My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Another week....another month...

At the start of the year I made a quiet resolution to myself to blog more frequently. Blogging remains my favourite form of social media. I enjoy the more indepth 2-way conversations, the stories and the friendships forged.
And because I mostly only use my PC for 'internet stuff' it's the easiest thing for me to do too.
But I am failing in my bid to blog more often.... January was only 3 posts and here I am only just squeezing in a 4th for the month...maybe I can kid myself that because it's a short month I'm doing OK ...it's just the way the cookie crumbles I guess!

So what have I been up to?
With the warmer evenings, the MOML and I have been sitting up a bit later this month and I've chewed through more stitching than I usually do  —
I've finished the hand stitching on the Fig 'n' Berry project I started on retreat.
This will get sewn up into a wee pencil case which will be very handy...to pack pencils and markers for retreat I ended up using my rotary cutter case..... it was not easy to get the pencil sharpener or rubber out of the bottom!
I've finished up a few more blocks for Ruth's Quilt, a Leanne Beasley design, which we are doing here on the No Fuss Sewalong blog. These are lovely wee stitcheries which don't take too much brainpower and nice to do in moments where my fingers would otherwise be idle.
Here is a close up of one of the blocks. I think the petals are supposed to be done with backstitch but I decided I'd rather do (the very much quicker) lazy-daisy stitch!
And I've completed my first block for Woodland Wonderland mystery quilt. I couldn't resist signing up for this one; something I told myself I wasn't going to do...!
(Sorry the colours aren't showing very well today!)
Daytime sewing feels like it hasn't been nearly as productive but I do have a few photos to share so I guess I've done better than I thought!
I've completed the pig block for the Barnyard quilt I am remaking for work. I performed a bit of surgery to improve the snouts I'd initially done and am a lot happier with them now.
Eyes will come after it's quilted.

And lately I've tested some patterns for Juliet of Tartankiwi... I've done a fair bit of testing for her in the past but not for a while. Juliet designs foundation pieced patterns of all shapes and sizes; a lot, but but not all of them, are animals. I find her patterns well designed and written and I've enjoyed putting these wee birds together for her.
This is the NZ Rock Wren
This is the Red Backed Fairy Wren.
Another Red Backed Fairy Wren...I thought I'd try it with the different background.
The whiter more snowy looking one didn't seem to suit an Australian bird so well!
They form part of the On the Wire Pattern Club she is running this year.

One reason I want to blog more often is so my posts don't get so long.....oh well, thanks for seeing me through to the end,
Best be off,
Happy stitches,

26 comments:

  1. Oh my word - those birds! They are simply amazing. I am not a paper piecer. I have tried a few times, but gave it up to the professionals like you. They are beautiful! I still love the pigs best. They make me want to squeal! And, I feel the same way you do about blogging. I much prefer its slower pace. Don't worry about how often you blog, just that we enjoy it when you do!

    ReplyDelete
  2. love those birds! I blog daily and my post are too long all the time LOL. I never mind if a blog post is long or short - I read all kinds. blogging is the main social media I use also. I post a little on instagram but I feel like you don't really get to know people that way.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such beautiful birds, and the piggies are rather cute too. Your stitcheries are fab as usual.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the "Kissing Pigs". Juliet's design are fabulous....and addictive :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. glad to see it too the end...you're a busy woman making beautiful things.

    Some people don't write much when they are busy..just post one image every day or so, and write more when they can. do whatever suits you easiest. xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. heehee, I was going to blog more, too. Not working out that way so far. You couldn't possibly have time to blog with all the stitching you've been doing. I hate doing paper piecing, but I sure like the result. Your birds are beautiful!! And your piggies couldn't be any cuter.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your pigs--how cute are they!!!
    and what a wonderful job on the birds--they really look like birds about ready to fly--
    and then you have all those embroidery items done--
    so you have kept that needle flying--
    thanks for sharing--
    enjoy, di

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for sharing all your projects. Total #CreativeGoodness. I love them all, but I'm particularly drawn to your stitchery projects. Some day I'll take time to learn. Seems like a perfect project for a warm summer night, as well as for when one is traveling and still wants a project.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your posts are always so delightful, Raewyn! Blogging is my favorite, too, and I don’t post near as much as you. I’ve made so many friends all these years, and it keeps me motivated, inspired, and learning new things all the time. Your stitcheries are too cute for words. And those little piggies....my goodness!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your projects are lovely . . . I'm so glad that you share your talents with us. You do so many delightful things.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Aren't those little birds just the cutest! It sometimes like I'm just writing & it's all lost into ether, but I'm sure there are many of us trying to keep the love of blogging alive!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gosh you sound like me Raewyn ... I do a post & think phew- & then suddenly nearly a fortnight has gone by !! The months sure are flying by. I love all your creations but especially love those little piggies. Happy creating Raewyn.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey, I have always felt I was doing well if I wrote 3 or 4 posts a month. I could never blog daily. When I can't keep up with something, I get discouraged and quit. I shoot for once a week, and sometimes I go two, but it all works out. I just enjoy your adventures whenever you can get around to sharing them!
    All of the little stitcheries look sweet, and so well done. I could use you as a stitching tutor. :)
    Love the snout-to-snout pigs--and those birds are incredible. Good call on the non-white background.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You've certainly made the most of the summer evenings lately! Your little birds are a delight and I love the pigs. I have been very lax with my blogging of late, for health reasons mainly but I am determined to get back into posting - with a vengeance!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love catching up on your doings. Lots of beautiful work. Those birds are incredible.....scary but amazing! Get heart palpation just thinking about how you did them.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your birds are amazing Raewyn so life like!
    So glad you had a good time at your retreat(miss those days) and your pencil case is going to look great and I know it will get well used.
    Happy stitching/sewing and I look forward to hearing about what you accomplish in bloggy land. Hugs xxxx
    P.S the pigs look awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a great selection of projects!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gorgeous pigs and such pretty stitcheries. Love the piggy fabric .
    My resolution was to try to blog more too......well don’t seem to be having as much luck with that.
    Maybe I’m not sewing enough lol.
    The paper pieced birds are absolutely amazing
    Happy sewing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely work. I so agree with you about blogging - I love it the best too - so lovely and chatty and supportive.

    Your piggies are adorable...

    Hugz

    ReplyDelete
  20. My gosh. You have been busy with your stitching. Lovely work on all your projects. the pigs are adorable!
    Love the idea of making a pencil case from the stitchery. And the woodland block is great - can see why it was hard to resist.
    I am super impressed with the birds in the foundation piecing.
    Hope family is all keeping well.
    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I agree... for some reason it is very easy to not blog, even when you really want to! High hopes turned into sucky reality. But I will try and be better this month. I love the little birds, and can't wait to see what you do with them all!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I don't find your posts long at all Raewyn! I enjoy them. Thoroughly. :-) Those birds and that stitching, so beautiful and inspirational--I MUST get another stitchery on the go as I do love doing them and admiring them once they're done! Think the lazy daisy stitch was a spot-on choice too btw.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I know what you mean about blogging more.. I also need to read them more.....
    You sure have been busy doing those beautiful stitcheries and you piggies are sew cute ..
    The birds are just fantastic.....

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lots of lovely work there Raewyyn. I love the little treasures stitchery and the Tartankiwi birds are very effective. Less time on the computer means more time sewing? Anyway, great to read your posts, long or short. xx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Super super cute pigs and birds. I want one too.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate them all and try my best to reply. Have a great day!!
(If you are a no-reply or anonymous blogger and would like a response, please leave an email address.)