A third of the way through January 2021 - my year to Plan to Plan

Hello Stitchy Friends

It is a warm Summer afternoon here in Frankston, spending the day as quietly as possible because it’s too warm to be overly active. 

The cricket is on the telly, I’ve got Floss-tubes running on the laptop, Stitching in hand and plans for an old fashioned cold meat and salad platter for dinner.

How are your plans for 2021?  Are you stitching one project or many?  How to you organise your rotations?  I stumbled onto a group, rather late in the day (thank you Jo) and found WIPGO 21.

This is a facebook group and rather simply, you make a BINGO board of 25 numbers and put in 24-25 goals for the year.  The middle square is a free space, or can be used for anything you like.  If you have many, many WIPS, this can be a way to ensure you work on 25 of them at least once in the year.  You can set your own monthly goals for each project – eg;  to finish a square or page of pattern, to stitch 100 stitches, stitch ONLY on that project for the month called.   I decided that with 10 or more WIP’s to stitch anywhere from 3-5 dedicated days per month on the project.  For the rest of the month, I can bring up ANY of my WIP’s to stitch on as long as they take my fancy.  For example, the Weather Sheep – I feel I should stitch at least one week a month on this, to keep the temperatures under control.

Here is my WIPGO 21 card. 

I did align my Boothy Threads 12 days of Christmas with Jo’s WIPGO board, but the rest were placed randomly.  I decided to call my ‘FREE’ square my ‘No Guilt Start’ month and to kit up and start something I had found in a recent clear up.

The numbers are called late in the previous month and if 13 is called, as it is a ‘FREE’ square for most, another number is called.   January Numbers were 6, 13 and 18 – As luck would have it, both number 6 and 18 are labelled a ‘Seasonal Start’ – with the intention of finding a series of Summer/Spring/Autumn/Winter charts.  I’ve not yet found just what I’m looking for, but I have until Jan 25 to ensure 3 days are stitched on each.    Have you any suggestions?

As number 13 was called, I have had NO GUILT to kit up and start Mirabilia's Mermaids of the Deep Blue - Pictured is my WIPGO finish for January - I have stitched 3 days on this and you can see I managed to complete the elbow of the mermaid on the left.  I'm stitching this on an off cut of hand dyed evenweave - from the same batch that I stitched on my original mermaid.

I do have a New Year start and finish for 2021 – the Year of the Sheepie Revisited.

I have had this chart in my stash for awhile and found some random Aida and stitched it up using DMC floss pulled at random – something that approximated the model stitch.  Fleece on Earth by Silver Creek Samplers. Those with a keen eye will see that I changed the last word from ‘Men’ to ‘Merino’ with a bit of fiddling about.  I’m really happy with the stitchy finish and plan to FFO it later in the year.

I have made a start too on the 2021 Weather Sheep – or Meteo de Moutons.  I’ve pulled one strand of DMC 3790 and started on the fences which will hold my sheep.  One of the paddocks have open gates and that will make more sense later in the year.  I still have not sorted out what colours will be used, but know that there will be one colour for each degree this year.  I hope to have 2020 Weather SAL finished this week.

I realised my 2020 TUSAL jar was full and with the bit of stitching I’ve done in the past 10 days, have a good start to 2021 TUSAL

  I do like this abstract picture of floss and might use it in other platforms.   Like other TUSAL orts, this will probably be used to stuff an ornament – might even use it on Fleece on Earth (note to self:  that is a fine idea!) 

Sew Over September

Sew over September….

In fact, sew over 2020 – it’s taken me quite some time to become disenchanted with lockdown, but I think as the weather improves, the urge to get out of the house, travelling further than the allocated 5km to the nearest supermarket increases.

It’s not so much the wanting to visit the Grandbabies interstate (which I do – I really do), but even the desire to travel within my own state, to visit my sister (5 hour drive), to visit my bestie (1.5 hour drive), a day trip down the coast, into the hills, across to the other side of town – is almost overwhelming.

If the general populace behave themselves, lockdown will soon be over, and although a grand Halloween Party is unlikely, we should be able to gather the family together for a celebratory meal at Christmas…

In the meantime, I walk around the block and spy into other people’s gardens, this lovely display of proteas, or the gumnut blooms which look like ballerinas, or even the lorikeets feeding on a seed block are distractions.

Meanwhile, stitching and sewing continues.

My Halloween quilt now has a border of monster teeth.  I am extraordinarily pleased with how well these worked out – especially the rounded corners.  It is now sandwiched and being quilted on my home machine – really trying not to overthink how this is quilted…just point to point and in the ditch for the main part.  Once this is done, I can return to my other project… the honeybee quilt.

For stitching this past week, I’ve been concentrating on the 2020 SAL and am near the finish on both colourways. 

The Lilac version is the original chart and I’ve added beads along the way.  The blue version had to be adjusted because I didn’t calculate the length of the fabric very well and would have run out of fabric.  This will be beaded on completion of the rows, which is only another couple of evenings worth – I’m not certain if I will put it away in rotation for another 3 weeks or shuffle out my rotations completely and finish it!

