Best of 2016 Party

Over at Meadow Mist Design, Cheryl is hosting the Best of 2016 Linky party. So when I came across the post inviting all to join I start think what would be considered a Best of 2016 post. Would it be the most liked post over the year or my favourite post of the year or my most challenging post?

So I spend a couple weeks on thinking what would fill my top five posts for the year?

Here we go! My Top Five Post of 2016
In the end I couldn't decide on the fifth post so my top 5.

1. No 1 would have to be my stop on the The Road Home Row Along. It was my most visited post of the year. Plus working with a large group of talented people I learnt some much more about blogging and stuff I had never done before, like running a competition with my post.

2. Back in March I did a tutorial post on my Vintage Sewing Machine Quilt which was one of this year's favourite tutorial. The plan is to do more tutorials in 2017.

3. In May I participated in the Art with Fabric Blog Hop with my post on Cynthia's Garden. My interpretation on Irises by Vincent Van Gogh one of my favourite painting. This was a real challenge working in the form of applique.

4. In October I did another tutorial post on my Crazy Cat Quilt. It was about how you can cut up a panel that wider than in length. Plus there was a follow up post on what I did with the centre piece I don't use that become a matching table runner with the leftover fabric from the quilt. Why waste fabric if you can make something else?

5. Lastly this was the hardest one to pick but it is a current project I am working on. My Hourglass quilt it is one of the fun projects I have worked on. No deadlines helps I think. This is where I am up to on it. You can see the progress from the post to now.

Go and have a look at what others have achieved this year in their Best of 2016 post here.

.http://meadowmistdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/best-of-2016-linky-party.html

                                       Thanks Cheryl for hosting the Best of 2016 Party

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Under the Pressure Foot # 24

I had the pleasure of spending the weekend with a great bunch of ladies. Though there was a little work involved with me taking the shop, it also meant I had some serious sewing time.

The view out of the large windows where we were staying. That is the Port River. So we had plenty of wildlife around including dolphins, birds and people walking their dogs.
I always have great plan to finish more than I can but I would rather take more and then I have a few projects at hand for me to work on depending how I feel. There was only 1 must do project and it was to make up Diggles the Dragon (a Funky Friends Factory pattern which I stock) who has been on my To Do List for quite a while. Plus the need to do it this weekend was the fact I had a expert on hand to ask for advice if I get stuck and she was making another one so I can look at her finished one if needed.

It took me a quite a long time to complete it but I finished it, in fairness I did start from the very beginning with only the templates cut and fabric selected.

 The dragons made over the weekend plus a ring in. The dolphin is the group's mascot, she comes to all their retreats and is the sister to my shop dolphin.

The other project I worked on was my Victorian Fling quilt which I had made all the blocks and had cut the first border pieces. This is what I ended up with. A new quilt top ready for pinning and quilting.

The pattern for this one is the 30's Fling and you will find it on the Penny Rose Fabrics website, along with loads more free patterns to tempt you. When I popped over to grab the link for you I stopped and added a few more patterns to my collection. This one is going to hang in the shop as a sample of what you can make from one of their Stacker packs and a little extra fabric.

Plus don't forget The Road Home Row Along continues this week. Here is the schedule just in case you need it.

20-Sep Beaquilter http://www.beaquilter.com

20-Sep Heleen Pinkster Quilt Design http://heleenpinkster.nl/

20-Sep Moose Stash Quilting http://moosestashquilting.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/the-road-home-blog-hop.html

20-Sep Rebecca Mae Designs http://www.rebeccamaedesigns.com

22-Sep Words & Stitches http://bethstrand.wordpress.com

22-Sep Quilt Art http://quiltartdesigns.blogspot.com/

22-Sep I CAN QUILT 2 http://icanquilt2.blogspot.com/

22-Sep Any Pattern http://www.anypattern.com

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

The Road Home Row Along Continues

Have you seen the latest rows that have been released?  If not here are the link for you to visit.

13-Sep Tweety Loves Quilting http://tweloquilting.blogspot.com/

13-Sep Quiltscapes http://www.quiltscapesqs.com.

13-Sep Seams To Be Sew http://www.seamstobesew.com

13-Sep Pine Valley http://pinevalley.co.nz/blogs/pine-valley-quilts

Plus did you see my row from last week.  Here is the link to my post with the links to the other rows released.

Of course here is the link to the full schedule if you want to check out what is still to come.

Don't forget there is lots of great prizes still to be won. 

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

The Road Home Row Along - My Home of Adelaide

I have teamed up with a whole bunch of talented people to bring everyone The Road Home Row Along featuring rows of home towns, special places and places we love.
For my row it had to be Adelaide, South Australia. The city I grew up in on the south side and now live a 30 minute drive north of Adelaide.

The Festival Centre on the banks of the River Torrens with the city centre in the background.

This is my row. 

