May Stitching Roundup

Here we are at the end of another month and it is time to see how I went with my stitching goals for May.

As usual, we are scraping in by the skin of our teeth.

1.    ONE MONTHLY GOAL

My goal was to complete my pineapple block cushion that was started for Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2020.

Firstly, I had to make the final block.

Next, work out the arrangement.

Then, construct the cushion.  It ended up a bit of an odd size, so I had some fun finding a suitable inner.  This was the best size I could come up with.

I used the concealed zipper method.  It is a really effective and neat way to finish a cushion. It will look a bit better once the inner relaxes after being taken out of its packaging.

I'm very happy to have this finished at long last.  The idea is that it will go with my Splendid Sampler 2 quilt, which was made from the same fabrics...........I just have to make up my mind as to how to get it quilted.......Soon, very soon.

Thanks as always to Patty of Elm Street Quilts for giving us the encouragement to keep things moving. Pop over and see what the other ladies have been up to.

2.    WOOFA CHALLENGE

My cushion ticks this box as well.

I love this challenge that Cheryll has started.  Once again, pop over and see what other UFOs have been worked on in May.

3.    CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

As I always say, hand stitching is my downfall.  It should be a very easy task to make at least one of these little stitcheries each week, but I'm struggling to get one done each month.  

Thanks to a Zoom get together with Chookyblue and a few of the ladies this morning, I got out my stitchery and made good progress. After a break to rest my eyes, I went back and finished off this little block.  At least I have one more done.  By the way, clean glasses make stitching so much easier - just saying.

4.    ONE PROJECT A MONTH

Woo Hoo!  My cushion ticks a third box. Kris from Tag Along Teddies is another of the team of ladies that keep me motivated each month.

5.    JOCELYN PROUST BLUE QUILT

The wish was to complete at least another five blocks.

Job done!. (The five blocks are identical.) I have nearly all the flying geese stitched for the next five blocks as well.  I have been using this as a leader and ender while stitching another project.  

There you go.  All goals met.  It definitely helps when you set the bar rather low.

Now, not only but also, I have started another project on a whim..........

Edyta Sitar from Laundry Basket Quilts announced that she was going to host a mystery quilt stitch along.  It would run for 15 days, making four inch blocks and there would be 225 of them.  She would show it in blues and white or a coloured version.  As most of my blues have been put aside for a special quilt (which I must make one day, so that my blues can return to stash), I opted to go down the coloured line, using civil war reproduction-ish fabrics, all from stash.

I'm not going to show any detailed photos at this stage, just in case you wish to go and look into making the quilt.  All the steps are now on her blog.

 I kept up for four days..........then we were away for a night and had other things on......and I lost that initial enthusiasm........but I am making good progress.  I have completed the first eight days' steps, so only four more days of blocks and then putting the top together.

You should see my sewing room. It is an absolute mess. It will be good to have chosen and cut all the fabrics and then I will be able to put some fabric away.

I mentioned earlier a zoom get together this morning.  It was an early virtual Chook Shed Party.  As we have done every year, Mick and I made a cake to celebrate.

Rhubarb Crumble Cake this year.  So yummy.  How sad that Mick and I will have to eat it all.

Happy Birthday Chook Shed.

My Goals for the Month of May

Here we go again, time to set my goals for the month.

Firstly, my stitching goals.....

1.    ONE MONTHLY GOAL

Decisions, decisions....It is so strange not having a logical go to project.  

I think that I will finish off my Rainbow Scrap Challenge cushion from last year that features pineapple blocks in 30s fabrics. It had come to a stand still, as I need to make one more block and there isn't a logical colour to use for that block.  I'll have a play, make the final block and put it all together.  I'm looking forward to getting it finished.

Thanks to Patty from Elm Street Quilts for giving us the encouragement needed.

2.    WOOFA CHALLENGE

I'm once again keeping this simple, by using my OMG project to tick this box as well.  That will mean two successes in May.......or not...... Thanks to Cheryll for this fun challenge.

3.    CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

I'll keep plugging away at my little Love and Hugs stitcheries.  They are super cute....when I get them done......

4.    ONE PROJECT A MONTH

This now means that I will have three successes........or none.........unless I end up making something else random during the month.  Who knows?

