One Monthly Goal Completed and Other March Happenings

It's time to check in with what I have achieved during March in the way of stitching.

Firstly, I did reach my OMG of completing my Ruby Cushion in time to take it to Baradine for Scrub Stitchin'.  This took way longer than it should have.  I really dilly dallied with it.

Just to recap, at the start of the month I had the EPP appliqued to the background fabric.  I then added the borders and was going to quilt it before adding the backing.  Remember that I am more of a machine stitcher than a hand stitcher.

Well, I came up with the hair brained idea that, as the EPP and applique was by hand, I should quilt by hand.  I know, hair brained.  I have done some hand quilting before - on the centre block of the first quilt I made in a class........in 2003....... and none since. I did still have the hoop, and after a bit of a hunt, found the quilting needles.

It didn't take me long to realise I would benefit from using a thimble.

I had bought this little collection at the Wellington Swap Meet, but only the large blue one at the back fitted. I didn't realise how small most thimbles are.

I could always go to my collection and surely I could fund one there that fits.

I was truly delighted when this one did.  It is my most precious thimble.  You can't see it clearly in the photo, but it is monogrammed "FJ".  That is for Frances Johnson, better known as Fanny Johnson, who was my great grandmother.  My Dad's eldest sister gave it to me about thirty years ago, when she saw my thimble collection.  It would date from the late 1800s. You can see how much use this thimble has had, with some holes even developed in the sides.

I did a bit of the quilting with the frame, but soon switched over to pin basting and quilting with no frame.  I have never been able to get comfortable with frames.  I don't even use one with cross stitching. In the end, I just hand quilted around the applique wreath and machine quilted stitch in the ditch around the border seam.

Next, it was time to insert the zipper, using the concealed flap method. Fortunately, there was a zipper in my stash that would fit the bill.  Bonus! I have used this method a couple of times previously, but still had to go over the instructions again.  This was part of the dilly dallying. Once I got around to it, things actually went rather smoothly.

It was then the simple case of adding the binding and stitching down by hand.  

Chooky held an impromptu Zoom get together this morning, so that was the perfect opportunity to do the binding.  I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.

Here it is, sitting on Grandma's chair in my sewing room.  It suits it rather well.  I'm rather pleased that I actually completed a retreat project before the next retreat came around.

This was also my One Project a Month.

So what else did I do this month?  Not much. I already shared that I pretty much failed with Friday Night With Friends.

The Blue Quilt - At the beginning of the month I had selected the fabrics for the borders and started to trace the applique pieces onto their papers.  All I have done this month is make the changes to the centre block design that I wanted to make and trace the rest of the applique.  That's it!  

No progress has been made on Swoon either.

No, I didn't play any further with Monique.  Her time will come.

The only other stitching I have done is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

I have been thinking about Scrub Stitchin', which is in ten day's time.  Several years ago, like in about 2013, Chooky and I bought these fabrics to make a quilt each.  You can read all about it here.  Well, since then, we didn't get the chance to get together to stitch them, then Chooky couldn't find her fabrics, then I couldn't find mine and nothing has happened.

Well, we both have located our fabrics and are going to make the quilts, using our twister rulers, at Scrub Stitchin'.  I have actually started to cut the quilt out in readiness for the retreat.

I've also pulled a couple of other projects out to work on.

Now, onto my other monthly goals.

READ A BOOK

I didn't get around to reading a novel this month.  However, I did read a lovely book.

We went into our local book store to use up some overdue book vouchers and came home with this book.  It was a delightful read of their trip around most of Australia in an old Kombi van.  Beautiful photography and interesting to read about some of the places we hope to visit later in the year.  We also bought some detailed maps of the areas we will be travelling through.  We don't do much planning of our trips, but a good map does help somewhat.

TRY A NEW RECIPE

No photo, but yes, we did try a new recipe.  I sometimes give an eggplant to one of my work colleagues who has Lebanese heritage.  She gave me a recipe for Baked Eggplant and also gave me some of the secret ingredient, Lebanese seven spice.  It was really tasty and even better then next day.

FRIDAY FUN DAY

Part of the reason for not a lot of stitching, is that we have been having lots of fun days, as shared in previous posts.

WEEKEND AWAY IN THE CARAVAN

Our weekend to Wellington ticked this box.  It was great fun.

So, all in all, we have had a great month.  March is always a busy time of year and this year it has been so nice to have things open up again and be somewhat back to normal.

Pop over to Elm Street Quilting to see what the other girls have achieved this month.