Project Uninterrupted February

It was our February Project Uninterrupted session in the shop being the first Saturday of the month. I was glad it wasn't a scorched like last month. Everyone was doing hand work this month. I can tell you there was 3  Pemberley quilts, 1 Octagon Club, 1 Farmer's Wife Sampler, 1 embroidery project and my English paper pieced star project on the go. A nice mix of projects and progress was made with a lot of catching up. It makes for a very relaxing day. Even though a couple of customers that popped wasn't sure how much progress was being made for all the chatting but that is the beauty of handwork. It is easy to hold a conversation.

Our next Project Uninterrupted session is on the 19th February and there is a few spots still available for our Sunday session if you would like to join us. Give the shop a call to book your spot. My project didn't see much action as the shop was busy but I did manage to sew a few diamonds together in the afternoon. These days are great fun.

 

Of course if you can't make it to the shop to join in, you can join the Cynthia's Ark Project Uninterrupted Facebook group and share what you are working on and sew along with us in the shop from wherever in the world you are. As long as you sewing you are welcome.

Until Next TIme

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Pemberley Block of the Month Update #4

I have been working on the four corner blocks from the centre panel which is  Month #2 mail out.  I have wandered off the path for these block and changed the fabrics for the hexagon flowers as three fabric are not yet in our kit and I can't wait. Plus I would like a more balanced look to my quilt, so I have done 2 of each flowers.

That way I have 2 matching pairs of blocks that will sit diagonally opposite each other in the quilt.
Progress has been really slow as there hasn't been a lot of stitching time available.
At least there is a little progress but I have misplaced 4 of my hexagon flowers in my slowness. If I had been a little quicker they may already been sewn on. I know I moved them but where did I put them! In that safe place.

After some time the hexagon flowers have not appeared so I have made them again so I can finish the blocks and move on to the next step. Here is the first one completes. Now to finish the other 3.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

350 Block Project- July's Report

This month's total is 30 blocks.

Oh boy!!! Not a good sewing month.

I have finished my first block of my Pemberley Quilt.

Plus my three Christmas Sampler blocks for July.

One more section on my Forget Me Not Sew Along. 

Lastly 2 Octagon blocks- only 1 picture due to me not being totally happy with the first one and  I am seriously considering redoing it. If I thought I could count it as 2 for the month I might of redone it already.

So this month's grand total is 7. Not very good and I don't know if August will be any better, looking at what is on the calendar. We will see what happens.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Pemberley Block of the Month #3

There hasn't been much sewing happening here lately. My  350 blocks project report is a big fat zero at the moment. The only sewing done is tiny little bit on my Pemberley block one but the little bits are starting to add up.

A leaf a night than the flowers so by Saturday afternoon I had the centre block finished.

So I can  now start on month #2 which have 4 applique blocks to complete so this will be interesting. I don't think I will catch up before Month 3 is released but we will see what happens.
There is some other projects that need my attention.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

Pemberley Block of the Month # 2

Now I am still working through the first month's block. I wish I had more time but there has been so much other stuff that I needed to do. I have finally got all my stems stitched on the central oval. Then I added the hexagon flowers on next, because there are finished ready to be added.

The next step is to get the applique shapes cut out of the freezer paper then cut the fabric out.

I managed to stitch the urn down leaving the top edge open for a couple of leaves that I need to insert. I moved on to the outer leaves. Needle turn applique is outside my comfort zone so this project is a chance for me to improve my skills.  I will update everyone again soon, hopefully with a little more progress.

Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Pemberley Block of the Month #1

As promised I will be sharing my progress on this Block of the month. The plan was to start before everyone else had their first month. I wanted a head start but it didn't happen. So I have only just started with the 1st month and month #2 is about to go out.

The hexagon flowers are small but making the bias strips are even harder. The second hexagon flower is now completed.

In the end I cut the  bias strips another 1/8" wider then the pattern and used lots of  Flatter (Starch) to allow me to work with them easier. They were still fiddly but I got them done. Then I prepared my background fabric and I finally got to start the sewing part with the first lot of stems.

The last of my strips done not perfect but done.

Where I am up to. Finally got to the Stitching part.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia 

Under the Pressure Foot #21

It has been a while since I have done a Under the Pressure Foot post. Why I don't know. Maybe I haven't felt like I have been under too much pressure to finish things off until this last week. With deadlines loaming it is time to bring a few things to a close before starting some new projects including a couple of large quilts that will test my skills in needle turn applique and machine applique. Two techniques I have used a little but not too successful at. Somehow this year is turning into a year of improving my applique skills. I have done a few projects and have improved my skills by adapted new ways of doing hand applique. I don't think what I am doing is new but being left handed in a right handed world sometimes things don't work out as easily as they should, I feel. So hopefully I have found my way with hand applique and I may learn to enjoy do it.

Are you curious about the two projects I about to start? The first one is Pemberleyhas. I have been plastering all over my Facebook page for the last couple of month as I will be running it as a Block of the Month starting June.

