FNSI in May

I was happy to join in with Friday Night Sew In last night, spending the night creating and thinking about others crafting away at the same time.

I started by trimming and pressing the two latest stitcheries from my Country at Heart project. And of course taking a photo so I could share them with you.

I was determined to finish off the applique on the bear quilt I started on retreat...simple shapes and stitching really but it always takes me a while to decide on which fabrics to use where... (Leeanne, I could hear you saying "Just decide, just do it!")... I mean how am I supposed to know what colour handbag a bear wants?!

This morning I transferred the face markings onto them and hopefully it won't be long till those are (hand) stitched and the blocks will be ready to sew together :-)

Earlier on, while tea was cooking I had a little practise with my spinning wheel - you may remember last FNSI our neighbour ate with us then surprised me with a quick lesson/demo on spinning. I've yet to get real serious with my spinning (I hope to do that over winter!) but the other day came across a discarded crochet piece. It was supposed to be a cushion cover but got way out of shape and was put in the naughty drawer...so I've been unravelling it using my spinning wheel. It seems a good way to practise my treadling and getting used to the feel of the wheel drawing the yarn out of my hands. Quite pleasureable and a nice thing to do while pots bubble and boil on the stove!

Check out what the other Friday Night Sew In ladies were up to by visiting our wonderful hostess Wendy, *here*.

 I've turned into quite a mother hen lately - a few weeks ago I bought 8 baby chicks... not fluffy Easter ones - but gangly teenage babes. 

 My current chooks have mostly decided they are in retirement and my ONE layer went on strike while moulting. Buying eggs is not my goal in life. I've been very attentive with my new chickens to keep them safe - including being accepted by the other chooks.

Meet Henny, Penny, Jenny, Wendy, Brenda, Milly, Molly and Mandy —

I erected a playpen for them for daytime; made out of bits and pieces from the
nearby shed.
They always like to stand in their fresh bowl of feed!

And late afternoon I've been putting them back into this old guinea-pig cage,
so I don't worry about them all night.

Yesterday I decided they were ok to let out into the chook yard...after we had double checked the fence and sorted out the odd hole that has developed over the years.

Whew, no fighting going on, just a bit of glaring at each other!
I think they are big enough now to withstand a bit of pecking order business!

Hehe couldn't resist this shot of Mr Rooster!

Katie-Cat wanted in on the action!

As all good Mother Hens do, I went down and checked them at bedtime.
They looked hard case all lined up along the top of the guinea-pig cage!

 So that's my Friday night all done and dusted - and most of Saturday as well!  The day is running out for doing the hand stitching on my bear blocks by bedtime but 'll give it a jolly good try :-)

See you next time, 

happy creating,

♥

FNSI in April

Last week flew by with hardly a glance at my sewing machine so I was looking forward to spending fnsi sewing up a storm :-)
We had invited our neighbour for tea as he was home alone but I figured that once we'd eaten, the men would do man-talk and I would escape for some 'fnsi' time.
We got chatting though and before we knew it, it was late and time for bed...
There was nothing for it but to do a spot of time travel and join in with the northern hemisphere fnsi on (my) Saturday.

I spent my time sewing together these stars.....

They are a bit of a leader ender project I've been doing this year - when my monthly scrap challenge blocks are sewn, I carry on with these.
(Terry did a sewalong last year using the Moda Bakeshop Charming Stars pattern. By the time I decided which fabric I wanted to use, the sal was finished!).

I started with blocks in varying stages of completion, after a bit of sorting and sewing, I ended with this little pile of completed blocks.

I can t remember how many stars I had planned to make, but this is a good
start, at least :-)

This is my 'stitchingfarmgirl' photo!

And a funny little aside - never underestimate somebody - after spendng the evening telling us tales of his time in the Army, police force and more, our neighbour turned around and showed me how to spin!

I'd excitedly told him that I had bought myself a (second hand) wheel and he asked if I wanted him to give me a little demo! Awesome!

There quite likely won't be any posts about my spinning until I can produce
something that looks like spun wool!

Friday Night Sew In is a fun little opportunity to do some sewing, stitching or crafting knowing that at the same time, others from around the world are doing the same. Wendy, from Sugarlane Quilts, is is our hostess. Click *here* to visit her blog and find out what everyone else got up to. Thank you Wendy for looking after us all, 

Happy creating and have a lovely week ♥