Friday, March 31, 2017

350 Block Project March



This month total is.  ????????????????  I can't even remember what the total was for March. It doesn't matter. Unless it was really low I was not reaching it.

I started the month with 2 test blocks for an upcoming project.


I had a go at 2  new English paper pieced blocks​ and made 3 blocks.


Two test blocks​ for a scrappy row along. Sorry I can't share the picture at this stage.

Block 2 and 3 of the Solstice Challenge. I have a few more to make before I catch up.

I finally got to do a little work on my Pemberley quilt with 2 of my 4 corner blocks done.

1 Octagon block made.


My total for March was 12 blocks.
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia





Thursday, March 30, 2017

Under the Pressure Foot # 28

It seems like it has been a while since I lasted posted here. There is some new workshops coming that I have been working on. Sewing anything has been tough going with hardly any free time to sew. Even a weekend away with the Jubilee Quilters didn't help much but we did have a lot of fun shopping, eating, laughing and drinking. There was some sewing thrown in with a pin cushion workshop where some of us made a little bird and a few made sheep.

I did pick up my Sands Of Time Hourglass quilt up from being quilted. Though I haven't finished the binding on the last quilt I collected. At least the binding is sewn on  ready for the final stage. So there is some binding in my future with those two quilts. It would be good if my Sands of Time quilt was finish in time for the Laura Folk fair which is on this coming weekend. Fingers crossed I can do it, I would like to display it because it is a sample for a workshop in May.
The binding going on. I was a little short. I should follow my pattern, I did say you will need 7 strips for your binding. Then I only cut 6. What was I thinking!

I did manage to cut fabric for 2 new projects mainly because I thought I may run out out project over the retreat weekend. Where was my brains? Run out of sewing, I always take too much.
I am going to have a go at English Paper Piecing Apple Cores for a small project. That is Sue Daley Bittersweet fabrics I am using for this one. So it is ready to go.

Plus I am going to play with some stripe fabrics I have in the shop.

Let's hope I have some sewing time in the near future to tackle these projects.

Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia


Sunday, March 19, 2017

It has been a tough week.

After a tough week where we had to say goodbye to a family member that left us too soon. It was time for some sewing.

Digging into​ the batik scraps box for a couple test blocks.


Also l managed two blocks from Pat Sloan Solstice Challenge. Block 2 and 3. Yes I am way behind, struggling for any sewing time this year.


I hope I can make some sewing progress next weekend since I am off with the girls on retreat.
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Handmade- Lucky Sew Along Update

After 3/4 of the day at the computer doing some pattern writing and other stuff.  Not leaving me much sewing time but I did pick up my quilt that I made during the Handmade Lucky Sew Along last year during the week.

Valerie did a fantastic job quilting it for me.
Excuse little Saffy, she can't help herself.

Look at the gorgeous Tula Pink's wideback fabric I used on the back.
I used the Riley Blake Designs Charcoal solid for the binding which is the fabric I used in the top.

Now I just need to turn the binding over and​ sew it in place.
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Gypsy Wife Quilt is the New Block of the Month

Over the last couple of months I have asked for your opinions on Block of the Months while I was arrange the latest batch of Block of the Months. I can  now announce the first one as it is all set up and it will start in the first week of June 2017.

It is the Gypsy Wife by Jen Kingwell. 
We will be making our using Riley Blake Design Fabrics. It is a machine piecing Block of the Month. I can tell you there is an English Paper Piecing Block of the Month and an applique/ English Paper piecing combination in the pipeline too.



Starting in June you will receive a full pattern with fabric for the top and binding over 12 months. It will be AU$30 plus postage over the 12 months. Now if you sign up before the 30th April you will receive a free spool of Aurifil 50wt cotton to sew with. It is my favourite cotton to sew with. I use it for 90% of my sewing from hand/machine pieced to quilting.

Now I will be sewing the sample over the next couple of months so you will see some previews of the quilt coming together in the fabrics we will be sew with. Hopefully by May I will be able do a full reveal (at least the top should be completed by then).
You can sign up on my website using a credit card or Paypal for our Block of the Months.

I hope you will join us sewing up a brand new masterpiece over the next 12 months.
Until Next Time 
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Time to get Organised

It is time to sort myself out and do thing better, more efficient, streamline jobs and generally get my head down and doing the jobs on my To Do List in the right order. Stop putting off jobs because I don't want to do them, stop doing the easy job first and so on. Last weekend in one of Sue Daley's talks she said look at your list and do the jobs that are going to make you money first. With my new To Do List pad I am going to set myself up for success.

There is lots of new stuff happening here at Cynthia's Ark with new fabrics, block of the month's, products, patterns and new classes being added over the next few weeks.  More details soon.      
Plus the new website is up and running with a new look, so shopping from a mobile device should be easier now. There is bound to be a few teething problems, like I know some of my pictures are missing. Photo shoot session is on my list to help fix that when I do the new products.

Here is my To Do  List  for today. I hope I can make a dent in it.



Time to get to work. Don't forget tomorrow is Project Uninterrupted in the shop and in our Project Uninterrupted Facebook group. I hope to see some of you there.
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia


Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Cotton Carnivale 2017

It have now finished and we all have headed home back to the real world. It was a blast. Who knew we were going to have so much fun? That we didn't want to leave. Could we have a couple more days? Do we really have to go home?

Unfortunately some good things have to come to the end eventually. The good news is we will do it again next year.
Here are some of the photos taken over the weekend of the fun and hard work we participated in. They were long days. Just some much hard work. lol.




There were orders placed for fabrics, new patterns and products.

A new quilt borrowed from the quilt library which is now hanging in the shop by the counter with pattern packs also available.



Two new Block of the Month programs will be released very soon.

Joanne (Tranquility Craft n Supplies) and I had some fun at the auction,  teaming up and scoring ourselves 2 lots. Once the lots have been split they will be heading our way.


Until Next Time 
Keep Stitching 
Cynthia

Thursday, March 2, 2017

March's One Monthly Goal

March is going to be really busy in the first week and the last week of the month. So with limited time I needed something I could work on that was near completion. I was going to complete last month project but technically I finished in the last week of February. Here is my Star Cushion finished.
So this quilt below is going to be this month's goal. I dropped it off for quilting late January and should be ready for collection around the 8th  so my job is to get the binding made and sewn on.
Pop over and see what other projects have been set to be worked on here http://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2017/03/one-monthly-goal-march-goal-link-up.html
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

It's Cotton Carnivale 2017

Yes Cotton  Carnivale  is here. Let me say it was a challenge getting to Noosa this time. The plan was to fly to Sydney then to the Sunshine Coast followed by a short shuttle bus trip to the resort.
I can tell you it didn't go to plan. Due to delays in Sydney I ended up on a flight to Melbourne which didn't get off the ground due to fog. So after a hour and another coffee will finally got going.
By the time I got to the Sunshine Coast  I was only a couple hours late and  my room mate waiting for me.
We eventually got to our destination and after a hike to our room we were back over for a swim in the pool before dinner.
The view from our balcony. We are up a floor this year.

There will be plenty more to come about this weekend. It is a great event to attend and we will learn lots.

Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia