Saturday 19 January 2013

A new year?

So have you heard the news, we're in a new year already.......... I only just got the memo....lol.  I didn't intend to take this long to return to the blog, but that's just how it's turned out.  I'm finding it difficult to even remember what I've been up to so far in 2013, there's been some farm work, some nurse-maiding to my ill family who all had a nasty gastro bug, lots of rain, and a little sewing and stitching.   The family are all well again, and I think I have successfully dodged it this time round!

Just prior to Christmas I had a couple of finishes that had been a long time in the making.  Firstly my block from Stitching Round the Block was finally finished into a cushion.  This is the lovely round robin block stitched on by Raewyn, Janis, Leanne/Maria(no blog) and me.  I had it returned to me over a year ago, and it has waited all that time to have me spend about 20 minutes actually making it into a cushion!!



Below is my New Couch Companion, designed by Leanne's House, which has also been a long time in the finishing!  





I have signed up for the new 2013 Stitch-A-Long where we will be making lots of small projects from 3 books, Some Kind of Wonderful, Tis the Season and Red Home.  I have finished my January task and made this little thread catcher. 


And since I made it, it's had a good workout with the trimmings of a little project I've been working on in the last few days...... hope to be back soon with something to share......

I'm not going to make any rash statements about 2013, about finishing everything I've ever started, or not buying another scrap of fabric, or not starting any new projects, because I've decided that this year I'm just going to work on whatever I'm feeling the love for!!  No setting myself up to fail before I've even begun...... yes, it will be a bonus if I do finish any old stuff and I have even been working on a couple of longstanding items recently, but I am putting NO pressure on myself outside of the Stitch-A-Long commitments I've made, and my plans to join in again with OPAM, which will be kicking off later this month.  There are a couple of new quilt alongs I've been looking at, no decisions yet, but it could be fun!  

Thanks for all the kind comments about my Gardener's Journal quilt, it has been so exciting to get it finally finished.  I hope the New Year has been a good one for you so far.......... take care and happy stitching............. Nicky x


35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nicky that cushion is just gorgeous and i love the other things you have made also,that couch companion is one that is on my list as well,well done Nicky.xx

Sharon - Lilabelle Lane said...

beautiful finishes there but must admit those scraps peek my interest (it's a Bonnie and Camille thing!) looking forward to seeing what your working on. hugs

Annie said...

The round robin cushion is just delightful. You must have been thrilled when that came back to you. Glad you finally finished it up.

Love the stitcher's case. Very useful. And your thread bag is so cute with that heart hem!

All of this crafting should be fun and stress reliever. So 'no pressure' is a good policy I think.

suzitee said...

I spy those Bonnie and Camille scraps...must be something yummy! Well done on your finishes, they are both so lovely. I find if I don't make some sort of new year commitment to myself, I don't make anything! LOL, I am well and truly a list girl :) I didn't sign up for SAL this year...I don't own one of the books, and have a lot of other things happening. Will watch yours with interest :)

Anthea said...

Great to see you posting again Nicky!
The cushion is totally gorgeous, I love the community effort in making it...
I am of a similar philosophy to you in terms of crafting this year... while I have items I am going to finish, and plenty of projects ready to start, my highest priority is for me to enjoy the process of what I am making, and appreciate the skills I have to do that. NO PRESSURE is a good way to go, well done♥

Siobhán said...

I love your projects, Nicky! LOL about taking only a little while to finish a cushion that's been sitting for a year. Yeah--I resemble that statement! I so love your plan for 2013 being a year of doing what you want. I'm hopeful that I can stick to some of my plans but am definitely approaching the year with the attitude that these things are my hobby, and I should work on what I want, when I want.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you're working on!

Carol said...

Why is it we prolong the final finishing, when in reality, it takes so little of our time? I do the same thing, Nicky!!

Everything looks so beautiful--you always choose projects with the loveliest colors :)

Kate said...

All your projects are delightful!

MandaBurms FarmStay for Cats. said...

The cushion has turned out fab!
Like your goals for 2013 - sound perfect!
Love Leanne

Unknown said...

Your cushion is really pretty. I have the LB pattern to do too, you know, on the plan to do. And your little fabric catcher is being put to great use. Burning the midnight oil huh?

