Block-a-day-July Day 22

Friday is always my busiest day so it took some careful planning to make sure I got a block made.

I had a look through my Omigosh! box first thing and found these parts.

Oh good, one block nearly made!

So I sat down and started sewing. Of course, in order to sew it, I needed a leader-ender block (!) so I found one of my prepped churndashes and made a start on that as well.

I was at this stage when I needed to stop to feed my calves-have breakfast- shift cows and sort new calvers-and get to work.

I emerged from the calfshed to see a beautiful sky and I later discovered I had missed a beautiful sunrise - lots of locals posted gorgeous photos - while I had my head down and tail up!

All animals fed and happy I went off to work for the day.

We're very fortunate to have our son-in-law helping out on the farm, casually, at the moment. Over the last few months he has done a huge amount of fencing (flood damage as well as repairs to the miles and miles of fences we seem to have!). And just perfectly, he is here for calving as well.

So instead of having to rush home from work to do farmwork, I stayed there and got home in time to watch him feed the last calf of the day!! We've done everything by ourselves for more years than I can count so it's really nice to have the extra pair of hands around the place😀

With the pressure off, I was able to finish my block for the day, which ended up as two blocks for the day —

Then it was back into town. ED had arranged for two of our little families (plus Ganma) to go to the Whangarei Night Lights show. We didn't really know what to expect - and it was way past the kids' bedtime - but it was a pretty fun spectacle and the kids really enjoyed it. There were lots of outdoor displays and a few indoor ones,. George was fascinated by the firedancers and Lily loved the ballerina in the A-frame. There was so much to see that no-one got grumpy (although one was almost asleep by the time we got back to the car!) 

None of us got very decent photos but here are a couple of the better ones.

Odie didn't want to be in the photo but he was there as well.

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Block-a-day-July Day 18

We've given ourselves a quiet-ish couple of weeks as we knew this was about to happen —

Yes, our first calf!

Her mum is on the left. The white cow was acting like she might calve last night so we separated her from the rest of the mob too.

In The Palace, I did a LOT more tidying - and didn't get distracted by random side-tracks this time(!). I unearthed some more partially completed Omigosh! blocks so sewed them up, making two more blocks for that (very long term) project.

I enjoy making the shoo-fly type blocks for Omigosh so much that I forget about making the 9-patch ones as well.

And one more (6") churndash too —

My evening knitting is going quite well and I've nearly finished the sleeves. The blue wool you see there is all I have left. It's enough for a few more blue rows on the second sleeve, to match the first. The gold on top looks a bit silly in the photo but matches the rest of the jersey just fine!

We had a pretty nice sky last night. Not captured terribly well here but I'm hoping that it will mean a nice day today for our first foray into calf-busy-ness!

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Block-a-day-July Day 15

Luckily I had some units floating around which I was able to quickly sew into tonight's Omigosh! block —

And a bit of leader-ender sewing while assembling the block, created two more hour glass blocks —

When the MOML got up for a stretch, Nigel took over on his tablet. Looking pretty hard at work, I believe!

'til next time,

Happy stitches,

Block-a-day-July Day 10

Today was a very pleasant Sunday!

The Chookshed Stitchers had a meet i.e. a zoom session - I was able to join in this morning and spent my time knitting. I haven't touched this jersey for George for nearly a week and really want to get it done SOON while winter is still here!

This is the front, it has a split and a wee button band at the neck/front —

And I've previously finished the back, peeking out of the bag —

It's always fun to sit and chat with the ladies. You never know what's going to be be discussed!

After a few chores, I settled into The Palace for a spot of sewing. I only intended to do a bit (i.e. one block) as it was quite nice outside and there are plenty of things that need doing elsewhere. However being a Sunday I gave myself permission to keep on sewing.

First block of the day for my Memory Lane quilt —

Joined by another block; this one is for my Omigosh! quilt —

While I was on the subject of Churndashes, I decided to make another one — 

(Uh-oh please don't tell Chooky but I think I may have succumbed to the Chooky Churndash Sewalong.)

