Catch up day

Phew….this week has gone by like a firestorm, hasn’t it?  I can’t believe it’s Thursday already……but, I must admit, I have had to work all three days this week so far, so really, this is my first day of catch up at home…and there’s so much to do!  (How on EARTH did I fit in full-time work before, I wonder?)

So here’s a quick rundown of what’s been happening here….

I sent off a parcel to Claire for her birthday this week……it was part of our Birthday Club swap and she was the lucky girl who I had to make a gift for and really ‘glam’ up her birthday, rather than just the normal fat quarter we sent each other…..

Quite inconspicuous, and it really doesn’t give a clue as to the surprise inside…….fully charged with Claire’s favourite colours…..red and aqua…

I really hope she likes it…..I just love a birthday, don’t you?

Then I was the lucky one….I won a prize in the Patchwork & Quilting Celebrations…totally unexpected but very very happy…..it arrived on Tuesday and how surprised was I?

This HUGE box filled to the brim….

I’ve got great plans!

I received a couple of blocks in the Scrappy Bee Block challenge….

…and I’ve even managed to make one myself…

These blocks are soooo easy and quick to do and take very little fabric….good for using up the scrap pile, as each take only a strip, 16in x 2 1/2in fabric in 6 different colours.  NOICE!!!!The ‘recipe’ to make this block is HERE….a nice quick scrap buster! 

I have managed to keep up with these beauties…

Now, today will be spent sewing them up into a wall hanging….can’t wait to get behind ‘the boss’ again today!  It’s been too long!

xox Sugary Hugs :o)

 

FNSI winners

I hope you enjoyed your Friday Night Sew In with everyone….all 55 of us….it certainly was a squeeze at my place, but there’s always room for more, that’s for sure!  If you haven’t had a chance to go and visit our Friday-nighters, you can still pop over here to check out their blogs and what they got up to….there was some gorgeous creations being made….along with lots of yummy nibblies and a glass or three of champers *insert cheeky wink here*

Remember last week I said there would be two winners this month to win approximately a metre of fun Christmas-themed fabric each?

Here they are….with the help of Mr RNG, we have our two winners this month……

DRUMROLL>>>>>>>

Claudette

and

Susan

Congratulations  girls, and thanks everyone for joining in this month….looking forward to what we have in store for October…don’t forget to add the date to your calendars.

xox  Sugary hugs  :o)

 

 

 

Disaster at FNSI….

I was happily stitching along, finishing off my 10th out of the twelve ‘Tis the Season stitchery blocks and thinking I would at least get this block done tonight….

but lo and behold, the inevitable happened!….Yep, I ran out of my trusty DMC 221.  So I do what I always do….go and look at my thread stash….

….and I’ll confess, this is only ‘part’ of my stash.  This is just my DMCs and my Anchor threads….all others are safely stored in the sewing room whilst these ones sit snugly by me in their little boxed house in the lounge where it’s ‘easy access’ all the way!     But despite having each container chokingly full (you can see the two new ones hubby bought me from the fishing tackle shop yesterday….and I didn’t even need to ask!), I never had a spare…I couldn’t believe it.  Not even an equivalent in Anchor!  Shame on me! 

So it was an enforced early finish of FNSI for me, going to bed at 10pm (which is early for me on my ‘Stitchy Friday’).  It really was well needed  and welcomed after the bug hit me last week.   I’m nearly 100% better now, not quite, but not enough to stop me going to the shop this morning to replenish my stocks!

A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! So guess what I’ll be doing this afternoon?

Why not pop by HERE and click on each link to visit everyone who came to stitch last night.  Loads of inspiration, and if you didn’t get to join us last night, we’ve got another coming up on the 3rd Friday of next month……which will be the 17th October, you’re always more than welcome…..the more the merrier, and you might even win a prize!

xox  Sugary hugs :o)

                                                       

A reminder for FNSI tonight

I’ve been a bit ‘blah’ this week so haven’t been around to let you know so here’s just a quickie to remind you, if you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to sign up for FNSI tonight and join with us on our virtual sewing Friday get-together.

You can go HERE to link in and, after the weekend, Mr RNG and I will check through and see what you’ve been up to and award not one, but TWO FNSI prizes this month.

Two 1-metre lengths of Christmas fabrics….perfect timing, right??   So make sure you’re linked up so we can come and meet with you!

I’ve started a bit early and I’ll be continuing working on these cuties…..

 

What will you be up to??

Sugary hugs and see you soon!

FNSI sign ups

Been a bit on the quiet side this past week, being struck down by the latest flu/virus/infection....have not been feeling up to it so please excuse my absence....despite that...here is the sign ups for this weeks Friday Night Sew In

YES, it has snuck up on us again, hasn’t it? 

I have some sweet Christmas fabrics (a metre each) for prizes this month for TWO lucky FNSI-er so make sure you’ve got your nibblies sorted and your stitching planned AND you sign up below….(don’t forget to blog about it on the weekend)  

If you’re new to Friday Night Sew In, read all about it in the tab labelled FNSI at the top of my blog….then sign up, join in on Friday Night and knock yourself out…..we do, and it’s always a blast!

