Butterfly Garden

Last July after seeing May Britt and Hanne commit to finishing their BG quilts that they had been working on for a while, I started mine with the intention of stitching one miniblock a week, so that I would be finished 81 weeks later, at the end of this year.  Well now it's nearly June and I had a paltry 9 miniblocks done.  Pathetic isn't it.  The last time I updated a finished block here was in October............ yes I do have a very short attention span...........lol.

In the last couple of weeks some girls have been working on their BG's again, so I dragged mine out to see where I was at.   Nicky..... Bec ...... and Lynda have been busy on theirs.....Lynda has now finished herquilt top and it looks amazing.   It always amazes me how different one quilt design can look in a different colour way or fabric style.  Do have a look at these ladies work, they are incredible and very inspiring.

So here are my 3 new miniblocks finished in the last week or so....................

I love the little french knot flowers on this block, very slow to stitch, but so pretty too!  Below is the block I'm working on currently, gosh there's lots of stitching in them.

Maybe you have a Butterfly Garden block or two lurking you'd like to drag out and get stitching on??  I'd love to have you join me......... but I'm not making any more rash promises on deadlines yet. lol   I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment if you are stitching or have stitched Butterfly Garden, it would be great to see some pictures if you have a blog or a link to a flickr album etc.

Thanks for the lovely comments on my Martinique runner, and for the great tips on quilting at 1/4" spacing.  You gave me lots of ideas for which I am grateful.  I hope you're having a fantastic weekend...................till next time ....happy stitching.............Nicky

Martinique Table Runner

It was so nice to spend some time yesterday finishing - yes that's right, the F word - something that's been languishing in the work in progress pile for too long.  This is my second(only my second!) Sew It's Finished WIP finish for the year.  I really have to work on that list. lol

Skinny Verna Runner in 'Martinique by 3 Sisters'

I recently ordered a walking foot for my machine and - WOW - what a difference it made. I didn't know what I was missing before, it was so lovely to use. Can someone tell me if there is such a thing as a 1/4" walking foot, or do you just change the needle position to line it up to 1/4" when you need to? The first version I made of this runner I quilted in 1/4" lines, but this one is more like 1/2" and I also didn't quilt the white edges this time round.  I'm putting this away as a gift for my aunt who is celebrating a big birthday this year.   This was my first attempt at machining the whole binding and it worked out well.   Hand sewing the back of the binding at the end is one of my least favourite jobs.

Nice to see you here today.........thanks for visiting.........Nicky

SAL progress

It sure has been a while since I've posted, mostly because there hasn't been much to share. We had one of the wettest weeks ever last week, with over 5 inches of rain in four days, which is huge for us, there is surface water lying everywhere, everything is sodden, and the stock are making mud wherever they go. However, today is a stunner, so we've been making the most of it while it lasts.

It feels like I've achieved very little on the crafting front, however I intend rectifying that tomorrow! Here are my May blocks for the Tis the Season SAL, Christmas Angels and Chilly Penguins.

These are all my completed blocks so far....half way there. This is not the final layout, but I just wanted an idea of how they would look together.

I did finish Block C of A Gardeners Journal recently and shared it on the SAL blog. This block has taken a long time.....but boy is it good to have it done! 

I had a little splurge in town yesterday. I found this lovely book, thought it would be perfect for some ideas to use all those charm packs I've been hoarding collecting. The lovely ladies in the shop were unpacking yardage of the beautiful Pom Pom de Paris by French General, and I was hooked!

Thought I'd like to make this little quilt 'one day' with the Pom Pom de Paris charm pack. 

Recently Jody of Jody's Crafty Creations and Perri form Stitches in the Bush have both awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  I think maybe that 'versatile' might be a euphemism for 'starts far too many things and never accomplishes anything', but I am happy to accept LOL.   Thank you to both these lovely girls for thinking of me!  Jody and Perri both have beautiful blogs, so why not check them out.  Jody has recently started designing her own gorgeous softies and Perri has a wonderful store, and is the co-ordinator at the Vignette in Stitches blog too.  Busy girls!

 The Versatile Blogger Award rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post
2. Tell 7 things about yourself that others might not know about you
3. Pass along the award to 5 newly discovered bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers to let them know they’ve received the award

Now here is the cop-out!  I am quite possibly the most boring person in the world - I look at all the interesting things people share about themselves in these awards, and I can't think of anything half as exciting about me!  I received a similar award about a year ago and came up with some very uninteresting facts about myself!!  Might be time I took up a dangerous hobby to add some more excitement to my life. lol

I have discovered lots of new blogs lately, some of which are already on my blog list to the right, and many of these have already been gifted this award, so I'd invite you to have a look through and visit a few, you never know who you might meet just one blog away.   

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend ..........take care and happy stitching .............. Nicky

Maybe a new obsession ..........

........ because I need another hobby.  Yeah right!  Hot off my needles is this little vest for my cousin's wee man.  I was determined to learn to knit 'in the round' as sewing up knitting is to me a little like having teeth pulled.  With the help of a friend who knows what she's doing, this has only taken a couple of evenings to do(only a size 6 months though.)  I think it still needs blocked - whatever that is - I don't remember that term from the last time I knitted years ago - but hopefully that will help it sit a little flatter.  I'd better go and visit youtube, a great place for demonstrating knitting techniques. 

Milo Vest designed by Georgie Hallam, found here on Ravelry

Lastly some pics from Sunday afternoon,  I took Kelly and the girls down to the river nearby, and we had some fun at the waters edge.  Kelly loves the creeks and duck ponds at home, and loves to splash about and get us all wet, but she was a bit unsure of this swift water and stayed close to the edge.  A lovely way to spend an hour on a fine autumn day.

Till next time ....................... take care and have fun .......................Nicky

Holidays over .....

It's hard to believe today is the last day of the school holidays.  Term 1 was a long one, and the girls were well ready for the break.  We haven't done too much, other than a few days away in Wanaka at Easter, and several sleepovers happening with friends to keep the girls busy.  Here are some pics of beautiful Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountains. 

This is the view from my in-laws home.......

Below is Treble Cone ski-field(obviously without the snow. lol)

The mountain vistas are simply stunning ........

The last of the autumn colours are still beautiful ........

...........as is the 'rooster tail' left by the jetboat..........

Sheep grazing down to the lake edge .............

And finally back home again, here is our Kelly baby, who is nearly one now, always keen for photos ........ 

(Don't you love my gorgeous carpet - Not! It will be a happy day at my house when I get new carpet/curtains/wallpaper. lol I just wish it was going to be soon!)    

So as you can see, there's been almost a total lack of stitching here lately, but as ever, I'll try and rectify that soon.  I did get back into an old hobby while I watched the Royal Wedding on Friday night - knitting - I haven't knitted since the girls were little, but have started a little vest for my cousins baby boy.  I'm a bit rusty, but am enjoying it so far.  And wasn't the wedding wonderful - brought a little tear to the eye.  It was so amazingly public, but still seemed intimate and personal for the Prince and his bride.  Beautiful!!

Hope to be back with some stitching or maybe even some knitting soon.......till then, take care and thanks for visiting me today ........ Nicky