Chookshed Challenge No #1

Was to make a candle/tablemat for my quilt group Christmas in July challenge.  (Love it when two challenges collide) This was the fabric that we were given

Extra fabric could be used if required.   This fabric was added for the border

Here is the end result

And just to prove that all fabric given was used this is the back

More fabric squares were cut during the week for the next small quilt.

Time to head off to the doctor for my second shingles shot in the arm.   Ouch!!!!!!!

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

FNSI with a bit of this and a bit of that

As Miss M was staying with us during the week not much happened in the sewing room although I gave her a pile of 6" squares to arrange for the next small quilt.

Putting the last square in place

We also visited the local mini golf centre for a round of 18 holes

A sugar fix at the 19th hole

We did a bush walk accompanied by one of her favourite Beanie Boos

I managed to finish off a beanie and start another one while joining in with FNSI.   

Miss M has now returned home and the domestics that were not done during the week need to be caught up on.   Better go and check that the washing is still pegged on the line as it is blowing a gale here.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Mary had a little lamb

This panel  has been in my stash for quite a while so it was time to bring it out, cut it to size to make one of the small charity quilts.   What was trimmed off the top, bottom and sides was used for the binding.  

These two were also finished off.

Miss M is coming to stay with us for the second week of the holidays.   Plans have been made for a few outdoor activities so we are hoping for a fine week if not "Plans B" will have to be resorted to.   

Time to head off and make a start on the day.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Chookshed Challenge #1 and FNwF

No 1 on my list was apple potholders but a Christmas in July challenge was issued by my quilting group so it was decided to substitute that as my Chookshed challenge for this month.   We were each given this with the instruction more fabric can be added if absolutely necessary.   Extra fabric was needed to do the borders.  

With this small amount of fabric a lot of discounting of items happened but a decision had to be made as the challenge is due next week.   A candlemat was  decided on.   During the week lots of measuring, cutting and putting the small pieces together allowed me get it to the stage where some quilting needed to be done.   This happened last night when joining in the FNwF.

A decision was made to birth this candlemat in order for all the bits of fabric to be used up so back and front are going to be quilted separately.  

A visit  to the Craft and Quilt Fair at Darling Harbour happened this week.  I have not been to this quilt show since COVID and  have to say that myself and the two other friends that were with me were disappointed.  None the less it was an interesting day out and we were able to dodge between the heavy downpours of rain throughout the day.     The umbrella stayed nice and dry in my bag.  

This month's book club book is 

I finished off another beanie and a friend was knitting a small jumper that is required by the charity.  What a good match.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all    

Well that was June.....

We are now half way through the year and into the first month of winter.   Another small quilt was finished off during the week

The "magic stripes"  beanie was finished off.

Another one is on the needles

Some trimming up happened

More squares were cut and more fabric waiting to be cut as you can see by the pile on the left of the photo.   

Quilting happened

While this activity was happening another audio book was started.    Anyone who lives in Australia or has visited Australia will know that we love our "big" things.    They seem to be an attraction in many country towns with "The Big Banana, The Big Pineapple, The Big Merino, The Big Prawn, The Big Potato"  to name a few.   This this book caught my attention while browsing the Borrow list and so far it has not disappointed.    

What did not happen was my Chookshed challenge #10.  Sadly the chosen fabric for the baby bibs is still right where I left it at the beginning of the month.   Hopefully  I will complete next month's challenge and look forward to seeing which number comes up next.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Bother, bother, bother

An early start was made this morning in the sewing room as my goal for FNSI was to bind three small quilts that have been waiting patiently on the side of the sewing table for the past couple of weeks.  The binding had been cut and pressed for all three.  The first one that I picked up......what

After some not so nice words were uttered and a rummage through the stash find the neessary fabric, cut, press and fill in the missing bit a finish was achieved.     Then it was time to move onto the remaining two which I am pleased to report did not present any issues.   Here they are all bound.  

Another two beanies were also finished off during the week.

This book was keeping me company as the sewing was happening.   

