Saturday 5 July 2014

Friday Night With Friends......

I had a really calm... happy... and productive FNWF.... for a change!    Probably because I decided to chose just one project to work on and stick to my decision.  No mind changing allowed.     Can you believe I managed to do that?  Well....I did!        

I chose this......


One of the stitchery panels for my Vignette In Stitches quilt.      It started out in 2011 as a Mystery Quilt in Vignette magazine but obviously it's not a mystery any longer.   What is a mystery is how I got the idea I could keep up with the bi-monthly challenge.     Anyhow..... above is where I was at with the stitching before FNWF.

Here's how it looked the morning after FNWF...... 


Before you say anything.... I know I'm not the worlds fastest stitcher.   I'm a 'stabber' and that seems to slow me down.   I'm only a couple of flowers away from the end.....


of this border at least.    Never thought I'd be stitching flowers by the yard!    


I'm so happy I chose to work on this last night..... I've fallen in love with it all over again!    I feel I owe it an apology for ignoring it for so long.   It's officially out of the UFO pile and back on the work sheet... if I had a work sheet.   That's too much like planning for me.

Hope you enjoyed last night as much as I did.... I'll be coming round to find out!

This morning wasn't bad either........


A new issue of either  Quiiltmania or Simply Vintage is the perfect excuse to sit down with a cup of tea.   Love this little framed quilt.....


isn't it gorgeous!   I love quilts in frames.   I need to make more.


The two small projects above will be perfect for practising hand quilting.   Oddly enough.... I'm avoiding jumping in at the deep end with a full size quilt.  

I 'played out' in the garden with Maisie for a while......


she assisted with the photography earlier so I owed her a walk around the garden.  It's our little ritual.  I walk she charges about showing off her new skills.... tree climbing and poking mice out of holes to name but two. She's totally gorgeous.... and I'm totally biased!

Now... can you guess what this is?


Isn't it obvious?    It's Mac's Bonsai Tree!!     Now you might agree with me that a tiny shoot from a 30' pine tree poked into a saucer of driveway gravel doesn't even come close to being an artful Japanese Topiary... but try telling that to Mac.   I can't even get him to admit that.... it's dead!!    Something tells me it'll be gracing the conservatory windowsill for a long time to come.  

Well... that's all for tonight.    Mum is waiting for me to start up Netflix and put on the next episode of The Good Wife.   I know better than to make her wait too long.... she's learnt enough to sue me!!

See you all sooner than you think
Have fun...
Josie

33 comments:

Kaisievic said...

Looks like a great FNWF to me, Josie. Maisie is adorable and I have a bonsai which looks just like that, too! lol!

Helen said...

Your stitching is just beautiful and wow it is going to be a gorgeous finish !!!

Susie said...

Oh this vignette quilt really is stunning. You have progressed so much further than myself who is yet to start! Keep it up.

Susie said...

Oh this vignette quilt really is stunning. You have progressed so much further than myself who is yet to start! Keep it up.

Jeanette said...

Love your Vignette stitching Josie. I quit after about 2 issues but still bought all the magazines thinking i'll do it one day but have decided i never will. :) I'm hoping my Bonsai doesn't look like that. Glad you have decided to start it again. Hope you got the Netflix on in time so your Mum doesn't sue you. :) Hugs,xx

Fiona said...

there is so much stitching in that Vignette quilt... i am sorry I never did it... I'm also a stabber.
I did laugh so much about the Bonsai tree.. poor little thing and I'm with your mum on Good Wife... I love it..
Hugz

Noela said...

Love your stitching Josie. I want to make that quilt one day but the amount of embroidery is indeed daunting. Hugs.....

Farm Gate Creations Incorporating Hummingbird Quilting said...

I do love that stitchery....and as for the Bonsai....maybe Mac just likes that Autumn glow look with his mini trees.

Michelle Ridgway said...

