First Finish For the Year

I’m happy to report my first finish of the year, which ticks off the box for the Chookshed Stitchers Challenge and my One Monthly Goal.

This is such a cute bag. It will be perfect for taking my bits and bobs to stitching when I crochet a block or two.

Having taken the inspiration from Sue, I also quilted the sides to add more structure, using my favourite masking tape markings.

The fabric is so darned cute.  It wasn’t until I started that I discovered what beautiful fabrics were included in the kit.

Being quilted, the bag doesn’t gather quite as well, but it stands up nicely when opened.

The back and side view.  Did I say I love the fabrics?

The eagle eyed may notice that I didn’t end up using needle turn appliqué.  I did work on a practice piece, but I think that this was not the best project to start out on, what with those ears being under a quarter of an inch with really tight curves and the bunny tail being about a quarter of an inch.  I was not enjoying the process at all, and did not want to mess up this project.  Therefore, I returned to what I know and enjoy.  I may try needle turn at some stage in the future, but on something rather simpler.

Anyway, I really love the bag and can’t wait to use it and take it to Scrub Stitchin’ in April.  Gosh, that will be here before we know it.

As a bonus, there was a little strip of quilted fabric left over from the side panels. It was too pretty to throw out, so I added some of the linings and fabric to the back and ran a quick zig zag around the edges and have a bookmark for my diary.  A bit rough and ready, but it will do the job.

The First Week of the New Year

The start of a new year always seems to bring on some refreshed enthusiasm for stitching goals as well as other plans.  This year has been no different.

My goal for January is to make the Scrub Stitchin’ Bag.  I have made a start, but haven’t progressed very far as yet.  As I said earlier, I am going to use needle turn appliqué, which I am not comfortable with.  I need to do a little practice piece first.

So, what do you do?  Some practice, or take an avoidance option?  Anyone who knows me knows that I will take the avoidance option.  There were plenty of options available to me.

The other main start that I have undertaken this January is to join in on the Just 2 Charm Packs Quilt Along.  The task for 2 January was to cut out the quilt.  Being me, I decided to use a slightly different piecing method. The pattern has the block pieced in rows, but I wanted to make units, which I could then join together as a nine patch using the webbing method.  Therefore, my cutting was a little different to the pattern.

The next process isn’t listed until 16 January and is to piece ten of the twenty blocks.  Well, maybe I got carried away (avoidance) and have already pieced those ten.  The next ten will take a bit more planning, as I don’t want to have duplicates of the first ten, which were put together somewhat randomly.  They aren’t due intil the end of the month, so plenty of time.

We had a couple of Chookshed Stitchers Zoom sessions this week, during which I had finished the stitched saying on the Scrub Stitchin’ Bag.  There weren’t many on at this stage, but we did end up with sixteen on the screen later in the day.

I wanted something else, nice and easy, to work on while chatting away.  Another Spike Granny Square was the result.

That done, what else could I do as avoidance?  Why not the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks?  This month in the colour green.  It didn’t take long to whip them up.

Now what?

The Laundry Basket Quilts Spring Mystery needed the light mauve hexy flower appliquéd onto each of the four larger sections of the quilt.  The pieced hexies have been waiting for a few months.  That task is now done, despite not being on the radar for January.  This quilt needs lots of stems and leaves to be appliquéd next.  That will NOT be needle turn, but my trusty machine blanket stitch. Quite a bit of prep is required.

I think I am starting to run out of avoidance options……well, no, I can think of more, but I really should put my big girl pants on and play with my needle turn appliqué.  I’m sure once I have a go I will wonder what the heck I was worried about.  

Wish me luck.

A Rather Pleasant Day Out

As we have hardly used any of the motorcycles for the last few years, I haven’t even listed going for a motorcycle ride as a goal this year.  Particularly, in the summer we don’t really like going on the bikes, preferring it when the weather is a little cooler.  Well, today, the weather was rather pleasant, being in the mid 20s C, and as we had nothing planned, so we decided to take “Olga” the old girl out for a run to a local pub for lunch.

Our destination was the historic O’Connell Hotel, which has only recently reopened with new owners after being closed for a few years.  Of course, we couldn’t take the direct route, could we.

We travelled via some minor country roads to the village of Tarana before looping back to O’Connell.

