Nothing went wrong! Bet you can't believe that. But it's as true as I'm sitting here in my wee goonie and baffies (nightdress and slippers) poking toast crumbs out of my keyboard.
Last week I did the grocery run on Thursday to leave the whole of Friday free for FNSI. Maybe I should call it FDSI because I really did sew the whole day. Started stitching along with all you Southern Hemisphere gals..... picked up the European lasses at tea time then made a valiant attempt to stay up late enough to say 'Hi' to Canada and the US of A! Wow... what a day!
Started out with some therapeutic slicing and dicing......
Cut the 200 blue squares needed for the next border of Natures Journey. While the blade was in my hand I prepped the outer border too... optimistic eh.
Next... some chain piecing....
I don't often chain piece but I managed to make it work for me this time. Before you all start telling me that chaining is super efficient and fast... I know all that and I agree (in principle). My problem is brain saturation. My little grey cells fill up very quickly and once that happens all bets are off. I loose track of what I'm stitching to what and chaos quickly ensues. That usually means a lot of unpicking.
No chaining the next step. I needed to keep control and my cool for this bit....
Things went swimmingly well and pretty soon a miracle happened......
Ta Da!! Another round of Natures Journey done and dusted. I don't mind saying I love it to bits. Plan is to work on joining the applique block borders today. The girls are coming over so as long as I don't talk too much (as if) I stand a good chance of getting that bit closer to the finish line.
That was my FNSI now how about yours? When the girls leave I'll be showing up on all your doorsteps to see what you got up to on Friday..... provided you joined in of course.
Thanks Wendy for hosting us all again and for the yummy cake recipe. It's a keeper. Click HERE to visit Wendy and all the other girls from around the world who stitched on Friday night.
HOT OFF THE PRESS.....
I did it! I pieced and attached the applique borders this afternoon. Am I on a roll or what! Just two more easy peasy borders to do..... getting excited now.
It's nice to be sewing again. I've been working through a bit of a stitching slump the past couple of weeks. Outdoor chores ate up lots of my time. Jobs like.....
collecting rocks from the field next door... and hurling them over the garden wall. Great Scottish pass time. Shame it isn't an Olympic sport I reckon I could make the team.
My rock tossing did have a purpose......
Mac started work on some steps from the drive to the upper part of the garden. Can't wait to cut the ribbon at the grand opening. No more risking life and limb slithering up and down the slippery slope to short cut the route from top garden to drive. Lost count of how many times I've slid down there on my bum!
Been doing a bit of garden work too (weather permitting). I'm trying to clear the undergrowth around that path with a view to laying some membrane and bark. I'm getting too old and cranky to have to dig out the darned path every year. Won't tell you what Mimi is up to but she seemed to think my digging was for her convenience!
A lot of death defying lopping of tree branches and the removal of an old bush from the middle of the lawn has opened up a new view from the kitchen window.....
Nice to see 'the girls' enjoying a paddle in the river. Wonder what those two were talking about.
Maisie might know....
but she's not saying.
Well.... that's it for now. I'm sewing again tomorrow. I need to finish Natures Journey before Friday..... when the girls and I head off on retreat again. Want to come?
I'm going now, I've a lot of lovely blog visiting to catch up on and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it. See you soon....
Have a happy time stitching....
Hugs
Josie xxxx
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21 comments:
Beautiful sewing and I love the girls in the river !
Have a lovely weak
Käthe
Josie! That top is gorgeous! I thought it looked wonderful with the squares border but the blocks around the outside make is amazing. This is going to be a beautiful quilt. xx
Your quilt is looking fabulous Josie - can't wait to see it finished! Love your garden shots too esp the girls in the river/creek
and I'm sure you've heard it before - when Im chain piecing - I lay out the blocks the way I want them to finish up and always turn the right side one over on top of the left one - and the bottom over the top - usually works OK and if I were doing 9 patches I'd work on 2 at a time.
Lucky you off on retreat too.
You are certainly on a roll...hot hot hot. It is great to clear the day and spend it doing something that you love.
Love your Natures Journey. Hopefully i'll be back at mine today or tomorrow. Your garden is looking good. Hmmm i do wonder what those cows were talking about. Hugs,xx
Hi Josie ,what a wonderful post you always give me a good laugh,love your quilt it's looking fantastic,well done and the path looks good,so glad you won't be sliding down on your bum now,lol,hope you have a lovely day my friend xx
Woohoo! Well done girl! It looks awsome and well worth the angst. Good to see you have some sunshine. I thought you were going to build a dry wall with all those rocks. Steps look great. Say hi to the cows and Maisie.
wowee!! well done you.
love your nj top, I think you are going to need a rest with all that productivity.
Mac's steps look great, and bonus that it will save your dear bottom.
looks like the felines in your family are happily enjoying their garden space, how considerate of you to make a massive litter box in the woods for them. Hope my maisie doesn't see the luxurious extras your cats have.
What time will you pick me up for the retreat?
Your Nature's Journey is wonderful! Lovely to have a day of sewing where it all works well too.:)
Quilt looking great!
Wow, Josie! Awesome work! I really love how you hobnobbed with the various zones around the world. :D That quilt is turning out so amazing. Your photos of your yard are so beautiful - very nice steps there, and the cows - ! They're so picturesque, conversing in the stream.
Wonderful Nature's Journey top, love your color combination.
Greetings,
Sylvia
Wow, what a gorgeous top! I can imagine how pleased you are :-)
xx
What a delightful place to live. Rock throwing does sound like a sport but not one I wish to compete in for sure. I love your quilt. You really accomplished a lot during your FNSI. Looking forward to seeing it completed.
The quilt top is looking fabulous and maybe we need to start a campaign to get rock hurling in the Olympics.x
Happy happy happy, Josie. So pleased your sewing's going well, gosh your Natures Journey is looking beautiful - well done!!! Good to see you keeping busy outside too, those rock adventures were well worth it, sliding down slopes on one's butt wears thin after a while :-)
What an amazing effort Josie. Your quilt looks fantastic. I so wish I joined in now. Maybe next time. Bust times at your house, inside and out.
Nothing went wrong? How on earth did you manage that? Is there some special alignment of the stars, planets or widgets? Please please share :) Your NJ is looking so beautiful, look at you stitching along in time ;) Fantastic outdoorsy efforts, great view from your window :) Have the bestest time at retreat :)
Oh, and I agree, chain stitching is brilliant when one's brain is working, otherwise it's a major work out for the poor hard done by unpicker ;)
Wow..you really were on a roll. Love your NJ...I find chain piecing stressful too...my brain gets overloaded and I can't cope! Looks fantastic.
Wow, well done!!! Your natures journey is looking fantastic!!!! Great work outside...I imagine throwing rocks would be good for the arms...exercise that is!! Steps look great..you can go in safety now!! Love the cats and cow photos.
Hi Josie, I'm new to blogging and really enjoy reading your blog and seeing all the beautiful projects you're working on, you do such lovely stitching.
I'm pretty sure I'm following you, although I was unable to add my profile pic on Google Friend Connect
Sara
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