5.    JOCELYN PROUST BLUE QUILT

There are eight different fabrics in the range and I am making five blocks using each fabric.  I have completed the blocks in five of the fabrics, so only three fabrics to go.  That sounds better than the fact that I have fifteen blocks to make.  I'm working in batches of five blocks at a time, so will aim to at least have another five blocks completed.  We'll see how we go.  They are fun to make, once I get a system going.

It's not a lot of goals this month, so hopefully will be achieved and maybe a little extra.  Wish me luck.

Now for the usual non stitching goals.

1.    READ A BOOK

 

I recently picked up a book by Patricia Wrightson, the author of my favourite book "The Nargun and the Stars".  It is just aimed at young adults, so should be a nice quick read.

2.    TRY A NEW RECIPE

I'm really enjoying this each month, especially as there is never any plan in advance.

3.    FRIDAY FUN DAY

No plan as yet, but something will crop up.

4.    HAVE A WEEKEND AWAY IN THE CARAVAN

Once again, no plan as yet, just a vague idea.

I'll see how I have gone when I check in at the end of the month.

December Goals

Here we are at the last month of the year and time to set my goals for the month.  I've enjoyed setting my little goals each month, and other than last month, have done pretty well in achieving them.

December is always a busy month, so I need to keep that in mind with my goal setting.

So, here goes.....

1.    ONE MONTHLY GOAL

I'm quite disappointed in myself that I didn't achieve my OMG last month.  Therefore, I need to set something fun and achievable for this month.

I think it will be to make my two Rainbow Scrap Challenge cushions.  I need to make one more pineapple block on my 30s prints one and then turn them both into cushions.  It will be great to have my RSC projects completed within the year.

2,    RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

Although all the colours have been revealed, it will be good to finish my two cushions within the calendar year.  Then I will decide if I wish to participate again next year.

3.    BLOCKHEADS 3

I was slack and only completed one block in November.  Not only that, there will be five blocks released during the month of December.  Therefore, I will have to knuckle down and do lots of stitching in December to catch up.  After December there will only be a further three blocks to go.  I'm quite excited about completing this quilt. 

4.    CHRISTMAS PROJECT

I'm not sure what I will make, being so close to Christmas, but I'd better make some little thing, just to complete my challenge for the year, without missing a beat.

5.    ONE PROJECT A MONTH

I know I will have something to report for OPAM, as I have my November finishes to report.  It would be nice to have something extra to add to the list as well.

6.    WOOFA CHALLENGE

Having had a big fat fail last month, I do hope to work on a UFO in December.  I will not nominate which project it will be, as I don't want to set myself up for failure.  It would be nice to be my Clam Shell Sewing Roll, but if I still don't feel like working on it, I will find something else to play with.

I will have some time off work between Christmas and New Year, so I do look forward to playing in the sewing room in that time.

Now to my non-stitching goals.

1.    READ A BOOK

I'm quite sure that will happen.

2.    TRY A NEW RECIPE

I never know what this will be at the beginning of the month, but it is fun playing with a new recipe.

3.    GO FOR A MOTORCYCLE RIDE

I doubt if this will happen, as we don't particularly like riding in the heat.  Then again, you never know what will happen.

4.    GO AWAY FOR A WEEKEND IN THE CARAVAN

Yes, the van is packed, ready to go.  I can't wait.

5.    FRIDAY FUN DAY

I'm not sure if there will be a separate Friday Fun Day, or if it will be incorporated into our little trip.  That's half the fun, not knowing what will take place in the coming month.

6.    GO FOR WALKS

We'll try.  We do lots of walking while we are away and do like walking around at night looking at all the Christmas lights, in the cool.

My November Goals

It is that time again, time to set my goals for the coming month.

This month I will be paring back my goals a bit, as we expect to be a bit busy.

Here are my stitching goals.

1.    ONE MONTHLY GOAL

The main priority is to set and meet my One Monthly Goal.  As I have now finished the clam shell panel my goal this month is to turn it into a completed Clam Shell Sewing Roll.  This is a process that I find quite daunting, so setting this goal is probably the only way that I will get stuck in and get it done.

2.    BLOCKHEADS 3

There will be another four blocks released this month, so I will endeavour to keep up to date.

3.    RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

This is one that is not on the high priority list this month. I still have to make one more pineapple block and then make three cushions.  If any of this happens it will be a bonus.

4.    WOOFA CHALLENGE

Selecting this project is easy.  I will be working on my Clam Shell Sewing Roll.  There's nothing like having one project tick several boxes.