There were two pretty little timber bridges along this road, but they are currently both in the process of being replaced by more modern, structurally sound versions.  It will be better, but also sad to see the old ones go.

The rattly timber bridge over the railway line still remains.  

The road goes beside, over and under the main western railway line.

This picturesque cottage is being restored.  I love its name “Paris”.

It was so nice to still see the landscape looking so green, especially in January and after us having weather forecasts of a hot and dry summer…….not that summer is over yet, by any stretch.

There was a good crowd at the pub.  

It dates back to 1865, which is fairly old for a timber pub around these parts.

The food was delicious and they have several beers from Bathurst’s local brewery on tap, which was good to see.  Mick does enjoy their Pale Ale.

As seating was at a premium, another couple sat down with us.    We got chatting and it came up that we were on the sidecar.  They laughed, as they had been having a look at Olga out the front.  It turned out that they are in the area farm sitting a place just down the road from where we used to live and they own a Ural sidecar.  We ended up having a lovely hour chatting away about the various places we have both travelled and also motorcycles.  An unexpected  bonus to our lunch.

Eventually, we decided we had better head home, of course taking the scenic route, rather than the direct one.  

Firstly, along some little dirt lanes near where we used to live.

Then we headed over to The Lagoon and then Ben Chifley Dam, our local water supply.  The dam is full, but had been closed due a blue green algae outbreak. Fortunately, they received the all clear and the speed boats were out in force and the aqua park has reopened.  It was good to see so many using it.

It really was a lovely day out, made even more so by the fact that it was totally unplanned.  A nice bonus.

Now, let’s see if we can get out and about on the bikes a bit more.

My Goals For January

Here we are, at the start of a shiny New Year, complete with all the enthusiasm to get lots done and join in on everything.  I certainly have a lot I wish to achieve this month.  Let’s see how I go.

Firstly, I need to confirm that I did complete my jigsaw puzzle yesterday, which I am very pleased about, as I was using my cutting mat as a jigsaw mat and I want my cutting mat back to use.

My goals each month will be partly determined by the number drawn for the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge.  

The number this month is 6, which is the Scrub Stitchin’ Bag that we received at Baradine last year.  This worked out rather well, as quite a few of us have listed that project at number 6 and it also means that it will hopefully be completed to take along to Scrub Stitchin’ in April.

While I was pleased to have this as the first project, I suddenly wondered where the kit actually was.  Oops.  Fortunately, it was in only the third place I looked for it.  Those who know me well, are aware that I only do machine blanket stitch applique.  Well, I have decided that this will be a good project to try a little bit of needle turn.  It is time I had another go at it.

Now that I know what I need to do there, I can look at my other goals for the month.

ONE MONTHLY GOAL

My goal will be the Scrub Stitchin’ Bag. I did have another idea, but it will now be in the background and hopefully, I can at least get a little done on that project as well.

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

The colour this month is green.  I intend to make two blocks for the split nine patch.  A very simple make.

JUST TWO CHARM PACK QUILT ALONG

This has been planned for a little while. When Susan from Granny Smith’s Quilting visited late last year she gifted me half of a layer cake of Bonnie and Camille’s Vintage Modern range, being the equivalent of two charm packs.  She proposed that we both join in with the quilt along.  The idea is that you can make any of the quilts in the book.  

I have chosen one called “Betty”, which is fairly simple, but should look really effective with the fabrics.  

I have added white and a patterned grey that was lurking in a bottom drawer for the background, sashing and border.  The plan is that we cut it out on 2 January, and then work on the next stages each two weeks, with a big reveal of the quilts in the middle of March.  It should be fun and very doable.

15 MINUTES A DAY

This worked so well for me last year, so I intend to keep at it.

Thanks to all the ladies who take the trouble to make these challenges possible.

Other than the Scrub Stitchin’ Bag, this is what I hope to do:

• Work on a donation project
• Use Monique
• Do some knitting or crochet - probably work on the Spiked Granny Rug
• Work on a UFO or WIP - just not sure what as yet
• Complete something - hopefully the Scrub Stitchin’ Bag

NON STITCHING GOALS

These remain much the same as usual:

• Read a book
• Try a new recipe
• Go away with the caravan - very unlikely, due to busy school holiday time
• Have a fun day out

In addition to these, I want to get our home office under control again.

That little lot should keep me out of trouble.  I’ll report back at the end of the month with progress.