I really have to get a move on with some Christmas stitching, as am participating in a couple of Christmas ornament exchanges with currently nothing but ideas spinning in my brain to show for it.  So as it is a lovely sunny day – I will heave myself away from the computer and go and plan my next week’s worth of sewing and stitching.

Nearly forgot to empty out my ort pincushions, these sit next to me and I tuck away all my stitching orts to pop into my TUSAL Jar.  By the look of this, I have been stitching...have emptied them now and will start afresh for this week.

Hoping everybody is keeping well – what are your next projects that you are planning?   Drop me a line and let me know…  (Jo – I read your blog..  I KNOW you have about 60 projects on the boil  - lol  )

Sauntering into the Winter Solstice - Sewing, Stitching and stuff....

Hello again friends,

It's been another couple of weeks to  catch up with.

First of all, if you are looking for the next pattern for the 2020 SAL, I'll be uploading it to its own page again..  Navigate your way through the tabs above to find the June pattern and photos

Last weekend i spent hand sewing some patchwork after watching a sequence of YouTube videos.  I made a cute little owl purse and decorated the back with vintage lace.  I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process and the recipient loved that I spent the time making something for her. 

I also finished the binding on the 1985 quilt, which I've called Procrastination.

I have handpieced the front, and for some insane reason, decided to machine piece a sampler back.  Finally got my act together and quilted and bound the quilt and now it is ready to cover me on the couch or add extra warmth on the bed.  The patch with the cat was planned to be in that position on the quilt, as that was where the ginger cat from my childhood would lie on my bed. 

 The front was hand pieced in 1985 and the back was machine pieced in April this year...  so 35 years in progress.  I'm happy with the binding on the quilt and the decision to round the corners.  Now that it is finished so I can move onto to the next WIP.

As for cross stitching, I've found a unique SAL on a french site.  After accidentally buying some sheepie charts (for 2021 I swear!) I found a facebook fan site where there is a Temperature SAL, using little houses in a range of colours to represent the high and low of each day in a year.  Each house is under 24 stiches and each roof is 9 stitches, so a month will stitch up really quickly.  Most of those I've seen are from France or Italy, a couple are from the USA, but being from Australia, my colours are different.  I'm using this as a test and hope to stitch the same idea in 2021, but using sheep!

A lot of fun stitching to catch up with and a new quilt WIP to get on with...

OH ...nearly forgot...  My TUSAL jar has filled up and although it is a pain to try and capture a good shot with the reflection in the glass,

you can see a lot of floss from the temperature SAL has now been captured.

March update on stitching and crafting.

We crafters have been practicing for self-isolation for years.  I am lucky as I am still working and likely to remain so, while the building is operating.
However, It is Saturday here in Sunny Australia and on Wednesday at OMG-o'clock, I have plans to fly interstate, to act as carer to my not quite 2yo Granddaughter.   Why?  Because on Friday (if not before), My wonderful Daughter-in-Law is booked for a C-Section on Friday 27 March and we are waiting eagerly to greet my new Grandson.  While My son is allowed to visit, young Claire is not able to visit due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

I have taken all precautions and have been given a clean bill of health from my doctor and will be flying up to help out for two weeks.   I have also prepared a Grandma bag of crafty bits to take with me and am looking forward to Tea-party with dolly in the park, painting the driveway with water, drawing on the footpath with chalk, (as little miss is not allowed to use texta or crayons at the moment!), many little craft ideas to keep her occupied and hopefully not missing mum too much.
I'll be looking forward to my few days holiday on the way home!

I have been stitching, although by looking at my TUSAL jar for March, you wouldn't think so. 

 
  

I've finished L for Lily for the English Floral Sampler  - really pleased how it is progressing after all this time.   
 







 
Keeping to my planned stitching list I've managed to finish the March Section of the TOL 2020 Sampler - Lilac version and well through the Blue version.

I'll be taking both of these with me for some downtime stitching while away.   Poor Harriet Salt may be passed over again this month. 

Well that is that,  I haven't got a progress shot of the quilt but that will be shown off when I've got a Grandson to complete the photo-shoot.

Wherever you are, and whatever you do, please try to stay positive and follow directions.  This is an interesting time and we will live through it.  Virtual Hugs from me and mine to you and yours.

T.U.S.A.L. - JAN 2020

TUSAL - JAN 2020

Here is my first offering to the TUSAL gods for 2020.  In this meager selection, I have orts from the English Floral Sampler, Harriet Salt, TOL mystery SAL.  I have spent more time this month planning and preparing stitching than actually stitching, but it's a good start.   I have used this container for my Orts since 2010 and recently found ziplock bags with orts from 2012 and 2015.  I've kept them to fill ornaments I hope to stitch this year.

As it is New Moon today - it's time to share your TUSAL containers - Here is a link to my page which explains it all.   Join in.
TUSAL - Totally Useless Stitch A Long

This was the week that was.... First week of 2020

HI friends,  I have spent the past 2 weeks in organising heaven.  I am determined to be more organised in 2020, and have a scheduled amount of sewing to get through.  I have 4 SAL's, a baby quilt, a wedding quilt, Christmas Stitching, and a pile of WIP's to get through.  Add to this, October and November will be spent touring the USA...  I have THAT to plan also.  

