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

Easter bunnies and birdies ........

Isn't this wee guy the cutest?  I was lucky enough to be a winner in Carol's Spring Giveaway a couple of weeks ago, and this Just Nan bunny has come all the way from Pennsylvania to live at my house.  Carol's finishing is beautiful and she has a whole lot more gorgeous bunnies she's been stitching up for Easter.  I feel SO lucky to be a winner in your lovely giveaway Carol, this is the first giveaway I've ever won, so thanks!  I don't enter many giveaways, unless it's a blog I already visit, so I feel very blessed.    It may not be spring here in NZ, but it is definitely bunny time with Easter only a day away!

My stitching from last weeks FNSI is now finished.  This is the April block for the Birdie Stitches BOM, with a cute Easter egg tree.  The tree is a little hard to pick out, maybe I should have chosen a darker green.  Sadly the cross stitch I had planned for Easter has not eventuated ...... yet!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter, we are heading away tomorrow for a few days to my in-laws, so I'll catch up again next week.

Till then.............happy stitching...................Nicky

PS:  Miss Moe - if you could email me    nickyw76 at yahoo dot com    as you are no-reply, and I will get back to you about the SB stockings.  Thanks.

Friday Night Sew-In Progress

I didn't achieve a lot on Friday night for FNSI - but anything is better that nothing I suppose. This is April's Birdie Stitches block, featuring for now, half a tree and half a birdie.  You can find the designs released so far over at Little Miss Shabby's blog, along with lots of other beautiful quilts and cushions.

If all goes well I'll get this one finished up tonight, then I have plans for a little cross stitching.  Watch this space!  I failed in my OPAM goal for March, so I really don't want a repeat in April. LOL

Have a wonderful weekend for what's left of it, thanks for visiting me today.......Nicky

April???

I don't know where the first few, 10, 14 days of April have disappeared to.  I've had several attempts now at an update and am finally there now.  Life has been hectic round here, lambs and cattle off to the works, new weaner calves arriving from sales, and ewes being drenched and dipped in preparation for the mating season. We are tired of working in the woolshed and sheepyards, that is for sure!  My off-farm job has been busy too, with the end of the financial year meaning extra days at work lately too.

These are some of the steers ready to go to the paddock in the sky soon!  It pays not to get too attached to animals around here.  These boys are so quiet and friendly, but have been a bit naughty lately trying to get out of their paddocks, and lifting gates off hinges when they get the chance.

This is Miss 10 helping round up stock on her wee motorbike.  She's been a great help lately on the farm, and is desperate to get a pony.  The jury is still out on that one for now!

Anyway enough of all that, this is a stitchy kind of blog after all - not that there has been much of that happening either.  What a response to my last post on stitching tips and hints.  Thank you so much for adding lots of ideas and comments about the way you stitch too.  I learnt a lot, and realised there were lots of things I didn't mention too.  The main one is which method you use - the 'stab' method* or the 'running stitch' way of stitching.  I usually use the 'stab' method, it may be slower, but I find it difficult to get the stitch sitting right using the running stitch way and it is physically hard to do with the small hoop I use.

* By 'stab' method, I mean the needle going through to the back in one motion, then reaching behind and pushing through to the front in another movement, as opposed to going from front to back, and returning to the front all in one motion.  

Ultimately, everyone has their own way of doing things and if it works for you - go with it!

These are my April blocks from the Tis the Season Stitch-Along.  Why not head on over and check out the gorgeous blocks at the SAL blog.  Who could believe that one design could look so many different ways?!

Last night I traced off this months Little Birdie Stitches block and I'm planning a nice stitchy Friday evening tomorrow for FNSI.  You can sign up here if you'd like to join the fun. 

I'll try not to leave it so long next time, but till then, happy stitching .....................Nicky