A flurry of finishes (and starts) from Frigid Frankston - aka Covid Craft Collection

Greetings this weekend from a frosty, frigid Frankston.

In the height of stage 4 lockdown, it is the perfect weather to hunker down and get well involved in the craft room.  This is why I chuckled at a group of pictures of lockdown Barbies – gardening, cooking, home-schooling etc..   and had to admit that I’m THIS Barbie!

Now onto Show and Tell.

I finished the simple and sweet Jardin Privé ‘Spirale’ and as I had been staring at it in my hoop, knew I had to finish it in the round.   This is the result and I’m really pleased with this little mat.  I revisited making proper bias binding for this, not just cutting 2 ½ inch strips for quilts.  I always like to try different techniques with each project.

My lovely high-low office desk has now been installed in my sewing nook and to celebrate (and try it out) decided last Saturday that I HAD to make something. 

I dived into my pile of 2 ½” squares and made a simple disappearing 9patch mini quilt, using up scraps for borders and binding.  A simple cross hatch quilting to finish it off and it was finished in one day  This will end up in the gift box for a random somebody this year.

On Sunday, I decided I needed another little fabric box to store my quilt clips –

so much nicer on my desk than a plastic bag.  I might make another for the quilting safety pins, but for the time being, they can live in their plastic bag – if I change it now, I’ll never find them!

Next on the project list was my SAL for this year, stitching the August section on both the lilac and blue fabric.  Now somewhere along the piece, I mis-counted the fabric on the blue fabric and the whole chart will not fit.  So I’ve made an adjustment and will stitch that in.  The lilac will continue as per the original chart. 

I’ll add these to the SAL page during the week, as those on my facebook group stitching along have now got the whole chart.

And onto the NEXT Project  …..   yes shutdown means a lot of production.

I saw the tutorial for this onJordan Fabrics last year and loved it – so bought the pattern and this has been sitting for nearly a year on the back burner.  Night Flight by Basic Grey.  I have so much Halloween fabric (or so I thought) that  this would be a simple project.   Well, it turns out I have not as much as I thought, and as I’m on a personal challenge to use up my stash and not buy more fabric (as if!) – decided to use some of my batiks to fill out the colour range – particularly the green. 

  I spent an afternoon reading the pattern and creating a small spreadsheet of colours/size cuts/distribution and determined that while the pattern is written to make 320 HST in 2 at a time method – I don’t really like this method and worked out that I would cut my fabric in order to use the 4 at a time method and spend the time to press and trim each one.    So yesterday, I spent 5-6 hours cutting all the fabric, using my lovely new hi-low desk set at (hopefully) the right height.    Today, after writing this to you, my fabric friends will be spent making the 320 HST required for this project.    I tend to leave my patchwork for weekends and stitch on weeknights, so there is no rush to finish all this in a weekend.

I leave you now to continue on my stitchy weekend.  Come back again to see the progress.

A few finishes for the weekend

I had a couple of finishes this week.  Bent Creek's Redbird sampler I finished in 2009 and it was on the same fabric as 2/3 finished Bluebird Sampler

As I am intent on stitching and finishing WIP from my stash, it seemed a shame not to pick this one up to finish.

Another finish today, having had to wait for my sewing machine to return from service.  I finished the sheepie cushion in 2011 and decided it was perfect to make up into a cuddle cushion for my 2yo Grand-daughter who can now count up to five!

Easter Basket Flurry of Finishes

So much fun participating in the Easter Blog Hop. 
I spent Saturday, finishing off a few smalls out of my overflowing basket of finishes.

I have sorted them by size, and leaving aside those finishes which need to be framed, and the larger finishes to be made into cushions or wall hangings, set about making small fobs or pin cushions, slightly larger cushions and padded ornaments.  I selected a few to be turned into mug-mats. 

Those of you with eagle eyes may notice some of those finishes from the Easter Hop are now finished and ready to be gifted to friends.

A lot of these were practice pieces and I have no information on the source.  I guess you can spy a Lizzie Kate.  In the larger pillow section, there is a carnation which I stitched in 1981.  It was from the background of an Assisi piece which now sits on the wall of my parents house.  This would have been my first experiment in applying my own colour shading to a pattern as the original was outline only.  Bronny's sheepie farm was an original design by myself in 2011
In amongst the mug-mats is an applique sheep, I rescued this from an op shop some years ago, but buttons and all, will make a fine mug-mat

Later in the evening, I turned my head towards my English Floral Sampler - to finish off week 1 in rotation and finished "M" - Morning Glory.  I've been looking forward to this one, as I love the blues/lilacs.  This means I'm now half-way through the alphabet and therefore the sampler, so a bit of happy dancing being done here right now.