Beautiful stitching Josie. Well done!
I love that magazine too x

marina said...

wonderful to fall in love with a forgotten project again.
All that stitching is definitely a labour of love! It scared me away.
I think you should at least paint the tree green, for your own sake.
Reminds me of Spike Milligan's headstone "I told you I was sick"
Poor Mac lol

Janice said...

Boy! A very productive evening. Good on you for taking on something so ambitious. You are a braver lady than I. I think Mac's bonsai is now a stunning little sculpture.......until the needles fall off. I wonder what he will say about it then? I hope both you and your mum enjoyed your time in front of the tele. Got to keep her happy and you stitching fingers are probably due far a rest.

Marilyn said...

I love your flowers by the yard. Very pretty stitching. Oh dear, the poor little tree does look somewhat dead, but if he is happy to keep looking at it who are we to say so???

barb's creations said...

Well done on your stitching efforts, love it! Maisie looks like she was having loads of fun darting here and there :) Barb.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous work Josie it will look fantastic when finished there is a lot of work in this one,well done.xx

Sharm said...

I've loved coming to visit you over there in Scotland (its on my wish list to visit if I ever get overseas lol). Your stitching is beautiful and I'm so pleased its out of the UFO pile

Cath said...

I love that Vignette mystery quilt ..... it is rather lovely and yay for you for getting so much done on FNWF.

Melody said...

Fabulous stitching. The pattern is a lot of work but well worth the effort.

margaret said...

the stitching panel is looking good. That is a very pretty cat you have and looks full of mischief too

kiwikid said...

Well done with the stitching! Looking really good. Oh dear - maybe Mac needs some help on the art of Bonsai!! I had to laugh though, sorry Mac!! Love the look of the Simply Vintage mag - must go search for that - Maisie looks like she is having fun in the garden - hope you didn't keep your Mum waiting to long!
xx

Rebecca in AK said...

Very pretty stitching! I went to the link you had and now I see why you said you would be stitching flowers by the yard! Maisie' is looking beautiful! Those projects in Simply Vintage were really lovely!

Shirley said...

Little and often will get the job done. It will be so worth it. Very pretty. Maisie looks adorable. I can see I need to go and buy that Quiltmania mag. Mac and I share the same style of gardening.

Raewyn said...

Yaay!! Successful FNWF - well done, your stitching looks great. I have started gtting those Simply Vintage mags too - aren't they lovely? Maisie looks like she is having a ball!

Pat said...

Lovely stitching! Makes me want to dig mine out again. I agree Maisie is beautiful :0)

Susan said...

I love that project that you are working on...I decided not to start it - I imagine its gets a bit monotonous after a while but the end result will be lovely.
Love the bonsai too!!

Anthea said...

now now Josie - go easy on Mac - it's going to be the most low-maintenance plant ever!

You were very disciplined to stay with just the one project for FNWF, Keep going on it & finish the darn thing... eventually!

Maria said...

Your Vignette stitchery looks gorgeous..

gracie said...

Wonderful stitching...what dead bonsai?

Lynda said...

Love your stitcheries Josie. The colours are so lovely.

Ondrea said...

Your stitching is looking really pretty. I haven't started that quilt yet. Mmmmmm, Simply Vintage is due this week in the post. Woohooo!

Ondrea said...

Your stitching is looking really pretty. I haven't started that quilt yet. Mmmmmm, Simply Vintage is due this week in the post. Woohooo!

FloS said...

Hi Josie !
It is wonderful you stitch again your Vignette quilt !!! It is a so beautiful quilt !! I hope to be able to do the same …one day !!!
You are lucky to have already the Simply Vintage issue !! I haven't found it yet !!! Can you believe it ?!
Have a great week !
Florence

Janet said...

Your flowers are beautiful and it looks like you got tons done!! The bonsai tree is priceless. And you are very patient to let it sit there and not toss it.

Wendy said...

Such beautiful stitching Josie and good on you getting that project out again! Mine has come to a stop. Maisie is a beautiful kitty, not so sure about Mac's bonsai!! xx