1 Xmas Item A Month

The month has gone by so fast and again 1 Xmas Item A Month has rolled around.

This month I have made a Xmas tag designed by Marg Low called "Deer Tree". This was a very quick to stitch up and was completed over two nights. I stitched up the Christmas Tree pattern this time.

Some Lovely Blocks Received

Here is an update on the lovely blocks I have received in the last month.
For the 6"BSA I received these lovely blocks from Mary for the February swap

And for the January swap I received these from Margaret

Over at the CQBSA I received this lovely block from Carolyn

Then for the QBSA I received this block from Nikki

Finally over at Our Craft Forum I have been getting and sending monthly hexis and for the January one I received this one from Penny

I am getting quite a collection of these blocks and hexis now so am hoping to make something out of them soon, so what for that.

Some Blocks Finished

Have not been doing much sewing this month so far. Have been away a few times down the line to my parents to go to both the Martinbourough Fair one weekend, then to the 2014 ENZED Superstock Teams Champs the next week and then taking Miss 17 down to her Nursing Course in the Hawkes Bay.  Here is a picture of her in her uniform for lab practice which she sent me earlier this evening on Snapchat.

The sewing I have done so far is the latest blocks for all my block swaps.
First up is the Paper Pieced Block for Julie and is named Lone Star

Then for Ank an Angel call went out and this Attic Windows was made for her.

For the 6" Block swap I made these baskets for Mary

And then for the QBSA I made this Pinwheel for Nikki

Finally for the CQBSA I made another Pinwheel for Carolyn

January NewFO

This year I have joined up to the NewFO Challenge.  To know what it is all about you can go here and find out from Cat Patches blog.  First up on my list is 12 topped tea towels.  I started and managed to finish six of these this month.

I started of with these Christmas tea towels. I then found the cut out pattern which I have had for a few years now and can not remember where I found it from.

Hunted through my stash of Christmas fabric  sewed away for a couple of days and these are what I completed.

These will be put away and will be used as gifts closer to Christmas.  The rest will most likely be made using un-themed teatowels.

To see more of who particpated this month go to the Linky Party here.

FNSI

Yesterday I had the day off work so was able to join in with FNSI in the evening.  So what did I make? These Christmas tea towel toppers.  The middle one I still have to do the button hole and stitch on the button and it is finished.  The teatowels I got from Spotlight when down in Hastings last month. I could not resist them.

1 Xmas Item A Month

Again this year I am joining Narelles 1 Xmas Item A Month. This year I also vow to complete one item every month. Fingers crossed.

This month I completed these mini stockings that will grace my house this Christmas.  It was good using some of my long stashed fabric for them too.

Already I have next months item planned...yay.

Shoemakers Puzzle

Yesterday in the mail I received my Showmakers Puzzle blocks from Kelly E as part of the Paper Piecers Swap club I am part of.

December & January Blocks Received

Here are my lastest blocks received for the QBSA and CQBSA First up are the QBSA blocks Received from Cathy for December

Received from Jo for January

Then for the CQBSA From Kelly for December

And finally from Jean for the January swap

Thank you everyone for the lovely blocks.

FNWF Update

It looks like I didn't get much done this Friday, but I did un-

stitch two sides and then re-stitch them again as I was out of alignment, so you can say I was busy.  This is the start of the fifth Sheep Virtues cross stitch named 'Courage'

 

Loving The Sreen Door

Last year over summer we has what it seemed like, and probably was a million and one flies come into the house.  We had only been living here for about four months and it was driving us crazy as the nice breeze came through the back door, but so were the flies.  Out by the beach where we use to live never had this problem.
So over the winter months hubby organised this door to go up and this year hardly any flies at all.  We can have every other door and window open some with screens and others not and still hardly no flies.  They just loved coming through this door only and if anyone does leave it open ..... fly explosion.

I think it is one of the best things that has been done in the past year to this house, along with insulation we got, but that is another whole story and I will just say, if you haven't get your house insulated you don't know what you are missing.

Love Pincushions

Sewing away at my block swaps a few nights ago I keep poking in the pins into a lovely pin cushion I received in a swap last year.  The pattern was a log cabin and I thought I will make one myself and put it away for a gift.
The one I made was a little bit smaller and I started of with a 1 1/2inch square and then used 1 inch strips (finished 1/2" strips), and came up with this.

January Blocks Already Done....Yay

I am on to it this month and already finished my QBSA and CQBSA blocks for my partners.
First my Christmas block to Jean who would like any block in Christmas colours

Then to Jo, this star block in country colours

December Blocks Finally Finished & Ready To Post...Yay

The saying is "better late than never" and this is so true with my December blocks being sent out today.  With so much going on my best laid plans to have them done at the start of December went out the window fast.  But finally they are done and I can finally post them.  

 The first is my block to Cathy (aka Craftee CC). She has changed her block preference and now is it is Starflower block - in colours of the rainbow, with a solid white OR solid black background.  So I chose purple and yellow.

Then I had Kelly N for the CQBSA and she wanted a Log Cabin in red and green with a yellow centre.

Then over at the PPBC I had another Kelly and she requested this block.

Now onto making January's blocks.