JULY OPAM's total is 10

I had a busy knitting month. 6 beanies, crochet blanket, reindeer needle case decoration and 2 knitted jumpers.

Cute pixie beanies

Cute premmies beanies

Mums flower crochet blanket

Reindeer needle case

Cute little reindeer decoration

Fluffy purple jumper done

The last jumper for Pam

Stained Glass Friendship Blocks ...... Part 3

I am in a group and this year we have decided to make everyone a block in a certain theme. I have picked STAINED GLASS...
Here are my last 5 blocks.
I am not trimming them to size. They will be handled a bit before they are used so I thought I would leave them... There are 16 in the group. I know what I will be doing for my centre. I am not sure when I will get it started....

CLAYTONS XMAS OPENING DAY

The time has come for us to open our swap parcels to celebrate the CLAYTONS XMAS.

Look at the wonderful gifts.

1. A cute felt embroidered heart decoration for my tree.
2. A gorgeous Angel button from Theodora Cleave.
3. A lovely fat 1/4.
4. A yummy box of POPULAR chocolates just for me....

THANKS SO MUCH MARIA...

My parcel has come from MARIA
Have a look HERE to see what others sent and received

Update on my ankle...

It was a good day yesterday. I got my cast off, but wow, did it feel strange. Hardly any movement in the ankle and a bit of pain when trying to walk. Need to use the crutches for 4-6 weeks until I get full strength, support and movement back. I have to get into the stretches, excercising and walking but first need to visit the physio.
Not a good photo so just a quick post....
In the mean time I will be sitting and doing more craft. Not quite ready to start the packing but I still have 4 weeks. Can't wait to get back to driving though..... It's been 6 weeks now.......

Tonight is a quiet night doing a bit of stitching.. Another Splendid Sampler....

Slow Stitching Sunday & FNSI results

I am prepared as I sit here with my daughter.

All set for the night.

I started on Friday night for FNSI stitching the splendid sampler blocks my friend Sue had prepared for me.... I continued on Sunday and worked on them all day. I got them finished. Very happy with them.

Splendid Sampler... No 43

Splendid Sampler..  No 44

I'm linking up with Kathy today with my slow SPLENDID SAMPLER stitching...
https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/slow-sunday-stitching_24.html

FNSI, SS and a knitted finish

I have finished sewing up the last jumper for my SIL. It was a challenge. I ran out of the brown and had trouble finding something to match. There were lots of moth holes that needed mending. But it is done now and I hope that it will be ok. Even if it's only worn around the home...

The jumper is finished

My lovely friend Sue knew that I had finished the knitting pile and couldn't get out to my workroom so she drew up some Splendid Sampler blocks for me to work on. How sweet is she.

She came for a quick visit to drop them off.

Guess what I'll be working on for FNSI....

Thanks Sue they are lovely....

Splendid Sampler... No 44

Splendid Sampler.... No 43

Link ups with Wendy are happening or tonight's 

http://www.sugarlane-designs.com/2016/07/july-signups-for-fnsi.html

Another jumper nearly done....

I have come across this site where you can link up your knitting projects. As I have been doing a bit of knitting lately I'm going to link up...

http://www.gsheller.com/2016/07/yarn-along-289.html

This jumper was a little harder to finish... This is the last of my SIL's jumpers that she had started. I'm not sure how long they have sitting around but the box was marked 2009. How long before that was it knitted though... Never mind. It's getting done now....

This is what I started with. A finished front, back and 1 sleeve. 

My next project to finish.

I have started to knit a sleeve from the first one made. Knitting and unravelling as I go. I haven't got enough wool to do the same zigzag pattern so I have decided to knit stripes.

Not enough to do the zig zag pattern. Stripes will have to do

Not much yarn. The cream isn't actually the same. It is one I found at home that would do. It is nearly the same colour so I have to make it work...

Knitting both sleeves at the same time.
Knit til there is none left...

I think I have done ok with what I had... Now to sew it up...

Only small bits leftover to use for sewing up.

I have noticed a few moth holes that need repairing. The pins are marking the spots....

I have about 1 metre of brown yarn left. Might be just enough.

Finding holes.... Repair time

The largest hole that needs repairing.

Knitting time

I have been busy knitting. Finishing off another jumper for my SIL.
Here is what I started with. The back and front were knitted. So was one sleeve. The second sleeve was started but not enough yarn to finish it..

What I started with

Here it is all done. So nice and warm.

All finished

A SAD WEEK....

GOOD BYE TO SOME LOVELY FRIENDS.
A very close quilting friend lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday. It was a shock to us all as she has only known about the cancer less that 2 months. I'll be stitching for you.
Another crafty friend lost her husband on Thursday... I just don't know what to say to anyone this week. It is very hard.
I have another friend who I go away with on quilt retreats. Unfortunately she lost her son in law unexpectedly last week.
I am thinking of all of you and your families through these hard days. I know what you are feeling and I'm going through it with you....

I think I have had my fair share of bad luck and just want to move on to some happier things...

Not much has really happened as my mood hasn't done well with concentrating...
What have I been working on this week.
I have finally decided to do some STITCHERIES.
I can't show you all of them because they are a secret... It will be a long wait to see them..
I am also doing some knitting...

A Quilt Book from Japan.

