Monday make - Dreaming Queen Bee

I started this piece last week and have been steadily working on it since I found out that I had completed the wrong project for our JMQG UFO challenge.

This is Dreaming Queen Bee by Barbara Ana Designs for PNPS Magazine Spring 2022 edition. It is stitched on 32 count Belfast linen raw white spots using all of the DMC threads listed for the project.

I store my DMC flosses on these thread drops from Pip n Chip They have definitely helped me organise my threads and I now have a small box of duplicated threads to be used when I run out of a colour.

I used a charity shop denim frame to finish the piece. I think it might benefit from a couple of small bee buttons on the frame to tie in the frame to the piece. This was the real February UFO challenge piece so I now have two days to work on something else. I might start Mad for Plaid.

Trinket SAL

It is no secret that I love a sewalong (SAL) and Alison Glass organises her SALs perfectly with a published timetable and a platform for discussion. This SAL starts in April, so I have decided to use more of my Ruby Star Society scraps and fabrics and have started stitching two blocks a week along with the Art East mini block sampler which is one block a week every Monday.

I am using the same fabrics for both sewalongs which makes choosing much easier. This week I sewed lines 1 and 2. Nice and simple.

 

WIP Wednesday - Dreaming Queen Bee

   

On Monday I was so pleased with myself that I had completed and framed my February UFO challenge piece. As they say pride comes before a fall and I had completed the wrong project. Very similar projects - both designed by Barbara Ana for PNPS Magazine.

I have now extracted the correct project from my box of goodies and made a start. Fortunately, it is a small project. I love the turquoise leaves in particular.

So that makes four out of twelve UFOs already completed for 2023.

Monday make - Samhain Dreams

I finished a thing yesterday and even framed it too with a charity shop find. This is my February UFO for our group challenge. This is Samhain Dreams by Barbara Ana from the 2022 fall edition of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher digital magazine.

I used the called for DMC threads apart from the metallic thread which I substituted for a Petite Treasure Braid thread PB04. I used a 32 count opal evenweave called Cirrus from Chromatic Alchemy.

What to work on next whilst waiting for the March UFO to be chosen? Should I work on Sew Happy or start one of the few remaining Prairie Schooler Santas? Both today and tomorrow are looking like full on days, so perhaps I'll just take Sew Happy to my Wednesday morning group and stitch a little more on it.

WIP Wednesday - Sew Happy

 

I can’t focus on any one project at the moment so after completing Big Hearted Tiny Town, I pulled out Sew Happy. This is my number 1 UFO for our guild challenge. As it’s the largest project, it’s a good idea to work on it before its number is pulled.

I have finished the E and W, started on the S and stitched more of the sewing machine. This will be much less daunting when it’s time to finish it.

Monday mini sampler make

 

There hasn't been very much sewing going on here, but today is Monday so I've downloaded and stitched the seventh Mini block sampler from Art East Quilting. I used the same fabrics as for the lips. 

The pink fabrics are from Ruby Star Society on a background from Basic Grey. I don't see another Valentine's themed block so I wonder hat next week's block will be.

I still need to catch up on the two videos from last weekend but they are almost two hours long each, which I think is too long, so I will need to set aside some time for those.

Friday progress

 

I'm starting to feel a whole lot better. Hooray. Yesterday I would have continued to work on Samhain Dream by Barbara Ana, but I realised that I didn't have the called for Kreinik. I have ordered a similar Petite Braide from Ebay but estimated delivery is 15 to 20 February!!

I concentrated my efforts yesterday on Big Hearted Tiny Town. I even found a possible finishing piece at the charity shop on Monday.

I noticed on Instagram that there is another in the series of Tiny Towns being released at the Nashville Market in March in addition to the two I've already purchased and kitted up and one more thats out of stock.

WIP Wednesday - Samhain Dreams

The February project for February has been chosen and it’s a small piece called Samhain Dreams by Barbara Ana Designs. It is from the fall 2022 issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher Magazine. 

I am using the called for DMC threads on 32 count even weave called Cirrus from Chromatic Alchemy.

I feel like I’m making no progress at the moment having been in hospital last week and ill the week before. I guess I wasn’t surprised to come down with a cough and cold on Sunday but of course, it turned out to be Covid. Luckily my husband has tested negative so was able to collect a prescription of antivirals for me. So I’m taking it easy and watching lots of mindless television.

Monday make - mini block sampler

 

Today is the start of week 6 of the mini block sampler with Art East Quilting. Having been away for most of last week, Saturday was the first chance I got to make last week's Lips block. Yesterday I came down with a cough and did nothing all day. I didn't even see the message that my sewing machine was ready to be collected.

You can't really see the gradient of my blocks from white in the centre to darkest grey in the corners. So today I'm going to make some phone calls, pick up my sewing machine and make block 6, which is a heart block.

January 2023 achievements

 A more productive month than expected:

My January UFO challenge finished and just three more to stitch for a complete set

Twice as nice pouch for Lizzie

Sewology BOM which was a big finish

Ziggy cushion and pattern for Make Modern - long overdue to be finished but now done

Christmas quilt from Quilting Life sewalong

A simple panel quilted for a group challenge

Zic zac scarf which I was getting bored of working on, so I sat down one day and finished it

February 2023 achievements

 

My achievements this month have been few due to a week in hospital for tests and then returning home with Covid. Both finished projects are from PNPS magazine and are designed by Barbara Ana.

Also both are UFO challenge projects so I am ahead as I stitched the wrong project first. The frames for both of these pieces are also from a charity shop which is very satisying.

Wednesday wanderings

We are in London for a few days for hospital tests. On Monday we had a stroll around and I thought I’d share our wanderings. 

We started in Piccadilly Circus and headed up Regent Street. We stopped at Uniqlo and I bought a red cardigan before we had a look at the Liberty windows. A little disappointed but fun.

A quick stop in TK Maxx looking for some seasonal Rae Dunn (none that I could find) and we headed around the corner to MacCulloch and Wallis. A treasure trove of haberdashery. I bought just a few bag sliders in bright colours.

I spotted at sign at the bottom of Oxford Street for the Elizabeth line. Whilst Nick looked inside, I planned our route to our lunch. Perfect, we could get to Liverpool Street using this line. 

We arrived early at Ottolenghi in Spitalfields so had a stroll around the area. Not an area I know and have only visited once with my daughter.

I think this mural has potential to be a quilt?

We had a lovely meal at Ottolenghis finishing with one of their delicious cakes. I loved my carrot cake as the cream cheese icing wasn’t over sweet. 

Time to collect my bags from our hotel and head to Denmark Hill.