In My Garden, block 1, a label and the new Homespun

So exciting to be able to share block 1 of  the "In My Garden" BOM. I just love the way it has turned out even with all the needle turning! I must admit I really enjoyed making this block and am looking forward to the next one. I do love being up to date!

I was also working on a label for my Crazy Christmas quilt and can now put it in the 'Finished list'! Hurray!

Sadly, (not really) the new Homespun came this week with the "Our Town" BOM in it. Block one is so lovely and is designed by Anni Downs, whose designs I love to stitch.

So so tempted! I haven't the correct background fabric and am hoping Hobbysew might get it in! Might just have to find a different one to use so I can start NOW.

The other tempting thing about this project is that is uses "Wild Rose" by Blackbird Designs and I do love this range. We have it at Hobbysew and I have been collecting a little stash of it....just because!

A finish, almost, and "In My Garden" progress

Hurray! The quilting and binding are finished on the Crazy Christmas quilt.

I just need to make a label and thought I would stitch another of the blocks to use as the label. Here it is ready to stitch.

I have continued to work on the first block of "In my Garden" I just couldn't wait to start. Here are the fountain...

the trees....

and the flowers.

Stitching progress

I am slowly progressing with the quilting on Crazy Christmas. I decided to hand quilt the centre little appliques and had originally thought I might hand quilt the whole thing. I think I chose some fairly heavy wadding and it isn't easy to hand quilt so have decided to machine around the blocks. I am about half way now.

And.....I couldn't resist starting the next block of Scandinavian Christmas. Adrienne came over for stitching last night and I just had to have something to stitch, didn't I? I managed to applique the pieces on and now can enjoy the stitching. 

I am going to stitch up a few drawstring bags today for the appeal for stitching goodies being run by Jenny of Elefantz and the Gum tree designers. She mentioned on her blog that they need bags and also donation of needles, pins and embroidery threads. If you would like to help you can contact her via her blog.

There have been a few people who have had trouble commenting on the blog so if you want to be in the Blogiversary draw then you can send me an email if you wish and I will add you to my list.

Candlewicked bags, the chatelaine and some borders

Here is the triangular chatelaine. I am pleased with the result though the old cardboard and gluing isn't really my most favourite thing to do!

This is the inside.

Here are the 2 candlewicked bags. The one on the right is the old design we did a few years ago and the one on the left is the new one. I stitched it on patchwork fabric this time instead of the sienna linen.

Ta dah!!! Here is the Crazy Christmas quilt with borders. Now do I quilt it or get it done professionally? It is only little so I should do it but the motivation isn't there. I will give it some thought over the next few days.

Stitching progress and a good book

Here is the button bead that I created for the little pencil case. I didn't have a matching bead so had fun making my own version. I am feeling very righteous as the notes are written too!

Here is the little Sheep canvas work all made up.

I did manage to add the other 2 rows to the Crazy Christmas quilt. Now to figure out the borders.

I have just started reading "At Home" by Bill Bryson. I bought this for hubby for his birthday and have been waiting ever since to get to read it. It is a fascinating read about homes and the history of houses in Bill's usual interesting and amusing style.

My biggest achievement this week is putting away the decorations. It is a big job, as is putting all the other pictures and quilts back up! I do love the decorations and keep adding to the collection so I am my own worst enemy!

Stitching progress

It has been so good to have some quiet days to get started on some stitching. I am busy trying to get the samples and notes prepared for my classes that start in February. I love to get them done (and over with!) so I can concentrate on some UFOs and BOMs. Here is the cushion I have made using the painted buttons that I painted a few days ago.

I couldn't resist starting to get this Crazy Christmas BOM put together. I had decided that I wanted simple borders instead of the crazy patchwork to show off Lynette Anderson's gorgeous stitcheries. Took a while to work out what to do and then chose simple borders in the darker fabrics in Lynette's range of fabrics. Here are 2 rows. There are two more to do and then the borders.