There is still time to join us if you are tempted. All the details are on my website. Plus you may have seen I have the Pemberley quilt on loan hanging in the shop. So Saturday being the first Saturday of the month the shop is open as it is Project Uninterrupted day. Perfect to come and have a close look at it.  No touching allow but you can have a close up look. It is so much better in person. My pictures don't do it justice.

The second one is Michele Hill's William De Morgan Sampler.  I have admired her work for quite a while and getting the chance to hear her speak about William Morris(A big fan of his work too) last year at our annual retreat inspired me to have a go. I have had the pattern nearly a year and a couple of my friends have already started their. So I am a little behind but at least the decision has been made to do it and I can look at pulling fabrics for it.

So I think I am up for a challenging time making these two beauties. When I get them finished I am sure they will became treasured pieces in my collection. I will be sharing my progress especially on the Pemberley quilt as there is a group of us stitching at the same time.

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

English Paper Piecing and Needle Turn Applique Extravaganza

Over the coming months we are going to work on our English Paper piecing and needle turn applique skills. Come into store and see one of the English paper piecing  or needle turn applique demonstrations to get yourself ready or started on the Pemberley Block of the Month or All Over the Octagon Fussy Cutting Fabric Club. Stock up your English Paper piecing supplies, enjoy a cuppa and biscuit, we may include a few rounds of calendar bingo if there is suitable numbers in store at the same time. Who know what other surprises may happen? I have a couple more ideas that may just happen.

Pemberley Block of the Month is a 12 month program involving needle turn applique and English paper piecing. It is $42 per month plus postage and includes a free Cynthia's Ark Fussy Cutting Pack to get you started with your first month.

All Over the Octagon Fussy Cutting Fabric Club is a 12 month fabric club featuring English Paper Piecing octagons in many different ways. It includes papers, templates and 6 x Fat 8's of modern bright fabrics each month. We are going to brighten up the world with our octagons.  It is $36 per month plus postage only on the first month which includes your  FREE Cynthia's Ark starter pack of needles, glue pen and thread. Then it is a flat $36 per month.

So if you are interested pop over to Cynthia's Ark and join up online or pop into the shop on Saturday 14th May to sign up. Only a few spots left in both clubs. Don't wait or you may miss out.

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Some Quiet Time

Really! Quiet Time here! I don't think that is quite the correct term to use. Maybe quiet in the sense the sewing machine isn't being used so there is no noise, but there has been plenty of action here. Some I can share and some will have to wait but you won't have to wait too long.

I have been spending plenty of time organise fabrics for our new Block of the Month Pemberley. Here is the post if you have missed it. There is two version on offer the red one which is the one pictured and my version which will have blue borders instead of red ones and inner blue border will become red. Don't forget if you book your spot today you will receive our English Paper Piecing Starter which includes a Sue Daley glue pen, needles, thread and a Cynthia's Ark notepad free with your first month so you can start straight away. Visit Cynthia's Ark to book your spot. Plus we can ship overseas if you are interested and don't live in Australia, The postage may be a little more that is all.

I have been work on special project which I can't share yet but look out for the Art with Fabric Blog Hop starting on the 9th May for what I am up to on this one. I will be sewing on this one over the weekend finally after a false start that require me to re think what I was doing and start from scratch. I am much happier for it.

In among everything I did let myself do the next step on my Tea Party Quilt.  You may have recently seen my Tea Party Table Topper which is for a workshop planned in June.

This quilt is where the inspiration came from. I trimmed up all my blocks ready for the sashing strips to be added. I hope over the weekend I may complete this top, so it will be ready for quilting. Now I have my Pfaff back I am ready to do some quilting and catch up on my quilting pile.

There is lots more in the pipeline included another special weekend store event coming in May, new patterns and special offers. I'm sure there will be plenty of sewing to do especially on my neglected Project Uninterrupted Projects which have been put to one side for the month. You can join us in the Cynthia's Ark Project  Uninterrupted Facebook group and share what you are working on sewing wise.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

We will be running the Pemberley quilt as a Block of the Month.

It has be set we are going to run Pemberley as a Block of the Month starting in June. This will give me a chance to get everything ready and start mine. Yes I will be stitching along side you on this one. So you will be seeing blog, Facebook and Instagram posts on my progress. Also if I have enough join me on this sew along we may have some progress giveaways along the way.
This Block of the Month is $42 per month plus postage for 12 months.  You will receive fabric, pattern, papers and templates each month. Plus with your first month you will receive a pack of Sue Daley needles and thread to get you started for free.
This Block of the Month has needleturn applique, English Paper Piecing and some machine piecing.

Now I do have one twist for you. If you know me I have a preference to head toward blue colour ways, so when I placed my order for Era of Jane  I ordered the blue border fabric not the red. I like the blue a shade more. I will be using the blue border fabric instead of the red so my blue wavy border will become red and the 2 red borders will become blue in my quilt. A straight swap over. This means  you will have a choice of two  versions of the Pemberley Block of the Month. The original will be with the red borders like the picture  and Cynthia's(mine) version will be with the blue borders. Everything else will be the same.

To join up pop over to my website and buy the Block of the Month in your prefered colour way or in store. Note you will not be charged until June when I send out the first pack.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia