Natures Journey February

Hi...this is the first post that I have done with my Natures Journey blocks. I am using my stash fabrics and a few extras thrown in from friends...I am using the iron on applique paper, sewline glue pen and my stylus to turn the seams under and then a dab of Roxanne Glue to hold in place while I needle turn applique. Some of the edges are not the smoothest....lol, but I'm improving! I have kept the blocks on one large background piece to make it easier to do the blanket stitch borders....mine are a bit different to Annies pattern...I have done the stitch like a traditional blanket stitch.

My favourite block is this one with red hearts...I'm waiting on my "Perfect Circle" templates to arrive to finish off with the circle in the middle. Annie had them in a previous email, and I decided they would make my life much easier as I'm not so good with those tiny curves!

This is the stitchery that was optional for January. I have not made it into anything yet...keep changing my mind. It will come in useful for a Christmas gift, I'm sure. Can you believe it's March tomorrow??

 

Enjoy your weekend...Suze. x

Girl Kringle 2014

My family has a Christmas tradition.....we call it "Girl Kringle". Each year we each have to make and exchange one gift ( my Mum, three sisters and my daughter )...it is one of my favourite parts of Christmas Day. We have been doing this for around ten years....its beautiful. For 2014 I had my youngest sister, Shell....we start planning early in the year, Pinterest boards are very handy..lol! I decided to do a colour wash of 1" hexies ( these are from Hugs and Kisses, THANKYOU Helen for including me in your blog post :)  ) they are made of iron on "interfacing-like" paper that washes out later...that's right...they don't have to be removed...WINNING!!! I made the hexies, hand stitched them together and then did a raw edge applique design with my sewing machine, then backed and framed it in a 14" hoop.

Shells' 2014 Girl Kringle

I received these gorgeous oven mits from shell, I LOVE them...so retro! She patchworked them and included some sashiko stitching.  So pretty!

My 2014 Girl Kringle from Shell

This year other gifts made were: a felt lap top computer bag, a terrarium and crocheted doily, cooks apron and head scarf, a teddy bear shaped wheat bag. Looking forward to 2015...better get planning...Suze x

Cobar Retreat

Well...what I wonderful weekend! Good friends, stitching, wine and dine, laughter and rain!!!! What more could a girl ask for?



Cobar Retreat Crew....."Selfie" ;)  Kate, Me, Lois ( my Mumma ), Kylie and ( front) Chooky and Caz ( my sister ).

A spur of the moment blog/phone conversation turned into a fun couple of days.  I just love the friendships I've made through blogging, quilting and craft! It's heart warming....and inspiring. This is a picture from Friday's "stitching session" .

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Friday....stitching session may have had some Pimms added to the punch!

I promise I did do some hexies before this happened!! While we were there Kylie and I received a call from Chooky saying she was on her way west! Yeeha! So plans were made and "wa-la" Cobar Retreat was planned:)  Kate and I had planned a sewing day on Sunday while she was in town for a family catch-up....and it grew! What a great day.

Whips were cracked and this is what I stared with...a mud map was made and stitching began! All while sitting out on our back patio watching some of the 57mls of rain we got this weekend shower down...heaven!!! Will take a pic of some finished strips tomorrow with some better light (sorry Chooky)...I've already received a text message asking for updates! We all stitched, it was lovely...thanks Chooky for helping me to get this happening again! 

SKoW...my applique blocks.....just waiting to be stitched together!

 Sometimes the best weekends are unplanned and just "work out" this one was great...hope yours was too. Thankyou to my family and friends...I love you guys. Suze x

Christmas Presents

Happy New Year!!  Hoping 2015 is kind and good to us all. I wanted to share with you the gifts that I received and sent in Chookyblues Christmas Swap. I love participating in this swap, it truly makes my Christmas...I love the spirit and happiness it brings...all over the world- amazing! I received from Noemia in Portugal, some very lovely gifts. A hand towel, apron, soaps, chocolate with a picture of her home town, fabric and four Christmas placemats. Thankyou Noemia...I am looking forward to using these next Christmas:)

 

 

I sent to Carol, in America. I love doing stitcheries and had noticed some redwork on Carols' blog. A friend had recently given me this pattern...I changed it a bit..lol and made this. I love the border fabric, it's from Annie Downs 2014 Christmas range....my favourite designer!! Added one of my favourite books too, sharing the Australian love...Natalie Bird, "Red Home"...I hope Carol loves it!

 

 

Stay cool...very warm here....Suze x 

Christmas Eve Greetings

Happy Christmas Eve! I cannot believe just how quickly this year has gone...I have picked up another two days a week work plus the occasional Saturday, so I'm adjusting to having to be more organised and needing to go to bed earlier!! Lol....which unfortunately cuts into my blog reading and online time... I know I need to get my priorities right- who needs sleep???

I have been lucky enough to have participated in Chookyblues' Christmas Swap again this year. I received this gorgeous ornament from Noemia in Portugal! I can't wait to open the rest of the gifts you sent me...I've already tried the chocolate... :) Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas, especially to Chooky for organising again, Noemia who I received from and to Carol, who I sent to.

Merry Christmas!! Love Suze.

 

My cute ornament from Noemia.

Long weekend :)

Hi...hope you all enjoyed this long weekend, well in NSW, anyway! Weather has been nice although warming up a bit today. Great for the garden, watering and mulching done here. Have some beautiful Iris flowers out at the moment and the citrus blossom is very fragrant.

We have some new neighbours, too! These little guys have moved in with their Mum and Dad into out Little Gem Magnolia tree. Triplets!!! Willy wagtails have given up on building in our garage ( with persuasion ) and moved into the tree. The cat is much happier as her food is in the garage and they kept dive  bombing her when she went to eat! She isn't interested in them at all but they harass her terribly...lol. 

Have been doing a few hexies again, love doing them but they take a fair bit of prep! This is an old Moda print by Aneela Hoey called Walk In The Woods. I cut them out if a jelly roll and I'm using the iron on templates that wash away when completed.

I have stared planning some Christmas pressie making, too. Plan on making a few Euro cushions/covers  for nieces and nephews...will need to hurry up! Have a great week xo Suze.

Sewing and Gardening

Hi there, just a quick post with a little bit of what has been happening here. The weather has been beautiful, spring is so pretty....such a shame it doesn't last long! Summer seems to kick in a bit too early for me!!

Peach blossom in our orchard...very happy bees here!

Paper daisies, my favourite wildflower :)

A bag that I just completed, pattern by The Home Patch.

Pretty colours in the above pic, I was happy with how this bag came together...

Have a lovely day ;) xo Suze.