Sewing at Scrub Stitching

Since I've been home, there's not been a lot of sewing done.

After the first few weeks I had - 

A. Sewn a side seam for my DIL which was damaged by label removal

B. Sewn an air filter for a motorbike for the MOML

C. Re-hemmed some jeans for ED.

Better to focus on the sewing I achieved at Scrub Stitching - 

I took two 'new' projects to work on....totally allowable in my eyes as they were both scrappy ones, cut/prepared from scraps and stash.

As well as making the pouches shown in my previous post, I made good starts on the two projects - 

The first was a Scrappy Trip Around the World quilt. I did spend some time prior to Scrub Stitching cutting the strips for this and sorting them into piles. Once at SS and sewing, I just had to hope that I'd made the right decisions and that I was heading in the right direction with the prep work.

Hopefully once I've sewn them altogether and rearranged them, this quilt will make sense!

Nicely organised baggies. I impressed myself with my organisation prior to SS —

I also wanted to make a start on another impulse project. I started with a vague plan and a whole lot of strips thrown in a bag. I sewed until I decided I needed more space to lay this out and think. 

What is fun about this is the random sized strips that are used for the log cabin. When I have decided on a size for each quarter block I will just trim them all to the same size. 

I have a lot of strips hanging around which I've been saving for a 'rainy day' and this was a great way to start using them.

Looking at it now, I think I'll sew a couple more dark rounds and then decide on a size. 

I'm calling this Starry Log Cabin for now (haha original name!).

It was nice to have a couple of fancy new pouches to bring my projects home in.

I really had the urge to sew the other day so spent some happy time just sewing my current leader-ender project, 4-patch fun.. It's nice to sew up a bunch and then spend some more happy time rummaging for more reds to cut up!

Can you spy who is in the photo below, who was entertaining me while I took my photos this morning?

Yes, baby Olive (and her family) are here!! They were here when I arrived home from Australia so it's no wonder I haven't got a lot of extra stuff done!!

It's been wonderful to spend the time with them —

Yesterday she carried on the family tradition and helped Ganma feed the chooks —

Okay, time to go,

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Raewyn

Home once more

In my last post I was about to leave for Australia to attend our annual Scrub Stitching retreat.

I thought the above (unusual) heart shaped gum leaf I found while out walking one morning was a perfect way to describe my trip.....I had a fabulous time...I loved every minute ♥

I have to start with a photo of kiwikid Sue and I - we travel together each year and have lots of fun. Without Sue, my adventures to Scrub Stitching wouldn't be (as) possible.

This year WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO SIT TOGETHER; however we both survived :-)

For those who don't know, Scrub Stitching is held each April at Camp Cypress, the showgrounds at Baradine, a small town in North Western New South Wales. A group of bloggers (primarily) descend on it and take over the cabins, main room and kitchen with sewing, chatting, eating and sleeping on repeat for the duration.

Sadly, it was looking a little bit dry this year —

Here is the main room on the first afternoon, all set up ready for the invasion —

This is the view (taken another time) from the kitchen on the other side of the room —

Meals, Morning tea, and Fivesies often morph into sewcial sessions —

A fabulous goodie bag is par for the course —

— filled with all sorts of surprises. An Australian coffee mug, sweet treats. Di made the name tags which are actually bookmarks. Brenda made us some delicious coconut ice (again!).

The rulers were pretty cool (and useful), with our special logo on them. Janice made us each a magnetic butterfly, and Jo contributed a wee pouch —

The fabrics and zip in the goodie bag photo were this year's kit for a project - and thanks to Chooky's expert tutelage (hehe) most of us completed a pouch by the end of SS. 

Mine's here with one my pile of pouches from Scrub Stitching.

Jo's wee one; the kit make (top right); one I made; and a special gift from some special ladies —

 - I had asked Jo to show me her special way of making her project bags. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. It's a step up in 'quality' from the vinyl fronted pouches I've made before.

See that torn serviette Jo is holding - those are her instructions!!

Chooky kindly lent me one of her machines. I took over my Sewing Space Station which proved to be very handy. I worked very hard to try to remember to place everything back in its pocket after I used it, which in the limited space and with my scrappy (messy) sewing, was necessary!

Always plenty to eat. The Coeliac in the group appreciated the GF scones (hehe) —

Fivesies before our party dinner were held outside —

The theme for this year's party dinner was 'A favourite book character'. It was so much fun to see what everyone came up with —

Sue and I went with favourite children's book characters; Noddy and The Gruffalo —

I styled my outfit off ones I'd made for the kids years ago. 

I didn't think to get a photo of the back which showed my tail and purple 'spikes' all over my back.

(I used the Twig n Tale women's Pathfinder vest pattern. Definitely one I would make again- sans ears and horns, of course!)

We gather each year for a Tribe photo. I had just come back from a massage so was feeling very relaxed for the photgrapher!

You can probably tell I've just been grabbing photos and talking about them for this post. I'll sign off now but will organise myself for a follow-up blogpost soon......

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Raewyn

More travels

 It's been a busy few weeks since my trip to visit our new little grandie-girl. There"s not been much productivity in The Palace. 
I did get my March RSC red block made - 

And made a few more blocks for my Leader-ender project (Bonnie Hunter challenge) - 

I"m getting quite a pile of these blocks now (about 80) and I think there will be a time in the not-so-distant future when this project will morph from a leader-ender project to a full scale full time one!!

I tried to do some preparation for our upcoming Scrub Stitching retreat in Australia. I used this wee bundle as a starting point for going through my stash and cutting strips.

Last year at Scrub Stitching I was entranced by the Luna Lapins that Christine and Sharmayne had made and I decided I NEEDED to make one too.....

Of course I had a year to prepare and it all got left to the last minute.

McGeorgeous helped me with the stuffing-

I fell in love with the pelletised pure wool stuffing I bought at  show last year -

But sadly I decided to leave Miss Luna at home. She was too embarassed to travel with no arms, no eyes and, most importantly, no clothes!! NEXT YEAR!!!

In the meantime there has been a school triathalon-

It was a drizzly day but they all did well.

There have been kids to play - 

The MOML and I spent Easter away. We drove south to Whakatane (and Opotiki) to help celebrate my Uncle's 80th birthday. It was great to catch up with family again; I have so many cousins and it's always fun to see who comes out of the woodwork!

We took the scenic route.

Cambridge - 

Lake Rotoiti-

Happy 80th Uncle Jimmy.

After a 'brunch' back at his place the next day, we spent some bitter sweet time at Mum's place distributing and sorting her bits and pieces. My sister has done a great job of sending out lists for everyone to put their name on, but there are still a lot of things to find homes for. Mum's siblings came around and helped relieve us of random things.

We drove home in pouring rain but thankfully the MOML (and uncle-advisors) had done an excellent job of waterproofing and there was not a drop of water on anything!

And this morning I am at the airport, waiting for my flight to Australia and Scrub Stitching!!!

(None of my photos showed up when I previewed this post so I hope they show for you!)

I'll catch up soon!

Happy Stitches,

Raewyn