March Round Up.

The end of another month is upon us. Time for a look back to see what I have achieved.

Deana picked #4 for our Chookshed challenge, which for me was to quilt a scrapper.

Once again I over achieved, I quilted not one but two. LOL

They were fun to do.

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On my monthly goals list I was to cut for another scrapper, to take along to club sewing days. I not only cut, I sewed and quilted it. LOL

Not on a club day, but here at home.

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My two RSC Kiwi look regal in purple this month.

I wonder what colour we will be working with next month?

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I can't show them here because they are secret, but I cross stitched not one but two Christmas ornaments. Yay! Then I went on to complete the last few stitches needed on my black kitty cat.

And here he is, all done. I need to give him a wash and a good press then figure out how to finish him.

I'm all set up and ready to stitch my next larger project. I'll show more when I make a start, but my priority will be the secret ornaments.

*

I found time to do a little more work on rescuing my daughter in laws crochet blanket.

It is almost done and I'll be able to return it to her very soon.

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I've worked on my Spots and Stripes EPP project, it's grown a little since this pic was taken.

I even filled in the hole I made in the middle where I removed an upside down piece. LOL

And I started cutting for my next EPP.

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I've tried out a few new recipes.

Peach and raspberry jam.

Blondies. YUM!

And slow cooker tomato relish.

I used the last of the tomatoes, some were a little green.

I left them in the slow cooker overnight and the house smelled amazing in the morning. No taste test yet, it's best to leave these things for a few weeks. But if the smell is anything to go by it will be beautiful.

I'm sure there were other new recipes, but life was so busy I forgot to note them.

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Since completing the latest scrap quilt I've been busy in my scrap drawers and sewing crumbs together.

These are not finished blocks, I plan to add more.

Teddy is not really a crumb, but I just had to use him.

I'm not really sure where this is going, but I'm enjoying the journey.

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Way back at the beginning of the month I tried a new to me craft.

Paverpol or powertex.

I made Breeshey.

She is all painted and though the photo doesn't show it she has sparkles all over her wings. She is still awaiting her coat of varnish.

Phew!

A busy month.

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And finally, I scored a new position at work.

Next week I begin morning shifts.

Which means there will be a period of adjustment and possibly less sewing time.

We'll see how that goes.

Happy Easter, I hope you all have a great long weekend.

I'll be working my last few late shifts and hopefully finding time to sew.

Aaaannd another one!

Do you recall I showed you this quilt top a few days ago?

I wasn't supposed to be putting it together this month, I was just cutting and kitting to take along to a club day. But somehow it just happened. LOL

You know how that goes right?

Anyway, I didn't just sew the pieces together, I got on and quilted it also.

I was debating whether or not it would need a border or two, but the backing fabric I found in the stash didn't allow for that, so no borders.

I used another of those quilt E2E designs that were gifted to me. 

I added the binding on the same day, then the following day I closed the binding on my machine.

Yay! It worked out much better than last time I tried and I'm happy with it.

Then, outside for a photo shoot.

First a quick turn on the rocking chair. That looks good.

Then I tried over the deck rail.

She does look good in the sun.

Then, finally so that you can see all those pretty fabrics again.

And the lovely quilting design I chose.

Floral hit and miss is now a finished quilt and will be donated.

Of course all of that means I didn't do very much to my second cross stitch this month.

Sigh...

There is still just over a week left.

I've been busy in the kitchen too.

Our neighbour's gave us a big bag of black boy peaches so, Black Boy peach and raspberry jam.

 

And in the dishes behind the jars, the beginnings of two Black boy peach and two plum oatmeal crisp bakes. They now have their oaty, crumbly topping and are wrapped and in the freezer ready for when we need a sweet treat.

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My kitchen and sewing time are about to take a hit.

I have a new position at work. Rather than working 3.15 pm - 10.15 pm only, I will be switching to 7am - 3.30 pm shifts.

EeK! No more having all day to do my own thing, time for sewing, baking, preserving, shopping and lunch with the girls will be limited to my days off. 

It may take a while to adjust. 

A very busy weekend.

