Saturday 7 June 2014

Friday Night With Friends

Phew!   I almost missed sign up for this months sew in.   Is is me or are the days flying by faster than usual?  

Oblivious to the sew in I'd gone off on a day trip in search of  fabric. It was more good luck than good management that I got home in time to discover it was sew in night.  Talk about a last minute rush!   I've been dithering all week over whether to start Anni Downs Pocket of Posies so I grabbed my pencil and pattern and got to work preparing applique......


I've been experimenting with a different stabiliser and have to say I love it.    I'm now using Floriani Stitch n' Wash Tear Away Fusible..... how about that for a mouthful.    It's fabulous.  Definitely my favourite.   It's so light in fact you hardly know it's there.   It softens more when washed too which makes it just perfect... in my book.  

Everything was going well until I tried picking fabrics for the centre block......


You can guess how that went so I won't bore you with the details.   Eventually I gave up and got out a project that I'm comfortable with..........


I was going to have a little break from In My Garden... so much for that... I started work on Block 3.     Almost got all the pieces stitched down... just the centre circle and one and a half tiny squares to go.    Then it's on to..... more pears.  Oh no... not the dreaded pears!!

That's it.... the fruits of my labours.   Not a lot.  But some progress is better than none... right!  

Thanks Cheryll for making FNWF  possible again.   You can't beat a good get together can you.   If you haven't signed up before why don't you make the first Friday evening in July a date and join in the fun.... go on... don't be a wallflower! ;o)

Now... I'm feeling a bit shamefaced.   I forgot to pop back last weekend  to show you what happened to the stitchery mum made at the Chookshed birthday party (she'll kill me if she finds out).   So..... here it is in all it's glory.....


It's now decorating a little needle case.   Would you believe that this is mum's first ever needle case... in 86 years!  Told you she doesn't like anything to do with sewing.

Mum did a good job conning persuading me to make the needle case for her.   Cheeky minx  then asked  if I'd photograph her at the machine so that it would look like she made it.  Excuse me!   There is something not quite right about a child of 60 telling an octogenarian mum that it's naughty to tell  lies.  Even worse is mum telling said child that one of these days her halo will choke her!!

Anyhow..... she did pick the lining fabric and felt.....


credit where credit is due! :o)

What else.   A delivery.....


A giant bale of bark mulch that is headed for the fruit bed.   Once I get rid of the weeds and do a bit of prep work.  Made a start digging just as rain stopped play..... shame.


Later I discovered a new talent.....


Sawing tree roots.   OK.... so it was a small tree but still... I felt like a Lumberjack!   Made a good job of it too if I say so myself.

Well... that's about it for now.   I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel for something to say so I reckon it's time I got out of here.     Mum's gone to bed so I can settle down to watch the recording of the Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying session..... perfect end to the day.

I'm going now before I get a second wind.......
Have a brilliant rest of the weekend
Hugs
Josie

26 comments:

Sandra said...

Popping in from FNWF, you have been very productive. Well done

Rebecca in AK said...

I am glad I am not the only one with trouble picking fabrics for applique projects! Your Mum did a wonderful job on her stitchery! Where did you get your love of sewing/quilting, not from your Mom then. Very hard work sawing any size tree with a hand saw!

Helen said...

Love your mums stitchery well done to her and anyone who encouraged the process :)
You had a very productive night and well do e on lumberjacking :))

Raewyn said...

Lovely to see your bright and chirpy post. I think you and your mum are as bad :-) as each other!! Do love the needle case though and don't worry, it takes me hours to choose fabric sometimes, you're not alone in that area. Good to see you out stretching your muscles in the garden!

Wendy said...

I think choosing fabrics can be the worst bit sometimes! Your block is lovely and I love your mum's needle book, I think you two have lots of fun together! Good luck with the garden, hugs Wendy

margaret said...

apart from cutting the fabric choosing to me is next hardest. Mum`s heart turned out well, a pretty needle case, sounds like fun in your house, does Mum live with you?

Bev C said...

Hello Josie,

Thanks for the top, re the sticky backing stuff. Some of them make the item you are making as stiff as a board. Good luck with spreading that mulch.

Happy days.
Bev.

Tracy said...

Choosing fabrics is one of the more difficult parts of the sewing process.
Cheeky octogenarians are the best kind. Your Mum did a great job.

Jeanette said...

I hate choosing fabrics. :) Still trying to figure out fabrics for my new BOM & i'm up to month 2. :( Love your Mum's needlecase. Hugs,xx

kiwikid said...

So are you now singing I'm a Lumber jack and I'm OK???? Loved the needle case - boy your Mum is cheeky!! Your projects look great too. What is in the fruit bed? Maybe I should have asked what kind of fruit?
xx

Kim said...

Lovely work by you and your Mum.

Michelle Ridgway said...

Well done to you and your Mum. I too now have that Lumberjack song in my head Lol! Nice stitching with you x

Susan said...

Choosing fabrics is definitely the hardest part. Although you are doing very well with the garden quilt.......and in your real garden. At least now we know where your cheekiness comes from!

marina said...

I use the floriani for quite a few things, are you using it for needleturn applique?
I think I like your mum a little bit more each time you share some of her cheekiness. Her comment about your halo lol what a cracker.
Her needlecase looks gorgeous and a great joint project.
When you felt like a lumberjack I hope the Monty Python crew weren't singing in the background?

Kaisievic said...

Hi Josie, isn't it frustrating when you just can't get everything to happen exactly how you want on a project - lucky you had Plan B to work on and I am sure the pears are beautiful!

Kaisievic said...

P.S. I can imagine my Mum (whom I lost late last year) being a bit naughty like your mum! lol!

Kindred Quilts said...

My goodness Josie! You brighten my day (well, it's evening here now, but you know what I mean!) whenever I read one of your post! I'd like to be a little butterfly fluttering around in a room when you and your Mum are having such cute conversations!
Such a fun variety of projects you are working on... you are so right... a little progress is better than none... on each of them!
I have missed the last couple of FNWF's... life has been so busy! I'd be happy with a Friday night to do nothing with but sew... I'm going to shoot for the first Friday come July!

Elizabeth said...

You and your Mum are such a tonic - a double act! Thanks for such a cheery blog post and happy happy stitching.

Leanne said...

Hi Josie, you are making some beautiful projects. I love your mum's sense of humour, I can see where you get yours from. Hope you are well. xx

Cath said...

Love your post Josie.....you do make me giggle.....and your mum too! Well, you know you got way more done on Friday than I did....so thumbs up for that!

debbie said...

"Your halo will choke you" LOLOL...nearly choked on my..umm, Coke Zero here when I read that. Your mum is a treasure. I would love to hang out with you two!! xx debbie

Shirley said...

I think your mum is as funny as you are. However she did it the needlecase looks great. Can i put in a order for one please in pink.

Janice said...

I bet your mum now tells all that the needle book is all her own work. Too cheeky for words. You did well with the sew in at such short notice. We'll done. Have fun in the garden. We're you singing as you sawed?

Anthea said...

Your Mum is a real cheeky girl, Josie! But she did well with the stitchery!

The GP went well -how about the winner - he grew up in the suburb next to my childhood home - mind you, I was married & gone from there by the time he was old enough to drive!

DAWNIE said...

Your mu sounds like a real character. Love your quilt that you are doing. You willl be so chuffed with the end result

Ondrea said...

Whew! What a lot happening! Love your applique and can empathise with you about choosing fabrics . I hum and hah all the time, auditioning fabrics, tossing them aside etc. Takes me ages lol. Love that needle book, really sweet and lovely stitchery. Hope you can chill out a bit now.