A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies, and Elvis

Kaleidoscope, such  a lovely name for a group of butterflies, although I quite like the alternative name Flutter as well.  I've just put a top together featuring butterfly blocks.  This completion ticks two boxes this month, first for the Chookshed Challenge, as butterflies was on my list for number seven.  Plus, I made the blocks as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, way back in 2022.

I know I've mentioned my former neighbour Dorothy many times.  I received a whole lot of her fabrics when she moved away, including a great pile of her beloved butterfly fabrics.  I stitched four blocks sets using her butterflies in 2022, and still have a lot of fabric left, enough for several more butterfly quilts, I imagine. 

All these still waiting for me

I assembled the butterfly blocks together over the last week or so, choosing purples, blacks and pink, using spotty neutral fabric for the sashings and border.  There are still enough of these blocks in blues, yellows and tan for another single bed quilt.

Lots of pretty butterflies

Then today, I laid it down on the carpet and pinned the layers together.  That's always hard on my back, but the weather wasn't nice enough for me to pin it up outside on the patio table.  Gemma gave it the once over and decided she would quite like to catch a fluttering butterfly outside one day.  She has been known to catch a moth occasionally.

Mmm, just look at those butterflies, but they are not all a flutter, are they, she's thinking.

And look what I received in the mail this week, Elvis is saying hello to me.  My daughter's friend Heather is having an extensive USA trip, and went to Gracelands.  She knows I'm a great Elvis fan so sent me this postcard, how kind is that!  "Elvis says Hi", she wrote on the back.  I'm sure if he was still around he would know I was one of his greatest fans, I've been smitten since I heard him singing "Love me Tender", and that's going back a long time now.

Elvis says "Hi"

Chookshed Challenge for July

 It's been a bit of a rush, but I'm pleased to say that I've finished my Chookshed Challenge this month.  Number 10 was chosen for July, which was my jungle panel quilt.  This panel was donated to me from my elderly neighbour's stash when she went into a rest home.  I received a lot of children's fabrics, and I'm slowly working my way through them, although there are plenty more tucked away.  There was no piecing involved with using this panel, so it was just a matter of smoothing the layers out and pinning them together.  I took advantage of a glorious sunny but cool winter's day and pinned it up on the patio table outside.  It's hard to believe that the weather would be nice enough for me to enjoy sitting outside at this time of the year.

Pinning the layers together

How to machine quilt this panel I wondered?  I had though of outlining all the animals, trees and flowers but......  In the end I stitched gentle curves across the quilt, then straight lines around the borders.

Easy quilting lines

A scrappy green binding was next, using some left over strips from my secret sewing project, stitching the binding on the front by machine, and hand stitching it down on the back.  I do so enjoy this final part.  I spent another sunny afternoon stitching away on this outside on the patio.

Binding time

This little baby quilt didn't take me too long at all to complete.  And it was practically free.  The panel was donated, and I got a part roll of the apricot backing fabric at no cost when a local company was closing down.  This is the last piece, I had used some previously, and given most of it to my daughter.  There was "frankenbatting" in the middle, when I had several strips that I stitched together.  Quite a  bargain really.

Baby animals jungle quilt

The weather has reverted back to winter, and it's cold, wet and miserable today.  The heat pump is keeping us warm, and Gemma is relaxing on top of the donation quilts, folded on the coffee table.

These look soft and cuddly, Gemma is thinking

The donation quilts were ready and waiting to be shown to the Sew Wot ladies yesterday, but unfortunately I got sick and couldn't host the get together.  Many thanks to Mary for taking over at short notice.  Goodness knows what laid me low, but I feel much better today, thank goodness.

Chookshed Challenge completed

I'm so pleased that I have my Chookshed challenge for June completed - especially as  May was a non event for me.  I started with this, all the little blocks embroidered and ready to go.  I really enjoyed stitching these little beauties.

Starting point

This kit also provided a pattern to make a wall hanging, so that is what I decided on.  So I added some red/green/gold sashing and started assembling the blocks.  This was a little tricky as the middle row was a bit too long compared to the outer rows.  So it was unpicked and just a smidgeon cut off the middle row blocks.  Whew, luckily they now fitted together nicely.