Looking forward to stitchin with ya!


xox Sugary hugs :o) 

Let’s Start Christmas block 3 and a dose of healthy inspiration

Another Thursday already?  and it snuck up on me…..did it sneak up on you too?

I don’t know where these days are going, although I did spend a wonderful day (and evening) yesterday with Jen, talking all things stitchy and healthy and fun!

You see, Jen’s been on a detox and healthy raw food diet to help eliminate some nasties that have taken up home in her body, so we spent the day watching doco’s, eating healthy and sharing tips and recipes whilst we stitched away….can’t wait to try some of them….I’ve never felt so good…..honestly!

I didn’t get home until nearly midnight *gasp*, as my secondary reason for my late night jaunt was to pick up my boy from the airport……let me just say, a 10pm flight arrival time followed by a one hour drive home does not do well for the nerves with all the wallabies on the side of the road……although it did give me time to spend with Jen, so……..there ARE advantages!

And today, being Thursday, is the release of my next Let’s Start Christmas Stitch-a-long block……we’re up to block 3 already….can you believe it?

and here it is – Block 3:  Peace.  Don’t we just need some Peace and Love in the world, especially now?   The block is only $2 and is available in my Craftsy store HERE.  There is a stitch-a-long Facebook group you can join in with too and for those that purchase each block, there will be a free table runner pattern using all 6 blocks, PLUS a couple of extra free stitchery panels!   And it can easily be stitched up in time for Christmas!  Double win!

I’m off to get my dose of healthy wellness at FMTV. I’m totally inspired!

Sugary hugs (healthy ones!) xox  :o)

FNWF and Fathers’ Day wishes

I wasn’t sure if I’d make it to Friday Night at Chez’s as hubby had 7 of his teeth out in hospital and I wasn’t sure what time we’d be home.  As it was, he was brought out to me at 7pm and we were able to make it home by 8…..he was such a trouper…..being a 55-year old male and never having had a surgical procedure in his life, we weren’t sure how he would handle it….all I can say is ……flying colours!

I did try and get some stitching done in the hospital whilst I waited….but the lighting was terrible and my eyes were beginning to hurt so I just put it away till I got home.  I did manage to catch up on a bit more of this though…..

Buuuuut…..it hit when we got home……

…poor gummy bear was exhausted……or drugged to the eyeballs!   But that gave me time for some more stitching….or so I thought.  Whilst hubs was in theatre, I had a quick trip to Spotlight and found some Anchor threads marked down to 25c a skein…..could not pass it up so I figured now was as good a time as any to sort them out…..

and then I managed to squeeze in a little cross stitch….a brand new project (I know….I just can’t help myself!)

I certainly had a ‘different’ sort of FNWF, but one that I was very happy with as everything turned out perfectly!  Thanks for being a terrific host yet again Chez.  Why not pop on over to see what the other girls got up to on their Friday night.

Now, nearly two days later and hubby’s raring to go……he’s much, much better, and who would’ve guessed he’d be feeling so good after such a short time.  Thank you for the many good wishes and prayers….they certainly did the trick! 

Today we happily shared Shepherd’s Pie and ice cream (not together!) with his family for Fathers’ Day….something ‘safe’ to eat.  And he’s enjoying my his Fathers’ Day gift too…..

Weeeell, I do my coffee! *wink*

A very happy Father’s Day to all our significant others…..we certainly couldn’t do without them, could we?

(via Google Images)

Sugary hugs xox :o)

Release of Block 2: “Love” –Let’s Start Christmas SAL

It’s been a week since the start of our stitch-a-long and there’s been such wonderful feedback…..thank you all so much….you really are good for my ego!!  But believe me, my feet are still planted firmly on the ground!

I know you’ve been waiting, ever so patiently, so now to release……

BLOCK 2: Love

Pop on over to Craftsy to get your copy, and if you haven’t got the first block yet, you can grab it there too. 

And remember to pop on over to our Facebook page and see what others have been up to.  While we’re at it, don’t forget to add the ‘Let’s Start Christmas SAL’ button to your sidebar to share the Christmas Love.

 I really must figure out how to write code for these buttons, but for the meantime, you can just copy and paste to your ‘pictures’ folder and then upload to your sidebar on Blogger.

Remember tomorrow night is Friday Night With Friends over at Cheryll’s so pop on over and sign up for a virtual stitching frenzy! 

Not sure if I’ll make it as hubby’s surgery is at 2 tomorrow afternoon but I’ll be taking some stitching with me, just in case…..and I’ll be stitching later on in the evening when we finally get home, because I don’t think we’ll be home too early with the hospital over an hour away.

Looking forward to seeing your  Love blocks.

Sugary hugs xox :o)

now it’s my turn to ‘Blog Hop with a Difference’

You’ve probably noticed a few bloggers  participating in the Blog Hop With A Difference lately.

It's almost like a relay, passing the baton from one creative blogger to another three creative bloggers, and the plan is that it continues on and on.

The purpose of this blog hop is for each blogger to tell their readers a little about their life as a creative person and what makes them tick, so today it’s my turn.  You’ll find out a little more about me because I got tagged by my nearest and dearest, Jenny from Jenny of Elefantz

So….here’s me……I’m Wendy Bertello of Sugarlane Designs (who’da thunk!)