I have selected 4 things to represent Adelaide, South Australia. Starting from the left I have the Rotunda that you can find in Elder Park, not far from the Festival Centre pictured above. A bunch of grapes for the great wine regions around Adelaide, which are not too far from the city. The last block is the lighthouse for Port Adelaide  where most of the ship that visit dock. Lastly the sashing along the bottom of the row represents the River Torrens that runs through the heart of Adelaide, which you can see in the above picture.

Progress shot of the grape block.

 All the applique pieces in place ready for stitching. with your favourite applique stitch.

The lighthouse block which is foundation pieced(paper pieced)

Now I haven't finished mine yet. I can't decide if I want to add more rows to make a quilt or just quilt it and bind it as a wall hanging. We will see what happens.

Now here is the pattern to make my row.

Here is the template file that going with the above instructions.

Also there is two giveaways on offer. Plus more each day with each row that is released. You can enter them all as you collect the rows. We have an Anita Goodesign Machine Embroidery CD and a Calibre Cutting Mat on offer for you to win.

http://www.anitagoodesignonline.com/

                                                      http://calibreart.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Plus don't forget to visit everyone to collect their rows and enter their giveaways.
Here is the link to the full schedule but today we have joining me to open this Row Along

6-Sep Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life http://allie-oopssweethappylife.blogspot.com/

6-Sep Cynthia's Creating Ark http://www.cynthiasark.blogspot.com.au   That's me.

6-Sep Kissed Quilts http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com

6-Sep Renee's Quilting Addiction http://reneechester.wordpress.com/

I hope you enjoy The Road Home Row Along as much I did creating my row.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

The Road Home Row Along Schedule

The 6th of September is tomorrow so I thought I would share the schedule for this exciting Row Along I am part of. It is hosted by Seams to be Sew and Sew Incredibly Crazy.

Below is all the details for all the designers participating in this Row Along. Make sure you pop over and check out their work and you will be able to collect all the rows to make the ones that sing to you.

Date             Blog Name                                        URL

6-Sep Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life http://allie-oopssweethappylife.blogspot.com/

6-Sep Cynthia's Creating Ark http://www.cynthiasark.blogspot.com.au

6-Sep Kissed Quilts http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com

6-Sep Renee's Quilting Addiction http://reneechester.wordpress.com/

8-Sep Sew Incredibly Crazy http://sewincrediblycrazy.blogspot.com/

8-Sep Patchouli Moon Studio http://patchouli-moon-studio.blogspot.com

8-Sep Seacoast Quilter http://www.seacoastquilter.net

8-Sep 3 Patch Crafts http://3patchcrafts.blogspot.com/

13-Sep Tweety Loves Quilting http://tweloquilting.blogspot.com/

13-Sep Quiltscapes http://www.quiltscapesqs.com.

13-Sep Seams To Be Sew http://www.seamstobesew.com

13-Sep Pine Valley http://pinevalley.co.nz/blogs/pine-valley-quilts

15-Sep bdieges designs http://bdieges.com

15-Sep Elizabeth Coughlin Designs http://ecoughlindesigns.blogspot.com/

15-Sep Cloth and Paper Studio http://www.clothandpaperstudio.com

15-Sep Patti's Patchwork http://www.pattispatchwork.com

15-Sep Quilt in Piece http://chittenden.co.za/

20-Sep Beaquilter http://www.beaquilter.com

20-Sep Heleen Pinkster Quilt Design http://heleenpinkster.nl/

20-Sep Seams To Be Sew http://www.seamstobesew.com

20-Sep Rebecca Mae Designs http://www.rebeccamaedesigns.com

22-Sep Words & Stitches http://bethstrand.wordpress.com

22-Sep Quilt Art http://quiltartdesigns.blogspot.com/

22-Sep I CAN QUILT 2 http://icanquilt2.blogspot.com/

22-Sep Any Pattern http://www.anypattern.com

27-Sep Creatin' in the Sticks http://www.createinthesticks.blogspot.com

27-Sep Moosestash Quilting http://moosestashquilting.blogspot.com/

27-Sep Patchwork Breeze http://www.patchworkbreeze.blogspot.com

27-Sep Sue Griffiths Featured At Just Let Me Quilt http://justletmequilt.com

29-Sep Quilted Fabric Art http://www.quiltedfabricart.com

29-Sep Westend Quilter http://www.westendquilting.blogspot.ca

29-Sep Pamela Quilts http://pamelaquilts.blogspot.com/

29-Sep QuiltFabrication http://www.quiltfabrication.blogspot.com/

4-Oct Just Let Me Quilt http://justletmequilt.com

4-Oct Linda Robertus http://lindarobertus.blogspot.com/

4-Oct Elm Street Quilts http://www.elmstreetquilts.com/

4-Oct Sarah Quinn Featured At Seams To Be Sew http://www.seamstobesew.com

6-Oct Cheryl LaPlant Featured At Quilt In Piece http://chittenden.co.za/

6-Oct Miss Loreen's Schoolhouse http://loreen.typepad.com/

6-Oct Bumbleberry Stitches https://bumbleberrystitches.com/

6-Oct Needle in a Hayes Stack http://needleinahayesstack.blogspot.com/

Show N Tell Day

11-Oct

11-Oct All Things Sewn http://allthingzsewn.blogspot.com/

11-Oct Seams To Be Sew http://www.seamstobesew.com

One last sneak peek of my row. You won't have to wait long to see my row as I am on the first day.