I was triple booked this weekend. Not only did I have to work three shifts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Chooky had a zoom day planned and I had two days of Timaru Patch workers club to attend. 

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I spent the whole weekend (While not working), working on my EPP project, more about that soon. First lets have a look at pictures from club.

Only eight of us were able to attend, and some of those eight had show and tell.

Marike had finished the huge scrapper she was working on in January.

Each square is made from crumbs and then done quilt as you go style and she has closed the sashing strips on the back by hand.

My picture does not do it any justice, it is stunning.

I want to do one.

Another piece completed my Marike, this time using yarn scraps.

Such a lovely wee blanket. Amanda was inspired and after seeing this on Saturday started her own version on Sunday using a variegated yarn.

Marike's latest project is these amazing birds.

Each one hand sewn embellished with embroidery, buttons and beads and pretty bits of trim. In this image she was playing about with the layout.

Our president and my pal Angela had dug out her Lucy Boston bed runner. She completed the top about four years ago and has finally decided that it is time to quilt it.

The backing fabric she chose is beautiful.

This lovely batik applique was stretched over a canvas, with a beautiful maroon backing fabric.

Sandy also completed the binding on this lovely quilt on Saturday.

Of course there were lots of other projects to see but I didn't get photos.

As I mentioned above, I spent the whole weekend working on my spots and stripes EPP.

I put together a whole pile of diamonds both at home with Chooky and the zoom girls and also at club.

I was able to add two more rows to my small beginnings from last month.

Then took a block out of the middle because it was upside down. LOL

I still have lots of block shapes to add and a whole pile of diamonds to sew together. 

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Now I really need to get back to my secret cross stitch, I started a second one this month, hoping to get ahead on my obligations. It would be nice to get it finished by the end of the month. 

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Phew, I'm all caught up. 

March Chookshed update.

So as you know, the choockshed challenge number for this month is #4.

And for me that means I had to quilt one of my scrappy quilt tops.  

I  already posted about quilting not one but two scrappy quilt tops.

I'm back to say they are completed.  I've sewn on the bindings and closed them by hand.

I really do need to practice closing on the machine.

That said, I do enjoy the process of closing by hand. 

So here they are enjoying some sun.

Two very different styles of scrappy quilt, but both were fun to make.

The batting I used is loftier than my usual brand and they seem a little puffier than I am accustomed to.

A closer look at the bindings. This coloured stripe looks great with the floral hexies.

And I used up two pieces of green left over bindings for the other quilt.

A scrappy quilt, with a scrappy binding.

Seems appropriate. 

Over the last few weeks I have been cutting bits and pieces of floral fabrics ready to create a new scrappy quilt top.

Yesterday was it's day. It really didn't take long to put all the pieces together. 

Who knows, I may even get it quilted before the month is over, then I can claim three finished scrappy quilts for March. I'd better find some backing and binding fabric. LOL

While I was beavering away with my needle and thread, my supervisor was snoozing.

I had a busy weekend, but that is for another post.

Acquisitions, Rainbow Kiwis and new beginnings.

Well I've blown my pocket money this month. After splurging on the sale table last week I only went and bought a book and some pretty batik fabrics this week. LOL

The two may, or may not stay together. 

I was tempted to purchase the book by seeing quilts made following this Quilt along.

Pretty, pretty pretty. I wanna play. 

It's an old one and you can see lots of different versions if you know where to look. 

Great inspiration. 

I ticked off another of my goals yesterday by making up my two purple Kiwi for the RSC.

For some reason although the first one went together just fine, the second one gave me issues, I had to rip, rip, rip more than one mistake and don't even ask why his beak is so short!

What ever the issue, they are done and nestled comfortably with the others in the project box.

What to do next?

My lovely blue fabrics which Tony bought for me way back in October 2021! 

😐🤯

Really?

That long ago?

Oh boy, they should be starting to mature nicely by now. 

Anyway, they finally got the chop. I'll be using them for an EPP project.

Yes I know spots and stripes is not finished yet, but it will be one day and I need to have another project ready to go at a moments notice. So I got cutting. 

