Saturday 3 May 2014

Friday Night With Friends....

Actually friends have been in short supply here recently so I spent my Friday Night with Family in the form of my mum.


She spent her evening working on her new charity knitting project..... hats for Africa.

 My mum and hats have always been a cause of great hilarity in our house.... think you can see why.   I can only think of one word to describe her latest look..... gormless!!    Whenever I'm feeling really down I take my mum shopping for hats.  After half a dozen  try on's we are both  helpless with laughter... tears rolling down our cheeks.... it's a great 'pick me up'! 

Here she is with her hat haul for the evening......


time well spent I think. 

As for me......


 
I got out Block 1 of 'In My Garden'  BOM and stitched down applique for all I was worth.  Stitched all those flowers on the left... finished off the trees (top left) and started on the water fountain in the centre.  It might not look like much to you but to me... it's a lot.   I can only do one size of stitch.... minuscule.   I'm trying not to be anal but it's hard to go against what comes naturally.

Still.... I have a plan!!     I can hear you all groaning......  stop it!  <lol> 

My new plan is suspiciously similar to my old plan I think...... tackle all the BOM's I have stashed and finish them!   So far it's not working out too well.   Instead of finishing one I've added a new one to the list....


    
I've resisted this pattern for ages but when I visited Sharon's blog for a catch up and saw the gorgeous blocks she's making from this project.....  I was pressing that 'buy' button before you could say 'fat quarter bundles'.   Someone really should confiscate my computer.   Hummm... better hide it!

There's a bit more progress here......


I decided to free machine stitch the applique bits of this design.    Really love that blue floral print.   I cut around the piece of Sticky Solvy just inside the border so I could peel it back to do the machining then


chop off the excess where the teacup is and fold it back ready for hand stitching.   Haven't started stitching yet.

Broke my 'no more random fat quarters' rule this week.   Bought three of them and all because my mum made me go into the craft shop so she could buy more wool.  That mini charm pack somehow got into my basket too  (Moda Wrens & Friends).     I picked up a new magazine too....


well... it came with a free stencil pack... so what if I don't stencil... it was a bargain!!    Some nice projects in the magazine.  This one is gong on my 'must make' list....


isn't it cute!

Now before I go...... here's another reason my stitching was slow.....


Maisie spread-eagle on my lap.... from hip to knees (mine not hers).  Fortunately she had the presence of mind to arrange her tail to protect her dignity!   

That's all  folks!!

I'm going blog hopping now to check out what you've all been up too....  having fun I hope.

See ya soon
Hugs
Josie

32 comments:

Supergoof said...

Your Mum looks great!
:o)

gracie said...

Love your mum!2 hats in one evening! terrific. I must try to find that magazine...I love that reindeer....

Rebecca in AK said...

Your Mum looks like a darling!! I love her hat. What a great thing she is doing knitting hats for charity. I saw the "Gossip in the Garden" pattern too, though on a different blog. I will probably end up getting it. I just ordered a book by Lynette Anderson, with a pattern called "My Garden" that I saw on a blog and fell in love with. When will I have time to make all of these? I don't know, I seem to like to collect patterns. Maisie is look very content!

Raewyn said...

Woohoo, I'm trying really hard to resist Gossip in the Garden!!! Nice to see you crafting and your Mum's hats. Your needleturn is really lovely!! Maisie looks like a cat with all character :-)

Elizabeth said...

Your Mum is a tonic - pleassse can I borrow her - or - can I go hat shopping with you next time? does she know you posted that pictures of her..?

Melody said...

Your mum is fabulous and your wonderful post brought a big smile to my face.

Susan said...

Looks like a wonderful night, your mum does look a sight modeling her hat. Anni's designs are hard to resist, no one can blame you for caving in to Gossip in the Garden. Maisie looks like she is fitting in perfectly.

Sandra said...

Popping in from FNWF, WOW you girls are so busy, I love all your stash and your kitty is gorgeous

Chookyblue...... said...

always fun to read your posts........did you see my post a couple back........

Diane-crewe said...

LOVE the hats and the model xx

retdairyqueen said...