Next was the outer border, and I decided to keep it simple with a green and gold patterned fabric.  I contemplated hand quilting but no, although this was small, it would still take me a while to complete.  And I wanted it finished in June.  So, a little while quilting on the sewing machine, adding the binding, and I was almost there.  Then it was just a matter of hand stitching the binding down, adding a hanging sleeve and a label, and this little project was finally complete.  This is the first time I had worked with felt applique.

By assembling the blocks together as a wall hanging, there were two blocks left over.  So I used one as a label on the back.

This kit was a gift from my pen friend Carol from Dakota several years ago, thanks so much Carol.  The little blocks were stitched a while ago, and I'm pleased this project is finally completed.  It will now be ready to come out and be displayed at Christmas.

Chookshed Challenge for June

 Goodness knows what happened to May as I didn't even get my Chookshed Challenge out at all to work on.  I'm hoping I will do much better this month.  Had a look through the bin to find number 5, which is a set of small Christmas ornaments.  This kit was a gift from my pen-friend Carol several years ago, and inside was a panel of pre-printed Christmas designs.  Some of them required applique pieces and Carol had kindly added felt as necessary for me.

Gift from Carol

I had stitched these lovely little designs a couple of years ago, and they have been patiently waiting for me to take them to the next step.   I've decided against making the stitcheries into tiny pillows, but instead will use the alternate design instructions to make a wall hanging, or maybe a table mat.  So that is what I hope to achieve this month, wish me luck! 

Chookshed Challenge for April

The  number for the Chookshed Challenge in April was number 4.  Which was........a baby quilt featuring houses. This was a bonus quilt top stitched during the 2024 Chookshed Challenge.  I made a bigger house quilt and had some left over blocks, just enough to whip up a cot quilt.  The houses were my own design, made from 2.5in strips several years ago, and I also made a few tree blocks as well.

I'm pleased I had prepared the backing and the binding last year when I completed the top, that's always a bonus.  So I found some wadding, and took it outside onto the patio table during a lovely Autumn day, and got pinning.

Pins galore

Then came the quilting, serpentine stitch around the sashings and in the borders, and I did straight stitching around each house.

Machine quilting

Another sunny day outside, and I was happily stitching the binding down, I really enjoy doing this part. It's a very soothing and fulfilling pastime indeed 

And here it is, eight little houses and a couple of trees.  Another one to be donated, and I've finally used the last of the little house blocks up.

Baby quilt for donation

Chookshed Challenges

 I'm a bit late posting about my Chookshed Challenge and missed the cut off for number 10 date for February.   This was to stitch up some pencil pouches for donation.  For this project I decided to recycle two Christmas placemats which we used in the caravan, no need for them now.  The placemats were lined so I cut two pouches from each, added red binding, and then they were done.  But...... I had a problem with stitching buttonholes.  Try as I might, I just couldn't get my head around how to achieve this, although it's not as if I've never stitched a buttonhole before.  Heather took them home and added some domes for me, thanks Heather.

Four Christmas pencil pouches

While they were away, I completed a few more.  One for a boy, using New Zealand silver fern fabric, and two selvedge ones, recycling selvedge place mats.  These three, complete with coloured pencils,  have been donated to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, and I'll send the Christmas pouches along to this charity towards the end of the year.

Three more pencil pouches, already donated

With these finally completed, I could make a start on the challenge for March.  Which was number 2 on the list, a pink and grey cot quilt.  The quilt was made during the 2024 challenge, one of two cot quilt tops I made to use up some pink and grey piano strips, which were originally going to be for a quilt border, but never happened.   I  added it to the list this year to get it quilted.  The backing and the binding strip was already prepared and waiting, which was a bonus.  So I pinned the layers up and I was ready to quilt.

Everything is ready and waiting

This took me a while to get quilted, and at the end of the day, Gemma liked to come and cuddle up for a snooze.

Gemma takes over at the end of my quilting day

I'm pleased it was finished before the end of the month, and I love the way it turned out.  After stitching the top, there were still quite a few of the piano key strips left over, so I added a strip to the pink wincyette (flannel) backing.  

Another donation quilt completed

Chookshed Challenge, Wheels on the Bus

The Wheels on the Bus, my Chookshed Challenge for January, is done.  Number 6 was chosen for January, and it was tucked away in this plastic crate, numbered and ready to go.  My number 6 was a rescued duvet cover featuring transportation and I thought it would make a great donation quilt for a boy.

Challenges for the year, all numbered and waiting their turn

The cover needed a red border, I decided.  Once that was done it was all ready for pinning the layers together.  This was achieved one sunny afternoon sitting at the patio table outside in the fresh air.

Time for pinning

I decided to quilt this in a grid, using my favourite Serpentine stitch, using a variegated red, blue and white thread.  Gemma decided this was a great place to curl up and have a snooze when I had finished for the afternoon.

"I'm so comfy".

Our weather has been wonderful, just a little too hot some days, so I decided to sit outside and stitch  down the quilt binding.  It was much too hot on the patio so I took a chair to the back of the house and sat in the shade to do my stitching.  Gemma came too, and her way of beating the heat was to hunker down in the rhubarb patch.  

Binding time

Gemma in the rhubarb patch

I'm happy with how this quilt turned out.  I know I've mentioned before that I like to make sure I stitch boys donation quilts too, as I feel they sometimes miss out with all the pretty floral fabrics around.  The duvet was quite an inexpensive buy from a local Op Shop and I've already used the duvet back for the backing on an earlier donation quilt.  The last of the duvet back produced enough striped fabric to bind this quilt.

Ready for a young boy

Mid Month Chookshed Challenge

Here we are half way through the month - let's see how I'm doing on my Chookshed Challenge for January.  The number chosen was 6, Wheels on the Bus whole cloth quilt, a boy's donation quilt .  I'm making this from a rescued duvet cover I found in an Op Shop (thrift store).

Duvet Cover

The first thing I did was to stitch a red border around the edges, that was easily done.  Then find some backing and batting.  The backing I had planned to use was much too small, so I decided to use a single sized sheet I had tucked away in the linen cupboard.  It was a nice colourful yellow, so toned in with the front of the quilt.

Then it was pinned up.  I usually start this inside on the floor, then carefully carry the quilt outside to the patio table and finish up the job there.

Pinning up the quilt

I've made a start on the machine quilting, and of course Gemma likes helping too.  Her idea of helping is cuddling up  on top of the quilt when I'm finished for the day.  That's fine by me, it's always a nice soft spot for her to rest and relax.

 

Of course she is helping

The quilting is coming along quite well, so hopefully I will have it all finished and bound by the end of the month.

 

Looking Back, Looking Forward

 The year 2024 wasn't a bad year, plenty of stitching, quilting and knitting took place.  Social events, club meetings, lunches out, Sew Wot fortnightly get togethers, caravan rally weekends away, and a trip to the South Island to help my son Michael celebrate turning 60.  All this changed of course in late November when my beloved husband Robin passed away unexpectedly.  Such a shock, and I'm still reeling from it.

While clearing out the caravan to prepare it for sale I came across quite a few sets of place mats which I had made over the years.  The latest being these ones, showing a Kiwi enjoying the camping life.

As I had plenty of place mats sets which I use in our home, I decided to send the various caravan sets to the Christmas Rally with my friend Dot.  She then offered them to the lady members, to choose a set to keep.  Luckily there were enough to go around.  That took them off my hands, and they found new homes amongst the caravan club members.  The caravan has not been sold yet, but is currently on a yard, open to offers, to be sold "on behalf".

So what does looking forward look like, I wonder?  On the quilting scene I have my lovely friendly Sew Wot group, and the local quilt guild.  I will be taking part in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge again - only doing a couple of simple block sets this year.  That's because I have so many UFOs from previous RSC years that it driving me to distraction.  After all these weeks of not wanting to, I have finally sat at the sewing machine for a short time, so that must be good.

And I've put my hand up to join in  the Chook Shed Challenge for 2025.  It's always a bit of a worry to me that I can list ten projects so easily, and there are plenty more waiting in  the wings.  Guess I just have too many UFOs.  

Ten projects in the crate ready for the Chook Shed Challenge

And not forgetting the 60th birthday quilt I'm working on for my daughter Nicky.  Plus the quilt I'm planning to make for my great nephew using his grand dad's shirts, I've hardly made a start on this one yet.  

So that's my sewing life taken care of, but I do wonder what is in store for me in other areas.  The family have been extra attentive, and I met my daughter Nicky for lunch on Saturday. We both drove half way to meet in the middle, she drove down, and I drove up.   And several friends have  been very kind, making frequent phone calls to check up to see how I am.