Hmm, does this count as precutting my scrap project for club?

Maybe not, maybe I'll make time tomorrow for that as it is on my monthly goals list, and it doesn't hurt to have a quick scrap project all ready to go. 

I've done some cross stitch on my secret Christmas ornament, but I'm hoping to get two made this month.

I have yet to find a new recipe to try out.

So plenty to keep me busy over the next week.

Oh and I'm sure Chooky said she was hoping to zoom this weekend.

And I have not one but two club sewing days. I think I'll just take my EPP rather than a scrappy as I can only attend for part of the day as it's my weekend to work. 

I hope your week is going well and plans are working out for you.

Chookshed Challenge, March.

 This month Deana pulled #4 out of the hat, which for me means I have to quilt a scrappy quilt.
When I went looking I found two that I could play with. Even better I found a piece of fabric that was big enough to back both of them.

The first one was loaded on to the frame on Thursday but I didn't get back to quilt it until yesterday. (Saturday). 

It's only a lap sized quilt so really didn't take long to do.

It's been waiting since October 2022 so not too long.

I used a very quick and easy edge to edge pattern.

I left the same quilting E2E pattern on and quickly loaded the second scrappy quilt and got that one done too.

I finished hand sewing these hexagons in September last year. So they didn't have to wait too long.

I didn't realise quite how close I was cutting it on the bobbin thread until I was tidying up. 

The supervisor was exhausted by it all and had to have a snooze in the sun.

All that remains for me to do is to trim the edges and add binding. I have a collection of green binding off cuts and left overs to bind the green quilt and I have found an interesting stripe to bind the hexies. Hopefully I can get at least one of them done tomorrow before work.

But even if it doesn't happen, I have still achieved my goal for the Chookshed challenge. 

I see many people in blogland making progress too. 

The first week of March.

The first week of March is over. We are already a whole week in, and what have I achieved?

Well Breeshey has had a couple of coats of paint.

She is a typical fairy and being very difficult to photograph.

I've also been working on the secret Christmas ornament cross stitch and some purple crochet. I really must get you a picture of that.

On Tuesday I had a day out with my Daughter in Law Lee. We went to Geraldine, just a short drive up the road. We looked at the shops and visited the pin tin.

They have replenished their sale tables and I found some lovelies.

I'm told the fairies glow in the dark.

 I might make some placemats with them.

I've made a start on the Chookshed challenge. I've pulled out not one but two scrap quilts for quilting. I also sorted backing fabrics and cut batting. The first one is loaded on to the frame. I had hoped to begin quilting this morning, but sadly that didn't happen.  

Never mind, I can do some tomorrow and I have three more whole weeks to go. 

 

And now for something completely different.

So today I took some annual leave and went with a colleague to have some fun.

We turned some wire and kitchen foil in to stick figures.

Then the stick figures became pretty ladies.

My lady of course has wings.

Being born and bred on the Isle of Man, I know all about fairies. And I hope I have managed to create something that themselves would appreciate.

Maybe I'll plant a fern in that there hole?

I still need to add a paint effect and a coating of varnish. 

Maybe next weekend.

There were twelve of us in the class.

This was my colleague Gilly's.

Shh don't tell her but Tony says she looks like the Corpse Bride.

😲

There were so many different finishes.

Some with shawls and some without.

There were even some blokes.

This chap is panning for gold.

And this was the only colourful lady.

Such a beautifully bright fabric.

There were sitters.

And standers.

Each one different.

Two of the blokes were fishing.

What an amazing way to spend 6 hours. 

If you ever have the chance to attend a paverpol class, 

TAKE IT!

Oh my goodness, it was so easy.

I worried that I would struggle to get things to drape nicely or that I would muss up the hair.

But seriously.....

it was easy.

There isn't really a wrong way.

Another look at my fairy. Because I love her so much.

Her name is Breeshey.

(pronounced Breesha).

It is the Manx Gaelic version of Briget.

Meaning, Exalted one.

I'll post some more images once she is painted.

Look, here are the models that the tutor had on display. 

The paints do make a difference.

Like I said, if you get the chance, go for it.