Progress of My Lucy

Have been sewing like a dervish, to get this all sewn together.

I have more blocks completed, together with cornerstones and the cream/grey joiner blocks.

But want to sew some more blocks to have more variety.  I was worried there may be to many of the same/similar colour group together, but looking at it, think it is fine.

Anyhow, back to sewing more Lucy.


Thank you for taking time to stop by.

 Happy stitching.

Sharon

Delilah - Block Three - Shooting Stars

Today I put Lucy aside to work on Delilah.

Here are my two blocks for month three, "Shooting Stars"

Delilah is a TOM (Template of the Month).  We are supplied acrylic templates, directions and a selection of fabrics.  It is our decision how we make the blocks.

I procrastinate on tge usage of which fabrics, because, we can also use fabrics from past months.  Decisions are not  my strong point.   But I think I am happy with this month's outcome.

Thank you for taking time to stop by.
 Happy stitching.
 Sharon

Hang the Stockings

I posted this ovef on Stitch-A-Long,  not sure how to link, so this is just a brief description.

I am participating in the Holly Christmas Cottage Stitch-A-Long,  over at Stitch-A-Long.

This is June's block. Hang the Stockings.

Thank you for taking time to stop by.

Happy stitching.

Sharon

Sunday at the Chook Shed

Sunday, day 2 at Chooky's amazing 5th Birthday party.

I cut some long overdue Lucy blocks, still have three more to cut out, but got tired and was afraid I may cut the fabric wrong, can't have that.

Then I pull out a SAL block a did a little needle-turn to it.

That was day, time to get tea on, and have a quick tidy up.

What a wonderul two days.

Thank you for taking time to stop by.
 Happy stitching.
 Sharon

Party Time at the Chook Shed

Thank you Chooky, for a fun-filled day, yesterday.  For those that don't knoe, itvwas the Chooksheds fifth birthday, and the lovely Donna is hosting an all weekend sewing PARTY!

I decided to bring Lucy, from POTC, along.  I had to prise Lucy out of hiding, she was squirriled away in a box, because I had been working on some other projects.

Well, Lucy and I had the time of our lives yesterday.  I pressed her, found some "missing" blocks,  sewed some more one inch grey joiners to the cream joiners, for want of better words.

I even joined another Lucy to the three, I had joined in a row.  So now there is a small "L" shaped piece of quilt.



Thank you for taking time to stop by.

 Happy stitching.

 Sharon

A Long Time Coming

What an epic journey this little quilt was.  It was a BOM way back in 2014, hosted by Kristy @ Quiet Play.

I am on a mission to complete all my WIPs/ UFOs.  Not sure if I am winning or not, hehehe.

My finger tips are so dang sore from getting pricked from needles, sure I have a  thimble or three, but just cannot get the feel of the needle, the way I like it, so will be lathering pawpaw ointment on my finger tips at bed time.

Without further ado, here is my version of "Sew Kitschy".

Thank you for taking time to stop by.

 Happy stitching.

 Sharon

A Little Mat For Santa

Just thought I  would do a quick post here, as I am unsure how to link things.

I am participating in the "Holly Cottage Christmas" quilt along, held over at Stitch-A-Long blog, commencing in June.

We all purchased this beautiful book by Michelle Ridgeway, "A Holly Cottage Christmas".  This book has so many lovely projects in it.

For May we had to choose a small project to get our appetites whetted.  I selected this little mat for Santa's cookies.  Mainly to have a practice at needle-turn appliqué.  In past projects I have always used fusible appliqué, but decided I wanted more of a challenge.  I think I managed ok, and only hope I have not bitten off more than I can chew.

The only real disappointment I had, was I used "Cottage Garden" threads instead of mynusual DMC, and the red bled/ran.  The above photo is a vast improvement, soaked and sponged the bleed, although still there, it has faded somewhat significantly.

I was hoping to use "Cottage Garden" threads in the Holly quilt,  but am not so sure now.  Don't get me wrong, I adore "Cottage Garden" threads,  the colours are fabulous.

Anyhow, I will ponder this for a while, before I need to do more stitchery.