A friend of mine recently had a holiday in Japan.
She bought this book back for me to look at. There are some amazing quilts in there. They were the students work....

BEAUTIFUL Japanese quilts...

APPLE CORE QUILT

APPLE CORES up close

I have posted my swap parcel too. This is on its way to Sue.....

My CLAYTONS Xmas Swap parcel for Sue...

I am also linking up with Val and her PIGGY BANK CHALLENGE...
Go and have a look, sign up and start saving...
http://myplvl.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/sing-up-linky-4th-annual-piggy-bank.html

And don't forget to join in next Friday for FNSI
http://www.sugarlane-designs.com

Mums Flower Crochet Blanket is finished

I have been doing a lot of crochet lately. Trying some new patterns and finishing off others.
I got stuck into getting mums blanket finished.
YIPPEE..... HERE IT IS...
Don't the bouquets of flowers look great...

My knitting needles are clicking and clacking

Now that I have finished mums blanket I am using up the yarn on beanies for kids and premmies...
This is a basic premmies pattern from .....
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/candystripe-knitted-baby-hats.html

Knitting for PREM babies

This is a cute little frilly hat....
I used 8 ply and 4mm needles.
The instructions are a bit rough but I just guessed some of it. It isn't a full pattern but it isn't that hard... They are really cute.
If you read through the comments there is a smaller size given..
Large size 6-12 months
Small size 0-6 months...
http://luisafelice.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/knit-easy-baby-hat.html

Cute little hats

Some of the yarn has also gone to others that do charity... Spread the love...

VALS MONEY BOX CHALLENGE & LINK UP

Last year I came across VALS money box savings challenge. All you needed to do was put your spare change in the money box. Don't open it until this July. Count it up and decide what you wanted to spend it on....
HERE IS THE START OF VALS SAVINGS.....
http://myplvl.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/linky-3rd-annual-piggy-bank-savings.html

Here I am now....

Show me the money

I HAVE A GRAND TOTAL, even though small, $46.25.
Considering I haven't put anything in since Christmas it's not a bad result...

Counting the money

Let's see what I can do next time......
See what others have saved...
http://myplvl.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/linky-3nd-annual-piggy-bank-savings.html

CLAYTONS CHRISTMAS SWAP PARCEL HAS ARRIVED

MY POSTIE DROPPED OF MY SWAP PARCEL. Now all I have to do is wait for the opening day.... 26th July

Maria's parcel has arrived

My parcel came from Maria.... THANKS MARIA
http://maria-lifeontheblock.blogspot.com.au
Here it is sitting and waiting for me to open....

A CLAYTONS XMAS SWAP

Thanks to the girls from NO FUSS SWAPS for organising this swap...
http://nofussswappers.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/a-claytons-christmas.html

Now I just have to send my parcel to Sue.
http://kiwikidspage.blogspot.com.au

A lucky win

I follow Bonnie Hunters blog and one day she had links to lots of sites for a blog hop.. So I started clicking and reading. There was a competition going on to win the latest QUILTMAKERS 100 Blocks magazine. I entered a few times on different sites. There were a lot of entries too.
I was a lucky winner here.
http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/posies-all-around-quiltmaker-100-blocks.html
This is the magazine... I'm sure I'll do lots out of it. They are 12" blocks finished. Some great designers too... There are also a few quilt layout suggestions...

I am happy. THANKYOU  CYNTHIA

AAAANNNNNDDDDD......
I have had some lovely friends visit and help me out while I have been recovering...

• Kris... Thanks for the cinnamon bun. We ate it for supper and then toasted it for breakfast. So yummy....
• Nikki... Thanks for washing my hair and making me feel decent again and the other running around you are doing for me...
• Sue... Thanks for the beautiful, home made corn and asparagus soup and those amazing vanilla slices from Romsey Bakery. They were the best job...
• Christine & Michael... Thanks for your lovely visit that you squeezed in amongst all your goings on and before your trip. The scones were delicious..
• Sue...  Thanks for the lunch and afternoon tea supplies and most of all, your company. It's always a pleasure having you stay.. 
• Kristy.... Thanks Of course to my lovely daughter for the every day help with the horrible cleaning jobs, supermarket runs, bill paying and anything else I need. Getting dinner prepared and cooking the roast...  Really do appreciate it.
• Tony.... And I can't forget my wonderful husband. Running around with his doctors visits, my hospital/Drs visits, cooking & cleaning, shopping, picking up after me. Lastly, putting up with me at the same time as his recovery. He is doing a great job...
• Love you all......

FNWF

I have just finished my gift for the CLAYTONS CHRISTMAS SWAP.
Sorry no pictures yet. I hope to hop out into my workroom next week so I can complete the parcel and get it in the mail... Don't want it to be late...

Lots of red and green 

FNWF saw me doing a little bit of stitching. I am working on some secret stitching. So, of course I can't show you the full photos....
But a little bit of progress is allowed.

I see spots....

Lots of Colonial knots

CAN YOU SEE THE THEME THAT IS HAPPENING

Then I went on to some more crochet to use up the left overs from the flower crochet blanket.
They are circles now but will turn into octagons and joined with some squares. It looks very effective in 2 colours so I hope that the scraps will look just as good...

2 spirals of 42