STITCHING

With all the Christmas prep done, I had time to enjoy a little stitching.

                            A cute pattern from KathySchmitz

And its all done ready to hang for Christmas

I am experiencing problems with outlook...I cannot send emails and will ask my son to fix it. Excited to have my children home tonight, cant wait!

CATCHING UP

Gosh, I can not believe its December. The year has gone by too fast.
My Circa top is done and ready for quilting.

Circa 2016 Sew along was fun. Thanks to Sheryl Johnson from Temecula Quilt Company

Barn Dance - applique panels are all done.

 I am working on these applique blocks. I have to make 40 - 6 inch blocks.

And, I did some charity knitting

Barn Dance

I am home after six weeks in the western cape looking after my daughters dog while she was away on business. Suzi was happy to see Bella again. They had fun on their daily walks to the dog park. My sons graduation ceremony was postponed from December last year to June due to two months of student protests about fees at UCT. Finally its all over. Then we all went to the George Benson concert. We love his music, everyone dancing and singing along. It was great!

Before I left, I prepared three applique blocks and pieces, popped them into plastic bags. So much easier when its all prepped. Then everyday sitting in the sun, sewing away. 

four of these

 Yesterday,I used a sponge and water to remove the blue marking and this happened. I quickly put it in the machine with a Dylon colour catcher and chucked the sponge never to be used again..
I think it was the rubbing motion instead of dabbing that caused it to bleed. In future I will just soak the whole block in cold water.

 I am doing Barn Dance by Robyn Falloon of Bon Bon Designs

 Those circles drove me round the bend ...I have since seen a lovely tutorial on Quiltsalott blog. This pattern has lots of circles. Forty more to make for the first border.

Despite all the circles I am enjoying this project

I have two more 30" blocks to prep and several weeks of Circa blocks to catch up on.

CIRCA 2016

I am doing Circa 2016 by Temecula Quilt Co. These cute 3 1/2 inch little blocks are such fun to make and I have finally caught up.

I have also made 89, 2 inch HST. 31 more to make.

I look forward to Fridays when new blocks are posted.

My Granadilla vine is growing rampant and strangling my shrub. When the fruit has ripened its going to get a good pruning. They are delicious, high in Vitamin C and potassium.

Back Online

 I have a new computer. The old one crashed. It was old and not worth repairing.
December and January visited my children and now that my husband has retired there is no need to rush back home and we always take Suzi with. Its just a short two hour flight.
Summer is always extremely hot so I have mostly spent more time reading.
We had a  severe hail storm a few weeks back causing a lot of damage. Heavy rain, strong winds and hail like I have never seen before - it was very scary, and... we had an earth tremor 3.1 the same day as the earthquake in Taiwan...hmm strange. My son is home for three weeks holiday. I cant believe Easter has come and gone. This year is going by too fast for my liking.

Some small items that I have made.

                                     lunch bag. Tutorial from Ayumills blog

                               microwave bowl holders - these are so handy

         Cell phone armband case with window and a pocket for earphones or house key, for when I walk the dog. And four snack bags.
                 

secret luggage tag and handle wrap

                                               cable holders

             Tablet holder for my sister

The above links can be found on my Pinterest project board here

and a warm jacket - pattern from the book Stylish Doggywear by Annien Toukes and Joke Kahler

A pet throw, from Sew4Home..link here

Guild members were asked to make a paper pieced Protea block - here is my block.