Thank you for taking time to stop by.

 Happy stitching.

 Sharon

A New Project

So much has been happening of late in my life.  Not all of it good.  It has taken me a while to decide how to write this post, but here goes.

On a positive front I have started a new TOM - Template of the Month, hosted by Amititie Textiles,  it is called Delilah by Jenny Kingwell Designs.

Block One is Rising Sun

I have had fun doing the first two months worth of blocks, though I made some errors. But I  am happy that I could fix up these errors.  I had to stitch a narrow black border around both blocks, for when I sewed the blocks I used the wrong foot,  thought something was wrong (thought the quarter inch foot was on), but could not figure it out until I measured the completed block.

Block Two is Bells Beach Block

With this block I could NOT work out how to cut a reversed template, wasted so much fabric, lucky I had some of the black I used on Block one so they sort of tie in.  I only hope when the quilt is completed, these blocks will not look out of place.

The trouble is my memory is starting to go.  I have had to give up work.    My ex-husband said "it is no good having a nurse with no memory!", honestly it was the first laugh I have had in a while.  All I have been doing is crying, and sewing, and crying.  This hit me like a bolt out of the blue.

I flew down to Brisbane last Wednesday, just for a day to see a Colorectal Specialist, they admitted to hospital, blood transfusion,  as Hb was only 75, and on the Friday morning some minor surgery.  Now I have to have some not so minor surgery later in the year.

Lucky, I have lots of hand sewing to keep me occupied, between the Insanity Quilt and Lucy Boston. To do while sitting around.  But when home have set up sewing machine and am machine piecing quilts, have some finishes to show in a future post.

Thank you for letting me vent.  I feel very lost and unsure at present.

Thank you for taking time to stop by.

Happy stitching. Sharon

Hello I am back.

I have good news and have been sewing up a frenzy, catching up for time missed out.

The good news, my liver tumours are STABLE! I was hoping they may have shrunken,  but alas, no, STABLE is good, means they did not multipy.   So I have been making up for lost time, patchwork and quilting.

Here is a snap of "Kool Kats". I purchased this from "Cynthia's Ark".

I am in the process of sewing on the binding at present, should have it finished on the weekend and I will share a photo of the completed quilt.

There has been more sewing, but I need to take some more photos.


Thank you for taking time to stop by.

Happy stitching.

 Sharon

Last Post of 2016

2016 has flown by ever so fast.  Many trips to Brisbane to visit Medical Specialists, emotions all over the place.  I feel this year my life has not been my own, that I have only looked in from the outside, like a voyeur, looking in on a crazy situation.

I accomplished only small amounts of sewing, some on my "Insanity Quilt", some on "Lucy Boston - Patchwork of the Crosses" and minimal on "Pie and Tarts".  I made some zippy pouches for gifts.

I vowed to myself that I would not embark on any new projects, however,I received an email, tempting me to "Delilah", a BOM that commences in March.  I have lost all of my photos, my tablet went MAD the other night, beeping, and carrying on, light flashing on and off ...... mmmmm.  When I had my wits about me the next day, it appears my micro SD card has gone and lost all my recent photos.  Still trying to work out to see if somehow they can be saved or something.

In 2016 I listened to ninety audio books, all from Borrow Box via our library, saved a lot of may sanity whilst travelling and waiting for appointments.  Then I read sixty-nine books, some of these were ebooks, some real paper books.  It will be interesting to see what I get listened to and what I get read in 2017.  Somehow, I do not think it will be no where near that many.

Hopefully, the treatment I have undergone this year has controlled the tumours in my liver and rib, and my health will improve.  My Hb level is way down low, I had four blood transfusions in two months, am due for a blood test this week to see how my blood levels are.

I wish each and everyone of you a safe and healthy 2017, filled with lots of time for stitching.

Thank you for taking time to stop by.
Happy stitching.
Sharon

Above The Clouds

Another trip to Brisbane, another blood transfusion  and more basting.  This time time I managed to baste  260 half  inch hexies in travelling time and waiting  time.

