Pin cushion finish

I haven't had much time for sewing lately. It's unusual for me, I just don't feel myself if I don't sew a few stitches every day. Anyway, I finally sat down to sew last night and decided to finish my linen pin cushion. It was already stuffed so I didn't need to open my new giant bag of walnut shells, they will have to wait for next time. I got lots of good thread ideas on my original post and decided to go with white around the Dresden.

And because I've decided I like double sided pincushions, I made a pentagon ring for the other side. One For A Wish suggested trying navy thread, and I think it looks good. I added some more navy around the sides because it looked a bit plain.

It's not my favourite pin cushion but it was an interesting experiment. I think it looks rather good on my freshly mown Spring lawn. So now it's back to my hand quilting.....I feel like it will take forever to finish.

Susan x

I have gone mad!

So, you know I'm looking for a cheaper source of crushed walnut shells. Well I found it, but I had to buy A LOT. So now I am the proud owner of a 6 kilo bag of crushed English walnut shells. I got them from Bills Pet Paradise in Bathurst today, apparently it's used for reptile enclosures. The lady didn't even skip a beat when I told her what I wanted them for, they sell quite a lot for pincushions. It's the smallest bag they sell, and it looks exactly like what I buy from craft stores. 

I think I'll need to share!

Susan x

Quiet on the sewing front

It's been a busy week, and I am shocked to reveal that I haven't sewn a stitch since last Wednesday! That's four days! I've been busy doing some fun non-sewing things. It started with my birthday. How cute is this little antique thimble that Hubby found for me? He even made the cute little box. It's so tiny next to my usual thimble.

Then we had a couple of days romancing in Sydney, leaving the boys at home alone for the first time. They survived and the house is intact.

To finish it off, today I ran a 5km fun run with my son. It was my first fun run (not sure why they put those two words together), and we were running to support research into Parkinson's disease (which my Dad had). It was raining, and I thought I was going to die, but I did it in just over thirty minutes. Here we are looking completely glamorous afterwards.

And now I am spending the afternoon "cleaning up" in my sewing room! Wish me luck.

Susan x

Weekend sewing

The thing about hand quilting a large project is that I really need small creative diversions along the way. This week it's yet another pin cushion, but in green which is a colour I don't use very much. I have used this particular combination for a couple of zipper pouches and I really like it. Do you think green or white running stitch to accent the applique? Thought I'd have a go at a square pincushion. I used soft fill at first but it just would not stay in shape so reverted back to walnut shells........think I really need to get a bulk supply as it is my preference every time. 

I'm still pondering whether I should continue DJ. These are my blocks so far, and I do like it, but I don't think I will be making the quilt in its entirety. So I'm going to choose the remainder of the blocks that I'm happy to make and then come up with some variation on the border.

I think a lot of my sewing frustration this week has come from the cross stitch pattern I bought myself for my birthday. I wasn't sure I had ordered enough thread so I stitched one skeins worth and did some calculations..........whoa, way underestimated what I'd need of the "limited edition" colour (and not cheap thread either). Anyway, to cut a long agonizing story short I'm going to unpick what I've done and choose a nice dark red DMC. Just annoyed with myself for not thinking it through better......and I hate unpicking!

Exams are over for now, Mr 16 has returned from the snow, and Mr Thimblestitch and I are running away to the city for a couple of days this week. So lots of planning and organizing to do over the weekend, but of course there will be some time for sewing too.

Susan x

Giveaway winners

Oops, I'm a day late with the winners.......life got in the way yesterday. So without further ado, and with Mr 14's help picking the numbers, congratulations to Sylvia, you've won the charm pack, pincushion kit and reel holder. And the winner of the the stitchery kit and reel holder is Susan at Kiwikids. Email your address and I'll pop your goodies in the post.

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes, fabulous gift ideas and all the day to day comments and emails. I think I have enough projects to keep me blogging for at least another four years!

Winter has returned with a vengeance today, and it's the end of my working week, so tomorrow I hope to spend some time sitting by the fire with my little dog.

Susan x

Fourth birthday giveaway

I still find it hard to believe that I started a blog in the first place, let alone that it has continued and grown so much in four years. What started as a bit of fun (with Chookyblue's encouragement) has led to so many new friendships, ideas and projects. Without a local sewing group my blog is a creative lifeline that I would be lost without.  

So on Tuesday my blog turns four and I think a little giveaway is in order to celebrate. I've made a charm pack of my favourite red and cream fabrics; ones you would have seen in tiny hexagons, Dear Jane and countless other projects. Add to that a red hexie reel holder, and a kit for Lily's Bluebird Pincushion which so many of you commented on here. The fabric in the kit isn't exactly the same, but still chosen by Anni herself.

And because it's so hard to give away just one prize, there's also a low volume hexie reel holder and Rosalie Quinlan stitchery (linen included).

To enter just leave a comment telling me what your go-to project for gifts is. I'll announce the winner on Tuesday afternoon.

It's a beautiful, sunny winters day here, so I think there will be some gardening.........and some sitting in the sun sewing.

Susan x

FNWF

My FNWF started out with a trip to Bathurst and some shopping at Hatched & Patched. It's not every day you get to spend half an hour chatting and choosing fabrics with Anni Downs herself! Some very different choices for me, and one little red fq. The fabric at the bottom came from Spotlight, an organic Cloud 9 that Karen put me on to.

Some fabric for another baby quilt, with help from Anni. I couldn't resist the rabbits.

Then last night I kept on quilting Irish Circles.......this will be going on for quite some time yet. And spent a few moments finishing off these.

After being inspired by Lea the red spot was my first go, then I used up some hexies that had already been sewn together for another project which didn't happen, and then a red hexie one as well. They may be used in a giveaway over the weekend so pop back tomorrow!

Today I am helping Mr 16 pack for his school ski trip tomorrow, keeping Mr 18 happy while he studies for his exams, keeping Mr 14 company and enjoying some of this winter sunshine.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Susan x

FNWF

I'm joining up with FNWF tomorrow night. Whilst I stitch most nights, it's nice to have a virtual stitch-in with friends. I expect it will be an evening of hand quilting. I am so happy with how my corner quarters look when they are quilted into a circle on Irish Circles.

Taking a trip to Bathurst tomorrow so there could be a little bit of shopping at Hatched & Patched........

Susan x

Lilly's Bluebird pincushion

Why does that last little bit of finishing take so long? Why do I put it off? Yesterday I just made myself stuff this pretty pin cushion that has been sitting all but finished on my desk.......it took a tonne of crushed walnut shell and about ten minutes to do.

It's a Hatched & Patched design. I really enjoyed the appliqué, but it was very hard to turn right side out......think I used too much interfacing.

Hope you have a happy weekend of stitching. I'll be working through my scraps, one 1/4" hexie at a time......

Susan x