FNSI for May.

Friday I had the vacuum cleaner out to clean the house but I got sidetracked when I walked past the Cave and went inside and started sewing on the binding on Simply Serene.

I joined all the bits of blue bindings I had ready sew onto the back first and fold over to front and machine sew down.

Taa Dah !!!!  Folded ready to donate. So happy to have a nice quilt suitable for a man. 

Simply Serene is a great simple pattern which I'm sure I'll make again.

In the evening I sat and hand sewed the bottom quarter of LaLa Passacaglia together... 

My next project to work on will be putting the first top and bottom borders on "Sunshine and Lollipop"

Now I must away and plug in the lap top before I run out of battery.

Happy stitching 

Hugs Maria 💖

Finally

have time to sit and catch up on posting on my blog after a month of appointments either for hubby or myself......

Been busy doing some more blocks for "Sunshine and Lollipop" BOM and now it's time to join them all ready to add boders.

 For April FNSI I've been joining the La Passacaglia blocks. 

Sill have many more blocks to make but thought to start joining the ones that are completed.

Also put together the Fish RSC blocks from last year and it's now ready to sandwich, pin and quilt.

Completed Aussie Hero blocks for April and for May's FnwFs I did the ones for this month.

Some of the ladies have joined Chooky to make a quilt called Simply Serene. I enjoyed putting together this nice easy top that is now sandwiched ,pinned and ready to quilt. Will be a great donation quilt.

 

After a lot of sewing thought it was time to give the machine a clean and a drop of oil.

I've also enjoyed doing some knitting while binge watched hours of " Poldark" 

Will make myself a cuppa and catch up on lots of blog reading...

Happy Stitching and keep well.

Hugs Maria 💖

Catching up.........

Life here has been hectic for a few weeks with fires, visitors and then waiting for Cyclone Narelle (which went inland and didn't go along coast as expected. Missed us but caused a lot of damage to others sadly)

thankfully with the help of many firefighters, volunteer's and water bombers over several days they finally contained the fire.

Family from Queensland arrived soon after and we enjoyed their visit for a week. While here my SIL and I did plenty of chatting and did some craft making Stars.

Last week it was time to clean up the yard, put away pot plants and anything that may take off with strong winds etc we were expecting with the cyclone. It was a relief when it didn't  

arrive but at least we had a big clean up.

 Now I'll show you what I've been up to in the Cave.

Working on some more 'Sunshine and Lollipop" Blocks

It's been tricky working out to make the quilt into a single bed size rather than like the pattern but I'm getting there.

I've also made some carrots which I filled with little choccie eggs that I gifted to my coffee friends.

I pleased that I have finally been able to do this post and load photos even though it's taken nearly two hours......

Must away now and have a much-needed cuppa..

Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy Easter....

Happy Stitching 

Hugs Maria 💖

Finally FNSI for Feb.

Lately I just don’t seem to enjoy sewing and I've been procrastinating over making this month's Aussie Hero blocks so I thought for FNSI I’d finally work on them.

I got a good start and then they sat on the cutting table till today when I finally sat and got the blocks made and will get them posted tomorrow.

Now I hope to find something I want to play with, maybe get back to Sunshine and Lollypop or a new project????  Do have some hand sewing to do on mine the La Passacaglia blocks.

Must away now and get this post published..

Happy Stitching 

Hugs  Maria 💖

FnwFs for Feb 2026

On Friday I joined in for FnwFs and was happy to have completed another block for La Passacaglia. What I'm finding hard now is to source the right fabrics for the next block.

Earlier in the afternoon I put together Block #4 of " Sunshine and Lollipop " that I've been working on for the past few weeks.... 

Now I've been trying to work out the next section as Anni has designed it as a square quilt and I would like to make it as a rectangle one for a single bed.....

Still can't download photos onto a post on my iPad but I'm pleased I can on my laptop even though it's tricky .😕

Must away and pop on the kettle for a cuppa.

Happy Stitching, 

Hugs  Maria.💖

We've been having very hot days , 40's plus, lately so it's always the best way to start my day by going for the walk along the boardwalk, over the dunes 

For a lovely dip into the nice cool beach with my friend.

Afterwards I enjoyed spending time finishing block #3 of "Sunshine and Lollipop" in airconditioned comfort.

I'm having so much trouble with blogger and just can't load photos on my iPad so have to go to my laptop...

Must away shower and go to bed.

Happy Stitching,  Hugs Maria ❤️

First FNSI for 2026.

Thank you, Wendy for once again organising our FNSI. It's been 14 years since Wendy took over FNSI from Heidi . I joined FNSI in 2009 and I like to get a project or two organised and always join in...

This week I got started in the afternoon and got my GS and partner’s placemats completed.

After Dinner I was finally able to get back to working the third block of  " Sunshine and Lollipop " BOM.

My favorite things about these blocks is the stitcheries designed by Anni's and also the Tilda fabrics I'm using...

