A Planning Party

There are only 2 days left of 2018 so it is time to start thinking of moving out of the old year and into the new one.     This past year has had its ups and downs for me personally as well as other family members and friends - as most years do.   

In my previous post I reviewed the year in regard to my sewing and was pleased with what I had achieved both in the amount and variety.    I did name 2018 as being "the year of the smaller item" and the previous one "the year of finishing off UFO's" both of which I stuck to but as we are about enter into 2019 I am looking around my sewing room and find that all UFO's and WIP's are completed and there are no more plans for smaller items to be sewn.    What does this mean  - that I am efficient or there is a lack of forward planning?   

Over the years I have taken part in quite a few mystery quilts and ended up with some surprising results -  some of which are my favourites.   I have also joined in scrap challenges and  never cease to be amazed at what can be created out of leftovers.  Some of the colour combinations I would never have put together which just goes to show that you need to think outside your comfort zone.  

This coming year I am going to "go with the flow" in regard to my sewing and whilst there are no firm plans  I do keep finding inspiration and adding notes to "my one day list".   One thing that I have added to that list to try  is a technique called "quilt collage".     There are some very inspiring works on the "net" which need to be looked at in detail.  

What plans do you have for 2019 in regard to your sewing?   You can share them here or see what others plan on doing.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

The Best of 2018

                                     

At the beginning of the year I called this  "the year of making  the small item"  and mostly I have stayed with that thought throughout the year.  Some of my favourite small items are below

Firstly some apple and pear potholders

During the year a friend sent me a covered notebook with its own penpocket that fits perfectly into my handbag.    She was kind enough to also send me the directions as how to make them.    Since then I have made quite a few as gifts.    Some of which can be seen in this next photo.

Next on the list are some fold up shopping bags which also slip perfectly into a handbag.  

 

The photo below shows a few more small items that have been made during the year.

I did cave in twice and made two quilts - not big ones but what I call "snuggle" quilts although  both do fit a single bed quite well if needed.   First was a mystery quilt that I was taking part in.   The clues were given out each week for 3 weeks and this is the result. 

And the last item is what was named the checkerboard quilt

While looking back through my blog posts for the year more smaller items were made such as shoe bags, tabletoppers, zip pouches, clothes for Miss M, library bags which are an on-going project for the charity that my quilting groups supports, cushion covers, boxed pouches and a few more items so all in all I did manage to stay with the theme of "the smaller item" and very happy with what was achieved.   

You can pop on over to Meadow Mist Designs to see what others achieved during the year.    You are sure to see some "eye candy" and pick up some inspiration for future projects.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Caddy envy

Last Christmas I bought hubs a revolving remote control caddy and everyday since I have eyed it off enviously thinking how handy that would be in my sewing room.     Well hubs must have been aware of my envious thoughts as he  thoughtfully placed one under the Christmas tree for me yesterday.     After doing some domestics this morning  time to head  to the sewing room where I gathered up all my scissors, unpickers, pens, glue and other bits and pieces that one needs to have at hand and organised them into their home.

And viewing from the back when it swings around

Everything is clearly on show and can be easily reached when needed.

Amongst all the other lovely gifts that I received yesterday  was this gorgeous bundle of batiks strips that I will enjoy sewing with.  

Miss M certainly got into the swing of the day to the point that she partially crawled into her Santa sack to see all the goodies.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Last minute Christmas things

On Saturday I  had some last minute Christmas shopping to do in the city.  Of course I had to pop into the Queen Victoria building to see the Christmas tree.

A close up of some of the many beautiful crystals which adorn the tree

One of the beautiful shop fronts in the building all dressed up for Christmas

After doing some shopping I then met up with Miss M and her mummy to see the childrens' ballet Coppelia.    On our way to the Opera house we passed one of the many large cruise ships that dock in Sydney Harbour.

It was up early in our house this morning to make a start on cooking the turkey for our family Christmas lunch tomorrow which hubs and I are hosting.    While it was cooking time to put the presents out under the Christmas tree

I even had time to finish off a new summer nightie for myself

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

It is Summer

Which you can tell by the number of cicada shells that are appearing all around our garden.

Cicadas live underground for up to 6-7 years in Australia .  When they reach full size they dig  their way to the surface.   They generally surface about nightfall in the late spring or early summer.    They climb onto a tree trunk or other object and shed their skin for the last time. 

Some days the noise from them is quite deafening.    You can read more about them here.

Moving away from the noise of cicadas and onto some quiet sewing which took place last night during the last FNSI for 2018.   I had been "commissioned" by my mother  to make an A6 journal cover for a friend of hers.

A big thank you to Wendy for hosting FNSI during the year and I look forward to joining her and the others in 2019.   

I wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas.   Enjoy whatever way you celebrate and with who you do. 

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Girls Day Out

Last night Miss M had a sleepover at grandpa and grandma's house so that us girls could make an early start and catch the bus into the City to see all the Christmas decorations.

First stop was the to see the State's biggest Christmas tree in Martin Place 

 

After more walking it was time for a coffee break

 Time to head off and see more Christmas decorations.   Starting with the Strand Arcade.

Then we headed off to Myer 's Wonderland.   Miss M is waiting to enter into the rocketship lift to take us to the 6th floor.

Upon arriving at the 6th floor all sorts of interesting activities await us.

The best being the ride on the Santa express train which takes us to the North Pole where we visit Santa in his living room.   Miss M is deeply engrossed in the scenes of Santa's workshop as we "travel" in the train.

After all that excitement it was time for some lunch and head on home again in the big yellow double decker bus.  On the way home Miss M asked if we could go to the city again soon as she had the bestest time.   

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

One More Door

This time last year Miss M told me that "I have one more door to go through Grandma" at her child care centre and then she was finished.    Well she passed through that last door yesterday and now has her "graduation certificate" to prove it.  Below she is being presented with her certificate by the Director of the centre.   A proud moment for her parents and us as grandparents.  As she heads off to "big school" next year so many more doors are about to open for her in the future.    

After having dinner with the "graduate" and her parents we headed on home and there was still enough time for me to join in with the rest of the "gang" and do some sewing.    What I did could not be called sewing but I did manage to cut 20 pieces of cord,  slot them through and tie them off in the library bags that I was working on during the week.    They are all ready now to go off to the co-ordinator and then sent off overseas in the next container early in the New Year.

It is time now to head on over to Cheryll's blog to see what the others got up to last night.   That was the last FNwF for 2018.     Hopefully Cheryll will be hosting this again next year.  

Back soon and in the  meantime

Happy sewing all