longer than I had expected and I had to be careful matching up the points of the stitch and flip corners with the nine patch, but I 'm happy with the results.

Now, to finally have a look at all the blocks together by spreading them out on the floor.  

We had been told that the setting diagram would be released in November and that the idea was to have the blocks set on point.

Blow it!  after a bit of a fiddle I didn't mind the look of what I had.  The only thing was that I needed 32 blocks.  I had one extra that I had made along the way, so decided to add one more.  I also decided to add a different design, just to mix it up.  You know what?  There aren't a real lot of blocks based on five by five that are quick and easy.  This is what I eventually decided on.

A bit chunkier that the others, but it will be just fine.

I stitched the blocks into their rows on that Sunday and then on the Monday stitched the rows together.

Ta Da!

I decided not to have any sashings and just let the blocks play together.  It is much more colourful than I would normally make and makes me think of summer holidays.

To say that I'm happy to be at this stage is an understatement.  Now I need to deliver it to my quilting fairy and get it finished.

Thanks so much to  So Scrappy and The Academic Quilter for the inspiration.

October's One Monthly Goal

Well, it is time to set my goal for the current month.  I haven't spent much time in the sewing room since we came home and have been procrastinating over my goal, as all the easy to finish UFOs are done and now the ones left have a bit more work involved in them.

So, as I haven't worked on any of my Splendid Sampler II blocks since we returned home, I now have seven that are waiting patiently.  Therefore, this month's goal is to have my Splendid Sampler blocks completely up to date by the end of the month.  There will be three more released by then, so that is ten blocks to make.  I think I can do that without too much trouble.  I'll get in and cut kits for each  of  the blocks I have now in one go, which should make things much easier.

In the background, today the final block was released in the Squared Away Sampler, which is part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Those blocks are always fun to make.  I can't wait to see them all laid out together and find out the setting diagram next month.

Also, today we were out and about and in a junk shop I found a remnant of a good quality upholstery style canvas fabric.  There is about a metre, but with a bit cut off the side.  It should make a nice, heavy quality tote bag.  That is my project for tomorrow.

I think that little lot is quite enough for now.

I'm linking up with Patty over at Elm Street Quilts.

September One Monthly Goal and Other Bits and Bobs

It seems to be a trend that I complete each month's goal by the skin of my teeth.  However, at least I do generally meet the goal, which is the main thing.

Ta da!

I'm so pleased to finally have this little project finished, considering it was started way back in 2011.

One day I will have to arrange to hang all my minis.  I have quite a few in a drawer, some dating back to the very start of my patchwork journey, about 20 years ago.

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts where you can see what others have been up to this month.

I'm also happy to have something to report for One Project a Month with Peg and Kris.

Last weekend we were blessed with some glorious weather.

The Sidecar Rally was held at O'Connell over the weekend, but with one thing and another we had forgotten about it, and then weren't organise to camp, so on the Saturday we rode Snubby the silver side car (no photo of her this time) out in the afternoon for a quick visit and then joined some friends for afternoon tea at the cafe.

You get some rather creative machines turn up.  I've never seen a bike with a snorkel before.

On the Sunday with hopped on "Sophia" the Moto Guzzi and rode out to Hill End with the Panorama Motorcycle Club.  We were trying to work out when we last took her for a ride, other than for her rego check, and it appears to be to the Snowy Mountains back in January 2016!!  Poor neglected Sophia.  It didn't take us long to get back into the swing of being on a solo and she ran beautifully.  We should use her more often.  This was only the second time we have been on a run with this club and the first time that we were all on modern bikes.  It is always a gamble as to how fast they go and how they travel as a group.  Well, we had a lovely time.  The pace was good, as was the company.  We'll have to try to go along more often.

That night a cold change came through and Monday was back to winter.  We had been so lucky with the weekend weather.

It is about time I gave  you an update on our garden.  I took a few photos on the day we went overseas and then some more when we returned home.  Things changed quite a bit in that time, but we did get to enjoy our daffodils and wattles, which I thought we may miss out on.  They are all quick snaps, but you will get the general idea.

Our daffodils were just starting to show buds.  These are the ones that cam from down near Rydal.  They didn't flower at all last year, probably due to being transplanted.

We were delighted to have them flower after we returned home.

The snow drops we had brought from Mum's garden were just sticking their noses out of the raspberry bed.

They were in full bloom when we came home.  Since then they have finished flowering, and the raspberries have heaps of growth coming through.

The view towards Mt Panorama showed bare trees and fog on the river flats.

We had a day with unusual clouds not long after we came home.  Notice the green growth on the weeping willow and the pink blossom tree.

Our street trees are starting to get some growth on them.

As is the crab apple.  I should have photos of it in full bloom before long.

The grevillia is looking a picture.

As were the wattles out the front.  They were just coming into their prime when we returned.

They do look lovely in front of the house at this time of year, but may need a bit of a hair cut after they have finished flowering.

The Pink Accent daffodils we bought down at Rydal have now bloomed.  The trumpet started as a pale lemon and each day the pink intensified.  It is now nearly finished and the pink is starting to lose its intensity.  They are now planted in front of the letter box so everyone can see them next year.

And that's about all I have to report.