Years ago I bought this pattern and kit at Canberra Needlework and have wanted to make it ever since. It is a pattern by Marg Low and went together so well. It's ready for Christmas this year!

Here is a little heart I have appliqued for another class project.

My dear friend, Penny, created a delightful sheep scissor keeper a while ago and I have been wanting to make one ever since. Here it is. I am planning to stitch the sheep on the back as well.

A finish and another Quilt a gift project

I am having some "fun" trying to blog today! Dear hubby has a new flash phone and so all things google have been changed! It is very frustrating but hopefully fixed now.
I have enjoyed stitching my last Crazy Christmas block this week and here it is. The applique is a lot of work and it is tiny but very worthwhile. I do love Lynette's little pictures. This is the last block and I am determined to put it together next month. I am planning to sash it simply instead of doing the crazy patchwork.

There have been a few busy days with our eldest's 29th birthday dinner, a busy day at the shop and some time needed to prepare for the stitching days which are coming up very soon. It was also lovely to have a day of shopping with dear friends, Karen and Di, yesterday. I have also been trying to get a few more of the samples made for next term's classes using the "Quilt a Gift book. This is the start for the lovely birthday bag with its little felt candles.

Athens and some stitching

Today we have had a very busy day in Rome. We visited St Peter's Basilica nice and early before the crowds and then went on a tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. So much to see and so amazing. We then went to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum too. Lots of walking resulting in very tired feet tonight. But the pictures here are Athens. We had a great day visiting the Acropolis and then the new Museum, which was very good. Here are just a couple of Bruce's photos.

As this is a stitching blog, I thought I should show you what I have been stitching. Plane trips are very good for stitching and I stitched a bit in England too. There wasn't much time on the cruise as there were books to read from the library on board. I managed to stitch block 10 of Crazy Christmas and have started block 11 too.

On the plane over, it was about 20 hours, I watched movies and stitched the last 2 stitcheries for the Gardener's Journal BOM. Nice to have those done.

I also stitched this month's block in the My Garden BOM. Haven't added the bird yet or the piecing.

I also stitched this little angel decoration as my sample says 2008!

Two blocks done, some canvas work and some cushions

Over the past few days I have managed to finish my first My Garden block designed by Lynette Anderson. Here it is.

I also finished the 9th block of Lynette Anderson's Crazy Christmas BOM too.

Fiona gave my her lovely pattern for this little canvas work humbug. I am pleased with the result and know that some of my class girls want to make one of these this term so I had to make one. It was fun to stitch.

Visited Adrienne on Friday and she had finished these lovely stitchery cushions recently. They have turned out really well, Adrienne.

A few things done on Thursday

I did manage to get a few things done yesterday. Mind you, the housework didn't get done but I have attacked the vacuuming this morning! I can't see much difference but at least I know it is done. I did manage to get a couple of the jobs on my list completed. I have finished Block H of the Gardener's Journal quilt so am up to date for this month. I hope to get the next one done too this month as I am away on holidays in August.

I also attacked the needleturn applique on Block 9 of the Crazy Christmas BOM. The little arms were very tricky!

I also traced some more of the Gardener's Journal stitcheries ready to take away with me. I know I have a few weeks left in this month but it was so lovely to have days at home. Days at home have been fairly few and far between lately. 

Crazy Christmas Block 8 and .....

It was lovely to have a quiet weekend and to be able to do a little stitching. I have been slowly stitching Block 8 of the Crazy Christmas BOM by Lynette Anderson.

I have also continued my mad scarf knitting and have done quite a bit now! Please don't look too carefully as I think there are a few odd rows but I decided that it was lacy and not too noticeable! I am quite enjoying knitting it now though it is a long slow process.

Here is a little hint of a secret project I have been working on for our stitching days in October. It seems such a long way away but the time seems to fly! With holidays away soon, I wanted to get organised.