Lovely to have your Mum spend FNWF with you
Seems you are super busy
All looking lovely

Jeanette said...

oh Josie you make me smile you surely do. Love your mum's hats. Your projects are fabulous. I too was not going to add new projects( need to finish ufo's) especially not Gossips but you guessed it i did after seeing the girls blocks from my Sunday Stitchers group. We are due to start our 4th block this month - we only meet once a month & have show & tell then for the rest of the ladies who aren't sewing it. Can't wait to see yours. Hugs,xx

Cath said...

nothing better than having your mum's company for a sewing night in and lots of lovely projects laying around
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

kiwikid said...

I am still giggling from your post!!
Your Mum looks like a lady with a wonderful sense of humour!! She did well making the two beanies in a night - I try to make them too but it takes me longer!! I can just see you two laughing in a hat shop - I would LOVE to come along too!! Your appliqué is beautiful and you got heaps done, love the cat! And the tea cup fabric! Fat quarters and magazines have a way of attaching themselves to you! Any Annie projects are very very tempting! Enjoy your BOM's.

Fiona said...

hello Josie's mum..... what fun to stitch together and you both have lovely work to show!
Hugz

marina said...

sounds like you and your mum have a good time together crafting.love your applique and you can be as fussy as you like with your stitches, they are gorgeous.
your littel stitchery is beautiful.the tea cup fabric is gorgeous.
Maisie sure knows how to kick back. Must be the name?

CathyC said...

LOL love the hats :) loved looking at your stitching too!

Anthea said...

Hi Josie- don't worry about your miniscule stitching, it's beautiful and i'm sure that even a close inspection of it would be hard to see any stitches at all - now that's expert stitching I say!

Oh you are setting your sights on some lovely quilts & BOMs there... how many are in your cupboards or shelves that you are neglecting?! Probably heaps, just like me!

Deb R said...

I love your post, you mum is a super fast knitter!!
I have a few BOMs ready to do in my stash too lol

Anonymous said...

awesome post my friend and love all the work you have been doing and also your mum has done well too,i see where you get your sense of humour from,lol,love that new craft mag i must look out for it down here,hope you have a lovely evening Josie.xx

Kim said...

Lovely stitching Josie. I have the same problem with my to do list never gets shorter only longer. Have a great week.

Shirley said...

You really have started my day with a laugh. I went shopping with a friend who tried on some spectacles and we almost got thrown out of the shop for laughing so hard. Does you good to laugh like that. Your mum is working hard at her charity knitting and I am loving your projects. Not counting, la, la, la, la, la. Might have to add to my collection now.

margaret said...

good for you Mum knitting all those hats for the poor people in Africa, they are sure to appreciate them. Love Anni Downs, I bought the angels pattern recently, needless to say not got any further than putting it in my pile of projects! What a beauty, have put your cat on my desk top to share with my daughters next time they visit.

Grethe said...

Great Mun, love her knitted hats. Gossip in the garden looks lovely, I'tell Anni when I meet her on Thursday that you love it too !!!! Thanks for your nice comments on my blog, Josie , all the best - to Mun as well:-)

Helen said...

Your mum is just gorgeous and your post brought a big smile to my face.

barb's creations said...

You do make me laugh!Love the hats and I can totally get you with wanting to start another BOM as Sharon has done the same to me with some of the projects she's put on her blog :) Barb.

Tania said...

Hi Josie, love your Mum and her hats, and your sewing is beautiful! I have just bought the Gossip in the Garden pattern, I love it too, especially after seeing a few of them popping up in blogland of late. Not planning on tackling it for awhile though - need to finish a few more UFOs first!

Me and My Stitches said...

I love your mom's hats - I have a suspicion that a day with her is always fun! And she's a terrible influence, twisting your arm until you buy fabric, magazines, etc!

Melanie said...

This post has made me smile. Your mum looks like she's fun to be around. Your applique looks great and I'm loving the hats. x

Michelle Ridgway said...

Oh that made me giggle so much...what a hoot your Mum is. Looks like lots of gorgeous projects coming up from your stitching basket.

Outback Craftaholic said...

Hi Josie. I'm visiting from FNwF. Sounds like you had a lovely evening with your Mum and you were both quite productive. Your other stitchery is lovely too. I haven't used solvy yet but plan to as I get through some UFO's.

Could you please tell me the name of that magazine? I love the reindeer picture you showed and would love to make something like that.

Your cat is very cute too. Cheers, Tracy.

Wendy said...

It must be fun to share a night of crafty with your mum, great hats even if not on her! Love all your work, the stitchery is gorgeous. Hugs Wendy xx