Today's plan is to play with a couple of small patchwork projects which have been living inside my head for a few weeks.  I hope to have these done, so tomorrow I can move onto attempting to finish a couple of backs for existing quilts.

I hope the Easter Bunny has been kind to you all and your needles have been productive.

Feburary floss, finishes and flusters

 My new grandson is due mid-march, with a possibility of arriving much earlier.  I realised the pattern I wanted to make for his quilt was more in my head than under my machine needles, so have spent the past couple of weekends cutting and preparing a flotilla.
The pattern is Ahoy Sailor from Suzy Quilts.  I've cut enough fabric for two flotillas because I wanted all my sailboats to be different.   This pattern has a lot of reading twice before you cut..... well perhaps I should have in a couple of instances..  grin

I've laid it all out on my bed, I have 18 sailboats, four more than called for the pattern.  I'm working out if I need them all and which ones I want to cull.  I've changed the layout slightly, using a thinner strip of 'water' under the boats.  At least one, if not all the strips of 'water' will be full of sharks.  So with a bit of luck, this quilt top will be finished this coming weekend, ready for quilting.

I've really not done a lot of stitching.. have not caught up much on the English Floral Sampler...  Finished the K - Kniphofia the red-hot pokers, and started on the L - Lily.  That has been put away until the 1st week of March.

2nd week of the month, I work on my TOL 2020 Mystery SAL.  I decided I needed to stitch a second version of my pattern, and this is what I have offered up.  If you want to stitch along with us with this free chart.   There is a link on my page to the chart.

 Week 3 is supposed to be Christmas Stitching.... fell through the cracks because I spent this week after work being a socialite.  Birthday Week started with a birthday dinner with my partner (feb 13) and my son (feb 19). 

We were able to sit on the deck in the summer sunset and enjoy a lovely meal.  Monday night was a scout meeting (I really should get those minutes sent through) Wednesday 19th was a birthday lunch, with Pizza with my workmates.  Wednesday night was also Birthday Dinner at the restaurant my son works at - well it was the only way were were going to see each other for our Birthday.  Bonus points to me - it's a Japanese restaurant and I ate Japanese food including raw fish.  I also finished off a small bottle of Sake (- it tastes like warm gin)  Thursday night was a cub scout Grey Wolf presentation with Friday night being a quiet day at home.  No stitching on the weekend, as Saturday was spent at my girlfriend's home, celebrating 12 months in her new location. 

Sunday, Allan surprised me with tickets to see Chicago.  I had long given up nagging to see it, so was happy to sit in the Gods for the last matinee show.  A bit of a happy sunny walk in the City and suddenly it is Monday all over again.  Tonight it is a catch up for blogging and to re-set my brain...


This week is Harriet Salt stitching.  I ordered and received Murano fabric in a mottled grey.  It is a much tighter weave than the original fabric I started with and I plan to stitch this 32count fabric using one strand over one thread.  I need to spend a bit of time preparing the fabric and finding the place to start, then I'll be working on Harriet this week when home from work.

JCS Ornament Challenge - April Choices

March is all but gone and it's time to select your top 2 choices from this page of the 2014 JCS Ornament issue to stitch during April.
Let me know your choices in the comments - even if you don't care to stitch - dip your oar in the water and help to determine for the ladies of the TOL group I belong to - the more votes the merrier...

In the meantime, look at the lovely ornaments completed last month by my creative stichy sisters....   I've got to get a wriggle on... still stitching my March choice...

Marguerite's Feb Ornament

Marguerite's March Ornament

Sue P's March Ornament

Sue D's March Ornament

Don't forget, we're waiting on your vote....

Moving into March - TUSAL, Ornie Challenge, WIP & a Finish!

Before I knew it, I rolled over this morning, and it was March !!!!

Goodness !   I had forgotten to start with the next installment of the 2015 JCS Ornie Challenge, TUSAL for Feb and to share with you, the little finish.  I decided, as I had my camera out, to also share with you just where I am with SOHRH....

Ok.. for those who are still participating or indeed just watching to see what happens, the next ornament choice is from the following:

 Select 2 of the ornies from this selection, and let me know in your comments.

I'll let you know the top 3 choices in a few days and you can all get started on your stitching.

