Saturday 4 April 2015

Friday Stitching with Friends...

Another lovely FNWF was had by me..... how about you.   Did you join in?

Last night I felt the urge to stitch.... back stitch.   Recently I joined Jenny at Elefantz Stitchery Club....
what's not to love about a surprise bundle of stitcheries arriving in your inbox every month.   March patterns are a gorgeous Alphabet Sampler which I really.. really want to stitch. 

Don't know if you've realised but I'm a real information junkie.  If I see a tutorial I just have to try it. Of course I had to try Jennys stitching method... well her stitching is fabulous so why wouldn't I.  So Friday night I traced and started work on this.... stitching 'a la Jenny'.....


I ditched my hoop and stitched rather than stabbed.   Popped a cushion under my hands as recommended and boy did it make a difference.    Just goes to show it's never to late to teach an old dog new tricks!


Wish I could have made more progress but I'm stuck with another bout of Blepharitis... in both eyes this time.   It's testing my patience for sure.   So... if you see any wobbly bits cut me some slack ;)

So... that was the sum total of my FNWF.   Not a lot!  I hope you all managed to do better.

Thanks Cheryll for hosting another lovely stitch in.    Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Now for a general update......

I finally finished this Stonefields block.....


and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Realised I'd posted my completed Natures Journey blocks to the SAL blog and hadn't blogged about them here.   So.... without further ado... here are my March blocks....

Little ones.....
and big ones....





No accidents with this batch....  kept the Bourbon in the bottle this time.   I'm getting really antsy waiting for the next months blocks to arrive.   I know I've got lots of other lovely things to work on but I'm a bit obsessed with NJ at the moment.     

I have started work on another batch (3) of Stonefields blocks and hope to have them finished quite soon.... blurry eyes permitting.

That's it for the sewing news.  

On the 'log' front.... Mac is still pretending he's a lumberjack....


That's not ear defenders on his head it's earphones.    He couldn't possibly venture 50 yards from his workshop without  radio contact with his TV!    He's sawing along to one of his favourite programmes .... Alaska the Last Frontier!

Have to tell you about that cardigan/jacket he's wearing.   Early in our relationship I knitted him a lovely Aran cardigan.. It was perfect (if I say so myself).  It fitted him like a glove and he loved it.
Then one day while we were out and about with our caravans (we had one each) he decided to wash his 100%  wool lovingly hand knit cardi in the industrial washing machine on the caravan site.

Now.... Mac is blind to every setting on a washing machine except one.... hot!!   He loves to kill bacteria... mostly imaginary but still satisfying.   Not content with that he popped it into the tumble dryer on full heat... he likes that setting too.    All in all... a smart, well fitted cardigan went into the wash and a knee length XXXXXL coat with a collar that would fit a bull elephant came out.  Don't ask me how.  I'd expected he'd end up with a garment that would fit his teddy bear (!)

OK... I'm a forgiving soul and I did eventually regain the power of speech.   But what rankles to this day is that he tells everyone I knitted it like that!!!    I swear... one day........

Well.... I'd better get going.   I've got things to do not least of which is visiting other FNWF'ers who stitched along this month.

I know just what will happen.... I'll get sidetracked on their blogs and end up lost in cyber space for hours.   Better get a cup of tea and a biscuit before I start.   It doesn't pay to start a journey on an empty stomach....;)

Bye then....
See ya soon
Hugs
Josie   xxx

25 comments:

Unknown said...

surprised that i'm first comment. All blocks looking great, lots of progresson the NJ quilt. Hope the eyes improve soon. x

Chookyblue...... said...

good to see you have something to keep you busy inbetween the NJ blocks......stonefield blocks are lovely........hope the eyes are good soon.........

Helen said...

Your stitching is beautiful, LOVE your stonefields block I had a similar thing happen to my husbands cardigan. Hope your eyes have improved.

Helen said...

Your stitching is beautiful, LOVE your stonefields block I had a similar thing happen to my husbands cardigan. Hope your eyes have improved.

Jeanette said...

I do hope you eye's improve soon. Love all your blocks & t=your embroidery looks fabulous. Hugs,xx

Christine M said...

Your stitching is lovely, Josie. The blocks are coming along nicely too.

Bev C said...

Hello Josie,

Loved hearing about the washing machine dilemma. Lots of lovely stitching going on too.

Happy days.
Bev.

Ondrea said...

Those blocks are so lovely and I love your spotty and check backgrounds you chose.They really add some oomph! Your stitchery is sweet. I need to use a hoop to keep the tension but I no longer use a hoop for hand quilting. I hope your eyes get better. Nothing worse when you have heaps of stitching projects to do. Gees, you are a forgiving soul re your hubby. Was that the only thing you knitted for him?

kiwikid said...

Lots of beautiful blocks Josie...I hope your eyes are ok soon. I had a giggle about Macs cardy...he is so lucky the thing didn't shrink...how could he get it bigger??? When you think about it he is lucky to be alive!!! Your stitchery is lovely...good how we can learn new stuff isn't it!!

Fiona said...

love all your blocks....and Mac's jumper.... it was obviously well made to still be going even if its a different shape!
Hugz

Cath said...

I don't see anything wrong with your stitching Josie!

Deb R said...

Lots of lovely blocks there Josie!

Flickenstichlerin said...

Oh wow, so many beautiful projects. You are making the Stonefields and the Natures Journey quilt. What lovely handcrafts.
Greetings,
Sylvia

Kaisievic said...

Lots of gorgeous stitching and patchwork, Josie, even with your blurry eyes. Love the story about Mac and the cardi - what a hoot! But I have to ask, why did you have a caravan each?

Käthe said...

Happy Easter Josie for you and your family. Enjoy the day.
Käthe

Susan said...

Scuba. Pretty stitchery, no wonder you wanted to get started. It will keep you out of mischief (!) between NJ blocks too. Hope your eyes feel better soon, we get grumpy when we can't sew!

gracie said...

Lovely stitching all around...even the sweater!!!!! Happy Easter.

Sparky said...

lovely work, and even lovelier blog name..
kiss mdm samm

Melanie said...

Your Elefantz stitchery is coming on a treat. I do love her designs.
The story about the cardigan made me laugh so much. I'm glad it's not just my hubby who only thinks the washer has one setting. X

retdairyqueen said...

Jennys work is lovely Iam a big fan
Iam sure you will do it justice

Rebecca in AK said...

Beautiful stitching! You are really making progress on your NJ blocks. Your Stonefields block is perfect. What a story about Mac's cardigan! At least he can still wear it and did not have to find a teddy bear to give it too!

Tracy said...

Sweet stitchery. I love the bee.

Katherine said...

The stitchery block is very cute and I love how neat your stitching is without the hoop! The blocks you have finished look fantastic too. Same about the cardigan but that's men for you. I always thought things should shrink not enlarge when they are washed like that. Hope your eyes are better soon. Hubby and daughter get it quite frequently. Do you have something called viscotears eye gel over there. Hubby has to use it at least twice a day to hopefully control it and it seems to be working. You would of course have to check with your own dr but that is what we were told.

Allie said...

I adore Jenny's designs! You're doing marvelous with this one. I've never used a hoop, I can't imagine trying, lol. Your Stonefields block is just gorgeous, as are the NJ - your stitching is exquisite.

Had to laugh about your hubby and the sweater, how in the world did it not shrink to Barbie size!!!

Asta Buchanan said...

Lovely stitching Josie - it's great to try new ways of doing things - like you I also look out for tutorials.... nice to see your NJ blocks.