(But if I do decide to sew more, they will definitely be a leader-ender scrappy project!!!)

I encountered neither water nor cows on my walk first thing this morning. I had no trouble getting over the bridge!

And up the back hill okay as well —

In spite of it being winter the Lycopodium is looking lovely and healthy at the moment. It grows along the side of the tracks in amongst the fern and bracken, etc. Florists love it as it lasts a long time.

Looking at the bridge from the other end, you can see little damage this time. Just a few branches and some fences/wires to put up —

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Goals for July

I had a grand plan for July, which was to make a block a day and write a post a day with it; as I have done the other odd time when I wanted to focus on block-making and blogging.

So what happened —

July 1st - YES I finished a block (which only needed a few seams sewn to finish it off) —

(Tilda Memory Lane project which I will talk about another time)

But with kids, work, supermarket and so on, a blog post didn't happen!

July 2nd was surely going to be my catch up day and a chance to get started on my mission.

A block got completed —

Omigosh! block. For the quilt by Sue Garman. It's a while since I've made any of these but now that I have finished making my 36-patch scrappy blocks (see *here*) I have a pile of 1" strips that need attention.

But with kids, the farm and a power cut, a blog post didn't happen!

July 3rd was to be the day to properly start on this mission. We did have kids and more kids during the day but later on, the time was my own so I sewed up my block(s).

(More Tilda Memory Lane blocks)

Then the hills called and I spent the last hour of daylight walking!

Today is the 4th and I am determined today will be the day to properly start this mission.

Today's block(s) —

Some nice straightforward Sawtooth stars.

I'm also signing up to Patty's One Monthly Goal. I haven't joined in for a while but this month I'd really like to get my Bears and Bears Paw quilt finished. I don't believe I have shared a photo of the finished top. Here it is —

This pattern is by Sew Fresh Quilts. I'm excited to get it completed and into the post for its recipient!

I have had a slow start to the month but hopefully it's onwards and upwards now 😀

'til next time,

happy stitches,

End of the month again!

May turned into another of those months where I didn't get as much sewing done as I hoped I might.

The kiddos have all been here regularly and our house guests stayed for nearly three weeks - all good and no dramas but life gets a little out of routine at times :-)
However looking back through my photos, I see I did achieve a little. 

I made another Pathfinder vest. This one was for Odie and was made using more of the old oilskin I have been cutting up one project at a time.

And a brushed cotton lining.

I decided to use the sewn back seam of the original coat (because it looks cool!) but it meant I couldn't avoid a wee hole there. A simple patch job —

which adds to the authenticity, I think —

The button loops were actually cut from narrow straps already on the coat - a little less sewing for me!

Below, being modelled by the young Sir —

And speaking of Pathfinder vests, we had a Gruffalo feeding the chickens the other day —

A fun, versatile pattern.

I did some pattern testing for Juliet of Tartankiwi earlier on. Now that she is releasing the pattern, I can share some photos.
This is a rather clever design and Juliet has got lots of ideas on how to use it.

I enjoyed sewing up these blocks for her and would like to carry on and make some more, using different colours. Visit Juliet *here* to see more.

The photos are either too dark shade or too bright sunshine, sorry!

The one below is a better representation of the colours —

(They aren't as tricky to sew as they look - and Juliet's instructions are always Very Good.)

Deanna and I have challenged each other to make 4 Omigosh! blocks a month. Some months I cruise in but yesterday I had to spend a morning catching up in order to meet the goal!

Each month as I bag them up, I add to the running tally. I'm now very close to halfway with the blocks. It has taken me a couple of years to get this far so this is definitely one of those longterm projects!

And I think I may need to start a new bag - that's a good sign of progress :-)

It's really feeling like winter is sneaking up on us now. We usually try to (stubbornly) hold out till June 1st before we light the fire but we started early this year. With a youngster staying with us, and all the others coming and going, taking the chill off the house won over silly ideas that it doesn't get cold enough till June 1st!

The other day Xavier helped me get the firewood in —

Don't you just love his efforts!!!!

'til next time,

happy stitches,