 TUSAL 2015

Ever since I started using this jar for my orts, I've found it difficult to take a reasonable picture without the glare on the glass...  Here is my February offering, surrounded by my retro long neck cat collection. 

 What have I been stitching on, to double my ort collection in a month?

This is a long overdue WIP, started a couple of years ago (I'm not going to delve too deep into my list to find out how long ago.  From memory, this chart was a freebie, and came with instructions to change the word COFFEE into TEA.

Well I don't drink Coffee, but this is now intended as a gift to a coffee drinker - to be finished into a pillow or wall hanging... not sure yet.  Monochromatic stitching on aida is great to have as a backup stitching buddy living in your car.

SHORES OF HAWK RUN HOLLOW (SOHRH) 
This I've been stitching on and off since at least early 2012.

This third square has been giving me grief, as the more observant of you will see by this closeup. I'd stitched the windows, the tree branches, flowers, the door, the roof and have unpicked it all because I was one or two rows out and one column off.   I actually put this aside to finish the 'Here Lies' WIP, because this was rapidly approaching a UFO.  I'm aware this block is far from finished and there is still a lot of stitching.  As I'm not stitching at the rate I used to, that is daunting, but I'm determined to get this whole chart done.  I'm looking forward to the next square, which I will not start until I've done square 3 !

A flurry of Finishes for February

It's amazing how much stitching you can accomplish while watching stupid brain-dead tv until 3am...

Finished my February Ornie Challenge last night - it was a really quick and easy stitch and today, I had a flurry of finishing...  Finished my January Ornament (I'm counting it as finished as I have NO idea where my pinking shears are!), finished another snowman ornament from JCS 2014 Ornament issue - had finished this stitch in December, but not the completed ornament.  And borrowing an idea from Pauline, made up a quick ornie to hold my TUSAL orts from 2014.

Something Wicked . . . . . .

Finally, a finish . . . .....
Patient followers will be aware that life has been somewhat disrupted these past 5 months . ... yes it has been that long.
I no longer obsessively stitch to avoid the stresses in my life, rather I stitch when I want to..... so there is no danger of churning out embarrasing amount of sheep or any such other topic as I did last year.

La-D-Da designs have always held that certain sort of fascination for me - especially the Halloween Designs.  

I fancied this one on my current favourite colour - fabric by Picture This Plus - swamp.....  The finished size is smaller than I envisaged, so I have enough left for another project another time. 

My very good friend Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe supplied the very special blue/purple overdyed floss, and I used more of her floss for the lettering and the socks. The spiders however, are good old DMC and kreinick sparkly .

It's too close to Halloween to have this framed in time, but I'll find a way to display it this year.



Watch this space . . . . .



Today's plans include updating all my blogs and then decorating my new office/sewing room space for Halloween

I've missed so many TUSAL and WIP-ocalyspe this year....  sigh... will try to catch up next post.

(I'll also have to find whereabouts I put the dancing penguins . . . .....and finish them off!)



Beaded Fob Giveaway - and a SOHRH block finish!

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Here we go, Hot off the needle - SHORES OF HAWK RUN HOLLOW - Block 1As this weekend was hot, hot, hot - it suited me to sit in front of a fan, mindlessly stitching away at all the blue in the waves - just like colouring in.  No need to worry about changing the colour of the floss in the needle, just fill in all that blank space between the top of the waves and the border.

Now I get to move onto the next square - a block of fish - first I need to stitch the border - then I'll see about whether or not I feel like substituting colours.  I'm using DMC and feel comfortable about changing colours around to suit myeslf.  I've already re-charted block 8, the tombstone block, so that the wording refers to an ancestor lost at sea in 1875.

As you can see - I've shamelessly thrown away my plans for weekly rotations.  It didn't feel right.  However, I might just call 2012 the year of the WIP's because I'm feeling inspired to finish of a few projects that have been neglected by my slight obsession of snowmen and sheep.  Better getting the pile reduced, than creating more.

Now - I feel it's time for a competition.  I spent some time yesterday, playing with beads and wish to offer these scissor fobs to my bestest blogging buddies.  

Pick your favourite - and leave a message

1 - blue fob with carved shell - could be used as a floss winder as well.

2 - green/brown fob with wood & stone beads

3 - black/white bead fob with silver & crystal accents

4 - green/amber fob with tail

5 - blue fob with carved shell - I purposely used this bead so a length of floss could be attached through the hole.

These will all be sent out - one fob per winner.  In the event of a tie - names will go into the bowl of destiny to decide a winner.

I'll draw the winners next Saturday - March 3