Weekend stitching (and crocheting)

After a busy week it was nice to spend some weekend time sewing scraps..... it's been a while since I've joined in with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Angela's blog. May's colour was Green and I'm pleased to say there are a few less greens in my scrap stash now :-)

While I was hunting out some scraps I found my cat blocks; the 2 brown (February?) cats were put away partially sewn so I whipped those up then added a green block.... the 2 darker green at the top of the photo below are are ones I made last year- all good things take time!

Cat block pattern found on ohfransson's blog

I then pulled out my HoneyBucket Stars (explanation *here*) and swallowed up a few more scraps making another set —

Here are what I've made so far.

And then a few more 9-patches for my Omigosh! quilt —

Haha it will take a while to get enough for a whole quilt.... I'm sure I'll still have
scraps galore to make these for the next few years!

Not many scraps busted I know but I enjoyed the stitching all the same.(The colours in my photos ae a bit off sorry - they aren't as murky as they look!)

Before I went away I saw a new CAL (Crochet-Along) being advertised ... I thought it looked really cool but knew the timing was wrong for me to start it. When I got home though I was still thinking about it so have jumped in hook and all and am having a blast with it.

It's called Mandala Madness and is being run by Helen of crystalsandcrochet.  Below is Part One...so far they are up to Part 11 so you can see I have a fair way to go. It would be nice to think I might catch up by the time they get to the end but I'm being realistic; after all I had already done Part Two when I realised I'd missed a round and had to do a massive undo :-( {However it gave me a chance to rethink the colours I'd used}.

Part One of Mandala Madness completed

Already I've learnt so many techniques and stitches that I never knew existed! Helen has lots of really good tutorials on her blog to help us through and there is also an instructional video released with each part - so if you feel tempted to join in.......!

Look at that scrummy texture and dimension!!!

My SIL has told me off for causing her current obsession with crochet Mandalas; apparently I shouldn't have shared the link with her:-)

Earlier in the year I was signing up for Heidi's One Monthly Goal (OMG); making a goal that hopefully would be met by the end of the month. In March I had hoped to make Block 2 of Snowflake Land (Quiltmania) to go with the lonely block below..... I didn't get it done so here's hoping I'll be successful in June - wish me luck - it's too cute a project to let it live in a box all its life.

It's really turned into nearly-winter weather this past week so snuggling up in The Palace with a pile of sewing is on for the next few days ♥

Wishing you a creative time too,

...home again...

I waved the New Zealand flag for a few days in Australia on the way home after my wonderful trip away. A lovely way to finish my holiday ♥ A big public thank you to all those special friends who made sure I had a great time - you know that if any of you ever get to New Zealand, I'll be at the airport waiting for you...

A family outing and picnic in a park near Ipswich.

I arrived home to the realisation that I had swapped Spring in the Northern Hemisphere —

I saw Tulips galore while away - a novelty for this Northlander where they
don't grow very well...

— for Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere!! Brrr, it's a bit cooler than when I left....

...and the leaves are falling.

The Australian stopover (if you call 3 days a stopover?) was a good chance to sort out any jetlag issues because as soon as I got home it was full speed ahead and back to my normal routines (not to mention folding a monumental pile of washing the MOML had collected for me!!). Of course there were some things that needed to be done 'yesterday' - no I'm not complaining, after all I had an epic time away.
First up was getting back into the Fabulous Friday Mystery project I'm doing for The Country Yard. Here are some of the blocks I prepped before I went away (or I haven't shared yet) —

Flower Block

Butterflies

More Churn dashes to go with some made the very first week.

And this block was the first thing I needed to get to when I arrived home. 

I've called it the Whirly bloom block - not sure if there is a real name out there for it?!

It's so exciting having the ladies come in on the allocated day (twice a month) to share their blocks and get their new instructions... they are scratching their heads a bit, wondering how they will all fit together. The gallery for their blocks is *here*.
After the large (18") block, I decided it was time to change direction a little and stitched up this wee star... isn't it fun? It's 2¼" finished and gave me a chance to play with my new Itty-Bitty Eights rulers (designed by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings) - awesome with all those one eighth markings.

When I travel I like to collect thimbles, if I can; the one below was a little too big to fit in my bag — 

Outside a souvenir shop on the way to Niagra Falls.

— but these ones came home with me. A nice little add-on to my collection. Wish I'd been able to find the one above, and also I see I don't have one from Winnipeg - 

Paducah-Indiana-Canada-Toronto-Niagra on the Lake-Canada- Niagra Falls. 

Already I have a mess on my cutting bench so before I start anything new I'd better see to that (do you realise I managed to keep my bench tidy for a WHOLE month?! hehe ok, I was away - doesn't it count?)... then I might just pull out some more fabric and do some more playing :-)

Happy creating,

Flying the New Zealand flag in Winnipeg

Next on my itinerary was some time in Winnipeg where Joanne lives.  Joanne and I have been blog, skype and sewing buddies for a long time and it was amazing to finally meet her in person and spend time together. Her and her hubby did a wonderful job of showing me the sights of their city. Here are a few of the things we did...
The Assiniboine zoo was one attraction-

The zoo had underwater viewing tunnels so we could watch the
Polar Bears swim - sadly they didn't swim for us but we had a great
view of them regardless.

As was the Canadian Museum for Human Rights -

The architecture of the building was as interesting as the exhibits,
inside and out.

For obvious reasons, the 'Witness Blanket' exhibition appealed
to me and begged for a closer look.

Good to see New Zealand mentioned!

A view of downtown from the same building.

We visited a Canadian dairyfarm  -

And went to the Barnswallow quiltshow at Morden-
Silly me didn't get the details of these quilts and their makers. There were some really lovely quilts there and we spent a lot of time enjoying them.

And speaking of quilts, it was lovely to see Joanne's masterpieces from over the years-

One of her early quilts plus a quiltalong
quilt she ran a few years ago.

And sleep under them too-

My own hands haven't been completely idle while I've been away. I started with this yarn, which is a beautiful Merino/silk mix which Joanne dyed and spun a few years ago. We had traded yarns; I sent her some NZ possom mix (no I did not dye and spin that!) in exchange.

On the flight to Winnipeg, I knitted the last few rows and cast off as we were preparing for landing!

Washed and blocked!

The pattern for this Asymmetrical Scarf is found on Joanne's Ravelry page *here*.

So pretty

As you can see I had a thoroughly enjoyable time in Winnipeg, thank you so much Joanne and her hubby for having me to stay :-)

My travels are nearly at an end......

'till next time, happy stitching,