Evening projects

As I was doing some prepping this afternoon, I realised I hadn't shared about my latest project.

Yes!! I have started something new!

Hmmm; somehow I found myself putting my hand up for sewing the shop sample of a new block of the month we are doing at The Country Yard.

How could I resist it? Here was me making a start —

You can see why I couldn't resist!

A few nights later I had two pets snuggled and helping me stitch...obviously they can read!

The quilt is The Santa, The Tree, The Turkey and Me by Anni Downs. Stitching onto linen and whip stitching the woven wool down (after sticking it down with fusible web). It's the first time I've used linen like this and I am quite enjoying it!

Here is block one, all completed —

A closer shot —

Below is how far I am with Block Two. The gingerbread on the oven tray need whip stitching down and I have some script next to the heart to stitch next as well.
I find it best to prepare just a few elements at a time.

My other project for the evenings is Michelle's Wings and Pretty Things. I had intended to be working fulltime on this but now that I'm doing the above project as well, I'm alternating them which is working quite well. I've already completed the centre block and just the other night, completed Block One of Border Three (I think) —

Such a cute well fed bird!

And I've made a start on the second block —

In other news, I put stirrups on the bottom of Odie's over-trou —

And while I had the pattern out I made him a pair of pants. I lengthened the body and legs and made it slightly narrower and it should fit him for a while —

This is just a scrap of fabric someone gave me about 20 years ago that I never got around to using. It's all gone now!!

Playing around and making a fancy little waist tie reminded me why I used to enjoy making clothes for the kids.

In our house we call these pants 'Truffs' - trousers with cuffs.... a name that has stuck over the years!

I think that's me caught up for now :-)

'til next time, 

happy stitches,

Jumping right in...

It's hard to know where to start after such a long absence here in blogland. An unexpected break brought on by too many calving cows.
There hasn't been a lot of time in my sewing room but I have kept up with my hand stitching in the evenings.

In my last blogpost I showed the start I'd made on block four of Foxley Village.
A week ago I took these progress shots for a blogpost that didn't happen —

At that stage, here were the first four applique blocks. (There's still piecing to do which goes between and around these blocks.)

And last night I put the final hand stitches in it -

Now I just need to sew some more squares to the bottom plus a row of hourglass blocks below that and this block will be totally complete.

Don't look too closely, there's still a bit of the wash away stabiliser under the
Foxley Village stitching - it's what I traced on to so I could get the design
on the front. (Too many layers to see through for tracing.)

In spite of the unpredictable weather I've got a few mobs of calves out on the grass for a bit of exercise and a nibble. They still have access to the sheds but spend most of the day and some nights out in the paddock. I love seeing them out there - growing and happy!

A bit of excitement down on the farm was the 'Reserve People' and a helicopter using one of our paddocks to lift bags of trees into the reserve next door for spring planting. The area is still recovering after *this* event. The kiddies and I got a ringside seat.

Attaching the bags of trees to the rope

Up, up and away

The kids had a quick visit to the calf shed - 

And got slobbered all over :-)

I can't believe another weekend is upon us - I have plans for some quiet time and a date with my machine. And hopefully a catch up in blogland, which I am missing dreadfully!!

'til next time,

happy stitches, 

Weekend foxes and chocolate

You may remember that I have started Foxley Village this year. This past week I have been working on the applique for Month Two. I was really happy to have completed the fox - he's such a handsome fellow and looks quite at home on top of the Tea Shoppe (Actually he still needs some features embroidered on!).

For Friday Night with Friends I did a bit of preparation —

Back basting for more applique

Applying wash-away stabliliser for stitchery details
(too many layers to see through for tracing)

And by now I have got the block to this stage —

My disappointment is that the picture of the original quilt shows a (light) verandah plus (dark) base boards but the pattern just has the verandah on it. Comparing the two it looks incomplete but on it's own it's not too bad. Because I've used a dark fabric as the verandah I am not sure what to put to make it look complete so it may just stay as it is. (Obviously I didn't look up any errata in the actual pattern and realised my error once I'd done the sewing!)

Thank you to those that crafted away with me on Friday night. Pop over to Cheryll's blog to see what others got up to (there's always plenty of inspiration!).

The MOML had a birthday on Friday so Saturday was a family day with everyone gathered for lunch.

Easter Eggs are now making an appearance in the supermarkets so they were an obvious choice for a quick and chocolately cake topping!

How lovely is this? The five youngest all together for some serious cousin time! (The older two girls live down-country with their mother.)

hehe all chomping on 'baby sticks' of some description!

There's still some of the weekend left so I'm hoping to squeeze in a little more sewing and then some blog reading.

'til next time,

happy stitches,

A little progress —

My main focus at the moment is an applique project - top secret right now -

This is all I can share.....

I had to have a bit of a break from it the other day though after cutting myself. It was nothing dramatic but it was at the top of my thumb which made the handwork difficult.

So I spent an afternoon trying to catch up on my Mod Bear's Paw quilt which is the quiltalong currently being run by Lorna of Sewfreshquilts. I still haven't quite completed all the Bear Paw blocks but I was itching to work on the bear!
I made the first set of blocks and was SOLD!! I loved how it was looking...luckily YD was on dinner duties that night so I was able to sew for a bit longer :-)

I was pleased with how easily this came together once I focussed - yaay we have a bear!

Doesn't he look supercool emerging from those blocks?

And I'm really happy with how my colours are working too ♥

On the knitting front YD has finished yet another jersey for her wee dog.... she's really caught the bug!

Here is Oscar-Riley modelling his newest jersey.

He has enough to (nearly) fill a wardrobe now! She's basically making them up as she goes, refining the pattern for each one!

The best dressed dog on the farm!

[Don't mention to her that summer is coming....!]
My cut thumb has healed quickly and so it's back to the applique for me... another sneaky peak showing some progress —

— this is the reverse side. For this project I've returned to my favourite method of hand-applique; Back Basting. I first learnt about this method *here* and find it a no-fuss and convenient method to use.
Must get back to it now....this flower aint going to sew itself while I play on the computer :-)

Happy stitching,

and thanks for stopping by,