The word "secretary" drew me to this book as I carried this title earlier in my working life.   I had to have a laugh to myself as the character described her time at secretarial college in 1919 which sounded very much like what it was like when I attended technical college (now known as TAFE) back in 1969.  Pounding away on a manual typewriter, shorthand, grammar, deportment, dress sense for the office, hair and make up.   It also goes on to mention ironing of one's clothes and that of your boss......fortunately that was not in my curriculum.  It also said that a good secretary is "the gatekeeper for the boss" and many the time I was forced to tell an "untruth" as to the whereabouts of the boss via the phone.  

Over the years the title of secretary has been changed to PA and with every desk having a computer and digital recording devices the role has changed dramatically over the years.  

It looks like another cold night ahead of us so after organising a quick dinner seeing that hubs and I had lunch out today and then put myself in front of the tv with some knitting while joining in with FNSI.  This yarn is called 'magic stripes' and comes out looking like fairisle without the hardwork.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all   

P.S.     Blogger will now allow me to change the text colour again!!!!!!!!!.

42 bags later

Was the number of bags that were cut from that length of fabric in my last post.  Here they all are finished off  which happened yesterday afternoon as the rain tumbled down yet again.   I think that it took longer to sew the drawstring channels with the sewing machine than it did to sew the entire bag with the overlocker.  

They are now all packed up and waiting to be passed back to the co-ordinator at the end of the month.

After some hunting and gathering in the supermarket this morning it will be back into the sewing room again this afternoon as it looks like another wet, cold and miserable day ahead of us.  

Back soon and in the meantime

  Happy sewing all

Back to Library bags, Chookshed Challenge # 10 & FNwF

I was contacted by the co-ordinator of Network Heaven and asked if I could sew up some library bags for this year's shipment to Sri Lanka in September.   A bag of fabric was handed to me and so it was time to make a start on cutting out the bags which was done during the week

And they were put through the overlocker last night when joining in with other FNwF crafters.

Now all that is left to be done is to sew the channel for the drawstring cord, turn them inside out and mission completed.     We are not meeting again until the end of the month so there is plenty of time to finish them off.  

While the cutting and sewing was happening this book was playing alongside me.   Set in northern England in 1890 it is about the trials of women trying to get the vote.

Two more beanies were finished off and another started during the week.

This month's book club book is

I have to admit that I did not even give last months book the usual 2 chapter chance that I give all books before giving up on them - which is the first time with any book that I have not even opened it - as the subject matter did not appeal to me and judging from what the opinions of the other members were I was not wrong.  

More reading matters

This month's Chookshed challenge is #10 which according to my list is baby's bibs.   Getting out some suitable fabrics to make a start also happened yesterday.

That about wraps up this week - don't forget to hop over here to see what else was happening with the other FNwF in their craft rooms.   

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all  

Chookshed Challenge # 5

Was to knit 4 beanies with pom poms and these were finished off yesterday

While soaking up some autumnal sunshine and listening to this audio book which had quite a lot of twists and turns and an unexpected ending which I did not see coming.

During the week I finished off reading this book which had been lent to me.   I enjoyed the beginning of the book but  felt that it was a bit too long and did drag in the middle however I did stick with it and thought  the ending was very fitting for each of the characters.   

While waiting for the next challenge number to be drawn more 6" squares have been cut ready to sew up.

Back soon and in the meantime.  

Blogger is not playing nicely again - it will not allow me to change to colour of the font below from black to blue.    Grrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhh.

Happy sewing all

Manly to Shelley Beach

During the week I was a tourist in my local area and spent the day at Manly.   I  pass through Manly on my way to the city but thought I would make it my destination.    I used to do the Manly to Shelley Beach walk frequently but have not done so for a few years now and being the lovely day that it was made it all that more enjoyable.   

Start of the walk- looking back across Manly beach.  

Some lovely sculptures along the way

Destination - Shelley Beach - reached.  This is a very popular beach for scuba divers as you can see.  

Time to about face and head back to Manly

I enjoyed my day out and planning my next expedition to - not sure where yet.  

The beanie that I was knitting last week with the variegated yarn was finished off during the week.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all