Slow Stitching Sunday

I have joined Slow Stitching Sunday this year to hopefully get some of the cross stitch UFO projects I have finished. They really are slow stitching as a few hours work really doesn't look like much!

This is what I started with

And this is what I finished with

It's not much but at least it is progress!

Don't forget to head over to Kathy's Quilts and check out some of the other Slow Sunday Stitching that has been going on.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge

I have joined the 2014 Rainbow Scrap Challenge I am trying to use up some of the scraps I have been accumulating through participating in this challenge.  We are making blocks for a sampler quilt. Here are the first 3 blocks I have made. Blue is the January colour.

I am going over to check out what everyone else has been up to too. Maybe you would like to join us? Pop over to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Something Old Something New

I am following along with the Never to Hot to Stitch Something Old Something New Challenge

My Something Old  for this month is the Summer Fun Block of the month quilt I have been working on. I would like to get the top finished before the month is out.

These are the blocks I have finished so far. I have one more this size, two smaller blocks and a couple of appliquéd sashings  to add then the final borders.

My Something new was to try quilt as you go

I started a bottled rainbows quilt which was quilt as you go. They suggested just quilting the wadding and the top together and then quilting the borders when the backing is added. 

I thought it was defeating the purpose of quilt as you go so I quilted onto a backing but the stitches I chose didn't work very well. Oh well I learnt more about quilt as you go by trying it! (Maybe I should have just followed the instructions too!!!)

I guess it will work nicely as a placemat, but I wouldn't want to lie under a quilt quilted that way it might be a bit too scratchy!

Don't forget to pop over to Never to Hot to Stitch and check out what everyone else is up too.

Christmas Postcard Swap

I just realised I hadn't posted about the amazing Christmas postcard swap organised by the wonderful Shelia from Shelia's Quilt World. My partner was the beautiful Selina who sent me this gorgeous postcard

I had to copy the image from her blog as I have put the card up in a safe place (because I didn't want anything to happen to it and now I can't remember where that safe place is :0(
(Just so Selina knows I did find the postcard! It's in with all my postcards from around the world that I exchange through post crossing, although none of them are beautifully stitched ones  like this one!)

I was very forgetful when it came to this  swap I also had to ask Selina if she could send me a photo of the card I sent her as I was so excited to put it in the post for her I forgot to take a photo of it before I sent it.

This is the card I sent Selina

The swap has been lots of fun! Thank You for organising the swap Shelia and thanks for being a wonderful partner Selina.

Long Time No Post!!

I will just show you what I have been up to lately since it has been a long time between posts

I am starting to make plans of what I would like to do next year so I will write a post about that later.

Black Tie Boogie Blog Hop

Well the time has finally come! It is my day for the Black Tie Boogie Blog Hop.

Firstly I would like to thank the wonderful

Mdm Samm 

and 

the amazing 

Vickie

for organising and hosting this blog hop. Once again it has been loads of fun and it is amazing to see how many wonderful creations have been made.

I would also like to thank our sponsors

Red Rooster Fabrics

Florine Johnson Designs

and

Bird Brain Designs


Now for my project

This is my Cheeky Chook made from a Funky Friends Factory pattern.

After a short visit at my favourite fabric shop (Marci's Quilting Service)

this Cheeky Chook will become a surprise gift for someone when I make another 

(secret) Toy Society  drop. I sure hope he finds a good home!

Now I am off to check out some of the other bloggers hopping along with me today!

Would you like to join me?

Here is today's list

November 28

Celtic Thistle Stitches

Crafting 365 Days (you are here)

Hill Valley Quilter

Thimblemouse & Spouse

Yay, postcards have finally arrived!!!

JoAnne let me know the other day that my postcard had arrived, which I was glad to hear, especially since it was the first postcard I had made.

Sorry about the quality of the photo, I didn't check it until after I sent it.

I did a search for fall pictures and after narrowing it down to about four pictures I decided to use this design as inspiration for my postcard. I knew I wanted to use batiks but the Swirly lines proved a bit more challenging until I remembered the multicoloured  piece I had and it turned out to be perfect.

I found the picture here

Today the postman finally delivered the one JoAnne had made for me. JoAnne had actually sent hers before I sent mine so it just goes to show it can take different amounts of time to go the same distance in different directions.

Isn't it beautiful?

Finding 15 Minutes a day

Finding time to sew is a bit easier when I am only trying to do 15 minutes at a time. This week I managed to sew 

Tuesday- Summer Fun BOM

Wednesday- Summer Fun BOM

Thursday- Summer Fun BOM

Friday- sewing  for the shop

Saturday- picking fabric for new toy

Sunday-nil

Monday-Sew cheeky chook toy

Don't forget to check out what everyone else has been doing 15 minutes at a time over at Life in Pieces with Kate.

One marked off my October list!

I finished the monster :0) I think he will make a nice (secret)Toy Society toy drop, now I just have to decide where to drop him.

If you like him, check out the other wonderful patterns from The Funky Friends Factory.

October Goals

I am hoping to get the following done during October

Finish Chester

Finish my Mix and Match Monster

Make progress on my cross stitch

Finish this little appliqué

Make progress on this quilt

But most importantly I want to get this to the flimsy stage, which means I am going to be very busy!

Linking up with

Never to hot to stitch!: 2013 Year of the Finished Project

Don't forget to check out what everyone else is up to this month.

Am I lucky or what?

I stumbled across Charles Parsons craft project website and discovered a competition for some Cosmo Cottons. I love Cosmo Cottons and I would not go back to the threads I used to use. The Cosmo Cottons are much smoother and don't tangle. Anyway I entered the competition and I was lucky enough to win some of the cottons they had on offer, nine skeins YAY!!!