Best of 2023

Linky Party is being held again over at Meadow Mist Designs.    Going back over my blog posts for the last year was fun and brought back memories that I had forgotten about.   

The project that dominated the first half of the year was the quilt for Miss M made from fabric that I was gifted last Christmas.  After much research on the net and other sources I came up with a pattern that I thought would work for these fabrics.    Some of the fabrics needed to be fussy cut in order for the design on the fabric to be showcased.     Done and dusted was how I felt about this project after working on it for quite sometime.

Out of 1 metre of fabric I was able to sew a set of two placemats, an apron and 1 bowl cosy with a bit left over which is still sitting in the stash waiting to be made into a hot pad.

Reading cushions, pear shaped pot holders and little girls bags all sold well at my recent Christmas market stall

A 2 fat quarter challenge was issued by my quilt group.  After much research and deliberation a drawstring bag was decided on.  

You can head on over here to see more best of 2023.   

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

A Zoom session and a challenge

Wednesday morning saw myself joining in with Chookyblue and other Chookshed stitchers for a Zoom session

However I was only able to join in for a short time due to another commitment and at some point after my leaving the group a discussion followed when it was decided that a challenge would be organised by Deana from Dreamworthy Quilts.  This challenge is as follows

If you would like to join, make a list of ten sewing related items or goals you want to work on in 2024, and post it to your blog on or before January 1st.  You can join late, but the first number will be posted January 1st.  Each month, January through October, I will draw a number.  That will be the number from our list we all work on together in blogland.  Blog your progress through the month to keep us all motivated.

Your list can include any sewing goal you set for yourself.  Make it reachable.  Here are some ideas:

• finish a project (name the project)
• work on a project (name the project)
• make a block (name the project)
• start a new project - can be open to any new start

Your goals can be whatever you choose. One member of the group plans to make three lists - one for sewing, one for yarn projects, and one for decluttering.

At this point I have no plans this coming year to make another quilt but who knows when I will weaken as there is plenty of fabric in the stash and many ideas in my head however at this stage my projects for 2024 will be smaller items again as they have been in the past year.   So my list of 10 items is as follows

 1.    Apple shaped pot holders

2.    Reading cushions

3.    Heat packs

4.    Garment making for myself

5.    Knit 4 beanies, sew them up and make a pom pom  for each

6.    Cross body bags

7.    12 bowl cosies

8.    A mystery project

9.    Snap top small make up bags

10.  Baby bibs

I look forward to seeing which number is called first and what the other Chookshed stitchers have nominated as their 10 items. 

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Summing up the big day.......

After an early morning start (4.30 am) to see what Santa had left under the Christmas tree and a big lunch can sometimes prove to be a little overwhelming for some especially when you are 10.    Miss M was nowhere to be seen or heard mid afternoon and was found 

Curled up on the lounge  fast asleep with some of her gifts.  I think that there were a few others in the room wishing that they could have done the same.   

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Happy Christmas....

Wishing you all a happy safe and enjoyable Christmas with family and friends whichever way you celebrate the season.  Hubs and I are lucky enough to be celebrating  the day with my parents, son and daughter-in-law, Miss  M as well as her other grandparents and uncle from the country who are joining us this year.

Seeing that all the shopping including the food has been purchased and dealt with accordingly hubs and I decided to treat ourselves to a champagne breakfast this morning.

Once the big day is over tomorrow Miss M will becoming to join us for part of the school holidays but in the meantime some reading

Beanie knitting  - if the weather is not too hot.

And eating my way through some of the goodies that are not usually consumed during the year are all planned for the coming week.

I say it every year but always weaken and end up heading to the shops to see what the sales are offering so I guess that will be on the list.  

I found these  pieces of fabric in my stash and thought that a couple of nighties for myself would be nice so that project will also be on the list.   

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all    

A very successful Christmas market stall

I was very pleased with the result ....the $ value taken far exceeded my expectations considering the market was on from 9 am to midday and only open to residents of the Village.  

I sold all 4 reading cushions as well as all of the bowl cosies along with the snap top glasses cases, small snap top make up bags, the Christmas tree trivets, little girls bags  and the apple shaped pot holders.  Other good selling items were the cross body bags, babies bibs, wine bottle gift bags and kitchen hanging hand towels.   I sold a couple sets of placemats, tooth fairy pillows, mini Christmas stockings (all of those sold last year so it is hard to judge what will sell on the day) and tabletoppers.  One or two of the other items were also sold.  

I was approached by one lady and asked if I would make her some adult bibs.  I did say that I would go and see her early in the New Year to discuss.   

And the last item on my to do Christmas list was a set of 3 placemats.    The recipients are very interested in ancient Egypt and I thought that this fabric had "their name" on it.

That completes my OMG for December so I can sit back and enjoy the lead up to Christmas without any pressure. 

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Twinkling lights......

All around the City from the largest Christmas tree in NSW

To hotel foyers

A Christmas tree made up entirely of teddy bears (first one I have seen like this)

Office building lobbies

And to laneways 

Which all made for a very festive feeling while I made my way through the City.

After my day out it was time to make a start on the Christmas sewing list.    All 5 bags that my mother requested are now finished and have been delivered to her.

Next items on the list to be given priority were the 5 small notebooks that were to be covered

Along with the 5 mini pot holder grabbers

While the sewing was happening this audiobook was keeping me company.

And my bedtime reading is 

While it is fiction it is based on fact.   Set in 1946 it is the story of over 650 Australian war brides travelling to England aboard the Victoria to meet up with the men that they married during wartime. 

So getting back to my Christmas sewing list that only leaves the set of three placemats that need to be sewn.   The fabrics have been chosen all ready to go.  

Hubs and I had some domestics and routine shopping to do this morning and then stopped off on the way home for some lunch.   I could not pass up the rainbow bowl.   It was a delicious light meal for such a hot day.  

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all 

December OMG, FNwF and Santa came early........

To me.    He knew that I had been looking for a new sewing machine but was not going to replace my current one unless the new one had a much bigger throat which most of the sewing machines do not have.   

It has all the features of my current machine and a bonus  - which I was not aware of when purchasing the machine  - of a knee lifter.    

Santa was kind and said that I could use it now.   I did not need to be told twice and as you can see the box has been ripped into.  It is a beautiful machine to use and the extra throat space is amazing.  

This brings me to this month's OMG which is to sew my way through this list well before the end of the month as these items are Christmas gifts.

I have also had a request from my mother to make her 5 fold up shopping bags for some of her friends. 

Last night when joining in with FNwF I finally finished off my last two shopping bags. 

This now gives me a total of 5.   

Thanks Anne-Marie for moving us along with OMG and Cheryll for having the "gang" around again last night.   

Better get myself moving as the 5 small covered notebooks and mini pot holder grabbers are needed this coming week when meeting up with friends for Christmas lunches.  

Christmas tree and decorations are going up today along with writing Christmas cards and wrapping purchased gifts.  

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all