I’m going with the questions Jen asked of me …. here goes…..

What am I working on right now?

hmmmmmm….I have a number of irons in the fire……I’m not one to just be doing one thing and finishing it totally before I start another…..that’s my worst trait I think….or perhaps it’s just a quilter’s trait?  At the moment I’ve started the Let’s Start Christmas Stitch-a-long with 6 stitcheries that I’ve designed, stitched up and made into a table runner for Christmas.  So at the moment, I’m finishing the runner and writing the patterns hurriedly, for the release of the next stitchery block on Thursday over in my Craftsy shop.

I’m  drawing up some extra stitcheries to add to the table runner and I’ll be stitching them up this week too.  When I’m not working on my own designs, I’ve been working on the gorgeous Plates Stitchery BOM by Nikki Tervo of Brandy Gully Patchwork

 

How long does it take to create a project?

It really depends on what it is…..some are quite quick and some seem to take forever.  Mostly though, I can create something in a week or so, if I’m designing from beginning to end…..something like my Christmas Stitcheries only took a couple of days each but my “I’ll be Gnome for Christmas” Lap quilt took a couple of weeks.

It really depends as I have to fit it into my schedule of volunteer, Association President, mother, wife and crafter…….I’m sure you understand what I mean!?

What are my favourite things to create with at the moment?

I’ve had a real hankering for working with paper pieced hexies…you can see these in my Love Life bag….

…and on another upcoming design…..

I am also always strongly drawn to stitcheries…..I think a project feels a bit ‘naked’ without even a little bit, and I’m quite fond of applique too.  I’m a true Gemini…..always drawn to the next style, never wanting to settle for just one!

How does my creative process work?

Generally, I’ll come up with a design idea, and jot it down quickly in my drawing folio….I roughly sketch the idea out….and when I say roughly, I mean ROUGHLY!  (I really am not talented in the drawing aspect….I’m comfortable with a needle and thread but pencil and paper threaten me no end!)  I’ll then jot down any requirements I think of that I might need, work out sizes and grab them out of my stash (or organise to buy some more….that’s ALWAYS an option, right?), along with fabric choices and thread choices and bundle them all up in a plastic container so I can find them again.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have a bit of a cluttered brain (and work area) so keeping it altogether is definitely a good start!

I’ll draw out a couple of ‘takes’ in pencil lightly, using Google images as a reference point (like I said, I’m not an arty person….I’m crafty *wink* but not arty) then finalise it in a Sharpie or black Artline fine point marker.  When I’m creating it, I have a notepad by the cutting table/sewing machine so that I can jot down notes, such as measurements or steps in the process as I go along…..I did say I have a cluttered brain?  It’s far easier for me to refer back to notes than to try and remember what I did at step 47 out of 101 steps.

Lots of the processes are trial and error too….if I try something new, I will visualise it in my head, step by step, but as I’m more of a tactile learner, I tend to like making that section up in paper first, if I can (I don’t like wasting my fabric stash!).

How do I become inspired and stay inspired?

I know it sounds a bit cliche, but I get inspiration from everywhere!  I’m a words-type person…..I absolutely LOVE words and inspirational quotes, so often a stitchery design will come from that.  Being a ‘glass half full’ gal, I believe that you should never leave feelings for someone unspoken…and as not all people wear their hearts on their sleeves, a stitchery design can often convey how much someone means to you.

Sometimes it’s something I’ve seen in the garden, or a colour palette that twigs an idea in my head.  Even just thoughts of a season or event bring ideas flooding to mind.  Situations, such as the illness of my father in law earlier this year, inspire me ….and which gave birth to the ‘Love Life’ bag.

I stay inspired by being aware of being open to new designs……having that ‘sense’ of designing switched on at all times……(you really NEVER know when it’s going to strike)….I visit sites like Pinterest (but you knew that already) and that’s always a great inspirational minefield…..I get lost in there for hours…..my hubby’s even banned me and limited my Pin-time!  Also by visiting other designers and bloggers and looking on websites selling quilting fabrics, because often a fabric line will bring ideas spilling out of my head.

What is my signature style?

yep….that one I’m not sure of yet.  I think I’m still evolving.  Jen and I have discussed this one in depth and she thinks I may have an eclectic style….perhaps it IS the Gemini in me, I don’t know.  I guess mine is a positive, inspirational, words-based style that’s sometimes modern, sometimes not, sometimes shabby, sometimes not, sometimes girly, sometimes not, sometimes traditional, sometimes not.  Maybe you’ve spotted a ‘style’ that I’ve missed?  I’d love to hear your thoughts?!

So now it’s time to pass on the baton…….these three ladies are ones I admire greatly and I know their stories will inspire you too…..

Vicki of The Pickledish Patch

Allie of allie-oops sweet happy life

Marilyn of Mardi Meanderings

Pop on over to their blogs next Monday 8th September, to see what makes them tick!

Just a reminder……pinch and a punch for the first day of the month!….and the first of spring here in the southern hemisphere! 

Sugary hugs xox  :o)