A Month Slips Away!

Well, here we are catching up with the events of March - where has the last month gone!

The month started with progress on my Stitch-a-Long project.....

..... alas, this is as far as it got :( so will have some catching up to do during April!

Then it was time for my annual reunion with 2 longstanding friends at the Nowra Quilt Exhibition....that's me on the far right....

There were some lovely quilts on show...

And I loved the colours of this one which was used as a prop on one of the many stalls that were set up at the exhibition......

This year there was also an exhibition of tea cosies.....

this one being my favourite....

Also tried to get this finished.....

...but will end up being an April OPAM now.... I don't think my cat Dora minds it staying here a bit longer (it is a gift )......

And then one Sunday I became the ironing woman when my younger daughter Meg made a baby quilt for one of her friends....

As the end of the month approached the time got closer to say goodbye to both daughters who once again were on their way after spending the last few months sorting out their dad's house (those that follow my blog may remember he passed away unexpectedly last year) .... Meg had to return from her overseas trip to Europe and Hayley returned (with her partner) from Canada where they had been living.

So, here's Meg packing again......

and here are the travellers off at the end of last week to India!

After a tour of southern India Meg on the far left will fly on to Europe for an "extended" holiday (& work )- planning on being away 2-3 yrs while Hayley and her partner on their return  will be heading up to northern NSW / Qld to set up home... till the travel bug bites again! 

I then enjoyed a few days in Sydney with my parents before heading  back home (far South Coast) ...  and this surprise waiting for me - Meg had slipped back in before we drove to Sydney.....

... a box of little present for every occasion from Easter, Mother's Day, my birthday and Xmas  - all labelled - for the next 2 years! ... does that mean she will only be away for 2 yrs not 3?

Now it's nearly April - time to catch up with sewing and finishing off a few things! Maybe a quieter month than March?

Till next time - hopefully not so long between catch ups!....

Happy Stitching!

Asta

Busy Stitching!

I can't believe it has been nearly 3 weeks since I was last here!! What have I been doing you ask? Stitching, stitching and more stitching!!
During a very busy month at work I have been busy with my Stitch-a-long project - making sure my "homework" was done by the end of the month..... and I did finish my blocks on time.....

..... now to start on Part 2 for March!

I'm also a member of OPAM (One Project A Month) so thought I'd better get a project or 2 finished for February - alas the blocks above don't count as it has to be a whole finished quilt to "qualify" as a project for the month :( ..... but I did have a couple of things finished at the beginning of the month.....

......and last Sunday this.....

eventually became this......

Pattern - Anni Downs

... a kit bought in 2009! 

So that's what I have been up to over the past weeks.... this weekend March blocks will be started and I'll see what other project I've got hidden away still to be finished!

Happy Stitching

Asta

FNWF

What better way to start FNWF than a glass of bubbly and what other project would I be working on than SAL 2015!

Hope everyone else had a productive night! Will catch up with what other Friday Nighters have done tomorrow....about to head off to Canberra to pick up DD2 from the airport with some retail therapy tomorrow! :)

Happy Stitching

Asta

A Productive Sunday

Here it is February and I have had a busy day finishing a couple of (small) projects!

I have finished a Gail Pan pattern from her lovely book " Patchwork Loves Embroidery"....

... the fabrics are from my stash and the thread is a Cottage Garden one called "Bush Christmas".... I think I will be keeping this one for myself :) .... I'm sure I'll find something to put in it...














Then another.....fabric basket. This is the 5th one I have made of these and I believe all the recipients are finding them very useful... this one is a gift for my sister....

...and stitching got underway for SAL 2015.....

Not much more stitching to be done tonight - off to watch the tennis... shame I haven't got any knitting to do - that can be done while watching TV!

Hope everyone has had a productive start to the month!
Happy Stitching
Asta

The house is all quiet over the next couple of weeks as DD2 and a couple of friends - a Danish and a Dutch girl she met on her US travels last year have headed off on a road trip to Victoria ...here they are working out how everything is going to fit into their car! The 2 OS girls came down in their rental car with all their worldly belongings!

So what have I been up to?..... well finishing off this......

..... our January "homework" for Stitch-a-long 2015... 

February is just around the corner and then the real work starts as we have sections of Anni's wonderful pattern Nature's Journey to complete by the end of each month! .... My fabrics have been sorted....

I'm also working (very slowly) on Gossip in the Garden quilt so have filled this basket with both projects - the one on the right is Gossip in the Garden the one on the left is Natures Journey......hopefully this basket will empty out during the year!

Have also once again joined up with OPAM 2015 - it certainly encouraged me to complete projects each month - no matter how small they were! 

And.... so another year begins "stitching with friends" 

Happy Stitching

Asta

Lunch Out & Some Stitching

Another week has slipped away - but it started off with lunch out last Sunday with DD1 and her  partner and DD2 at Cupitt's Winery Restaurant in Milton on the South Coast.....

Then it was off to work on Monday after 3 weeks off! But during the week this arrived :).....

Pattern - Anni Downs

Our "project" for SAL 2105.... which I joined a couple of weeks ago - hope I can keep up with this one - I think some of my other planned projects may have to "take a back seat" for a while including "Gossip in the Garden" which I am working on VERY slowly!! Of course we have "homework" for January so have started stitching "Christmas Wishes" another Anni Downs pattern......

.... and have put together some fabrics to make a small bag with a stitchery from Gail Pan's lovely book - which I finished at the last FNWF.....

Have spent today at another working bee at our local theatre...hopefully will get some more creativity happening tomorrow - they do forecast some showers which might mean the gardening won't get done.... what a shame!!

Happy stitching....till next time

Asta

FNWF

Nearly forgot about FNWF (!) so started a bit late but did finish off this stitchery......

...Now all I have to do is sew it up into a little bag -  for myself, I think....

For those of you who follow my "yarns" you will know that I am also a member of our local theatre company and quite often stage manage or help out with shows through the year or with the occasional working bee.... well today it was the working bee and as much as I would have loved to spend "hours" going through my stash looking for fabrics for this stitchery and for the Stitch-a-long project it just didn't happen :-(  ..... perhaps tomorrow ? .....though I do have a lunch out planned....but not till 12.30!

Happy Stitching

Asta