Unfortunately,  I  forgot to take a photo of the little darlings. But have once again commenced  sewing the diamonds together for for the  Insanity  Quilt.

When I  departed Brisbane it was overcast,  we flew through the clouds to start  with, then above the clouds.

It was rather magical,  the photo do not do it justice.

Next trip away will be almost the end of November,  so hopefully I will get some serious machine sewing time in on my days off.  I have a few smallish projects I would like to undertake.  Will divulge more when the time comes!

Thank you for taking time to stop by.
 Happy stitching.
 Sharon

Back Home Again

Arrived back home abot half past noon on Friday.

This is what some of the country looks like surrounding  Cloncurry.  Notice the green? Isn't it fantastic?  Amazing  what a little rain can do. Let's hope it  continues throughout the wet, and we get a decent wet season.

Of course I would  not let a chance slip by, so between  the  train trip to the airport  and the flight home, I  managed  to baste another 61 hexies for my  Insanity  Quilt.

I am so desperately  wanting to sew some of my diamonds together , but seeing as my Insanity Quilt  is scrappy, I  have to wait until all my diamonds are sewn together,  as I  don't  want all the purples, for example  to be clustered  together.

Thank you for taking time to stop by.
 Happy stitching. Sharon

A Day of Basting Hexies

Heelo thereToday I  had a day of basting hexies,  I  achieved  the grand total of 79

I was hoping to achieve more than 79 being basted,  but it was a little  difficult,  being hooked up to two IVs

Holding the needle and thread in one hand and the fabric and cardboard  in the other is usually  no drama, but I  could not bend my thumbs in tge usual  manner.

The IVs were the  PRRT (lutate) treatment  for my NETS. This was my third cycle, only one more to go, then to wait for scans to see if the treatment  has slowed  the  progression  of these little  wretches.

Yesterday, after visiting the dietitian  (for a dramatuc weight loss ), I  was  hoping to  do a little shopping,  but alas, my Hb levels in my blood  are not great, last weeks blood test they were 86, yesterday 's blood test  they were 83, so I was admitted for  a blood transfusion and some top up fluids.

Well last night, I  felt slightly more energised than I have in a long time.  This mornings  blood test  came back at 104..

So now we just have to keep a close eye on it.

All I  seem to  have done this year is remember dates to have this test or that treatment.  Hopefully,  these things will settle down soon.


Thank you for taking time to stop by.
 Happy stitching. Sharon

Some Lucy Boston - POTC

Hello again,
Poppy here again.

I have grabbed Mum's tablet. She is sleeping after Night Duty.

Thought I  would share with you some of the Lucy Boston blocks she has been working on. Notice, now Mum has the cream joining elongated hexies sewn on. Mum has cut out lots and lots of grey joiner squares, but she cannot decide what layout to do.

Mum glue basted Lucy Boston, from now on, we will refer to as Lucy. Mum started off using the Sewline Glue pen, by Sue Daley, then misplaced it, so she used regular glue stick, not such a good idea, sticks to hard and very difficult to unglue when she wanted to recycle the papers. Oh well, a valuable lesson learnt.

Mum's Lucy is a BOM from Sandy at Shiralee Stitches.

Here is what Mum has completed to date.

Maybe one day soon Mum will write the blog herself.
Thank you for taking time to stop by.

A Long Time Coming Post

Hello Readers' of Mum's Blog

This is Poppy here, writing on her behalf. I have despaired of her blogging again, even though she has been making notes on what to blog about, I am going to try and make sense of them.

First of all let me introduce myself,  my name is Poppy, I am a three year old Jack Russell/Mini Foxie Cross.

Here is a recent phot of me, aren't I adorable?

Since March, (last time) Mum blogged, many life changes have occurred.

Her NETS have progressed in her liver and now there is one in her third rib, that explains the pain, that she was experiencing,  but kept getting the brush off, anyhow enough of that.

So the doctors, sent her off to see if she was eligible for some new treatment,  called PRRT, again this is only availe at one centre in Queensland, so she has to leave me every eight weeks for a a week or so. Funny thing is she goes for a short distance in thing with round black things, then goes up in this BIG tin bird, it eats her up, but lets her out at the other end, and BRINGS her back to me, oh and him ....

