Life goes on quietly

We are certainly living in strange times. Hope you are all well and safe. I seem to have so much spare time and should be tidying or cleaning cupboards but seem to be able to waft away the day! I am missing the kids though we do see them occasionally with a distance between us but it does seem very odd! We delivered Easter goodies and visited for just a moment at each house. Only managed to get pictures of the boys.

 I have been enjoying stitching the Love and Hugs free stitcheries. This is Gail Pan's design and the one below is Anni Downs'.

 The other job I had on my list was blocking these scarves. The first one is the Tendril shawl by Annie Design Crochet. It was a lovely project and the blocking worked so well.

This is another one of her designs and I crocheted it in 2ply wool. 

 This one is an old one but blocking it made it so much flatter and larger too.

My biggest achievement was finally sewing together this Stitching Circle basket by Lynette Anderson. I started this last September at the Stitch the Day away in Queensland. It was a big effort but I did do it slowly and paced myself. I am happy with the result.

I have managed to waste another morning really doing nothing much! Best go and sew a few houses!

Stitching away

I have been stitching but on many random projects. I must get on with some of my UFOs but I suppose it doesn't really matter, does it? I have continued to make a little scrappy house every day.

 I am making some embroidered circles with Sue Spargo but won't be doing 90!

 I finished knitting Alice's cardi and blocked it so it is ready for the cooler weather.

 The free patterns on the Facebook page, Love and Hugs from Australia, are just lovely. I really enjoyed stitching this one from Natalie Bird.

 And...I finally blocked my crocheted shawl. I am very pleased with the result.

Unusual birthday...

It was my birthday on Saturday and the celebration was very unusual! We had a Zoom gathering with the family! Thankfully the cupcakes were real and not virtual! Here are some pictures from the crazy family fun.

They are not really good pictures but it was a lot of fun! I also received some lovely cards. I do love a homemade card.

New starts...

Oh dear. I keep starting things. Sue Spargo has started a stitchalong on Instagram and Facebook. Just had to start! It is good fun. Some of the stitches are very tricky but interesting to work out. Luckily Sue does videos of them.

 I have made some more houses! I am using scraps so hope they look OK in the end.

There is also a new group called Love and Hugs from Australia, where our designers are giving stitcheries and appliques away each day. Can't wait for 2pm when the first one comes online! It is from Natalie Bird. I really need something else to stitch!

Hi from isolation

Hasn't it been a crazy week? I always like staying home but this is ridiculous! I am so missing my social events. Thankfully we have social media to keep us in touch. We have even had church online with Zoom! We do live in amazing times. I have found it hard to get motivated and seem to take so long to get going on these days of plenty of time! I have been working on some of my projects. The top border of Fairy Kisses is done and I have started the bottom one.

 This stitchery label came with the BOM and it is ready for when the quilt is finished. Note the start date of 2004!

 I have been meaning to crochet another dishcloth. Here it is.

 I have also started a sleeveless jacket for Miss Alice. This is the In Threes pattern, which I have made several times before.

 Couldn't resist this free Moda Village pattern. I am planning to do it with only scraps if possible.

 My hexi flowers have all been hand pieced. I placed them roughly on the sewing room floor to see how they look. I have some aqua fabric to use in between the flowers, which I hope will look OK.

Hope you are all enjoying some quality stitching time in these difficult times. We are not even seeing the grandchildren now which is hard!

Stitching progress....

It is a crazy world here at the moment. I hope you are all well and not too distressed but the news! We have had to cancel our trip away this year as we were going on 20th April. It is disappointing but better than going and then having to rush back. I have a little cold and feel embarrassed to sniffle! Still, it is time we can use to stitch if we are stuck at home. I have managed to do a bit! I bound and labelled the Splendid Sampler a few weeks ago.

 I have been loving hand piecing these large hexagons to frame the Natalie Bird stitchery panel.

 My slow old project, Fairy Kisses, is getting there. I am about to do the last big borders!

I have also had so much fun crocheting the Tendril shawl by Anni Design Crochet. It is a free pattern on her blog or you can purchase a print friendly version in UK terms from Ravelry. It needs blocking but I am please with it and the ball of wool (located in my stash) worked so well.

 Social stitching at Hobbysew is being cancelled from now on due to the dreaded virus! Last week we saw a little show and tell. Paddy has made this gorgeous jumper and hat ready for her little grandson.

 Roni has been busy too and made these lovely cross stitch pillows. She changed the colours on the second one. I wish I had thought to do this on my one.

Ma comes to visit

We have had a lovely few days with Ma visiting. She saw the balloons, we enjoyed several meals out, saw all the great grandchildren, went shopping and had a morning tea picnic at the park with some of the children. It was quite a busy time!

 Yesterday we went on an adventure on the tram! We rode to Gungahlin, had lunch and then rode back.

 Little miss came over after school and spent some time with Old Ma and even had a swim (it wasn't very warm in the water).