Autumn by Barbara Ana

 

Autumn by Barbara Ana was my March project for our group UFO challenge. This last week, I have been full of cold so was surprised that I got this finished. At the beginning of the month, I hadn't started the project so there was a lot for me to stitch. I fell that perhaps I should start working on Winter next so that it isn't a blank canvas. Tomorrow, the next UFO will be chosen but for today I'm going to work on Honey of a Tiny Town which is nearing completion.

Paris je t’aime 3

I am doing this project one section per month in 2026. My priority projects were my customer quilt to be long armed and my UFO challenge cross stitch. However, my long arm is playing up so a new cable has been ordered which I hope will arrive today or tomorrow (mail boat permitting). Then I left my cross-stitch project - Autumn by Barbara Ana at the Eisteddfod and didn't want to make a special journey to pick it up.

Unable to work on my priority projects, I prepped the applique for the third section of Paris je t'aime by Verushka Karate. It came together quicker than expected and is ready to be stitched to section 2. Section 4 is small and has no applique so should be a quicker make. I like how it's coming together and the less pressurised pace of one section a month.

Jersey Eisteddfod 2026

The Creative Arts Festival of the Jersey Eisteddfod opens tomorrow afternoon. It has been a week of hard work taking in over 600 entries just for our section, adjudicating the items, writing certificates and displaying the items. 

I was sent home by my team on Friday morning once we had completed the photographing of the trophy winning items. We had displayed all of the junior and adult entries, so my team completed the job by displaying the trophy winners entries in what I call "The Winners Circle".

All I've done today is to add coloured stars to three entries which are eligible for a visitor's choice award and added laminated copies of the judge's summary of her experience around the display. All ready for tomorrow and I am scheduled to steward on Friday morning so I will take some cross stitch with me to work on, just in case it's quiet.

 We are just about ready for the Eisteddfod which opens on Thursday afternoon. Time now to work on a customer quilt and my March UFO. Number 3 was selected for March which is Autumn by Barbara Ana. I am putting all four seasons on one piece of linen. Spring is almost finished, summer had a small start and nothing had been worked on for autumn and winter. I worked along the bottom of summer to find the start of autumn.

Progress is slow as I have been suffering with the nauseous side effects of a medication. I have reduced the dose, so I'm hoping I will feel better this week. I set myself small tasks on the project to finish it in twenty days, but realistically, I just need to work on it steadily.

Croak Couture cushion

 

I was so pleased to get this cushion ready for submitting to our local Eisteddfod on Friday. We have worked for free for three days so far and have another three days to go, however we are making good progress.

I used the same background for this cushion as I used for the dalmatian cushion along with machine quilting lines 1" apart. The back is closed with star shaped snaps in a similar purple to the frog's mushroom cap. I  am looking forward to getting back to some crafting on Saturday.

Paris, je t'aime section 1

Whilst waiting for my black and white striped fabric to be delivered, I worked on section 1 of this project. I should definitely be able to finish this section in March as it's mainly just applique on some pieces to be done and then put the section together.

It's coming together nicely and I'm pleased with my progress. I am busy with eisteddfod adjudication this week, so very little stitching will be done. I'm looking forward to Saturday when we will have finished adjudication and displaying the work.

SQ Croak Couture

The second project I have to finish for the local Eisteddfod was Croaky Couture also by Sew Quirky.  Layering up the applique wasn't difficult, just time consuming. Again, I lost a piece of the applique - this time a nostril.

Between fielding calls about the eisteddfod, I have finished the applique and the jacket which was tricky. I now have until Sunday to quilt the background aqua speckled yarn dyed linen and make it into a cushion. Perhaps I might even remember to add a label to this piece.