HE is Harry Creek the Black Cat, HE thinks HE is the love of her life, but hey, .......

Anyway, Mum was on sick leave for a long time, but now back at work part time. She has also recommenced quilting.  Givez me more comfy places to sit, but please don't tell her!

Mum finally completed this Golliwog Quilt she started for my two legged sister, many, many years ago.  This quilt was all hand appliquéd,  fused down, and blanket stitched around.  She cut out a lot, and I mean a lot of rectangles,  to go around the centre Golliwogs. Here are some photos. 

Now,  I overhead Mum talking about this how this quilt came about.  Katie,  the two legged child has always LOVED Golliwogs,  even though she is a grown up now! Well,  when she was an almost grown up, at one of the craft shows, she found a patter for a Golliwog Quilt and asked my  Mum to make it for her,  Mum, being Mum said, sure. Bought said pattern,  but when she got it home,  the trouble began.  Yep, TROUBLE, the pattern was in centremetres, grrrrrrr, not inches. Mum had to remake the pattern.  The photos above are the result.

Hang on, I'd better sign off, I hear Mum coming, and she will go spare if she knows I have been on her tablet.

I will try and blog on her behalf, until she decides to blog again. I have found lots of photos of blocks and things she has been working on. So will share.

Thank you for reading this post from Poppy.

Missing In Action

It has been a while since I have posted.  Actually been away in the city having a surgery.  Thimk it has fixed one issue , but may have exacerbated the issue from 2008, only time will tell.

While I was away, I basted what felt like thousands of half inch hexies for "The Insanity Quilt", also managed to sew together some of the diamonds that go into centre panel of the quilt.

There are thirty-two diamonds completed so far.  Only need another 126 diamonds!

Here is the balance of hexies basted. Still many thousands, yes thousands to baste, and cut.

The reason they are in snap-lock bags, is that they are for various sections of the quilt.

Least this project is a great grab and go, I can sew some whilst waiting for planes and flying, plus waiting for doctors appointments,  and any other spare minutes that happen by.


Thank you for taking time to stop by.

 Happy stitching.

 Sharon

Basting and Baking

Hello Fellow Sewists/Quilters

I hope everyone is keeping well and doing some craft they enjoy!

I have added some cream elongated hexies to another Lucy Boston block.

I also have been using my Thermomix.  Making bread, bread rolls, meals, biscuits to name a few.  Below are some photos of a small selection of what I have been up to.

The biscuits are Date and Ginger which cwere made for my Dad for his birthday.

The Shortbread were made for my Mum.

Not sure what airport security must have thought, as I brought them down to Brisbane as my carry-on luggage on a recent flight to Brisbane!

I also have been working on my Insanity Quilt. The pattern is by Rhonda Pearce of Post office Patchwork.

Here are just a rew of the half inch hexies I basted today.

Anyhow, this is all for now; stay safe and enjoy what you do.

Thank you for taking time to stop by.

 Happy stitching.

 Sharon

Been Cutting and Preping

It has been a while since I last posted.  I have been  busy cutting, what seems like gazillions of one and a half inch squares of fabric for my Insanity Quilt.

What appears like a gazillion one and a haf inch squares of cream fabric.

Also been cutting some one inch elongated hexies for Lucy Boston, Patchwork of the Crosses (the cream surrounding the centre blocks)

Think I have enough for the time being to get a heads up on sewing blocks together for Lucy, and mainly basting half inch hexies for the Insanity Quilt.  With the Lucy Boston quilt I have quiet  few centres awaiting the cream elongated hexies to be attached.

What I did do earlier today was make a batch of Pumpkin Cheesy  Puffs, I halved the recipe, just to make sure I would like them, they are absolutely yumbo.  The only trouble is I removed them from the oven straight away from being cooked and they sunk.  But I was concerned the oven may burn them, (yes I had the oven off), but also had another tray to bake.  But that is OK, will know better next time.

Thank you for taking time to stop by.

 Happy stitching.

Sharon