Looking Forward to 2024

Happy New Year to everyone.

I have been doing blog posts looking back on the previous year and looking forward to the coming year for the last few years and it is always interesting to read back on them.

Having been retired for eighteen months, Mick and I have now transitioned to what we call our "new normal".  It is a rather good life.

A lot of what I am looking forward to seems to be similar to previous years.  It obviously works.

STITCHING GOALS

On the stitching front, I will continue to join in on a few structured challenges.  Fortunately, they are fun and not too onerous.

One Monthly Goal is a great incentive.  I always try to set my goal to be achievable, depending on what else is going on at the time.  Having said that, it is also a good opportunity to give myself a kick up the butt little nudge to work on something.

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge is always fun. 

In 2024 I will continue to make split nine patch blocks and hopefully at the end of the year will have enough for a donation quilt.

A new challenge this year will be the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge.  We have each chosen ten projects and each month Deana will select a number at random and we will work on that project during the month.  Hopefully, it will be relatively stress free and a bit of fun.

I will also be taking part in the Meadow Mist Quilt Along.   I will share more details in my January Goals.  I’m looking forward to joining in.

After successfully working on projects for 15 minutes each day during 2023, I will once again participate in the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge.

I like stitching to be social and have now joined two local stitching groups.  One is "Stitch and Chat" through U3A on a Friday morning and is mainly, knitting, crochet, hand embroidery or whatever you like.  Patchwork doesn't really feature much.  The other is "Bathurst/Orange Patchwork and Bag Making" on a Wednesday.  I am finding that I am mainly taking hand work to both these groups, as it is nice and portable.  This is working really well, as I have loads of projects that fit the bill, but have previously been put aside.

The Chookshed Stitchers enjoy days on Zoom approximately once a month.  It is a lovely friendly group of women.  Having the 2024 Challenge will bring us even closer this year, as we see each other's progress and cheer us on.

As always, I look forward to travelling to Baradine for Scrub Stitchin' in April.

So what do I hope to work on?

Last year I said I needed to get a wriggle on with some UFOs.  I had made a little list of twelve, and when I read it I realised that I had only finished two!  Mmmm, not the best result.  I have made a little list for myself again this year and listed 24!  My goal is to complete twelve.  Some really don't need a lot of work and also fall within the Chookshed Stitchers Challenge.  Wish me luck.

I don't really want to start anything much until I do whittle down those UFOs.  I am finding they are starting to hang over my head.

I do like to have a long term project on the go.  My “Make it Blue” quilt falls into that category.  I aim to have it finished before June, which will be two years after I started it.  It is very achievable.  The only thing I worry about is the quilting.  I don't know if my quilting is good enough to do it justice.  That is something to consider once the top is finished.

I also want to get the Laundry Basket Spring Mystery Quilt finished in the first half of the year.  There is lots of applique to be done.  It will be a lovely quilt once completed.

I seem to have failed to set up a decent leader and ender project over the last few years.  I am going to try once again.  It can't be that hard, can it?

On the whole, I tend to flit between things, in different crafts as well as actual projects, rather than concentrate on one from start to finish.

Each month I hope to:

• Work on a donation project
• Use Monique, my quilting machine
• Do some knitting or crochet
• Do some hand stitching - embroidery, cross stitch or EPP
• Complete at least one project
• Work on a UFO

Mind you, sometimes one project can tick many of those boxes.

I want to get in and try to organise my fabric stash better.  It is always a chore to pull fabrics, as they are in several different spots.

NON STITCHING GOALS

Read a book each month

Try a new recipe each month

Travel - for the first time since I don't know when, we don't have any firm travel plans.  We have a couple of ideas we are tossing up, and will see what pans out.  I do hope we can get to use the caravan quite a bit through the year.  We managed to get away six times last year, so hope to do something similar this year.

Fun days out - We do enjoy getting out and about attending local events, visiting local places and generally having a day out.  It is so nice being able to visit places mid week now.

Last year I said that I need to do some decluttering and organising.  I did do a big declutter of our home office at the start of the year, but that is about it.  The office needs another declutter now and I actually need to get in and sort some other areas of our home.  Wish me luck on that too.

Reading back over what I have just written, I realise that I will never have any excuse for being bored.  It will be fun to work on everything and then check back at the end of the year to see how I went.