I was very moved to received several letters of condolence, one from an elderly gentleman from the caravanning world who we had known for many, many, years.  His wife passed away four years ago, and he confided that he still sheds tears when thinking of her, and reminded me not to be afraid to let the emotions flow.  

I often glance over at Robin's empty recliner chair, where he used to sit watching sport on TV and also his favourite UTube chanels.  And I light a candle every evening in his honour, and pat his pillow at night before I go to sleep.  

Lighting a candle each evening

Thank you so much to my blogging friends who continue to send me such comforting comments, it really does mean such a lot.  I know so many of you have gone through the same thing, and it is only now that I can appreciate the pain of your loss, together with mine.

Chook Shed Challenge

 It's the first day of the New Year 2025 and the call is out to organise our projects for the Chook Shed Challenge.  It's always a bit of a worry to me that I can list ten projects so easily, and there are plenty more waiting in  the wings.  Guess I just have too many UFOs.

So my list is as follows.  I have to admit that the first five were on my list for 2024.

1.  Elephants on Parade.  This top was completed last year, and I would now like to get it machine quilted.

2.  Pink/Grey Cot Quilt.  I made this bonus top last year to use up the final strips from the elephant quilt.  Needs machine quilting.

3.  Houses.  Another top I assembled last year, to utilise the many house blocks I had stitched up years ago.  This needs machine quilting too.

4.  House Cot Quilt.  I had enough leftover house blocks to put together a bonus cot quilt top, same story, needs machine quilting.

5.  Christmas Stitchery.  This was on my list for last year but never got touched during it's month as we were traveling.  The stitcheries are done and need to be assembled.

6.  Wheels of the Bus Panel.  A transportation panel (from a rescued duvet) that I plan to make into a whole cloth quilt for a boy.

7.  Butterflies.  Inside my bag of butterfly blocks, stitched during a previous Rainbow Scrap Challenge a couple of years ago are blocks for several butterfly quilts.  I'll be happy to finish one of them off, or maybe two?

8.  Burgundy Log Cabin.  Quite an old project and I brought it up to Levin with me when we shifted house about 12 years ago.  It's been sitting patiently in the bag, I think the blocks are done and I'm up to piecing the border.  Any work to take it a bit further will be helpful.

9.  Jungle Panel.  Another panel to work on, this one was received from my former neighbour, which will make a cute cot quilt.

10.  Pencil Pouches.  I want to make several more of these to donate to Foster Hope and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.  

Ten projects in the bin

Number 6 has been chosen for January.  So it's the Wheels on the Bus panel.  Maybe I can get started tomorrow.

Panel to work on this month

Many thanks to the organisors behind this challenge, I'm looking forward to whittling these UFOs down.

Chookshed Challenge Check In

It's time for the final Chookshed Challenge Check In, to show  how we did the monthly challenges.  The idea was to list 10 items at the beginning of the year, UFOs or something new we wanted to start, and a number was drawn out each month.  Sadly, because of travel commitments, both September and October were a wipe out for me.  But I'm really pleased with what I had achieved during the other months.  So here is a quick run down of my progress.

August - Selvedge Bag.  All the pieces were sewn, it just needed assembly.

July - Unicorn Cushions.  These were quickly finished, and have been donated.

June - Train cot quilt.  This was a whole cloth quilt, needed layering, pinning and machine quilting.  I also completed a cushion to go with the quilt, using an embroidered train I had done some time ago.

May - Kiwi Place Mats.  The stitcheries had been completed, so it was just a matter of getting on and completing them.

April - House quilt top.  I had made lots of these blocks some years ago, my own design, using 2.5in strips.  I was pleased to finally assemble them into a top, if fact I had enough blocks for a single bed quilt size plus a baby quilt.

March - Horse Panel quilt.  I've got several panels tucked away, so it was great to get one finished.  

February - Elephants on Parade.  I wanted to use up a bag of pink and grey strips, which were originally cut for a piano key border - and didn't happen.  I loved the look of the elephants   There were enough strips left to make a second cot quilt too.

January - Navy Cardigan.  This was sitting in time out, just waiting for me to knit the collar.  It didn't really take too long to get this finished at all.

Overall, I'm very pleased with what I achieved this year,  UFOs finished, new projects started, I couldn't be happier.  And I'm so pleased that the Chookshed Challenge will be going ahead next year.  I'm sure I'll be able   to find ten more projects, including the two which didn't get looked at this year.