A blast from the past and a set of twins

I've been seeing a few 1/2" hexagon projects around recently and thought I'd dig out and share this abandoned long-forgotten Grandmothers Flower Basket that I started when the girls were little, about 8 years ago.  I'm not sure exactly what I was thinking, when I chose marble fabrics for the flowers and just any old random green prints for the leaves.  There are so many different shades of green in there it just about makes me sick to look at it now.  It was all done the old fashioned way, me tracing and cutting out freezer paper templates and hand basting, it's a wonder they fit together at all!  And those little hexies are small, 1/2" sides seemed tiny at the time, but they're all the 'in' thing now!  Now that it's out, maybe I should add a stitch or three, after all it is on my WIP list (a little optimistic to have it there maybe....)  So now you can see that starting projects and never finishing them is not a new concept for me ......... I am experienced at it........LOL

Here are a couple of farm pics........ a set of day old twins with Mum.......

And a view from the bush looking down through the kowhai trees across to the hills beyond .......

Well I hope you're having a great day ..........Till next time................ Happy stitching ............. Nicky

Sunday sewing

It was a beautiful day yesterday, so warm, with most of the day spent outdoors, but I did find time for a little machine piecing.  I have been collecting the Designer Mystery Block of the Month from the Fat Quarter Shop for the last couple of months.  Never done one of these before, but I thought it might help my piecing accuracy and get me over my dislike/fear of triangles!  I've seen a lot of people in blogland have all of their blocks done and up to date, so I finally started on Block 1 yesterday.

Loving the Vintage Modern fabrics by Bonnie and Camille, so pretty.   These FQS kits are so generous, there is probably enough fabric to make two blocks for each month!  However, I am more excited about the prospect of these bonus Half Square Triangle squares.   Now this is probably nothing new to quilters out there, but I only recently read about 'bonus triangles' here.  By drawing and stitching an extra line  onto my squares when I am making up the Flying Geese unit, I have all these sweet little HST squares, and by the look of the next couple of blocks, there will be quite a few more from this project.  Aren't they just so cute, doesn't take much to get me excited, does it??  Now to decide what to do with them all ..........

I hope you spent part of your weekend doing something fun too.........till next time, Nicky

PS: Our first lambs arrived yesterday too.........woohoo..... spring has sprung........

Still here .......

Well hello, it has been quite a while since I've been here ....... again..........3 months ago today since I last posted.    So much has been happening, some good, some not so good, but I wanted to pop in and let you know I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth.

Here are some random pics from the last few months..............

Some misty winter mornings on the farm ...................

A pretty sunrise.............

This framed stitchery is called Friendship Tree by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse. I finished this in June for my best friends birthday. It was a lovely little piece to stitch, and I got the co-ordinating frame when we were in Australia earlier in the year.  I must remember to add it and another little finish from May(which is currently in transit) to my August OPAM finishes as I haven't 'finished' anything since February :-( 

I love the little wooden buttons that came in the kit, aren't they gorgeous?

I have been trying to find some crafting time in the last couple of days, and have managed to start another new project - surprise, surprise!   Nothing like starting something new when nothing else is calling out to be stitched on......... lol.    Can you guess what pattern this little lady is from?

She is from Anni Downs recent book 'The Simple Life', and will be a little zipper pouch.  It's been such a long time since I've done any fusible web applique that I'd almost forgotten how!  I'm not sure if you can see part of my little stripey dog on the left side of the pic, he isn't coming out how I'd planned, so I will redo him in a darker colour I think.  And then I'll have to learn how to put in a zip....... don't know how that will go.

Well, now that I have bitten the bullet and actually written a post, I hope I will be able to keep it up and not be a stranger any more!  I hope you are finding some time for some stitching.................. thanks for visiting, till next time ........ Nicky