Leeanne said...

Wonderful to see your cushion finished, wasn't it a great project to a part of? They are all so different.
I would love to join in some of the stitch- alongs etc, but I will only set myself up for disappointment. But I can have fun watching you girls join in!!

Schulz Family said...

i love your needle catcher and the Leanne Beasley stitchery looks fantastic. Well done. Farms are busy places, I am amazed you have time for anything else at all

Fiona said...

all lovely projects.. the stitcharound cushion is so pretty and I love the stitching on your couch companion.... those little threadcatchers are all over the place... and so nice to see pretty scraps in yours...
Hugz

Christine M said...

Your cushion is gorgeous Nicky. You must be so please with it. So is the couch companion. I hope you're not going to catch the thread catcher addiction that seems to be going around! LOL!

Koala said...

What a great start of the year, Nicky! Your cushion is very beautiful , i also loved so much the coach companion - what a great idea :-) good luck with all your projects for 2013 :-)

Susan said...

Just like your beautiful cushion, every project has it's time to be loved and finished. I couldn't agree more with your plans for 2013.......we're supposed to be doing it for fun. Beautiful fabrics in your thread catcher too.

Tatkis said...

Wow, all the finishes are simply adorable! The cushion is my favourite :)
Happy New Year ;)

Hugs,
Tatyana

Noela said...

Your cushion is just beautiful. I made one of those armchair caddies a few years ago. It took me ages to put pins in the pin cushion. I love that I have everything close at hand when I stitch. Hugs....

Manuela said...

Hello Nicky,

the pillow is wonderful.

Greetings, Manuela.

Michelle said...

I think you've got it right, work on what we feel to do ... no pressure, no stress, it should be fun!
Lovely projects, everyone did such a fab job on the cushion and the couch companion looks great too, very useful.

Cheryl said...

All wonderful projects for sure...that thread catcher is so sweet with the hearts stitched around the top. Isn't it hard to believe January is nearing the end? Wow, time is flying.

Leanne said...

Your finished projects are beautiful Nicky, you just reminded me I still have my Round the block piece to make into something.

Terry said...

Your cushion and couch companion are both lovely! I really like the hearts stitched on your thread catcher! :0)

Sarah said...

The cushion is gorgeous! Love the fabrics. I love Leanne's designs. I'm plodding my way through the Vignette quilt, but I've lost my mojo for it. I haven't joined the stitch along before, but I do like a lot of the projects you have done together. I'm looking forward to seeing what you've made with the Ruby fabric!

Raewyn said...

WOOHOO great to see your finished cushion!! Hasn't it turned out well?! Your couch companion is so nice - and I love how you did the top stitching around the edge of your thread catcher.

Florence said...

Your couch compassion is very nice !

Katrina said...

Hello Nicky, the cushion is gorgeous and love the couch companion too. Great see the thread catcher hard at work, lol. Have a good week :)

Josie said...

Wow! You are up to date with your 2013 SAL projects already! You ended 2012 well to with two gorgeous finishes. Both the cushion and the couch companion are gorgeous. Wise decision to concentrate on sewing what you love... bet you get lots of lovely stuff stitched doing it that way. ;o)

Fairy Floss Stitches said...

I believe the thread catchers are contagious!..my book arrived today...so I have just cut out 2!....I love the edge you have done on yours..All your projects are lovely! Xx Lea

Wendy said...

oh wow, what gorgeous work! I love that cushion and I LOVE your little sewing kit. The stitching on the thread catcher is so sweet!

Anonymous said...

The thread catcher is great...I made a few smaller ones for cross stitch and a bigger one for use when I am sewing, and it has come in very handy.

Chookyblue...... said...

gorgeous cushion.........love your thread catcher.........

Wendy said...

Gorgeous finishes, I love your cushion. Also love the heart stitching around the thread catcher. I so understand about no pressure sewing and working on what you love!!

Stress Less said...

I love that couch companion!

Jindi's Cottage said...

Both your cushion and couch companion are gorgeous...why is it we take so long to finish something that ends up taking no time at all to do! I'm with you on the No Pressure 2013, that's the attitude I'm taking this year too, it's all about what I want to do not putting in deadlines and pressures and have to do's and not feeling the love, enjoy your stress free stitching year...

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