5.    CHRISTMAS PROJECT

I will make something.  As with most months, I don't know what as yet.

6.    ONE PROJECT A MONTH

 

Hopefully, there will be a completed Clam Shell Sewing Roll to add to my list of finishes.  It would be nice if something else is finished too, but we will wait and see.

7.    FRIDAY NIGHT WITH FRIENDS

This Friday is the night to stitch along with many others.  I hope to achieve more than I did last month........which wouldn't be hard.

8.    SECRET STITCHING

It's that time of the year.......

When I look at the list I just wrote, it doesn't sound much less than normal, but it shouldn't be too onerous. I think I can manage it.

Now for my non stitching goals.

1.    READ A BOOK.

I'm sure I can manage to read something, even if it is a smaller book.

2.    TRY A NEW RECIPE\

We have to eat, so this is something I still want to do.

3.    GO FOR A MOTORCYCLE RIDE

Even if we just go for a short afternoon jaunt, it would be nice to get out on the bike.  It is a lovely temperature for riding at the moment.......when it stops raining....Did I actually say that, after the nasty drought we have come out of?

4.    GO AWAY FOR A WEEKEND

I'm pretty sure this won't be happening.  Mick has come out of retirement to do a job which is keeping him a bit busy for a couple of months, so no long weekends away this month.  There is always next month.....and the next..... and the next.

5.    FRIDAY FUN DAY

We will definitely fit in a Friday Fun Day.  Nothing planned, but there is always something fun to do.

6.    GO FOR WALKS

We will also find some time for this. 

Once again, this doesn't look very pared back, but we'll make it work.  I just need to be a bit more organised than the muddle headed wombat that I usually am.

My October Goals Met......By the Skin of my Teeth

I was not going to have a month where I didn't meet my stitching goals.  No way!  Well, I met my final goal at about 7.30pm on 31 October.  As I said in the title of this post, by the skin of my teeth.  I just didn't seem to be in the mood for much of the month, or was doing other stuff.  Anyway, the object of this post is to share what I got up to stitching wise, so let's get started.  If you pop back here, you can see what my goals were.

1. ONE MONTHLY GOAL

Yes, that was my main priority for the month and I blogged about it back here.

I'm so pleased with how it turned out and can't wait for next winter to have it on our bed.

It looks rather snuggly, doesn't it.

2.    RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

The colour was yellow and I blogged about my blocks back here.

I will still have to make one more pineapple block for my cushion, but am still pondering what colour to use.  I'm also pondering on my drunkard path layout.  It will be interesting to see if I can get the blocks to make an accurate circle.

3.    BLOCKHEADS 3

This month I had to make five blocks.  I'm really enjoying making these blocks in such happy colours.

The block this week completed the third quarter of the quilt.  Just another fourteen blocks to go.  I hope I don't run out of some of my fabrics.

4.    WOOFA CHALLENGE

This month my goal was to complete the clam shell panel of the Stitching Roll.  That meant adding another seven rows of clam shells.  As I said at the start of the month, one row a day would take just a week.  Well, I added the last three rows today and it was the last thing I worked on.  There's nothing like a deadline to keep you honest.

The edges look ratty, but they will get trimmed off in the next process of the construction.

5.    CHRISTMAS PROJECT

As I had left things to the last minute, I knew I would only be making a very simple and quick project.  I had one in mind, but didn't have all the materials to hand, and wasn't going to make a special trip to the shops, so settled on a mini stocking decoration.

It's better than nothing and a new hand made decoration never goes astray on the tree.

6.    ONE PROJECT A MONTH

I try to always have one finish each month, even if it is small, but this month I have three - Trail Mix Quilt, the Christmas stocking and a cushion I made for Mum's birthday.  I blogged about it back here.  

I'm glad I tried the concealed zip on the back, as I will use that technique on my three Rainbow Scrap Challenge cushions.

7.    FRIDAY NIGHT WITH FRIENDS

I stitched one whole row of clam shells down.  Pretty weak, but better than nothing.  Hopefully I will be a little more productive next month.

So, there you have it.  All goals met. When I look at it all, it isn't too bad considering I wasn't in the mood for stitching for much of the time.  It just goes to show that having deadlines to meet and being accountable really works for me.

Thanks to the many people who arrange all these fun little challenges.  I really appreciate all you do. I wouldn't achieve nearly as much without your encouragement.