O.F.W. and Other Sewing

My 1" hexies table top has come to a standstill until I can sorce some more of the green fabric. It only needs 12 more hexies to finish the border on the top left side and then I'm ready to back it and quilt.

My hexagon making won't be at a standstill though ... I've moved onto 1/2" hexies. This little fellow was for my SAHR project ... more will be made to add to a UFO quilt.


Another shabby bag hanging from the poinciana tree ... this one was waiting for buttons to be attached at the base of the handles ... I'd bought some and lost them so now I've bought more and attached them straight away.

Last night I finished off some applique for round 8 of SAHRobin ... notice the little hexie?

This one has two red hearts blanket stitched on.

This sewing caddy with matching scissor fob will be in the post shortly as a New Beginnings kit
once I make up a little drawstring bag to keep the kit all together.

And lastly these two little drawstring bags have already been sent on their way.

Phew! Still have a couple of things to tick on my February 'to-do' list including the third round of Stitching Round the Block ... we swap next Wednesday so I'd better get stitching.

Now if I can just squeeze in some progress on a UFO and make something for Christmas before the 25th!

UFO Thursday and Mail

Ooooops! :) I mis-titled my post yesterday. It should have said One Flower Wednesday but I must have been thinking about UFO Thursday at the same time.

My lack of organisation means another week has gone by and I haven't made any more progess on the strip insertion UFO. I'll try and do better for next week. Thought I'd share a couple of other projects instead ... the bag is currently unfinished so maybe that counts?

An idea for scissor fobs popped into my head on Monday so I got straight to picking some fabric squares ... cutting ... sewing ... then last night had a chance to stuff and add a button top and bottom.



Today I finished sewing squares together for a shaggy bag ... ready for clipping and washing. Then comes platted handles.

My mail lady handed these over to me yesterday while I was in town. Just because the roads were cut in January and I couldn't go to town ... didn't mean I couldn't do some shopping.

This morning after reading Jessica's 'WIP Wednesday' post, I sat down and wrote out a list. I have a My To Do's Notebook and don't use it very much so now I have written down all my projects, WIP's, UFO's etc I feel a little more organised. Up until now I've just been thinking about all the things half done and getting nowhere.

Progress, A Finish and Buys

Well I made it out to work last Thursday and then we had a shopping day Friday. Putting my time stuck at home to good use, I managed to complete the blocks for our log cabin quilt and after much changing around, DH and I decided on the final layout.

Now for joining the blocks. Then I need to add a border to the sides and bottom.

My attention span is often quite short so I had a play with a couple of other projects as well. Jenny has a challenge for March to use a charm pack (maximum of 20 squares only) so I grabbed 'Aunt Purdy's Parlor' by Moda and came up with this Shaggy Bag.

Just the one bag with a view of each side.

With the remaining 5" squares I made a small table runner but it's only at the top stage.

I did manage some retail therapy while in town Friday. The red fabric is to back my fishpond quilt and some matching thread. The goldy leaf fabric kept catching my eye so I bought it home too. I'll use some to back the table runner along with the varigated sandtone thread.

The yo-yo maker is to replace the one I bought last year, used once and has never been found since. My guess is the first one will turn up now.

Now that I have a new bulb for my lamp, I can get back into some night time stitching. I've been itching to start on the 'catalicious' stitchery from Red Brolly and I picked up this varigated thread for the job. Would you believe that as I walked past with thread in hand, this fabric jumped right out and offered to sash the stitcheries for me. I couldn't refuse, could I?

The weather is extremely windy today, perfect for staying indoors and stitching or sewing so off I go.

If you haven't heard already, the girls from Among the Gum Trees are giving away 5 fabric kits to make the Baseco bag in aid of Dawn's quest. Take a look at their lovely bags too.

Dawn Hay Tote Bag

Dawn has made this beautiful Tote Bag and would like to sell 1000 patterns to help the Baseco people.
So lets help Dawn sell 1000 patterns and this is what a difference it will make: 10 new homes or medicine for 1000 children. Or Emegency relief kits, or Emergency medical kits... the list goes on.

Would you like to make one?

The Secret is OUT!

Yes, the secret is finally out. To hear all ... cyber hop as quick as you can to Jenny of Elefanz for the big reveal.


CONGRATULATIONS!

Perfect PIF

Now it's time for some show and tell fun.
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Wednesday's mail also brought me a parcel notification slip. Now I knew that Robyn had posted her PIF gift to me so I just had to get my hands on that parcel, quick smart.

I had heaps of fun just opening and photographing so hope you enjoy the retell.
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Pretty rose paper and pink ribbon.

Ok, now some red cellophane and pretty butterfly stickers.

Ooooh, there's more.


Ready?
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Ta Da!!!