I have spent a lot of time sorting all those magazine and freebie downloads I'd kept from about 10 years and more ago.  I've sorted them into display folders by type and theme, and using excel (bless it's little cotton socks - I LOVE excel) have made indexes for each book, which is now labelled and filed in my cubes.  The total of display books is currently 15, but I have a big box of quilting patterns and another couple of saved boxes of mostly Halloween, Christmas and samplers to sort through.   I hope to run a couple of giveaways this year for those who are interested in my excess patterns and charts.

English Floral Sampler

This is one of my WIP's.  I refer to it as my English Floral Alphabet Sampler - I started it around 2005.  Found it, and the charts during my clean up and have put it on high rotation.     The patterns were issued in a series in the English CrossStitcher magazine in 1993.     I participated in a round robin in 2005, and stitched the W - Waterlilly for my part. (if I think hard, I should be able to find my round robin item - it was teapots)   The flower was easy to stitch and I thought how nice it would be to have the full alphabet as a banner sampler.   My plan is to stitch this at the very least, the first week of each month.  It is to be my fall back sampler stitch for 2020.   I finished the K this week - today I will kit up the floss (DMC) for the letter

T.U.S.A.L. 2020

 In preparation for T.U.S.A.L. 2020, i had to empty my special jar.  The floss inside had gathered there from at least 2017 and also at least some 2018 stitching.
As I had done some intensive cross stitching in the last 3 months of 2013, the orts had been gathered in my little fabric box by my chair.  It was fitting that they had their photo taken in my TUSAL bottle.

If you wish to participate in the TUSAL for 2020, click here for the link to my TUSAL page which explains all.

Speaking of SAL's  - please feel free to join in - here are the links to this year's SAL's (so far)

Harriet Salt - A SAL from HATS - stitching a reproduction Sampler and hoping to finish in 2020

TOL 2020 Mystery SAL - Threads of Life - an online group I've been part of for over 20 years.   This year, I'm offering a 20 line sampler over 11 months.  Each section will be released on the 20th of the month.

NFSAL 2020 - Following another blog Magical Quilts and more - This SAL is for using up the neglected floss I've collected over the
years 

Not much action on the sewing machine so far this year, but there is still another 50 weeks of the year to go.  After all, there is still a couple of quilts to produce at the very least.   Time now to go and see what all of you are blogging about.  

See you all soon with another Bronnys Sewing Nook update.

Closing off 2019 - Making changes and organising for 2020 - and the Hoya

 In 2007, when my Mum passed away, I returned home with a potted Hoya which Mum had set aside for me.  One stem broke off on the way home and I absentmindedly stuck it in a plastic drink bottle of water on the bathroom shelf.  The rest of the plant subsequently died, but the water bottle plant lived on. 
Fast forward to 2013, when I finally put the plant in some earth.  It rewarded me with sudden growth.  In December 2016, I moved house and put this same plant by the front door....well, it certainly LOVES this spot.  This week, about 15 flowerheads are blooming.  It is a darker hoya, but really healthy.

Today I started on my world domination by fabric scraps.  I have started one small group at a time and have ironed out a small handful of recent scraps and am now cutting them into 5", 4" 3.5" 2.5" and 1.5" squares.

The largest then become my own collection of charm squares, the smallest become leaders and enders (I already have a healthy collection of these - the intention is a future postage square quilt)

I have had the time to think this past 24 hours and browse one or two dozen blogs on my long neglected reading list.  I feel that I will set up new pages on this blog to follow the growing list of SAL's for 2020.  This seems to be the logical process.  I might even change the theme or 'look' of the blog.  I like the orange, but want a change, as there really seems to be a change and a time for a lot of new things around me. 

Please bear with me as I initiate these new changes over the next month.  I hope to host one or two SAL's and plan a couple of giveaways too.

Happy New Year!

TUSAL - April 2015

For the life of me, I don't know what happened to my TUSAL March pic or post...   but here is my little jar looking somewhat more respectable than last year.   Those with eagle eyes will spot that there is no red or crimson floss amongst it all..  I feel guilty really for not stitching or participating in the 5000 poppy project that has been all over facebook and blogs.  I had every intention of participating, but somehow just never did.    I will honour the ANZACs in my own way.

I have been stitching diligently on my 2015 JCS Ornament challenge.   Never reading the instructions and totally using whatever floss strikes my fancy at the time.. this one will end up as a four sided ornament... I've done the hardanger and beads sections now,  just need to finish it.


A.N.Z.A.C. Day looms.  
My Great Grand-father served in the Boer War with the Kings Own Highland Guards.  
My father, born in 1930, was too young to serve in WW11, instead, he has honoured his mother's wish and has played the Last Post at every ANZAC and Remembrance Day service since 1939  -  that's 75 consecutive years !!!
My brother too was too young to serve in the Vietnam War (and for that I am secretly grateful)
My son John now serves in the Australian Army - I am tremendously proud of him.

Unintentional pic of my TUSAL, surrounded my by growing collection of long-necked cats....