A Stitching Update

I have to report that I had no finishes for July.  I'm disappointed with myself, but I've been distracted with a few other things and just plain not motivated. You get that sometimes.

There should have been a post a few days ago showing the finished One Monthly Goal project for July.  You can see where I set my goal back here.

Sadly, I haven't met that goal.  My excuse?  I don't have one.  I had plenty of opportunity to get it done.

The reasons?  Well, I suppose it is the same reason it became a UFO in the first place - hand stitching.  I cannot see any English Paper Piecing masterpiece in my future.   I'm finding it increasingly difficult to see the fine stitching, even with my glasses, unless I have very good light.  It also was a project from one of our Nundle retreats, so wasn't a project I would necessarily select myself. 

As you can see, I certainly have made good progress from where it was at the beginning of July and I do intend to finish it off.  I still have to make the red part hexy border, quilt it and bind it.  It won't happen this month either, but that is OK.

I didn't get to post last week's Splendid Sampler block last week either.  Here is where I'm up to.

After abandoning the table mat, can you imagine how I felt when the block was English paper piecing, and fiddly pieces at that!  Not to worry, I will get it done.  In hind sight, I should have done like some other ladies and converted it to blanket stitch applique.    I just have to finish one flower, make a centre, stitch it all together and then applique it down.  No worries, I'll have that done in no time - not!   But I will get it done soon.

Do you like my little scissor keep?  It is perfect for working on this project, being 1930s fabrics.  It was a swap gift at a Nundle weekend a few years ago, made by the lovely Lea, who used to blog at Fairy Floss Stitches.  The little fob on the scissors is a lucky Manx Fairy from the Isle of Man.

Now for this month and more positive things.....

The colours for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for August are Orange and Brown.  I do have a nice little selection of orange fabrics and I think the browns on the left will be OK for a block too.  We'll see.  I'm now just waiting for the Squared Away Sampler block pattern to be released before I get stuck in and get my three blocks made.

It was a little difficult to select my One Monthly Goal project for this month, as we will be away most of the time.  In the end the choice was obvious.

This is another Nundle project, from 2011, Peaceful Garden by Anni Downs.  I didn't start it on the day, but soon after.  It has travelled to the UK twice, in 2011 and again 2013.  As you can see, I didn't do very much.  My plan was to have a go at needle turn applique on the angel, as there isn't very much.  I'm nearly at that stage, as some of the stitchery overlaps the applique.  However, I'm just going to machine blanket stitch the angel in the next few days. It's best to just get it done.  I am then going to take it on its third visit to the UK and get the stitchery part of the project finished.  That should be very achievable, as we spend a lot of time sitting on the side of the road on the Isle of Man waiting for motorcycle races to begin.  

I will take that little EPP Splendid Sampler block with me too, and finish it off over there.  It doesn't exactly take much room.

I'll be linking up with One Monthly Goal.

This week's Splendid Sampler block is very simple so I will do it tonight.  It has flying geese in it.  I recently purchased a ruler to help with flying geese, so I'm looking forward to playing.

Hopefully, I will be back soon with some progress, in among packing and getting ready to go travelling.  Wish me luck.

Finally, we had a red sunrise this morning.  Fingers crossed for a tiny bit of rain tonight.

This drought is wide spread.  Europe is experiencing a prolongued heat wave.  They are even introducing water restrictions on the Isle of Man today.  It sounds like the countryside won't be its usual lush green when we get over there.