Friday Night Sew In

The boys were away Friday night so Charlie and I got settled with a movie and American Idol and I was able to get busy with my FNSI.  Two more Farmers Wife blocks completed, I am English paper piecing them so it takes me a little while sewing each block.  Blocks #29 Economy; #6 Big Dipper.

This was my year for working from home and finding a new routine.  My plan was to include walks into my day, to clean my house by zones, sew, and of course work.  How quickly things change - a colleague left abruptly so I offered to take on some of her work, and now I am spending Tuesdays and Wednesdays in an office in the city.  I have only worked in a hospital, from home and in a small pharmacy so it is quite a change working in a 'corporate office' environment - finding parking in a busy city, and having a security tag to get anywhere in the building!!  That is the view from my desk.  

This week I completed another couple of blocks for Charlie's quilt and I started on my Friends with Benefits swap.  It is a beautiful day today, fine and sunny but with that autumn nip in the air, just lovely!

Monthly make

Summerhouse seat cushion - pattern by Alicia Paulson

The family were out on Saturday so I had the afternoon to myself which was the perfect chance for some sewing.  I strayed from my to-do list and decided to make a cushion for Charlie's bedroom chair.  I had bought the pattern from here and I found it really easy to use.  I love this cushion although all the family said it wasn't padded enough!!? - as if that is important!  I used all the fabrics for Charlie's quilt so it was fun seeing a little snapshot of how they look together.  This is my Monthly Make for March with The Felt Fairy.

And my Henny Penny, it gives me so much pleasure to see her foraging around the garden, she is such a friendly happy chook, I love her so.  Wendy

Cutest little fawn - EVER

How can you resist a title like that?  I couldn't, so this "cutest little fawn - EVER" is now mine!  I thought he would be a perfect Christmas decoration but my husband thinks he should stay out always!  He is a little vintage fawn and he is my Tuesday's Treasure.  Pop over to Melody's to see other lovely treasures.

Last week raced by and this week looks like it is going the same way, but the above photos are some of what I have been up to.  Last week I was inspired by Lily to do some extra cleaning, I chose to polish my dining room table and set it nicely ... We went to Raglan in the weekend for our church camp, a lovely weekend but very short on sleep!  The camp is high on a hill overlooking a bay, such a beautiful spot ... I have fitted in a little bit of sewing, I started cutting lots of squares to make the remaining shoo fly blocks for my Vignette quilt ... I completed one more block for Charlie's quilt ... and I finished my second item for the Christmas angel swap, the 4"x6" stitchery, although I still need to frame it.  Next on my sewing list is my Farmer's Wife blocks for March and I joined another swap (I am so weak!!), the Friendship swap with Sew Happy House so I want to start that too.  Whew, I better get off the computer and back to my needle, Wendy xx

Tuesday's treasures

Today's Tuesday's Treasures over at Melody's is all about celebrating our pets.  Here is Barney, really he should be named Taz (the Tasmanian devil in Looney Tunes); since having him we have decided it is best to have the cat for a while and then name him!  Barney was a wild four month old when we got him, his first day with us was spent with him hissing, scratching, running away and hiding under furniture.  He didn't eat or drink or go to the toilet.  His second day with us I decided things needed to change so I managed to catch him in an old towel.  Protected with thick gloves I feed him via a dropper and so the taming process began.  We had a hiccup when he was five months old, he swallowed his play string and it wrapped around his intestine.  He needed major surgery, his bowel was cut in three places to remove the string and the vet didn't think he would survive.  The top photo shows his shaved tummy after the operation, he was so sad, skinny and in pain but he refused to eat at the vets so it was decided he would have more chance to live at home.  Barney ... we love him to bits, he is our Jekyll and Hyde, our Taz ... so loving and cuddly and responsive (I'm sure he thinks I'm his mum and the kids his brother and sister) but at times so fierce and scratchy and scary!!  And it's his fifth birthday today!

My sewing so far this week?  I am working on a Christmas Angel swap gift, here is a sneak peek, one is a finished item and one I am still working on.

Swap sewing and more

Petit amour bag, needlecase and pincushion - Lisa Pyke of Cubby House Crafts, Homespun magazine No. 100

A couple of posts ago I showed you the beautiful gifts Leanne had sent me.  Well, she has received my gifts now so I can show you what I made her.  I love this set designed by Lisa, it is the third time I have made the pincushion!

This weeks sewing has included my Penny Rug BOM with Melody, a secret Christmas item for the Christmas Angel swap, and some cutting for my Vignette quilt. My penny rug is by no means perfect, Charlie thinks the beehive looks like a corncob and one of my sheep (not the one I'm showing up close) got ironed on too high a setting, oh dear!  It is starting to feel like autumn here, the sun is shining but there is a little nip in the air, I love it!  Something about the approach of autumn always makes me feel happy, I cannot even explain the feeling, I just love it.  Wendy

FNSI and Sunday lunch

A daffodil and a tulip, two more flowers for Charlie's quilt.  I sewed the tulip during the week and finished the daffodil for Friday Night Sew In.  Saturday was busy, my three sisters and I helped Dad go through Mum's things, quite a strange experience, I felt flat by the end of the day.  So Sunday was a lovely reward - church in the morning and the two Granddad's came for lunch.  Yum ... roast chicken, roast potatoes, salad and apple juice followed by our favourite caramel ice cream dessert, I must share that recipe sometime! Wendy

Monthly make and lucky, lucky me

Diary cover - In the Life of a Bag by Anni Downs

I was so tempted to spend a fortune on a new diary and organiser from one of those beautiful stationery shops but after looking through Anni Downs book "In the Life of a Bag" I decided to improve the one I had instead. I used American-themed fabrics I was given in last years Christmas swap.  I am feeling pretty pleased with myself and this is my February Monthly Make with The Felt Fairy.  Valentines Day treats included heart lollies from my husband and white chocolate cupcakes made by me, yum!

Leanne and I shared a fun swap together and I was blown away when her gift for me arrived.  Inside were all the goodies above:  lots of fabric, thread, tape measure, stationery, a gorgeous Gail Pan pattern, and lovely gifts Leanne had made - a heart ornament with beautiful stitchery, a pincushion and a needle book.  I love the look of the heart hanging on my china cabinet door.  A huge thank you to Leanne for spoiling me with such generous and perfect gifts!  Once Leanne has received my gifts I will post about them and I'll be back in the weekend with my Friday Night Sew In results.