The most beautiful rose fabric bag, impeccably made. A pocket on the outside and two pockets inside. I've already tried out my mobile phone and glasses... perfect fit.
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Here's a close up of the gorgeous fabric with a loop/button closure at the top.

I can't thank Robyn enough for the joy she has given me. And to top it off, not only this fine rose mug for me to enjoy my coffee, but a few little extras were wrapped and hidden inside the bag.

Robyn, that little red tin will be perfect for my hexagon papers, it's almost empty.

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Now it's my turn to Pay It Forward ... so to Vivian, Sarita and Kelly-Jo . . . I'm working on it.

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If you've been tempted to join someone's PIF and haven't yet, I highly recommend it. Not only is it wonderful to receive your gift, but it's a lovely feeling to make someone else happy too.

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Have a lovely weekend.

Mail Brings Bag and Stash

What a wonderful day Friday was. I got to stay late at the patchwork group as DS was staying in town and didn't need a lift home. It was lovely to catch up with all the ladies and I made good progress on my PIF gifts.

Then to get home and find a parcel in my mailbox all the way from USA. I think I grinned the whole 2km to the house, quickly unpacked the car and opened my parcel.

Inside I found this wonderful and very clever bag from Nancy at "with thread in hand". It has velcro down each side and opens flat to reveal pockets on the inside. Just right for packing all the bits for a project so I can grab it and go or 'take-away' as Nancy said. The fabric is gorgeous and I just love the bag. Thankyou so much Nancy, I'm packing it with a project straight away.

She also sent some other goodies in her parcel. A sweet little keyring that has like a pillowslip back where I might pop a couple of headache tablets for emergency. A beautiful pattern and two fat quarters that will help my stash. Purple has always been a favourite of mine, how did she know? And a newspaper which is a 'guide to Missouri Specialty Shopping and Events'. It's almost cuppa time so I'll be browsing shortly.

A big thankyou to Linda also for organizing this swap. I've thoroughly enjoyed it, just waiting for my parcel to be in ????????'s safe hands.

Wednesday's mail brought me this package of three pretty blues. They'll be going into my stash.

Today I plan to finish the PIF gifts so that I can get them off in the post. Then I have a fabric postcard (In the Pink) to plan and the embroidery wall hanging to baste, quilt and bind before the end of September, not all today though. Also squeeze in end of month bookwork and the log cabin workshop with homework. Phew! I would like to work on a couple of challenge items too. Oh well, that's how it goes.

Quilting Wishes

Bag No. 1

I was fortunate enough that my good friend was able to take a couple of photos of my first bag as it hadn't yet been handed over to its new owner, so here they are.




As per the second bag, the first bag is also reversable.

Bag No. 2

I have just finished the second bag to be donated to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research and this time a took a photo immediately.




This first photo is right side out but I was very particular with the placement of the backing squares so that the bag is completely reversible as shown in the second photo.


I'm very pleased with the end results and think they're quite cute. They measure approx. 10" high by 11". Another bag could soon be in the making as a lovely gift for my little niece.

The sky is promising a storm this afternoon. Here's hoping it brings plenty of rain but none of the destructive winds that were about last week.

Lost Time

Wow, I didn't realize how long it was since my last blog. Time really did fly over the school holidays and I hardly touched the computer, or my sewing. Then this last week we have had storms almost every night so as soon as I'd get home from work it was get the outside jobs done and battern down. We lost power Wednesday night for a while and again on Thursday night but didn't have power back till the next morning. So again I haven't even turned the computer on for fear of blowing it up.



Luckily the storms didn't do damage like they have in other places. Just lots of wind blowing branches down and some nice rain. Today is lovely and sunny but blowing a gale. A good day for staying indoors and catching up on my favourite blogs. Then I'm off to the sewing machine to work on another bag. This one is using a specific fabric for Breast Cancer Research and will be a donation to raise funds along with other various bags made by our Patchwork group.





While I'm in bag mode, I've included a couple of photographs of my coffee cup bag. It has a draw-string top to keep my cup safe and six pockets around the outside to keep everything from coffee sachets and tea bags to biscuits for a snack. It lives in my craft basket and is always at the ready. I also made one of these for my good friend, again I forgot to take a photograph. Since blogging, my memory for taking photos is getting better.







I also have some news on my chickens. In a previous blog I had a photo of Anthony and Snow and mentioned that Ella was sitting on eggs. Well, Ella is now the proud mum of two sooty coloured little chickens. I will endeavour to take photographs but at the moment they move like lightening.

One Day Wonders

Another completed item, this time a shoulder bag that I was making as a gift for a good friend who has just had a darling baby girl.

This was the fourth bag I've made and I love them. They can be made in one day if you really put your mind to it and ignore everything else. I usually get the body made the first day and finish off the handles another day. This second pink tone bag was the one made at a workshop.

The brown tone bag I made for my daughter and I made another for my sister-in-law but forgot to take a photo before it was handed over.