Before it was bedtime I finished appliqueing all the stitcheries to the blocks ready to join together...

Must away to hang some washing.

Stay Safe and Happy Stitching.

Hugs  Maria 💖

First FnwFs for 2026

Even though I have decided not to join in any set challenges this year I will join in for the Friday night’s sew ins with Cheryll and Wendy…We can work on whatever projects we like and sew along with our virtual friends. 😀…

Firstly in the afternoon I worked on finishing four placemats for my GD and partner….

Then in the evening it was time to make some of the Aussie Hero blocks.

Must away now and see what others have done and make a few more Aussie Hero blocks..

Hope all are safe with so many fires ranging around Australia.. hugs to all …

Hugs Maria. 💖

Last finishes for 2025…

I have always wanted to do a Temperature chart but not a quilt or wall hanging so when the cross stitched chart came out this year I jumped at the chance to stitch it.The first day of the year was 39.7 deg cel, today being the last day of the year we had 38 deg cel.As you can see from the chart we had a very varied weather pattern this year.

The last quilt for 2026 is the “ I Spy” quilt.

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Creative 2026…..🎉

Must away and watch the fireworks on the Tele.

Happy Stitching,

Hugs Maria 💕

Happy Festive Season

                   Wishing you all a fun filled Christmas Day and All the best for Happy and Healthy 2026

                                                        Hugs.  Maria 🎄🤶

Last FNSI for 2026.

I always enjoy my FNSIs so I’d like to thank Wendy for keeping us together . Often folk just post on Facebook but it’s great to see what all have been working on.

I got out my box of kids fabrics and sorted out some larger pieces to put together for an “I Spy” top…..

After sewing all the blocks together (sorry didn’t take a photo) I got it sandwiched and pinned before I called it quits for the night. 

Hope to get it quilted before the end of the year.

Must away now and hang some washing…….  Happy stitching ….. Hugs. Maria 🤶🎄

FnwFs

It’s the first Friday of the month and time to join Cheryll for the last FnwF for the year and also Cheryll has decided as of next year we will be only joining in on Facebook. Thank you so much for keeping the post with the linky going over the years…

 

In the afternoon I wrote out my Christmas cards and popped them in the post after I took hubby to his RSL…

Then I put the finishing touches on a pixie I’ve made for my GD and partner.

While at the post office I bought a post pac to pop him in to send but he doesn’t quite fit. Don’t want to bend his hat so I’ll need to buy a bigger bag!

Pleased to have also finished appliquéing the three tea towels for my coffee ladies…

I had a great last FnwFs and look forward to joining in again next year on Facebook.

Must away now to see what others have done HERE,

Happy Stitching 🧵 

Hugs  Maria 💖

 

Cleaning up.

I’ve been busy tidying up the Cave ( good way to spend our first 40deg cel. day.) I finally got round to dealing with some of the extra bits of wadding that were returned after I had two quilts done at the longarm quilters.

First I cut the extra backing off and then trimmed all the bits.

Then they’re all ready to sew together .

There’ll be enough to use as wadding for a donation “I Spy” quilt…..

Must away now and cut the blocks form my stash….

Happy stitching 

Hugs. Maria 💖

Small Finishes for FNSI

Can’t believe it was the third Friday of the November and time to join Wendy for FNSI. This time I worked on a couple of small projects.

 

A little pair of booties and two tiny beanies .

I plan to make a few more of these as they are just big enough to pop in Lindt choccie and gift one to my friends …

Today I enjoyed working on some secret Christmas projects….

Must away and do some tidying in the Cave. 

Happy Stitching,

Hugs. Maria 💕

FnwFs for November…..

I really enjoy joining in with Cheryll for FnwFs.  It motivates me to get something ready to work on. 

As it is our Patchwork Clubs 30th birthday next year the lady who sends each member a lovely birthday has popped in a challenge. We needed to find a strip in our stash and then match the colours from it and do a colour wash block. So for FnwFs I found strip and fabrics in my stash and cut out blocks ready to sew.

     

Later in the evening I sat and caught up with stitching the leaves on my Temperature Tree. The year has gone so fast, only one branch after this one !!

Thank you Cheryll for keeping us on track . One more for 2025..

Must away and sew my challenge block together .

Happy stitching ,

Hugs.  Maria 💖

# 1 The last Chookshed Challenge No.

Just in time I have finished #1 , the last Chookshed Challenge No…. By the end of this month.

It is a quilt for hubby to use on his recliner and I used a pattern from one of the calendars I get each year that has twelve free patterns in. 

As it’s a scrappy quilt I joined these left over bindings together to use on the quilt….

A huge thank to Deana for organising the Challenge for 2025 . With you helping me along all year with the challenge I managed to finish #8 projects and work on La Passacaglia blocks and also the “ Sunshine and Lollipop “ BOM. So could mark of all my challenge Nos….

Must away to pop on the kettle.

Happy stitching 🧵 

Hugs Maria 💖