Woo Hoo! See you tomorrow.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

350 Block Project 2016 - August Report

After July being a non event for sewing. I wanted to make sure August didn't go the same way.
This month's total is 30.

I know I have to finish my row  for The Road Home Row Along so there was my starting point. Three blocks done. Sorry I can't share a picture of the row finished but you can visit my blog on the 6th September and you will see it.

I started a Christmas project and so far I have 12 HST units.

One more star point was add to my Forget Me Not Quilt. Then there is only one more star point to go and I can finally move on to the next step.

Three more Christmas Sampler blocks.

 Lastly 4 hourglass blocks for a new project.  I know what am I doing starting another new project. I should finish some of the ones I have started. I promise I will soon.

So this month's total is 23. 

Better than last month but not as much as I would like, such a small total means I still didn't spend much time at the sewing machine as only the Forget Me Not Quilt list is the only hand piecing project worked on.

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

Has it been that quiet?

I looked at my last blog post and realised it was a week ago. What happened? Nothing to write about! Could that be true?
I am sure there would have been something to write about if only I had the time to write. The last week has whizzed by at a great rush of knots leaving me tired and lots of work to do. My time has been filled with the Australian Machine Quilting Festival from Thursday to Sunday which was great but lots of work and 2 hours of driving each day.

There was a lot of work to be done, people to meet and catch up with, new stuff to learn and see. I wish I could do some of the classes but with a booth in the Vendor mall it just wasn't possible. Though I was able to attend a Westalee Ruler foot workshop on Monday after the event, which was very beneficial to me. I stock their products and any extra tips I can learn is alway good, so I can help my customers down the track. I will share some of my work with the rulers as I use them with you all.
Along with all this happening a new shipment of Japanese fabrics arrived.

 I know there is two more shipments on their way this week. Plus a new shipment of Glide quilting threads.  I think I will be busy for a little while longer with more orders to arrive after I place the orders.
To top everything off I have been putting the finally touches on my row for the The Road Home Row Along. which start next week on the 6 th September and I will be on the first day. Scary stuff for me. I hope I can pull it off.

So in all It hasn't been quiet. It has been just too busy to blog over the last week. It is nearly time for this month 350 Block report too. I hope I have done better this month after July was a wash out.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

The Road Home Row Along

The Road Home Row Along will start on the 6th September. There is 40 talented people across the world that have created a quilt row of their special place where they feel at home.  Hosted by Seams to be Sew and Sew Incredibly Crazy. You will be able to collect the row patterns and create you own special place quilt. Plus there will be lots of prize give aways for you to enter to win one of many great prizes during the Row Along.
I can tell you I have created a row for this Row Along and can't wait to share it with you all. Luckily you won't have to wait long to see mine as I will be releasing mine on the 6th September, Yes the first day a little scary but exciting all roll into one. I will be sharing the schedule that day so you know who else and where to go to see the other rows and collect the patterns.
I look forward to see you back here on the 6th September for the start of this exciting event.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching 

Cynthhia

Getting Closer to a Finish.

On my Project Uninterrupted list and my 2016 Finish Along list is my Scrap Dance Quilt. I pinned and started quilting it last weekend but ran out of weekend to finish it.

So it was at the top of my list to finish this weekend, with only 30 minutes of quilting left to do on it.
Just some simple diagonal quilting using the quilt top pattern for guidance was all I did for this one.

You can just make out the quilting lines if you look closely. 

For the binding I pulled out my binding bag full of leftovers from other projects. I selected the shortest piece under 50 cm in length and joined them together. I did notice there seem to be a lot of green in the mix so I did try to space the greens out.

 It has made a noticeable dent in the left over binding but my scrap bins are still full. I will have to start a couple scrap projects to use some up. I don't measure my binding so I was taking a chance that I may not have made enough but I could alway add another strip if I was short as there was more strips to use. As it turned out I made the right amount. No leftovers to go back in the bag. I don't think I will be doing that again soon. Normally I have too much hence the leftover binding collection.

Now to finish it off in front of the tv one night this week. I did start it in our Project Uninterrupted session but I was busy so only one side was completed but at least that means I am a quarter of my way through it.

In the meantime it is time for me to finish my row for The Road Home Row Along which starts in September I have written the pattern and started on my blocks but I need to finish sewing them and get them together. I hope you will join us in September for this event. There will be rows created by lots of talented people around the world. It will be a great event and would love you to join in.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia